On the seas of Miragea, the Star Champion Ash Ketchum and those on board of this temporary ship were on the move, sailing for Kanto. After saving two locations, it was on its way to the region where Misty and Brock hailed from, and by extension, Goh, who was very hesitant to return there. The journey was peaceful, with Dragonite keeping an eye out.
"Morning ladies!" Bellowing was Brock, who had suddenly placed plates of food down on the table that the three girls were seated at. High-quality food was suddenly prepared, the smell of it wafting through the air.
"Whoa! How'd you do this?!" Misty gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "You're not the same cook as before.
"My. I didn't expect to be served food on this ship." Nessa smiled. "How kind of you, Brock."
"Anything for you two!" Brock grinned with hearts in his eyes, gazing at Bea and Nessa. He was a bit different from the man they saw yesterday. "After all, I can't help but see two beautiful ladies in need of a proper meal! This is the least I can do!"
"Wait...You two?" Misty then realized she was not involved in that sentence. "Hey! I'm right here, you know?!"
"Oh wow! Check out this food!" Ash gazed at the spread before him. His eyes sparkled with awe, his mouth watering.
"Well. Since the girls are all here, I might as well serve them the finest meals. That means you too, Star Champion." Brock chuckled, placing the plate of food in front of him.
"Wow! Thanks, Brock!" Ash exclaimed, his face lighting up with delight.
"It's no problem, Star Champion." Brock waved his hand dismissively. "I figured that after the battles you've been through, you're probably pretty hungry."
"Yeah. I could really go for a big, juicy steak right now. Oh, and some potatoes. Those are always good." Ash sighed, his stomach grumbling. "Mmm...I wonder if I have any spices for the meat."
"Oh, I'll grab you some, Star Champion." Brock would immediately turn around and head to the kitchen to search for spices.
"Master. I believe I've grown since yesterday. My strength has been improving, but I'm still lacking in some areas. Especially after that Golem had defeated my Machop. But, I'm not going to give up. I'm gonna keep pushing myself. And there is one thing I wish to learn. That Energy you, Misty and Brock use. What is that?
"Oh. That is the power of Aura." Misty answered, eating her breakfast.
"Aura?" Bea repeated.
"It's a rare ability that few people possess." Brock would soon return, spices in hand.
"Rare ability? How so?" Bea leaned forward, curious.
"It's the power to control one's life energy. To unleash its hidden potential. Those who can wield the power of Aura are incredibly rare. And very powerful."
"Is it hard to learn?"
"Well, it depends. Some people are naturally gifted, while others have to work for it. It takes a lot of practice and dedication to master. And a strong will."
"Strong will, huh?"
"Yeah. And when you use it, you can sync up with your Pokemon and do awesome stuff." Ash added. "It's because Aura's just like Infinity Energy. Both of them are the Lifeforce and Energy of the Universe. And Aura users are able to channel that energy and use it to their advantage."
"I see."
"You interested, Bea?" Misty asked, seeing her interest in the subject.
"I would like to learn, yes! Most definitely!" Bea stood up, her eyes blazing with determination. "If I can harness this power, then surely, my growth as a Pokemon Trainer will improve! Please teach me, Master!
"Sure." Ash would then begin teaching Bea about the concept of Aura. "There's a lot you gotta know. And it takes a lot of patience and perseverance to really get the hang of it. So, are you up for it?"
"If it's with you, Master, I'm more than willing to put in the effort. I will become stronger!" Bea's eyes sparkled with a smile on her face when looking at Ash.
"That's the spirit!"
Just then, Dragonite's cry could be heard, which caught their attention. That meant that Dragonite had spotted something up ahead yet again. Breakfast was immediately cut short "Now what?!" Goh shouted. He feared that another threat was on the horizon. It seemed like these obstacles appear just one day apart.
There was no rest from danger when it came to the Seas of Miragea, but they weren't sure if it was another dangerous obstacle in the end.
The group arrived outside the ship, and were surprised by what they saw. It was not an enemy. Not at all. Instead, it was an Oceanic Event occuring before them. The sea was suddenly met with a Double-sided Sea Tornado, one of the rarest weather conditions.
The winds blew furiously, whipping up waves and sending debris flying. The skies were darkened by ominous clouds, and the air was filled with a tense energy. "W-What is that?!" Goh cried, his eyes widening with shock.
"A Double-Sided Sea Tornado. One of the rarest weather phenomena. The only way to sail past it is through the center. Ash casually said.
"Are you crazy?!" Goh retorted, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"He's not wrong." Misty nodded. "But we should be fine. As long as we stay in the middle, we should be able to make it through."
"But the ship. If we stay here, then surely we'll get hit, won't we?" Nessa pointed out, fearing the worst.
"Then we'll just have to make a run for it." Brock suggested.
"Alright! Let's go full speed through it! If we go through it, it'll accelerate us!" Ash pointed us. "Or even send us somewhere else! But if we go through the middle, then we'll be fine!"
"That's...That's not a good idea, is it?" Goh muttered, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
"No. No, it's not. But, we don't have a choice." Misty shook her head. Dragonite heard Ash loud and clear, prompting the group to make a break through the center of the sea tornados.
"Woohoo!" Ash was enjoying this ride, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He whooped and hollered, the wind rushing past him.
"W-We're gonna die!" Goh screamed, his face pale with fear. Nessa held onto the railing, her eyes wide with shock. Bea would stand there, watching the Double-Sided Tornado before her.
"Amazing." Bea couldn't help but admire the sight. "So beautiful..."
"I know, right?" Misty agreed, a smile on her face.
"We're actually making it through! This is incredible!" Brock exclaimed, the group feeling the wind on their faces.
"And now...for the big finale!" Ash would point at the exit, the group approaching the end of the Double-Sided Tornado. The end of it had a radiant light, a bright and welcoming shine. "Here we go! Dragonite! Go for it!"
Dragonite did just that, speeding up the ship as the group sailed through the exit, the light enveloping them. The group shielded their eyes, the brightness blinding them. Just as suddenly as the event had appeared, it was over, the ship now in a different location.
The location that this tornado sent them to was a vast mountainous terrain, the air filled with a crisp chill. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining down. A field of grass was spread out below them, a river flowing through it. This was clearly not Miragea-related with a strong lack of any desert areas.
"W-What? Where are we?" Goh stammered, his heart racing. Neither of them have seen this area before based on their reactions. The vast valleys and lush forests were visible from this distance as a sparkle of energy could be seen across the entire landscape. In the distance was a mountain in the shape of a finger, pointing to the skies themselves, its peak perpetually crowned with a swirling mist that dances with the light of the Sun.
"I've never seen a place like this before..." Brock was stunned by the scenery, the air carrying a sense of tranquility.
"Me neither. But, it's amazing..." Nessa breathed, her voice filled with wonder. To see such a sight was absolutely breathtaking. As they gawked at this stupendous land before them, the ship would slow down, coming to a stop. As for the ship itself, while it managed to get through the double-sided tornado, the impact damaged it quite a bit, leaving it in a poor state.
As the group would leave the ship, they looked back at the ship that has become a bit worse for wear. The paint was faded and chipped, and the hull was beginning to crack and warp.
"Well, I guess it's reaching it's limit." Ash stated, his arms folded. "This ship's served us well. We'll just have to get a new one eventually. Even if I like going on foot more.
"What do we do now, Star Champion?" Nessa asked, concerned.
"I think we should find out where we are first." Ash answered, looking around.
"Good idea. It seems that this is a different location. Perhaps somewhere in Kanto. We could also find someone who can help us." Brock suggested, looking out over the mountains and forest. "Maybe even someone who could repair our ship."
"I don't recognize this place anywhere in Kanto." Misty stated, shaking her head. As they started walking, in the distance, they could already see the Pokemon that populate this area, the ones that were native to it. The first part of this vast area they stepped foot on was a forest-like area, with a small clearing within it.
Ash outstretched his arms, taking in the feeling of this brand new area. The way the sun broke through the leaves, the sounds of the forest, the cool breeze that swept through. It was like he was in a completely different world. He couldn't help but grin, the air filling him with excitement.
"Ahhh...I can smell the fresh air, feel the wind on my face, hear the sounds of the forest." Ash breathed in, a content smile on his face.
"Well, I can't say I'm complaining." Brock smiled, admiring the scenery.
"Mm. Absolutely gorgeous in every way." Nessa nodded, the breeze rustling her hair.
"It sure is." Misty smiled. She enjoyed seeing this sight. "Feels good, right?"
"You got that right." Ash nodded, a smile on his face.
"This is an absolutely gorgeous view. It's like something out of a painting." Goh breathed, awe-struck by what he was seeing. "I guess it was worth travelling through that disaster after all."
"No doubt about it." Bea walked side by side with Ash.
"Definitely a lovely sight." Nessa smiled, her eyes glistening. "It's certainly one to remember. After being in those dungeons, the sunlight was blocked from our view for so long."
"Heh. I don't want to go anywhere else. I could sit here and watch the clouds go by forever." Ash stretched out his arm, waving his hand like he was touching the clouds above them. It was a nice moment in time with peaceful days ahead, and this was what they needed. To let their guard down and just enjoy the natural beauty that surrounded them.
The Pokemon living here would be seen living their lives how they always do. They brought this place to life with their movement and presence in the way they normally do. To see the Pokemon so at peace, it brought a sense of comfort to the group.
Nessa would squat down, meeting eye to eye with some Caterpie who had now placed themselves on her fingers. Her heart would grow soft, a gentle smile on her face. They would crowd around her, cutely chirping with excitement.
Goh, wanting to be a Pokemon Researcher, had an opportunity at hand. This may not be his dream region, but the fact that he was standing in a mysterious region was a golden opportunity, the idea exciting him. It was all so beautiful to look at the deeper they went into this forest, and it was amazing just to take it all in.
"Whatever this place is, I wouldn't mind living here." Misty grinned, enjoying the clean breeze wafting over her. "I've never felt so relaxed. And at ease."
"And it's a place that's seemingly untouched by the Auravale Kingdom." said Brock, catching the eyes of the rest. Brock's word would suddenly resonate with them, filling them with a sense of comfort and peace.
However, as they were taking this all in and enjoying the sounds, something else would start blocking out the beautiful sounds of the forest. A strange rumbling sound. It slowly grew in volume, sounding closer and closer with each passing second.
The group turned, looking around. The sound appeared to be getting closer, growing louder and louder. "What is that sound?" Nessa wondered. That sound has never once been heard in her entire life. The same goes for Bea as she's never heard it before, or Goh.
The sound that was nearing had a rather audible rumbling noise, followed by something rolling rapidly across the ground. This was followed by the sound of energy going off. Once they looked in the direction of where the noise was coming from, they saw something large speeding over here.
"What...is that...?" Brock questioned as the thing that came into view was some sort vehicle that was exuding a bright energy from it which moved across the grass. This vehicle boasts a sleek and aerodynamic silhouette, reminiscent of a majestic dragon-like Pokemon poised for flight. Its frame, crafted from polished enchanted metals, curves gracefully, with smooth lines that flow seamlessly from front to back.
At the front, the mode of transporation features a streamlined nose, tapering to a point that cuts through the air with minimal resistance. Mounted atop this elegant prow are the handlebars, adorned with intricately carved runes and glowing crystals that pulse with arcane energy.
The body of this vehicle widens slightly towards the centre, providing ample space for the enchanted engine that powers its extraordinary capabilities. Embedded within the frame, the engine emits a soft, pulsating glow, casting ethereal shadows that dance across the surrounding landscape.
This vehicle had someone riding on it while it was also pulling what appeared to be a rather lavish and fancy carriage. "It's an Arcane Rider! One of the fastest modes of transportation in the world!" Brock gasped once he recognized what vehicle that was.
"Who's that?" Goh questioned, seeing the vehicle approach. On the said vehicle was a man wearing goggles while having a cheeky grin on his face. He was wearing a purple coat but it was hard to get the rest of him as his Arcane Rider was approaching at high speeds, causing the others to gasp while Ash narrowed his eyes with a rising curiosity as the energy from the rider.
The man on it would drift by them while also knocking aside some of the forest's trees, sliding to a stop while that large carriage almost crashed into them. The rider himself had a clear appearance to him, once all the dust he formed was settling. The Pokemon nearby would scurry off.
"Well now! What's this here?" He spoke once his appearance came into view. Misty and Brock gasped, immediately recognizing who this was.
"That's...The Pokemon Professor's Grandson! Gary Oak!"
"Heh." Gary hopped off his Arcane Rider as the fancy carriage behind him would open up. And once it opened, it revealed multiple women inside, each already screaming the name of the man himself. Ash and the others watched as these women would start cheering Gary's name as a way to introduce him and hype him up.
"Eh?! The Grandson of the famous Pokemon Professor?!" Goh gasped, recognizing who he was.
"Gary, Gary!" The women would continue cheering his name, the cheers echoing out across the forest. Gary stood there with a smile, his eyes closed as he took in all this praise he received. His ego must have been absolutely huge with his fame.
"Aw, jeez. You girls." Gary snorted, the girls clamoring for him. He would pose a bit and flex his arms, causing them to scream even more. "So, anyway, what do we have here? Based on what I'm seeing, it looks like another group found their way into Uptouch Lands." He revealed the name of this place. "And from what I'm seeing...I spot two Pokemon Lords here. Misty and Brock, right?"
"Uh, yes. That's us." Misty nodded. "We saw you arrive in a rather...fast and bold style, Gary."
"You know me. Always heading in style. I didn't think you two would show up here. Just what are you doing outside of your own cities?" Gary snickered, leaning against his Arcane Rider. "You two should know that it's a bad call to be away from your post, in a place far beyond the boundary of your cities."
"We know. I'm only outside of Kanto because I was protecting a small village from Team Rocket." Brock explained.
"And I was just chasing down some dumb pirates that messed with me." Misty scowled.
"Is that right?" Gary peered around, spotting Bea. He gazed at her, before smirking. "Huh. I don't recognize her. She's quite an interesting fact, I see two beauties here." He then spotted Nessa and leaned closer. "Not bad..."
"Mmm..." Bear grumbled before getting behind Ash. "..."
"As for why I'm here? There's no particular reason. Just enjoying my travels." Gary answered, winking at Misty, trying to flirt. Misty felt a blush appear on her cheeks, before backing up, annoyed by him. "And I'm here with my supporters, of course. Here to support me from start to finish."
"Gary's gonna be the one to take down the Auravale Empire!" One of the girls cheered, another throwing a bottle of water in the air. This bottle of water had come crashing down into Brock's face as he flinched from that happening.
"The King and Queen gave him everything to defeat the Auravale Empire by empowering Gary with their authority. All in order for him to take the throne!"
"All of you gave the King and Queen hell when you stood up for me." Gary smirked, crossing his arms. "Man, to think the entire world was a damn mess until me and my family stepped in."
"It still is. Especially with you involved." Misty shifted her eyes towards Gary, seeming unimpressed. "I find it hard to believe that everyone is putting their hopes on you to save the world."
"Why wouldn't they?" Gary chuckled. "I'm known as a Prodigy, and quite a handsome one at that." He started flexing, having his fans cheer for him.
"..." The way Gary carried himself showed that his ego was very much inflated. It annoyed Misty, who has seen this before.
"I'm out here getting myself ready for something big and important. I've gotta be in tip-top shape when the day comes for me to take down the Auravale Empire." Gary would look at Brock, seeing him flirting with some of his fans. "And check out Brock the Maid Man. Still running that Bed and Breakfast for the ladies, huh?"
"That I am!" Brock chuckled.
"And uh...who's this guy exactly?" Gary then looked over at Ash, finally noticing him.
"You're standing in the presence of the Star Champion." Bea stepped forward. "Show Master some respect." She placed her hand over her hip, a bit frustrated.
"The Star Champion?" Gary repeated, blinking a few tmes. "You? This guy?" He then busted up laughing. "Yeah, right! Nice try, lady! I don't buy it!"
"Hmph!" Bea crossed her arms, giving him a slight scowl.
"Um...G-Gary." One of the ladies approached Gary, showing him the news article which was already showing pictures of Ash and his actions. Mainly based on what happened at Miragea "It's all over the news. The Star Champion...His existence is all over the world."
Gary quickly skimmed through the article before his eyes widened, blinking in disbelief. The photo in the newspaper showed him when Ash took down Volman's Castle and was seen at the celebratory party that was thrown by Miragea. As he stared at the article, his mind started racing, his expression shifting.
"O-Oh..." Gary started sweating, realizing that he had run into the real deal here. "This guy...This guy's the Star Champion!"
"Yo." Ash greeted, slightly waving at Gary.
"...Well...No biggie." Despite knowing this, Gary still shrugged it off. "You're the Star Champion, huh? Doesn't impress me one bit."
"What was that?!" Bea protested, eyeing him sharply. "He is the Strongest Trainer of all time! Show some respect!"
"No offense but..That's all about to change someday." Gary smirked at Bea. "Wanna know why? Because you're looking at the Future Strongest Trainer of all Time. Also, the most good looking guy around. Me."
"Hmph. Oh please." Bea scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Tch." Brock shook his head, having heard that a million times.
"Wow. Talk about some high talk. What an ego he has." Misty clenched her teeth. Nessa was behind Goh, not wanting anything to do with this guy.
"The future strongest..." Ash muttered, examining Gary's Energy. "Not bad...Man, I wanna get a taste of your Energy in battle. It's strong, but not in the best way."
"Say what now?" Gary huffed. "Why would I waste my time battling you anyway? All you did was give the people a false sense of hope. A one day job is good enough, in my opinion. Next thing you know, the next champion will probably be me, so this chump title of the Star Champion is nothing much."
"Chump, huh?" Ash gave Gary a deadpanned look. "Hm. Really?"
"Yep." Gary then started driving away, his Arcane Rider revving up. "Besides, there's some stupid old guy in there that can't keep his cool from all the sudden attention. And also, he can't seem to accept the fact that I've beaten him twice!" Gary roared, his eyes gleaming with triumph. He called back his fans, who rushed to him after a loving wave. "I'm gonna prove that I can beat the toughest foes and that I'm more than worthy of the title as Champion! The Pokemon League is gonna be won by me!"
"The Pokemon League?" Misty repeated as this was news to her Realistically, news of this was just one day old.
"Heh, yeah!" Gary looked back. "It was announced just yesterday that the Pokemon League was planned and approved thanks to my involvement. Part of it being the Future Champion needed to be strong, so naturally, that'd be me! I'm gonna be reaching that status pretty soon and right I'll start by taking down a part of the Auravale Kingdom. There's an Oasis here being run by some guy affiliated with the Empire. I came here to wipe it out!"
As he spoke, the group would hear music playing from Gary's carriage. It was playing a dramatic theme, reflecting this atmosphere. He sure knew how to create a dramatic aura. "Smell ya later!"
"Geez. That guy..." Misty grumbled. "He's so lucky he's a prodigy and the son of the Professor...because otherwise, we'd never be partners with him."
"For sure." Brock nodded. "As much as that guy takes his powers for granted, it's his ego that is his own worst enemy. Once he finds himself at the end of the road, that's when I can truly rub it in his face."
"Hm." Ash let out a slight sound before stopping forward. "Well, how about we go where he's going? He said there's someone here who's a part of the Auravale Empire. That means there's trouble going on. Whatever they're up to, if it's something bad, we're gonna shut it down!"
"Yeah!" Goh agreed, ready to journey on.
"We follow the tracks this Gary is making. We'll keep an eye out for clues." Ash would immediately start running, leaping to the air and spinning a few times. Bea rushed to follow him, her head filled with admiration.
"W-Wait!" Brock followed, followed by Nessa and Goh. Misty watched as the air whistled in her ears. She sighed before eventually following them, not wanting to be left behind.
As they moved onwards, they soon came across a cave, with rocks jutting out of the ground. This is where this part would take place. The only way forward for them to take was into this cave, as on the other side of the tunnel, a river was leading to the place Gary is possibly heading to.
And when passing through the cave, they came across what appeared to be a small spot that was currently populated. Here at one of these forests, a massive camp of some sorts would be found here, right in the middle of this mysterious forest. Various tents and wagons were littered around, with a fire pit and various types of canvases and cages surrounding the area.
This area had a large statue of an unknown man here, standing tall. It was located right next to a giant waterfall which flowed down into the river. The man in question was faceless, only appearing with every other detail except for the face.
Around this camp area, the people here were seen wearing quite intimidating clothes. They wore mostly black clothes with different types of armor that reflected them being affiliated with the Auravale Empire. They also wore masks that covered their faces, hiding their identities from the world. Their outfits strongly resembled that of Volman's men but with stark differences.
These men were seen either cooking, talking with each other or training with Pokemon. Some were even gambling with each other while some stood guard. This campsite seemed to be very active. In addition to the men here, they also had Pokemon such as Bisharp, Houndooms, Ariados, Granbulls and Arboks roaming around here, each gazing at the group with malicious intent.
The Pokemon in question appeared to be wild yet loyal to these masked men, given that they were well behaved but had vicious energy flowing through them. And judging from the equipment they had, they were clearly dangerous.
"What is this place...?" Misty questioned, her eyes filled with suspicion. "Some sort of camp?"
"Looks like it. Those outfits...I've seen them before." Brock observed. "Those look like the ones the people from Hoenn wear. And they have Pokemon too."
"Is Hoenn part of the Auravale Empire?" Goh asked.
"They are. Hoenn is a part of the Auravale Empire. It's said that it was one of the first regions to join that empire. Since then, Hoenn has been launching some of the most amount of attacks on other regions that aren't a part of the Empire. They're quite aggressive about it too. Kanto's been attacked by Hoenn here and there."
"Aggressive is an understatement. Hoenn regularly launches full-scale attacks here and there. The Hoenn Kingdom itself is known to be the deadliest in terms of aggressiveness." Misty added. "They're pretty nasty, let me tell you."
"And look at those statues they got. Who is that guy?" Goh questioned, staring at the large statue here. "He's faceless..."
"That's apparently the Emperor of the Auravale Kingdom. The Ruler of the Entire World. No one knows his name or what he looks like. But everyone seems to worship him regardless." Brock explained. "He's the greatest power in the world."
"Hmmm..." Ash spoke while gazing at the statue, wondering who he could truly be.
"Keep moving!" Suddenly, a shout came from one of the men here along with a strong whip crack. "Move it, you all! Or else you won't make it!"
The group spotted a bunch of slaves that were being pushed around by these men, forced to carry various things around here. Ash narrowed his eyes, spotting the condition they were in. He noticed that they were all moving to something shining in the distance with large contraptions being built around it.
The people here were clearly not from this area, being dragged from somewhere else. These people appeared to be wearing the same clothes that were rather restraining while also having shackles around their ankles and wrists. The clothes they wore consisted of ragged brown shorts and tops that exposed parts of their bodies. They also wore collars around their necks which were connected to a chain, with a man holding the end of it.
"W-We can't! Please!" One of them begged, dropping some items he was carrying. "We need rest!"
"Rest?! You want rest!? You all get rest when you complete your duties!" The man snarled, moving his whip back and taking something else to punish them. In his hand, he held a glowing object that radiated an evil energy.
The man would squeeze the orb as it would cause five of the people here to react, their bodies suddenly writhing in pain. The slaves cried out, falling to the ground as they writhed and screamed in agony, their bodies twitching. The glow from the orb would subside as it was now on the ground, the item being some sort of control orb.
Once the slaves stopped convulsing, they were left panting, their eyes unfocused. "Now get up and move! I ain't got time for this! Get them through that Lightstorm and over that bridge! Now!" The man commanded, cracking his whip. The slaves would rise shakily, fearfully nodding their heads while they trembled.
"Lightstorm...?" Bea said before looking at the light in the distance. Most likely, that was the Lightstorm he referred to. The contraptions would be revealed to be bridges that would be used to transport the slaves across this raging river. It was quite high up, which would mean that if they fell, they'd fall into the water below and potentially drown.
"No way I'm gonna let this keep on going." Ash said with his eyes narrowing, immediately rushing forward alongside Pikachu.
"Ash!" Misty called out, but he ignored her. She sighed before following him. Ash would immediately make sure he was very visible as he headed to these masked men. Once they saw him, they were already alarmed and surprised.
"Pikachu! Quick Attack, now!" Ash commanded as Pikachu obeyed, immediately using the attack. The Pokemon dashed forward, slamming into some of the masked men while Ash would send a punch directly into one of the slave drivers. His punch would have a flash of stardust go off, sending the man flying back while also knocking aside some of the Pokemon here from the sheer force of the impact.
"What the-?!" One of the men exclaimed, seeing Ash fight them. Ash made his appearance loud and clear. Ash stood there with his fist out, putting on a bright grin to them all.
"That face...He's the one on the news!" One of the Men shouted, recognizing him. "The Star Champion!"
"Damn it! He had to show up now and here of all places! How did he even find it?!" Another man cursed, readying his whip. The slaves gasped upon seeing Ash, stunned by his appearance. Neither of them had the chance to read the news so they didn't recognize his face at all.
"Keep moving through!" One man shouted. "Don't slow down! If you stop, I'll make sure you pay dearly! We don't want to upset the boss! And as for you...Star Champion...you'll regret coming here." He cracked his whip as it would suddenly be set on fire.
Some of the men would keep forcing the slaves to go on while the others would stay behind, making sure Ash doesn't ruin this for them. Each of their whips caught on fire, the flames radiating with an intense heat. Pokemon like Granbull, Houndoom, Ariados and Bisharp would prepare for battle while Ash stared them all down.
"Oh man, oh man! This is gonna be great!" Ash grinned, excitement coursing through his veins.
"Man, he's crazy." Goh remarked, watching Ash rush right into battle.
"He's certainly bold." Brock stated as Misty watched, feeling her heart racing.
"This is my chance to battle alongside Master!" Bea's eyes were lit up along with her heart fluttering with excitement.
"Wait, Bea!" But Nessa would promptly stop her friend. "Instead of doing that, let's focus on what's happening there instead. I'm positive the Star Champion can take care of himself. But we have to help those slaves."
"Ah. A-Alright." Bea nodded in understanding. "We were once slaves ourselves. To see them in this state...It hurts my heart."
"Exactly." Nessa nodded. "Let's hurry."
"Right." Misty nodded as she, Brock and Goh would sneak off while Bea followed Nessa, both of them heading towards the slaves. Ash meanwhile was busy fighting these men, showing that he was completely serious about helping these people.
Keeping themselves hidden, Nessa's group would walk by the battle, taking gentle steps while also keeping low to the ground. They had quite the distance to go if they wanted to reach the slaves. "Nessa. I got this." Bea whispered. "I'm fast. I can get us over there in no time."
"You sure?" Nessa questioned as Bea nodded. "Alright." With that, Bea would pick up Nessa, before rushing forward, going at high speeds. Misty, Brock and Goh watched with awe as Bea was able to move across the ground without tripping up at all.
Bea ran in a straight line before hopping onto some crates, jumping off from them and landing onto one of the bridges that the slaves were crossing over. Once Nessa was put down, Bea would then take action, confronting the man who was in charge of this group here.
"Who's that?!" One of the men shouted before gasping. "Who in the-?!" Bea kicked him aside, causing him to fall off the bridge and into the raging river below. Misty and the others were impressed by Bea's swift actions. Once they saw Bea kick that man off, they were instantly convinced that Bea was one who should not be messed with.
"What a nuisance! Claydol! Block them all off!" One of the men yelled. He had his Claydol manipulate the ground itself, causing a wall of earth to arise, blocking off Nessa's group. Bea stepped back, feeling the earth shake as the wall kept rising to impressive heights. Not only that, but it would move forward in her direction, threatening to crush her.
"Go, Starmie! Staryu! Push it back!" Misty ran forward, throwing two Poke Balls forward, releasing her Water-Type Pokemon. She jumped off the bridge, getting in front of the wall. "Use Water Pulse and Water Gun!" Both Pokemon would unleash their respective Water Type moves which blasted against the wall.
Starmie and Staryu combined their attacks together, resulting in a strong blast of energy that caused the earthen wall to explode from the sheer force of it. Once the dust cleared, the wall had been completely destroyed, leaving no trace of it behind. Misty smiled, looking at her Pokemon.
"Nice job, you two!" Misty praised her Pokemon, giving them a thumbs up. With the wall destroyed, the view of the camp was clear as day with Misty spotting the masked men and the slaves.
"Tch! Get lost already! Or become another slave!" One of the men cracked his whip, glaring at Misty. Misty narrowed her eyes, her expression hardened.
"We don't know how you managed to find this place, but you're not leaving here unless it's under our control!" Another man cracked his whip, the Pokemon preparing to attack Misty. Bea stepped forward, wanting to take them out.
All of their whips had violent effects such as a fire and steel, poison, shadow, ice and ground energy flowing through them. Truly devastating options. And to think, the people here would be struck by them.
"What are you even doing here?!" Brock questoned, wanting to know what the plan here was. "What's with that Lightstorm and all of these crates? What's it for?!"
"None of your business!" One of the men would whip out some kind of horn, blowing into it. The loud sound emitted from it was some kind of alert, even though everyone else where was very much aware of what was going on. Misty's group had to wonder what he was blowing that horn for.
"Oh? Ah! Up there!" Goh pointed at the sky as they looked up, seeing large birds approaching them. These Birds were Skarmories, each of them having a rider on top of them. From these Skarmories, the riders had their weapons out and were ready to strike down Misty and the others.
As for the Skarmories, they used moves such as Air Cutter and Air Slash, sending blades of wind at the group. Misty's Pokemon would block the attacks with their attacks, managing to defend themselves. The Skarmories would then descend onto the bridge, landing in front of Misty.
"Skarmory! Use Metal Sound!" One of the riders commanded, the Steel Type Pokemon obeying. It unleashed a deafening sound wave, the sound being horribly grating to listen to. Misty flinched, covering her ears while the Pokemon recoiled from the attack.
"Starmie! Staryu! Protect!" Misty ordered as both of her Pokemon would use Protect, creating a barrier to protect them from the Metal Sound. As Misty defended herself, some of the masked men would order their Pokemon to attack Bea, Nessa and Goh.
Brock would throw two Poke Balls forward, releasing his Geodude and another Rock-Type. This time, it was an Onix. "Geodude! Use Magnitude!" Brock commanded as Geodude stomped its foot down, sending shockwaves across the bridge.
"Onix! Rock Slide!" Onix would open up its mouth before unleashing multiple rocks from within, the rocks flying towards some of the Pokemon here. The rock projectiles smashed into some of the Pokemon, dealing quite a bit of damage.
"Houndoom! Flamethrower!" One of the masked men commanded, his Dark/Fire Type Pokemon opening up its mouth to unleash a torrent of flames. Brock's Pokemon would defend themselves while Misty was also facing some trouble of her own.
"Starmie! Bubble Beam!" Misty commanded as Starmie would shoot out a rapid beam of bubbles, aiming it at the Skarmories. The Flying-Types Pokemon would attempt to dodge the attack but some of the bubbles managed to land with impressive precision.
"Appear! Machop!" Bea threw out a Poke Ball, releasing her Fighting Type Pokemon. She rushed forward, leaping into the air to land a hard kick to the Skarmories. Her Machop would also rush forward, using Karate Chop to strike some of the Pokemon here.
"Heh!" The Slave Drives raised their whips, harnessing the power behind them to lash out at Bea, intending to hit her. "Get over here!"
"Machop! Use Cross Chop!" Bea commanded as Machop would cross its arms, before leaping forward with immense speed, the attack cutting through the air. Machop's attack met with the whips, clashing with them. The impact of the whip pushed him back slightly but Machop held his ground.
The men would begin whipping wildly, swinging their whips around with Machop defending himself by crossing his arms. The men were relentless, pushing Bea back with Machop still standing his ground. "Machop! Keep holding it back!" Bea encouraged her Pokemon.
However, Machop was actually being pressured, unable to keep up with all of the whips. Each of them had such heavy power behind them, threatening to break his guard. Bea grit her teeth, trying to come up with a way to counter them. "Staryu! Starmie! Use Rapid Spin!" Misty commanded as both Pokemon spun rapidly, dashing forward to spin through the men and Pokemon here.
"Onix! Rock Tomb!" Brock commanded as Onix would slam its tail into the ground, causing massive rocks to jut out of the ground. The Pokemon here were struck by these rocks, the impact knocking them off the bridge. With them knocked off, Misty, Nessa and Goh would sigh in relief as Onix took care of that problem.
"Thanks, Brock." Misty smiled as Brock nodded.
"No problem." Brock returned his Pokemon while Misty would do the same with Starmie. Bea would continue protecting herself with her Machop, having to resort to punching away the whips. However, one of them managed to slip by her, hitting her arm.
"Gah!" Bea winced from the pain, feeling it sting her. She growled, dropping to her knees from the burning sensation she felt. Machop cried out, seeing his trainer being hurt like this.
"Bea!" Nessa ran forward, helping her friend up. Goh went to check on Machop, seeing if he was alright.
"Idiots!" One man raised his whip high with all of his might, suddenly slamming it into the ground itself. The impact would cause the bridge to tremble, shaking the area they stood on. Misty and Brock stumbled while Nessa helped Bea stand up. Goh and Machop would stumble while some of the slaves would fall over, holding onto the railing for dear life.
"W-What?!" Misty exclaimed as the shaking grew more violent, almost causing them to lose balance. "What is this?!"
"Machop!" Goh held onto the railing, Machop holding onto Goh. The masked men laughed while some of the Pokemon here snickered. The bridge they were on continued trembling violently until the tremors subsided.
"Whoever you all are, if you think you can stop us, forget it! We're almost done here anyway!" He snapped, raising his whip high for another attack. "I'll make you all into slaves after this!"
"Not if I stop you first!" Ash appeared, standing in front of the man as the whip was brought down. Ash caught the whip with ease, gripping it tightly. The masked man gasped while Bea lit up, seeing Ash here. Misty and Brock smiled, seeing Ash make his presence known.
"Y-You...!" The masked man tried yanking his whip back but Ash refused to let go, instead pulling the whip forward. "Let go! Let go!" He pulled the whip back, but Ash refused to let go, showing that he wasn't going to let this man do anything to anyone else.
Ash grinned as he would let that brilliant glow of Aura once more, mainly from his hand. Once the masked man saw this, he would start sweating, feeling the intense energy flowing through Ash. "W-What?!"
Right before his eyes, his whip was destroyed, enveloped by the Aura Energy. The whip had exploded into bits, with Ash letting it go. The masked man trembled, stepping back from the sight he had just witnessed. The Pokemon here were stunned by the display while Nessa, Goh, Bea and Machop smiled, seeing that Ash was here.
"Eep!" The masked man backed up as Ash stood before him. Before he could run off, Pikachu would zoom by with Quick Attack, appearing right behind him. Pikachu zipped back, tackling the man forward. Ash smirked, seeing Pikachu here.
"Good timing, Pikachu." Ash gave his partner a thumbs up as Pikachu winked. "Okay! Now to shut this whole thing down!" He would then hold out another Poke Ball, throwing it forward and summoning his next Pokemon.
Appearing from it was a Heracross, the Pokemon roaring as it landed on the bridge. "Heracross! Use Megahorn!" Ash commanded as Heracross would rush forward, its horn glowing white. It rammed into some of the men and Pokemon here, dealing significant damage to them.
The Pokemon here would retaliate by launching attacks but Ash's Pokemon would block them, defending themselves with their attacks. Megahorn's great strength would allow Heracross to push some of the Pokemon off the bridge while Ash himself was engaging in combat with some of the masked men here.
Ash would intercept one of the whips with his bare hands, grabbing it and obliterating it with his Aura. All the other Slave Drives would aggressively whip Ash but he would block each one with ease, having a smirk on his face. He would grab two whips this time, snapping them before having Heracross fly in with a Horn Attack that sent the masked men flying off the bridge.
"Alright! Yeah!" Goh cheered, watching Ash fight these men here. Nessa, Bea and Machop were impressed by Ash's combat skills as he showed why he was known as the Star Champion. He showed off some impressive skill while also being flashy about it.
Just like that, the men here were taken out, all of them being defeated by Ash's Pokemon and himself. With the men gone, this meant that the slaves were safe and could finally have a moment to relax. Bea and Nessa would turn to them, the group gathering around them.
"Hey there. Are you all okay?" Nessa asked, approaching them. The slaves gasped, seeing Nessa here. They were rather shocked by her appearance, never seeing someone like her before. They gazed at her with amazement while some of the women were gazing at Bea and Misty, their hearts fluttering.
"Y-Yes..." One of the slaves responded, the chains around his ankles clinking. "We've...We've been forced to work here...These people came out of nowhere...They raided our village and enslaved us...We weren't even given a choice...We're...We're so tired..."
"So this Lightstorm over there...It's for something bad, isn't it?" Misty questioned. "What exactly are they building?"
"It's a weapon of some sort..." The slave answered. "There are multiple camps spread across this land...Each one working to build these weapons..."
"Weapons...?" Brock repeated, his eyes widening.
"What kind of weapons...?" Goh questioned.
"We don't know...But they said they were gonna be used to wipe out entire cities across the regions...And with these collars we wear, we can't escape or else they'll kill us..."
"Collars...?" Misty looked at the collars they wore, seeing that they were glowing slightly. "Those look like Poke Balls..."
"Yeah...They captured us by force and had these collars placed on us...Once we were put in these collars, we were forced to do whatever they said...We couldn't fight back...We had no choice..."
"It's alright now." Nessa would hug this slave, comforting him. "Everything will be alright. You guys don't have to worry anymore." The slaves would feel tears welling up in their eyes, hugging Nessa as they cried with joy. This was the first time in a long time they were shown any kindness.
"Thank you...Thank you so much..." They sobbed, grateful to be saved. "We were hoping someone would save us...We prayed everyday...Thank you...Thank you..."
"Here. Let me get those off you." Ash would approach them all, his hands glowing. Ash would place his hand on each of their collars, destroying them with his Aura. The collars would shatter, freeing the slaves from this horrible imprisonment.
"You're free now." Ash smiled, rubbing each of their heads. "Go home. Go back to your villages. Your families must be worried sick."
"T-Thank you...Thank you so much..." They all bowed before him as Ash chuckled, waving it off.
"It's no problem, really." Ash assured them all. "Now hurry along. I'll take care of these guys for you." The slaves would nod before leaving this bridge, running off to get back home. Ash watched them leave as Nessa would smile, happy to see them all freed.
"They were forced to live in fear for so long...They didn't deserve to be treated like that...To be slaves for the Auravale Empire...It's so cruel..." Nessa shook her head, saddened by this. Bea placed her hand on Nessa's shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"I'm sure they'll be fine. It's thanks to Master that they were able to return back to their homes safely." Bea smiled at Ash who waved it off again.
"Hm?" Ash turned, looking towards the Lightstorm. He could sense that evil energy flowing through it. "Whatever that Lightstorm is...It's radiating one heck of an energy. I gotta check it out." Ash would hop off the bridge, having his Pokemon follow him.
"Hold it!" One of the masked men stood up, groaning while having his Claydol and Granbull standing by him. "You think we're gonna let you walk off?! Messing with our plans!"
"Oh, right. You guys." Ash blinked before smirking. "Heheh! Forgot about you all! Alright then! If you wanna keep fighting, let's go!" Ash cracked his knuckles while Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder, the Mouse Pokemon prepared for battle.
"Heh...You fools. Commander May will be showing up here soon in this land. Once she arrives, she'll take care of you all! And once she does, that light storm over there will be complete! And once it's completed...We'll have a weapon comparable to the power of Legendary Pokemon!" The masked man declared as Ash narrowed his eyes.
"Legendary Pokemon...?" Goh muttered, hearing that. Bea, Nessa and Misty shifted their eyes towards Ash, wondering how he would react.
"Come on. They said there were other camps here." Ash told his Pokemon who nodded, following Ash. He'd walk past the masked man who passed out. Misty and Brock would follow Ash, with Nessa, Goh and Bea following behind. It was off to the other camps in this area. This beautiful land was filled with danger and mystery, but Ash was here to unravel it.
Meanwhile, Gary would arrive at this Oasis, arriving on his Arcane Rider. The group would see this beautiful sight of an Oasis in the middle of this forested land. "Man...This place sure looks nice. Why would these Auravale guys be here of all places?" Gary questioned, hopping off his Arcane Rider.
And speaking of which, he already cameacross one of the camps here, noticing the activity going on. "Huh? What's going on here?" Gary approached this camp as the masked men would notice him, their Pokemon growling.
"Who's this guy?" One of them questioned, having their Granbull and Claydol growl at Gary.
"Heh." Gary crossed his arms when standing before them. "Heard some nasty stuff was going on over here. I've come to put a stop to it!"
"Put a stop to it?!" One of the masked men laughed. "You and what army?!"
"Who needs an army? I'm a prodigy! Soon to be the strongest trainer ever! I got enough power to take you all down!" Gary grinned, holding out a Poke Ball. "Get out there! Umbreon! Arcanine!" Gary tossed out two Poke Balls, unleashing his Pokemon.
Appearing from the Poke Balls were an Umbreon and Arcanine. As he called upon them, Gary would flip back, standing atop a rock as he posed with his Pokemon. "Gary Oak! Here to show you all the power of Prodigies!"
"Pfft! Whatever! Houndoom! Ariados! Bisharp! Appear!" The masked men would throw out their Pokemon as Gary grinned. His supporters were already cheering him on from behind, loving his flashy entrance here.
"Watch. I'll end this in one go." Gary would suddenly hold his arms out, harnessing the power of his Aura. Gary would concentrate it around his fists, before clenching them tightly. He'd focus the Aura Energy around his fists as they started to glow, the energy forming into a shape.
"W-What?!" One of the masked men gasped. Gary would then leap off the rock, rushing towards the Pokemon here.
"Arcanine! Umbreon! Fire Blast! Dark Pulse!" Gary commanded as Arcanine and Umbreon obeyed, unleashing the attacks. Both Pokemon fired the attacks as Gary would punch the incoming Pokemon with incredible force, causing the attacks to explode with massive impact. The attack was strong enough to send the Pokemon flying back, the masked men getting blown back as well.
Gary would jump into the air before descending down, landing right on top of one of the masked men. As he landed, the masked man would be knocked out, his mask broken. Gary smirked as he would continue displaying his Aura Powers here, impressing his supporters.
"Aw yeah! That's how you do it! Show em, Gary!" One supporter cheered, gushing and squealing like crazy. Gary was certainly having fun showing off here, his Pokemon standing by his side.
"Nice! That's our Gary! He's the greatest!" Another supporter praised, showing a lot of support for Gary.
"I love it when you take charge! You're so amazing!" Yet another supporter blushed, eyeing Gary with love. Gary loved the attention he was getting, always seeking to impress people. And yet...it seemed that the masked men here were not phased by his actions.
"Alright. So." Gary stood over them. "What are you guys up to with all of this? You have a Lightstorm with you, so what are you making? Better start talking too. Umbreon's sweat is toxic after all. Not very good for your skin." Umbreon growled as the masked men would gulped.
I-It's called a Scape Crusher! We've been tasked to build it here! Our camp is just one of many! We were tasked to bring the slaves here to make them work!" One of the masked men explained. "Commander May said that once these weapons are complete, the world will be ours!
"A Scape Crusher...?" Gary repeated. "Hmmm...Never heard of it. But if it's being made by the Auravale Empire, it's definitely nothing good. Can't let this keep going!" Gary would look over to his supporters. "Guys! Round these guys up! Make sure they don't go anywhere!"
"Sure thing, Gary!" They all nodded, rushing to do as he said. Gary would gaze at the Lightstorm in question, wondering what it was. It was definitely powerful, as Gary sensed that himself. With that, he would prepare to set off and gather more information while also taking down these camps.
News of this had reached another camp here at this land. This camp was larger than rest and was rather empty, having no slaves whatsoever. Instead, this camp was occupied with Pokemon that were affiliated with the Auravale Empire. They stood by their trainers, who were all wearing different types of outfits.
In this camp, multiple Lightstorms were seen here, shining brightly. In the middle of this camp was a large statue here, towering over the Pokemon and trainers. This statue was faceless just like the others but had a bit more detail to it compared to the rest.
"Commander May! We received word from one of the camps here! Gary Oak has shown up!" One of the masked men spoke, standing before a woman here. This woman was Commander May.
She had a busty chest, wearing brown tunic that stopped at her waist, exposing her belly button. She wore black panties along with black boots that almost went up her plump thighs. She also wore a red bandana that went with the red cape she had on. On her arms was armor followed by two pockets resting on her waist.
She turned around, looking straight at the ma with a serious face. Her eyes were green and her hair was short, being a reddish color. "Gary Oak...?" She repeated, crossing her arms. "That's interesting...So he showed up here of all places..."
"Should we send out reinforcements to help them?" The masked man questioned. May shook her head, walking past him.
"No need. Let Gary come here. I want to see him for myself. For a talk."