A New Path

by TheCouchEffect

Ash has finally achieved his dream after so many years. He has become the champion of a Pokemon league. Despite this victory, he feels lost with no sense of direction. Weeks after his victory, he is framed for a crime he didn't commit. Unwilling to accept guilt, he will be drawn into a battle to clear his name and bring Team Rocket to justice before they can become unstoppable.

23. Eyes Open

IMPORTAN NOTE AT END OF CHAPTER

---

Twenty-One Years Ago, Castelia City, Unova

Sleep never came easily to John.

Even years after the Great War ended, he still struggled to get a full nights sleep. His mind kept dragging him back to the living hell of those years. The crumbling ruins of once great cities. The heat and roar of a battlefield. Wind rushing through his hair as he fell from the skies.

The legions of dead that haunted his every nightmare. Enemies he had to kill and friends he failed to save?. Even the innocents caught in the crossfire.

Especially the innocents.

A knock at the door roused him from his sleep before any flashes could fall upon him tonight.

"Oi, LT! Get your ass up!"

His eyes snapped open to the dim light of a flickering overhead bulb. His Raichu let out a grunt of annoyance followed by a deep yawn. The little guy lifted his head to glare at the door defiantly. As if he could incinerate it for daring to be knocked on.

If only he were a Psychic, that might have worked.

John sighed, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed. "Gimme a minute."

He nudged his partner aside and walked over to his wardrobe. Tossing on his old army jacket, he grabbed the knife that hung on the wall and strapped it to his waist. It did nothing to hide the bags under his eyes, but that hardly mattered.

Nothing a cup of joe couldn't fix.

He tried to smile for his groggy partner. "Sleep well, buddy?"

Raichu rolled onto his paws and huffed. It didn't take a genius to see he hadn't gotten any pleasant dreams, either.

John sighed. "Thought so."

He glanced back into his wardrobe to the picture taped to the door. In it, he and his squad mates were all at a cookout, sitting around a fire and laughing over some joke someone had told. He still remembered the night vividly. They'd finished their training a couple of nights before and were about to ship out. Help Johto out in its independence movement with a show of force big enough to scare Kanto. It was meant to be a short and easy deployment.

No one knew the five years of hell that awaited the world.

No one in this picture knew he'd be the only one to come home.

Simpler times… back when people still believed dying for your country was the highest honor.

He shook his head and cracked open the door to find his friend standing on the other side. "What do you want? It's late."

The man shrugged. "Sorry, LT. Someone's looking for you. Says they've got a job that'll pay some big bucks." He said. "Definitely dresses like a rich bastard."

Tsk. Much as John wanted to turn the man away, he wasn't in a position to do it. They needed all the money they could get.

"Alright. Lead the way."

Like most veterans, life after the war hadn't been kind to John. Most of them had only been given a few hundred dollars and a handful of worthless medals. Barely enough to buy a new set of clothes. The admiration of the masses faded as quickly as the sun, and the government programs meant to help them only wound up isolating them even more.

They'd been promised the world upon their return. All they got were empty promises, hollow accolades, and broken spirits, if they were lucky. Most of them left pieces of themselves back on the battlefield. Not all of it physical.

It made adjusting to civilian life and finding a normal life… difficult.

So, John had taken it upon himself to set up a home for them all. It was little more than a warehouse on the edge of the city, but it shielded them from the elements, offered warm food, and gave them a place to rest after a long day.

It was more than most were doing for them.

John and Raichu followed the man through the warehouse towards the kitchen in the back. Most of the veterans were still asleep, but some glanced in their direction to see if they were needed. He waved them off and kept walking.

He doubted he'd need them for a simple business meeting.

They walked into the kitchen to find a well-dressed foreign man with short raven hair sitting at the table wearing an immaculate black suit while the kind old caretaker of the place chatted his ear off. Curled up at his feet was an impressive-looking Persian with powerful muscles, the kind only a lifetime of battle could craft. In the man's hand was a steaming cup of tea.

"-and then I told them to hit the road before I turned them into gravy!" The old crone croaked.

A quiet laugh escaped their guest as he set the cup down. "Oh my. You sound like you were quite the firebrand when you were younger."

"I still am! All age has taught it the finer ways in life to grind someone into dust." She said.

John cleared his throat. "Are we interrupting something?"

The caretaker looked up and smiled. "Not at all, dearie. I was just entertaining our guest until you rolled out of bad. I'd be a poor host if I left him to twiddle his thumbs out in the cold."

Maybe she should have. It was a lot harder to negotiate when you were freezing your ass off.

"Thanks." He said instead. "I'll take it from here."

The old woman stood up and hobbled towards him. "You do that, hon."

Just before she passed him, she stumbled and fell into him. He quickly caught her before she could fall and leaned close enough to hear her whisper. "Don't trust a word he says."

Then she righted herself and headed out the door with the man who brought him here. That left John, Racihu, and this mysterious man all alone in the kitchen. By all accounts, John was the one who had the edge. He was a war hero standing in a warehouse of other veterans who owed him their lives with a team of powerful Pokemon at his hip.

Experience taught him to be most wary when everything seemed to be in his favor. It made people arrogant, and arrogance was a more dangerous killer than any blade or monster.

John dragged a chair out from the table and twisted it around to sit, draping his arms over its back. Raichu sat at his feet, eying the Persian. Neither of them said anything for a while, content to watch and wait. How someone handled tense silence and a piercing gaze could say more than a thousand words.

The man took another sip of his tea. "My name is Giovanni Cassano-"

"I know who you are, dipshit." John cut him off.

The corner of Giovanni's lips twitched upwards. "Oh?"

John grunted. "Kanto plastered your face everywhere they could. Made sure the whole world knew your story. You're the bastard who buried Johto and Kalos' boys under a mountain."

"You could say that. The propagandists exaggerate, as I'm sure you know." The Kantonian said. "Your reputation speaks for itself, Lieutenant Surge."

He grunted. "Just Surge. I'm not in the army anymore. That man is dead."

"No, you're not. Lucky me," Giovanni drawled. "I'd hate to be stuck in the same room as the Butcher of Vermillion."

Vermillion had been the first of Kanto's cities to fall, but it hadn't come easy. Punching through their navy hadn't been hard – not that late in the war. Most of Kanto's ships had already been sunk by then. For nearly two weeks, the city suffered a round-the-clock bombardment from the navy and air force.

It brought the city to the brink of destruction. Tens of thousands died on that first day alone. The earth was scorched black as fires raged throughout the city. The crumbling buildings slowly gave way to fields of dust and debris. Even after the city tried to surrender on the third day, it went ignored. Only when it had nearly been wiped off the map were troops sent to shore to mop up resistance and capture the city.

Perhaps their destruction could have been avoided… if it weren't for the experiments being run deep underground. Plans to clone the Legends of Kanto and bind them to their will. Perhaps if those same experiments hadn't broken free and gone on a rampage. A slaughter that forced Kanto and Unova to set aside their differences if they had any hope of killing the beasts.

Surge's unit had been the one to discover the plans and sabotage the cloning facility. When the monsters escaped, he had been the one to suggest a full-scale bombardment to wipe the creatures out. He'd been one of the few Unovans on the ground fighting alongside the Kantonians – the rest either high above in their planes or away from the shore in their ships.

The true enemy during that battle was a closely guarded secret of the two Regions. The few survivors who had actually seen them were sworn to secrecy under threat of death. When his name was leaked as the one responsible for the excessive destruction of the city?

He was a convenient scapegoat. Anything was better than letting the public know what really happened.

Surge shook the memories from his mind and frowned. "That was a long time ago, asshole." He drummed his fingers along the edge of the table. "I was told you had a job for me."

Giovanni nodded, leaning back in his chair. "I'm told that your services are for sale nowadays. They say your little war band are the most dangerous mercenaries on the continent."

Surge shrugged. "Depends on what you need us for."

Even in a world at peace, there was always a need for soldiers. For those tossed aside like him, their only marketable skill was their ability to fight. At least if they sold it to the highest bidder, they'd get more than hollow thanks and worthless platitudes.

You couldn't fill an empty belly with either, after all.

"Have you ever heard of a group called Team Rocket?" Giovanni asked.

"Can't say I have."

"They're a group that hails from my homeland. Kantonian supremacists and fascist lunatics taking advantage of the political chaos for their own gain." Giovanni said. "Their influence spreads with each passing day."

"Fascinating." He deadpanned. "And you want me to, what? Head to Kanto and kill them for you?"

"Not at all. I would never ask a man to make a trip like that unless I thought he was up to the task." Giovanni leaned forward and cupped his hands on the table. "While their gaze is set on Kanto for now, the madam in charge wants to spread her influence. Some of her people have come here… and they've got the showstopper planned."

Surge wasn't surprised. Kanto hadn't taken their loss with any grace. With so many people's lives destroyed by the war, he could understand why they'd want to lash out at those they saw as being responsible for the humiliation.

"You could alert the authorities." He pointed out.

"I could. But what good would that do when the mayor of this fine city is in Team Rocket's pocket?" Giovanni asked.

A whistle escaped him. "Damn. Sounds like you're tussling with the big boys." Surge rolled his shoulders. "Let me guess, you want me to kill the mayor for you?"

"Close. Kill the mayor and Team Rocket's entire cell." Giovanni corrected. "There's a couple dozen of them in the city so far. And wouldn't you know it? The leaders are gathering at the mayor's home for a party in two weeks."

A party with the mayor meant infiltrating the rich district? That shouldn't be too hard. Wait staff and security were always needed in those places. Getting his boys into position wouldn't be hard. The hard part was what came after.

"How much are you offering for the job?" He asked.

"Ten million. Half once you accept the job, and the other half once they're all dead." Giovanni smiled. "Before we begin, though, I'm curious. How would you do it?"

"Hard to say. Until I get the lay of the land and a better idea of what I'm up against, it's pointless." Surge told him.

"Humor me." Giovanni said with a tiny smirk.

The veteran sighed. "Any issues with collateral damage?"

"Not if it serves a purpose. You're free to use any means necessary to deal with Team Rocket."

He grunted. "Could bring the building down on them all and crush 'em in the rubble. A couple of well-placed explosives might work too, and my boys can mop up on survivors before the police arrive." He frowned. "Gonna draw a lot of attention, though. Risky, too."

"Quite. Any other brilliant ideas?" Giovanni prodded.

Surge narrowed his eyes. "We could always poison the food. Doesn't even need to be anything fancy. Most cleaning supplies can be converted easily enough. Of course, we could always pump the building full of carbon dioxide and suffocate them all."

"All intriguing ideas." Giovanni said. "What about the rest of Team Rocket? The grunts who won't be at the party?"

"That'll be simple. We hunt 'em down and kill 'em where they stand. Gangsters shouldn't be a tough nut to crack." Surge snorted. "Hell, if their bosses are going to a party? Guarantee you they'll take the chance to throw one of their own. Get some good beer, a couple of beautiful girls, and waste away the night."

There was no easier target than a drunk and stupid one.

Giovanni nodded in appreciation. "Good. One more thing… there's a certain royalist group that calls themselves Team Plasma. Heard of them?"

Surge groaned in disgust. "I've seen the bastards, yeah. Parading around in that damn armor spouting off nonsense like anyone gives a damn. Half a mind to kick that Ghetsis fellow in the balls if he interrupts my lunch one more time."

Giovanni blinked in surprise before a quiet laugh escaped him. "Well, consider this next bit a bonus. I want you to be as loud and flashy during the attack as possible. More importantly, make sure that you and all your men are wearing Plasma's uniform. Maybe even toss in a couple of their talking points while you're at it."

A cruel grin split his face. "I'd kiss you if you weren't so damn ugly, Baron."

"I might even let you if you pull this off right, Butcher." Giovanni extended his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Surge gripped the man's hand tight. "I'd be a dumbass not to take it. Consider those bastard's dead men walking."

"I'm glad to hear it." Genuine compassion lit Giovanni's eyes. "Our word is our bond, after all. No one knows that better than a soldier. Those men out there are lucky to have you."

Surge had given them his word that he'd look out for them. In times like these, a little compassion and a helping hand were hard to come by. He'd be damned before he turned away an opportunity like this.

Those men and women out there needed him.

He'd die before he let them down.

---

He was a dead man.

It was all Ash could think about the entire walk back to Drew's private room. Neither of them had said a word since the greenette exposed him. It took every bit of training Ash had to keep his nerves under control, let alone speak. As for Drew? He was too busy leading from behind and directing Ash forward to say anything.

Even if they hadn't been very close, it still stung. All anyone saw when they looked at him was a killer. He couldn't even deny it anymore. Not after what he'd done.

It was strange, though. Ash had gotten better at reading people during his stay with Interpol, but there wasn't an ounce of fear in Drew. He was cautious and always kept Ash in his sights, but not afraid. With broad shoulders and a physique that violet jacket couldn't hide, Drew had filled out well over the years. Even the confidence in his steps was something to be admired.

Even if he wasn't, Ash wouldn't hurt the man. He'd done nothing to deserve it but figure out who Ash was behind the mask. As long as Drew didn't try to kill him, everything would turn out alright for the man.

Now the only question was how Ash was going to escape and explain this to Looker and Anabel? He could already hear their disappointed voices. At least Petrovic wouldn't be so bad… he'd be too busy laughing to insult him.

Once they made it inside Drew's room, the other man shut and locked the door. Ash took a moment to look around. It wasn't anything special, truth be told. It looked nearly identical to his own room. A little fancier with more expensive sheets and drinks lining the bar, but that was to be expected.

Drew was a world-famous Coordinator, after all.

Unfortunately, that also meant that unless he wanted to risk leaping from the balcony and fleeing the festival on the back of Latias, the only way he was getting out was if Drew let him.

Failing that? He'd just need to take the key himself.

Drew stepped around him and behind the bar to grab a bottle of wine off the shelf. Fishing a nearby corkscrew off the counter, he twisted it into the bottle. "So, you a white or red wine kind of guy, Ash?"

Ash blinked. Why was he offering him a drink? "Neither."

"Really? Well, what do you drink?" Drew poured himself a light glass of rose. "And take that damn mask off. You sound ridiculous."

Ash guessed there was no reason to hide his face here. Drew already knew his identity, and it wasn't like he needed to record him or take any pictures. One word would be all he needed to make things difficult.

Unclasping the metallic mask from his face and pushing his black hood back, he set the mask down on the counter. His naturally raven hair glinted in the artificial light as chocolate eyes met emerald.

"Vodka, if you have it."

Drew scrunched up his nose. "That swill?" He asked. "Guess your taste hasn't improved since I last saw you."

The corner of Ash's mouth twitched. "And what should I be drinking? Some… I don't even know what brand that is."

A smirk split Drew's face. "That's because it's got a cork. A bit too rich for your blood." He reached under the counter to grab a large bottle of Vodka and poured it into a glass. "Here. Happy?"

Ash took the glass but didn't drink it. "Why am I here, Drew?" He demanded. "How did you even know it was me?"

The taller man shrugged. "You're not as subtle as you think. Anyone who bothered to follow your career and half a brain could put it together."

"It's worked so far." Ash groused.

"That's because most people are stupid." Drew sighed. "Look, you don't have anything to worry about from me. I just want to talk."

"Why should I trust you?" Ash asked.

Drew held up his wrist and allowed his sleeve to fall down. "Because we're family now."

To anyone else's eyes, the watch on Drew's wrist would have been like any other Poketch or Xtransceiver. Ash might have thought the same if he didn't wear one just like it on his own. One of Interpol's state-of-the art Poketch's – sleek, lightweight, and indistinguishable from those worn by civilians.

"You're Interpol." Ash realized.

Drew hid his laughter behind a sip of wine. "Look who's catching on." He said. "Drink. Even if it's garbage, that stuff is still expensive."

Ash took a seat at the counter and downed the Vodka in one go. It was… different. Much different from what he'd gotten used to. Most of the stuff Petrovic introduced to him tasted terrible and burned on the way down. This stuff went down smoothly and was far sweeter on the tongue. It was almost silky smooth.

"I guess the price really does make a difference." Ash set the glass down.

Drew shrugged. "You can probably find some cheap ones just as good. You're almost always just paying for the brand and marketing with this stuff."

Ash quirked an eyebrow. "And wine is different?"

His emerald eyes danced with mirth. "Very."

Ash chuckled. What an ass. "It's hard to believe you're also one of us."

Drew snorted. "You think you're surprised? Imagine what it was like for me seeing the news demonize you, then hear through the grapevine that you wound up joining us." He shook his head. "Whiplash in its purest form."

Ash scratched the back of his head. "Tell me about it. This is… not how I imagined my life turning out. Way more gunshots and explosions than I wanted."

"You're part of Looker's team." He said. "Things tend to go boom when he's involved. Toss in Petrovic and you're practically begging to get into a firefight every mission."

"Okay, Petrovic I can understand, but Looker?" Ash asked in bewilderment.

Drew grinned, tapping his fingers against the rim of his glass. "Two things you need to understand about Looker. First is that his codename isn't just for show. The man practically wrote the book on seduction and isn't afraid to show off."

Considering he'd seen both Wicke and Cynthia drag Looker off? Yeah, Ash could tell. He was almost curious enough to ask what he'd done to inspire that kind of love… but a wiser part said it was best not to know. Some secrets were best left in the dark.

Looker's mess of a love life was one of them.

"The second is that Looker will always – without fail – have the worst missions. Doesn't matter where he is or what he's doing. He could be on a deserted island counting seashells, and he'd still stumble onto a world-changing conspiracy." Drew grinned. "And he drags everyone else with him into the chaos."

Wait, what? Looker always seemed so in control of everything. He was everything that an agent should have been. But if what Drew said was right, it almost made him sound like-

Ash blinked. "Huh… so this is what it's like to see it from the outside."

Drew sipped at his wine. "Hmm?"

"Nothing. Just… reconsidering my life choices."

"I see."

It was clear he didn't.

Ash shook his head. "How long have you been with Interpol?"

Drew hummed in thought and darted his tongue across his bottom lip. "Hmm… about twelve years at this point."

Ash gaped in shock. "Twelve years? But you can't be much older than me!"

"Same age, actually." His counterpart shrugged. "It's not such a big deal. Plenty of agents get recruited when they're young."

"You weren't even old enough to be a Trainer." Ash pointed out. "How did you get dragged into this?"

An audible sip of his wine. "I'm an orphan, Ash. Just one of many." The Coordinator said. "I moved between different foster homes a lot. Whole system was stretched to its limit, and there just weren't enough people willing to adopt."

Ash flinched. "I'm sorry."

Drew flipped his hair out of his face. "It is what it is. Nothing I can do to change it." He said. "The point is there wasn't a lot of structure in my life, and even fewer people were interested in guiding me. All except for one man – the PE teacher at the school I went to."

Ash could already see where this was going, but he kept silent to let Drew continue his story. He'd withhold judgment until he heard it all.

"He looked out for me. Made sure I got enough to eat, that I was doing well in my classes, and even taught me how to fight off bullies. He was a good man." Drew poured himself some more wine. "He was also a member of Interpol."

"What's an agent doing at a school?" He asked.

"Keeping an ear to the ground. We've got hundreds of agents just like him in every major city across the globe. Their one job is to keep the safe houses stocked and their ear to the ground for anything Interpol might need to know," Drew explained. "He just also found me."

"He was… the closest thing I had to a parent. For an orphan, having an adult take a genuine interest in you is the best feeling in the world. Whenever I felt proud of something or had a problem, I ran straight to him. Even asked him if he'd adopt me once." Drew chuckled, shaking his head. "Stupid kid stuff, you know?"

Ash frowned, tentatively reaching out to pat Drew's shoulder. "It doesn't sound stupid to me. You just wanted a family."

"And I got it. More than I ever could have imagined." Drew drawled. "Don't know what he saw in me, but one day he pulled me aside and told me about a group taking in orphans. He said that if I wanted to join them, all I had to do was trust him."

"You didn't hesitate, did you?"

"Not for a second." Drew chuckled. "Got adopted the very next day and taken to a training facility. Spent the next couple of years there training under them and learning what it means to be an agent. Once I was old enough, that same teacher even gave me my first Pokemon before I set out on my journey."

Ash's eyes widened. "You mean there were others like you? More orphans?"

"Some were the kids of older agents, but yeah. There were plenty of other kids." Drew said. "It was… nice. The training was hard, but we all looked out for each other."

He frowned. "I can't believe Interpol made kids into agents. That's… barbaric!"

Drew smiled sadly. "I understand where you're coming from, but it's not as bad as it sounds." He said. "We already send kids out to travel the world with nothing but a couple of monsters and basic survival skills at their fingertips. All Interpol did was make us more prepared to handle the real world."

"And conscripted you into the agency when you were young. None of you could know what you were getting yourselves into." Ash argued.

"You're overthinking it. Younger recruits like me weren't even real agents. We were informants at best." He explained. "We traveled the world and filled Interpol in on everything we found. If there was ever a dangerous group or situation we stumbled upon, we always alerted command so they could send the professionals."

"But-"

"I've read your file, Ash. You always charged headfirst into danger even when you were just an idiot Trainer starting out." Drew pointed out. "At least with Interpol, we had the training to escape before things got bad. That's the difference."

Ash paused for a moment and stared down at his glass. As much as he hated to admit it, Drew was right. Ash had been so reckless and arrogant as a kid. Always charging headfirst into danger with nothing more than righteous indignation and a disjointed team of monsters at his side.

He should have died dozens of times over. He would have if it weren't for all the adults stepping in to save him or the incredibly rare pinch of luck fate decided to give him.

Ash looked away. "It just seems… fishy to me. Recruiting kids like this."

"We're not monsters, Ash. Interpol may not be as squeaky clean as the Rangers with their fancy academies, but it cares about its agents." Drew said. "All of us are free to leave if we ever want to. More importantly, none of us were ever forced into anything dangerous until we were older. When we actually had a fighting chance against adults."

That helped ease some of his worries, at least. He didn't want to doubt Interpol's integrity. It was just hard to reconcile the good work they did with the fact they trained children to be spies.

"I guess you're right. You'd know better, after all." Ash admitted.

"I mean it when I say Interpol gave me a life, Ash. Me and thousands of other kids with dead-end futures ahead of us." Drew smiled. "Thanks to them, we didn't just get to go on journeys or grow up to have a job. We get to make a real difference. Maybe even change the world for the better."

Ash chuckled. "When you put it like that, it's hard to argue against it."

"That, or it's the alcohol talking." Drew teased.

Ash leaned back in mock offense. "Oi! I'm not that much of a lightweight!"

Drew rolled his eyes. "Clearly." He looked at Ash for a moment, as if trying to memorize every stray line and detail of his face. "It's still hard to believe you're one of us."

"Tell me about it. It all seems surreal to think that I joined you guys."

Drew shook his head. "Lesson number one, Ash. People don't join Interpol. They're recruited."

Ash frowned. "What's the difference?"

"People join the military or the Rangers or any other nine-to-five job out there. Interpol doesn't work like that," Drew explained. "We may technically take applications, but that's just window dressing for the UR and the public when they bother to pay attention to us."

Ash frowned. "So, how do we grow our ranks, then? Besides adopting kids, I mean."

"We keep our eyes on people who'd be good at the job. Criminals who aren't too dangerous to bring into the fold. Trainers, Coordinators, and anyone else who've shown they have the fortitude for the job." Drew sipped at his wine, taking a moment to savor the taste. "We also keep a close eye on anyone with special abilities that could benefit our work. Psychics, mages, even the occasional aura user, if they're lucky enough to survive into adulthood."

Ash blinked. That was a pretty exhaustive list of people, but it made sense. If Interpol's job was to protect the world from both Human and Pokemon threats, they'd need people from all walks of life to do it. Psychics and aura wielders were as powerful as they were rare. As for mages? Ash had learned not to doubt it after he got changed into a Pokemon years ago.

Or that time he dimension hopped and found the doppelgänger of his friend performing genuine magic.

His life was complicated… how had it taken him all these years to start drinking again?

"You guys must have had your eyes on Anabel for a long time, then." Ash guessed.

Drew nodded. "Sure did. Reading people's minds and feeling their emotions may not be flashy, but it's even more valuable than telekinesis in our line of work." He said. "Once she dealt with that Legend incident in the Sevii Islands? We practically had to scoop her up."

"What incident?" Ash asked.

"Nothing you need to worry about. It's in the past." Drew told him. "If you're that curious, ask Anabel. I'm not about to break her confidence."

Ash couldn't blame him for that. It was a stupid man indeed who broke Anabel's trust.

"As for you? We've had our eyes on you for years if the file I read was correct." Drew told him. "Practically since you began your journey from what I can see."

His eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Don't tell me you're shocked." Drew said. "You poked your nose into every criminal gang's business you could find and tangled with as many Legendaries as there are Regions. Of course we kept an eye on you."

"Why was I never approached then?"

He shrugged. "You weren't right for it. Too focused on becoming a Pokemon Master, too oblivious, and a poor temperament for the job – I could go on, but I think you get the point." Drew chuckled. "You ran into a lot of our agents over the years. Each one said you were brave beyond your years. You just didn't have the personality for it."

And yet here he sat, an agent of Interpol. He may not have finished his training, but he was well on his way to becoming one of them. The naïve Pokemon Master he spoke of was long gone, and after all he'd done? Ash doubted he'd ever return.

"What about you? What did you think of me?" Ash couldn't help but ask.

"Arrogant, stubborn, a lack of self-control, and too focused on chasing badges to bother with anything important."

He winced. "Ouch."

Drew snickered, socking him in the shoulder. "You didn't exactly give me a good first or even second impression. It got better once I got to know you more and heard what you did." He frowned. "Still didn't think you'd be cut out for the job, though. I advised we drop you from the list of potential candidates altogether."

"Was I?"

The greenette sighed. "No. I don't know how, but you caught the eye of someone important. Regional Commander levels of important, or maybe more. All I know is they wanted round-the-clock updates on your progress and standing orders to 'approach when he is finally ready'. Whatever the hell that means."

Ash shifted in his seat. "That's not ominous at all…." He mumbled.

"Just thought you should know. The circumstances of you joining us may have been left to chance, but someone wanted you with us for a long time." Drew said. "Just thought you should know."

He smiled. "Thanks, Drew. I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. Now push it to the back of your mind. You've got to focus on the mission for now. You can dig into this mysterious benefactor of yours some other time – I'll even help you." The senior agent sighed. "Which brings me to why I revealed myself to you… May."

Ash froze, his heart skipping a beat. "What about her?"

"She's not one of us, Ash. She has no idea how much danger her festival is in or how close things are to going up in flames." Drew told him. "You need to stay away from her. It's the only way to keep her safe."

Ash ran his fingers through his raven hair and hunched over the counter. "Don't you think I've been trying? She keeps seeking me out."

"Try harder." Drew demanded, glaring him into submission. "The closer she gets to you, the more dangerous things get. Do you really want her caught in the crossfire when Team Rocket launches their attack?"

Ash tightened his fists. That was the last thing he wanted. The idea of anyone innocent getting dragged into this fight worried him, but May? All he could think about was her rushing in to help people. That same fiery spirit that pushed her to be the best and that he so admired made her just stubborn enough to think she could take on Team Rocket.

He could already see her doing her best to protect the weaker Trainers and the defenseless civilians with her team. Brilliant displays of elemental control and the powerful blows of monsters trained over nearly a decade of constant battle. A veritable warrior goddess descended to protect them.

If she was around him or any of Interpol's other agents when the fighting began, though? If she got between Team Rocket and the Psychics they so desperately craved? The fallout from injuring or killing a world-famous Coordinator just might be an acceptable loss.

"What should I do?" He eventually asked.

"Anything that'll get her to stay away. Insult her family, tell her to fuck off, or just act like the most rude person you can," Drew suggested. "I don't want to see her hurt just because you couldn't keep the past where it belongs."

Ash flinched.

Drew softened his gaze. "I know you and her were close, but this is for the best. Wouldn't you rather know that she's safe?"

He sighed. "I do. I just… she was my best friend, you know?"

Sorry, Brock.

Drew blinked. "Just friends? I thought you two were-"

A silent laugh escaped him. "No. No, we weren't." Ash smiled bitterly. "There was… something there, but we just never got around to addressing it. We were both so busy chasing our dreams that we just never thought about it. Honestly, I didn't even realize I had feelings for her until… until I saw her again here."

It was funny. You never knew what you had until it was already gone. How different would his life have been if he'd stopped and thought about what he truly wanted? Would he still be here right now? Or could he have avoided all of this and lived a peaceful life?

So many questions and regrets. There was nothing he could do about it, though. It was too late to turn back or wonder what might have been.

Drew patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know it's not fair, but you're doing the right thing." He said. "You have a match tomorrow, right?"

He nodded numbly. "I do."

"Then we better get your mind off this shit so you can focus." Drew set his glass aside and beckoned Ash to follow. "Come on. We're heading to the hotel gym. A couple rounds on the mat should help you work through all that emotion."

Ash blinked. "You… want me to spar?"

"You bet your ass I do. It'll give you a clear head. Always works for me when I'm stuck in my own thoughts." Drew grinned. "Don't worry. After I kick your ass, I'll let you spend the night here on the couch."

His lips quirked upwards. "You're so sure you'll beat me?"

"I've seen how you battle, Ash. More importantly, I've seen how you dance." Drew laughed. "I've got nothing to worry about."

Oh, it was so on.

---

Looker took a sip of steaming hot coffee from his mug. Earthy and bitter without an ounce of flavoring. It tasted like sludge and went down just as easily, but when it came to waking someone up? There was nothing better than the system shock a black coffee could deliver.

"Your pupil is doing well, Looker."

He glanced up to look Hoenn's commander in the eyes. Joseph Stone was an oddity. Born into a rich family and raised like any other playboy, he should have been an enemy of Interpol. Just one of the hundreds of the rich and powerful exerting their influence over the world. Driven to the heights of depravity and cruelty by their endless greed, they were the enemy of the future.

Politicians and criminal groups like Rocket or Plasma may have been the current enemy, but Interpol wasn't stupid. Corporations were the enemies of the future. Soon enough, they'd overstep their bounds and reach for more than they deserved.

And it would be Interpol's job to cut them down to size.

Joseph Stone, however, was different. A rare breed that cared for the people that worked for him. He didn't just help rebuild Hoenn in the aftermath of war and treat his employees well; he cared for the agents that followed him. Out of all the Commanders Looker ever met, Stone was the only one who attended every funeral.

Even the private ones.

Looker set his mug down on the table and reclined in his chair. "Better than I thought he would, if I'm being honest." He admitted. "I wasn't sure he'd have what it took when we started training him."

"Give the boy some credit." Stone smiled brightly, munching on a string of black licorice. "He's done more in eight years than some agents do in a lifetime. He's always had the willpower to succeed."

"But not the heart." Looker pointed out. "He used to see things in black and white."

"Not anymore." Stone closed his eyes. "And he's all the better for it. He needed to be flexible if he was going to succeed here."

Maybe. That didn't mean Looker had to approve of it. "Part of me wishes we'd stuck him in witness protection. He'd be safer there."

"Come on, Looker. You know the boy well enough to know that's not true." Stone said. "He wouldn't last two days in witness protection. Ash is too headstrong for that."

A small snort escaped him. Aye, the commander was right about that. Once the horror of his situation had passed, Ash would have charged headfirst into something foolish. Looker could already see his friend trying to take on the closest Rocket cell all by himself with nothing more than a hope and a prayer.

It was the thing fairy tales were made of. An avenging hero come to smite the evil and save the day before finally clearing his name. He'd emerge as the greatest hero to ever live and be showered with praise for decades to come.

A shame that this wasn't a fairy tale.

"I'm doing my best to teach him caution." Looker eventually said. "It's an uphill battle."

"I can imagine. The boy always did have the spirit of a Mightyena." Stone munched at his candy again. "He's done a decent job fooling the crowd so far. No one has connected him to this Spartan persona you've concocted."

"Ash is a natural con man when he puts his mind to it. Still…." Looker trailed off. "He's having a hard time letting go of the past."

Stone frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He won't stay away from his old friends." Looker sighed. "He's hurt and wants to reach out to them – and to his credit, he tries to stay away. But once they stumble back into his life? He doesn't make much of an effort to avoid them or push them away."

The commander sat up in alarm. "Has he revealed himself to the Maple siblings?"

He shook his head. "No, May and Max Maple still don't know anything."

"Best keep it that way," Stone said. "If they reveal who's beneath that mask, this entire operation fails. Rocket will know we're here in force and scatter."

"He knows. As rash as he can be, there's nothing in the world Ash wants more than to see Rocket brought to its knees. He won't jeopardize this to reconnect with old friends who might not believe him." Looker assured his leader.

Commander Stone stared at the licorice in his hand in silence for a moment. The foul candy glinted in the morning rays that filtered through the clouds of the high-rise hotel room. Then he leaned back and popped it in his mouth to stare at the rising sun. "Do you know how I joined Interpol, Looker?"

Looker frowned. "No, sir. I've heard rumors, but nothing to put much stock in."

The Commander laughed. "Honestly, Interpol is as bed as a red-light district with how much gossip and rumors spread." He said. "I was just an asset in the beginning. Not an agent or anything even close. I didn't even know who I was working for."

Not an uncommon practice. Most of their agents were former assets who proved themselves in the field before being recruited. It helped weed out the truly ideal candidates from those who could only work for a specific mission.

"What did they have you do?" He asked.

Stone shrugged. "Corporate espionage. My father was grooming me to take control of the company when he stepped down, so I was in the perfect position to help. I'd record private conversations, keep a detailed record of our finances, and fill them in on our strategies for rebuilding Hoenn. More importantly, I'd make sure they knew when one of our rival companies started making dangerous moves."

"I'm surprised you were willing to help us." Looker admitted.

Stone cupped his hands beneath his chin. "My father had grand plans to rebuild Hoenn and lead into a brighter future. Steven was just a baby at the time, and the military rejected me for health conditions during the war. Helping Interpol just seemed like my way of building a better world."

"What changed?" He asked.

A bittersweet smile split Mr. Stone's face. "I did." He looked away. "I stumbled onto a project my father kept hidden from me. Project Cornucopia, he called it. My father always did have a sense of humor."

"I've never heard of it." Looker admitted. "What was it?"

"The brainchild of one of our agricultural specialists. Tell me, Looker, do you know how much of the world grain feeds?"

"I don't see what this has to do with-"

"Close to a hundred percent. Everyone has some form of grain in their diet. Wheat, barley, oats, rice, corn; the list goes on. Most of our food is made of the stuff, our Pokemon feed is almost entirely grain-based, and even wild Pokemon feast on our crops when they can." A tired sigh escaped Stone. "And my father created a virus that would destroy it all."

Looker's mouth dried. "What?"

"They'd been crafting a new virus to target any and all grains across the world," Stone pushed on. "It would have spread fast. Dispersed through the air and water systems, from what I remember. Once infected, there would be a mass die off of nearly all crops across the world all at once."

"Millions would die."

"Tens of millions." Stone corrected. "And that's just from starvation alone. The panic that came after would spread like wildfire as people fought to survive. The regions would wage bloody war less than a decade after the last one, just so they could take what few crop fields remained. Entire ecosystems would vanish overnight."

It would bring the world to the brink of collapse. The world had only just begun its long road to recovery after the Great War. Tensions remained high and hope was at an all-time low. If food became so scarce that they struggled to feed their loved ones?

It would be a disaster far worse than anything the war had caused.

"Then on the brink of disaster? The Devon Corporation would emerge with a new set of crops immune to the virus. Everything people lost would be returned to them." He shook his head. "All for an extortionate fee that the world would have to pay if it wanted to survive. The company would make out like kings atop a throne of bones."

"How did you stop it?" Looker asked.

"I contacted the Director and told him everything I knew," Stone said. "I loved my father, but this? This was genocide on a level the world had never seen before. It was a betrayal of everything he taught me. Fortunately for us, we had time. While the virus was complete and waiting in cryo-storage, the immunized plants were still being created."

"What did you do?"

Stone shut his eyes. "We cut the problem out by the roots." He said. "Everyone involved in the project was dealt with. The scientists who created it died of mysterious accidents or tragic suicide attempts over the span of a week. The shareholders and board members who approved the project were killed, and their fortunes ripped away from them with their families left destitute. No one was spared."

"What about your father?" Looker gently asked.

Stone was silent for a moment. "His personal chef made a mistake preparing his fugu. My father died before an ambulance could even arrive." He commented. "It was a shame. The charity event he hosted was ruined after that."

Looker hid his disquiet behind a sip of coffee. "And the virus?"

"Taken and housed in a secure vault. We wiped the database of all research and reference to the project – after taking it for ourselves, of course." Stone said. "We finished making the immune crops a year or two later and quietly dispersed them through the world, just to be safe."

That was one threat dealt with… and a potential weapon kept in their back pocket, ready to be modified and used if the situation ever grew dire enough. Looker hoped he didn't live to see the day they needed such desperate measures.

"My point with all this is that leaving behind the bonds of the past can be difficult." Commander Stone said. "I could only turn against my father because his plans made him the worst monster in our history, and I still hesitated. May and Max are different. Entirely unconnected to our world with kind souls. He'll have a harder time letting go."

"He still hopes everything will go back to normal one day." Looker admitted. "That when this is all over? He can return to his old journeys and reunite with his friends like nothing has changed."

It was a dream destined to fail.

"And until he realizes that's impossible, he'll always want to reach out." Stone shook his head. "Just keep an eye on him. I don't want to see Ash hurt. He deserves better."

---

"Soooo… did you wish your girlfriend good luck?"

Max blushed. "She's not my girlfriend!"

Kirlia chuckled into her chili dog at his side, rolling her eyes.

May grinned. "Mhm. Sure. Whatever you say, little bro."

Arceus give him the strength to make it through the day.

"Seriously, though, you wished her good luck, right?" May asked.

He reared back in offense. "Of course I did! Who do you think I am?"

He wasn't about to let a friend go into a tough fight without wishing her the best. After the thrashing she gave him in training yesterday, though, he wasn't so sure she needed it. Rosa was stronger than most trainers he'd ever met.

But was she strong enough to beat Spartan? They'd just have to wait and see.

"Well, you're welcome for getting us such good seats." May boasted. "Now Rosa can see you cheer for her whenever she looks this way. Am I the best big sister or what?"

Max glowered at her. "Mhm. And the fact you get a better look at Spartan from this angle has nothing to do with it?"

"Not at all. Honestly, you're supposed to be the smart one, Max. You should really try thinking before making such wild accusations."

Kirlia snorted, as if the thought of him being smart was hilarious.

His eye twitched. He'd show them-

"Excuse me, do you two mind if I sit here?"

A smooth and pleasant voice interrupted Max's impotent rage. He blinked, glancing up over his sister's shoulder to find a strange man. With flowing grayish blue hair that completely covered one of his green eyes and a large red cloak over his body, the man should have stood out in a crowd. Yet the shadows seemed to cling to him, obscuring him from anyone he didn't want to see him.

"You're Tobias Patton." Max gasped.

A tiny smile wormed its way across his face. "You know me?"

May shifted in her seat. "Of course we do. It's hard to forget the man with two Legends who swept aside an entire League without breaking a sweat."

Max frowned. That wasn't how he'd have described it. While everyone else might not have put up a fight, Ash had gone beyond them all. He wasn't just the only one to defeat Tobias' Darkrai, he even went on to beat his Latios! Ash may have lost, but he'd gone out with a bang!

Before he could speak up, however, Tobias beat him to it.

"I wouldn't go that far, ma'am. Ash Ketchum gave me a wonderful fight." Tobias sat down next to them, crossing one leg over the other. "He really was an amazing Trainer."

May and Max shared a glance. "Really? I'm surprised to hear you say that after everything that happened."

"Whatever the stories about him may be, they don't diminish his skill as a Trainer. It's rare to find someone with such a strong bond to their Pokemon." Tobias sighed. "A shame I won't get the chance to test myself against him again."

He didn't sound like he hated Ash. That was… refreshing. Max wasn't sure how to handle this. "Looking to defeat a Regional Champion?" He asked.

"Hardly. The accolades are meaningless to me and I couldn't care less about the wealth that comes with it." Tobias admitted. "I've never cared for the League or its battles, truth be told."

May blinked in surprise. "Really? Why participate in the League years ago then? I thought you'd be a battle nut like everyone else."

The man shrugged one shoulder. "A friend said I could test my skills in the League. They were right, even if most of my opponents were a disappointment."

"You must be here to do the same thing. The media is hyping you up like crazy. Some of them are even claiming you're here as a warm-up before challenging Cynthia for her title." May said.

Tobias hummed noncommittally. "I've heard. Ms. Gehrman's title is safe. I'm not interested in it."

Max frowned. "Then why are you here?"

"The festival sounded fun." He shrugged. "Besides, the prize money from the tournament isn't too bad either. I might as well while I'm here."

It was as good an answer as any, but a voice in the back of Max's head didn't buy it. If he was just any other Trainer, maybe that would have been believable. He had the loyalty of multiple Legend, though. A man like that didn't do anything without a good reason.

A tournament like this was no different.

The speakers in the stadium blared. "Gooooood afternoon, beautiful people! It's a beautiful day here in sunny Sootopolis! Perfect for some awe-inspiring battles the likes of which you've never seen!"

May chuckled while the surrounding crowd cheered. "He knows how to hype up a crowd, I'll give him that much."

Max pouted. "Only for the big names. All my matches got were some basic introductions."

Kirlia nodded glumly by his side, hanging her head in shame.

"Don't let it get to you," Tobias smiled reassuringly. "It's all just pointless fluff. All anyone will remember is how well you performed in the fight, not what a talking head has to say."

May rubbed his back. "He's right, Max. People are gonna be saying a lot of different things about you your entire career. Just focus on doing your best and everything will fall into place."

"In the red corner, we have the girl aiming straight for the top! With masterful command of serpents and insects alike, she's not letting anyone stand in her way!" The commentator shouted. "Give it up for Rosa Sorrengail!"

While most of the crowd gave modest applause for Rosa when she walked out onto the battlefield, Max was the loudest. He cheered her on as loud as he could and clapped his hands with every ounce of enthusiasm he had. Rosa stopped halfway to her podium to look up at him. She smiled and winked at him, tipping her hat before resuming her march.

"So… just friends, huh?" May teased. "Seems like you're angling for something more."

"It's cute." Tobias said. "The first crush is always the most memorable."

Kirlia hummed in agreement, munching on her chili dog with pleased moans.

He flushed and plopped back into his seat, crossing his arms. "Shut up!"

Their laughter made his ears burn.

"And in the blue corner, we have a man taking the festival by storm! The breaker of the elite and a tamer of Legends! The dark horse coming to reap victory itself! Spartan!"

This time, the cheers could be heard for miles around. Max couldn't even make out what anyone was saying – thousands of voices screaming, their excitement blending together into a single deafening cry. Down below, Spartan ignored the crowd entirely to take his place on the opposite podium as Rosa.

The battlefield shifted and rearranged itself between the two Trainers. Soon enough, an urban environment of concrete, metal, and glass was set up. It was almost like an average suburban neighborhood, complete with houses, small trees, and even a stop sign.

"You really didn't spare any expense." Max said.

May shrugged. "It's not just me. All my sponsors helped make it possible, and we hired specialists to figure out what would make the tournament battles most engaging. Apparently, versatile battlefields are what the people want to see."

"Let the battle begin!" The announcer shouted.

Rosa snatched a Pokeball off her belt. "Come on out, Serperior!"

The large green serpent emerged from their ball in a flash of light. The plantoid's crimson eyes flickered across the battlefield. They were entirely unfazed by the excited crowd.

"Latias, stand by for battle." Spartan whipped his emerald green ball into the air.

The feathered dragon appeared before them and somersaulted through the air. A loud trill drowned out the voices of the crowd. Her eyes met the regal serpents gaze, neither backing down from the powerful foes opposing them.

"Coat yourself in Light Screen!" Rosa shouted.

A barely noticeable distortion spread over the serpent. A slight shimmer in the air that fizzled out faster than the untrained eye could see. Latias flew high into the sky, soaring above the battlefield. At the apex of her summit, just when she was about to dive back down? She vanished from sight.

May gasped, her shock mirrored by the rest of the crowd. "She can turn invisible!?"

Tobias chuckled. "It's one of the Eon Duo's lesser-known abilities. Everyone is always so focused on their speed and powerful draconic abilities that their versatility is overlooked."

"Doesn't it seem kind of unfair, though?" May asked.

"It depends on your view of fairness. Is it fair to Spartan or Latias have to limit how they fight just to please a crowd? They have just as much a right to use their full strength as anyone else," Tobias said. "Rosa will have to compensate. If she can't, then she won't win even if she could see Latias."

Max scowled. "Don't underestimate her! She'll find a way to win!"

He knew she would.

Rosa narrowed her eyes. "Grassy Terrain!"

A vibrant glow enveloped emanated from Serperior, vegetation bursting from the ground around them. Dark green moss burst from the concrete ground and spread over the buildings like a plague. Once tiny trees surged into towering behemoths that cast a shadow over the entire battlefield. Even small patches of flowers grew all around them in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Serperior cried out in shock and pain as a blast of ice slammed into them from behind. They lashed out with their tail, a blade of glowing energy forming around the tip. Each swipe they made only hit air, however, and did nothing to block the subsequent blasts of arctic energy hitting them from all sides.

"Twister!" Rosa shouted. "Make as many as you can!"

Trusting the words of their Trainer, a ball of compressed air formed on the tip of their tail. They whipped it towards where the beam of energy was coming from, summoning a raging twister in the middle of the stadium. The wind howled like an enraged god and the trees trembled, leaves falling like raindrops and being swept into the vortex. The plantoid didn't halt their assault, summon four massive tornadoes that raged around it.

And in the center of it, the cries of an invisible enemy could be heard as the winds whipped across her skin and slammed her into the concrete buildings.

Max's fist shot into the air. "Hell yeah! Kick his ass, Rosa!"

May thumped him on the back of the head. "Language!"

He winced, pouting as Kirlia laughed at his expense. The traitor!

Rosa snapped her fingers, a cocky grin plastered on her face. "Ha! Whatcha gonna do now, killer?"

Spartan didn't utter a word.

Then something… odd began to happen. Rather than the twisters ripping everything out of the ground and smashing it into the dragoness, the air was coalescing into a single ball in the center of the sky. It grew to the size of a small building until, with a piercing shriek, it rocketed towards Serperior.

Rosa gasped and threw her hands out. "Protect!"

The missile of wind struck faster than the blink of an eye. A massive cloud of dust spewed into the air as debris from the explosion bounced harmlessly off the barriers that protected the audience. When the dust cleared, a massive crater replaced much of the former urban environment. And in the center of it?

Serperior struggled to remain upright. Their Protect had saved them, but not from everything. While most fallen leaves from the trees gently floated to the ground or swayed in the wind, a few remained frozen in midair.

"That was a Weather Ball." Max mumbled. "It shouldn't have been that powerful, though. There's no extreme weather condition for it to amplify."

"Not quite." Tobias corrected. "The twisters were more than enough. All those strong winds made the perfect base for an attack, and there were so many as well. An ingenious way of turning Rosa's attack against her. I'm impressed."

Rosa tightened her fists. "Leaf Storm! Aim for the floating leaves!"

Serperior's tail glowed with vibrant green energy. They hissed, slithering forward up the crater. Hundreds of leaves made of pure energy appeared out of thin air around them. With a lash of their tail, the storm of leaves hurtled towards the discovered Latias.

Before they could get close, however, the physical leaves on the ground and floating through the air suddenly glowed with a mystical purple energy. They swarmed around the invisible Latias, acting as a counter shield against the assault. The intensity of the swirling storm made it impossible to see anything within.

"Now!" Rosa thrust her fist into the air. "Frenzy Plant!"

Serperior's roar pierced the heavens, slamming their tail into the earth. The stadium rumbled, knocking loose food and drinks to the ground all around them. Massive, spiked roots split the ground and emerged from throughout the battlefield, each of them surging up towards Latias.

They smashed through the maelstrom of sharpened leaves to whip and thrash at Latias. By now, Latias had revealed herself, allowing the audience to see her expertly danced between the dozens of roots trying to pin her down, a violet glow coating her body. One nearly hit its mark, only for her Psychic power to hold it at bay and redirect it into another root coming from below.

She dived towards the serpent below and flapped her wings. Over a dozen blades of wind flew towards the Serperior, cutting into their tough hide and sending them tumbling back along the ground. In that instant, the roots chasing after Latias halted their movement and fell to the ground, crushing everything underneath them.

Serperior was down for the count.

Max growled. "How is he doing this?" He whispered. "He's not even giving Latias any commands!"

"Au contraire, Max. He's conducting this battle masterfully." Tobias corrected him. "He's just doing it telepathically, so he doesn't tip off his opponent."

May's eyes widened. "Of course! Latias is a Psychic!" She snapped her fingers. "That must be how he communicates with all his Pokemon. It unsettles his opponents, keeps his plans a secret, and lets him transmit his orders faster than speech ever could!"

"But we've heard him give verbal commands." Max pointed out.

"Image crafting." Tobias said. "You don't dress like he does unless you want the attention. By speaking so little, it makes the few words he does say more impactful."

Rosa returned Serperior to their ball, a tiny frown splitting her face. "You're pretty good, Spartan. Just as good as I thought you'd be."

He didn't respond.

She grinned. "But this battle is far from over! I'm just getting started, baby!" She tossed another ball into the air. "Accelgor, come on out!"

The ninja insectoid appeared in a flash of bright light. A brief look over the battlefield revealed the chaos their teammate had caused and their ultimate fate. Accelgor nodded back at Rosa, floating up into the air to meet Latias' gaze.

"Double Team! Surround that thing!" Rosa shouted.

Accelgor crossed their arms, a faint glow on their body. Then they thrust their arms out wide, creating over a dozen copies of themselves. They fanned out, surrounding Latias from above and below.

Latias just floated there, as if she was waiting for them to make the first move.

Rosa narrowed her eyes. "Maneuver X!"

May and Max shared a confused look. What did that mean?

Each of the doubles moved, but they weren't copying each other. One formed a blue orb in its hand and launched it into the sky, bringing a storm of heavy rain down on the stadium. Another continued to spawn even more clones that spread throughout the arena. Half of their bodies vibrated in place, a distorted and unpleasant buzz filling the air. The other half formed blades of pure water in their hands and blitzed towards Latias, poised to strike from every angle.

A protective barrier encircled the dragon at the last moment. The vile sound waves and razor-sharp blades bounced harmlessly off of the barrier, but the small army of clones didn't cease their assault. Their attacks grew in frequency, striking in pairs and slowly but surely breaking through.

Max grinned. "She's got him now!"

Spartan raised his hand to the sky… and snapped.

Thunder cracked as lightning struck the battlefield, electrifying everything in sight. Max's hair stood on end, much like everyone else in the stadium. The golden light of electricity blinded everyone, shining so brightly they could see it even through their eyelids. The only sounds they heard were the sizzling of flesh and the cry of Accelgor.

When the light finally died down, Latias had emerged from her barrier and Accelgor collapsed on the ground amidst burning flora. All of their copies had been vanquished in a single attack, leaving nothing for the insectoid to hide behind.

Rosa gasped. "Get up, Accelgor!"

Their stubby arms flexed against the ground as they tried to right themselves. Just before they could push off the ground, a piece of rubble came flying out of nowhere – the stop sign that had been part of the battlefield. It slammed atop Accelgor's head, squishing it into the ground. Over and over again, the metal smashed into the creatures large pink head.

Only once the sign sheared itself in half did the assault stop. The pieces floated above them for a moment, prepared to strike with the same ferocity as before. It didn't matter. By now, Accelgor had been beaten into unconsciousness.

Latias trilled in victory, allowing her makeshift weapon to fall to the ground. The storm above them cleared away, allowing the sun to shine down upon them.

Its light was so intense Max felt himself start to sweat.

He tightened his hands into a fist, grinding his teeth together. "Come on, Rosa. You can do this." He muttered.

Kirlia nodded beside him, cupping her hands together and challenging all her good wishes towards the young Trainer.

Rosa quickly returned Accelgor to their Pokeball. She raised her final teammates ball to her lips, whispering to it so softly the mics couldn't pick it up. Then she tossed it into the air, unleashing her Delphox into the world.

The magical fox emerged with their eyes closed. They slowly opened them, staring into the soul of their enemy. Their arm extended, sliding their wand from within their fur robe and clutching it tightly in their hands.

Rosa took a deep breath. "Alright. Delphox, use-"

"Don't be so hasty." Spartan cut her off.

The girl paused. "What?"

"There's more to battle than an endless assault." His robotic voice told her. "Take your time. Focus. I'll wait."

Her eyes narrowed. "This is a trap."

"Maybe." He admitted. "Or it could be a lesson. Which depends on you."

Her hands tightened into fists. Then she took a deep breath and loosened her grip. "Delphox, Calm Mind. Do it as long as you can."

The inferno witch nodded swiftly and shut their eyes again. For nearly two minutes, not a sound was made. Everyone watched with wide eyes as the fox collected their thoughts and controlled their breathing. When they opened their eyes, there was no outward change.

Yet everyone could tell the difference in her power.

"We're gonna end this in one move!" Rosa slammed her fist into the palm of her hand. "Blast Burn! Give it everything you've got!"

Delphox flourished their wand. The flames and their embers that lingered from the previous battles rapidly intensified and spread, consuming the vegetation of the battlefield and reducing it to ash. It spread until the entire arena was on fire, a lake of fire straight out of ancient doomsday prophecies. Water began to boil from the intensity of the heat, and Max felt his throat run dry.

The flames turned blue, swirling around the Delphox in the center of the blaze.

Spartan held up his wrist, allowing the sleeve of his trench coat to fall down and reveal a Z-crystal strapped to his wrist. A cobalt glow surrounded the mysterious Trainer and his draconic ally. Spartan slammed his hands together and reared back, fingers forming makeshift jaws. Up above, Latias soared high into the sky and shrouded herself in the golden rays of the sun.

"Now!" Rosa shouted.

Spartan thrust his arms forward, bringing them apart like a pair of jaws before abruptly smashing them back together. "Devastating Drake."

Latias and Delphox roared alongside their Trainers. The mystical fox snapped her wand towards the dragoness. Vengeance fueled the flames of her attack as the colossal wave of fire surged into the sky. Up above, the cobalt energy surrounding Latias morphed into an ethereal drake – slim and terrifying yet beautiful in its elegance. The Z-move let out a roar of its own, rocketing towards the flames.

They clashed in the center of the arena. A beautiful battle of wills and flame, shining so brightly that it hurt to see but was impossible to look away from. For that one brief moment, Rosa and her team stood on equal footing with a Legend. Their strength was equal to the god that had descended from the heavens to grace their battlefield.

Then… the flames flickered.

The drake soared through the fire of Delphox's attack, cutting clean through the middle and absorbing the flames into itself. Faster than anyone could blink, the spectral dragon collided with Delphox and exploded in a mushroom cloud of violet energy that stretched high into the sky.

The barriers protecting the audience cracked and shattered under the force of the attack. Max's ears popped from the rapid change in pressure and he slammed his hands over his ears to protect them from the noise. All he saw was white from the immense light of the blast. His teeth ached, and he was only safe from being blown out of his seat thanks to May's arm holding him in place.

Slowly – agonizingly slowly – the dull ache in his teeth and the ringing in his ears subsided. Max could feel his heart beating a hundred miles a minute in his chest. He looked around him to make sure the others were okay, breathing a sigh of relief when he confirmed it.

Then he swept his eyes to the battlefield.

It was in even worse shape than he expected. There was practically nothing left beyond a crater. The smell of newly formed glass assaulted his nose, but that wasn't what concerned him. Delphox stood in the center of the crater, wand still clutched in their hand and staring unflinchingly up at Latias.

Rosa grinned. "Hell yeah! I knew you were alright, Delphox!"

"They're still standing?" May shouted. "How!?"

Max cheered alongside Kirlia. "I told you not to underestimate them!"

Tobias leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. "I see. That's it then." He smiled. "It was a fine match. Rosa fought well."

Max blinked. "What are you babbling about?"

Down below, Rosa frowned. "Delphox? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

They didn't respond. Not even a twitch of their fingers.

Her lips trembled. "D-Delphox?"

Their hand loosened on their wand. Before their eyes, it fell to ash and blew away in the wind. Delphox didn't even seem concerned.

Rosa rushed forward. "Delphox!"

At that moment, Max understood.

Delphox had fainted standing up. They refused to bow down to the Legend soaring above them… so they didn't. They stayed on their feet to the bitter end.

The speakers flared to life, but they were distorted and damaged from the effects of the battle. The screens showing the battle were cracked, half of them showing nothing more than static or a blank screen.

"W-what an intense battle! One of the most intense I've ever seen!" The announcer shouted. "Delphox is unable to battle! Spartan is the winner!"

Just like last time, the crowd erupted into ravenous cheers for the victor. They were even louder this time as the crowd favorite demolished another obstacle to his victory. Yet Spartan and Latias didn't seem to care. The masked man stalked across the field with his hands in his pockets while Latias floated down to join him.

Rosa flinched at their approach, hands clutching Delphox's fur. "What?"

Spartan stopped a few feet away. "Heal Pulse."

"Wha-"

Latias' body glowed and pulsed with energy. That energy washed over Delphox, healing their wounds and even removing the scorch marks from their fur. Though they didn't wake up, they looked in far better condition than before.

"Nurse Joy should be able to take it from here." Spartan told her. "Keep your team off their feet and out of battling for a while. They need time to rest and recover."

Rosa nodded dumbly, returning her partner to their ball. "Thank you…."

"Don't mention it." Spartan stuck his hand out. When Rosa took it, they quickly shook hands. "That was a good battle. You'll go far."

Rosa looked into his mask, an uncertain look in her eyes. "You really think so?"

"Yes." He let go of her hand. "You just need to stop being so reckless. And don't risk everything on one final climactic attack. That stuff only works in movies. Better to fight smart than strong."

She nodded. "Right! I'll do my best!" She smiled. "Thank you for using Latias against me. It was an honor."

Spartan tapped his Pokeball against Latias' head, returning her to the ball. "You deserved it."

It was a heartwarming display of sportsmanship. The first they'd seen from Spartan the entire festival. The crowd seemed to fall more and more in love with him the more he did. Max only had eyes for Rosa, though, and he noticed the one thing no one else did.

The quiver behind her voice.

He stood up. "Come on, Kirlia. Let's get out of here."

May blinked. "Where are you going?"

"To comfort a friend."

---

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

Anabel looked up from her plate of Holubtsi. "Hmm?"

Drew leaned back in his chair, idly munching on a bowl of Takoyaki. "Interpol's plan. It feels like we're playing with fire."

She smirked, twirling the stuffed cabbage on her fork. "That is our specialty." She said. "If you're that scared, don't worry. I'll be here to pull your ass out of the fire."

He rolled his eyes. "Well, it is an ass worth saving."

He could say that again.

The two of them were sitting in his hotel room and relaxing with a late lunch. It had been ages since they last saw each other. The last time had been one of her training missions when she was tasked with shadowing experienced agents in the field. It was supposed to be a simple mission in the Hoenn desert tracking a syndicate of tomb robbers.

Nothing was ever simple, though. Tomb raiders carried more guns than some small Regions, and the archaic defenses of Humanity's ancient ruins were nothing to scoff at either. The worst part of the entire trip, however, had been needing to outrun a collapsing cave system.

Taught her a valuable lesson about Murphy's Law.

"It just seems like we're risking a lot," Drew continued. "We're dangling a goldmine in front of Team Rocket and hoping they take the bait. It's just our Psychics or agents at risk here. We're risking thousands of civilians in the process."

"You know the stakes." Anabel said. "If we don't do this, Rocket can keep hunting Psychics without fear, and Project Ambrosia runs unchecked. It's our job to stop them."

"Maybe." He dipped his Takoyaki in mayo. "We're also supposed to protect people. When Team Rocket attacks… it's gonna be big. They won't care who gets hurt."

No, they wouldn't. Alto Mare and Aether Paradise had made that abundantly clear. When they struck, they'd come in hard and fast. Maximum chaos and minimum resistance. If she had to hazard a guess? It'd be close to the end of the day, when everyone was tired from a long day of celebration, full of all the junk food they could eat, and their targets were weak from battle.

Most importantly, they'd be disguised. What that might be was beyond her, but it didn't matter. Interpol would know who was behind it all. They'd rescue every Pokemon taken and put an end to Project Ambrosia.

It would have to be enough.

"It's a risk we have to take." She told him. "Command knows what they're doing."

"They're risking our Legends, Anabel." He pointed out. "We're all but gift wrapping them and putting a bow on top for the bastards. Even if we plan to rescue them, what happens if we fail? Or worse, they're not sent to wherever Project Ambrosia is?"

They'd cross that bridge when they got there. All intel pointed to all Psychics being taken to Hoenn for this one project, but even if they weren't? Interpol Pokemon were trained to survive and escape on their own. Combine that with the trackers implanted in them before arriving for the festival?

They would strike within hours of their allies being taken to Rocket's base.

"I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass." Drew shook his head. "How's your assignment to Looker's team treating you?"

"Well, I've only nearly died about a dozen times… overall, I'd say I'm doing pretty good." She grinned. "Looker's not so bad. He's a great teacher and an even better leader. Couldn't ask for anyone better."

"And Petrovic? Heard you got saddled with him." Drew asked.

She groaned, dragging her palm down her face. "Don't remind me. Every day, I consider sneaking into his room and smothering him with a pillow."

"A woman willingly entering his room? Now I've heard everything." Drew chuckled. "Let me know if you need some help. I'll hold the bastard down."

"How kind." She purred. "And just what did he do to you to deserve this?"

The greenette tightened his fist, shaking it exaggeratedly at the sky. "He stole the Galarian crown jewels and didn't give me my cut!"

The two stared at each other in silence before breaking down and laughing. It really was too easy to hate Petrovic. He was a lethal agent, but Arceus was he unpleasant to work with. If only she could replace him with Drew, she'd be a much happier woman.

At least then, she'd have another trusted friend at her back instead of a trigger-happy psychopath.

"How about Ash?" Drew asked. "He looks like he's adjusting well."

She frowned. "Depends on what you mean by adjusting. He's adapted and knows how to survive in our world now." She bit into a cabbage roll with a bit more force than necessary. "He's far from being a perfect fit."

He held up his hands placatingly. "Easy there. I didn't mean anything by it." He said. "I spoke with Ash last night, is all. Just thought I'd get your opinion since you work with the guy."

She blinked, setting aside her fork. "You revealed yourself to him? Why?"

"He's putting May in danger." Drew frowned. "I look after my friends, Anabel. Whatever little embers are left between those two is dangerous now. I needed to make sure he knew that."

Ah, right. Ash's old feelings for May… she'd felt them ever since he realized they were coming to the festival. It was hard to be in the same room as him without feeling the anxiety about seeing her again or the warmth he felt when he thought of her. It'd gotten even worse since actually getting here.

Even when they were younger, she'd felt the strength of the bond. Her empathy made it impossible for people to hide these sorts of things from her. It wasn't even a mental intrusion like other Psychics when they read your thoughts. Everyone experienced emotion, and it illuminated them like a lantern in the dark.

It was part of what made her useful to Interpol.

"Does he?" She asked.

She didn't want to see either of them hurt.

He nodded. "He does. It's eating at him, but he's agreed to do better at staying away from her. For her own sake. Had a couple drinks with him and we went a couple rounds in the ring to get his mind off her."

"Really?" She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. "How'd that go?"

"How do you think?" He grinned. "Ash is good, but he doesn't have my experience or skill. He needs to watch his left flank – always leaves himself vulnerable there when he attacks."

She'd noticed that too. "I'll make sure he works on it."

"More importantly, he's reckless. If he fights in a real battle like he does in the ring, I'd almost call him suicidal." Drew told her. "He lets attacks land so he can score some of his own. His plans were clever, but risky. Even when they worked, he was always in worse shape than me."

Aether Paradise flashed before her mind. Ash's limp body being taken out on a stretcher, knife embedded in his chest. So much blood covering his entire body – not all of it his own. Even little bits of flesh were still on his cheeks.

It was a horrifying image. One she hoped she never had to see again.

"Any advice about how we break that habit?" She asked.

"Training might work if you keep at it, but it's a long shot. He's stubborn. He'll fall back on those stunts when the situation gets desperate every time." Drew said. "He won't break out of it until he tries, and it costs him something he couldn't afford to lose."

She was afraid he'd say that. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she hunched over the table, rubbing her temple with her hands. A pair of hands came to rest on her shoulders and she looked up to see Drew's reassuring eyes.

"Hey, don't let me get you down." He said. "Ash is smart, plus he's got you and Looker helping him. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and break those habits on his own."

She smiled. "Yeah… maybe you're right."

"It's been known to happen." He leaned back. "Now, enough about work. It's been ages since we saw each other, so let's make up for it. I've got free pay-per-view and the new Kaiju movies queued up. You ready for some fun?"

"You read my mind!"

---

Night had fallen on the festival.

Ash hadn't stuck around long after his battle with Rosa ended. Once she'd taken off to heal her Pokemon, he did the same. Try as they might, none of the reporters or eager fans of his Spartan persona could pin him down. It only made them fall in love even more, however.

Nothing sold quite like mystique.

He'd admit that he was impressed. Rosa was an incredibly skilled Trainer – far better than he was at her age. She had the makings of a future Champion if she kept at it. He didn't know who Unova's current Champion was after Alder retired, but whoever they were? They'd better watch out.

At the moment, he and his team were lounging in his room. While he munched away mindlessly at a bowl of apple crisp and vanilla ice cream, Latias was curled up in a blanket burrito in her Human form. Pikachu sat atop her head, sucking the last dregs of ketchup out of its bottle. All the while, Lilligant and Bewear were busy watching an old horror movie with a bowl of popcorn between them.

Everything pointed to them having a peaceful night in.

So, naturally, the universe just had to ruin it for them all.

His watch pinged with a message from Looker. Frowning, Ash raised his wrist to his eyes. His shoulders slumped as he read the message, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He shook his head and stood up, turning to see the curious faces of his team.

"It's Looker. There's been a change of plans."

---

And there we are! Another chapter all set and ready to go! Sorry for the delay, I had to work on the prize fic and get that finished before I could work on this. But I managed to finish it in no time at all! I'll bet none of you saw the twists of this chapter coming!

To address some questions/reviews from last time regarding the commanders, I'll get into that quickly. The Professor Juniper listed is Aurea Juniper, the professor who gives the player their Pokemon in both Unova games. As for Melony, she is the Ice gym leader from Galar, not the movie character Melody. As for Sada, while I don't want to spoil anything regarding how it happened, the AI is currently in command!

Hopefully that clears up any potential confusion regarding their identities.

Now for the important news regarding this fic... I am leaving for the Peace Corps. While I don't want to bore you all with the details, this does mean that updates to the story will slow dramatically or may cease altogether. It all depends on how much work I'll be doing and whether or not I have electricity where I'm going.

So, assuming I can't/don't keep writing the fic while I'm over there or after I return? I'm leaving open permissions for everyone to do with my writing what they want. You guys can take the ideas and use them in your own stories, create spin-offs, or just pick up where I left off if you'd like and take it in any direction you want. All I ask is that you link back to this story and credit me where you feel is appropriate. And maybe shoot me a PM so I can read it when I return in a couple years!

Now, does this mean I'll never write again? No. I'd love to be able to keep writing while I'm away, and I will if I have the chance. So if a new chapter pops up every couple of months, don't be surprised! I just thought I'd let you guys know that it might not happen for a long time.

Now, if any of you have questions? My Beta's Echoh and Legacy_of_Time know my general plans for the next couple of arcs and where they were going. In addition, if enough of you guys are curious, I can always edit this AN before I leave so that my general outline for the fic is here for you all to at least know where I was going with it. Who knows? Even if I'm not around, maybe it'll inspire someone else to use the ideas for their own stories!

Beyond that? I don't have much else to say. It's been fun writing the story and the reception has been better than I thought. Hopefully I'll be able to keep writing. Until next time, every stay safe and happy! I encourage you all to write whatever ideas you have in your head and have fun with them. It's what I did here, after all.