Pokémon Gray

by Carlos Shiny

Pokémon Gray. What if Ash had never traveled to Unova before now? Ash, now eighteen and strongest trainer in the world, wants to take an important step in his journey to become a Pokémon Master. It's not about participating in another Pokémon League Tournament or defeating other champions, but doing something new and completely different.

5. The Infiltrator

The Infiltrator

On the road to Eolea, our heroes found themselves traversing one of the many forests in the Unova region. It stretched just beyond the outskirts of Striaton City.
It was an unusually silent and peaceful place, despite the large number of Pokémon that populated it. It was a place where berries grew abundantly, and there were no fights for food or territory.
Moreover, very few people ventured into that forest. Most traveled by car or bike, taking completely different routes.
Those who entered that forest usually did so only when they wanted to catch a Pokémon, and this was quite well-known in the city and its surroundings. This was known to everyone, even to people who were better off not knowing.
Before setting off again, they had also helped Zania's colleagues, who had also fallen victim to the powers of the poachers' Hypno. For this reason, they had left a bit later than expected. Suddenly, a noise like thunder broke the silence.
«Don't tell me it's going to rain!» Carlos commented.
«Sorry... it's me...» Ash felt slightly embarrassed. «It's almost lunchtime...» he added. There was no need to check the time. His stomach was more accurate than any clock. Carlos checked the time on his Smart Rotom. «Yes... I think it's time to get to work...» He took off his backpack and examined what he had with him. Among the various items bought by Ash, Serena, and Anita, «With this camp stove, we save ourselves the trouble of gathering wood.» Serena commented. «It's much more practical, although less romantic.» she added with an ironic tone.
«If you want to go train, feel free. I'll let you know when it's ready.» Carlos explained, receiving approval from the three.
Ash and the girls walked a little further away, to another clearing.
«Come out!» the three invited their Pokémon to come out of their Poké Balls: Snivy, Dragonite, Staraptor, Rowlet, and Gliscor. Anita wondered to herself how many more Pokémon Ash had. Not that it was a problem. She had the opportunity to meet Pokémon not native to Unova, which she would hardly have encountered otherwise.
While Anita and Serena let their Pokémon out of their respective Poké Balls, Snivy began to get acquainted with Ash's team.
As soon as she came out of the Poké Ball, Serena's Lilligant immediately sought the company of Sylveon. Serena noticed this immediately. «You know, Sylveon used to be shy and afraid and would only get along with one Pokémon. Now, seeing that she's the only one getting along with you...» she explained. «Gant?» The Pokémon was quite puzzled.
«You know? I'm a performer. We Performers don't challenge Gyms but participate in Showcases. We don't battle; we just perform.» This only increased the Pokémon's puzzlement. «If you want, we can give you a demonstration.» she proposed. The Pokémon seemed to respond affirmatively.
«Alright! Delphox, Pancham!» The girl invited two of her Pokémon to join her. «Are you ready?» The two nodded affirmatively. «Great, then! Let's start!»
Delphox used its Fire Blast attack, creating a gigantic fire star, which was soon wrapped by Pancham's Dark Pulse, transforming it into a sort of web.
Then Pancham struck the ground with a punch, generating sharp stones of a blue color. He started jumping on the stones, doing various backflips until he reached the height of the star, hitting it with his Ice Punch, freezing it on the outside.
Pancham barely had time to move before the creation was destroyed by Delphox's Mystical Fire, exploding into countless colored sparks.
All the while, the girl followed her Pokémon's moves in various dance poses.
«Ta-da!» she concluded.
The performance was relatively brief, but everyone seemed enthusiastic, especially Lilligant. «These are performances.» the girl explained. «What do you think?» she asked. The Pokémon seemed thrilled. Even more than Ash and Anita.
«Would you like to try as well?» Anita invited.
«I don't know... we also have to train for the Gym battle... and besides... I really don't know... I mean... you and your Pokémon were perfect. You knew exactly what to do at every moment... just like Ash in battles. I really don't know what to do. I've already given you my word, but... I'm totally incapable of dancing and...» the girl didn't finish the sentence.
She was watching her Pokémon making friends with Ash's Pokémon. Or rather, they were trying to escape from her Dragonite, who wanted, at all costs, to show its affection. After a while, Ash finally managed to calm its fury.
«If you don't want to train for the Showcase, you can train with Ash. Then, when you feel more confident, we'll train together for your debut. Then, here in Unova, it's not mandatory. The second phase is more like the recital phase of Pokémon Contests.» Serena explained.
«You could participate too.» Ash proposed. «Just to release some tension.» he added. «Why not?» she replied without even thinking. «That way, I can also learn something about double battles.» Anita joined in, quite happy about it. Serena and Anita sent out Pancham and Oshawott, while Ash sent out Snivy and Pikachu. «Remember. Don't hold back!» Ash encouraged them. «Neither should you!» Serena replied. «You can start.» Ash invited them. The girls exchanged a look of understanding.
Serena ordered Pancham to attack with Stone Edge, while Anita ordered her Pokémon to attack Snivy with Tackle. While the naughty Pokémon struck the ground with a powerful punch that generated large, sharp blue stones, the Otter Pokémon started running toward its opponent.
«Pikachu! Break its Stone Edge with Iron Tail and throw them! Snivy, make it fall with Vine Whip!» Ash ordered. The Mouse Pokémon started running before hitting the stones with its tail.
The latter shattered under the powerful blow. «Great! Now throw them at Pancham!» With a quick movement
of its tail, the Mouse Pokémon hurled its own attack back at the opponent.
«Pancham! Defend with Arm Thrust!» Serena ordered. While the naughty Pokémon shattered the fragments hurled by the target, Oshawott was already very close to its opponent.
The perfect moment to strike. From one of the protuberances on Snivy's back came a thin vine, which quickly wrapped around the feet of the opposing Pokémon, making it fall face-first to the ground.
«Oshawott! Are you okay?» Anita asked. The Pokémon got up, proving it was still able to continue. Serena immediately noticed her partner's difficulties. «Pancham! Use Ice Punch!» The naughty Pokémon started running towards Snivy, while its right arm became covered in ice.
«Dodge and attack with Leaf Tornado!» she ordered. The Pokémon waited for its opponent to get close enough before quickly moving and dodging the blow.
A few moments later, the Pokémon jumped and generated a powerful whirlwind of sharp leaves from its tail, which hit Pancham, making it retreat.
Meanwhile, Oshawott had gotten up, ready to attack. «Go, Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered. The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water and launched itself at ground level towards Pikachu.
«Counter it with Quick Attack!» ordered Ash.
The Mouse Pokémon ran at high speed, striking its opponent in the side and altering its trajectory. The poor Sea Otter Pokémon hit its head against a tree, getting a nasty bump.
«I think that's enough.» Ash declared the end of the match. «I'm happy to see your progress. Oshawott managed to withstand Pikachu's Quick Attack. Not bad at all.» he complimented. Pikachu, who had climbed back onto Ash's shoulder, covered its mouth with a paw.
The meaning of that gesture was quite clear, at least to Ash. He had held back quite a bit.
Anita smiled. «Really?» Meanwhile, Oshawott had rejoined its trainer, still dazed from the hit. «Maybe you should rest.» She recalled it into its Poké Ball. «You rest too, you were fantastic!» In turn, Ash recalled Snivy into its Poké Ball.
Meanwhile, Carlos was busy with lunch. Before he could start cooking, he had to set up the camping table, not an easy operation. The table was new, and the locking mechanism was still quite stiff. After some persistence, he finally managed to open it. Then he set up the chairs.
Now he could finally start cooking. He lit the gas stove and began preparing the sauté. He was going to make simple pasta with sauce. They would need to leave soon. After starting the sauce, he put a pot of water on the second burner.
As he covered the pot to facilitate boiling, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a strange white and blue creature.
«What's that?» he asked, frightened. He tried to regain his composure while attempting to scan the strange creature with his Smart Rotom.
On the device's screen appeared a quadruped resembling a large dog. Its body, varying from dark blue to gray, was covered in thick white fur. The fur was longer around the neck and chest. On its head was a tuft adorned with a dark oval. The face resembled a feline's, while its scythe-shaped tail mirrored the horn on the right side of its head. Each paw was armed with three claws, and large spines jutted from its heels.
The boy listened to the description provided by the device. «Absol. Disaster Pokémon. Dark Type. Male specimen. Whenever Absol appears, disaster follows.» The boy almost dropped his device, terrified.
«No need to worry!» reassured a male voice. The boy, further alarmed, reached into his pocket for his Umbreon's Poké Ball.
«I don't want to fight. I'm not a Trainer.» the voice stopped him. «Then who are you?» Carlos asked, trying to sound as threatening as possible. His current concern was not letting the sauce burn.
«Relax. I'm here to help you.» the voice grew closer.
Carlos was getting seriously worried. He turned suddenly towards the voice. A tall, slim boy with long light green hair appeared, wearing a black cap, a white shirt, light brown pants, and green shoes. Around his neck was a pendant resembling a planet. He also wore bracelets and had a sort of Rubik's cube hanging from his pants. «And who might you be?» he asked again. «I'm a boy who travels the world to know as many Pokémon as possible. I'm not interested in catching them. I'm not a Trainer. I like seeing them live in their natural environment and spending time with them. If you want to know my name… well… I'm N.» replied the green-haired boy.
«N? That's an unusual name!» commented Carlos. «And you, what's your name?» asked N. «Carlos.» The boy merely smiled. «Got it. Can you tell me what happened earlier, why you were so scared when you saw Absol?» «You see, the Pokédex explained how it always appears before a disaster. And I panicked.» he explained. «I understand. You know, he was more scared of you. In reality, Absol is a very kind Pokémon and tries to help people and other Pokémon by warning them of impending disasters so they can get to safety.» Carlos merely nodded.
«Now that I think about it, a boy named Carlos was kidnapped by Team Plasma...» «Yes… that was me. It was really terrible. If it weren't for them, they would have taken my Umbreon. I don't know what I would have done if they had taken him.» «I imagine you care a lot about your Pokémon. That makes me happy.» the boy paused briefly. «There are fewer and fewer people who truly care about their Pokémon. I've often seen Trainers making their Pokémon fight until they're exhausted or subjecting them to grueling training…» Another pause. «Not a pretty sight.» Carlos remained silent throughout the speech. He did not see himself as that type of person, but he understood his reasons.
«Well… yes… I understand… since you're here, how about staying for lunch? I was just making some pasta...» N made a small gesture to interrupt him. «You're kind, but I can't accept. Not with the risk that some Pokémon might be in danger.» Another pause. «Maybe another time.» With those words, the boy walked away with long strides, followed by that very Absol. «But didn't he say it wasn't his?» he commented as he resumed cooking.
While the Pokémon rested from their training, in the shade of a tree at the edge of the clearing, something caught both Ash's and the girls' attention.
A Pokémon, resembling a large butterfly, with long antennae and a slender body, its blue and azure wings fluttering a few meters away from them. «Hey! That's a Vivillon!» commented Serena. «A Vivillon?» replied Ash. «Isn't it a Pokémon native to Kalos?» he wondered in surprise.
Meanwhile, Anita scanned it with her Smart Rotom. «Vivillon. Scale Pokémon. Marine Pattern form. Bug and Flying Type. Female specimen. Various patterns exist in the world, differing by the wing patterns. These seem to depend on the climate of their habitat. Known moves: Gust, Sleep Powder, Psychic, Energy Ball.»
«It's strange, but not impossible. Maybe it belonged to some Trainer who decided to release it...» Serena speculated.
«But… you have to be really cruel to abandon such a beautiful Pokémon.» commented Anita, puzzled.
«Vivii!» The Pokémon approached the girl for a few moments before flying off into the forest.
«I think it's a wild Pokémon.» commented Ash. «It seemed quite curious about Anita. If it had already had a Trainer, I don't think it would have done that.» the boy tried to explain. After a few moments, many more of the Pokémon hurried through the clearing. «Wow! There are so many!» commented Anita. «They seem really scared.» added Ash. «Maybe they're not used to our presence.» replied Serena.
At that moment, they were joined by Carlos' Umbreon. The Moonlight Pokémon motioned for the three and their Pokémon to follow.
«Already ready?» Ash, evidently not realizing how much time had passed, didn't hesitate to follow the Pokémon of their new travel companion.
They reached the table just as Carlos was draining the pasta. He took special care to drain all the water before pouring it into the bowl.
At the same time, Ash and the girls were preparing food for the Pokémon, pouring small brown kibbles into bowls.
After taking care of the Pokémon, it was their turn to eat. Knowing about Ash's reputation as a big eater, Carlos had prepared rather generous portions.
After finishing the gigantic lunch, it was time for Carlos to wash the dishes. After all, he had promised. «Oshawott… could you give me a hand?» he asked. «Sha?» The Pokémon was rather puzzled but agreed. Thanks to the Pokémon's help, the boy quickly managed to wash the dishes.
Having packed everything and recalled the Pokémon into their respective Poké Balls, the four were ready to set off.
Serena glanced at the map application on her Smart Rotom. «Eolea isn't far. If we hurry, we can reach it before dark.» she encouraged. «Then let's move!» echoed Ash.
The four of them walked several hundred meters, venturing into the forest, which became denser with every step. The thicker the forest grew, the more the number of wild Pokémon increased.
«Look!» Carlos pointed to a large moss-covered rock not far from them. It was surrounded by several Eevee. «That's a Moss Rock.» A male voice startled the group. «Those Eevee will evolve into Leafeon. It's a rare event to witness. We are very fortunate to see it.» Anita watched with wide-eyed interest as the small, light brown Pokémon were enveloped in a bluish light and transformed. Their bodies grew taller and more slender, resembling a mix between a cat and a fox. Their bodies were primarily beige but turned a darker brown around their legs, eyes, and inside their ears. Several sprouts emerged from their bodies, making them look like plants. The longest sprout, on the forehead, resembled a tuft. Both the ears and tail resembled leaves. Anita decided to scan one of these Pokémon with her Smart Rotom.
«Leafeon. Verdant Pokémon. Grass type. It is one of Eevee's evolutions. Male specimen. It dislikes fighting but will defend its companions, using the leaf on its tail as a sharp blade. Known moves: Leaf Blade, Quick Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes.» Only after scanning the Pokémon did she notice the presence of a stranger. The stranger, a young man around twenty-five, stood in front of them. He wore a short orange vest over a blue short-sleeved jumpsuit, black gloves with cut-off fingers, an orange and blue hat, and orange hiking boots.
«Sorry if I startled you... I'm a Pokémon Ranger. My name is...» He paused. «Kyler.» Another pause. «You are about to enter a protected area. It's forbidden to harm anything here, from Pokémon to plants, to the ground and rocks.» The group nodded, showing they understood. They had no intention of causing harm, even without the warning.
«Though... I have to confess, we have a problem lately...» «An alien species has invaded this untouched paradise. The Scales Pokémon, Vivillon.» added a female voice. Moments later, a woman of similar age joined the group. She wore similar attire to her colleague, predominantly blue and orange. Her gloves covered her fingers completely, and unlike her colleague, she wore shorts.
Both wore a golden badge resembling a tree. «Ah, right.» The ranger corrected himself. «This is... Eliza. My colleague.» He introduced her. «Nice to meet you!» The woman tried to be friendly. «I'm Ash, and this is my friend Pikachu!» introduced the Kanto native, followed by Serena, Carlos, and finally Anita. «What brings you to a protected area?» asked the ranger, a hint of reproach in her tone. «We just wanted to reach Eolea. We saw that this path was shorter. We didn't know it was a protected area.» Ash tried to explain.
«No worries.» replied the ranger. «If you help us deal with these invaders, we won't report your trespass, agreed?» she proposed.
The four fell silent. «I find it strange for a ranger to speak this way.» Serena whispered into Anita's ear. The girl didn't respond, but her expression subtly changed.
Ash didn't know what to do. It was a big responsibility. If it were up to him, he would leave things as they were. Throughout his travels, he had seen many examples of sharing and coexistence, and in this case, it seemed to him that the forest had enough resources for everyone.
He didn't know what to do. On one hand, these rangers seemed trustworthy, so he thought he could trust them. He and his friends had often fallen into traps and risked harming themselves or their Pokémon. But this didn't seem like one of those times.
«Can we help you?» Ash offered. Serena placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered to him. «Are you sure? They seem suspicious.» Ash turned to her. «If that's the case... we'll make the right choice.»
Serena understood his words. «You two! What are you whispering about?» the ranger chided. The scolding had no effect except to annoy Ash.
«I'll get what we need. It's a delicate operation... you see, Vivillon's wings are very fragile. Even though they are an alien species here, as rangers, we can't afford to injure them.» The ranger walked away from the group.
«While she gets the equipment, I'll show you where to set the traps.» Ash's expression became worried. «Traps?» he wondered. «We can't capture them all with Poké Balls.» The ranger explained. «We'd risk injuring them by battling them before capturing. With traps, the risk is minimal. Actually... traps... they are more like transport cages.» He clarified. His words reassured the group, though only slightly. «Yes... but how can we make sure no other Pokémon get caught?» Carlos asked. «Good question. But don't worry. We've thought of that too. With an AI-controlled system, we'll ensure only Vivillon are captured. It's practically foolproof.» He reassured.
Meanwhile, the ranger had returned. She carried a large bag. Judging by its shape, it seemed to contain many small objects. The girl reached into the bag and pulled out a small iron cage. «How can a Vivillon fit in there?» Carlos asked. The ranger pointed to a small black plastic button next to a tiny camera.
«Just press this button and...» the girl pressed the button, and the cage expanded, becoming several times larger. «See? It's big enough to prevent Vivillon from injuring themselves.» She noted.
Moments later, the ranger took out his Smart Rotom. He opened the gallery and displayed a map of the forest they were in. Several areas were marked with crosses. «As soon as the traps activate, we will retrieve them and bring them here.»
«We have identified strategic points where Vivillon tend to gather. We'll place our traps there. We'll use honey to attract them. Vivillon love it.» He sent the map to everyone.
«To speed up our work, it's best to split up.» proposed the ranger. No one objected. «Once we're done placing them, we'll meet back here. They surely won't be enough. Once they are set…»
Each of them took some of the cages and honey. In no time, the group separated. Each headed in the direction decided. Everyone except the two rangers. This went unnoticed. After all, the only important thing was getting the job done, right?
«See?» the man commented. «They fell for it completely.» The woman didn't hide a slight smile. «I just hope they keep cooperating. Remember, if they find out, we'll have to deal with the World Champion.» the man reminded. «Don't worry. Once we have enough bounty, we'll disappear.» the woman reassured.
The man seemed convinced enough. «But now let's get to work. Or they might find out too soon.» she concluded.
Once separated, the group followed the instructions, moving to the indicated areas on the map. They seemed like normal parts of the forest. Each of them set the cages and honey.
Once the cages were set, the group reconvened at the same spot where they had initially gathered. «Now all we have to do is wait.» commented the ranger. «I don't think it will take long.» he added.
«The cages have a system that activates as soon as they are filled. My Smart Rotom will alert me as soon as the first cages are filled. We need to ensure that they stay in the cage for as little time as possible.» explained the woman.
To pass the time, the group decided to have some coffee. The two rangers had brought some pastries, while Carlos took care of preparing the coffee. He had a battery-powered machine that ground the beans instantly. He also had disposable cups. Just as they finished their break, a notification on the woman's Smart Rotom informed her that the first cages had been activated.
«Great. We can go retrieve the cages. We'll bring them here. Don't worry about the rest. We'll take care of sending them to the sorting center.»
«Sorting center?» Anita was quite surprised by the woman's words. They were dealing with Pokémon, not packages.
«Maybe 'sorting center' sounds a bit intimidating, but it's an entirely safe and suitable place for Pokémon. We'll ensure they are treated with care. They'll be in a protected area near one of the Unova ports. This is to prevent them from spreading diseases when they return to Kalos.» explained the ranger.
The four nodded. The man's explanation seemed quite convincing. «Excuse me if I'm being intrusive, but…»
«Go ahead… Serena, right?» The ranger invited her.
«Why do we have to leave the cages here? I imagine you got here using some vehicle...» the girl explained.
«Don't worry about that. We'll handle it.» the ranger tried to reassure her.
Since the activated traps were concentrated in only three areas, the group split into pairs: Ash and Serena, Anita and Carlos, and the two rangers.
«Doesn't this seem a bit strange to you?» Serena spoke in a low voice, fearing someone might hear her. «What?» Ash asked.
«They asked us to leave the cages where we met and said they'd take care of delivering them to the final destination... don't you find that strange?» The boy scratched his head. Pikachu imitated him.
«Now that I think about it, you're right. But it's just one odd thing. Think about it. They've been kind to us, and if they wanted to attack us, they could have done it at any time.» he tried to reason.
«Sure, but remember, you're the World Champion. They know that in a Pokémon battle, they wouldn't stand a chance.» she tried to explain. Ash didn't know what to do. Serena was right. «Well... if they have nothing to hide, I don't see why they wouldn't let us help. But we have to be careful not to get caught.» he replied.
Once the cages with the Pokémon were retrieved, the group met at the designated point.
«Thanks, guys. You've done a great job. We can handle it from here.» the man thanked them. «Are you sure?» Ash asked. «You know the saying... we've come this far...» the boy tried once more to convince them. Perhaps by insisting, they would change their minds. But the two rangers were resolute, further increasing the group's suspicions.
«Alright... as you wish.» Ash and Serena exchanged a brief look of understanding. «Then we'll continue on our way.» Ash added shortly after.
As soon as the two rangers left with some of the cages, they were finally able to talk with some level of privacy. «It seems strange that they don't want our help.» Serena explained. «Do you think they're hiding something?» Anita asked. «I don't know. But we need to find out. Let's follow them. They went that way.» Ash indicated the direction the couple had gone. «We need to be careful. They mustn't see us.» he added.
After a few steps, the silhouette of a truck began to appear from behind the trees. «Do you think it's theirs?» Carlos asked. «I'm not sure. But we need to be quiet now.» Ash urged.
A few steps further, not far from the truck, a gray pickup appeared. Next to it, two people were loading objects onto the bed. «Yes. They are definitely cages.» Ash commented. «We need to stop them!» Serena put a hand on his shoulder. «We can't act without a plan.» she cautioned. «And we don't know if there are other people involved.» she tried to reason. «The more there are, the worse it is.» the boy commented.
Serena knows Ash well. She knew that once he set his mind on something, it was impossible to dissuade him. In a short time, they reached the truck. Fortunately, without being discovered. The two had moved away from the vehicle and had gone back. It was the perfect time to act.
The four slowly approached the truck. It was military green and bore a logo identical to the pins the two rangers wore.

«I think this is their truck.» observed Serena. «Then why did they load the Vivillon onto a pickup?» Carlos asked.
«They could be accomplices or...» The girl approached the truck, opening the sliding door on the side opposite to where the pickup was. «Their victims.» Inside the truck were a man with olive skin and dark hair and a woman with fair skin and blonde hair. They were dressed in simple civilian clothes. Thrown in the middle of the truck were the uniforms of Team Plasma recruits.
«Pikachu, free them with Iron Tail!» Ash ordered.
The Mouse Pokémon jumped from his shoulder and cut the rope binding the two. The man and woman were finally able to remove their gags.
«Thank you, guys!» They thanked them. «If it hadn't been for you, I wonder if anyone would have ever saved us.» the woman added.
«It's a bit of a shame for a Pokémon ranger to be in trouble, but... they were really too strong.» the four were stunned.
«So if you're Pokémon Rangers... and here are the Team Plasma uniforms then...» Anita deduced. «Those two are from Team Plasma.» they all responded in unison.
After the usual round of introductions, they began with questions. «Those two told us that Vivillon here are an invasive species and needs to be relocated.» Ash began.
«Invasive species?» The two rangers were stunned. «Vivillon has lived here since anyone can remember. They are perfectly integrated into the ecosystem. They are perfectly integrated into the food chain.» the woman explained.
«Scatterbug are prey for many Pokémon that live here. And Vivillon also pollinates berry trees. Without them, the entire ecosystem would quickly collapse.» the man explained.
«We came here because this is a very special time of year. It's two weeks each year when the wild Eevee in the area evolve into Leafeon. During this time of year, we need to ensure they don't mix with trainers' specimens.» the woman added.
«So Vivillon has nothing to do with it?» Serena asked. «Exactly. To prevent damage to the ecosystem, whenever someone captures a specimen, they have to report it. A maximum of a hundred specimens can be captured each year.»
No one at that moment was aware they were being watched. For the time being, not by humans.
«I wonder what they want with the Vivillon...» Anita commented. «Such beautiful Pokémon... and then so important for the ecosystem...» she added.
«Yet you have a Pokédex…» a distant female voice was heard. A familiar voice. «You should know what Vivillon is capable of.» She added. Shortly after, the man's voice joined in. «We've been discovered. Now that we have our loot, we can head back to the base.» He commented.
«You're right. We can't afford a direct confrontation. We must remember who we're dealing with. We've gathered enough material. Getting more would be a risk.»
The two boarded the vehicle and slammed the doors violently, causing a noise that alerted everyone. «They're trying to escape!» Anita brought everyone back to reality. «We can't let them get away!» Ash seemed more determined than ever. «Go, Staraptor! Follow them!» Ash threw the Poké Ball of his powerful bird Pokémon. The Pokémon immediately took flight and began to chase the pickup.
For him, it was nothing new. He was often used to performing aerial reconnaissance, like all the other flying-type Pokémon the boy had befriended over time.
«They're definitely heading to their base.» deduced Ash. «I have no idea what they want to do with those Pokémon, but it's definitely nothing good. We must free them as soon as possible!» He added.
«And what do you plan to do? Infiltrate their base?» Carlos appeared rather doubtful. «Actually, it's not a bad idea.» Serena replied. «Here we have a Team Plasma uniform… with a bit of needle and thread…» She added.
In no time, Serena managed to adjust the uniform to Ash's size. «Look, I even managed to create a small pocket for a Poké Ball. It's completely hidden.» The girl pointed to the belt, showing the boy a small opening in the belt. «Thank you. You're amazing!» Ash thanked her, making her blush.
«I must admit… you really look like one of them.» Anita complimented him.
Meanwhile, Staraptor had returned. It landed right in front of its Trainer. «Raptor!» It cried. «You found them? You're incredible!» Ash petted its head. A few moments later, the boy took the Poké Ball of his Dragonite from his backpack.
Pikachu jumped onto the boy's shoulder. It wanted to accompany its friend and Trainer everywhere. «I'm sorry, buddy, but we'd be too recognizable. And I know you don't like being inside the Poké Ball at all.» explained the boy. «Pika…» The Mouse Pokémon appeared quite disappointed but understood the boy's reasons.
«Can you lead us to their base?» Asked the boy, who had meanwhile mounted his Dragonite. The Bird Pokémon took flight, inviting Dragonite to follow. They flew over a good part of the forest, crossing flight paths with other flying-type Pokémon.
Staraptor began a rapid dive, followed by Dragonite, which made a smoother descent. Ash recalled it into its Poké Ball, which he then placed inside his belt.
«Wait here.» He addressed his Pokémon. «If things go wrong, alert the others.» the boy explained. The Pokémon took to the air, perching on the branches of a nearby tree.
Ash only had to turn slightly to the right to see the huge building. It was a large concrete prefab, partially clad in red bricks. Next to the main building was a covered parking lot, full of pickups and ATVs. Several Grunts were coming and going. Some of them were carrying cages with Vivillon inside. «There they are.» the boy commented in a low voice. «I need to find a way to blend in with them.» he added shortly after.
«Hey you! Don't just stand there!» A Grunt called out to him. Ash approached the Grunt. She was wearing an almost identical uniform to his. From her hood, some orange hair barely stuck out. The Grunt looked him up and down. «You seem new around here… it seems the recruitment is proving effective.» she commented. «How did you hear about Team Plasma?» She asked. Ash had to think for a moment. «Through some contacts.»
«I see. And… why are you here and not at our base in Castelia City?» Another question.
«The superiors ordered me to join you here. In Pinwheel Forest.» replied the boy, showing no particular hesitation. «Another question.» the Grunt asked. «Do you already have your Pokémon?» She asked.
Ash remained silent for a few moments. If he answered yes, he would be recognized. His Dragonite was too recognizable. It was one of the Pokémon he had become Champion with. And even if he swapped it with Charizard, the situation would be similar. One of the most famous Pokémon from the Kanto region. «No.» he answered curtly.
«Good… then you'll need one. Let me take you.» the Grunt took him by the hand and dragged him towards the back of the building. «Sorry if I ask, but…» Ash tried to stay in character. «Go ahead.» the Grunt replied. «If we are supposed to free Pokémon from Trainers, isn't it a contradiction? For us who fight for the liberation of Pokémon, to have our own?» He asked. The Grunt smiled at him. «I thought you were a smart boy. You see, many Trainers are quite hostile and defend their Pokémon fiercely. So, we need to have our own.» she replied.
Ash just nodded.
«You know?» The Grunt continued. «You look a lot like Ash Ketchum… one of the strongest Trainers in the world… one of Team Plasma's most powerful enemies.» The boy just smiled. «You're not the first person to tell me that, you know?»
The Grunt led him to the back of the building. She took a bunch of keys from her belt and opened the door. She entered the small room and beckoned the boy to come in.
«Just like Trainers, when we become Grunts, we also receive a Pokémon.» she explained. She then turned to the boy. «We're indoors here… if you want, you can take off your hood.» the girl invited.
«I'm fine like this. And besides, you also have your hood on.» Ash replied. The Grunt didn't respond. However, she remained hooded. «Back to us.» the Grunt tried to change the subject. She pointed to a table with three Poké Balls on it. «We Grunts can receive a Pokémon between Sandile, Scraggy, and Purrloin.» The boy distractedly picked one of the three Poké Balls. «I'll take this one.» The Grunt remained silent for a few moments.
«Now that you've chosen, it's time to see how you handle battles. Remember that we'll be dealing with hostile Trainers. Meanwhile, I'll take you to the Battle Field.» the Grunt took out her Smart Rotom to respond to a message.
Ash noticed that it was an ordinary Smart Rotom, identical to his. After replying to the message, she invited the boy again. They reached the battlefield. It wasn't too far from that small room. In the boy's mind, it made sense. You received your Pokémon and then trained. If only it wasn't one of the hideouts of an evil team.
They reached the battle field, identical in every way to those next to Pokémon Centers. «I am ready.» the boy began. «So am I!» The Grunt replied.
«Come out!» The two sent out their Pokémon. Only then did Ash discover which Pokémon he had chosen. It was a quadruped Pokémon, mainly beige in color. Its body and snout resembled a crocodile. In the middle of its snout was a large black stripe. Its eyes were round and sepia-colored. The eyes were surrounded by a black circular shape that resembled glasses. On its back were two thick black stripes. Its limbs were beige and had three claws. Its tail was pointed, and its tip was black.
Ash analyzed it with the Pokédex function of his Smart Rotom. «Sandile. Desert Croc Pokémon. Ground and Dark types. Male. It lives hidden among the hot desert sands to prevent its body temperature from dropping. Known moves: Bite, Dig, Shadow Claw.» The boy put his device back into the uniform pocket.
«I guess you already know Liepard.» Before the Grunt stood a feline-like Pokémon with a slender body and purple fur. Its face had pink fur that resembled a mask. Its nose and eyebrows were very small, and it had two long yellow whiskers. The same yellow color covered its abdomen and the lower part of its legs. Its body was dotted with small yellow spots, and its tail curved in the shape of an inverted question mark. «You go first!» the Grunt invited. Ash didn't need to be told twice.
«Sandile! Shadow Claw!» the boy ordered. The claws of the Sand Croc Pokémon extended and glowed a purplish color. «You use Shadow Claw too!» his rival commanded.
The long claws of the two Pokémon clashed, and the impact was quite violent. The energy from the impact pushed the two Pokémon away. Both Pokémon cushioned their fall on the ground with their claws.
«Liepard, use Dark Pulse!» the Grunt ordered.
From the Cold Blood Pokémon's mouth came rings of purplish energy, cutting through the ground like butter.
«Sandile! Dodge with Dig!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon dug a large hole in the ground, making itself invisible to its rival. «Not bad for a beginner!» the Grunt commented.
Ash smiled slightly. «Sandile is a Ground-type Pokémon. So it's natural to use a Ground-type move.» The Pokémon was now close to its target.
The Sand Croc Pokémon had reached its objective. It emerged from the ground and struck the opponent in the lower body, sending it flying into the air. «And now Shadow Claw again!» Ash ordered.
The long claws of the Sand Croc Pokémon struck the opponent, making it crash violently to the ground. «That's enough.» The Grunt recalled her Pokémon.
«You're really good. With a simple Sandile, you got very close to defeating my powerful Liepard.» Ash just smiled. «Just luck.» The Grunt shrugged.
«Come with me.» She invited him to follow her again, this time to the parking lot. It was full of identical gray pickups. They had the Team Plasma emblem on the hood and doors. «Come on, get in!» the Grunt invited.
Ash climbed in, followed by his guide. The Grunt started the vehicle without taking any specific direction, as if her goal was just to get away from the base.
«You're really good at battles… too good for it to be your first time.» the woman repeated. Ash paid no attention.
The vehicle had traveled several kilometers away from the base. Neither of them spoke during the journey. It didn't seem to matter much.
«There are no spies, bugs, or anything like that in here, but I think it's better if we get out.» The Grunt said as she stopped the vehicle in the middle of the forest. She got out and invited Ash to do the same.
«I knew you weren't just a simple Grunt. You're lucky I found you and not someone else.» Ash felt cornered. His cover was practically blown.
He had to find another way to free those Vivillon. He didn't care why they wanted to capture them, but his instincts told him it wasn't for anything good.
«When I saw that Staraptor, I immediately guessed it wasn't a wild Pokémon. It's not a native species of Unova. It had to belong to a Trainer. A Trainer who had been to either Sinnoh, Kalos, Paldea, or Nordivia.» Ash didn't respond. Staraptor wasn't exactly a rare Pokémon. He found it hard to understand how it could be traced back to him. «And, I don't know if you know this, but the Staraptor from Sinnoh are a bit larger than average. And this one was even bigger. It seemed almost a meter and a half tall.» She explained. Ash still didn't know what to say. They were all circumstantial evidence. None of it led directly to him.
«You really got into your role. Maybe even better than me.» she continued to provoke him, without getting a confession. «You know, I'm an agent of the International Police. And just for revealing my identity before you, I risk getting fired.
I'm from the Sinnoh region. They sent me here to investigate Team Plasma. For obvious reasons, I can't tell you my real name. You can call me Velaurora.» Still no reaction.
«The first time I met you was in Castelia City. Quite a few years ago, actually. I was in the audience. Without going into too much detail, I had to investigate Team Rocket… I imagine you know who they are. It seemed like they were investigating Team Galactic.» It seemed that not even those words had any effect.
«Well, they usually leave when things get… electrifying.» she commented, in an ironic tone.
«I knew you'd confess eventually… anyway…» She changed the subject. «I guess you're here to free the Vivillon.» She tried to predict his intentions. "How does she know?" he thought.
«I can take you to where they've hidden them. But remember, I can't compromise my cover. I can't give you much time; I'll have to alert the others.» Ash gave a small nod of approval, followed by a slight hand gesture, inviting her to stop.
«So, you know Looker? You know, I've had the chance to work with him in the past.» Ash asked. «Of course, I know him. He also works for the International Police! For obvious reasons, I can't disclose my relationship with him.» she explained before completely changing the subject.
«Now we have to go.» The agent invited Ash to get back on board, heading again toward the base. The return trip was also silent.
Ash wasn't completely sure about the woman's sincerity. He had fallen into similar traps before, but one way or another, he had always managed to get out.
He had to try to stay calm and not seem too confident with the agent, or it would be too suspicious. As if their absence wasn't already suspicious.
Back at the base, the agent moved away from Ash to talk with some other Grunts. The boy had no idea what they were talking about.
A couple of minutes later, the woman returned to him. «All set.» She tried to stay in character. «You know, the boss is happy to welcome new members. And those who offer to guide new recruits get bonuses in their paychecks.» She explained with a smile. Ash smiled back.
«There are other areas I need to show you, starting with the lodging area. Follow me.» For the umpteenth time, the recruit led Ash somewhere.
This time to another part of that giant building. This time, to lead him to a pair of swinging doors, similar to those usually used for emergency exits.
«Here we have the dormitories. They're separated into male and female dormitories. It's hard to get it wrong.» She pointed to the nearest door to the entrance. It had the silhouette of a man. «This is the male dormitory. The other, at the end, is the female one… obviously.» Ash responded with a simple "Okay." «If you want to go in, go ahead.» The Grunt glanced at one of the surveillance cameras.
She wanted to make sure that if someone was watching, they wouldn't notice any anomalies. She put a hand in her pocket and then gently pulled Ash by the hand to persuade him to go forward. Simultaneously,
Ash understood the message and headed towards the door of the male dormitory. He opened it and went inside.
The room had a large number of metal bunk beds. The beds were all perfectly neat and clean. It seemed as if none of them had ever been used. At the head of the lower bed and on the side of the upper one, there was a tag with a number. Despite the absence of his guide, the boy deduced that the number was the identifier for each Grunt.
It wasn't a trivial detail. Although he wanted to stay in that place for as little time as possible, he had to be ready for anything. The boy took the note given to him by his guide a few moments before. On it, a five-digit number preceded by the letter M was written in pen.
Ash deduced that this was his identifier number. He tried to memorize it. It would surely come in handy. For the same reason, he looked for the bed assigned to his identifier number. It was a rather complex operation. The identifiers of the beds didn't follow any pattern. They were arranged in a disorderly manner, which confused the boy quite a bit.
After a search that took longer than expected, he finally found the corresponding bed. It was the one on the top bunk. On the wall opposite the entrance, there were metal lockers. Ash instinctively approached the lockers. Like the beds, these small lockers also had numbers.
Ash looked for him. Unlike the bed, he found it without much trouble. Of course, it was empty. He still had to activate the code lock. To his left, there was also a door leading to the bathrooms. He decided to enter. They were normal bathrooms. There was an area with numerous sinks. In front of them, doors led to the toilets. A separate door led to the showers.
Taking advantage of the privacy afforded by the bathrooms, Ash took out his Smart Rotom to write a message to Serena.
«Hi. I managed to get in. But I haven't been able to free the Pokémon yet. I should be able to do it tomorrow. I hope everything goes well.» The girl immediately responded to the message. She was a bit worried, but she trusted Ash more than anyone else.
«I'm glad to see that everything is going well. We're fine. We returned to Striaton City. The Rangers gave us a ride. Tomorrow they'll take us to Eolea. We'll meet at the same place as yesterday.»
The girl tried to hide the enormous worry that was tormenting her. Knowing that Ash would have to spend an entire night in the lion's den kept her in a great state of agitation. Ash left the bathroom and the dormitory, then rejoined his guide. The Grunt checked the time on her smartphone. «Mmmmh... We should make it before dinner time.» she commented. This time, she accompanied him down the corridor. She pushed a second door and led him into another hallway.
«Here it is. This is the meeting room. For now, it's closed.» she explained. «Don't have high expectations. From tomorrow, you'll get to know it well. Every day at eight, we have a work meeting. Usually, we discuss the day's work plans. Don't ask questions and just listen. And you'll see it will go by quickly.» The tour continued.
Now the two were in front of a large door. It was made of fine dark wood and had delicate decorations. The handle, golden, was also finely decorated. The Grunt, noticing the camera, chose to stay even more in character.
«This is the Chief's office. Personally, I've never met him. But those who have met him describe him as a wise and balanced man. From what I understand, he doesn't come here often.» she explained.
«Further ahead are the administrative offices. They're not very interesting. Just documents and more documents. The most insubordinate Grunts take care of them. It's so uninteresting.» The guide didn't hide a smile.
The visit continued, always along the same hallway. They walked until they reached a door apparently similar to all the others. «This is the recreation room. Usually, we go there after dinner, before going to bed... we watch movies, play video games. There's also a small library. Some people borrow books to read in their free time.»
From the speakers on the wall, a partially distorted voice was heard. «All Grunts are requested to go to the dining hall for dinner.» Ash and the Grunt headed to the cafeteria, with the boy a few steps behind. «You'll see... the food here is good. They take care of us.» That was good news for Ash, the only good news of the day.
Even though he had been there for only a few hours, he already missed Pikachu, Serena, and all the others. With these thoughts buzzing in his head, the boy struggled to keep up with his guide. «Are you coming?» she scolded him. A smile followed the scolding. It was clear she had to stay in character.
The dining hall wasn't far. Or at least it seemed so since the smell of dinner was already in the air. A few steps later, they met other Grunts, with whom they exchanged quick greetings. Shortly after, they arrived in front of the dining hall.
«This is a self-service cafeteria.» she explained. «Take a tray, some cutlery, a bottle of water, and then take what you want from the containers on the counter. If you're still hungry, you can go for seconds, but remember to queue up. Especially now that you're the new guy.» she teased.
The line moved quickly and efficiently, and finally, it was the boy's turn. He picked up a white, sturdy plastic tray from a dispenser. He also took a small plastic package containing a fork, a knife, a spoon, and a paper napkin. He took a 750 ml bottle of water as well.
He reached the counter where he could serve himself. His guide was right. There was a wide variety of food, and it all looked incredibly inviting. «Hurry up, rookie!» urged someone behind him.
Ash remained completely composed. He took one of the large spoons and filled part of his tray with a generous portion of rice with mushrooms. He then moved to the main courses, serving himself stew and baked potatoes, again generously. He also took a cup of fruit salad.
He headed to a table where his guide was currently sitting alone. He had to be very careful not to spill the contents of the tray, which was precariously balanced. He sat down and began to eat. Although he was usually a big eater, he decided to maintain some decorum and eat slowly. And yes, the food was indeed very good.
After eating, the boy decided to join his guide and a small group of Grunts and head to the recreation room. The room perfectly matched Ash's expectations. A large television hung on the wall, connected to a console with several gamepads, a library full of various video games. Nearby, there was a ping pong table, a foosball table, and a pool table.
Against one wall was a large bookshelf crammed with books: «The Liberation of Pokémon», «Humans and Pokémon: Two Worlds, Two Destinies», «A Hundred Reasons to Free Pokémon», and similar titles.
«How about a game of foosball? Just to help you settle in.» the guide proposed. «Okay, but I'll warn you, I'm not very good.» Ash replied. «That's fine. Leave the defense to me, and everything will be fine.» Ash simply smiled. It didn't take long to find two opponents interested in the match.
«So you're the newbie, huh...» One of the Grunts positioned himself in front of Ash. «It's a tradition for me to challenge the newbies. So far, no one has ever beaten me, you know? And something tells me that streak will continue.» These words sparked a challenge in Ash. Moments later, a second Grunt joined. «I think the game can start.» said the Grunt as he pulled the lever that released the balls.
He grabbed one and slammed it against the edge. «Come on! It's a ball, not an egg!» scolded the first. Finally, the latter decided to launch it into the center of the field.
The ball rolled across the field, stopping just short of the first row of players controlled by Ash. The boy moved quickly, shifting his line of players and launching the ball directly towards the opponent's goal.
«So much for not being good!» his guide complimented. Ash didn't respond. Meanwhile, the second ball entered the field. Same technique as the first. Once again, the two opponents couldn't counter him. «Are you going to step up? We're already down by two points!» one of the Grunts complained.
The game was quite tense, an exchange of passes and goals. On the last ball, the two teams were perfectly tied.
«This ball will decide the outcome of the entire game.» commented one of the Grunts. «Be careful!» his partner reprimanded. Ash and his guide exchanged a quick glance. «We're ready!» the boy stepped forward. The ball was thrown as usual.
It seemed that the game just wouldn't end. The passes seemed endless. Sometimes it looked like Ash and his ally were going to win, other times their two rivals. In the end, it was Ash and his guide who prevailed.
«Bah!» one of the opponents huffed. «It's just beginner's luck!» he added. «Anyway, we weren't betting on anything.» the other concluded. «In any case, you'll get your rematch. Maybe tomorrow. It's late today.» The guide pulled Ash by the arm. She tried to lead him out of the room.
«I told you not to stand out. You were lucky to have me when we fought. Remember to keep a low profile. Or you'll attract attention. Tomorrow will be our first day working as collaborators. Remember what we talked about earlier.» Ash gave a small nod.
It was now bedtime. He had no idea what time he would wake up, so he preferred to go to bed. He headed towards the male dormitory and then to the bathroom.
Just like a few hours earlier, the boy took his Smart Rotom to send a brief message to Serena. «Everything is going well. I plan to get out of here before noon.»
At the Pokémon Center in Levantopoli, meanwhile, Serena just couldn't fall asleep. She was nervously pacing back and forth across the room.
She had read Ash's message, but despite that, she couldn't feel at ease. «I knew it, we shouldn't have trusted them! And now...» she complained. «And now Ash is fixing it.» Anita replied in a whisper. «Exactly. He's alone. In the enemy's lair. I know he's definitely capable of handling himself, but I don't feel safe. I really wish I could be by his side, to really know how he is...» she added, continuing to pace back and forth.
«I know you care a lot about him. We've been traveling together for a short time, but I understood that from the very beginning...» Anita replied, making her blush. «No... it's not what you think...» Serena replied, a bit embarrassed. «No... no... I mean... I care about him too. If I started traveling, if we managed to win our first badge, it's thanks to him. I wouldn't want to lose my reference point either...» Anita replied. «And then I think he cares about you too. And that's why he decided to go alone. Not knowing what kind of place it was, he preferred to go alone.» she added.
This didn't reassure Serena at all. In fact, it worsened the situation. "So, maybe, he lied to me? It's not really going well?
Have they discovered him and someone else is writing on his behalf?" Those thoughts kept echoing in her mind, preventing
her from sleeping.
Meanwhile, at the base, Ash had reached his assigned bed. He sat on the bed to remove his boots and socks, then lifted the covers and prepared to lie down.
«Aren't you putting on your pajamas?» one of the Grunts asked him. «And why are you still wearing your hood? Don't tell me you'll keep it on even while you sleep! Come on!» the Grunt pressed. «It's none of your business.» Ash retorted, trying to sound tougher than he felt.
He feared someone might search him and discover his identity. He had to ensure that no one found out, at any cost. Sure, with Dragonite and Staraptor he could handle it, but at that moment he wanted to avoid it at all costs.
His guide hadn't mentioned it, so the hypothesis of nighttime searches was entirely to be excluded. Fearing one, the boy tried to stay awake, to be able to defend himself if necessary, but he didn't last long. In less than half an hour, he fell into a deep sleep. «Can you stop? You snore louder than a tractor!» a Grunt woke him up. «Seriously?» Ash responded, annoyed. «I just want to sleep. Like everyone else, I imagine. Especially since I just arrived, and I'm pretty tired.» The boy turned to the other side and quickly fell back asleep.
«To all Grunts! You have ten minutes to get ready and go to the cafeteria!» a robotic voice spread through the dormitory, waking everyone up.
The Grunts quickly headed to the bathroom, to relieve themselves and rinse off. Ash managed to get in among the first. He couldn't contact Serena, given the little time he had.
He had promised her that he would manage to get out of there before noon, and so he would. After going to the bathroom and quickly rinsing off, he left the dormitory.
He joined the stream of Grunts heading towards the cafeteria. He quickly reached the cafeteria, now set up for breakfast. Ash took a tray, like the last time. He approached one of the machines to prepare himself a cup of cappuccino, a glass of juice, some chocolate biscuits, and two cream croissants.
Imagining he didn't have much time to eat, he tried to do it as quickly as possible, even at the risk of burning himself with the hot cappuccino.
His hypothesis turned out to be correct. He barely managed to finish eating when a metallic voice, similar to the one that woke him up, announced to the Grunts, urging them to leave the room.
«All Grunts are requested to go to the meeting room as soon as possible!» Ash joined the group of Grunts, trying to find his guide. He remembered her words. The meetings had to be really boring.
Maybe, in that meeting, they would talk about those Vivillon. And what they would do with them. Ash seemed quite tense, although he tried not to show it.
He managed to take a seat in one of the front rows, on the outer side. Next to him, his guide; on the other side, the wall. In front of him, beyond a few rows of chairs, a platform. Further back, a screen, partially illuminated by the blue light of a projector. It seemed someone was still missing.
A murmur spread throughout the room, first light, then growing louder. It seemed they were discussing what they would have to do during the day.
After about five minutes, a woman peeked out from a small side door. She was wearing slightly different clothes from all the other Grunts. Her overcoat was not white, but black, probably to distinguish her from the lower-ranking Grunts.
«As you know…» she began without even greeting. «Yesterday we carried out a very important operation, managing to capture a good number of Vivillon.» The Grunts exchanged glances. They knew what had happened the day before, so they wondered why she was talking about something that had only occurred the previous day.
«Also thanks to the collaboration of someone we never expected, who fell into our trap.» Ash tried to remain as neutral as possible. He couldn't afford to be discovered.
«Anyway…» she continued, as an image of a Vivillon appeared on the screen. «We are not poachers. We are not interested in selling them and making money.» She explained. "Then why did they capture them?" Ash wondered.
«Trainers know this well, as they always have their Pokédexes. Vivillon, like all Pokémon, have incredible powers. They, for example, can generate scales capable of calming anyone who comes into contact with them. Their calming effect is incredibly powerful.» She explained.
"So they want to exploit them for their scales? And then what will they do with them? But most importantly, how will they make them release the scales? I'm afraid it's not going to be pleasant at all," Ash thought.
«Your task will be to force them to release the scales. At any cost.» She explained. "I knew it," Ash thought. "I knew they didn't want to do anything good."
«Their scales will help us calm Trainers, making it easier for us to force them to release their Pokémon. Even a few scales can have a great effect.» She added.
«And that's all. The two volunteers came with me. The rest of you, well… get back to work.» The room began to empty. It seemed no one wanted to perform that unpleasant task.
In the end, only Ash and his guide remained in the room. «I'm glad the newbie is willing to take on the most unpleasant tasks. As for you…» Then she addressed Ash's guide. «I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Not only did you take responsibility for the newcomer, but you also accepted this assignment. I'll remember that. Now go! You know where the Pokémon are.» She urged them.
"So they are still where they were taken before? Still in those cages? So much for being about the liberation of Pokémon!" Ash thought as he followed his guide.
The two walked for a long time until they reached the outside of the building, not far from where they had met for the first time.
«Ohhh! Here you are! I expected more people, but… you two will do fine.» A Grunt, dressed the same way as the woman who had explained the day's plans, welcomed them. «Follow me and I'll explain your task.» he invited with a gesture of his hand. They followed him to an area not too far from the main building.
From the outside, it resembled a kind of garage. «Until the other day, we used this building for the maintenance of our vehicles, but our needs changed and we had to adapt.» The man explained.
«This must be new for you too.» he said, turning to Ash's guide. «I imagine you've never been in the second room.» She replied. «Second room?» She repeated quietly.
The man inserted a key into the electronic lock, raising the electric shutter, which opened with a loud metallic noise, revealing the inside of the room.
"That's where they put the Vivillon!" Ash thought, observing the cages. He could recognize each Pokémon inside the cages. He could only imagine their suffering.
The Grunt pressed a switch, and several neon lights illuminated the room with a cold, sad light that highlighted the oil stains on the floor.
«Bring them into the other room, then I'll give you further instructions.» He ordered. «Two at a time will suffice.» He added as he approached the door separating the room they were in from the adjacent one.
They obeyed, each taking a cage and entering that room.
Inside, the first thing that caught both Ash's and his guide's eyes was a strange device. It was a sort of cabin, square, about two meters high, and about three meters on each side.
At the top, two ventilation tubes were visible, one for intake, the other for exhaust. "Maybe I should reveal my true identity and free them before it's too late," Ash thought. "Or maybe I should wait just a moment longer?" He wondered, without giving himself an answer.
«Good, now go inside that cabin and release the Pokémon.» He ordered. They obeyed, entering the cabin and opening the cages. The Vivillon inside came out without a fuss.
They seemed extremely frightened and disoriented. Ash could perfectly understand how they felt because he felt like them. Far from his friends and in a hostile place.
«Don't worry…» Ash tried to reassure them. «Everything will be fine… or at least I hope so.» He corrected himself as he exited the cabin.
«Perfect!» The superior praised me. «Now we just need to make sure the door is securely closed.» The guide checked that Ash had properly closed the door. «It's closed.» She confirmed.
«Good… then we can start with the gas.» The man pressed a button on the wall. «Gas?!» Ash asked, worriedly. «Typical. You're the new one.» The superior chided. «In our labs in Austropoli, we synthesized a gas. It makes the Vivillon release their scales… I can't go into too much detail… but it was synthesized by a colleague from the Kalos region.» He explained.
Ash made a quick mental connection. Could it be an ex-member of Team Flare?
The boy couldn't think about it for long. Through the inspection window, he could see how the two Vivillon were flying in a desperate dance, while small fragments detached from their wings, reflecting the light.
Moments later, a noise, like that of a large fan, was heard.
«Very good!» The superior commented. «We are collecting really good quantities of…» He couldn't finish the sentence, due to a great force that pushed him against the side of the cabin.
«Hey! What are you doing?!» The superior complained, trying to turn around. Without success. «Traitor!» He shouted at Ash.
Dragonite grabbed the man by the back and hurled him against the opposite wall. «What are you doing?» The guide reprimanded him. «Do you think this is the right time?» She asked, changing her tone after noticing that the superior was unconscious.
«Now let's free them!» Ash ordered. Dragonite hit the door with a shoulder, breaking it down. The two Vivillon inside came out, looked at Ash strangely, and fled through the door.
Moments later, a recorded voice was heard. «Activating alarm protocol!» Then an alarm sounded.
«Hurry, we have little time!» The guide urged him.
«Dragonite! Destroy that thing with Hyper Beam!» Ash ordered. From the Pokémon's mouth, a large beam of white energy was generated, striking the cabin.
The powerful attack completely destroyed the cabin, which began to emit black smoke. «This thing could explode at any moment, better get out!» Ash noted.
The two left the room, escorted by the boy's Pokémon. «I'd say this can be wrapped up!» Ash commented, as he locked the door. «This should buy us some time.» He remarked.
«I have little time. I need to alert the others soon, or they will suspect me.» The guide began opening some cages, and Ash opened others. In a few moments, all the Vivillon Pokémon were free.
«Now I have to go! Goodbye!» Ash shook hands with his guide. Moments later, Dragonite embraced them both in a tight hug. «Ouch! I'm suffocating!» the guide laughed despite herself.
Shortly after, the boy, the Pokémon, and the now ex-guide, also an undercover agent, exited the building.
«Before you go... I have one last, small favor to ask.» "I wonder what she wants," Ash thought. «Tell me.» he asked her. «I want Dragonite to attack Liepard. At least then I can say I tried to defend myself. It's a breach of the code of conduct, but at least I'll have an excuse.» Ash looked rather puzzled. He preferred to fight rather than have his Pokémon attack with the opponent just taking the hit. He tried to object, but the agent's Liepard was already in front of him.
«Alright then! Dragonite, use Hurricane!» The Pokémon turned its back and began to flap its wings violently, generating a massive whirlwind that quickly reached the opponent, lifting it and throwing it against the building wall, creating a large hole. Liepard was quite battered from the impact.
«Good, now I can say I at least tried to fight.»
Finally free to go, Ash climbed onto Dragonite's back. The Pokémon quickly took flight and left the base, giving Ash just enough time to wave goodbye to the woman.
The agent walked away from the building and took a small device from her uniform, resembling a Poké Ball. She brought it close to her mouth. "I hope they receive this. It's an experimental device."
«Agent Velaurora reporting. The sabotage worked, we prevented Team Plasma from getting their hands on the Vivillon scales. The plan succeeded also thanks to an ally, whose identity I cannot reveal, who managed to sabotage their machines. He himself told me he had worked with Looker. I appreciated his method of working. He blended in perfectly with the Grunts and did not hinder my plans. I have to end the communication or they might suspect.» Ending the communication, the agent returned to the base.
She barely had time to reach the building where the Vivillon were kept when she immediately encountered her superior.
«Why didn't you attack him? Why did you allow him and his Pokémon to destroy our equipment?» he asked angrily. «Are you his accomplice? I can have the other Grunts track your every move! You know what happens to impostors!» he accused her.
«I tried to stop him. I challenged him to a battle, but he overpowered us in no time.» she tried to justify herself.
«You still broke protocol. You knew full well you should have called the others.» he continued to scold her. «Should I have let him destroy the entire base?» she asked. «Fair point. But you still broke protocol! If Team Plasma succeeds, it's also because of this. Other organizations fail in simpler things for this very reason.» The woman bowed quickly. «I apologize. I acted on my own and I was wrong.» Her superior looked her in the eyes.
«This time you stay in, but I need to find a fitting punishment. These things must never happen.» The woman looked at him sadly. «It won't happen again.»
Once far enough away, Ash removed the hood of his uniform, then took out his Smart Rotom. He knew well that doing it in flight was not ideal, but he had to inform the others that everything had gone well. He didn't like using the phone in dangerous situations, but he had no choice this time.
Fortunately, on this occasion, Staraptor was guiding his Pokémon, clearing the way of any obstacles if necessary. With this thought, the boy started the call to Serena, hoping for a quick response. Fortunately, the girl answered immediately. «Hi! I finally got out of that place! I'm on my way to you!» Ash hoped Serena understood. He feared the wind might cover his voice.
«Fantastic!» replied the girl. «Did you manage to free the Vivillon?» she asked. «Absolutely yes! It wasn't easy. I have to thank Dragonite for his great help. But now I really have to go.» he explained quickly. «Alright. We're waiting for you. Hurry,
please!» she replied before ending the call.
«Raptor!» The Bird Pokémon alerted its Trainer to the group's presence below. The Pokémon began a rapid dive, followed by Dragonite's gentler descent.
Ash landed in front of the group, still wearing the Team Plasma uniform. Serena and Pikachu ran toward him, with the Mouse Pokémon climbing onto his shoulder and the girl hugging him, making him a bit embarrassed.
«I'm so glad to see you safe. I thought someone had taken your phone and was texting instead of you...» The girl seemed like she hadn't seen him in a long time. The boy turned to his Pokémon. «I'd like to introduce you to a new friend.» He took a Poké Ball from his uniform. He threw it, and out came a Sandile. «As you know, I had to infiltrate the ranks of Team Plasma...» Ash explained. «I had to pretend to be a new Grunt. And for that, they gave me a Pokémon, and I chose him.» The Pokémon began to get acquainted with the boy's other Pokémon. «Don't worry...» Ash reassured it. «I'm not really a Team Plasma Grunt. I had to pretend, but don't worry, I won't betray you by releasing you.» He tried to reassure the Pokémon.
«We can go now.» one of the rangers called. «Our shift starts soon, otherwise, we won't be able to accompany you to Eolea.» he explained.
«I'd say we have no reason to stay here! And besides… I can't wait to get this thing off and take a hot shower.» Ash added.
Suddenly, a giant energy blade struck near Anita's feet. It seemed to come from behind some nearby trees.
«HEY! WHAT'S HAPPENING!» The girl was startled and took a few steps back. «Someone tried to hit you.» Carlos commented, stating the obvious.
The girl barely had time to calm down when a second attack came from the same spot. Again, she was narrowly missed.
«If you're brave, come out!» Ash invited. «No one can attack my friend and get away with it!» the boy shouted.
«Attack me if you have the courage!» Ash stood in front of his friend. An Air Slash hit the ground in front of him for the third time. «Do you want to hit me or just provoke?» Ash was even angrier. No reaction.
«Maybe… he wants to battle me.» Anita pointed out. Ash moved aside from in front of his friend.
Moments later, another Air Slash hit the ground.
Anita took Oshawott's Poké Ball from her bag and sent it out. «Do you want to battle? Fine! Then you'll have it!» Another air blade crossed the air in front of the girl.
«Destroy it with Razor Shell!» Oshawott brandished its scalchop, which turned into a small sword. With a swift arm movement, it destroyed the opponent's attack.
Another attack soon targeted the Otter Pokémon and its Trainer. A golden-colored powder filled the air around the Trainer and the Pokémon.
«And now what do I do?» Anita was starting to panic again.
«Tell Oshawott to use Water Gun against the powder! Before it's too late!» Ash suggested.
«Alright... Let's try it! Oshawott! Use Water Gun! Aim at the powder!» the girl ordered, not entirely convinced.
The jet of water generated by the Otter Pokémon's mouth hit the entire cloud of powder, weighing it down and causing it to dissipate. The attacks ceased for a few moments.
«It must have tired itself out.» remarked Ash.
«I think we can go.» added Ash shortly after. The four of them barely had time to approach the van and reach the two rangers who had meanwhile boarded, when from behind the trees, once again, a sphere of light green energy resembling an eye was hurled.
«Quick! Destroy it with Razor Shell! Like before!» Anita ordered. Just as before, the Pokémon leaped forward and with a sharp strike of its scalchop, it exploded the sphere, disintegrating it into a cloud of colorful sparks.
Once again, for a few moments, the attacks ceased.
«It must have tired itself out.» commented Ash.
But in this case too, reality contradicted the boy's words. From the same trees from which those attacks had come, a faint rustling was heard. Without his Trainer saying anything, Oshawott leaped forward. Its body covered in water, it launched itself towards that sound.
A few moments later, a loud, sharp noise was heard, like something slamming against a hard surface.
«That's who attacked you. A Vivillon!» Serena commented.
Anita looked at the Pokémon, unconscious now on the ground. «But it's the same one that was observing us the other day!» the girl commented. «I wonder why it decided to attack us.» she added.
«Remember we kidnapped its kin... well... we thought we were doing good...» Carlos replied.
«And now that you've battled it, what are you going to do? Not catch it?» he teased. Anita had thought of a sharp retort, like "if I were you, I'd think about catching a Pokémon before advising others." But that wasn't like her. She chose silence instead.
«Catching a Pokémon isn't just your choice. Some Pokémon choose to follow you of their own accord, others after a battle. Others still... we catch them and become friends over time... this is one of those cases where it's up to you to decide.» Ash explained.
«I don't know. Vivillon is really a beautiful Pokémon... but I'm not sure if I deserve to be its Trainer.» the girl explained.
«Don't say that.» Serena reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. «You're a Trainer. As such, you deserve to train any Pokémon you desire.» she assured her.
«And besides...» the Kalos native leaned closer to her friend, whispering something in her ear. «And besides, didn't you say you didn't know how to give a good performance? Vivillon could be the solution. It's a very popular Pokémon among
Performers and Coordinators, you know?» she explained.
«The way you say it, it sounds like you want to catch it!» Anita replied, with a hint of irony.
«I would never dare... you and Oshawott fought, so it's only right that you catch it. Plus... the fact that it's a popular Pokémon among Performers and Coordinators doesn't mean it can't be strong in battles. Quite the opposite!» she countered.
«Alright. You've convinced me.» the girl said. She took a Poké Ball from her bag and threw it at the unconscious Pokémon. The Poké Ball opened, enveloping the Pokémon in a whitish light and absorbing it.
The red and white sphere moved left and right. Once, then twice, then thrice, and finally four times. A brief "click" confirmed the successful capture. Anita approached the Poké Ball and picked it up.
«Alright! I caught a Vivillon!»