Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 50: Long Live Neo Snagem
So I just felt like typing today, and as a result, you guys get one of my rare weekend posts. The plot will finally start to simplify starting with this chapter. And the tone of Virus Version will start to get a littler darker when T rated chapter will be a little more common for things like racial tension between Neo Snagem, and whoever is against them.
And with that, I hope you enjoy. Read and review.
Seth's POV
For love, power, and identity...
"Why Neo Snagem exists..." I said to myself as I looked at the ground covered by the dark mist that surrounds us.
"So, I guess that you too have been receiving memories from Missingno." Rose was still holding on to me as the presence of Morty, or any stranger is enough to make her cower.
"Eventually, Missingno will regain all of his lost memories, as will we." Chapel was right behind Rose and I, and we were following Morty through the dark mist, to the Dominion of Shadows' daily assembly that praises Neo Snagem and the Fourth Reich.
"Maybe then we will all know who exactly our true enemy is, or perhaps where Celebi is." Rose added.
"Missingno's been spending alot of time in my heart lately," Chapel started ,"But not keeping up appearances seems like a good idea to me. It'll at least keep Missingno out of danger until all the memories are pieced together."
"Alright, we're almost there, to the Dominion of Shadows' main square." Morty was barely visible up ahead due to the dark fog.
The rest of the way was silent. Chapel and Mawile had went ahead of me, while Chikorita was still on my shoulder. I myself attempted to walk up, but my sister refused to get closer to 'Stranger Morty' and held me back. I even tried getting Rose off me, to no avail. She really IS stronger than she looks. Stronger than me, maybe.
"Chico?" Up ahead, Chikorita and the rest of us saw Morty being greeted by a Ghastly, Gengar, and Lampent. They were all emitting the aura of a shadow pokemon. "Chico! Chic chico!"
"The shadow pokemon are the least of our concerns...at least for now." I faced a Chikorita who still looked worried.
"That is not what Chikorita is trying to tell you." Rose suddenly grabbed my hand and held me in place.
"Hey, what's with you?!" I was slightly annoyed by my sister.
"Chikorita can hear it. I too can hear it." Rose replied.
"What exactly is it?" I asked.
"Just listen..." Rose closed her eyes as she AND Chikorita went silent.
This prompted me to stay still and listen as well. Initially, I heard nothing but the ominous sound of the slightly, murky breeze, that was until the volume of something distant was barely audible. It was the sound of talking, and the volume gradually grew and grew until I could hear what sounded like a very large crowd.
"Let's gp g-oh...uh?" I attempted to continue walking, but Rose still wouldn't let go of my hand. She basically trapped me in that very spot. "Get off!"
"No..." Rose gazed at the ground with a look of fear on her face. "Brother, there are countless 'strangers' here. I apologize, but I will not continue nor will I let you continue and leave me behind."
I gave my sister no reply, staring at her intently. We were both well aware that Chapel, Morty, and Mawile were quite a ways ahead of us by now and that we were on the verge of being separated, but that wasn't enough to convince Rose to face her fears.
"Why don't you just go back into my heart?" I asked flatly.
"Not only do I worry about myself, I worry about you too, Brother." Rose answered. "When it comes to Neo Snagem, you are quite obsessive. And I cannot just let you charge through the Dominion of Shadows like that. Not only do I need you, but you need me as well, Brother."
"Hmm." It took a moment for me to think about what Rose said, and there was honestly no reason for me to disregard her words. With the possibility of not making out of the Dominion of Shadows alive, or being defeat, or forced to join Neo Snagem as their newest recruit, we all needed to think everything through. I gave Rose another sure look as I said. "Let's find an alternate route. Then we'll watch the assembly far away from those strangers."
"Mmm. You have my gratitude, Brother." Rose let go of my hand and gave me a grateful bow. I of course just started to walk in another direction and keep to myself. That was until Rose proceeded to ask me one more question as she exited her bow. "What about Chapel and Mawile?"
I gave my sister no reply as I continued. We both knew all to well that Chapel has my heart, and that she'll always know where I am. So with no reply, Rose proceeded to start floating right beside me. Her, Chikorita and I were passing through narrow suburban streets darkened by the mist. Pumpkaboo, Croagunk, one Ralts and even Ivysaur were some of the few shadow pokemon that were seen roaming about.
"Chico!" Chikorita was acting as if she had just something, and hopped off my shouloder, looking back at Rose and I as if she wanted the two of us to follow her.
Chapel's POV
So Seth and Rose have branched off on their own. Well I wouldn't want for Rose to suffer at the hands of her fear like that, so I just let the situation be.
"Wile..." Mawile, Morty, Morty's shadow pokemon, and I were closing in on where the Dominion of Shadows' Main Square, with the dark mist starting to gradually disappear.
"We're here. The Dominion of Shadows' Main Square." Mawile had stopped, followed by his pokemon, Mawile, and myself.
And with the pause, I was finally able to hear the noise of the crowd quite clearly. Perhaps a little too clearly, and too loud as well.
"Um, Morty?" I started, "Just how many people are here?"
"The answer to your question lies straight ahead. Proceed, and you along with everybody else will be in the presence of quite a few of Neo Snagem's top commanders; those who govern this city." Morty answered as he motioned for Mawile and I to follow him/
"Mawile, let's go."
"Wile!"
...
Passing the dark mist, Mawile and I both gasped at what we saw.
"Is THIS really Team Neo Snagem?" I began shaking and trembling in fear of the danger I never realized I had gotten myself into. Hundreds of wandering shadow pokemon, and tens of thousands of uniformed Neo Snagem recruits flooded the Dominion of Shadows' Main Square, a Main Square that seemed to stretch for a couple of miles. Shadow pokemon wandering aimlessly, and all of Neo Snagem's recent recruits all lined up, leaving but a single aisle empty and passable. This passage led to a castle-like building, surrounded by that shadow aura, located in the town's center. And standing at the foot of that castle-like building, were quite a few distinct people, familiar AND UNfamiliar to me.
First, there was a man with shoulder length black hair and lavender eyes. He wore a black vest, a red cape, black gloves, beige pants, and black high top boots. Wes once described this man to me back when we met up in National Park (Chapter 37 offscreen). This man was Neo Snagem's Commander 20. Wes had told me that 20 was once defeated by 'then Pokemon G-Man' member Lance(Chapter 26), but was still in Ecruteak by the time the city was surrendered to Team Neo Snagem, so his elimination was never official.
Next, was a man I knew all too well. Commander 10, or Shadow, was a mysterious figure completely covered by a lavender cloak. We had met this figure before when he had taken control of Yumi and threatened to kill her by crushing her mind (Chapter 24). Seth's alter ego, Seifer, was created by Seth himself and the shadow known as Fear, who's existence originally came from Commander 10.
"Maw?" Mawile stepped up in curiosity when she laid her eyes on the next man.
"What is it?" I questioned as I looked in Mawile's direction.
It was a man wearing the generic Neo Snagem uniform. Red vest, grey slim fit t-shirt, light black pants, and black boots were what he was wearing. His short brown hair was nothing special either. But what stood out was that he had a Nintendo 3ds at hand, with what I would've guessed to be Pokemon Y Version inserted into the game slot. This man was none other than Commander 24. I know that Seth, Chikorita, and Mawile as a wild pokemon had encountered 24 back in Dark Cave(Chapter 12). Chikorita and Seth were originally on a quest to find a Rare Candy, but 24's presence had prompted Seth to 'meddle' in the issues of Mawile, Iris, and all the pokemon and people that were held hostage within the cave...Including the Skarmory 24 snagged on the way out. In fact, the whole reason Mawile joined Seth on his journey that day was in hopes to one day rescue Skarmory from 24. Mawile didn't take her eyes off the video game obsessed Commander.
Also lined up at the foot of the castle-like building, were four women who were all dressed in furisodes. Theses women were well known throughout Johto as the Kimono Sisters. Now there WAS fifth Kimono Sister who I met back in National Park. We never actually talked to each other, but I knew the woman's name: Naoko, who had accompanied Wes and Lance on their way to Goldenrod. Wes told me that Naoko was searching for her missing sisters, but apparently she might have never guessed that they had already been captured by Team Neo Snagem.
"Err..." Mawile couldn't help but start running in the direction of 24. "Wile!"
"Oh? Mawile, wait! What are you doing?" I reached a hand out to a Mawile who bothered not even to acknowledge my question OR presence as she continued. I took one step forward, but suddenly turned to Morty and said "Morty, sorry to leave you so soon, but we've gotta go!" as I then started following Mawile down into a crowded Main Square. "I hope we'll meet again someday!"
Morty gave me a look of confusion, as did his pokemon. "Be safe..." Morty said just before he was out of my sight.
...
After minutes of running, Mawile and I were deep within the sea of Neo Snagem's recruits. Mawile and I had stopped to collect our breath, and were standing just outside of Main Square's center aisle. Of course, I stuck out like a sore thumb due to the fact that I was literally the only person not wearing a Neo Snagem uniform. But all attention was not on me, but rather the trio that was approaching the passing through the center aisle.
It was what appeared to be a float that I would expect to see at a parade. And pulling the float were a pair of Rapidash. Moving swiftly, it wasn't too long before the Rapidash would pass me, and I would be able to identify what exactly was on the float.
"Wile?" Mawile was just as confused as I once we saw the float.
"Nothing..." That's right, nothing was on the float. All that stood was one man on a single platform. Hands behind his back, chin up high, and standing tall...but I was not truely astonished until the man looked at me, and I immediately recognized his face.
Shoulder length, maroonish brown hair with blonde bangs that covered the left side of his face...this was a guy I had met before. "Zero..." The 17 year old brother of Seth was here in the city that used to be Ecruteak.
"You..." Zero had given me the exact same reaction. "You're-" He was interrupted.
"-Ladies & gentlemen, boys & and girls, attention!" Commander 10, Shadow, had stepped up, and was acting as the assembly's master of ceremonies. "We will have order! I give you the leader who governs the Dominion of Shadows: Master Zero, Neo Snagem's Commander number 00 of the Neo Snagem Empire!"
There were low volume conversations and whispers throughout the crowd as Zero and the Rapidash had passed by us all. As soon as the Rapidash stopped at the foot of the 'castle' he turne around to face every citizen, or prisoner, who's attention was all on him. I scanned throughout the crowd, and noticed mixed reactions to the presence of Neo Snagem's third in command. Most viewed Zero as an up and coming icon, embracing Neo Snagem's empire. While the minority viewed the man with much disgust on their faces, probably wishing for the return of the Ecruteak that they had come to know and love. And even fewer people had indifferent looks on their faces, having given up on their old lives while accepting their new lives with indifferent looks on their faces. Thoughts of returning to the region of Johto that once stood as a fairly peaceful region compared to others had all but disappeared for the indifferent.
After a moment of pause, silence, and looking at the audience before him, Zero was just about ready to speak.
"People of Johto. People of Ecruteak. People of the Dominion of Shadows...People of Team Neo Snagem..." Zero started. "Is it with hatred, of envy, that you look at Neo Snagem's empire?"
"Booo!" The first of a few brave screamers disapproved of Team Neo Snagem.
"We did nothing to deserve any dictatorship!"
"Oh please, this 'Neo Snagem' is just a cultural movement, with overwhelming success as a result." One lady said, defending Team Neo Snagem.
:One day, we, Team Neo Snagem will eliminate the word 'discrimination' eventually accepting one another as we live in the same body...the body of Neo Snagem's empire..."
"LONG LIVE NEO SNAGEM!" Neo Snagem's supporters far outnumbered their oppressors.
There were plenty of people arguing with each other about their new roles in society. Those whole opposed Neo Snagem argued that humans have lost their citizenship, and were nothing more than Neo Snagem's pawns. While those who supported Neo Snagem argued about the 'one day' there will be no such thing as 'being different'. And soon the 'LONG LIVE NEO SNAGEM' chants were growing and growing until-
"LONG LIVE NEO SNAGEM! LONG LIVE NEO SNAGEM! LONG LIVE NEO SNAGEM!" It felt as if I was in an football(American) stadium full of obnoxious fans witnessing the home team just seal a victory.
"No...this can't be...everybody LIKES Neo Snagem?!" I couldn't hear myself talk, let alone think. I winced and put my hands over my ears, screaming at the top on my lungs, but I still couldn't hear myself. It was as if my voice had been muted. "NOOOO!"
"YEEEAAAHHH!"
Neo Snagem being treated as heroes...I had endured what seemed to be a living nightmare as the town started to quell themselves after what felt like a forever.
"Ma...wile..." Mawile was left without words by the majority of the town's praise for Neo Snagem.
"Now that you are all settled, I'll proceed." Zero started. "Our goal is not to hurt. Our goal is not to kill. It is not to divide or destroy...Our goal is to unify all who live as one, increase our numbers, and create for ourselves identity. One day we will all have only common purposes: to journey for love, power, and identity, as I said. Which is why I ask of you all to spread the name of Neo Snagem near, and far beyond the Dominion of Shadows' gates. For the Fourth Reich. For Unity. For power, love, identity...Long live Neo Snagem! And may we all accept this day as one."
And with that, the assembly had concluded once Zero, 24,20,10, and the Kimono Sisters had all taken their leave in to that 'castle'. The Rapidash had both been released from the float, allowing them to freely roam the dominion(If they were wild pokemon).
People gathered here in Main Square were getting back to their 'new' lives, eventually leaving only Mawile and I standing in the now- empty plaza.
"Maw! Mawile!" Mawile grabbed my hand, trying to grab my attention, but it was no use. My eyes were in a temporary paralyzed state as the idea of Neo Snagem actually being treated as heroes sink in.
"The world around us is changing..." I whispered to myself. "Already, people are accepting Neo Snagem's dictation, and their new roles in society."
These people do not realize how blind they are. My hatred for Neo Snagem had not been so strong since...
"Ch-Chapel..." I remembered the day my mother, Chiyo, and her destruction at the hands of Neo Snagem(Chapter 4)
"M-M-Mother..."I clenched my fist at not only the thought of satisfying my thirst for vengeance, but now saving all of Johto."Mother, I dedicate my life to you. And I now dedicate my life to saving the people of Johto. As a Pokemon Ranger, it is my duty to maintain peace for people and pokemon alike. It is up to me, to change the world."
To Be Continued...