In Wyndon City, the Masters Eight awards ceremony was underway and in the center of attention of it all was Ash Ketchum.
After an intense battle of the finals, Ash beat Leon, the now former World Champion with the help of his team. One of the hardest Pokémon battles Ash has done to date but he managed to win with the help of Pikachu's spirit.
The ceremony was massive with confetti falling from the air and Ash taking it all in. His trusty starter/ace, Pikachu, was enjoying the celebration too. At long last, they have obtained the title of World Monarch. By his side, Leon gave his own congrats to the new champion.
Once the employee approached Ash with the trophy and gave it, the employee began to speak. "Quite the Pokémon team you have here, Ash."
"Thank you!" Ash said with a wide smile.
"And that Pikachu… being one to match the might of Champion-level Pokémon and Legendaries too. Quite impressive." The employee continued.
Ash continued, "Yeah. Pikachu is no doubt really special. We've been through so many battles, experiences, and adventures. He's my number one pal and I couldn't have made it without him or any of my other team members."
"Most interesting…" The employee said. There was a hint of malicious intent in his voice but Ash could hardly hear it as he was enjoying the celebration.
"I don't suppose you would take kindly to losing your Pikachu would you?" The employee continued to press.
Ash, finally noticing the creepy behavior, took a small step back. Pikachu was on edge now, giving a low 'Pika' in weariness. "Of course, I would. Pikachu has been with me the longest. Without him, I don't know where I would be."
"Is that right?"
"What's with all these questions?" Ash asked and Leon -who had been on the 2nd portion and overhearing the conversation- gave a suspecting glare to the employee.
"It's quite simple really…" the employee began.
"I'll be taking your Pikachu." The employee said and tossed off his disguise. Ash, having suspected it was Team Rocket since they were infamous for both stalking and disguising themselves, was in for a shock when a different person tossed off the uniform.
A man with long dark hair and red markings around his face. Oddly enough, he had yellow eyes with black pupils in the form of a lizard almost. He had on a teal scaly patterned-like trench coat with a black spandex, combat gloves and boots. He had a line-up of six Ultra Balls around his waist.
Doing a backflip, he landed before Ash and Leon. He had a smirk, revealing some sharp teeth, while fiddling his Ultra Balls as if he was choosing.
"Who are you? A member of Team Rocket?!" Ash shouted, appalled by the idea, while Pikachu emitted sparks from his cheeks. Leon had Charizard out not a moment too soon.
The man's smirk grew larger, "Someone who has been really interested in your accomplishments. Unlike that organization, mine has a much grander scheme of things." From all around Wyndon Stadium, various white-clad masked individuals wearing what appears to be a red scarf were storming the area armed with their own Pokémon. There were a few unique individuals who didn't sport the outfit but it was clear they were a part of this organization as well.
"What's going on!?" Leon demanded to know.
"Well, let's put it simple." The man replied with mild amusement, "I'm stealing your Pokémon. More specifically, that Pikachu. Your Charizard didn't make the list."
Leon growled at the proclamation before the man continued, "Darwin's the name but my friends or enemies -if you will- call me Jade."
"Well I don't care who you are or what group you're from, Pikachu isn't going to be anywhere with someone like you!" Ash declared.
Jade simply shrugged his arms, "Depends. Whose dealing with the massive Pokémon above?"
Both Champions were confused until a loud roar from above was heard. They looked up and were surprised.
A dark purple scaled Lugia let out a hoarse roar and Jade enjoyed the shocked expressions. "That, my friends, is XD001. AKA Shadow Lugia."
"You… you corrupted Lugia!" Ash shouted and his eyes flared a faint blue. He couldn't help but feel something was off with the Lugia too.
"Corrupted, manipulated, turned into the ultimate powerhouse," Darwin shrugged off like it was no big deal. "Personally, it's a much more improved version."
Ash and Pikachu growled at that claim and the carelessness in Jade's voice. Leon looked up and snapped his fingers, "Ash! I'll take care of Lugia!" The Galarian Champion said and he hopped on Charizard.
"Ok." Ash said, his eyes never leaving Darwin. Leon and his Charizard went to the skies, joined with Dragapult to do some damage. Ash pulled out his own Poké Ball as the grunts began to storm the stadium in a mad frenzy.
In the stands, the grunts of this organization had their Pokémon out, commanding them to attack. Dawn and Chloe looked around as they were trying to keep themselves safe from the commotion. Chloe held her Eevee protectively while Dawn and Piplup were more battle-ready -having battled Team Rocket and Team Galactic.
"Who are these people?" Chloe said and frightened out of her mind.
"Not Team Rocket for starters." Dawn muttered as Piplup kept his guard up.
Speaking of the TRio, they were currently scrambling.
"What's happening?!" James shouted.
"How should I know?!" Jessie shouted back.
"Man, this is a bust." Meowth remarked, "One second the twerp is accepting his award. Next thing you know, there is a new organization trying to claim Pikachu!"
"That Pikachu is ours! We claimed rights to it long ago!" Jessie proclaimed.
"Wobbbbbbuffet!" Wobbuffet said, popping out of his PokéBall.
On the battlefield, Ash primed his PokéBalls as Jade looked eager. "So… who's it going to be?" The toothed man coyly asked.
"Dragonite, I choose you!" Ash shouted and threw out his Dragon/Flying-type. With a bellow, the Dragon Pokémon saw her opponent and glared.
"Hmmm…" Jade said putting a finger to his chin, "Not as strong. Guess I'll work your way up to Pikachu." He pulled out one of his Ultra Ball and sent out the occupant: a menacing Hydreigon.
However, the Brutal Pokémon felt… off to Ash. But he shrugged it off, planning to defeat this man.
"Dragon Claw!" Dragonite zoomed in with extended teal claws right before Hydreigon was cloaked with a purple shadowy aura. The Dark/Dragon-type rushed forward, smashing directly into the Kanto pseudo-legendary with such force that Dragonite lost all her momentum and fell to the ground. Creating a decent crater, Dragonite was already scuffled up from the blow.
"Dragonite!" Ash shouted. He had never seen that move before and it dealt super effective damage in a vicious way. Ash brought out Sirfetch'd next, who was readying himself.
"Meteor Assault!" Sirfetch'd took a golden aura and launched himself at the hydra. Hydreigon opened her maws and fired a blast of shadowy energy that halted the valiant duck, even resulting in pushing the Wild Duck Pokémon back down and effectively dealing damage. The shadowy move ceased and Sirfetch'd couldn't move for a second until he collapsed on the spot.
"Dracovish!" Ash shouted. His Frankenstein fossil emerged and saw the Hydreigon looming over the arena. Biting its jaws, Dracovish stomped the ground.
"Dragon Rush!" Dracovish took off with blue arcane flames around itself as Hydreigon charged in with the same shadowy aura from before and smashed into Dracovish. Like before, the impact struck and the Fossil Pokémon hit the stadium wall, injured.
Ash couldn't believe how this fight was going. How was one Pokémon defeating his team with ease?
Jade, smirking in delight, relished the pain his Hydreigon was doing. "Well, send out your next Pokémon." Jade taunted.
Ash pulled out his remaining Pokéballs. Weighing his options, he made a split decision. "Lucario!"
The Aura Pokémon appeared and gave a growl. He sized up his opponent but then flinched. The jackal held his ears and extensions in pain.
Ash jumped off the podium and comforted his Steel/Fighting-type, "Lucario, what's wrong?"
The Aura Pokémon could barely grunt or make a move and just returned to his Pokéball. Ash was taken aback by that maneuver.
The sight made Jade cackle maniacally at the sight. He knew the Lucario would be sensitive to the sight of Hydreigon and figured he would take him next but XD:001 was giving loads of shadowy energy that disrupted and overwhelmed Lucario's aura sensing. Rendering him incapable of fighting.
Ash shakily summoned Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon emerging from a pool of shadow and was about to give a scare when he saw the chaos and decided that battling was more important than his theatrics.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Gengar emitted a rainbow glow and released it, bombarding the Hydregion with the Fairy-type move.
"Not bad, but you've still lost." Darwin taunted. Hydreigon lunged again, Crunching Gengar on the shoulder before spewing a Flamethrower head-on. The phantom was sent tumbling before Hydreigon gave another shadowy blast that defeated Gengar.
Ash was stunned at how things have been one-sided for himself. Here he was the new World Champion and yet he was losing to this man's Hydreigon.
Jade's joy continued to shine as he watched Ash's face in despair. "Hydreigons are already powerful for a pseudo-legendary. Combined with my training and my organization's efforts, my Hydreigon is the strongest the world's ever seen."
Ash growled at the proclamation. "Thunderbolt!" Ash didn't even give a proper choosing phrase due to his anger.
Pikachu didn't waste time, releasing the Electric-type move with such voltage, Hydreigon nearly shifted and twitched in some pain. Pikachu poured on the juice until letting up.
"Finally!" Jade excitedly said. "The main event is here! Shadow Break!"
Hydreigon was cloaked in a shadowy aura and brought herself down.
"Quick Attack then Iron Tail!" Pikachu sped himself up, dodging the attack then rightfully slamming a metallic tail into the hydra's flank. Ash was finally glad Jade shouted the name but had never heard of the move before.
"Shadow Blast while the Pikachu is airborne!" Hydreigon's head-hands and maw prepared shadowy energy before firing away. Pikachu tucked himself, avoiding the blasts but Hydreigon closed the distance.
"Electro-Web/Crunch!" Hydreigon lunged a head-hand to Crunch only for the electrified web to trap the hydra and shock him.
Pikachu landed on the floor and Jade gave a mock applause.
"Good. Very good. I'm really enjoying the showcase." Jade said.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash didn't care about having a conversation with a man who defeated four of his Pokémon with ease. Pikachu released another bolt of lightning, spearing towards the Hydreigon, who was zapped once more.
"Very nice…" Jade purred, "But I think I have seen all that I wish to see. Hydreigon?"
The Brutal Pokémon's eyes flared and tore apart the Electro-Web trap. In the hydra's rage, she viciously attacked with Outrage through biting, punching, and clawing, hitting Pikachu nonstop.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted with horror. He looked to see the Hydreigon's atrocious beat down out of sheer fright. He had hardly ever seen a trainer's Pokémon display such ferocity other than Korrina's untamed Mega Lucario before she mastered it.
But what made it worse was Jade barely told his Pokémon to cease until a snap of his fingers. The hydra calmed herself and flew away, revealing the bruised and injured Pikachu.
The poor Mouse Pokémon could barely get up from the onslaught. He weakly rose, having some spunk but knew he wouldn't last any longer.
Jade looked at the mouse, knowing he was unable to continue after his Hydreigon's beat down. Part of Jade wanted to see Ash's other Pokémon. He knew that Charizard would be a fighter. The Sceptile would have been great to see too. Snorlax, a bit bulky and a great defender. Heracross, Krookodile, and Infernape made the list themselves.
But alas, Ash didn't bring them. Just the mouse. Which was just as good. The ace of a Champion would be very rewarding.
"Time to put the little mouse on the winning team." Jade whispered as he activated a metal arm, encasing his left arm. An Ultra Ball appeared out of it.
Ash was confused by this action. What was this man about to do?
Jade swung his arm back and then threw out the Pokèball. It opened and did the unthinkable.
Pikachu was caught in a claw-like grasp by the Ultra Ball and it closed, bouncing away.
Ash could only watch in disbelief. He made a run for the Ultra Ball when the Hydreigon landed in front and loomed over him. She hissed as Ash could feel something radiating off the hydra's aura.
The ball rocked once… twice… thrice…
…
…
…
Then a click.
Ash froze at the sound.
Jade just whistled absentmindedly, strolling over to the Ultra Ball. He reached down and picked it up. "Thanks for the free Pikachu." With a snap of his fingers, Hydreigon flew over and let Jade on his back. With a whistle, the grunts all ceased their actions and ran away with thousands of trainers comforting those who were injured. The Dark Lugia flapped its wings, sending a massive gust of wind to get away from Leon and Charizard.
"Tata, Champion." Jade mocked and took off with XD001.
Ash barely heard anything else after Jade's departure. Not Dawn and Chloe jumping into the arena and running over. Not Lucario appearing now and comforting his father figure. Not Leon appearing and looking somewhat injured with his Charizard.
He fell to his knees with his eyes staring at the ground. His hat fell from his head.
He couldn't believe what had happened.
Pikachu. Was caught.