Chapter 127 – Bad news about hell

"I think you owe us an explanation," Charizard growled softly at Inteleon, as the elevator car continued to climb towards the airship above the Kanto Forest. "What the hell is going on here?"

Inteleon raised his brows at the fire lizard and folded his arms. "Oh. And what makes you think I know anything about this, or would tell you anything," he replied coolly.

"On the ground," Charizard whispered. "You said we were going to meet someone. Like you knew who they were. So, who are they and what do they want with you?"

"Come on Tel," pleaded Sobby. "After what we did, we kind of owe them an explanation."

Inteleon cast his eyes over Ash's Pokémon who were present. To Ashachu, Charichu, Thunderbolt and Ryu huddle around Charizard, and to Koraidon who was scowling at them. There were four Primids standing at the back of the elevator car. They weren't doing anything and didn't have their weapons raised. But their presence was still intimating to the Pokémon. Even Tel felt apprehensive with their presence but force himself to suppress it.

Before he could respond however, Koraidon spoke. "Judging from everything that I've seen so far, I'd say you two are Office of Strategic Service?"

Inteleon seemed genuinely supervised, as the other Pokémon turned their attention to Koraidon.

"Office of what," asked Ashachu.

"The Office of Strategic Service," Koraidon repeated. "The Galar Region's intelligence agency. These two are spies."

"Spies," grumbled Charizard. It started to make sense now. Everything Sobble had told him about the OSS and how they were looking for Guzma. He hadn't really taken in a word of that at the time.

Ryu, Charichu and Thunderbolt started to murmur among themselves, but what they were saying wasn't audible.

"Spies," confirmed Koraidon. "Like detectives but they do their work in secret. Unknown and outside the boundaries of even the human laws. Inteleon are secret agent Pokémon. That's the name of their species. They were specially bred by the Office of Strategic Service during the Great War to conduct covert missions behind enemy lines. They can guild, turn themselves invisible and shoot water from their fingertips. Plus, they evolve from Sobbles, emotionally sprung diminutive Pokémon who are highly emotional, form strong dependencies on others, and highly impressionable. The ultimate cry babies. Easy for humans to fill their heads with a keen sense of duty and nationalism as they train them."

"I am not a cry baby," protested Sobby, sounding offended.

Inteleon eyed him carefully. "You seem a lot more worldly than your friends here."

Koraidon grinned coyly. "I've been around longer."

"Really."

Koraidon flicked his tail, and took a step towards Inteleon, meeting his gaze. "Longer than you can imagine. So, given you are a spy, that means you must be investigating something here in the Kanto region. Something the government of the Seven Nations doesn't want you looking into. Am I right."

"Very good," Inteleon replied. He allowed himself a small smile as his eyes trailed Koraidon's form. "Since we're telling each other our secrets. What species are you. You have the body of a Cyclizar. A Cyclizar who got too into the pride festival. A long way from the Paldea Region isn't you."

Koraidon raised his brows then winked at Inteleon. "I can see they don't call you Intel-eon for nothing. But since I had to work out your secrets. You should have to work out mine. Unless you want to tell us why you were interrogating Charizard and why we're being whisked off into an airship to meet someone you clearly know. What was that name again."

"Something bell," grunted Charizard. "Also, are you seriously flirting with him?"

"The Aether Foundation." Though Ashachu only spoke the words softly, they cut through the air like a knife. All eyes were suddenly on the Raichu. Ashachu looked up at Inteleon's face. The Secret Agent Pokémon's eyes told him he was right. "I right aren't I. That's why you're here."

"How did you work that out," grunted Charizard. Though even as he said it, he remembered Sobble mentioning the Aether Foundation when they had been torturing him. He had only half registered it at the time. The details of the encounter were hard to keep a grasp in his mind. Only the feeling of drowning and the blind terror it had induced.

"I just added up the pieces," said Ashachu. "Guzma and a Darkrai here at the same time. Guzma's been brutally murdered. There is only one Pokémon we know who would do something like that. And the Aether Foundation is the only thing I can think of that links those two together."

"Darkrai." Charizard sounded agitated. It was a subtle, but a note of worry had entered his voice. "But…He's dead." He fidgeted with his claws and his wings flapped.

Ashachu bit his lip, and his fur bristled. An itch formed at the base of his neck and ran all the way down his back to his thin tail and he felt as though someone were watching him. Something other than the Primids. "Perhaps not."

"I saw him die," Charizard growled, suddenly angry. "I saw him burn. I burnt him. I killed him. Shadow is nothing more than piles of ashes in a dark Galar canyon."

Inteleon looked at him, pityingly. "So, you keep saying. Sobble and I already told you he's alive and killing people. Sounds like you have more information than you were letting on before?"

"And he's working for the Aether Foundation again," said Ashachu.

"And that's why we're being taken to see this bell person," interjected Koraidon interjected. He was grinning a wide toothy grin. "These Primids are here for you two. You're investigating the Aether Foundation and the International and the Government don't want you too. Do they."

"How do you work that out," grunted Charizard.

Koraidon sighed. "Don't you Pokémon ever pay attention when the news is on. The Aether Foundation has strong ties with the government, the Pokkén Tournament political party and President Lusamine is a close personal friend with Prime Minister Tabuu. They're desperate to shut down the Dunbar investigation lest it find something incriminating linking Lusmaine's crimes to Tabuu. They certainly don't secret agents from another country investigating the Aether Foundation too."

Inteleon looked at Koraidon, impressed. "Well, you're all certainly sharper than I initially gave you credit for. I'm impressed."

"They're only half right though," Sobby added. "The Aether foundation is only part of the investigation."

Inteleon sighed. He reached up with a paw to bop Sobby on the head. "Sobby. Do you remember that conversation we had about what the secret part, or secret agent means."

At that point there was a DING sound, and the floor beneath them stopped shaking. The door the elevator car opened.

"We have arrived…. you will come," announced the lead Primid, raising its weapon for the first time since the ground.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…in the forest below…

"What the hell…I swear we saw a light here only a moment ago," exclaimed Cameron, as he Ash, Jimmy, Lucario, Pikachu and Zacian entered the forest clearing.

Pikachu and Zacian put their noses to the ground and sniffed.

"Charizard and the others were definitely here," said Zacian. "Not too long ago, judging by the scents."

"Ashachu and Thunderbolt too," said Pikachu.

Ash examined his surroundings. Night had finally fallen, and the forest was a tangled web of trees and shadows. In the faint light from the stars and moon he could see the others but nothing pas the tree line.

"Someone's been here alright," mumbled Lucario, he closed his eyes to concentrate on the aura around him. The sensors on his head flew out around him.

"Where did they go," he asked. "Can you pick up the scent."

Pikachu sniffed for a moment, walking around in a circle, then shook his head. "No…It's like they came here and just. Vanished."

Ash shook his head bewildered. His heart started to face as a creeping fear started to rise from the pit of his stomach. "That can't be right."

"Where are Dragonite and Flygon," asked Jimmy. "Did we see them fly over in this direction."

"CHARIZARD. ASHACHU. DRAGONITE." Ash yelled as loud as he could. "THUNDERBOLT…Where are you guys!"

There was no reply. It felt as though his words were being absorbed by the trees.

Lucario gave a small gasp, coming out of his trance like state. "Car…"

"Lucario."

Cameron and the others turned to him in concern. The aura Pokémon's eyes had gone wide as though he had just seen something that had frightened him.

"This place…" He started, his voice higher than usual. "This place is not good."

"Ww-what do you," Cameron tried to ask, before Lucario turned and ran off in the opposite direction, but out of the clearing.

"He's here, he's coming!"

[Pokémon]

Despite the airships size, it did not have a huge amount of space for crew and equipment. Most of the space aboard was taken up by the balloons filled with helium that allowed the vessel to float. It had two main decks on the bottom and another at the very top. The elevator car opened onto the lower deck, which was devoted to equipment storage.

Ashachu, Charizard and the others were marched by the Primids past vehicles like truck and helicopters and even a light aircraft. Plus, shelves of firearms and other weaponry, filing cabinets and other pieces of equipment none of the Pokémon had seen before or had any clue what they were for. Up at set of metal stairs was the main deck.

This was set up as an open plan work area, with rows of desks and computer monitors on either side. The area was empty, except for one woman seated at a computer, who got up and walked to the rear of the airship as the Pokémon were brought aboard. Wrap around windows gave way to the darkness surrounding the airship. And at the far end, was the flight deck, separated by a bulkhead and open doorway.

There was another surprise waiting for them up here.

"Ashachu. Flamely."

Charizard felt someone crash into him from the side and a set of strong arms wrap around his neck. His vision became obscured by yellow scales.

"Dragonite," cried Ashachu. "Ww-what are you doing here?"

Dragonite looked extremely distress as he clung onto Charizard. Even as he nuzzled the flame Pokémon, his eyes darted to Primids standing guard around them.

"Dragonite," grunted Charizard irritably. "What did we say about the hugging?"

"I-I…" Dragonite spluttered. "Ash sent me out to look for you. When you didn't come back from training at dinner time everybody got worried. Then somebody said something about large agents glaring in these parts. As soon as I took off, I ran into this airship, and the next I knew I was caught in a net. There's a human in charge here. Somebody named Cobell. Said something about the International Police."

"So. What are three fully evolved Pokémon species doing in a part of the Kanto Region they are not normally found, in the company of two known spies…And a Pokémon whose species is from the Paldea Region. And hasn't existed in that form for thousands of years."

The voice cut through the air like a knife drawing all the Pokémon's attention. A short stocky woman with long flowing silver hair, and a taller tanned man in a white shirt and tie stepped out of the flight deck from the behind the bulkhead. The woman strode up between the computer desks, her eyes fixed on the Pokémon. Her eyes were a dark sapphire blue, which matched the navy blazer she wore over her white shirt, and made Ashachu feel like he was being X-rayed. He watched as her gaze shifted from Charizard, Dragonite, Ashachu and Inteleon, to Charichu, Ryu and Thunderbolt at their feet.

"Three fully evolved Pokémon and their babies?"

"He's not my dad," Thunderbolt squeaked, but fell silent when Charizard glared at him.

The woman turned to her compatriot. "Miltek, scan them."

He produced a small handheld computer device from his pocket tapped something onto the screen. At once red light beamed down from the ceiling and onto the group of Pokémon standing in the middle of the deck. It looked and felt a bit like the beam from a Pokéball. Ashachu glanced down at his arms instinctively. But it didn't cause his body composition to dissolve to energy or change.

It only lasted for a split second before vanishing and Miltek announced, "They're trained Pokémon. Caught by a local trainer named Ash Ketchum."

The woman pursed her lips and nodded. "That explains it."

Miltek frowned. "All except our Paldean friend." He looked up from his device to look Koraidon the eyes. "He's unregistered. A mystery."

"Wait…How does she know who our trainer is," said Dragonite, nervously drumming his claws on the end of his muzzle.

"Don't tell them anything," said Inteleon seriously.

"Oh," said Charizard, turning his head towards the secret agent Pokémon. "Why is that."

"Trust me," Inteleon replied. "They're not your friends."

He stepped forward towards the woman. At once the Primids raised their weapons, pointing their rifles directly at the water type's head.

"Ahh." Sobble flinched and shut his eyes, clinging tighter to Inteleon's neck. Even Charizard, Dragonite, Koraidon Ashachu and the three kits drew closer together. Charizard put his wing protectively around Charichu, Thunderbolt and Ryu.

Inteleon seemed entirely unperturbed. Although he stopped moving forward, he grinned coyly at the woman and said confidently, "Harmony Cobell. I guess I should be flattered the International Police consider me and little brother such a significant threat to the nation for the director to arrest us personally."

Cobell's eyes narrowed. "You must be Tel the Inteleon. And Sobby the Sobble. Serial number OSS002 and 0013. Assigned to agent Jacquline who arrived in the Unova Region from Galar aboard the MS President Kamala Harris a week ago. I know you were at the Blueberry Academy when that boy was killed, and now I find you here. Your species may be sly. But don't think for even a moment that I don't know everything that happens in the Seven Nations. Every coded message sent, every whispered conversation…Every secret meeting."

Inteleon's eyes widened for a moment. So, she knew about the meeting with Guzma. And the murder at the school. Cobell knew more than he had expected. His face quickly returned to its cool calm expression.

The momentary betrayal by his emotions had not escaped Harmony Cobell. "I could have had you all arrested and deported when you arrived at Liberty Pier, but I wanted to see what you were up to. It seems that once again, you're sticking your nose into matters that are outside your jurisdiction."

"I'd have thought stopping the Ultra Recon Squad would matter to all of us?" Said Inteleon.

"The Ultra Recon squad are inter-dimensional terrorists who should be banished from existence," Cobell replied. "And when I find them, I intend to do just that. But I've got no evidence that they're even in this dimension anymore, let along the Seven Nations."

"How do you figure that one?" Asked Inteleon.

"That isn't important right now." Cobell cut Inteleon off. "I want to know what you're doing here in the forest. I know your handler had a meeting arranged with Team Skull boss Guzma. I want to know what it was about. And I want to know what you're doing with these Pokémon. Tell me!"

Inteleon smirked. "And I want to know why the International Police is insisting the Ultra Recon squad are in another dimension, instead of here doing the Aether Foundation's dirty work. Oh wait. I know the answer to that one. You're covering for Tabu's while the government protects Lusamine. And since you made it clear you didn't want intelligence sharing or co-operation, why should I give you anymore than name, rank, and serial number."

The mood in the airship changed. From being tense it went to being downright ugly. Although Harmony Cobell remained calm, the lines on her forehead creased and her eyes flashed with white hot anger.

"You know my mother was an atheist. She used to say that there is good news and bad news about hell. The good news is that hell is just a figment of a morbid human imagination. The bad news is, what humans can imagine, they can usually create."

Inteleon frowned at her. "I don't understand what that means."

"Mr. Miltek. Primids. Please separate Sobble and Inteleon and escort him to the interrogation room," Cobell snapped, her voice was full of cold fury. "Let's find out if he's willing to talk."

Ashachu's fur bristled, and he felt a lurch in his stomach. The Primids started to advance on Inteleon, weapons raised. For the first time, Inteleon seemed afraid. He raised his paws up to shield his brother and exclaimed, "No. NO, that's not necessary. He's only a hatchling and he's only here to learn spy-craft from me. He doesn't know anything, leave him alone."

"Oh." Cobell raised her eyebrows. "Old enough to spy for his country, but not enough to suffer for it?"

"I'm telling you he doesn't know anything," Inteleon shouted, as the Primids got closer.

"Should we do something," Ashachu whispered urgently.

"No," Charizard mumbled back. His wings closed tighter around Charichu and the others and Ashachu felt his claws come to rest on his shoulder, squeezing them tightly. The flame Pokémon eyes the Primids wearily and then looked to the windows. They all had wings, could they escape.

But before the Primids could strike, something very strange happened. Music started to play from somewhere. Low at first, just loud enough to be picked up by Ashachu's ears.

"What's that," he blurted out. His fur bristled and he started to feel a sense of dread creeping over him.

The music got louder and louder. It was a pop song. One Ashachu had heard playing in a Pokémon Centre once but could not remember the name of. It was upbeat and energetic, complexity at odds with the uneasy feeling it gave the mouse Pokémon.

"Can we turn that off please," Ms. Cobell commanded, thinking it was one of the Interpol officers playing it.

There was no response as the music continued to play louder until was almost deafening.

"Who is that," Asked Miltek.

The Primids had stopped advancing towards Inteleon and Sobble. They had raised their weapons as they scanned the deck for a source of the music and a possible intruder.

"Oh. I think he's here," mumbled Inteleon, as he turned and looked towards the rear of the deck.

Ashachu, Charizard and the other's turned around on the spot so they were facing the opposite direction. Just in time to see the Darkrai teleport into the airship, just above the stairwell. It was both a bizarre and terrifying visage. Shadow was dressed in a frock; A lacy dress with straps over the shoulders that trailed onto the floor beneath him. Ashachu's stomach turned over when as he what the frock was made of… The dress was made from what looked like Charizard skins. A mass of shinny orange scales glittering like rubies. And draped over his shoulders was a fuzzy yellow and brown striped boa…that ended in the stuffed head of a Pikachu!

Charizard's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped at the sight of the Darkrai as the music turned louder still. "That's not possible!"

A loud singing voice filled the airship….

"When you're feelin' sad and low…We will take you where you gotta go…Smilin', dancin', everything is free… All you need is positivity…"

Shadow moved his way up the deck, twirling and spinning like a ballet dancer, his arms held high above his head and his spindly legs exposed. Ashachu sured hoped those weren't Charizard and Pikachu tails trailing behind his dress.

"Colours of the world…. Spice up your life…Every boy and every girl… Spice up your life."

He disappeared for a moment then repeated on the computer desk beside Ashachu, Charizard and the others. The two dragons fell over each other, nearly crushing the smaller mons as they all flinched and tried to scramble away. Shadow kicked his thin legs out like a burlesque dance in time to the music…It was an oddly disturbing site.

"People of the world…Spice up your life…Aah."

Shadow spread his arms out wide, raising the Pikachu fur boa above his head, and spun around on his right leg. His left stuck out at a ninety-degree angle. The trail of his frock flew out around him. The tempo of the music increased as the singer broke out into the chorus, and Shadow disappeared again.

At the same time Ashachu realised he was no longer clinging onto Charizard. Where his paws and been gripping warm scales, they were now just gripping air. He spun around, feeling sick looking for his mate and caught sight of him at the front of the deck, near the bulkhead…In the grips of Shadow.

"Slam it to the left… If you're havin' a good time…Shake it to the right…If ya know that you feel fine… Chicas to the front… Ha ha (uh uh) … Go round…"

Shadow had one hand wrapped around both of Charizard's claws and the other on his waist. He pulled and pushed the flame Pokémon across the deck, in a twisted parody of a waltz or tango. Charizard was too surprised by what was happening to put up any resistance. Finally, as the chorus drew to a close, Shadow pulled Charizard close, held his claws above his head and then used the hand on his hip to spin the lizard very fast. His scales became and orange blur, and his tail flame burned a single orange line into the vision of the onlookers. The darkrai eventually let go of Charizard's claws, causing him to teeter and eventually fall over onto the glass window with a crack…

"Chari," Ashachu shouted, running over to his mate's side as the chorus repeated.

"Slam it to the left… If you're havin' a good time… Shake it to the right… If ya know that you feel fine…Chicas to the front… Ha ha… Hai Si Ja… Hold tight."

Shadow disappeared then reappeared again right over the rest of the Pokémon. He grabbed a hold of Dragonite by the claw and pulled him into a psychotic tango as he had with Charizard. They danced…Or rather Darkrai forced Dragonite to dance with him…up the aisle between the desks and computer consoles. As the chorus ended, he spun Dragonite around in a twirl as he had with Charizard, then left him spinning like a top in the middle of the deck until he lost balance and crashed into a desk.

Harmony Cobell had seen enough. "Detain him," she ordered, his snarl cutting across the music.

"La la la la la la la la la…. La la la la la la la… La la la la la la la la la… La la la la la la la…"

Shadow had taken centre stage in the middle of the deck, once again dancing his disturbing version of the can-can. Kicking his spindly legs out for all present to see. On Ms. Cobell's command the Primids advanced on him. They formed a circle around him, while two approached. A perfect capture formation.

"No…Don't," cried Inteleon in warning, but too late.

As the Primid's drew close, Shadow reached out and touched them on the top of their heads. At once, the Primid's disappeared, replaced by a series of colourful bouncy balls that fell to the floor and scattered. Bouncing onto the desks and rolling under chairs.

"That's not possible. Where did they go, what the name of the original one is going on," Cobell all but screamed, desperate to keep control in a situation that was fast deteriorating.

"I-I don't know," gasped Inteleon. "I've never…wait!"

Miltek had retreated towards the flight deck, yelling into a communicator. "Distress distress. Distress on the flight deck. Requesting immediate backup!"

"All Primids take hostile positions," cried Cobell.

The Primids retreated, but kept a perimeter around Shadow, raising their weapons. The Darkrai continued to kick and twirl on the spot in time to the music.

"On my command…OPEN FIRE."

"Get down!"

Ashachu threw himself on Thunderbolt and Charichu, pushing the two small Pokémon to the ground as the Primids fired their rifles. Koraidon hit the deck, Dragonite crawled under a desk and Ryu coiled around himself and hid his head under his butt. Charizard covered his face with his claws and wings.

But the music continued to blare even as the sound of gunfire filled the airship. Ashachu opened his eyes and tilted his head back as far as he could without raising to see what was happening. Shadow continued to twirl one legged like a ballet dancer while colourful glitter and confetti fell over him. As Ashachu watched, he realised that the Primid's firearms were not firing bullets or plasma like they normally would have, but streamers of glitter.

Ms. Cobell too and taken out a handgun and was firing at Shadow's head. But it too, only seemed to fire glitter.

"Stop…STOP. Let me talk to him," Inteleon called out, trying to be heard over the music and commotion. "This isn't real. This must be a…"

"Bring in the heavy artillery," Ms. Cobell ordered as the chorus repeated once again.

"Slam it to the left… If you're havin' a good time… Shake it to the right… If ya know that you feel fine…Chicas to the front… Ha ha…"

More Primids entered the room, this time carrying guns that were as large as Ashachu himself. The floor seemed to shake as they were fired. Ashachu felt a hail of powder fall on his back. All the heavy armaments were managing to do was fill the room with even more glitter and confetti.

"Hai Si Ja… Hold tight." The music came to a dramatic end…

Shadow bopped Charizard on the nose, made a heart shape with his hands, and then disappeared from the airship. Ashachu rose from the ground looked around. He blinked a few times, feeling slightly dazed.

"Mmmffmmffmm…can't breathe," came a muffled voice.

Ashachu glanced down and saw Thunderbolt struck to his chest. He peeled the little Pichu off name placed him on the ground, where he glared at him.

"Ugh. When did you last have a bath."

Ashachu ignored him, still wondering what had just happened.

Koraidon went over to help Dragonite off the ground. "You are alright," he asked as he pulled the dragon type to his feet.

"Yeah," breathed Dragonite. "I was lucky."

"Who was that," Ms. Cobell demanded.

"That…was Shadow," Inteleon replied seriously, staring directly at Ms. Cobell. Sobble clung to his neck trembling. "He's the one I've been trying to warn you about…Now will you believe me!"