"You know when you said we'd be going into the city today, I didn't think it would be this place," Ash said.
"Pika!"
Ash had quite enjoyed his time at Ryme City so far. Amanda and Riley's childhood home was so big it took him an hour to explore all the rooms that were unlocked. Four floors, endless bedrooms, an indoor pool, and long tall empty halls ways. It was kind of both wonderous and intimidating. On one hand, if he grew up in this place he would definitely get lost on a daily basis, on the other hand this was the perfect place for hide and seek tournaments.
However, the best part about his cousins' home was far outside of the walls. In the meadow outside of the mansion, was an eevee spawning ground. Eevees, eevee eggs, and even a few eevlutions frolicked through the meadow. Due to the easy access to multitudes of eevees, most of the new trainers in Ryme City would get to pick one straight from the meadow. Ash learned about this fact when a shy girl knocked on the mansion's door that morning and Mrs. Rose showed them to the field. Naturally curious Ash elected to join them, and ended up in utter bliss as a large amount of the hatchlings dogpiled him for the rest of the morning. They were all so cute!
And while the property was great, so was the people that lived inside of the mansion's walls. Mrs. Rose seemed determined to become everyone's grandmother. She was so sweet and caring. Making sure they all had a warm soft place to sleep, and yummy meals to fill their stomachs. The elder woman just had this feeling of safety surrounding her.
Ash also found that he very much enjoyed the company of his youngest cousins too. Constance and Carter were so much fun to be around, even if Ash couldn't understand a lick of what they were saying half the time. It was crazy some of the inventions those two had come up with, Ash would have to introduce the two of them to Clemet. Maybe his friend can finally have a little revenge and try to set Bonnie up with one of them. Though, the kids seemed to have this really weird aversion to dirt. Ash tried to get them to come outside, but they were really worried about getting their clothes dirty. Must be a rich people thing.
So, when Amanda said that they would be heading into the city after lunch to go find whoever took her necklace, given the overwhelming positive impression he already had to the city, Ash was excited.
His excitement was greatly dampened when his cousin took them, not to the shining city of crystal tower, but the docks on the southern east side of the city. The place was nothing like they city it was apart of. The sound of the ocean rippled through the air bringing with it the smell of salt and mildew from the old rotten wooden docks that were falling apart. The lights around them flickered from clearly old bulbs and the concrete beneath them was covered in dirt and mystery stains. The whole place gave this "someone was murdered here" vibes. Even with the beginnings of a beautiful sunset starting to form on the horizon.
Amanda huffed, "I bet, when most people think of Ryme City they don't really picture the rundown buildings of Oldtown."
"Is Bella even here?" Riley asked, "Not that I don't trust you Mandy, but this doesn't seem like a place she'd hang out."
"She's here or at least she should be," Amanda said.
"I hope she's right," Goh whispered into Ash's ear, "I don't like this place. It makes me feel like someone is going to jump out and stab us."
It's called survival instinct, Goh.
His fellow researcher sent the ancient Pokémon and unimpressed glance.
"Y'all coming?" Amanda said.
Ash looked up at her and was a little startled to find that his cousin had walked several paces away from them. She turned a corner, vanishing behind it. The four remaining humans shared a confused glance before following her.
Turning the corner himself, Ash was surprised to find a very plain sight in front of him. A long flat warehouse, old and unassuming, stood just ahead of them. Amanda walked towards the only heavy metal door on the side, nodding to the rest of them to follow.
She knocked and the mail slot in the door opened.
"The muckrow sings a chorus," a raspy voice slithered out of the slot.
"But the Dotrio is a choir," Amanda answered, and the door was opened with a screech and a heavy dubstep began to pour from the opened door.
"Alright," Amanda started, "If anyone is under three feet tall, I suggest that you stick close if you don't want to be trampled."
Ash looked down at Riolu, the pup looked up at him with confused tomato-berry eyes. Taking Amanda's advice, he pulled up the little pup, giving him his free shoulder. Pikachu remained safe on the other one.
While the docks outside had been quiet and creeping, inside of the warehouse was the complete opposite. Suddenly Ash found himself in a world of loud music, strobe lights and chaos. There was a heavy smell of sweat and smoak in the air, and people crowded around them in the dark. If Ash wasn't subconsciously following Amanda by aura connection, he'd have gotten lost in this place easily. Thankfully she seemed to be sticking towards the less populated places near the warehouse walls, instead of the human thicket that had formed in the middle of the room. What were they all looking at?
"An underground dance club?" Goh wondered out loud.
"Is this what the youth do for rebellious fun in modern days?" Sir Aaron tried to say but his voice was almost drowned out by the music and shrieks.
"Some of us," Riley said.
"This is probably the most sin you've ever seen in a single place," Amanda said, looking directly at a couple in the back corner who were clearly making out.
"Actually no, it reminds me of the old taverns," Sir Aaron said, "Though, I don't think this lot is drinking ale."
They continued to weave through the screaming crowd. Ash was not used to the amount of people that were crowding him in this enclosed space. He kept a hand around Goh's arm to make sure his friend wasn't lost in the chaos. Amanda and Riley, like they did in the fancy part of the city, took to the crowd like fish to water. While Sir Aaron just seemed to be trying not to touch people.
Amanda pulled the group towards a blackened metal staircase. Behind him he could hear Goh griping that this place was not up to safety codes, as they climbed them to the upper platforms that ringed the ceiling.
"GENGAR vs. PIGEOT! Battle begins!" The words cut through the music, a slight warm muffle to them like when they used a sucky mic to amplify it.
Ash halted his feet and turned to look behind him. From his new upper view of the warehouse, he could finally see what everyone was crowding around. In the middle of the room was a makeshift battlefield. A circular chain-link fence, with a barbed wire top stood while two Pokémon inside dueled. Oddly though, Ash couldn't see any place for a trainer to stand nearby.
"A battle arena?" Ash mumbled.
"Pi?"
"I thought Ryme City outlawed Pokémon battles," Goh said.
"They did," Amanda said before pulling them forward.
Once they got on the platforms, Ash couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his stomach. He loved battles, but something about this felt off.
Riley had stalked forward from his place in the group and up to his sister's side.
"Okay, I'm going to need some context," he demanded.
Amanda raised a brow, "What context could you possibly need?"
"Oh, I don't know, how about you start telling me about where you learned of this place. Underground battle rings are illegal," Riley said.
"Don't you think I know that Riri? Relax I never got into the actual fighting, but that doesn't mean people I know didn't."
"You could still be arrested by proxy."
"Only, if I get caught. Which considering that I've already committed multiple charges of breaking and entering, data theft, and possibly property destruction on this trip alone, I think I'm doing pretty good on that front."
Ash snickered at Riley's face of disbelief when Amanda dropped that bit of information.
In the far corner of the upper platforms rested a small closed off room. Ash thought it was probably an office of sorts from when the warehouse wasn't an underground battle ring. Judging by the muscle head with the houndoom guarding the door, it clearly had found different used.
"Do you have an appointment?" the muscle head said when Amanda approached the door.
"Michel stop," Amanda said, with a bored expression, "We both know Bella doesn't take appointments, now are you going to let me in?"
Michel sighed, "Why are you even here Mandy, I know you and my sister lost touch."
"What happened isn't that we just 'lost touch', and you know it," Amanda snapped.
"She didn't do what you said she did, it was an accident."
"I have the hospital bill to prove it and that's just the beginning of what she did. Take off the damn rose colored glasses and see the truth for once in your life," She crossed her arms, and sighed, "Why I'm here today has nothing to do with that though, so just let us through, or do we want to make this messy?"
Umbreon growled at her side, and to Ash's shock the houndoom whimpered. Michel flinched and bit his lip before reaching for the latch behind him.
"You're a Bitch, Gen," He said opening the door.
"You'd know given who your sister is," Amanda said.
"Don't call her that," Riley said, Lulu growling at his side.
Michel looked up at Riley and his angry expression morphed into one of surprise, "Riley?" he whistled, "Wow, prodigal son returns. I never thought I'd see you here again, after you ditched town."
"Well, I'm back," Riley said, "and I'd appreciate you treating my sister with respect."
Michel cackled, "oh it's adorable you think you have pull around here, after being gone for a decade," he nodded for them to follow him through the door.
"Is this a mob house?" Goh whispered, to himself, "I did not agree to get involved with a mob."
Inside the office was what Ash could only describe as a throne room (Lucario was clearly not impressed). There were no lights on other than a blacklight in the center of the ceiling. The back wall was lined with broken and battered battle trophies. Once gleaming metals of gold and silver were scuffed and spraypainted over. Trash littered the floor, old food wrappers and some illegal stuff. In the center of it all was a ripped up office chair.
A growl came from the corner and Ash's eyes narrowed in on, a set of black wings, and a long tail set ablaze.
"Wow," Ash felt Goh breathe, "a shiny Charizard."
The large fire type stepped towards the chair, an obvious scar on its snout. A pale hand reached up to trace it with almost disdain. Something hissed on the ground and Ash suddenly realized that there was serviper wrapped around the wheels of the chair.
Something touched his shoulder, Ash looked back seeing Sir Aaron nodding at him to look forward. Amanda was standing a head of them a few paces away. Her stance was tense, uncomfortable. Fear wafted off of her in heavy waves. Something was wrong.
A soft chuckle echoed throughout the tight space, and a shiver went up Ash's spine.
"Michel? What did I say about visitors today?" the tone was soft, but oddly threatening.
"These are ones you'll want to see," Michel said.
"And how would you know that, my dimwit of a big brother?"
Michel opened his mouth, but closed it instantly, unable to say anything in return.
"Would you cut the drama," Amanda said, her shoulders tense.
The chair spun around, revealing a young woman, with pale skin and blonde curls. She was dressed in pink and orange, leather and ruffles clashed in the more costume than clothing she wore. A sylveon rested in her lap, like that of a supervillain who stroked their pet menacingly. Her smile was filled with perfect teeth but stretched a little too wide. While her brown eyes appeared to be empty of any emotion.
"Mandy!" She said in an all to sweet tone.
"Bella," Mandy replied dryly.
"You don't look happy to see me."
"I'm not."
Bella pouted and stood up from her chair, the sylveon leaped to the floor sending death glares at Umbreon.
"Oh don't say that," Bella said, stalking closer and closer to his cousin, "I know you missed me," she traced a clawed finger over Amandas cheek catching a lock of dark hair and stuffing it behind Amanda's ear, revealing her hearing aid, "You finally decided to come crawling back, you know you'll have to beg for that."
Bella's hand began to trace lower and lower down Amanda's body; however, it was quickly slapped away after the fingers reached her chest, "Don't touch me," Amanda snapped.
"You're no fun anymore."
"I'm not hear about the past, I'm here for that," Amanda pointed to the gold charm on a black string that Bella wore around her neck.
Ash looked to Sir Aaron; the knight nodded in return. That was the necklace they came for.
Bella hummed playing with the charm, "Oh this? Why do you want it?"
"None of your business, now give it back. It's not yours anyway."
Bella huffed, "If I remember correctly your mommy gave me this when you refused to apologize to me, after spreading those horrible rumors about me."
"They're rumors if they're true."
"But no one believed you, did they?" Bella shrugged, "Seems like the truth didn't do much for you huh? So, my answers no. Now get lost."
"Wait," Riley stepped in.
"Riri stay out this," Amanda said through gritted teeth.
"Riley?" Bella said.
Riley flashed a smile, "It's nice to see you Bella, surely we can work something out."
Bella pursed her lips, "Oh I don't think so."
"I think we can. Mandy can't you just apologize?" Riley said looking towards his sister.
Amanda's composer dropped, and the air grew thick. Ash could see the long crack in Amanda's soul form as betrayal flooded her aura. Her jaw dropped while her eyes grew wide.
The long silence was eventually broken by a long hysterical laugh. Ash looked to Bella, finding the blonde in stitches, almost fallen to the floor with laughter.
"Oh my gosh! You can't write shit this good!" Bella exclaimed, "You know if I thought that the day I watch your mom give you up was fun but watching that. Big brother stabbing you in the back? Oh, that's just beautiful. He doesn't even need to know what happened he just knows you're a bad egg."
Bella clicked her tongue, "You know, just for that I'll give ya'll a chance. Beat me in a battle and trinkets yours," she smirked, leaning closer to Amanda, "Should be easy for you. But wait you don't like battles anymore do you?"
"I'll do it," Ash said stepping forward.
He wasn't really thinking when he said it. Something just compelled him forward. Maybe it had to do with the mission to get the necklace, maybe it was that he was always up for a fight, or maybe he just wanted this creepy away from Amanda. His cousin clearly wasn't comfortable with this girl invading her space.
"Don't-" Amanda locked eyes with him, shaking her head.
Bella snorted, "And just who are you sweetie?"
"Ash Ketchum from Pallettown."
Bella smirked again at Amanda, "New boyfriend?"
"I'm her cousin," Ash said flatly.
"Pika."
Bella hummed, "Alright, I'll take you on. Winner gets the charm. Michel show, him to the arena. This will be a treat."
The blond turned around and waved them away with her hand, while Michel shoved them out of the office.
"Are you fucking stupid!" Amanda snapped, hitting Ash on the head the moment they were outside of the office.
"What was that for!" Ash yelled.
"To make sure you still had a head underneath all that hair. Why on earth did you agree to fight her?!"
"Because she wouldn't give us the necklace without it and she was clearly making you uncomfortable, I wanted to get you out of there as fast as possible."
Amanda looked confused for a moment before screwing up her face with stress, "You're an idiot Ketchum."
"Oh, don't be like that, it's gonna be okay. All I have to do is beat her," Ash said, "You really think I'm that bad at Pokemon battles."
"It's got nothing to do with your skill or talent Ketchum. If this were one of your league battles with rules, refs and standards you'd smoak her, but this is the underground ring, trainers here don't play by the rules."
"I can handle it, I've fought terrorists they don't play by the rules much either."
"You've never fought Bella. There's a reason she's the queen of roundhouse, her battle title is Bella the Brutal. I have watched her kill opponents in the ring."
(Doesn't sound much of a queen. Sir Aaron hushed the chatter.)
Ash's brows furrowed and shook his head, not wanting to believe what just came out of his cousin's month, "What, A trainer couldn't do that. A trainer wouldn't do that."
"She's a sociopath, Ash. She doesn't care about anything but winning and she'll do whatever it takes," Amanda sighed, "I just really hope this gamble works, because if we can't pull out of it without making it worse. Good luck Ketchum, you're going to need it."
A/N:
Well everyone here's the introduction of BELLA! You're meant to hate her don't worry. Her history with Amanda is long and horrible. You'll learn a little more with time. And yeah, Riley really screwed up here.