Chapter 21: Better Halves
Sinnoh, Lake Valor, Three Years Ago
Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.
May had been preparing for years. Each day as a Coordinator was a chance for her to become stronger. A new Pokemon to train and raise; a new technique to hone to perfection; and a new strategy to devise.
Opportunity had been just as frequent. Her chance meeting with Ash had given her both a teacher and a journey for the ages. Walking the path of a Coordinator gave her a dream to pursue. With each new hurdle or danger set before her came a chance to improve. Even defeat was a chance to learn from her mistakes and grow stronger.
It had all culminated in her finest hour.
Years of traveling the world and competing in Contests had led her to the Sinnoh Grand Festival. With each victory, she rose above her competition, defeating every rival that stood in her way until finally…
She won.
The Ribbon Cup was hers. No one could deny her skill now. Her fans and detractors alike all saw her ascend to the rank of Top Coordinator. Even so far away from her homeland of Hoenn, the people showered her in adoration.
Sitting in her hotel room, May stared at the solid gold trophy on her nightstand. While it lacked the emerald star of Hoenn, the diamond ribbon of Sinnoh was immaculate. Moonlight shined through the nearby window, the diamond sparkling in the light.
It was beautiful… and it was all hers.
May collapsed backwards onto her bed, bouncing on the mattress. Laughter escaped her as she beamed up at the ceiling. Despite the hours since her victory, the euphoria was still fresh. She didn’t think she’d stopped smiling since.
A knock at her door made her pause. Who could be bothering her at this hour? There was a whole celebration going! Even if she wasn’t there, everyone else would surely take the chance to party.
Her curiosity won out. Hopping to her feet, she strode over to the door and pulled it open. What greeted her was a boy her age with a mop of emerald hair, a stylish purple jacket, and sea-green eyes.
She blinked. “Drew? What are you still doing here?”
Her rival chuckled, clutching his chest in mock hurt. “Ouch. And here I thought we were close.”
May smirked. “Sure we are… a bit like a bad rash, but sure.”
“Glad to see your victory hasn’t dulled your wit.” Drew drawled.
“With you as a rival? I’d never get a moment's peace otherwise.” May crossed her arms. “Figured you would have left by now.”
“Am I not allowed to enjoy the party?” He asked with a grin.
“I’d love it if you would, but you always cut out before any real celebration can be done. Even when you win, you’re the first person out the door.”
It was something that always confused her about Drew. For all his boasting, he didn’t seem to like the fame that came with being a Coordinator. His interviews with the press were always short, he seemed to treat his fame like an annoyance more than anything else, even his approach to Contests differed from anyone else’s. More analytical and calculated.
She just didn’t get him, sometimes.
“So, are you going to tell me why you’re here?” She asked again.
“I was trying to do you a favor. Both of you.” He sighed dramatically. “But if all I’m gonna get is this lip, I shouldn’t have bothered.”
“Both?” She muttered. “What are you talking about-”
Drew stepped aside before she could finish, flicking some hair out of his face and gesturing for someone else to move forward. She didn’t have to wait long to find out who it was. The instant they stepped out from behind the corner and she saw a familiar set of chocolate eyes accompanied by a Pikachu on their shoulder?
Her smile grew twofold. “Ash!”
The boy in question raised his hand, waving at her. “Hey, May. It’s been a while.”
Pikachu hopped from his Trainer’s shoulder towards her. Old reflexes surfaced, and she caught him against her chest. The electric mouse nuzzled his cheek against her, licking her skin with his tiny tongue.
She giggled. “I missed you too, Pikachu. You’re looking so much stronger than last time we met.”
He cheered in confirmation, flexing his tiny paws in her arms.
Off to the side, Drew rolled his eyes. Turning to leave, he waved over his shoulder. “You’re welcome. Have fun, you two.” He paused, turning back with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Try not to have too much fun, though. You’ve got an early morning tomorrow, Ms. Maple.”
The greenette was gone before she could retort. Suppressing a growl, she shook her head.
She’d get her revenge later.
For now, she had an old friend to spend time with!
Once the two of them stepped inside her hotel room, she kicked the door shut behind her. She set Pikachu down on the ground, scratching his ears when he tilted his head up at her.
“As excited as you were to see me, I think there’s someone who’ll be even happier to see you.” She teased.
The golden mouse blinked. “Pika?”
Without another word, she unclasped a Pokeball from her belt. A single click of the button released a familiar icy blue fox. A chill momentarily overcame the room before quickly petering out as Glaceon raised her body temperature to compensate for their presence.
The instant the mouse and the fox locked eyes, they both lit up with excitement. While they rushed around the room and chattered mindlessly, May and Ash smiled at one another. Their Pokemon were always just as happy to see each other.
May quickly pulled Ash into a hug, one he readily returned. It was tight and warm. The flames of their past friendship still burned true, even all this time later.
“It’s so good to see you again.” She pulled back, resting her hand above his heart. “What are you doing here, though? I thought you were traveling through Unova.”
The raven-haired boy snatched his hat off his head, tossing it on the bed beside them. “You told me you made it to the Grand Festival, so I thought I’d come support you in person.”
Blinking, she stared at him. He’d gotten a lot taller since they traveled together. “You mean you’ve been here the whole time?”
“Not exactly.” He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “I tried, but my boat got delayed. I only got here in time to see your final match and the trophy ceremony.”
She smiled, plopping down on the edge of the bed. “You should have told me. I could have helped get you here sooner.”
One perk as the daughter of a Gym Leader and her reputation as a famous Coordinator was how eager others were to help you. She could probably have gotten him an express flight on a private jet if she asked the right people.
She was honestly a bit sad he didn’t tell her. If he had, she could have had him here for the entire festival.
“I wanted to surprise you.” Ash shrugged. “And it worked! You definitely seem happy to see me.”
A teasing glint entered her eyes. “Who says I’m happy to see you? Maybe it’s Pikachu I missed. He is pretty cute, after all.”
Glaceon chirped in agreement from the corner where she had trapped the electric rat. He shot the two of them with a pleading look.
Which neither of them noticed.
Ash frowned. “Guess you’re stuck with me as a consolation prize.”
Chuckling, she grabbed his hand and pulled him down onto the bed next to her. “Oh, hush. You know I’m just joking. I really am happy to see you.”
He pouted, trying and failing to hide the amused lilt to his voice.. “It wouldn’t hurt to show it a bit more.”
She rolled her eyes, leaning close to him. Close enough to smell the faint scent of the sea breeze and pine that followed him everywhere. “Oh? And how would you want me to show it? Fishing for a kiss?”
It was astonishing how fast his face turned red. His eyes widened and his mouth hung open, frozen in place. “N-no! That’s not what I wanted at all!”
She leaned back in mock hurt, hand clutching her chest. “What? Am I not good enough for you?”
He grabbed her by the shoulders, frantically shaking his head from side-to-side. “No, you’re perfect! Really! Any guy would be lucky to get a kiss from you!”
A fuzzy feeling washed over her. It felt like there were Beautifly’s swarming in her stomach, even as her face heated up. Soon enough, her cheeks were nearly the same shade as Ash’s.
Pikachu and Glaceon snickered quietly from the other side of the room.
Not one to back down from a challenge, however, May leaned forward. Her tongue darted from her lips, gently gliding over her bottom lip. “Does that include you?”
“Y-yes- I mean no- I mean I-” The teenage boy let go of her shoulders and slumped forward, groaning into his hands. “There’s no answer where I win this, is there?”
She giggled, patting him on the back. “Nope. Looks like I win again!”
That made a couple hundred for her and none for him.
It was good to be the queen. Or princess, as her title may be.
“You’re evil.” He grumbled.
“All’s fair in love and war, Ash.” She teased. “Did you bring those friends of yours with you? Iris and Cilan, right?”
The two made a point of staying in contact over the years. Whenever they were in civilization, they always tried to reach out with either a message or a conversation. It helped keep their friendship alive.
His two newest companions sounded nice. Just the sort of eccentric people he always attracted to his side. If his journey through Unova was anything like Hoenn, they must have been loyal too. Loyal enough to endure the insanity that followed him wherever he went.
She couldn’t wait to meet them.
Ash shook his head. “No, they stayed in Unova. They were too busy to come with me.”
What a shame. She’d just have to find another time.
“Maybe I’ll meet them at your victory party after you conquer Unova then.” She nudged him in the side with her shoulder. “So, how long are you staying?”
“Not long. Just a week, then I need to head back to Unova if I’m gonna make it in time for the League.”
She cursed under her breath. Damn that ship for delaying so long! They could have had a month together otherwise!
No use mourning what never happened. Better to spend it making the best of what they had.
“Guess we’ll just have to cram as much fun into a week as we can.” May snatched his hat off the bed behind her, placing it atop his head. “Come on. There’s a party going on, and as the woman of the hour, I think it’s about time I celebrated.”
Ash smiled. “I’m surprised you weren’t down there already.”
“I just didn’t have anyone to celebrate with.” She snatched his hand, dragging him up with her. “Now let’s go before all the good food at the buffet is gone!”
Ash chuckled behind her, gesturing for Pikachu and Glaceon to follow them. “I really have missed you, May. This is gonna be a great week.”
May couldn’t help but agree.
She’d make sure it was one neither of them could ever forget.
"How're you feeling, Looker?"
Looker glanced up from his seat at the dining room table towards the Sinnoh Champion. The morning sun shined through the curtains of the hotel window, casting the room in an orange glow. After Cynthia had kidnapped him, they’d spent all of yesterday and last night catching up. Reminiscing about old adventures and making up for lost time.
In more ways than one.
The two of them had only just gotten out of the shower a few moments ago. Their hair was still damp, and the bathrobes they wore clung to their bodies. While Looker may not have had a taste for the finer things in life, the hotels bathrobes might have to be an exception.
He foresaw an impulse purchase with a five finger discount in his future.
Looker shifted in place. “Still a little sore, but refreshed. I should be fine by tomorrow.”
The blond chuckled, gliding around to his side of the table and sitting on the edge of it. She smiled down at him, cocking her head to the side. “I’m glad to hear I wasn’t too rough with you. I know I can get a little… carried away, sometimes.”
He rested a hand on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’d be a pretty poor agent if I couldn’t handle a little pain.”
“No regrets?” She asked.
Looker tapped his chin in thought. “Hmm… well, my back aches, my pelvis is sore, and I’m pretty sure some of those marks you left will leave a scar.” He smirked. “Completely worth it.”
Cynthia rolled her eyes. “Charmer.”
He snatched a mug of black coffee from the table, toasting her dramatically. “I try.”
“So, when are you going to tell me why you’re really here?” She asked.
He took a tactical sip of his drink, closing his eyes. “I’m here for security. You already know that.”
She tsked, sliding off the table. “You’d think Interpol would teach you to lie better than that.”
“It’s the truth.” He countered. “You’ve always seen through my lies, so I don’t bother anymore.”
It was much easier to use the truth, anyway. People stopped digging deeper once their initial suspicions were debunked. Technically speaking, Looker was here to protect the festival. He just also had other, more important duties to focus on.
Baiting Team Rocket into a trap was tricky business, after all.
“Yet still, you somehow find a way to avoid answering my questions.” She leaned forward, brushing her hair behind her ears. “What if I promised to keep it secret? I’d make it worth your while.”
Tempting… very tempting. It was a rare man indeed who could refuse Cynthia when she put her mind to something. Whether by strength or by charm, she usually got what she wanted in the end. He knew that better than anyone.
Cynthia wasn’t an agent, but she was an asset. Her skills as a Trainer and her expertise in the field of archeology had come in handy during the Galactic crisis a few years ago. He was confident that she wasn’t in Team Rocket’s pocket. Her morals were too strong to allow that.
He couldn’t risk it, though. If she knew what they were planning, she’d never allow it to go through. The danger to the civilians and their Pokemon would make any reasonable person balk. If they could use the chaos to track them back to their base and destroy whatever Project Ambrosia was?
It would all be worth it.
“Afraid not.” He eventually told her. “It’s not the sort of thing you can help with. This isn’t the sort of problem you shake a big stick at and hope it works. It requires a more… delicate touch.”
“Heavens know you’ve got that.” She teased.
He grinned. “Who do you think taught me?”
Cynthia shrugged and stretched her arms above her head.
He certainly didn’t object to the view.
“Fine, fine. Keep your secrets.” She took a seat on the other side of the table, dropping some sugar cubes into her hot chocolate. “There is one other thing I’m curious about, though.”
He tilted his head aside. “What is it?”
“Spartan.” Cynthia leaned forward, resting her chin atop cupped hands. “Who is he?”
Looker didn’t answer right away. He took a slow sip of his coffee, mulling over what answer he could give her. He knew what Cynthia was like. Present her with a mystery, and she’d never stop digging until she got an answer. It was why she adored being an archeologist. In another life, she could have been a detective.
He set his cup down and leaned back in his chair. “Why do you want to know?”
“Not many people show the kind of strength he did yesterday.” She said. “Even for an Interpol agent, he impressed me.”
Looker shrugged. “We train our agents to be efficient and ruthless. It gives us a leg up over our opponents.”
“It wasn’t just that. I’m talking about the skill and power of his Pokemon, not just his mindset.” She clarified. “He beat someone on the verge of becoming one of the Elite Four. He must be strong.”
Stronger than she knew.
“He’s got a gift with Pokemon. Somehow, he manages to bring out the best in them.” He told her. “I reckon he has the strength of a Champion.”
Or would, if he had a full team. It was such a shame they couldn’t take the Pokemon from Oak’s lab without tipping off the authorities. The heat that would bring down on Ash’s loved ones just wasn’t worth the risk.
“I agree. Just how did you recruit him? And more importantly, where?”
Looker grimaced. “He was in a bind. Stuck his nose where he shouldn’t have, and angered some dangerous people. If it weren’t for us, he’d be dead by now.”
“And in return, he works for you as an agent. A fair trade.” Cynthia hummed in thought. “Is he anyone I know?”
“He did make a pretty big splash in the competitive scene in his past. Maybe you saw one of his matches.”
He was almost certain she had. After the three of them helped bring down Galactic together, it was practically guaranteed she watched his Sinnoh League matches. With how many stand out trainers there had been in the past couple of years, however, she’d be hard pressed linking it back to Ash.
Cynthia leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest, sighing. “I guess it doesn’t matter who he is. If he’s working with you, he must be a good man.”
“Better than most I’ve met.” Looker said.
“Do you need me to rig the judging in his favor?” She asked. “You put him in the contests, so you must need him to do well.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Never thought I’d see you offer to bend the rules.”
She grinned. “If it’s for a good cause, I can occasionally get a bit flexible.”
Looker traced his finger along the rim of the cup. “I won’t turn down help if you’re offering it. Thank you, Cynthia. I appreciate it.”
Ash wouldn’t, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. With both Anabel and Cynthia stacking the odds in his favor, it would all but guarantee he made it far. People loved an underdog story; what could be better than the mysterious bad boy from nowhere defeating world renowned Coordinators?
“It’s no trouble. If he can maintain the same quality he showed yesterday, this will all be pointless. I can tell you for a fact that both Anabel and May thought highly of him.” She giggled. “Fist fighting a Bewear… the sheer insanity of it still astounds me.”
That was Ash for you. Always finding some new way to catch people off guard. He’d go far as an agent if he could keep that up.
He paused when he felt a foot trail up his leg.
“But if you want to show your appreciation… I wouldn’t say no,” The blond purred. “Perhaps I’ll even let you take the lead this time. See what you do with the initiative.”
That… was not an offer he could refuse.
No sane man could.
The watch on his wrist beeped. He looked down, frowning when he saw the alert. It was a message from the regional Commander himself. This must have been important.
Cynthia sighed and stood up, loosening the belt of her bathrobe with deft hands. “I’ll give you a few minutes to look that over in peace.” She stalked out of the kitchen towards the bedroom, slowly shrugging off the robe as she did. “Let me know if you have the morning off or if you need to work.”
He looked towards the ceiling, shaking his head. “She really is too good to me.”
Duty came first, however. As he read over the reports from the Commander, his frown deepened. Something big was happening on the other side of Hoenn, and from the looks of it, Team Rocket wasn’t involved.
They’d need to watch this. If things escalated, it could mean a quick end to the Falling Star Festival.
And with it, their one chance to uncover the truth behind Project Ambrosia.
Not much was known about ancient Humanity.
Most of the records had been lost over the ages. Some as the consequence of war and conflict. Others due to natural disasters and the divine fury of Legends. Yet even more had simply decayed under the unstoppable march of time, withering into dust.
What little historians knew had been pieced together over centuries. Generation after generation unearthing the ruins of the past and deciphering forgotten languages. Dozens of ancient cultures had been uncovered, and though far from complete, the catalog of mankind's past was slowly coming together.
Yet among all these ancient cultures, one stood out.
While their true name had been lost to time, the People of the Water were a mystery for archeologists everywhere. They didn't leave any trace of their culture behind, and even fewer remnants of their civilization remained. The few nomadic descendants that remained kept what little they knew to themselves.
Despite this, some of their ruins endured. Ancient pathways hidden in the uninhabited lakes and rivers of the world. Crumbling ruins like Alto Mare, rebuilt and modernized for its new inhabitants. Yet among them all, one truly stood above the rest in the minds of both historians and civilians alike.
Samiya, the Temple of the Sea.
A place of legend. The heart of their civilization, myths said that even the gods themselves paid tribute to their people. Kyogre, Manaphy, and all Pokemon of the sea flocked to the temple. Humans and Pokemon alike stood in awe of its majesty.
Yet all the beauty and riches in the world could not begin to come close to the real treasures held within its walls. The technology of the People of the Water was millennia ahead of any other civilizations of the past. Even today, their technology was a marvel to the world.
The ocean bent to their will. Cloaking and force field technology on a massive scale. Mastering over life itself. Some even theorized they had been on the verge of discovering the very foundations of creation itself!
The Sea Crown – an array of crystals that powered Samiya and bestowed great power upon those who wielded them – was just one of the many wonders within the temple. In a perfect world, the rediscovery of Samiya would have ushered in a new golden age for Humanity.
Instead, it spelled doom for Ash and his companions.
The underwater temple was sinking. With the loss of the crystals that powered its force field, there was nothing to protect it from the ocean that surrounded it. While the structure of the shrine could withstand the pressure of the deep sea, the thousands of gallons of water rushing in was causing it to sink fast.
If they couldn’t find a way out soon, they’d drown down here.
Ash and May had gotten separated from the others in the chaos. The two of them ran through the rapidly flooding halls, Manaphy clutched in May’s arms and Pikachu at their heels.
“Come on!” He shouted. “We can’t stop, no matter what!”
“We’ve been going in circles! What are we supposed to do?” May asked. “The ships have already left! We’re trapped down here!”
It was a harsh truth.
Every hall they ran down only led to more death. A maze of paths that blended together, leading to little more than dead-ends and rapidly flooding rooms. The few viable paths left for them to take always lead them back to the same garden in the center of the temple.
No matter what path they took, it was always the same.
A never-ending loop of impending death.
“We can’t give up. Not while we’re still breathing!” Ash looked around, wild eyes darting left and right until he found a path they hadn’t already gone down. “We have to keep going!”
The group rushed towards the new path as fast as their legs could carry them. Water rushed in behind them, licking at their boots with every step. The smell of deep sea brine permeated the air, the stale stench assaulting their noses. Waves crashed against the ancient marble, shaking the entire superstructure.
They couldn’t stop. Not for a second. If they did, all of them would die down here. The latest in a long line of scavengers seeking to plunder the riches of the dead.
Would anyone even find their bodies? Or would they be just another set of souls lost to the clawing, icy embrace of the ocean?
As they sprinted through the halls into a large courtyard with an aqueduct running through it, Ash spotted something out of the corner of his eye. A massive glowing blue crystal shard floating in the middle of a pond.
Excitement shot through him. That’s a shard of the Sea Crown! He didn’t know how it got here, but it didn’t matter! If they could just return it to its resting place, they could save the temple and themselves all at once. They were going to be alright-
The ceiling caved in above them. All at once, the unending stream of the ocean flooded in and crashed into them. Ash could hardly see, let alone breathe. It took everything he had to hold his breath once the water hit. Doubly so once he was tossed around the room by the current.
Despite it all, he felt no pain.
Eventually, the entire room had been completely flooded. While he floated through the water, he looked around to try and find the others.
What he found made his heart sink.
Manaphy was nowhere to be found, swept away in the flood. Massive chunks of rubble littered the floor, and sticking out of one pile was a lone yellow tail. His hands tightened into fists at the sight of his little buddy, but his heart nearly stopped at what he saw next.
May was floating in the center of the flooded courtyard. Her sapphire eyes were shut tight, and her mouth hung open.
No, no, no! He wouldn’t let this happen! He couldn’t let her die like this! Even if he couldn’t save anyone else, he had to get her out of here! They may have been trapped at the bottom of the ocean, but with the roof caved in, all he had to do was swim up.
He just needed to-
Before he could swim towards her, something wrapped tightly around his ankles and his legs, yanking him down. Snapping his head down, Ash’s eyes widened in horror at what he found.
Tens of thousands of faces stared up at him with vacant eyes and gaping mouths. Young and old; man and woman; rich and poor. There were too many to count among the horror. He did not recognize the bodies in the water, but he saw one thing each of them had in common.
Pure agony.
Upon closer inspection, their bodies were blood and putrefied. Their veins had turned so black that they were visible through the skin, a web of decayed blood crisscrossing their entire body. Many of the hands reaching out towards him looked decayed, their skin sloughing off in wrinkled blobs.
Ash’s heart hammered in his chest. He tried to kick the corpses off him and swim away, but nothing worked. The harder he struggled, the tighter they squeezed. With each passing second, more bloated fingers grabbed his limbs, yanking him down into the abyss.
One corpse – a rotund old man with white hair – looked worse than the others. A smashed face stared up at him while limbs twisted at odd angles gripped his wrists.
Many more had holes in their heads or cuts around their throats. The black uniforms held a strange red symbol on their chests, but the murky depths hid it from view.
So many bodies… he didn’t recognize any of them, but he still somehow knew them.
Soon enough, he was completely ensnared in the grasp of the dead. Hands ripped at his limbs, scratched at his eyes, and tightened around his throat. Though he couldn’t hear them, he knew the bodies around him were screaming in fury and pain.
Just before he was lost forever, his charcoal eyes looked towards May. A lone corpse floated towards her in the same condition as the others, yet it still stood out. Most would have been drawn to the lone eyepatch over its calcified face, but something else caught his attention.
Its throat looked like a rabid dog had torn it out.
The corpse pulled May close with its bloated hands. Pulling her close, it tilted her head back… and tore into her exposed jugular.
Ash couldn’t stop himself anymore.
He screamed.
And the abyss claimed another soul.
Ash jolted upright with a gasp, eyes darting around the room in a blind panic.
He sighed in relief, panting slightly. There wasn’t an ounce of water nor a single scrap of ancient marble anywhere to be seen. He wasn’t trapped in a sinking temple. He was back in his hotel room at the Falling Star Festival.
It was just a nightmare.
Disaster had been averted that day. They hadn’t just managed to find the long-lost temple, they’d saved it from complete destruction. Manaphy had been released back into the sea to wander and rule. The Rangers had locked away the thieves and kept the treasures of the temple from falling into the wrong hands.
Most importantly, May was safe. They’d found an escape pod before it flooded, and he’d sent her to safety before he rushed off like the same fool he’d always been. A reckless choice, but one that paid off in the end.
So why was he having nightmares about it now?
It didn’t make sense.
“Ash? Are you alright?”
Ash froze.
He’d forgotten about the others.
Nowadays, Ash didn’t sleep alone. He preferred the comfort and safety that came with being surrounded by his team. Pikachu would always curl up into a ball on his chest. Latias would drape her long neck and feathered wings over his body. Lilligant would sleep beside him, the aroma of her flower helping them all to relax.
Though he’d never admit it, Bewear was his favorite, however. With how fluffy and soft her fur was, she was like a giant teddy bear and a security blanket all rolled into one. Her arms wrapped around them all were more comforting than any bed he’d ever been in.
Unfortunately, his startled awakening had done the same to all of them.
“I’m fine.” He mumbled.
Latias frowned.
“It doesn’t take a psychic to see that’s a lie.”
Pikachu rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with a yawn.
“You’d think working with Interpol would teach him how to lie better.”
He sighed. “It was just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about.”
Lilligant tilted her head to the side, her flower crown swaying slightly.
“A nightmare? Shall I make you some breakfast to take your mind off it, Master?”
“You don’t have to-”
“Nonsense!” Lilligant bobbed her head cheerily and spun on her heels, heading towards the nearby kitchen.
“I’ll whip you up something nice in a jiffy!”
He ran a hand down his face, suppressing a groan. “Can you please stop calling me ‘Master’?”
“Never gonna happen, Master!”
Wonderful. He thanks whatever god was listening that Humans couldn’t understand Pokemon. He’d be embarrassed if more people heard her call him that.
Then again, knowing his luck? That god just might be cruel enough to hear and suddenly make everyone fluent in the language. Just to mess with him.
“What was your nightmare?” Pikachu asked.
“Nothing important.” He told them. “Like I said, I’m fine.”
Bewear snorted.
“Children… No matter the species, you always act so foolish.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m almost nineteen. I’m not a child.”
“A very old child, then.” Laughing, Bewear ruffled his hair with one of her massive paws.
“We are a team, yes?”
He blinked. Where was she going with this? “Of course. We’re all in this together. There’s no one I trust more than all of you.”
“Then it shouldn’t be an issue telling us what’s on your mind.” She said.
“Partners look out for one another. Not just in battle, but in everything.”
“Nightmares do hold greater meaning than most people give them credit for.” Latias added.
“Why not tell us what happened while it’s still fresh on your mind?”
Pikachu smiled up at him, crossing his arms.
“Even if we can’t help, what’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like any of us will make fun of you for it.”
Latias quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Really? How generous of you.”
“That’s me. Nothing but a giver for my best pal in the whole world.”
Ash was silent for a moment, merely listening to the banter of his Pokemon. He really didn’t think the nightmare was that big of a deal, but he still hesitated to tell them. An old memory twisted into something horrific? This was the sort of thing his therapist could decipher, not them.
He didn’t want them to worry for no reason, though. If telling them about a silly dream would get them off his back, then there was no reason to hold back.
“It wasn’t just a nightmare.” He began. “It was a memory.”
Pikachu frowned.
“We’ve been through some pretty bad stuff on our journey, Ash. What were you remembering?”
“Samiya.”
Latias blinked.
“Samiya? I’ve heard that name before. It’s an ancient temple of some sort, right?”
“That’s right. It was dedicated to the sea. You’ve heard of it before?” He asked.
“Lorenzo and Bianca would talk about it sometimes, when they thought I wasn’t listening. They said it was beautiful.” She said.
“I always got the sense they wished they could see it for themselves. Walk the halls their ancestors built so long ago, you know?”
Ash wasn’t surprised. If Bianca and Lorenzo were descendants of the People of the Water, then it made sense they’d know about the Sea Temple. They’d only ever heard about it in stories like the rest of them, or perhaps the old records left behind by their people alongside instructions for the DMA.
“Well, when I was traveling through Kanto to compete in the Battle Frontier, we got caught up in a plot to steal a Manaphy egg. Turns out their kind innately know where the Sea Temple is at all times.” He explained.
Pikachu chuckled.
“He was a good kid. I hope he’s doing alright.”
With how valiantly Water types would defend him? Ash didn’t doubt that for a second.
“We ended up tagging along with a Ranger and a couple of descendants of the People of the Water. More out of obligation than anything else. Manaphy saw one of my old companions as a mother, so we really didn’t have a choice.” He continued.
“Not that anyone objected to us tagging along.” Pikachu chimed in.
“When a pirate wearing power armor is chasing you, you take all the help you can get.”
Latias clapped her claws together, vibrating with excitement.
“You guys fought a pirate? Like an honest to Arceus pirate with an eyepatch and everything!?”
“No eyepatch, but he did have a talking Chatot on his shoulder. And yes, it was exactly as annoying as Human movies make them out to be,” Pikachu said.
“Why do you guys get to have all the fun, whimsical adventures without me?” She groaned.
Ash cleared his throat to get them back on topic. “Eventually, we found the temple. The pirate and his crew followed us, though. Nearly sunk the place and all of us with it in their greed.”
Bewear shifted in place.
“You obviously survived, so there must have been a happy ending.”
“I managed to return the crystals they stole from the Sea Crown — one of the temples most valuables artifacts.” He explained. “After that? Manaphy, the surrounding army of Water types, and the rest of us all brought the pirates to justice.”
“All’s well that ends well. So, what went differently in your nightmare?” Bewear asked.
Ash closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “When the temple was sinking, May and I were on our own. There was no escape pod this time around to force her inside. No one else was coming to rescue us, either.” He said. “Just when we found one crystal to the Sea Crown, the ceiling collapsed on us and the ocean flooded in.”
“You drowned?” Latias asked.
Were it so easy….
“I was panicking. Pikachu was crushed under the rubble, Manaphy was nowhere to be found, and May was unconscious. I thought if I could reach her, I might be able to get the two of us back to the surface.”
A stupid plan in reality. Samiya was miles beneath the surface. He’d have run out of air long before they made it to safety. To say nothing of what the pressure or predatory Pokemon may have done to two drowning Humans in their territory.
“That’s when I saw them… all the dead.”
His team exchanged a look. Lilligant rejoined them at that point, passing him a bowl full of neopolitan ice cream with gum drops sprinkled on top. Not the healthiest of breakfasts, but he wasn’t about to turn down something so delicious.
He tried to smile at the plantoid, but only managed an uncertain grimace.
“What dead, Master?” She gently asked.
“All of them….” He mumbled, slowly munching on a spoonful of the sweet treat. “Alto Mare; Rocket; Aether. Everyone who’s died by my hands and my failures.”
Latias frowned.
“Ash….”
“They were pulling me down. Trying to drag me to hell with them.” He laughed bitterly. “Guess I can’t blame them, considering all that’s happened.”
None of them said anything yet. For that, he was thankful.
“They weren’t just targeting me, though. One of them went after May… and tore her throat out in front of me.” He sighed. “That’s when I woke up.”
Bewear pulled him into a gentle hug, nestling him against the soft fur of her chest.
“You cannot blame yourself for their deaths, Ash.”
Latias nodded resolutely.
“She’s right. Alto Mare wasn’t your fault. There was nothing you could have done.”
“Don’t blame yourself for Rocket, either.” Pikachu hopped up onto his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek affectionately.
“They made their choice when they decided to become criminals and go along with a massacre. They got what they deserved.”
Maybe. He still chose to kill them, though. No matter how much they deserved it or who he saved, he’d still taken life. Ash may not have regretted it, but that didn’t mean he was unaffected by it.
His therapist would have a field day with this when the mission was over. He was sure of that.
“I just don’t know why that was my nightmare.” He said. “That was hardly the most traumatic adventure I had on my journey, not even just since joining Interpol. So, why am I flashing back there?”
Lilligant tilted her head aside.
“Perhaps your old companion has something to do with it? Seeing May again might be bringing these memories to surface.”
“It’s possible your subconscious is trying to tell you something,” Latias added.
“Though I can’t say I know what that is.”
Were they right? Could it really be as simple as that? Was the anxiety of seeing May again and the fear of her discovering who he was so dreadful he was having nightmares about her now?
If this was what he had to look forward to the entire mission, then it was going to be a long festival.
Ash shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. It was just a bad dream. We’re all alive, and more importantly, we have a mission to focus on.” He said. “Get yourselves something to eat and stretch your limbs. We’ve got a contest to win.”
May Arceus have mercy on their opponent.
With the dawn of a new day came the beginning of the combat phase of the Contest. After an intense day of performances by the bright and hopeful, only the best were left. Whether they were prodigies, professionals, or complete novices, all of them had shown they were a cut above the rest.
Today, their skills would be tested in an entirely different way. Battles in a Contest were vastly different from those in the League. Rather than focusing on raw power, the goal was to turn the battle into an art piece. Skillful dodges, well-choreographed moves, clever strategies; those were far more important than simple strength.
Thanks to modern technology, they'd could even quantify how well a contestant was doing in real time. Each Coordinator was given a set number of points when the battle began. Every successful attack, dodge, or brilliant maneuver would drain your opponents points.
Barring the complete knockout of the enemy team, whoever still had the most at the end of the five-minute timer won. A simple system that incentivized creative solutions to whatever your opponent brought.
At the moment, May and her fellow judges watched as one match came to a swift end. While both Coordinators were skilled, one stood out: her rival, Drew.
Out of all her rivals, he had always been her toughest opponent. While her other rivals may have been more skilled or experienced, none of them lit a fire in her heart like him. Their battles pushed her past her limits, forcing her to adapt on the fly and reach new heights.
She almost wished she wasn't a judge, just so she could test herself against him once more. After watching his battle today, she was eager to see how her team would do. Drew's Flygon and Gothitelle had fought in perfect sync, weaving around their opponents and using them as props in a breathtaking performance.
May hoped his opponent wasn't too upset. She knew how humiliating it could be to be ignored as a threat.
It was strange, though. This was the first time she'd ever seen him use a Gothitelle in a contest. It must have been a new catch, but that didn't seem to matter. The power and grace it displayed were nothing to scoff at.
She'd have to ask him where he'd been hiding them all this time.
Cynthia hummed beside her, leaning back in her seat and subtly stretching her legs. She tapped the mute button on their collective microphones. "That was an impressive battle. I don't think I've ever seen a Gothitelle that strong before."
Anabel nodded, her eyes following Drew as he walked offstage. "He'll be one to watch. Gothitelle are a difficult species to train. Most of them hate conflict of any kind."
Unscrewing the cap off her water bottle, May nodded. "That's Drew for you. He's got a knack for training difficult Pokemon."
"I'll say. My friend Lucian tried to train one in the past." Cynthia said. "From what he told me, their kind focuses too much on the tides of fate and the constellations to worry about battles."
"He's right. Most Pokemon who can see the future and the past get like that. We should consider it a blessing us Humans can only see time linearly." Anabel said. "If Drew could convince it to battle, it must mean they have a very good reason."
May and Cynthia shared a concerned look. That was a good point. If a normally pacifistic and sullen Pokemon chose to fight, did that mean the Trainer was especially convincing… or was there something more going on?
"Well, whatever the case, I'm pleasantly surprised by Contest battles." Cynthia stated. "Trainers could learn a thing or two from the creativity you Coordinators have."
Anabel hummed in agreement. "Most Trainers are straight forward. Focused entirely on either brute force, or if they're really smart, the occasional field move or weather strategy."
It was a pretty glaring flaw. By all logic, Trainers should have been stronger. They dedicated all their time and energy towards gaining strength while Coordinators split their attention between training and performances.
Yet time and again, Coordinators showed they stood on equal footing with them. Whatever they lacked in fighting prowess, they more than made up for in adaptability and creativity.
Vivian stepped into the center of the stage and cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the audience and judges alike. "That was simply a fantastic battle! Magnificent in every way!"
May rolled her eyes. Vivian's enthusiasm was endearing, but sometimes she could go a little overboard. She supposed that was what made the woman such a good announcer, though.
"But we've got even more in store for you all today! In fact, our next match is sure to keep you all glued to your seats." Vivian cocked her hip to the side and smirked, spreading her arms wide. "A battle of experience against prodigal strength! In the red corner, give it up for the Scarecrow of the Seas, Harley Keen!"
The crowd cheered as a lanky young man with flowing violet hair and bright blue eyes strutted out on stage. Dressed in an eye-catching green outfit with an imposing emerald hat that cast a shadow over his face, he looked almost like a Human Cacturne.
It took all of her willpower not to scowl as he walked out onto the battlefield. Harley was perhaps the most frustrating rival she'd ever had. Petty, deceitful, and just plain rude, he was a pain to deal with at the best of times. When she'd been younger, she thought she might have offended him, but now? Now she knew he was just an ass.
Unfortunately, he was an ass who excelled as a Coordinator. She'd lost to him more than once in the past. Anyone who underestimated him always ended up regretting it.
Vivian waited for the cheers to die down before sweeping her arm towards the other side. "And in the blue corner, we have the rookie taking the festival by storm! The dark horse with a penchant for intimidation, Spartan!"
Cheers greeted the mysterious rookie as he walked out on stage. While not as loud as Harley's, it was still an impressive showing. For his first ever Contest, the man had built quite the following so far.
"You all know the drill!" Vivian shouted. "Whoever manages to knock-out their opponents first or has the most points remaining at the end of the timer moves on to the next round! Do us all a favor and put on a good show, boys!"
Harley grinned, flipping his hair over his shoulder. "Like that was ever in doubt." Unclasping two Pokeballs from his belt, he reared back. "Wigglytuff, Cacturne, you're up!"
As the living cactus and pink leporine materialized before the crowd, a shroud of shadows coiled around them. Cacturne turned to face the crowd, glaring them into submission while Wigglytuff cackled demonically behind it.
Cynthia hummed. "That's an interesting style." She observed. "Here I thought most Coordinators preferred to show off the beauty or strength of their partners."
"I can see why he's gained such a following." Anabel said. "Showcasing how terrifying Pokemon can be is sure to stick out in people's minds."
May kept silent for now. Much as she hated to admit it, they were right. Harley capitalized on the unexpected when he created his strategies. If he hadn't spent years making her life a living hell out of spite, she might have even told him that to his face.
As things stood? She was rooting for Spartan.
Harley cocked his hip to the side and crossed his arms, confidence radiating off of him. "Well? Don't leave us in suspense! Show us what you've got, Spartan!"
The masked man didn't rise to the bait. Enlarging two Pokeballs in his hands, he tossed them into the air. "Take the stage!"
The first to materialize was a beautiful Lilligant with a vibrant orange flower and an aroma that set the entire stadium at ease. She bowed gracefully, clutching the sides of her flower dress and maintaining perfect posture. She was a beautiful Pokemon, even among her own kind.
Yet the one that truly stole everyone's attention was the second member of the team. A Latias with vibrant red and white feathers hovered in the air, trilling in delight. She flipped through the air and waved at the crowd, drawing enamored whispers from the audience.
"A Legend…." Cynthia trailed off. "This just gets more and more interesting."
May couldn't agree more.
Harley whistled in appreciation. "A Latias? Well, color me impressed. Here I thought you'd try to brute force your way through with that Bewear of yours." He chuckled. "Guess you must have known it'd be an easy win for me and pulled out all the stops, huh?"
Spartan didn't say a word, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Harley tsked in annoyance. "Nothing? Fine. We'll see how long you can keep up that moody persona of yours once we start having some fun."
"Sounds like our contestants are raring to go, and who are we to hold them back?" Vivian leaped back and stood by the judges' table, pumping her fist in the air. "Begin!"
Harley threw his arm forward. "Cacturne, use Sunny Day! Wigglytuff, inflate yourself!"
Cacturne held its arms high and the gentle rays of the sun intensified. May could already feel herself beginning to sweat from the heat, and she doubted anyone else was doing any better. At its side, Wigglytuff took a deep breath, sucking down enough air until it blew up to be at least twenty times its original size.
The crowd watched on in anticipation to see what Spartan's team would do. After his battle in the tournament, everyone knew to expect two things: brutality, and the unpredictability that came from his Pokemon fighting on their own.
How well that would serve him in a Contest was anyone's guess.
An almost imperceptible green glow emanated from Lilligant as roots sprouted from beneath her dress and burrowed into the ground. At her side, Latias' eyes glowed and her breathing became more controlled.
"Wigglytuff, bounce up into the air!" Harley commanded. "Cacturne, grab hold and use Dark Pulse on that Latias!"
While Wigglytuff hopped up into the air and hovered in place, Cacturne grabbed hold of its legs. Summoning a swirling ball of dark energy in its mouth, it launched the beam towards Latias. The feathered dragon effortlessly dodged the attack, twirling around it like a ballerina.
May smiled when Harley's points drained after the dodge.
"Wigglytuff, use Copycat! Both of you, keep blasting that overgrown lizard into a corner!" Harley growled.
The two Pokemon nodded in affirmation and followed their master's command, but Latias expertly weaved around the beams of dark energy with beauty and grace. She danced through the air and flew circles around them. The crowd laughed and cheered at the expert display.
The terrifying image Harley had put forward was quickly coming apart.
"Surround it!" Harley ordered.
"He's letting his emotions get to him." Cynthia observed. "It's the same mistake Dylan made."
Anabel nodded. "It looks like that's Spartan's general strategy. Mess with an opponent's head and picking them apart is easy after that. I can't tell you how many Trainers I've fought who made rookie mistakes in a fit of rage."
May hummed. She knew that from experience, though, admittedly; it wasn't in the same way as the others. Early in her career, she'd let her frustration get to her sometimes. It cost her more than a few Contests before she learned her lesson.
Cacturne swung itself using Wigglytuff's legs and hurled itself behind Latias. Rolling to a stop over its shoulder, Cacturne blasted Latias. Just when she was about to dodge the attack, Wigglytuff slammed into her from behind, sparking with a golden energy. The dragoness cried out in alarm.
"Ha! That's it, Wigglytuff, keep using Play Rough!" Harley cheered. "Cacturne, use Solar Beam!"
Grasping Latias by the wings as tightly as it could, Wigglytuff held the flying dragon in place to keep her from fleeing. Down below, Cactune's thorns glowed with the incandescent energy of the sun. With the sun glowing in the sky, there was no need to charge the attack. It thrust its arms forward, launching over a dozen beams towards the dragon at once.
A growl escaped her lips, and she opened her maw. The instant she did, a Solar Beam of her own shot forth and collided with Cacturne's own. While hers was much larger and individually more powerful, the collective power of the scarecrow's beams was enough to match hers.
Before anyone could call out a command, the beams exploded and filled the arena with a thick black smoke. While Harley coughed and covered his eyes, Spartan stared unflinchingly into the smoke.
A powerful tailwind blew through the arena, sweeping the smoke away just in time to see Wigglytuff launched into Cacturne and sending them both tumbling along the battlefield.
The two Pokemon slowly pushed themselves to their feet, shaking off the damage they had taken. Up above them, Latias hovered with notable bruises and scratches dotting her form.
Harley was doing much better than anyone could have expected.
A fact he knew all too well.
The man in question laughed haughtily into his hand. "Well, well. Looks like you're not so tough after all. And here I thought this would be a challenge." He smirked. "Don't feel too bad, darling. Not everyone can live up to the hype."
Spartan didn't bother responding.
Cynthia nudged her leg with her knee. "Something's off." She whispered. "Spartan's spent the whole fight reacting. That doesn't seem like him."
Even if she'd only seen one of his battles before, May couldn't help but agree. No one who risked their life fighting a Bewear in close combat would just sit back and do nothing. He certainly hadn't been in his battle against Dylan.
So, what was different about this battle? It couldn't be arrogance because of a Legend… could it?
Harley shrugged with exaggerated swagger and sighed audibly. "As much fun as this has been, I think it's about time I put an end to it. Us professional Coordinators have standards. No use dragging out an execution- "
Laughter made them all pause.
The synthetic voice of Spartan cut through Harley's rambling like a hot knife through butter. All eyes left the battle for a moment to stare at the masked man. An uneasy feeling settled upon the crowd at the strange sound coming from him.
"What's so funny?" Harley demanded.
"You. Or at least, everyone like you." Spartan said.
The purplette scowled. "How dare you!? I'm the best Coordinator in this Contest! Show some respect."
Spartan shook his head. "I'm disgusted knowing someone like you could make it this far. Even more so knowing just how many others like you are out there." He said. "The funny thing is I'm not a Coordinator, but you fail at the one thing you're trying to be."
The stadium sat in stunned silence, and even Harley's Pokemon looked back towards their Trainer to see his reaction. A rapidly reddening face, tightened fists, and a snarl. May had never seen him this angry before.
Attacking his pride on international TV… that would hurt anyone's ego.
"I'll show you who the failure is!" Harley growled. "Cacturne, Foul Play! Wigglytuff, Ice Beam!"
In an instant, Wigglytuff fired a stream of pure energy towards Latias. Even as she dodged, the beam tracked her movements and kept hot on her tail. Cacturne waited for their moment before leaping up in the air to try to catch her off guard.
Spartan sighed. "This is what I'm talking about. Always the disappointment to everyone who knows you."
"Shut up!" Harley demanded.
A demand that went ignored. "That's the difference between a fraud like you and someone like me." Spartan took a hand out of his pocket and snapped his fingers. "I don't get tunnel vision."
Just before Cacturne could slam into Latias, a vine shot out of the ground and wrapped around its leg. Faster than it could react, the vine whipped around and used the living cactus as a club to bludgeon Wigglytuff aside. Both of them went tumbling along the ground, rolling to a stop in front of their master.
On the other side of the battlefield, Lilligant bowed dramatically and swept her arms aside. Latias hovered above her and glowed with a brilliant golden light, healing her wounds in an instant.
Harley scoffed. "So I forgot about that second-rate weed. I'll just have to pull it out by the roots once I've clipped Latias' wings."
"And you're still as blind as ever." Spartan retorted. He gave a curt nod to his Pokemon. "End this."
"As if. Cacturne, Wigglytuff, use- "
The Hoenn-native was cut off as the entire arena rumbled, causing all those standing to fall to their knees besides Spartan. Before anyone could process it, hundreds of roots and vines sprung up out of the ground. Coiling and twisting around one another until they formed a vaguely humanoid shape.
Cynthia's eyes widened in shock. "A wicker man…." She muttered.
May didn't know what that was, but what she did know was this wicker man was gigantic. At over thirty feet tall and casting a shadow that encompassed the entire arena, this thing was bigger than most Pokemon she'd seen.
"So, that's what they were doing. Now it all makes sense." Anabel said.
May blinked. "What does?"
"Why Latias was letting Harley's team smack her around for so long." Anabel explained. "While everyone was so focused on the battle with the Legend, Lilligant spread her roots and grew them underground."
A frown split Cynthia's face. "Why risk it, though? If he'd just focused on fighting, he could have finished this sooner."
"This is a Contest, Cynthia." May pointed out. "How you win is just as important as winning itself. It's all about the spectacle and performance."
And this?
This was quite the spectacle.
Harley reared back in shock, his mouth agape. "Get out of there! Quick! Wigglytuff, use Metronome!"
May frowned. A gambling move like that? He must truly have been desperate to try something like that.
Cacturne's thorns glowed with golden energy, but with the massive wooden golem blocking out the sun, they wouldn't charge in time. At its side, Wigglytuff frantically wiggled its paws back and forth.
May could almost hear the desperate prayer to Arceus for something to help them escape this monster.
To everyone's shock, it seemed the gods were watching over the pink Pokemon.
Wigglytuff's eyes flashed with mystical energy. Golden-rose-colored flames swirled around the Pokemon and scorched the ground beneath it. May tugged at the collar of her shirt as the heat intensified. With a guttural cry, Wigglytuff launched its flames forward.
It's Sacred Fire, the holy flames of Ho-Oh.
And in an instant, all hope was lost.
Just before the flames could connect, they stopped in midair. Suspended by the Psychic energy of Latias' mind. The flames swirled around the wicker man and bathing the stadium in the rays of a second sun.
Lilligant's wicker man stepped forward, shaking the entire arena and crossing the battlefield in a single step. Its left arm lashed out to snatch the enemy team off the ground. Wigglytuff was too slow to dodge, but Cacturne leaped above the hand at the last minute… only to be grabbed by its other hand in midair.
Standing to its full height, the wicker man held the two Pokemon aloft above the stadiums open roof. Before their very eyes, the roots and vines that made up its chest receded into a gaping chasm. With little regard for their safety, it hurled the two Pokemon into its chest and the roots surged back into place.
What was Spartan planning?
The masked trainer looked to the sky. "Let there be fire."
Harley's eyes widened. "What!?"
The Sacred Fire Latias had been holding in place surged forth and coiled around the wicker man, setting it ablaze in an instant. The animated golem crossed its arms over its chest and gazed up at the sky. As the air sizzled, the entire statue glowed so brightly that it became impossible to even look at.
Then… a deafening explosion rang out and a blinding flash erupted through the arena. The wicker man exploded in a violent pillar of fire that rose high into the sky, piercing the heavens for all to see. The heat was so intense that May could almost feel herself burning alongside the Pokemon.
As the fires eventually died down and the pillar faded away, May and everyone else slowly regained their senses and took in the damage.
The blaze had left the entire battlefield scorched black, but surprisingly, none of the damage had spread beyond it. Eagle-eyed viewers among the audience would notice the shimmer of powerful Light Screens keeping the attack contained, and Latias' eyes glowing with vibrant power.
At the center of it all were Cacturne and Wigglytuff, burned beyond belief and unconscious. The same shimmer of the Light Screens that surrounded the arena encased them. They were still alive, but Nurse Joy and her team would have their work cut out for them. The two would be in a lot of pain, but they'd recover.
She doubted the same could be said for Harley's pride.
Up above, the screen showed the final score of the round. Spartan had been reduced to half his total points while Harley's had been completely drained… not that it mattered with both Pokemon unconscious.
Vivian took a tentative step forward and cleared her throat. "What a dramatic finish! A move like that is a once in a lifetime play, and how fortunate are we to see it here today!"
After a moment of shock, the crowd erupted in cheers and congratulations for the well-fought battle.
"The winner is Spartan and his brilliant team!" The announcer shouted. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next!"
As May watched Spartan and his team quietly walk offstage, she couldn't help but agree.
Spartan was taking the festival by storm. A rookie like him with a mastery over both Contests and battles. Just who was he? May wasn't going to let this festival end until she had an answer.
He could count on that.
"So, how'd your match go?"
Rosa shrugged, stretching her arms over her head. "Fine, I guess. It was kind of lame."
Max blinked in surprise. At the moment, the two of them were relaxing in a small park with their Pokemon out of their balls. In the distance, a collection of circus performers were putting on their act for a crowd of eager tourists.
Of all the things he'd expected her to say, that hadn't been it. "Lame? What do you mean?"
"When I entered the tournament, I thought I'd be battling the best of the best." She sighed, tugging at the scarf around her neck. "Instead, I got stuck with the easy opponent. Just my luck."
Max chuckled. "You know, most people would just be happy to advance to the next round."
She blew a raspberry. "Yeah, maybe if you're lame. I didn't become a Trainer just to coast through the competition! I want a challenge!"
"Have you seen some of the competition?" Max asked. "I think you'll get your wish. You've just got to be patient."
Rosa crossed her arms and let out a humph. "Easy for you to say. You've had nothing but tough opponents the entire tournament."
Max rolled his eyes in exasperation. He'd known this girl for only a day, and already he could tell this was just how she was. He didn't think he'd ever met someone as desperate for a challenge as her.
He'd never met anyone as cute either, but that was neither here nor there!
At his side, Kirlia snickered into the palm of her hand. He shot her a small glare, but that only seemed to amuse her even more. One of these days, he'd find a way to keep her from reading into his thoughts!
Someday.
"There's gotta be someone you're looking forward to fighting." Max said. "There are dozens of League winners and expert Trainers here. Even Champions and Frontier Brains like Cynthia and Anabel, if you'd prefer to fight them."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now that'd be fun! I've always wanted to fight a Champion! And I hear that Anabel is pretty strong, too."
Max nodded. "She is. Second strongest out of all of them when I last met her. I'd bet she's only gotten even stronger since then."
Rosa cocked her head to the side. "You've met her?"
He was silent for a moment, unsure of what to tell her. What was he meant to say? That he traveled with someone for years who was now a pariah to the world? That he still believed in his innocence. It didn't take a genius to see that wouldn't go over well.
"My sister and I traveled with a friend on their journey a couple of years ago." He eventually decided upon. "He was taking on the Battle Frontier. She was always nice, but really intimidating to fight."
"I can imagine." She said. "I've heard she doesn't even speak when battling. Just an icy stare into the depths of your soul."
"I… wouldn't go that far." He said.
While intimidating, he'd never describe her like that. If anything, she was a total goofball outside of battle. Not to mention selfless she was when she stepped in the way of rampaging Pokemon to calm them down.
He wondered where Rosa got that idea from.
"There is one person I want to face besides them, though." Rosa said, twirling some of her brunette hair around her finger. "You may have heard of him. Spartan?"
Max and Kirlia shared an uncertain look. "You mean you actually want to fight him? Even after his fight with Dylan?"
She shot up from her seat, practically bouncing on her toes. "Of course! If he could trounce a budding Elite Four member like that, then he might be the strongest fighter in the tournament! I have to battle him!"
He scratched the back of his head. "I don't know… he's kind of brutal, don't you think?"
Rosa pushed on as though she didn't even hear him. "Did you see what he did in his Contest battle today?"
Max blinked. "No, what happened?"
"He has a Latias, Max! An honest to gods Latias!" She all but shouted. "Do you have any idea how strong you need to be to catch a Legend? Not to mention make it obey you?"
Kirlia looked conflicted and cast her eyes downwards, but Max paid it no mind. If Spartan really did have a Legend on his team, then that only made him even stronger. Not that anyone could doubt it after yesterday, but there was a big difference between dominating a match and controlling a living myth.
It put Spartan up there with the best of the best.
"But that's just the beginning! Sure, she was strong, but that's not what stood out!" Rosa went on. "Do you remember that giant wooden statue that appeared out of nowhere? And the pillar of fire that erupted into the sky?"
How could he not? While some might have missed the wooden golem growing from within the city, no one could have missed the pillar of fire that appeared out of nowhere. From what he'd heard, half the city experienced a sudden heatwave that shorted out their electronics.
It really had been a beautiful fire, in spite of all that.
"That was Spartan?" He asked.
She nodded. "Yeah! His Lilligant made the statue, and Latias stole the fire of their enemy and used it to enhance their ultimate attack." She held her fist in front of her, trembling slightly. "Ooooh, just thinking about it gives me the chills! I wish I'd been the one fighting him instead!"
'Note to self: think of an ultimate attack of my own.'
He'd get her to be this excited about their battle before the festival was over. He swore it.
"That's pretty impressive." He admitted. "I guess I can see why you'd be excited. Still, I think I'd rather get knocked out of the tournament before facing him. I don't think my team would survive it."
Not with their pride intact.
She laughed. "Well, I don't think you'll have to worry about that if the two of us fight."
He glared at her in mock offense. "What? You think you can beat me?"
"Beat you? Please. I'll kick your butt, then do the same to Spartan and everyone else in my way." She thrust her fist into the air. "Rosa's going all the way to the top! No one'll stand in my way!"
Her confidence was inspiring, if a little overblown. Max looked towards her team with a curious glint in his eyes. His father always told him that a Trainers team could tell you more about them than any conversation could.
Rosa's was unique. Strong, but not quite like anything he'd seen before.
Her Serperior was off by a small pond in the park, soaking in the sun's rays. The green serpent had a cool air about it, but there was no mistaking the analytical gaze in its eyes. He doubted there was a single thing that one missed.
Snoozing under the shade of a large oak tree, her Amoongus had become a small resting place for much smaller Pokemon in the area. Even from this far away, his nose burned from the foul stench of the poisons coating its body.
Rosa's Accelgor hovered in the air. From the looks of it, the insectoid was surveying their surroundings and keeping a watchful eye over them. Any time someone showed a hint of coming towards them, it tensed up in anticipation of a fight.
The most intriguing of them all was her Delphox. He'd heard stories of their mystical control over fire and divination abilities. If the stories were to be believed, they could scry through the tides of fate to see the future. He didn't know how accurate that was, but seeing the elegant creature meditating by the pond was oddly calming.
He wondered if Rosa had even more Pokemon she kept back at a lab somewhere.
A loud stomach grumble cut through his thoughts. It took him a second to realize that it hadn't been his own, but Rosa's that had made the noise. The girl in question coughed in her hand, blushing in embarrassment.
He chuckled. "Hungry?"
She didn't meet his eyes. "… maybe?"
He felt a tug on his pants courtesy of Kirlia. He glanced down at her only to see her pointing off in the distance towards an ice cream truck set up in the park. Each confection looked delicious, but the deep fried ice cream was what really caught his attention.
Sometimes, it was good to have a partner like Kirlia.
Rosa would love this.
"Why don't we get some ice cream?" Max offered.
The girls' eyes widened, and she paled. Max almost could have sworn he saw fear flash through her eyes, but it was gone as quick as it came that he just chalked it up to a trick of the light.
"A-actually, I'd rather not." She blurted. "I'm lactose intolerant, you know? Plus, I'm in the mood for some real food. Why don't we go find a nice restaurant instead?"
Her offer quickly replaced any disappointment he felt at her turning down ice cream. Clapping his hands in front of himself, he nodded. "Sure! Paldean?"
"Why not? I do like spice."
He smiled. "Great! Let's just collect our Pokemon and get going!"
While he and Rosa did that, he made a mental note to call May. He'd have to cancel his plans with her… which meant he'd need a convincing excuse. There was no way he was going to tell her he was ditching her to eat out with a girl!
He'd save the dumb decision-making for her, thank you very much.
"I honestly have no idea how you can eat that slop."
Domino paused. In her hands was the golden goose of all festival foods. A bacon wrapped, fried chocolate and cream filled cupcake slathered in caramel and dipped in hot fudge with a dash of whipped cream on top. It was greasy and full of enough sugar to kill a fully grown man.
And it was heavenly.
She stuck her tongue out and took a bite out of the sweet, moaning in delight at the flavors assaulting her tongue. "Because it's the best food in the world!"
Silver snorted and rolled his eyes, tossing a pickle chip into his mouth. "If by best you mean most likely to give you diabetes, sure."
"You're just jealous I can eat what I want without having to worry about my figure." She teased.
"Not on your life, Tiffany."
Domino munched away at her snack, content for the moment. While she would have preferred to be out on more exciting missions, Giovanni had elected to have her play bodyguard to this Silver kid again. Even after traveling with him during their war with Plasma and again for the past few months, she still didn't know why he was important.
Just who was he that he needed a Specter for a bodyguard? She'd have been more effective in the field fighting the Iron-Mask's splinter group or Interpol.
No use bemoaning her fate, though. There was nothing she could do. If the boss thought this was where she was needed, then that's where she'd be.
"Mhm, sure. I'll pretend to believe that." She drawled. "Remind me again, how often do we have to avoid the paparazzi stalking you?"
The redhead practically deflated. "Every time we enter a new town…."
"And what happened the last time we stayed at a hotel?" She asked.
His head bounced lightly off the table. "They broke into our room and went through our things."
She waited a second. "And…?"
"And I had Weavile freeze them solid out of embarrassment." He groaned.
"Exactly." She nodded in triumph. "You're the star between us both. Your parents must be so proud."
He lifted his head off the table to mock glare at her. "Nice try. I'm still not telling you who my parents are."
What a shame. Even after their journey together, she still knew next to nothing about his former life. Nothing that could be of any value to her, anyway. One day, she'd get him to crack.
"How are Weavile and the others doing?" She asked. "That last match of yours looked tough."
"It was, but we made it through alright." Silver admitted. "My opponent was strong, but nothing compared to some of the Gym Leaders I've faced in the past."
Domino dipped her cupcake in her fudge. "Well, just be careful. I doubt all of them will be as easy."
Silver chuckled. "Don't I know it. I've seen the roster of Trainers. Former League winners and runner-ups galore. Not to mention someone with a Legend, apparently."
She frowned. "You mean that Spartan freak?"
He nodded. "Yeah. He's the one to beat in this tournament. After his match the other day and his showcase today? Everybody knows it."
He didn't know just how right he was. A disgraced champion was hiding under that mask and running roughshod over the competition. Domino could respect Interpol for using the tools at their disposal, but she was tempted to reveal Ash's identity, regardless.
Even a single conspiracy that he was the man under the mask would throw a wrench in their plans. People would demand to know who he was even more, and the authorities might try to force the issue. Who knows? They might even kill the poor bastard after discovering him.
But that couldn't happen. Few people knew it was Ash under the mask. If any of them revealed who he was, they'd trace the leak back to Petrel soon enough. They couldn't let that happen. The
figlio di puttana still had an important job to do.
So, she'd just have to content herself knowing that cockroach's luck would run out soon enough.
"Be careful when you fight him, Silver." She warned. "You saw what he did to the last two people he fought."
He tightened his hand into a fist. "Trust me, I know. I hate the way he battles, but that doesn't make him any less strong. If I'm going to win, then I need to respect him as an opponent."
She leaned back. "Smart move. But I'd rather you didn't fight him at all. Maybe let someone else beat him for you."
He chuckled. "I won't complain if they do. But knowing my luck? I'll end up facing him eventually."
Yeah, that's what she was afraid of. But if he was intent on preparing for the fight, she wasn't going to talk him out of it. Her job was to protect him, so she might as well help him prepare. It was the least she could do. He had grown on her, after all.
That could come later, though. For now?
She still had a glorious cupcake to eat.
They were staring at him.
Ash had known they would, but that didn't make it any easier. His instincts were flaring up, warning him about potential knives in the back. Using his glass of water and cutlery to scan his surroundings helped a little, but he felt too exposed.
Even if he knew most were only staring because of his recent matches, that didn't help calm his nerves. Team Rocket had agents at the festival. Anyone could be working for them.
It was only paranoia if you had nothing to fear.
At the moment, he and his were sitting at a little both for an outdoor café. It had been a couple hours since his match against Harley, and as much as he might want to stay in his hotel room, he couldn't do it to his team. They all deserved a chance to relax and enjoy the festival.
Even if it meant his instincts kept flaring up. Guess he might as well use it as practice to keep them under control.
"You alright, bud?"
Ash glanced up at the table to see Pikachu sitting on the edge, bits of ketchup and hotdogs in his fur. Bewear sat off to the side with an armful of various berries and sweets, passing them out to any wild Pokemon or children that came by. Lilligant sat in the chair opposite of him, sipping away at a cup of hot nectar.
And Latias hovering above them, trying and failing to hide her embarrassment at all the stares she was getting.
"I'm fine." He assured them. "I'd be more concerned about Latias if I were you."
"I'm just not used to people staring at me," Latias said.
"Normally, I can just turn invisible or take on my Human form. It's… weird having everyone see my divine form."
Ash drummed his fingers along the edge of the table. He didn't blame her. For Legends like her, they'd have to live their entire lives worrying about hiding away lest they be hunted by arrogant or dangerous Humans.
Interpol needed her shown off, however. She was central to their plan, and even if Rocket's moles inside Interpol filtered the plan back to them, there was no way they'd pass up the chance to nab a Legend. This was their best and perhaps only chance to steal her for the foreseeable future.
Which meant that for once? Latias was going to have to bask in the attention of eager onlookers. He felt her pain.
Bewear snorted off to the side, tossing a Pecha berry in the air and catching it in her mouth.
"Don't worry, Latias. If anyone tries anything untoward, I'll crush their spine."
No one doubted the seriousness of her words.
Latias laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head with her claws.
"Um… thanks?"
Lilligant chuckled into the palm of her leaf.
"Worry not, my lady. Interpol has everything under control." She assured her.
"More importantly, you have Master and the rest of us to protect you."
The Legend laughed quietly.
"I can protect myself, you know."
Pikachu snorted.
"I don't know… so far, you're the weakest of us all, Latias. For shame."
When the bottle of ketchup at his side mysteriously jammed itself down his throat and started to choke him, no one batted an eye. He'd practically been asking for retaliation there. She'd let him up to breathe soon enough.
Not that it would help with his smart mouth.
Ash shook his head. "Just enjoy the rest while you all can." He held up the watch on his wrist. "Looker has a mission for us."
Lilligant blinked in surprise.
"Another one? I was led to believe our mission was simply to partake in this tournament, Master."
"That's still our main goal." He told them. "But Looker wants us to run surveillance on someone while we can."
The bottle of ketchup was lifted from his throat, allowing Pikachu to sit up and breathe. He glared up at the dragon, sparks flying off his cheeks. Latias rolled her eyes at his antics and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Who are we spying on?" Pikachu panted.
Ash cupped his hand in front of himself and leaned forward. "Remember Pryce from Johto? The Gym Leader?"
Pikachu blinked in surprise.
"That senile old bastard? What could he have done to get on Interpol's radar?"
He didn't know. The file Looker sent him was mostly blacked out and classified. He'd tried to push for more intel, but his boss hadn't budged. Something about keepings things on a need to know basis. All Ash had been told was of a possible connection to Team Rocket, and that he was highly dangerous.
Part of Ash wanted to doubt it. While he had been a little cold when they first met, the man had softened once his Piloswine was returned to him. More importantly, he'd helped them save Mahogany Town from being destroyed by Team Rocket's rampaging Gyarados.
His time with Interpol taught him to crush that doubt. People hid who they truly were all the time, especially criminals. What better way to hide yourself from the authorities than to help them? Giovanni, Lysandre, and so many others had all done the same. There was no reason Pryce wouldn't as well.
He'd keep an open mind, but for now? Ash would follow his orders and keep a close watch. For now, though, he needed to-
Pikachu's eyes widened.
"Oh, fuck me-"
"Language." Lilligant said.
She went ignored. Pikachu leaped off the table and took off sprinting into the distance. Before Ash or anyone else could ask why, a light blue blur sped on by. If his eyes didn't deceive him, it was a Glaceon chasing after him.
There was only one Glaceon in the world who could send Pikachu running like that.
"Glaceon!" A familiar voice shouted. "What are you doing!? Come back here!"
As May came into view, Ash looked towards the sky and closed his eyes. "Why do you do this to me?"
He swore one of these days he was going to kick Arceus in the balls.
May stopped in front of his table. "Spartan? Was that your Pikachu my Glaceon ran after?"
He had never been so thankful for his mask as right now. "Looks like it."
She clasped her hands in front of herself and bowed her head. "I'm so sorry! She's not normally like this. I have no idea what's gotten into her!"
Bewear snorted.
"I can think of at least one thing she wants inside- "
Lilligant smacked the bear upside the head with her vines.
"No need to be so crude, Bewear. We should have some sympathy for our poor teammate."
Latias rolled her eyes.
"Sympathy… sure."
His Pokemon's conversation went unheard by May, but Ash had to withhold a groan. Really? They were choosing now of all times to do this? He was in the middle of holding back his panic. Damn it!
"It's fine." He told May. "I'm sure she has a good reason."
May grumbled. "She'd better. Running off and chasing someone else's Pokemon. Just what is she thinking?"
Probably that she'd found an old flame, and wanted to reconnect. No doubt figure out if he was a danger to May or not, too. He just considered himself lucky Glaceon didn't outright attack him and chased after Pikachu instead.
Small mercy.
He stood up. "Come on. Let's go get them."
May's sapphire eyes blinked. "What?"
"We can't just let them run off on our own. They'll probably be together when we find them, and we'll cover more ground if we all work with one another." Ash stood up from his chair and gave his team a silent nod. "Assuming you're okay with that?"
"Of course!" She said. "You're right. We'll find them faster working together. Thanks!"
"Don't mention it."
As much as he wanted to get as far away from her as possible, he couldn't just abandon Pikachu. If he and Glaceon got into a fight, Ash would need to help him. Even if he calmed her down, who knew how long that would be? Ash wasn't about to spy on a potential agent of Team Rocket without his partner by his side.
He'd just have to bite his tongue and hope he didn't give away the game to May.
"Let's get going. They can't have gotten far."
