Bea continued to search for this mystery figure, her eyes scanning the area. She eventually spotted a few figures on the rooftops, watching her carefully. They were cloaked in dark robes, their faces hidden in the shadows. Bea narrowed her eyes, her expression grim.
"Show yourself!" Bea demanded. The figures said nothing, their bodies tense. Bea then looked down to see Goh, catching up to her. Goh looked at the figures, his eyes wide.
"S-Slow down for a second, Bea! Who are they?! What do they want?!"
"Shh, Goh." Bea hissed, placing a finger on his lips. "Let's stay quiet." The figures stared at the duo, their eyes cold and calculating. They seemed to be assessing the situation, their eyes darting between the two. After a moment, the figures seemed to come to a decision and one of them spoke, a low, raspy voice emanating from the hood.
"They're in position. Pincer them." The figures moved quickly, leaping down from the rooftops and landing on the ground with a soft thud. They then moved in on the duo, their movements swift and precise. Goh was visibly shaking, his heart racing. Bea was more confident, her eyes focused on the figures.
"Bea...I-I don't think this is a good idea..."
"I know." Bea said, her voice steady. "But we can't just run away. They clearly wanted us to follow them into this trap." The figures drew their Poke Balls, the items gleaming in the light. They began to circle the duo, their bodies tense. Bea and Goh slowly backed away, their movements slow and deliberate.
The figures continued to circle the two, their movements becoming increasingly aggressive. They were getting closer and closer, their Poke Balls ready. But so was Bea. She already had her Poke Ball ready. She looked at Goh, who was still shaking.
"Goh. Stay close." She commanded. Goh nodded, his body stiff. The figures suddenly stopped, their Poke Balls ready. They seemed to be waiting for something, their bodies tensing.
Suddenly, the figures attacked, their Poke Balls flying towards the duo. Goh cried out, his body tensing. Bea, however, remained calm, her expression focused. She quickly kicked the Poke Balls away, sending them back at the figures, who deflected them. After hitting them with their own Poke Balls, Bea threw her own, summoning her Machop. "Appear, Machop!"
Machop materialized, his fists clenched. He looked around, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He then locked eyes with the figures, his expression fierce. The figures were taken aback by the sudden appearance of Machop. They quickly recovered, however, and began to their Poke Balls out once more.
Their own Pokemon emerged, consisting of a Drowzee, a Gastly, a Raticate, a Slowbro, and a Scyther.
"Whoever you are, you wanted me to pursue you. Just so you could trap us." Bea said. "I assume you're from the city and are aware of our arrival."
"Well, you got it. You're as perceptive as you are beautiful." Drowzee's Trainer said. "You folks have an Astra Vessel on you. Only important figures ride those...so the Lord Baevel must see you at once to know who you are."
"So you're sent by him?"
"That's right, beautiful. King of Kurodaka City." Gastly's Trainer said, his tone serious. "We're his elite soldiers, and it's our job to make sure that no one enters the city without permission. Now, if you could kindly come with us, we'll escort you to the castle."
"Castle? I don't think so." Bea retorted. "We're going in there on our own terms. But with a different approach in mind. Listen well, all of you. We are with the Star Champion and we are here to absolutely free those you've wronged!" Bea proudly said with no hesitation while Goh gulped.
"Did she say the Star Champion? Is that who they came with?" Raticate's Trainer whispered to the others.
"Who else could've come with them?" Scyther's Trainer scoffed. "No other person has an Astra Vessel outside of those higher-ups at Kanto and Sinnoh. If the Star Champion's here, then he's the one person Lord Baevel has to see."
"You won't even get the chance to see the Star Champion with me here. Machop! Use Low Kick!"
Machop charged forward, his leg sweeping in a wide arc. He caught the opposing Pokemon off guard, knocking them to the ground. He then continued to pummel them with a series of strong kicks, his feet connecting with their bodies.
"Raticate! Use Hyper Fang!"
Raticate leaped into the fray, his teeth bared. However, Machop would jump out of the way, his body moving with swift grace. He then countered with a powerful punch, his fist connecting with Raticate's jaw. The rat Pokemon was knocked back, his head ringing.
"Gastly, use Night Shade!" Gastly's Trainer ordered.
Gastly began to emit an eerie glow, his body becoming translucent. He then launched a wave of dark energy at Machop, who was unable to dodge in time. Machop was hit hard, his body becoming engulfed in the dark energy. He struggled to move, his body being weighed down by the darkness.
But knowing that Machop could only do so much on his own, Bea would get involved, grabbing a nearby crate with all of her might and throwing it at Gastly. She wasn't the strongest, but she knew that she was capable. The crate smashed into Gastly, knocking him back. The ghost Pokemon was stunned, his body reeling from the impact.
"Machop! Get back up! Use Dual Chop!" Bea commanded. Machop's eyes snapped open, his body regaining its strength. He then charged at the opposing Pokemon, his fists clenched. He unleashed a flurry of powerful chops, his arms moving at a blinding speed.
The opposing Pokemon were unable to block the onslaught of attacks, their bodies being pummeled by the force of Machop's blows. Machop was faster than they expected, faster than all of them combined. He was a force to be reckoned with, his power clearly growing due to the battles he's recently been in.
"Rush them!" The men said, deciding to approach Bea and Goh by force. They ran towards them, ready to grab them and take them back to the castle. However, Bea was ready for them. As Goh cowered in fear, Bea grabbed a piece of wood from one of the broken crates, using it as a weapon. She swung at the men, striking them hard in the face.
Bea's swings were strong and powerful, her muscles tensing as she swung. She was able to knock out one of the men, but the other three kept coming. They drew swords out, raising them high in the air. Bea quickly dodged, her body moving swiftly. But she knew that this was only going to last for so long. She needed to end this quickly.
With a strong yell, she smashed the piece of wood on the side of one of the men's stomachs, making him fall and quiver in pain. With a quick spin, she would knock him out by slamming the wood against his head. The man collapsed, his body limp. The other two men continued to come at her, their swords flashing. Bea raised the wood to block it, but the sword sliced right through it, splitting the wood in two as it nearly struck Bea.
After it broke in two, Bea used the two halves as weapons as well, throwing them at the faces of the men. She stunned them because of this before smashing her fist against their chests, causing them to stagger and cough.
"W-What..." The men said, staggering back. "She's strong..."
"I am the Star Champion's Disciple and will soon be a powerful trainer. I refuse to lose to people like you!" Bea angrily said as Machop leapt off the head of Scyther, using Low Kick from above to strike the two men in their faces.
The men were knocked back, their bodies crashing into the ground. They were dazed, their bodies aching from the force of the kick. Machop landed, his body tense. The battle was over, and Bea had emerged victorious. This trap had failed. But that didn't matter, because more would be coming. Bea knew that, and she knew that she needed to act quickly.
"Let's go! Goh!" Bea bolted off with Machop and Goh following, leaving the beaten soldiers on the ground. They were defeated, but this wasn't over yet.
Back at the slums, Ash, Nessa, and Misty were handing the coins out to the citizens, who were now feeling a bit safer and were more energized than ever. This was a sign that things would surely change soon for the better, and they were grateful for what Ash had done. It was a big help to them. Ash would smile, knowing that the citizens were feeling more hopeful now. But he could also feel the growing hostility in the air, his senses going off and detecting danger afoot.
"Star Champion, we'll be careful." The citizens said. "But thank you for this. We'll start making a change and getting this place fixed."
"I'm glad to hear that. Just make sure to take good care of the money, okay? As for us, we're gonna head to the other areas and do what we can. Anything you wanna tell us about them?"
"Well, this area is the most run-down, but the others aren't exactly all that much better. The next area is riddled with crime and can be incredibly hostile. The one after that is a little safer, but the people there tend to keep to themselves. There are a few more to list off but it always comes back to the main capital of Kurodaka."
"Gotcha." Ash nodded in understanding. "Well, we'll do what we can and make our way to the capital soon enough. If anything's wrong, you can come and find us and we'll help."
"Thank you!" They would smile and bow to Ash, grateful to have met the legendary hero.
Ash, Brock, Misty and Nessa would then leave the slums and go to the next area. Ash's senses were on high alert, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Before he could head to the other areas, he wanted to check up on Bea and Goh first.
"I'll be right back, guys. I'm gonna check up on Goh and Bea." Ash said, running off. Brock, Misty, and Nessa nodded, watching him leave. He would accelerate all of a sudden, leaving behind a trail of Aura in the process.
Bea, Goh, and Machop were trying to lose their pursuers, but no matter how hard they tried, they would always get spotted, forcing the two of them to fight them off. After fighting the third group, Bea and Goh found a spot to take a break, breathing hard. Machop was tired as well, his body aching from the constant battles. He looked around, his eyes scanning the area.
"Bea, I don't think that they're gonna stop at this rate." Goh said. "Plus...I'm running low on stamina here."
"Now that they know we're here, they won't stop until we're brought in...or dead." Bea said, looking around. She noticed that the people in this town were giving her looks, eyeing her down with curiosity. "With them being on the side of the Auravale Empire, our connection to the Star Champion will have eyes on us a lot more."
"That's because you told them about that...Goh lowered his head.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from the alleyway. It was a man with short black hair, dressed in dark clothes. He was wearing a cloak that hid most of his face, but he had a large, muscular frame and a menacing aura about him.
He stepped forward, his footsteps heavy. "You. You two came with the Star Champion." He said. His voice was deep and menacing, sending a shiver down the spines of both Goh and Bea. "Lord Baevel wishes to see you." The man continued. His tone was threatening, and the two were unsure of how to respond.
"Like hell we will." Bea hissed, stepping back. She didn't want to go with him. He was obviously an enemy and they had to get rid of him before he got the upper hand on them.
The man laughed, a deep, menacing sound that sent a shiver down the spine of Goh and Bea. "I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice. Come quietly and I'll spare you."
"You're just a lackey. We don't have time to deal with your kind." Bea growled. "We'll got to your Lord Baevel, but on our own terms and with the Star Champion."
The man laughed again. "Being a part of the Star Champion's team has made you think you're stronger than you are. However, it's clear that you're just riding his coattails. You're far too weak to stop all of us and especially Lord Baevel." The man then drew out a Poke Ball, releasing his pokemon: a large and intimidating Ursaring, its fur dark and thick.
"Tch!" Bea grit her teeth in the face of this large Pokemon
Machop would stand in front of Bea to defend her, the two Pokemon staring at each other.
Goh and Bea could sense the intense energy between the two, knowing that a battle was about to start.
"Machop, are you ready?" Bea asked, looking down at her Pokemon.
Machop nodded, his fists clenching. He knew that he would have to give his all if he wanted to defeat this opponent. He was already growing stronger because of the battles he's recently been in, so now he had to use his newfound strength against a stronger foe.
Ursaring roared, his voice booming throughout the alley. His body tensed up, his fur bristling as he charged forward.
Machop was quick to react, leaping to the side. Ursaring swiped his paw, trying to grab Machop, but he dodged again.
Machop then charged forward, using his fists to strike Ursaring's side. Ursaring grunted, feeling the pain, but he didn't stop.
Machop was getting frustrated. No matter how hard he hit, Ursaring was too big to go down. Ursaring swung his paw at Machop, but the Fighting Pokemon leaped out of the way, landing behind Ursaring.
The man laughed. "Pathetic. I thought the Star Champion's allies would be better than this." The man sneered.
Ursaring roared again, turning his attention to Bea and Goh.
"Get out of here, Goh!" Bea yelled. "I'll hold him back!" Goh ran away as fast as he could.
Machop and Bea knew that this was going to be a difficult fight, but they had to protect themselves. Bea was able to hold her own for now. Ursaring charged forward, his paw swiping at the air. Bea dodged, using her strength to move swiftly.
Ursaring gave chase, attempting to finish her off with his powerful claws. Bea knew that one hit from Ursaring could spell her end, so she dodged as quickly as she could, using the walls to her advantage. Machop tried to help by attacking Ursaring, but Ursaring was too strong and powerful for him to handle. Ursaring was too fast, and he eventually cornered Bea in the alley. She was panting, exhausted from the chase.
Ursaring moved forward, ready to finish her off, when suddenly, a figure appeared and blocked his path.
"Stop." Ash's voice was low and dangerous, his eyes narrowed in anger. Ursaring halted, his eyes widening at the sight of Ash. Ash was standing between Ursaring and Bea, his arms crossed. Ursaring knew who he was. He was the Star Champion. The man was surprised as well, his face contorted in shock.
"Star Champion..."
"You're the...!" The man was flabbergasted by the legendary figure standing before him. The legendary Star Champion that was so strong, no one could ever match him in terms of power, the legendary figure that could use an obscene amount of Aura. Ash stood in front of him with an unwavering gaze.
"Are you guys alright? Bea? Goh? Machop?"
"We are..." She was stunned, her heart racing. But she also noticed something different. The air felt heavier, the light dimming around her. The air felt colder and she could feel the presence of something massive coming. Clearly, the Star Champion's Aura was rising, his power growing.
The man's eyes narrowed at Ash, his gaze locked on the Star Champion's body.
"You'll pay for interfering, Star Champion!" He shouted, pointing at him with an accusatory finger.
Ash simply smiled, a smirk forming on his face. "We'll see about that."
The man's expression changed, a look of disbelief crossing his face. "Y-You..." He stuttered, his voice filled with shock. He was surprised by how calm Ash was, and he didn't understand how the Star Champion could be so confident.
Before he could make another move, the Aura of the Star Champion flared and emanated off his body, enveloping the whole alleyway. It was an overwhelming wave of energy, so much that the man could barely stand. He fell to his knees, unable to take the pressure.
Ursaring tried resisting the Aura, but he was unable to move, his body paralyzed by the overwhelming energy.
The man and Ursaring tried to fight the pressure, but they were powerless in the face of Ash's power.
"U-Ursaring...use Hammer-Arm..." He managed to say.
With all his might, Ursaring slowly moved his body forward and raised his paw. He swung down at Ash with his powerful claws, ready to strike him down. However, before his paw could connect with Ash's body, Ash quickly dodged, using his speed and reflexes to avoid the attack. Ursaring stumbled, his arm missing Ash completely.
"Pikachu! Iron Tail!"
In a flash, Pikachu appeared before Ursaring, his tail glowing a bright white as he struck Ursaring in the head with his powerful attack. The blow sent Ursaring flying, his body crashing into his own trainer and knocking them both unconscious.
"Well done, Pikachu. You did a great job." Ash praised his companion. The Ursaring and his trainer both groaned, their eyes spinning after that single strike from Pikachu.
"Thank you, Star Champion..." Bea breathed heavily, her face covered in sweat. She was grateful to him for saving her. The energy in the area slowly began to return to normal, the pressure dissipating. She was still amazed that she had just faced an Ursaring and lived to tell the tale. She was in awe of Ash and the power he held. "I survived an Ursaring attack...Lucky me."
"Same here." Goh sighed, sitting down.
"Many thanks, Star Champion. I wish I could have stopped him myself though...to show how strong I've become."
"But you have. I saw all those guys knocked out on the way here. You've gotten stronger for sure, Bea. Don't ever forget that." Ash said, placing a hand on Bea's shoulder.
"I-I see." She blushed and looked away.
Ash, Bea, Goh, Pikachu, and Machop left the alley, leaving behind the defeated man and his Pokemon. As they walked, Bea thought to herself about the power that Ash held. He was truly a legendary figure and he deserved all the respect and admiration that people had for him. But she knew that she couldn't rely on him forever.
"Star Champion. They were attempting to capture us and take us to Kurodaka's capital to meet with this...Lord Baevel. They said you had to meet with them as well." Goh said. "Most likely, they're gonna keep coming for us now that they know we're here."
Ash nodded, his expression stern. "That's fine. I'll be waiting for them." His words were calm and collected, but his eyes showed the determination and courage he held. "We're leaving this part of Kurodaka and heading over to the next. After we clear it all out, then we can go straight to the main city." He pointed at the city in the far distance, the sun setting on the horizon.
"Got it." Goh nodded, determined. Bea also nodded, ready for the challenge ahead. Ash would start running, with the rest of the group following close behind.
While the sent grunts had been defeated, one of them managed to get back and immediately head back to report to their lord. "L-Lord Baevel!" He said. "The Star Champion is in the city!"
"So, it's the Star Champion, huh?" Baevel grinned. He was sitting in his throne, a wine glass in one hand. He was surrounded by beautiful women, who were dressed in elegant, revealing clothing, the finest of what Kurodaka could provide.
Baevel's palace was an extravagant display of opulence, filled with expensive artwork, tapestries, and statues. The floor was covered in a thick carpet, and the walls were decorated with paintings and sculptures of his ancestors. He had an air of confidence about him, his dark skin, and long hair giving him a mysterious look. He had an imposing figure, his muscles showing through his clothes.
"That popular figure everyone's talking about lately. He was the one on that Astra Vessel? Makes sense. I'd expect no less from a vessel like that. A big figure's gotta ride on it. He must have come to my city to see what it has to offer. Well, if that's the case, then I'm more than happy to show him. We'll see if this Star Champion is all he's cracked up to be."
The women smiled and laughed with him, enjoying his company. They were all captivated by him, their eyes shining with admiration and lust. They were completely under his spell. "But...if he's here, then he wants to stop me, doesn't he? Hmph. I'll gladly crush this whole Star Champion craze that's going on. Snuff it out before it can even start. And he and his allies can become a part of my army. Yeah...that'll do it."
As Ash and the group made it to the second area, Ash would see the same sight as before, only this time, it looked more hostile and had a more run-down feeling to it. Ash's eyes would scan the area, noticing that this place had a much more sinister feel to it. As he continued to look around, he could feel a certain presence in the air that he couldn't quite pinpoint. He knew that there were people out there, but he couldn't figure out who they were.
Ash and his friends would continue to explore the city, but it wasn't long until they heard a commotion in one of the alleys.
Ash's instincts were telling him that he needed to go to investigate.
"Hey, hey! Lookie what we have here!" There was a large band of delinquents, consisting of a tall, lanky teenager in ripped plants and a torn cloak, a pair of smaller girls with black shorts and matching bandannas tied around their waists, and a bigger guy with a thick leather jacket, a black mask, and spiked hair.
The gang were all wearing different outfits that ranged from punk-style to hip-hop-inspired designs. They each had various piercings, tattoos, and other accessories that complemented their look. They carried an air of rebellion that made them stand out from the rest of the city.
They were ganging up on a younger girl and a Fennekin. The poor girl was being pushed around and berated by these bullies, her Pokemon being defenseless against the gang.
Fennekin would try its hardest to save her friend, but to no avail.
As Ash saw the girl crying and the Fennekin struggling, his eyes narrowing instantly. He immediately rushed in to help them, drawing out a Poke Ball to send out one of his partners. "Pignite! Flamethrower!"
From the Poke Ball emerged a Pig of Fire Pokemon; Pignite. With a roar, he blasted the gang members with a powerful Flamethrower. The gang members were sent flying, landing on the ground with a thud. The leader of the gang got up, angry and ready to fight back. He and his crew released a Poochyena, a Mightyena, a Houndour, and a Houndoom.
The group of dark-type Pokemon snarled and growled at the intruders, their eyes gleaming with fury. Their sharp teeth glinted in the moonlight and their bodies tensed up, ready to strike. The leader of the pack stepped forward and let out a fierce howl, signaling the others to attack.
"So, there's just random attacks like this out here?" Ash spoke while stepping forward. "It's gonna be a lot of work here in Kurodaka, but I'm up for it. Pikachu! Pignite, go!"
"W-Who is this?!" One of the girls said. "Just a normal guy and yet..." She sensed his power from that single attack. He had to have been an incredibly powerful trainer if he had so easily knocked her friends out like that.
As Pikachu and Pignite advanced towards the opposing Pokemon, Nessa ran over to the girl and her Fennekin, offering assistance. She helped them to safety. The two young Pokemon cried in fear, the Houndoom and Poochyena's fangs bared and ready to pounce. But Nessa remained unafraid, knowing that the Star Champion was here to protect everyone. The Dark-types attacked ferociously, their fangs and claws scraping across the pavement as they lunged for their targets.
Faster than Ash's opponents could react, both Pikachu and Pignite pounced upon the opposing Pokemon, sending them sprawling backwards. Pikachu quickly dispatched the smaller, weaker Pokemon with his powerful Electric-type moves, while Pignite used his impressive strength and fire-type powers to deal with the larger foes.
After a few minutes of intense battling, Ash called his Pokemon back to his side. All the Dark-types were lying on the ground, unconscious and beaten. Despite the odds, Ash had emerged victorious once again. His skill and training had allowed him to take down the entire gang without a scratch. The leader of the gang, having lost consciousness himself, slumped against the wall, utterly defeated. Nessa, having watched the battle from a safe distance, brought the girl over as she hugged Nessa tightly.
"Thank you, thank you..." The girl would say, clutching Nessa's waist. "I thought Fennekin and I were..."
"It's alright now." Nessa said, stroking the girl's hair. "You don't need to worry. Can you get home on your home? Are your parents safe?"
"I can get home but...everyone else is away right now from town. I'm the only one here."
"The only one here? Really?" Nessa raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by that.
"Hm...That explains why I didn't sense a ton of Auras here..." Ash confirmed this with a hum. But it wouldn't be just Ash that discovered a lack of people here.
"Star Champion. No one else is home..." Brock and the others had checked parts of this town and discovered that many homes were empty or deserted.
"Yeah, they're all gone." Misty replied, walking up to him. "Pretty creepy..."
"How come?"
"We have a festival every year during this time. Everyone's up in the mountains to watch the stars together." The girl said, rubbing her arm.
"I see. Must be pretty special."
"They always throw it. It's a tradition where we celebrate the night and just appreciate life altogether. Here in Kurodaka, we celebrate Lugia every year with fireworks and such to honour the Moon. This means that almost nobody is here, but things are different. They left for the festival but they also ran away."
"Ran away?" As repeated.
"Yeah...When I came back home, all I found were these guys roaming around and picking on anyone they find..." She frowned. "No one was going to the festival because they wanted to. They were doing it because it was far away from Lord Baevel's reach."
Ash pondered to himself for a moment, taking in all this information. The situation in Kurodaka seemed more dire than he had anticipated. People were living in fear of this tyrant, Lord Baevel, and were fleeing to the mountain to escape him. Even something as peaceful and fun as a festival was now seen as a chance to escape the clutches of a cruel ruler. It was disheartening to think that people's lives were so affected by one individual that they were willing to risk their safety in order to find some peace.
"Then I guess the rest of the people are up in the mountains," Ash concluded.
"That sounds about right," Brock agreed.
Nessa had her hand on her chin. "Then what are we supposed to do next? Just wait here? Lord Baevel isn't going to stop sending grunts our way to kidnap us and bring us to him, but we can't exactly head to the capital if we leave these areas unprotected. As for all those people...they're hiding now, but what if their location has already been given away?"
"When's this festival start anyways?" Goh asked.
"It was only yesterday that they all ran away when the town was attacked. The Festival's this coming night but they didn't take any of the usual things that make the festival special." The girl lowered her hair. "I don't think they're going to celebrate after what happened yesterday."
"So that means we've got until tonight before it starts," Ash said, thinking for a moment. "Hmm..."
"Star Champion." Sabrina walked over. "If they are hiding and aren't using the usual decorations for their festival, then I predict that most likely, tonight Lord Baevel's Forces will find them and attack them. I suggest we intercept and anticipate such an outcome."
"And if we take care of all the delinquent and enemy forces in the other parts of the town, then we won't have to worry about leaving them alone, and we can finally make our way to the Capital and confront this Lord Baevel directly," Brock added.
"I gotcha..." Ash nodded to himself. "Hmmm...Okay! Here's what we're gonna do. Some of us are gonna head to that hidden spot to keep them all safe and some of us are gonna head straight to the capital right away and stop Baevel as fast as we can."
"Oh? Then what shall we do now?" Misty wondered.
"Since things are getting tense here in this area, then we should go and try to restore order before anything bad happens, right?" Sabrina suggested, her Psychic-Power-filled eyes surveying the group.
"I don't think we should just rush into battle against Lord Baevel with no plan. Not to mention that if the Lord sends even more henchmen to get rid of us, then we may be outnumbered. I agree with Sabrina." Misty commented, nodding along. "Then again...I know you, Star Champion and you're gonna do things differently and rush in as always."
"Brock. Misty. Do you two think you can come with me to the capital? Sabrina. I want you to stay with Nessa, Goh and Bea so that you guys can find everyone else that's out in that mountain area and get them all to safety. Get 'em someplace nice and quiet, and make sure they're safe." Ash explained his plan.
Brock and Misty were on board with Ash's idea along with Sabrina. Sabrina would keep the three of them safe with her great skills while also ensuring that they save everyone else this coming night.
"Awesome. Let's make this work, you guys. We'll clear out everywhere else along the way while making it there." Ash gave a thumbs up with a bright grin.
"And how are we gonna cross and save all these towns and get to the capital in time?" Misty questioned. But Ash could do it. He had the speed to do so. Whether it was him or one of his many Pokemon.
Either way, they all got to work, going their separate ways and readying themselves to take down Lord Baevel and save all of Kurodaka. Doing so would be affecting one part of Johto greatly.
Ash was the fastest among the group and was able to quickly make his way to the capital. It didn't take him long to pass by the different areas. Sending out his Dragonite, he was able to fly past many sections of Kurodaka City, being able to go to the outermost regions and defeat the enemy in seconds.
There was no doubt in Brock and Misty's minds that Ash would be able to clear out the areas and reach the capital in record time. From town after town, all those working under Lord Baevel would be apprehended swiftly by Ash and his team of Pokemon. Ash, Misty and Brock also proved to be a rather powerful trio.
Their Pokemon had great strengths in many categories, making them a force to be reckoned with. Each had unique strategies, and when combined with Ash's unrivalled power, they were unstoppable. In short, Ash Ketchum's reputation as a hero was well-deserved.
Goh had stayed with Nessa, Bea, and Sabrina along with the little girl who was being protected by them.
"We'll wait till nightfall and then we'll move out," Sabrina told them all. "We don't wanna draw suspicion towards ourselves. Especially with the Star Champion moving across Kurodaka and defeating everyone. So, where is this location of yours?"
"There. See?" The girl pointed ahead at what looked like a large mountain that had seemingly nothing on it. It just looked like an average mountain from here, nothing out of the ordinary.
Sabrina focused her mind, sensing the presence of life up there. "Clever. An illusion is masking it all, it seems. I assume no one from Baevel's forces has found out about it. Not until recently supposedly."
They all began to travel upwards, starting to trek on the path towards the mountain. From this angle, the scenery changed slightly, giving off an ominous atmosphere. The wind blew gently, stirring up leaves and creating an eerie feeling. They passed through dense vegetation, the trees swaying ominously above them. Shadows stretched out along the path as darkness surrounded them. Strange noises echoed through the night, making them shiver with fear. Eventually, the group reached a cave opening in front of them, leading deep into unknown depths.
"What is this place?" Goh whispered softly.
"This is where we have our Festivals." She answered. "There's an opening beyond this passage that opens to a beautiful valley, perfect for celebrations like our annual ones."
"The fact that it's so far out, secluded, and secret makes it all the more remarkable." Nessa remarked. "Not everyone can hide themselves from a dictator like this. You have to give credit where credit is due."
The five entered through the dimly lit cave entrance cautiously as if expecting something unexpected at any moment. A small breeze came blowing through, sending chills down everyone's spine despite being accustomed to cold temperatures like this.
A low rumbling noise resonated throughout their eardrums causing everyone else besides Sabrina to stop dead still in fear thinking there could possibly even be Pokemon within these walls waiting patiently lurking within shadows unseen. Deeper and deeper they went until finally emerging out into open space filled completely by darkness once again only broken occasionally by what seemed like torchlight coming off nearby rocks illuminating certain parts allowing better vision than before.
The girl had a smile on her face, knowing that she'll get to see everyone else once more. But as soon as this place was illuminated, someone stood there, the shadows revealing a woman. Sabrina and the others stopped to see a rather alluring woman in front of another entrance.
She had long white hair, coupled with beautiful yellow eyes. She wore a black kimono with a ed ribbon. Her legs were bare and she had on sandals. Her chest was very much ample, her hips being wide as well.
But more importantly, she had quite a devious smirk on her face as fear was struck into the little girl's heart. She knew exactly who this was and it terrified her. She could recognize that face from anywhere.
"Well, looks like there's more than just one extra visitor here." The woman spoke while wielding a fan. She waved the fan in a seductive manner, making the others sweat a bit at her presence. "You really think I didn't know where this little hideaway is? You all should be ashamed for trying to hide away from my lord. You've all come here for nothing."
"I take it you're a member of the Baevel Gang?" Sabrina said, pulling out a PokeBall.
"Of course I am. Call me a Lord's Lieutenant, the Lord's Advisor. Whatever you desire, I'll accept it." She gave a smile. "My name is Cassandra." She opened her fan. "But you'll refer to me as Miss Vixen, child." Her yellow eyes flashed. "And who are these four? They don't look like they're from around here."
"We are with the Star Champion. Now step aside. We have people to see and ensure that they are safe." Sabrina scowled at her while gripping her Poke Ball.
"Oh, but you're too late for that. All those that tried hiding from Lord Baevel are being promptly punished in there as we speak. We already found them and tonight, their punishment will be far worse." Miss Vixen laughed.
"What are you doing to them?!" Bea exclaimed, putting one foot forward to step ahead.
"Simple, really." She put one hand to her lips, chuckling to herself. "To further Lord Baevel's cause. They've been avoiding his desired goal for too long and they play a huge part in it. Everyone does. No one gets left out. Not even newcomers to Kurodaka." Her smile was rather devious. "And now, you all will be next."
"I think not." Sabrina coldly said.
"Hoh? Tell that to one of my lovely Pokemon. Steelix!" Cassandra's eyes would flash as all of a sudden, a powerful rumble could be heard. As Sabrina and the group turned, they would see a large, steel snake-like creature emerge from the ground. Its body was covered in thick metal scales as this Pokemon was known for being a symbol of outstanding defense.
Goh and the girl gasped and screamed at this sight while Bea and Sabrina narrowed their eyes. Nessa was just as intimidated, stepping back a bit. If they wished to save all those people from the punishment in there or even hope to see the Star Champion again, Cassandra was a massive obstacle for them to overcome. Mainly due to the Steelix that stands before them.