Saizo was in a bind. He had hid well enough, using a suit he had made from plant material and mud, but Noivern and Lucario had zeroed in on him easily enough. They had been chasing him for almost an hour now, and he was pretty confidant that Sceptile was somewhere nearby as well. He had been running for nearly thirty minutes now, dodging from one side to the other as aura spheres and boom bursts rained down. Roots erupted from the ground in front of him as he ran, causing him to falter for but a second before leaping clear over them and continuing his retreat. He needed to lose the three pokemon before finding a new spot to hide. There was just one problem. Where were the other pokemon? And where were Barbaracle and Scizor? They should have been protecting him. The other pokemon must be keeping them busy. I'm on my own. Saizo thought, grimacing. He could run forever, but so could the three chasing him. Noivern were by far the most acrobatic dragon type in the air, and their ears acted as radar dishes. The one chasing him could probably hear the snap of the smallest twig miles away. Sceptile were known as the 'rulers of the jungle' and for good reason. Nothing could beat a sceptile's speed, maneuverability, and agility in a wooded area. And then there was Lucario. A swift, hard hitting species that bore the ability to discern auras. This meant that even if Saizo did somehow escape his pursuers, they would inevitably find him again, no matter how silent he may be or how dark his hiding place may be. That left him few options. The same forest that concealed him might also give him away to the dragon overhead, so he would need something more concealing. He could hide in a cave. The difference in terms of noise between the outside area and the inside of the cave might confuse Noivern, but Lucario would still be able to sense him, if only slightly. It would be far better if I find a cave with both still and running water. "VERN!" BAM! The ground in front of Saizo erupted from the impact of Noivern's boomburst, dirt and mud flung a yard in every direction, which unfortunately included Saizo's face.
Blinded, the ninja tripped, stumbling into a forward roll. He shot back up after a few feet, settling back into a run as he spied the dark form of one of his pursuers in the trees behind him. Sceptile! He ran as hard as he could, tossing smoke bombs at the ground beneath his feet. His only option was to disappear. He could see a rocky hill up ahead. Maybe I can find a cave there.
Ash and Greninja watched as Saizo rapidly approached the trap they had made. Greninja had been keeping the mud wet, meaning that the ground should be slippery enough. Guess we're about to find out. Saizo came running through the clearing like a zubat out of the distortion world. Greninja and Ash tensed, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice. Good thing, too, as Saizo slowed down before coming to a complete stop JUST before the pitfall Team Ash had created. Why did he stop? He didn't see it, did he? Just one more step! Ash thought, his brow furrowed in frustration. But then, they had planned for this. Greninja leapt down into the clearing, engaging the elusive ninja. Saizo dodged, evaded, or blocked every attack, but even so he was being pushed back. In a moment of seeming desperation, the ninja struck out at the water type pokemon before him. In the same moment Greninja shimmered and vanished, as the real Greninja materialized just behind what had been a clone, sweeping his leg in front of him in a blow that Saizo just barely dodged. He leapt back, landing square upon the trap. For a second nothing happened, and then Saizo's legs sunk a foot into the mud one after another. The ninja jolted in an attempt to regain his footing for a moment before stilling once more as a look of realization settled across his face.
End Flashback
"So" Ash said, flashing Sabrina a look. "You mentioned dinner?", he said, enjoying the stunned look on the beautiful psychic's face. "Wait… you mean to tell me that you came up with that strategy while training with ninjas? All because you are supposedly the hero mentioned in a ninja prophesy?" Ash's smile melted into a frown as he considered her words. "Yeah. Why?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. Sabrina made a pensive look, ultimately shaking her head before answering. "Please don't take offense, but that does sound a little far fetched." she answered. Ash crossed his arms, leaning all his weight on one leg as he shifted. "So you had a dream about my return ten years ago but you don't believe in ninjas?" Sabrina smirked. "Have you met Koga? Of course I believe that ninjas are real, but that they sought out you for training? I knew you were important, but not that important." Ash's grin returned tenfold as he crossed his arms. "Better get used to it." Misty and Serena, meanwhile, were fuming. Sure, they understood why Sabrina had come to have a crush on Ash, but that didn't allay their jealousy in any way.
"So" Brock said, walking down into the arena, Pikachu hot on his tail. "What's next, Ash?" Ash's smirk gave way to a thoughtful look as he lifted Pikachu onto his shoulders. He turned to Misty and Serena, both of whom were still fuming in the stands. "How does dinner sound to you?" The girls shook their head to rid themselves of the pink that adorned their cheeks before grabbing their things and briskly jogged down into the arena. Ash smiled at his friends' antics before turning back to Sabrina, who wore a flabbergasted expression on her face.. "So….what were you saying about dinner?"
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Somewhere, someplace:
Several figures could be seen sitting at a long table in a dark, dimly lit room. Their faces were obscured, but it could be said that there were an almost equal number of men as women if only by their looks. Numerous shades and styles of hair could be found among them, and most, if not all, sat quietly. One person, with navy blue hair, spoke up at very last. "Has there been any success in the Kalos region? I understand some of your past compatriots have been a thorn in our side, Celosia." One of the women at the table raised her head, her cyan blue hair and glasses catching what little light there was in the room. Quirking one eyebrow as she scowled, Celosia spat "Malva! The strumpet took control of the Flare members that stayed behind. Now they're acting as a secret agency, working with interpol and reporting to that false champion, Diantha!" The man with the navy colored hair grinned, though there was no warmth in his smile. "Yes, so I've heard. You must feel so betrayed." Celosia shot the man a look, hatred flashing in her eyes. "A feeling you might soon experience, Saturn. I must admit I was surprised to see Jupiter of all people working with interpol." Celosia retorted gleefully. Saturn rose from his seat, angered at her retort. "Perhaps you would like to-" "Enough! The boss will be here momentarily." a voice interrupted. Everyone at the table turned to the source of the voice. A man entered the room through the door nearest to the table. He had gray hair and icy blue eyes that cut right through whomever he gazed upon, and was dressed in the Team Infinite uniform just as everyone else was. Saturn scowled. "Archer. So good to see you. And the boss?" Archer smiled threateningly. "The boss will be here momentarily. Sit." Still scowling, Saturn complied. One day, Archer. Once we've rescued Master Cyrus, Team Galactic will be rid of you. Looking around the table, Saturn harumped quietly to himself. He had always been disgusted with his cohorts. Team Rocket? Team Aqua? Team Magma? Two bit players, all of them. Team Flare he could respect. Their first leader, Lysander, had recognised the flaws within the world they lived in and had made great effort. Of course, all that effort had been for naught. Ash Ketchum and his friends had intervened. Truth be told, Lysander's plan had been far too dramatic. If he had waited and bided his time, as Master Cyrus had, then Lysander would have succeeded. Some of you may be useful. Celosia and her comrades? All scientists, meaning you could be of some use no matter the task. The same applies to you, Colress, who once harnessed the power of the Ice Titan, Kyurem. But the rest of you? I will personally cast you into the distortion world myself, starting with you, Archer. Saturn thought, smiling at the visage of the ex Team Rocket leader.
Just then the door at the far end of the room burst open. All conversation, what little there was, came to a stop. The person who walked through the door gave off the feeling of a madman, or perhaps a madwoman, making Saturn's skin crawl as it always did in the boss's presence. As far as he knew, no one had ever actually seen the boss, so they could very well have been a woman or a man. All anyone knew was that the boss was incredibly powerful, having defeated many of the people sitting in the room one on one. The boss sat at the far end of the table, their appearance hidden completely by shadows except for the very hint of some black fabric. A light, airy voice rang forth from the shadows. "It is good to see everyone gathered here today. It's been far too long. What do you have to report? Hmm, let's start with the Hoenn region" A young woman with curly lavender hair rose from her seat. "We've had some trouble in the region. We established a hold in Mauville City, but we've struggled to make much progress anywhere else aside from the volcano, where our scientists have been making decent progress on Project Tyche." she said, taking her seat once more upon completion. After a moment the boss spoke up. "So you are close to finding it, then?" they asked, causing many of the people at the table to break out in a cold sweat. "Not quite yet, I'm afraid." once of the other women at the table responded. She had dark skin and long black hair with dark blue streaks throughout. "Emerald Team has made decent progress, but it would appear that code name 'Tyche' relocates often, and has eluded our search team at every turn." she explained, visibly nervous. "Hmmm. Continue moving forward with your best efforts. I expect great things from Emerald Team." the boss muttered before turning to look at Saturn and Celosia. "I understand Amber Team recently ran into some trouble in the Kanto region?" Anxious, Saturn opened his mouth to explain, but, thinking it would be better if Celosia explained her failure, closed it. She shot him a dirty look, and he smirked. "Yes. We tracked down a group of rare pokemon near Cerulean city and moved to capture them. We had them in our grasp when we were ambushed by a group of pokemon and a single trainer." she explained, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. The boss, who had not moved since sitting other than to talk, also shifted.
"I am told interpol played their hand. Was this one of their field teams?" the boss asked, sitting forward in their chair. A single lock of golden hair shinned as a beam of light lightly kissed the edge of the boss's still obscured face. Celosia shook her head. "While it was interpol that, er, attempted to interrogate me, I don't believe the group that assaulted my men was interpol themselves. As a matter of fact… it was Ash Ketchum…" Celosia said, trailing off nervously. Gasps and soft exclamations rang through the room as everyone at the table reacted to the news, something Saturn understood well. Out of all the commanders in Team Infinite, there wasn't a single one that hadn't dealt with the Lost Champion at some point. The boy and his friends had a talent for sticking their noses where they didn't belong, and his exploits had made him famous around the world. Saturn squinted in anger, clenching his jaw painfully. It had been thanks to that very boy that Master Cyrus had been lost.
"Impossible!" one of the men at the table cried, raising vehemently to their feet. Proton, of Team Rocket. The man continued, looking over at the boss. "I thought the boy had been dealt with! No one has seen him in five years!" All eyes turned to the boss who sat quietly at the head of the table. The boss appeared calm at first glance, but Saturn's observant eye noticed how they gripped the armrest of the chair so forcefully that cracks were appearing in the wood. If one strained their hearing they would hear the sound of wood splintering. "It was my understanding that Operation Matricidium was… successful." They said, glancing over their shoulder into the darkness. Three men stepped silently out of the darkness as if appearing out of thin air. They knelt in a triangle behind the boss's seat. The Shadow Triad! Saturn thought incredulously. The boss waved backhandedly, and the man in the lead stood up. "The boy's mother was dealt with as instructed and the note was left where you specified." he said in a monotone voice. "And the boy?" the boss asked through clearly strained teeth. "He eluded us. We thought to ambush him on the road, as his previous modus operandi was to hike anywhere he might go. We did not expect him to arrive at the hour nor the direction from whence he came. By the time we were in position, the G men, lead by the champion Lance, had arrived on sight. As per your instructions, we remained undetected." the man said, bowing before falling to one knee once more. "And you didn't think to mention this before!?" the boss hissed quietly. Everyone at the table trembled, terrified of what might come next. "You were… otherwise occupied at the time." the ninja responded.
For a monet the room was still. No one, not the ninja, the commanders, or the boss, moved. Finally the boss sighed, slumping back in their chair. "If even ONE of His descendants remain it could be trouble for my plans, and this boy is his direct descendant! Go. Observe him. ONLY observe, for now." the boss said quietly, waving once again. The trio of ninjas bowed their heads, vanishing into thin air after a brief moment. "All of you are dismissed. Return to your operations. I want you all to increase progress. This news moves our time table up exponentially if true. Saturn, Archer, Celosia, I want you three to remain."
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Only once everyone had left did the boss truly relax, and even then Saturn could tell it wasn't fully so. While Archer rose from his seat and sat as close as possible to the boss, Saturn and Celosia shifted in theirs, anxious. The boss reached into their clothes, bringing out a pokeball. "Spiritomb, use imprison!" the boss commanded, tossing the pokeball. The dark type pokemon sprang forth, crying eerily as the entire room glowed violet. The boss nodded contently. "Good. Now we may speak without anyone listening in." They leaned forward, exposing the tip of their slender nose to the light. "You are confident that it was Ash who stopped you and your team?" They asked again intently. Celosia gulped quietly, nodding. "The… man, who intercepted us matched his description for the most part. So do the pokemon he commanded. Only…" she trailed off, unsure how to continue. Archer raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed over his chest. "Yes, Celosia?" Celosia's gaze snapped to the disgraced leader. "He ordered some of his pokemon to kill one of my men without hesitation. In all my encounters with Ketchum, the kid has never acted in such a… cold manner. He always fought us for so called 'moral' reasons." Celosia said, her gaze traveling downward until it rested on the table. The boss sat back in their chair yet again, apparently deep in contemplation. "Very well. We will have to investigate this matter. Archer, I want you and Palladium Team to investigate ways to circumvent Ketchum and his friends. I want you to look into everything; Their internet usage, their family, their friends. Anyone and anything they tressure, and how we can use it against them. In the meantime, Shadow Team will keep tabs on the 'Lost Champion'. This conversation does not leave this room. Celosia, you may go." The woman nodded, rising from her seat and hurriedly exiting the room. "Now…" the boss said, drawing the two remaining commanders out of their thoughts. "Saturn, I want a full report on Platinum Team's investigation." Saturn nodded, his thoughts turning analytical.
"We have succeeded in pinpointing where and when the time- space deformities will appear, with a success rate of about seventy eight percent. Our instruments have been unable to accurately predict what will come through, but so far there haven't been any human appearances. It seems human physiology is not quite built for space time travel without some form of protection." he intoned in a lifeless, monotone voice." The boss appeared interested. "And the pokemon?" Saturn nodded. "We've managed to capture most. Those we failed to catch have vanished. It's almost as if they are return from where they came, like they need an anchor to keep them in the present." The boss nodded. "Interesting. Continue your research. Have researchers from Palladium Team assist in your research of the ruins in the region." Saturn nodded. "Then if you will excuse me." Just as Celosia had before, he rose, turning to leave the room when the boss called out. "Commander? Do refrain from damaging the ruins. I would be most…displeased."