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Chapter Text

What was it that made a Pokémon Master?

It was a question that Ash had been asking himself a lot lately. Was it the close bond between the trainer and their Pokémon? The strength they had after years of careful training? Did they hold the title of Champion in every region? Or was it something as unattainable as capturing every Pokemon?

Ever since his victory in the Alolan league, Ash had been doing some thinking about his dream. The dream that he had pursued ever since he was a child. Seven years of traveling, beating gyms, capturing Pokémon, and entering Leagues in what seemed like a never-ending cycle. Getting so close to victory and taking a momentous step towards achieving his dream at last... only to have it snatched away from him in the end was frustrating. First due to his own incompetence as a trainer. Later by trainers more skilled or experienced than him. Once it had even been against a trainer who used legendaries. In that instance, he had been proud of how far he had made it and the accomplishment of being the only one to defeat two of that trainers Pokémon.

Finally, however, he had won a league. He had battled against numerous skilled trainers who could all have gone on to potentially win the tournament and come out on top. Yet after finally winning, he felt… empty.

What was he supposed to do now? Journey to another region to participate in their league? Did he really want to go through same cycle again? Wasn't there something better he could do?

Ash blinked when he felt a small, furry paw poke his cheek. "Pi?"

He smiled at the small yellow rodent on his shoulder. "I'm alright, Pikachu. Just thinking."

Pikachu tilted its head in confusion. "Pika?"

He reached up and scratched his partner behind the ears. "Just about what I want to do with my life is all. Don't worry, it's nothing you need to worry about."

Pikachu eyed him warily for a moment, then sighed in acceptance.

"What about you, Pikachu? Anything on your mind?"

Pikachu tapped his paw against his chin. Then he nodded and shot Ash a smile. "Cha! Pi pika Pikachu!"

"You want ketchup when we get back home?"

Pikachu nodded. "Pikachu!"

Ash chuckled and stroked his partner's head. Pikachu had a one-track mind whenever it came to food, just like his trainer. Unlike him, Pikachu had an unhealthy love of ketchup though. All these years and he had never once come close to learning why.

The two traveled in comfortable silence after a bit more mindless banter. Or as much as a Human and Pokémon could have anyway. He may not have able to completely understand his partner, but Ash and Pikachu had been together so long that he could understand the meaning behind Pikachu's words from his body language.

Ash looked towards the sun. It wasn't noon yet, so there was no reason to stop. Besides, he was close enough to Pallet Town that he could skip lunch for an early dinner. Though why his mom had told him to be out of the house for most of the day had been strange. More so because of the reason than her not doing it. She'd said that she was busy prepping the house for some reason and that she couldn't have him around, even when he offered to help.

His mom could be so weird sometimes.

His trainer could be so weird sometimes.

For the last few days, Ash had been trying to hide the conflict raging inside his mind. To Pikachu, it was as clear as day what was going on though. He did this every time they lost at the League. He was always doubting himself when they lost, no matter how much he tried to hide it. It usually only lasted a week or so before he bounced back to his usual, charmingly oblivious self.

This was different though.

Not just because they had won the last league. Not just because it had lasted longer. Ash seemed to be thinking more than usual and every time Pikachu looked at him, he could see these forlorn looks on his face. At night – when everyone else had gone asleep – he'd seen Ash leaving the house to go do… something. He never came back until early in the morning before everyone was awake. It showed too – his eyes were bloodshot and baggy. He moved sluggishly most of the day and missed things he normally never would. He'd nearly seen him walk into a tree multiple times today alone!

The rest of the team hadn't noticed yet, and he was determined not to tell them. He'd enlist their help if he needed them, but Pikachu was determined to help Ash himself for the time being. Now he just needed a strategy beyond giving his trainer space since that hadn't worked so far.

Now that he thought about it... the team might be the perfect way to lighten Ash's mood. Spending time with all their old friends was always fun. It always seemed to cheer Ash up when he saw everyone getting along. Perhaps Ash's mom could even help. She no doubt saw the change in Ash as well and would be doing everything she could to lighten his mood. Together, Pikachu was certain they could help his trainer.

"There it is Pikachu. Pallet Town." His best friend declared. "Beautiful, isn't it? Every time we're home, I just can't help but smile. I think we'll stay a while before we leave again."

Pikachu smiled. It was as if the legendaries who controlled the skies had decided to offer them a nice, clear day. He knew it was only going to get better after that when he went to see the other Pokémon at the ranch. He wondered what kind of surprise they'd have for Ash and him when they arrived.

When people thought of the police, the images that came to mind were rarely flattering for those that swore to serve and protect. After the numerous eras in policing of corruption and incompetence - all of which ended in the suffering of the average folk - it was understandable they weren't held in the highest regard. Even with years of trying to make up for that at this point, the police just didn't have the trusting relationship they needed with those they were supposed to serve. Of course, given that the latest string of criminal gangs in recent years had all been felled by children or Champions, it didn't help to refute the belief that the police were incompetent.

It was a hard truth to swallow.

Officer Jenny let out a tired sigh and leaned over her desk, a pitcher of steaming hot coffee on the desk to her right. Arrayed on the desk in front of her was a mountain of photos, documents, and reports from the last few weeks in and around Mauville city.

A prominent advocate for harsher sentencing for Pokemon thieves had recently been exposed accepting bribes from criminal syndicates. The head of a local crime family and all those with the potential to inherit it had been found dead at one of their front businesses. One of the local Pokemon Centers within the city had been broken into in the dead of night and stolen all the Pokemon held within it.

The list of crimes went on and their consequences were beginning to become too much for the police to handle. With strong evidence of corruption, everything the politician had advocated for was deemed just as tainted as he was regardless of how much good it could have done. After the crippling of the local crime family, the criminal underworld was left in a state of chaos, and everyone was scrambling to claim as much power or territory as they could. After the blatant theft of an entire Pokemon Center, the Pokemon League and all the trainers associated with it were up in arms.

The only people benefitting from any of these events was Team Rocket.

Officer Jenny bit back a snarl and forced coffee down her throat straight from the pitcher to keep herself focused. Even thinking of Team Rocket was enough to have her seeing red.

With their largest opponents in the city either disarmed or dead, Team Rocket had free reign to expand their influence within the city. She suspected that by the end of the month, Team Rocket would have either completely supplanted the once powerful crime family or taken over enough of the business that it would only be a matter of time.

At the moment, however, the ultimate fate of the city and who controlled the underworld wasn't on her mind. At the top of the pile of photos was a picture of a child in a hospital bed. Based on what they knew from the League and his parents, he had only just started his journey this year. Not a particularly skilled trainer by any means, his parents had claimed that the boy was on a journey to become the best baker in the world.

It was a wonderful reason to go on a journey. He should have been learning the best techniques and sampling the best food from culinary masters across the world. Instead, his ambitions were rewarded with pain and suffering that no child should have to endure.

The boy had been found just outside the gates to the city on the back of his Mightyena. The boy had been badly poisoned and suffered from numerous broken bones. His Pokemon had all been the same but to an even more severe degree. Last she had heard, they were in critical condition at one of the Pokemon Centers that hadn't been robbed yet.

Fortunately, the boy was in better shape and would be fine with enough continued treatment. Once he had woken up, officers had able to find out that he had been ambushed a few miles outside of the city by a pair of unknown men. While the boy may have thought that it was a simple case of bandits on the road, Officer Jenny knew better.

While Team Rocket had been ditching the old black uniforms their agents were known for wearing, identifying when they were involved was easy. For the last two years, that band of scum had been targeting Psychic Pokemon specifically. Whether they were in the wild or under the control of powerful trainers, there were scattered reports all over the region about their attacks.

This poor boy had been unfortunate enough to own a Kirlia and become a target. Officer Jenny thanked whatever gods were out there that they hadn't killed the kid. For all their flaws, that seemed to be the one line those criminals weren't willing to cross.

He had at least been more fortunate than the older trainers that had been in Team Rocket's sight the past few weeks. While Jenny hadn't been involved in most of the cases, from she had heard the attacks were brutal. Far too brutal for what should have been a band of incompetent fools from Kanto.

Not for the first time, she wished that Kanto had been capable of handling their criminals like the rest of them. Now because of their incompetency, Team Rocket had spread far beyond that backwater regions borders and was becoming a blight on the world.

There was nothing she could do about it though. Nothing anyone in Hoenn could do. The police were stretched thin and underfunded. The Rangers were focused more on the Pokemon and environment than the human element. And the League? They only ever seemed to step in when they could make a show of it for the public.

Officer Jenny set the pitcher down on the desk and clenched her fist. If something wasn't done soon, Team Rocket would turn the beautiful Hoenn region into a hotbed of criminal activity.

The world needed a champion against the darkness.

"Mom, I'm home!"

"I'm out back, Ash! Come here, there's something I want you to see!"

He blinked. What was so important he had to go see it right now? "I wonder what's going on. You know anything about this, Pikachu?"

"Pika." The shake of his partners head confirmed that he didn't know either. Well, it couldn't be a bad surprise, right?

When he pushed open the door, Ash expected to find his mom out back with Mr. Mime preparing lunch or gardening. Maybe even Professor Oak and Gary out back too if they were both in town.

"SURPRISE!"

He hadn't expected to find a crowd of nearly all his friends here in his backyard alongside nearly all the Pokémon he had ever captured. Picnic tables had been stacked full of food from all kinds of regions, streamers and various other party ornaments were decorating the trees and garden, and his friends were all holding up a large banner to congratulate him. Confetti and party blowers were even in the mouths of his Pokémon.

The only ones not there were his friends from Alola.

He waved the confetti out of his face and smiled. Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and dashed towards the other Pokémon in the back. His friends almost immediately swarmed him to offer him their congratulations and bury him with questions. He laughed. "It's great to see you guys again!"

It was honestly a little much to keep up with since they were all talking at the same time. Seeing them all again had filled him with… warmth? Joy? Excitement/ It was hard to describe. Regardless of what exactly he was feeling, seeing all of his friends again was overwhelming. He tried to answer all the questions that he could, but it all blended together. Say what you would about his friends, but they were always the kind of people who wanted to know how he was doing.

Mercifully, he felt two pairs of hands grab his arms and pull him from the crowd of people. He smiled at the sight of Dawn and May. Out of all his traveling companions, they had to be the two he was closest to… not that he would ever tell the others. He wasn't prepared to see their hurt faces.

"Thanks for that. I was getting a little overwhelmed before." Ash laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "What are you all doing here? Shouldn't you all be on your own journeys?"

Not that he didn't appreciate them coming to see him. If anything, seeing everyone here made him forget all his troubles, even if only for a moment.

"Your mom called us all after you won the league. She arranged for us to come visit you." May pulled him towards the table of food. His mouth was already watering from the smell and sight of it all.

May looked different than the last time he'd seen her. While she was still sporting her orange vest and tight black shorts as he'd last seen her, he had a green bow in her hair instead of her old bandana. Even then, she had an air of confidence about her that she hadn't had before. Like she was more confident in herself and what she was capable of.

"We all came as soon as we heard to celebrate you winning the League!" Dawn laughed and pulled him into a tight hug, disrupting his musings. "You were so great this year, Ash. I knew you'd win from the beginning."

He smiled at her confidence in him and wrapped his arms around his friend. "Thanks. It's great to see you again, Dawn. You too, May. I've missed you both. How've you been doing recently?"

Dawn for her part was different as well. Unlike the last time he'd seen her, she'd added a nice ruby red winter coat and a long, winding white scarf to her attire. It actually made a lot of sense now that he was looking at it. Sinnoh was the coldest region in the world. It was pretty strange looking back that she hadn't been wearing that stuff when they travelled together. The magic of hindsight and all that….

May smiled. "It's been going good. Me and Dawn got to have a rematch in our last contest. Now we're tied for wins after I won this time."

Dawn rolled her eyes and disentangled herself from him. "Maybe this time, but don't think I'll let it happen again. I plan on winning the next time we compete against each other."

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't, Dawn."

Ash snickered at their behavior and piled food onto his plate. The rivalry between May and Dawn had been something he hadn't expected. In a way, it was like seeing two of his students facing off to prove who was better. Not that he'd ever call them his students. All he'd taught them was the basics of being a trainer. At least their rivalry was better than his and Gary's had been – or worse, his and Paul's.

He looked up and smiled when he saw his mom and the others all approaching him. He set his plate down and pulled her into a warm hug. She'd gone through all the trouble of getting his friends to come visit. She truly was the perfect mom.

"Thanks for doing this, mom. It's so great to see everyone again."

His mom nodded and rubbed his back. "I thought you'd enjoy the chance to see all your friends again after your victory. Your friends from Alola couldn't come though. They were all busy, but they said you should call them soon. They want to make sure you're settling in back home."

"It's alright. I'll call them as soon as I get a chance." His eyes slipped past her and to the group of people behind her. At least they had decided to leave his Pokémon alone for the moment.

Almost everyone being here like this and putting their own journeys on hold to come here and celebrate with him warmed his heart. People that he hadn't seen or spoken to in years were here and now he had to chance to reconnect with them. He could even see his Pokémon all getting along and welcoming Pikachu back. It was a shame that he'd left his Alolan Pokemon back in Alola, but he was certain he'd get them all to meet one day.

All he had to do was figure out what he was going to do next.

The criminal underworld wasn't nearly as unorganized or violent as many liked to believe it to be. People liked to believe that it was chaotic and primal. That anyone involved in it was giving into their base instincts and killing over simple desire. The reality was that it was all business. Supply and demand; real estate; pest control; every service provided in normal society was provided in one way or another by the criminal underworld as well.

It was this same principle that made manipulating criminals so easy.

The sound of shuffling papers drew Domino's attention to a man - a sniveling, overweight man in a suit two sizes too small for him with a greedy look in his eyes - sitting across from her.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Ms. Domino." The perverse grin on the man's face made her skin crawl. "I can already tell the partnership between my family and Team Rocket will benefit us all."

Domino had never failed any task that Giovanni had given her. As one of his personal agents, she was considered the best of the best within Team Rocket. She had the best training, the best equipment, and the best assignments. In return, he expected the best results. More importantly, however, he deserved the best results.

She forced a smile onto her face. "You've made a wise decision, Mr. Algilani. Team Rocket always makes sure its friends are well taken care of." Her voice was filled with such false, saccharine kindness that she almost worried he'd call her out on it.

Luckily, he was dense enough to think it was genuine.

"Now about what you owe us..."

Mr. Algilani nodded. "Of course, Ms. Domino. We can't be partners if we aren't both fulfilling our duties." He slid a thin yellow folder across the table towards her. "Mrs. Burk will be staying in room 314 of The Bisharp and The Gardevoir for the entire weekend. She should be arriving in Viridian City within the next few hours. I don't know why you're interested in a philanthropist of all people, but I'll ask that whatever it is doesn't trace back to us."

Domino only half listened to him as her eyes scanned the contents of the folder. Everything was here. Up to date photos of what the woman looked like, her usual habits, her schedule, even the layout of the event she would be attending.

Despite being in a room with people she detested, a genuine smile spread across her face. Giovanni would be pleased to hear that their new allies were more than incompetent mobsters clinging to the past. Even if their leader was a fool, they knew how to get the job done. They'd make excellent cannon fodder for taking over Saffron.

"I take it you're pleased?"

Domino nodded and closed the folder. "Very. The Boss will be pleased to see he made the right choice. I'll be sure to contact our people and have the money transferred to your accounts."

Mr. Algilani's grin seemed to split his face in half with a set of pearly white teeth. "Wonderful. Before you go, Ms. Domino, would you like something to drink? I have a fine selection of wines straight from the vineyards of Kalos."

Domino chuckled. "Well, I guess since the Boss isn't here, I should celebrate our alliance. Alright, pour me a glass. Red wine, please."

Mr. Algilani snapped his fingers. "Get to it, boys! Let's show Ms. Domino that her boss made the best choice allying with us instead of the other fools in this city!"

Domino rolled her eyes. Truly, mob bosses were such easy people to fool. They were either overly cautious patriarchs or narcissistic fools waiting for a knife in the back. Both were so predictable and easily manipulated, if in different ways. They were fools for believing they were partners with Team Rocket.

Domino looked forward to the day they could do away with them all.

"You were so cool this last tournament, Ash! That battle with Pikachu and Tapu Koko was amazing!"

Hearing Max's excitement at his battle was enough to warm Ash's heart. It'd been too long since he'd seen Max and his enthusiasm when it came to Pokémon was infectious. His pure joy for battling and raising Pokémon was almost enough to make him forget about his troubles.

Was this what it was like to be around him when he was excited?

"I would have had Pikachu focus on dodging instead of trying to meet Tapu Koko's attack head on, but that's just me." Max boasted.

Ash couldn't help but laugh and ruffle his smaller friends' hair. Max never meant anything when he said he could do things better. It was his way of helping you improve, even if it wasn't always so obvious.

Max had grown in the years they had been apart. While he still wore the same kinds of clothes, he was much taller now, almost as tall as Ash himself. He wore a large backpack no doubt filled with all the survival supplies one could ever need and had a pair of fingerless white gloves.

"Pikachu didn't have enough energy to dodge it, Max. Its battle with Tapu Koko had tired it out and I thought the best way to end it would be with one full power attack." He laughed sheepishly. "And in the end it worked."

"Speaking of your battle, Ash, where are the other Pokemon you used?" Brock inquired.

To his credit, Ash thought he managed to hide the surge of bittersweet emotions he got when he thought about his Alolan Pokemon. "They're back in Alola with the Professor. I thought it'd be best to leave them there. They deserved a break after everything they did."

"Speaking of Alola, we heard that you spent a lot of time there helping people. Always the selfless trainer, huh?" Misty complimented.

Serena giggled. "He's always rushing off to help people. It's his first instinct. He can't help it."

"Yeah. If he weren't such a kid, he'd be a genuine superhero with how often he rushes off to help others." Iris teased.

Everyone - Ash included - laughed. "Well, it is one of his best qualities. If someone needs help, Ash will always be the first person there to help them. It's what makes him so endearing." Cilan added.

Ash blinked as an idea came to him. "Hey Max, you've started your journey now, right?"

Max nodded, bobbing his head up and down curiously. "Yeah, I have. I decided to start my journey here in the Kanto region before I tried to compete in the Hoenn League. Why?"

Ash smiled. "Well, I promised to battle you when you became a trainer, didn't I?"

Max's eyes widened. "You did! I can't believe I forgot that." Max groaned and pulled on his hair, shaking his head. Ash just smiled at the childish display of frustration. "Alright then! Can we battle now?"

Ash glanced at his mother. He didn't want to ruin any plans she had.

She just giggled and waved off his worries. "It's fine, sweetie. Just don't damage the house or the garden."

Ash moved towards his crowd of Pokemon and spread his arms out theatrically in front of him. "Who do you wanna battle against, Max?"

The answer was immediate and unsurprising. "Pikachu!"

"Alright then, let's get started!"

Ash couldn't suppress the wild grin on his face as he prepared for the battle ahead of him. Max had been a student of his - someone that he had taught just as much as Brock had. The ability to not just see Max begin his journey but be the one he had his first official battle as a Pokémon trainer with was enough to make him almost more excited than a battle with a rival would have.

"Pikachu, you ready? Let's give Max a battle to remember!"

Pikachu nodded and pumped his tiny fist in the air. "Pika!" He hopped off his shoulder and towards the battlefield. Static electricity was dancing in his round red cheeks, and the fierce determination that always lingered in his body language was shown off the everyone.

Max raised a miniature Poké ball, enlarging it in his palm. "Alright! Ralts, come on out!"

Before everyone's eyes materialized a small, white humanoid a white gown with two large red horns protruding from its green head. It looked around the battlefield for moment, exuding an aura of curiosity. When its gaze landed on Ash and Pikachu, though, that curiosity changed to fierce determination. It looked back at Max and nodded.

Well, at least Ash knew that Max had been talking about him to his Pokémon now. It was flattering to know he thought so highly of him.

"This is that same Ralts that you helped out back when we were traveling together, isn't it?"

Max nodded. "I promised her that she'd be my partner when I became a trainer."

"I hope you and Ralts are ready!" Ash tipped his hat to his beginner friend. "I'll give you the first move. Make it count."

Max flashed a smile his way. "Thanks. Ralts, use Hypnosis!"

Ralts nodded in compliance with her trainer's orders. Though her eyes were unseen, she glowed as the latent psychic energy her kind possessed engulfed her body and focused her attention squarely on Pikachu with the hopes of sending Ash's partner into a forced sleep.

Ash felt a smile stretch across his face. Most beginning trainers focused entirely on offense. To rookies, the concept of more defensive styles were dull and ineffective. They only learned to be more diverse and less direct once the learned the hard way.

He was glad that Max didn't need that lesson.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack into Iron Tail."

Not a moment passed between the end of Ash's command and Pikachu's execution. One moment Pikachu stood there while the psychic energy of Ralts closed in on him, the next he was a flurry of motion too fast for the eye to see. He zigzagged around the battlefield with such speed that the inexperienced Ralts couldn't keep track of him. He then leapt into the air and his tail glowed brightly as it took on a metallic, silver coating. With a battle cry, he spun down towards the earth with the intent of slamming into Ralts.

"Ralts, use Teleport!"

On que, Ralts dematerialized before everyone's eyes mere moments before Pikachu slammed his tail into where she used to be, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. For most trainers, a cloud of dust like this would have left them panicking. In battle, a trainer relied on their sight to determine the best course of action. Without it, they were less than useless.

It took a truly gifted trainer to not give in to panic and think critically. Ash was willing to give Max the chance to show his skills.

Across the battlefield, Ash could see a hint of fear flash through Max's eyes. It was gone before he could say anything and replaced with fierce determination. "Ralts, try and sense where it is psychically and then use Psychic!"

It wasn't a bad plan, all things considered. While the obvious plan would have been to disperse the dust cloud, that would have given them both their sight back. By using Ralts psychic powers as a substitute, Max had turned a bad situation to his advantage. Against any normal trainer, it would have been a crippling blow.

Unfortunately for his young friend, Pikachu's hearing and sense of smell were strong enough on their own that he didn't need to see his enemy to hit them.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack."

A white blur sped out of the dust cloud towards Ralts. Despite her best efforts, Ralts couldn't get a bead on Pikachu and suffered for it when he slammed into her headfirst. Ralts was sent flying backwards, tumbling along the ground before rolling to a stop in front of Max.

"Ralts!" Max cried out in alarm. "Are you alright? Can you keep going?"

Slowly, Ralts struggled to push herself to her feet. Once she managed to stand at her full height, she looked back towards Max and nodded reassuringly at him. Despite her reassurances, she was drenched in sweat and letting out ragged breaths.

Ash and Pikachu shared a brief glance with each other. While Ralts may have been putting on a strong face, neither of them was fooled. Even with Pikachu holding back, it was clear to them how exhausted she was.

A good trainer would know when they were fighting a losing battle and call off a pointless battle. From the looks of them though, Max and Ralts were determined to fight no matter the outcome.

He would respect their desire to compete.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

For a brief moment, Ash saw panic shoot through Max's eyes before it was replaced by realization. "Ralts, teleport around the battlefield randomly! Don't stop until I tell you to!"

Lighting surged across Pikachu's body, and he was enveloped in an all-too-familiar golden glow. With a powerful battle cry, the Thunderbolt surged from Pikachu towards the Ralts on the opposite side of the battlefield. Before it could strike, though, Ralts teleported out of the way.

Ash frowned and crossed his arms behind his back. There was no real plan here. Max had allowed the fear of Ralts being beaten to take over and was focusing too much on avoiding the attack. If it had been to put her in position to counterattack, he wouldn't have thought anything of it. Avoidance without a plan, however, would only delay the inevitable.

"Pikachu, keep using Thunderbolt."

What followed was a battle to see who could outsmart the other. Ralts would always rematerialize in the most unexpected of places but would only have a fraction of a second to teleport away again before Pikachu would launch off another powerful Thunderbolt. There was never enough time for her or Max to even think about launching an attack of their own. Every time, dust was kicked up and new, small patches of scorched earth were left in the previously serene grassy field.

It had turned from a standard battle into a competition of endurance. Unfortunately for the Ralts, her inexperience as a battler was what led to her downfall as she rematerialized behind Pikachu - noticeably exhausted with a flushed face and gasping for breath. She couldn't teleport away anymore. Pikachu noticed her exhaustion and took pity on her, zapping her with just enough electricity to end the fight quickly.

With a cry of pain, Ralts collapsed when the Thunderbolt ended and fell backwards into unconsciousness.

"Ralts!" Max rushed towards his fainted Pokémon and scooped her off of the ground, cradling her in his arms like one would a baby.

Ash approached him with a smile plastered across his face and a purple bottle of medicine in one hand. He tossed it towards his young friend. "You did great for a first battle, Max! You're definitely better than I was when I first started out."

Granted, that wasn't exactly hard to accomplish. Pikachu wouldn't even listen to him in the beginning. To think that they'd come so far from the rookie trainer and his arrogant Pikachu that they used to be.

Max graciously accepted the bottle of medicine and sprayed his fallen partner. "You really think so, Ash?"

He nodded. "I know so. You're just inexperienced. Once you get a bit more experience, I know that you'll be a fantastic trainer. Far better than I was sat your age."

Max blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Thanks, Ash. It was really fun battling you. I learned a lot from this. Next time we battle, I'll have a strategy to help me and Ralts win!"

Despite being sore from her recent battle, Ralts let out a little cheer and raised her fist in agreement. The gesture threw Max into a fit of laughter.

Ash reached out to ruffle Max's hair. Much to his amusement, the boy recoiled and audibly complained about him messing up his hair. Ash couldn't help but roll his eyes. He'd been the same as a kid, but was it really such a big deal? How else was he supposed to show how proud he was of his friend?

Ash chuckled and turned to his own partner. "You did great, Pikachu. Why don't you go enjoy the ketchup over-"?

"Buneary!"

"Glaceon!"

"Pika-!"

Sadly, the cries of two Pokémon desperate for a reunion with his starter and two blindingly fast forms tackling Pikachu to the ground interrupted Ash. The result though... that was anything but sad.

Pikachu - deathly pale and stiff as a board - was pinned to the ground beneath two Pokémon. Buneary, the small bunny Pokémon that Dawn had captured and was known to have a crush on his partner had wrapped her arms around his sides and was nuzzling his cheek with her own. Glaceon meanwhile - the Eevee that they had once travelled with and helped May raise - had pinned him beneath her and was staring down at him with a teasing glint in her eyes.

The look Pikachu sent him was pleading and had a message clear as day. A moment of silence passed as the two partners shared a silent message with only their eyes. Only partners who trusted each other completely could do that successfully, and Ash was certain he had gotten the message.

If that was what his little buddy wanted, that's what he'd do.

"Alright, Pikachu, I'll leave you three alone."

Ash had thankfully already turned around, otherwise he would have seen the look of utter betrayal on Pikachu's face as he was condemned to his fate.

He had no idea why everyone else was laughing though.

"That's him? The kid in the hat is our target?"

"Yeah. Boss says the kid can't be allowed to keep going as he is. Thinks he's a threat."

"That kid? He's barely even seventeen!"

"That kid took down all of our major competition. Don't underestimate him."

"Jessie and James were at least told to stay away, right? We can't have them screwing this up."

"Ha! Don't worry, the boss made sure they knew what would happen if they went anywhere near the kid in the next few days. Now it's all on us whether we succeed or fail."

"No pressure, then."

"Hey, he's just a kid like you said. He won't even know what's going on until it's too late."

The sun was finally setting. After hours of catching up with everyone, the party had finally started to wind down. By now, everyone had wandered off to talk with each other and either meet for the first time or catch up their adventures. Even their Pokemon had all wandered off to test themselves and play together with everyone else.

It was the perfect chance for Ash to sit back and relax.

Ash let out a sigh and collapsed backwards into his seat at the table. He grasped his hat in his hands and set it on the table beside a plate of food. He looked up to see everyone laughing and having fun each other. With everyone distracted, it gave him time to think about what the future held for him.

A chair scraped against the ground to his right as it was drawn out beside him. He glanced to the side to see May plop down and regard him with a bright smile.

She reached forward to place her hand on his shoulder. "Tired?"

A short laugh escaped his lips. "How could you tell?"

May leaned against the table, propping herself up with her elbow. "Your eyes and voice gave it away. It was obvious that something was wrong."

He clenched his eyes shut and frowned. "Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin anything."

His eyes blinked open as he felt May flick him on the nose and scoff in amusement. She looked at him sadly for a moment before scooching her chair closer to his own.

"You didn't ruin anything, Ash. No one else even noticed." She promised. "Not that it should be a problem if they did. We're your friends. You shouldn't feel like you have to hide stuff from us."

He shook his head and did his best to smile for her. "I'm not hiding anything. This is just something I need to figure out on my own." He promised. "How was it so obvious to you? I thought I did a good job hiding it."

May rolled her eyes and gently punched him on the shoulder. "You're my best friend, Ash." His confusion at such a simple answer must have shown because she let out an exasperated sigh. "Just because we haven't seen each other in a few years means that I've forgotten about you. I'll bet I know your tells better than anyone else."

She must have if she was able to notice his mood when no one else had. He hung his head and hunched over the table. "Can you not tell anyone? I just need some time."

She nodded and gave his shoulder a firm, friendly squeeze. "My lips are sealed." She promised. "Do you want to tell me what's on your mind? Maybe some perspective would help."

He glanced towards her blue eyes. "Perspective?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes it helps to tell other people your problems." She glanced away. "It's just an offer. I can't promise I'll have an answer to what's on your mind, but it can't hurt to trust me with this, right?"

Ash hid his hesitation behind a sip of his drink. As much as he would have liked to keep it to himself, maybe she was right. He hadn't been able to come up with an answer on his own despite how hard he tried. He trusted May to keep her word and stay quiet, so there was no harm in hearing her opinion.

"I'm lost."

May frowned. "What do you mean?"

He swirled his drink in his cup and glanced up at setting sun. It illuminated the evening sky in a beautiful shade of crimson. "Ever since I won the Alolan league, I've felt like I don't have a purpose anymore."

Her face scrunched up in concern. "I thought winning a League was your dream?"

It had been. Ever since he was a kid, all he had ever wanted to do was travel the world and become the champion. Every morning, he would wake up knowing exactly what he wanted to do and had the determination to see it through. He had a clear goal and a clear path to follow. He knew who he was: Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town – a travelling trainer and aspirant Pokemon Master.

Now he was Ash Ketchum the Champion of Alola.

"It was," He admitted. "Now that I've won, I don't know what to do. Should I go back to Alola to run the League? Do I just ignore my title and keep travelling to different regions to repeat the cycle? It all just seems so… pointless. I've reached my goal. This is as high as I can go and now there's nothing left."

May shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Are you not happy? You should be proud of what you've done."

"I am." He didn't want her to think otherwise. No matter his doubts, he was proud of all he'd accomplished. "It's just the uncertainty of the future. I don't know what to do."

May let out a sigh of relief once she understood what he meant. "I see… I think I understand then." She offered him a small, reassuring smile. "It's normal to feel like this, Ash. I felt the same way when I won the Grand Festival."

She had? He hadn't realized at the time. May must have been good at hiding it. "How did you handle it?"

A sad smile split her face. "I asked myself what I wanted." She looked out towards the setting sun and leaned forward, cupping her hands under her chin. "I could have stopped competing altogether and done something else. With my fame and skill, I could have had my pick of paths to follow. But I love coordinating. It's not just a job or a hobby for me, it's part of who I am. In the end, I decided to keep being a coordinator and I can't imagine doing anything else."

He couldn't either. May was always in her element in contests. He envied having that much certainty and joy about her life.

"You think I should stick to being a trainer then?"

May narrowed her eyes and poked him in the cheek. "Oh no! You're not outsourcing this decision to me!" She growled playfully. "If you want to travel, then travel. If you want to be the Champion or do something else with your life, then do it. All I'm saying is that you need to decide what you want to do, not what you think you have to or what others expect you to."

He let out a quiet laugh. Just do what he wanted? It seemed like such an obvious answer. The problem was he didn't have a clue what it was he wanted to do. Battling was fun but… battling just for the sake of competition? The thought of doing that for the rest of his life filled him with a sense of unease.

He'd need to think about this. What was it that made him happy – truly happy?

He sighed. "Thanks for the advice. I'll think on it. Maybe all I need is time."

She smiled and gripped his arm, pulling him up for his chair. "Glad to be of service. Now come on!" She began to drag him off towards the clearing where their Pokemon had all gathered, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You owe me a battle! I've been itching to show you the new strategies I've developed for my contests!"

Despite the heavy thoughts on his mind, Ash felt himself smile. Even if he had doubts about continuing his path as a trainer, a battle with a close friend was always something he could enjoy.

If nothing else, it would help distract him from his thoughts.

Viridian City was the great green gem of the Kanto region. While Saffron may have been the capital and connection between Kanto and Johto, and Celadon was the economic heart of the entire region, Viridian City simply had a natural charm to it. Its streets were filled with people from all over the world who had come to visit the lush green forests of Kanto.

It was also the nerve center of a multi-regional threat that had grown exponentially in a period of only a few years. While the average citizen or tourist went about their day with smiles and Pokémon battles, Team Rocket grew in strength in the shadows.

No one noticed. No one cared so long as the world kept spinning.

Well... except for the International Police anyway.

For Anabel, it was an honor to be selected to accompany a veteran agent on an important operation. While she had gone on a few missions before, they were typically the low-risk kind. Nothing to truly test herself or employ the skills the International Police had taught her. With how dangerous Team Rocket was, however, this was all but guaranteed to put her to the test. If she proved herself here, she had a chance to get even better assignments in the future.

She would not fail.

"Uhm... sir? Could you remind me where we're going?"

Looker hadn't been what she'd expected when she heard she'd be getting on the job training with one of the agency's most infamous members. She'd expected a dark, brooding man with a past shrouded in black ink. Or a woman who could beguile anyone with her charm and had the resourcefulness to take out any enemy. When she'd met Looker, he'd completely defied every expectation she had.

To think that she'd spent sleepless nights worrying about making a fool of herself.

When Looker glanced at her, it was with the patience of a teacher. "The Bisharp and The Gardevoir hotel. You remember why we're here, Anabel?"

Anabel nodded sharply. "To investigate the rumors of corruption within Viridian city, root out Team Rockets agents, and establish a foothold within the city. To do that, we're meeting one of our largest supporters in the city, sir."

She'd stayed up reviewing the parameters of their mission for the past few nights. Any agent worth their salt knew that the better you understood what it was you had to do, the better you could prepare. Only a fool went into battle with nothing more than a hope and a prayer.

"Good. Just remember to act naturally so you don't alert Team Rocket to our presence in the city. Don't forget your training and everything should go smoothly." Looker gave her a mock glare. "And I told you not to call me sir! Looker will do just fine. 'Sir' makes me feel old."

She'd never understand his aversion to being called sir. It was a sign of respect that he had earned the right to lead others. "Of course, sir."

Calling him Looker just didn't feel right to her, but she wasn't going to argue. Maybe once they were more comfortable around each other she'd be better at being less formal.

She shifted anxiously in her seat and stared out the window of the cab. For all the strangeness of Kanto, no one could deny that it had a natural beauty that you just couldn't find anywhere else in the world. "Sir… are you sure we can trust our contact in the city?"

Looker gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm positive. Our contact is someone we've worked with before. He's helped us apprehend dozens of criminals and corrupt officials before. Not too long ago he helped us catch an entire Team Rocket cell here in the city."

Anabel gained a hesitant look on her face. "If you say so, sir. If he's supported us and disrupted Team Rockets operations before though, doesn't that mean he's a target?"

Team Rocket never had tolerated those who interfered in their business. While each instance of retaliation was different, the reality was that they always retaliated. If you made the mistake of crossing them, they would strike back twice as hard. Within reason, of course. If you only caused minor disruptions to their operations or arrested simple Grunts, they wouldn't be too brutal. If you made yourself into an actual problem though?

Even as a rookie, she had access to files and reports of their crimes. She'd read far too many about young trainers thinking they could be heroes and ending up dead or broken for their troubles. It was what made their smoke and mirrors routine so infuriating. All the public ever thought of when it came to them was morons dressed in black who flew around in balloons and shouted horrible mottos.

If only the truth about them was more widespread… maybe then the methods the International Police used wouldn't be necessary.

Looker's laughter broke Anabel from her thoughts. "Most likely, but he's more than capable of defending himself against whoever they send against him."

She tilted her head to the side. "You seem to have a high opinion of him. Have you met him before?"

"I have. We may not agree on some things, but he's a skilled trainer. He's taught many young, inexperienced trainers important lessons. When we meet him, I'm sure you'll understand right away why I do." He eyed her for a moment. "You're asking a lot of questions."

Anabel blushed and attempted to hide her face in her shoulder. This was so embarrassing! She couldn't afford to make him think she was second-guessing him. "I-I'm sorry, sir!"

Looker held up a hand. "No need to apologize." He assured her with a kind smile. "It's good that you're asking questions. The more you ask and talk to people, the more you'll learn. In our line of work, knowing even the most inconsequential of details could end up saving your life."

Feeling much less embarrassed now that she hadn't made herself look like a fool in front of her superior, Anabel nodded. "Of course, sir. I'll be sure to remember that." She leaned back to rest her head against the seat. "Then if it's alright, can I ask what the plan is? How are we supposed to even start our investigation?"

"That's what our contact is going to help us with. The general plan though is to start from the most likely to have been turned and work our way up. Without him giving us a list of suspects to start with, we wouldn't be able to establish a safe-house here at the same time."

The cab came to a stop. "Alright you two, we're here. Enjoy your stay in Viridian City."

Looker nodded and pushed open the door. "Thank you. Anabel, pay the man and grab our bags."

Anabel sent him the most confused look she could. "What?"

"Rookies always carry the bags and pay the bills. Don't worry, you'll get to do it to when you mentor a rookie. No complaining."

Lazy bastard. "Of course, sir. Right away, sir."

With a resigned sigh, she grabbed the bags from the trunk. Despite their deceptively large size, they were actually fairly light. With a frown, she walked towards the cab driver and handed him a roll of cash. Far more than the drive to the hotel should have cost.

"We were never in your car."

The driver grinned. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

With an accepting nod, she walked onto the sidewalk next to Looker and took her first look at 'The Bisharp and The Gardevoir' and it… was a sight to behold. A statue out front of a Bisharp and Gardevoir crossing arms above the entrance with stylish gardens tended to constantly by gardeners and their Pokémon.

"This place looks nice." Anabel had only the barest traces of awe in her voice. For a strange region like Kanto, it sure did know how to build some impressive buildings. "When will we be meeting our contact?"

Looker glanced towards the lobby doors and saw them slide open. "Right now. Here he comes."

Out stepped a tall, older man in a stylish black suit and tie that must have been one of a kind and worth more than all the money she'd earn in a lifetime. Despite his age, he had a soft facial expression and a confident, commanding aura around himself that made him seem far younger than he really was. Perhaps most impressively, a regal looking Persian walked at his side.

"Giovanni. So good to see you again." Looker plastered a smile on his face and stuck his hand out towards him. Seeing Looker smile was nothing new, but this one was genuine. Not like all of the other half-hearted ones he gave out on a daily basis.

Giovanni returned the smile and his handshake. "You as well, Looker. I see the agency decided to finally give you a protege after all these years. Tell me, what's your name, young lady?"

"Anabel, sir." She curtly responded. She could feel Looker rolling his eyes behind her back, but she didn't look. That would be disrespectful.

"Charmed. Come then, let me and Persian show you inside. I've set up your temporary headquarters on the 20th floor. Once we're there, I'll fill you in on everything you need to know about the city."

"Thank you, Giovanni. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't even have any information to go off of." Looker told him.

Giovanni's grin turned oddly predatory. It was… unsettling. "Believe me. It's my pleasure to help you."

The next day, Ash found himself in Viridian City with the others. Despite wanting to stay home, they had insisted that he come to the city for a big celebration. His friends had planned an elaborate number of celebrations for the whole week.

What followed was a hectic trip to the city. His friends took him to see rare Pokemon from far off regions. They'd entered him in a local tournament – which he'd won, much to his joy. Clemont had even shown some of his new inventions and allowed Ash to test them out for him. All of it had been fun. He'd been able to spend more time with friends he hadn't seen in so long.

Unfortunately, it also left him drained. Staring up at the night sky, he frowned. The day had been good, but with nothing left to occupy him until tomorrow, his mind wandered back to thoughts of the future.

Maybe a late night stroll would help clear his head and give him some clue about what to do. He told his group that he'd be going for a walk for a few minutes before returning.

The walk… didn't help. All it did was make him more uncertain about what he was supposed to do now. To continue on the path laid out before him was one that promised an adventure to exotic places, meetings with new people, and battles with exotic Pokemon. To choose a different one, though… he'd need to give some thought to what he would even do instead of continuing his journey.

"Sir? Sir, can you help me?"

Ash was distracted from his thoughts by a blonde girl. Something about her seemed familiar, but he couldn't figure out why. She looked distressed. "Is something wrong?"

The girl nodded quickly. "My Pokemon was hurt from a battle recently. Please, can you help? It's too heavy for me to move on its own and it hates going in its Poke ball."

His nodded, eyes filling with determination. "Of course! Lead the way!" As it turned out, it wasn't far at all. She led him to a small alley near a large hotel. He glanced around the alley. "Where's your Pokemon?"

The sound of a Poke ball opening drew his attention behind him. "Right here."

Before he could say or do anything, his eyes were drawn to the small pendulum the Pokemon was carrying. His eyes glazed over, and his posture went slack. The last thing he heard was the mysterious girl giving orders to her Pokemon.

"Nice work, Hypno. Now, let's have Ash here pay a visit to poor Mrs. Burk."

Chapter Text

May had gotten used to sleeping in whenever she stayed in a hotel. While she spent most of her time waking up early on her journey - a remnant of her days travelling with Ash, Brock, and her little brother - she would confess that whenever she stayed in the city, she always took her time to enjoy the luxuries of civilization. Enjoying a good night's sleep wasn't something she got to do every day, after all. If she had it her way, she'd sleep forever.

Sadly, she rarely got her way.

The universe made that abundantly clear when a wave of ice-cold water splashed down on her. She shot upright, eyes wide and her hair clinging to her face. Her eyes darted around the room looking for the soon to be sorry fool who was responsible for this. It didn't take her long to spot her brother standing in the doorway, failing to smother his laughter with his Ralts stood beside him.

Her eye twitched. "Max... you're going to pay for this." She growled. "I hope you enjoy this joke while it lasts."

Max smirked. "Look at the bright side, May. At least now you don't need to take a shower."

She tossed a pillow at him. Would it hurt? No. Would it wipe that smirk off his face and make her feel better? Yes. Did it work? It would have if it weren't for that Ralts catching the pillow and throwing it back at her. She collapsed back on the bad when she heard them go, groaning into the pillow. It was no use trying to get anymore sleep. Not after her brother's lovely little prank.

She forced herself to her feet and through her usual morning routine. When she was dressed and ready, she trudged out into the common area of the suite they had all decided to share. Most of the others were up now and milling about the room. The only one who hadn't woken up yet was Ash. She wasn't surprised. She'd seen how tired he looked yesterday, and she was sure the others had as well. If he needed sleep, then he deserved to get as much of it as possible.

"Max actually went through with his prank? I swear, he's even more of a kid than Ash was when I travelled with him." Despite her words, it was clear Iris found the whole thing funny. Maybe if May hadn't been the one on the receiving end of an ice-cold awakening, she would as well. "Sleep well?"

May nodded. "I was until Max pulled his little prank." She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve a brother like him."

Serena rolled her eyes. "He's not so bad. He's charming, in an overexcited child sort of way."

Iris frowned. "Speaking of overexcited kids, you've all noticed how down Ash seemed yesterday, right?"

Misty nodded, brows furrowed in worry. "I did. I didn't want to bring it up when he was around, but it looked like he had a lot on his mind. He looked like he was thinking about something whenever he thought no one was looking."

Delia let out a sigh. Her hands tightened around the coffee mug in her lap. "He's been like this since Alola. Ever since he won the league."

"Why would he be so... sad after winning though? It's all Ash has ever wanted. It's what he worked so hard to achieve. He should be happy, not like this." Dawn mumbled.

Brock hummed in thought. "Maybe he doesn't know what he's supposed to do now. He may think that now he's won a league that he has no clear purpose anymore."

May hid her frown behind a sip of her coffee. She wasn't surprised that the others had noticed something wrong with Ash. Despite what she'd told him yesterday, he hadn't been able to hide his emotions well. Just like her, they were all worried about their friend. She was tempted to reveal to them what Ash had told her.

Only tempted though. She had given him her word and she wouldn't break her promise. He deserved that much. If the others had noticed and decided to try to help him, however, she'd do the same. Ash had been an inspiration for her during her journey. His unflinching determination and fire had always given her hope when she struggled. Whenever she thought something was impossible, she imagined how he wouldn't let any hurdle stop him and use it as inspiration to succeed.

She would do everything in her power to reignite that fire in him.

Cilan shook his head. "If that's true, then we need to do everything we can to help get him through this slump. Just because he's won one league doesn't mean he has to give up on his journey." He crossed his arms. "I know we all came here to celebrate with Ash, but now we have to help get him through this. All agreed?"

May and the others all nodded their agreement. Once Ash was up, they would help him as best they could. Chances were they'd all have to stay longer than they'd initially planned, but they'd do whatever it took to help Ash. He'd do the same for them if the situation were reversed. Until he woke up, they'd need to brainstorm some ideas about how to help.

Or so they'd thought. Once again, fate was unwilling to let things go so easy for May.

"Guys!" Gary shouted. He was deathly pale, clutching his Pokegear in his hand so tightly it might crack. "Someone turn on the news now! Get Max and Bonnie out of the room!"

Clemont didn't hesitate to do as Gary said and forced the two young children out of the room despite their protests. May felt a pit form in her stomach. Whatever had Gary worried must have been serious. What could have happened to put him in such a state? Had some Legendary been sent into a frenzy by another crazy team of criminals? Had there been an attack in the city from a herd of rampaging wild Pokémon? Was there some sort of natural disaster occurring in the world creating chaos among the people?

As it turned out, she would have preferred any of the others.

"We're getting confirmed reports that late last night, there was an attack at The Bisharp and The Gardevoir. It is with a heavy heart that I report that the victim of the attack was Elizabeth Burk, a philanthropist beloved by all for sponsoring young trainers' journeys and endeavors to help the homeless." The reporter intoned. "The police apprehended the assailant during the assault and identified him as Ash Ketchum, the 17-year-old victor and first Champion of the Alolan League."

It was said that a mother's love for their child was stronger than anything. Mothers were meant to support their children and any dreams they had. There were stories about mothers committing unbelievable feats of strength to save their children from beneath mountains of rubble. Every now and then, there were even the occasional tragedies where a mother would sacrifice their life to save their child from a rampaging Pokémon's blinding rage. Mothers were willing to do anything for their children. They would always support them, no matter what happened.

Delia was the perfect example of this. She had supported Ash in everything he set out to do. When he began his journey, she was there supporting him every step of the way and willing to offer advice if he ever needed it. When he participated in the League and fought against the best of the best, she was always there cheering him on. When he suffered doubts or felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, she was there to comfort him. When he was in danger, she was always the first one willing to do anything to protect him. Even when the odds were stacked against her, she wouldn't let anything stop her from supporting her son.

As far as May was concerned, Delia was the epitome of what a single mother could and should be. The love she had for Ash was obvious to everyone who knew the two.

Which was why the news that Ash had committed a murder must have shaken Delia to her core. May rushed to catch the woman before she fell and hurt herself. It gave her an up-close look at the sheer anguish on the Ketchum matriarch's face. Behind Delia's eyes lay nothing but shock, pain, and disbelief.

May wasn't much better. This... this couldn't be true. The Ash that she knew would never have done something like this! He was kind to a fault. He risked his life to save anyone who was in danger - whether they were a saint or a monster. She remembered how he had put her life before his own years ago when they'd nearly drowned in the temple of Samiya. He always strived to help others, no matter the cost. He could bring a smile to anyone's face and light a fire in them with just a simple conversation. That wasn't the sort of person who could kill another human being.

Let alone one that she would bet her life he had never met.

"We need to get to the police station. We need to find out what happened. There has to have been a mistake."

Ash didn't know how things had gone so wrong. One moment he was helping a girl save her injured Pokémon, the next...

"I'm only going to give you one more chance, kid. Confess. Make this easier on all of us and spare yourself the pain of going to trial."

The next he was in a police interrogation room, covered in blood sat across from an unhappy looking member of the police. Worse, he was being accused of... of having murdered someone. He didn't want to believe it. He would never hurt someone! He couldn't. But... he was covered in blood. He could feel scratches and bruises across his body. With no memory of the last eight hours either, he was beginning to doubt himself.

"I... can't." He whimpered.

The officer narrowed his eyes. It was clear he was losing his patience. "You sit here for hours not saying a word to anyone since we bring you in, ignore any offer to get an attorney or present the barest form of defense for yourself, and the first thing you have to say is that you can't confess."

The officer let out a tired sigh and slid a small stack of photos towards him. He flinched at the sound of them scraping against the surface of the table and reflexively slammed his hand on them so they wouldn't fall off the table. "Open your eyes, kid. If you want to say that you can't confess, that's fine. We'll take this to trial. But you should know that you will lose because we already have everything we need." The officer scoffed. "Don't believe me? Look at the photos."

He didn't want to do what the officer said. The last thing Ash wanted to do was force himself to see a crime that he had no memory of committing. But he had to see. Something inside was telling him that he needed to see what he was accused of doing. And what he saw horrified him. They were pictures of the crime scene and each of them showed a horrific amount of blood and damage. The walls had been smashed and smeared with blood. A table had been shattered and the glass of the window fractured almost completely.

The worst was the victim though. The woman was... he couldn't believe it. Whoever this woman had been before, it was clear she would be unrecognizable to anyone she knew. Her face was swollen and bloody to such a degree it disgusted him to look at the photo. Just looking at it made him want to puke.

He forced himself to look away. That only seemed to annoy the officer even more. "You sure you don't want to confess? Maybe get why you did this off your chest? Any jury will look at these and know that you're guilty. That's without even thinking about the eyewitnesses or the footage of you breaking into Mrs. Burk's hotel room."

Ash's eyes hesitantly slid to the officers. "I can't confess. I don't remember doing this. I... I couldn't have done this."

The officer scoffed. "Couldn't have done this? Kid, the arresting officers found you knee deep in her blood. There is not a shadow of a doubt that you're responsible for this." He slammed his hands on the table, forcing Ash to jump back in surprise. "The only reason we want a confession is to make things easier on ourselves. Not give you the time of day in court to inflict anymore pain on this woman's family."

"I can't confess to something I don't remember doing!" His eyes widened. "What if I was forced to do this? Controlled!"

It made sense! He would never hurt someone as long as he had any control of himself! If he couldn't control himself, though, then there was no telling what he would do. Surely the officer would understand-

"I'm not falling for that old trick. Nice try though."

Just like that, Ash felt all his hopes turn to dust. "Trick?"

The officer snorted in contempt. "The old Puppet Defense." The sneer made it clear he despised it. "You scum always like to blame others for your actions. You're hardly the first one to claim he was controlled by a Psychic and forced to commit crime."

He frowned. "But I could have been…."

The officer's eyes narrowed. "Kid, were you anywhere near a Psychic type or their trainer at all in the past few days?"

"No… they could have wiped my memory though!" He cried. "They must have! I don't even remember going anywhere near this woman."

"Excuses." The officer growled. "Kid, if there was a Psychic that powerful in the city, we'd know about it. There isn't a single Psychic type powerful enough to wipe away memories and control others that isn't owned by a trainer. And all of them can attest that they didn't go anywhere near you last night."

That… that wasn't right. If he wasn't controlled by a Psychic, then that would mean he really had killed this woman. He couldn't have. He had no memory of it, and he didn't have a murderous bone in his body. He couldn't have done this!

He couldn't have….

His silence must have shown his thoughts because the officer scowled and scooped the photos off of the table.. "Fine. Be that way. But I want you to remember that I gave you an easy way out with the confession. When you're convicted, I want you to watch the faces of your loved one's experience disgust and agony. You may not show any remorse or regret now, but I guarantee you will when your own mother looks at you like a monster."

The thought of what his mother and friends would say terrified him. He hadn't even thought about how they must have been taking this. The news would have reported this by now. It would be broadcast across the entire city, potentially the entire region. Who knew how long until it was spread across the rest of the world? He didn't want to face them. Not yet. They'd want answers that he couldn't give. If the evidence was enough to make even him doubt himself, he couldn't imagine it not being enough for his friends and family.

He was drowning at sea without a life vest or any help in sight.

"It's still hard to believe that he did this."

Looker glanced her way. "You and I pulled him off of her, Anabel. This shouldn't be difficult for you."

Anabel sighed. As she looked through the one-way mirror into the interrogation room at Ash, her mind wandered back to when they'd first met years ago. Back then, she had still been a Frontier Brain and Ash was one of her challengers. He'd been strong, kind, brave, cunning, and charismatic. She would admit... she'd had a small crush on him back then. One that had eventually faded in time. Even so, it was still hard to reconcile her memories of Ash with the monster she had seen in that hotel room.

She shook her head. "He's just not how I remember him being."

Looker frowned. "I know what you mean. I've met him before as well. He was a good kid then. He helped me in my operations against teams Galactic and Plasma. It's a shame to see that he became someone capable of murder."

She could feel the disappointment radiating off of the man. Literally. Her abilities allowed her to feel the emotion of other living beings, human or Pokémon. It also allowed her to communicate with them telepathically. A useful skill when she'd been a Frontier Brain since most trainers couldn't handle the uncertainty of what her Pokemon would do next. As a member of the International Police? It was invaluable. She could feel the emotions of victims and potential suspects, question Pokemon for clues, and communicate with any teammates without having to worry about an enemy listening in. It was the entire reason she had been recruited in the first place.

It was also the source of her doubt about Ash.

"Sir, if I can speak freely for a moment?"

"Go for it."

"Didn't something seem off about Ash?" She began. "When we intervened, he didn't react to us at all. Didn't say a word when we pulled him off, didn't try to resist us at all, didn't try to escape or hide from the press that had gathered outside. Then he spends the night here not saying a word or moving at all. Now he's acting as though he has no idea what's going on at all. It doesn't make sense."

Looker narrowed his eyes. "Some men lose themselves when they commit murder. Stop reacting to the world around them once it's over. Others can't handle the reality that they've taken a life and the guilt that comes with it. Their minds repress the memory to help them survive. It could be Ash is one of those people. It doesn't stop him from being guilty."

"I know. But... here's the thing, Looker. I couldn't feel anything coming from him at all."

Now she had his full attention. He turned to her and lowered his voice. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. There were no emotions coming from him whatsoever. Not hate, anger, sorrow, or boredom... nothing. In the hours that we've had him, not a single emotion has come from him." She narrowed her eyes. She reached out to Ash and was bombarded by a sea of emotions. The shame and guilt Ash was feeling was almost enough to overwhelm her. But the emotion that caught her most off guard was confusion. He genuinely didn't believe he'd done this. "Now, though, he's swimming in a ocean of strong emotions. This may sound crazy but... I need to speak with Ash."

Looker's expression hardened. "Why?"

"Because if my suspicions are right then he may not be responsible for this." She glanced up at the camera in the interrogation room. "I need you to get me five minutes alone with him. Without any eyes or ears on us."

Looker scoffed. "Is that all? The police won't just do nothing if their system goes down. They'll want eyes on him at all times after what he's done."

Anabel laughed. "You're resourceful, Looker. You'll figure something out." She patted him on the shoulder as she passed by. "Message me when it's done."

She made her way through the police station towards the interrogation chamber. The police cleared out of her way, offering her respectful smiles as she did. It was better than the usual reception she received. The International Police didn't mix well with other branches of law enforcement. Other groups despised the authority of the International Police to take control of any local force or operation without so much as an explanation. Add in the tendency of her group to bend the law when it was necessary, and it was little wonder that agents like her were viewed with suspicion.

She didn't let it bother her. Strict adherence to the law hadn't made a dent in Team Rocket's forces. If they wanted to win this war, they needed to be more flexible.

The spirit of the law was always more important than the letter, after all.

Anabel took a breath and steeled herself. This would be difficult. Ash was scared and alone. He was doubting himself for good reason. She couldn't let him panic. Not when they'd have so little time to get her answer. Once she received the signal from Looker, she made her way into the room. Her five minutes were already ticking away.

Ash's eyes shot to her when she entered the room. "Who are you?"

Despite the situation, Anabel allowed a small smile to grace her face and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Don't recognize me? I know I've changed a bit, but I thought you'd remember me." She sat down across from him and leaned forward, cupping her hands in front of her. "Anabel. The one you thought was a boy when you first met."

Recognition flashed through his eyes. "I remember you now..." He looked away. "You're a police officer now? Were you there when I-"

"Ash. Listen to me." She reached forward and grasped his head between her hands, forcing him to look into her eyes. "We don't have much time. I know you have questions, but you need to trust me. Okay?"

He stilled. "Okay... I'll trust you."

"Good. Now be still."

Being one of the rare Human Psychics was a boon to her life. Empathy and telepathy were useful abilities. Much rarer than the abilities other Psychics had - like telekinesis. That was sadly outside of her abilities no matter how hard she tried. Beyond that, though, she was able to... detect the presence of other Psychics. When Psychics tampered with the minds of others, they left a noticeable mark for anyone who knew where to look. Psychic Pokemon did the same, albeit in a different manner. The marks they left were more... wild and potentially damaging. The downside of using their powers on a completely foreign mind.

When she found the Psychic mark in Ash's head - the void where a memory should have been - it confirmed her fears. Memories were fickle things. Two people who saw the same event would remember it two entirely separate ways. As time went on, they would forget or change things about the memory. Even when memories were supposedly forgotten, they were more dormant than anything. At any moment, they could be remembered by certain triggers. All were cases of memories being unreliable. For one to be completely gone, though, was all but impossible. It only happened in cases of severe brain damage.

As far as she knew, Ash hadn't suffered any head trauma. The only trace that there had once been something in the void of memories was the latent psychic marks left behind. Which meant only one thing: Ash had been controlled by a Pokemon and used as a tool to commit murder. He was just as much of a victim as Mrs. Burk had been.

Anabel retreated from his mind and leaned back. She winced in pain. Diving into another person's head was never something she enjoyed. The pain that came afterwards always endured for days. In this case, though, the pain was worth it. Now she knew her suspicions were right.

"Thank you for trusting me, Ash." She forced herself to her feet. If her estimates were right, she had less than a minute until the cameras came back on. "I have to go now but know this: You are not responsible for her death."

Shock and relief flowed from him. Even without her abilities, it was obvious in his posture. It was as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he could finally breathe easy. "I knew it! But the pictures-"

"Don't tell the full story." She made her way to the door. She glanced back at him. "I'm on your side. Just stay calm and everything will be fine."

She didn't stick around to hear his response. She didn't have the time. She needed to talk to Looker as soon as possible. The real culprits behind the murder were still at large and if things continued as they were, they'd get away with this while Ash took the fall. She and Looker may have been here to combat Team Rocket, but she would help Ash. After everything he'd done, he deserved that much.

"Excellent work as usual, Domino. I can always count on you."

Earning praise from Giovanni was a rare occurrence for most agents within Team Rocket. Most did work that was inconsequential. Routine thefts and other grunt work that hardly advanced any of their interests. Then there were the fools like Jessie and James - agents that could have become great if they weren't so single-minded. For grunts like them, they were only useful in fooling the public about Team Rocket's true nature. Still useful tools, but they were hardly reliable. The real work - the important work - was conducted by the Admins and personal agents of Giovanni.

The Admins oversaw the large-scale operations. When Team Rocket needed to establish themselves in a new region and stomp out potential rivals, the Admins were at the forefront. They oversaw important research into new fields of science that would help their business and ensure they remained a step ahead of their enemies. In the absence of Giovanni himself, they were the leaders of the organization and had the freedom to make decisions with the implicit support of the boss. So long as they served the organizations interests, they could do whatever they desired.

Then there were the Specters. The personal agents of Giovanni. While they had the authority to command the grunts of the organization when necessary, they typically worked alone. They recruited valuable allies and potential operatives to the organization. When someone was foolish enough to become their enemy, Specters were the guiding hand of their doom. If any valuable tech or Pokemon interested the boss, it was the Specters that stole them.

When things got truly dire, they would even be sent in to clean up the mess when the grunts failed, or the Admins were dealing with more than they could handle. Their arrival was a sign that heads would roll.

Domino herself had been part of numerous highly important operations. Operations that had secured Team Rocket's dominance and ensured Giovanni remained the titan of the underworld. Each of them could have ended with her imprisoned or killed for her work. The praise she received from Giovanni made all the hard work and danger worth it.

This was no exception.

She smiled and tipped her cap at Giovanni. "Thank you, sir. May I ask you something?"

Giovanni smiled. Sat behind his desk with his Persian in his lap, he looked like an ancient king. The man certainly had the commanding aura and resources to have been one. "You may. Can I assume it's about your most recent mission?"

Was she that obvious? "Yes, sir. This kid you had us frame… I understand that he's gotten in our way before, but was he really so much of a threat that we had to frame him for murder? He's an above average trainer at best with no experience outside of the league. It seems excessive."

Giovanni laughed. "I can see why you'd think that. What you know of Ash Ketchum is limited to his victories and defeats in the various leagues that he's participated in. He did exceptionally well in each one, always scoring within the top percentile of the competitors. Like you've said, he's even occasionally gotten in the way of our operatives during sensitive missions." He stood and walked towards the window of his office to look out at the city below. "Were he anyone else, I'd have found leverage against him and forced him to stay out of our way. But he's not just anyone."

What was Giovanni talking about? "Is he the kid of a rival? I know his mother's no one special, but the file I was given didn't mention who his father was."

Giovanni scoffed. "Hardly. His father is no one important. No, what makes him so dangerous is all because of his own actions." He glanced back at her. "You remember the old rivals, yes? Plasma, Magma, Aqua, Galactic, and Flare?"

She nodded. She'd had to deal with more than a few of their operatives on missions of her own. Those operatives were usually all well trained. It was a shame that they'd decided to dedicate themselves to working for megalomaniacs with plans of world domination - or worse, plans to forcibly change the world. Luckily, all of them failed miserably thanks to Team Rockets own efforts, the efforts of the League, and the efforts of various law enforcement agencies across the world. She told him exactly that.

"Indeed. Powerful rivals with delusions of grandeur. Each of them was powerful enough to bring their collective regions to their knees if they so wanted. Some even threatened the world. In time, it's possible they could have become a threat beyond their own borders." He chuckled. "And all of them were beaten by that boy. Or at least, he played a large part in their destruction."

Her shock must have shown because there was a flicker of amusement in Giovanni's eyes. But could she be blamed? One League obsessed brat had played enough of a role in the defeat of their rivals that Giovanni considered him more of a threat than any champion or law enforcement agency? She found it hard to believe. The kid wasn't that impressive as far as she was concerned. He was too naïve.

"If he's really responsible for what you say he is, then I understand why you want him off the board, sir." She frowned. "Are we sure this was the best move though? He's got friends in high places from what I can tell. Champions, League officials, professors. They could-"

"They will do nothing." He interrupted. "Calling them friends is a stretch. Acquaintances and mentors would be the more apt term. Most haven't seen him in years. None of them will be willing to stick their neck out for him when they see the evidence against him. Especially since he doesn't even have any memory of being controlled. Besides, he won't live past the weekend. An unfortunate suicide caused by the guilt over taking an innocent woman's life. No one will look closer."

If the boss felt the kid was dealt with, then she wouldn't press the issue anymore. Giovanni knew what he was doing. "If you say so, sir. Can I ask what my next assignment is?"

"You don't want to take any time to relax? You've worked nonstop recently - bouncing from one mission to the next without any time for yourself." He laughed. "Team Rocket will survive without you for a short while, Domino."

The thought of taking a vacation made her ill. She wasn't built to relax like some of the other fools their organization employed. She couldn't sit around on a beach drinking or wandering around the city aimlessly. She needed to work. She needed to do something valuable with her time. With how much effort she put into acquiring her skills, letting them atrophy to satisfy herself didn't sit right with her. Not when she'd get far more satisfaction from a job well done.

"If it's all the same, I'd prefer to keep working."

"Very well. Tell me what you know about the city of Alto Mare."

"Are you sure about this, Anabel? If you're wrong-"

"I'm certain, Looker." Anabel sighed. "Ash has all signs of having been under the control of a Psychic type. I'd bet my life that someone used him as a tool and an easy scape goat to commit their murder."

Looker took a deep breath as though to calm himself. She didn't blame him. Crimes involving Pokemon were nothing new. People used them for routine thefts all the time. Some used them for smuggling or fraud. Others solely relied on Pokemon such as the black-market trade of rare and highly valuable ones. They were even used to harm others. Criminals like Team Rocket or any of their now defunct regional rivals used them for all of these purposes - sometimes even more unique, esoteric crimes. The problem in this case was that this was a crime that couldn't be solved.

Psychic Pokemon posed a unique threat to humans. The ability to turn someone into a mindless puppet - to turn them into monsters that would kill their own friends or family without a second thought - was one of the unique dangers of psychics. It made identifying the true culprits in crimes difficult since those they controlled were usually the one's accused and convicted due to all the evidence that pointed to them. Most usually had their memories wiped as well. The only way to even identify when someone had been controlled was to have another Psychic enter the mind and specifically look for the signs. With how few Human Psychics went into law enforcement and the communication barrier between Humans and Pokemon, these types of cases usually ended with gross miscarriages of justice.

It didn't help that so many criminals liked to use it as an excuse to justify their actions. With how common of an excuse it was, she wouldn't be surprised if the police never bothered to investigate the claim in the first place. Why would they when they had clear evidence to convict? Most investigations showed that the accused were lying about being controlled anyway, so why waste the energy?

It sickened Anabel to her core that someone would use Psychic types for this purpose. It was scum like this that necessitated a registry for any sufficiently powerful Psychic.

She would not allow Ash to be another victim.

"Alright, Anabel. I trust you on this. You're Psychic, after all." He frowned. "You know this will be almost impossible to prove. Even if you're Psychic, the police won't believe you. Not when they have a mountain of proof that points to Ash and the majority of suspects who claim to have been controlled all end up being proven false."

Them being International Police wouldn't help either. To the local police, it would seem like they were trying to obstruct justice to protect a monster. Not a great look when they were already treated like criminals with badges.

"I'm supposed to just do nothing then?" She growled. "Ash was used like a disposable tool to kill a woman and the real culprit is leaving him to take the fall. I can't just let it happen!"

"Peace, Anabel. I'm not suggesting we do nothing." He placated. "I'm suggesting that we find the one responsible for this and get them to confess."

She blinked in confusion. "How are we supposed to do that?"

Looker laughed. "We use your abilities of course." He gestured to the city all around them. "You can communicate with Pokemon. That's an invaluable skill. Use it. Search the area around the hotel. The culprit may have made sure there were no Humans around to witness what they did to Ash, but I can almost guarantee they didn't think to chase away the wild Pokemon."

Realization dawned on her. "And once I find the Pokemon, they'll lead me straight to the one behind this!"

"Or give you an accurate description of the culprit if nothing else." Looker paused. "Do you know that Pikachu, Anabel?"

"Pikachu? What Pika-" She felt a tug on the leg of her pants. She looked down and saw a tiny Pikachu at her feet. She didn't recognize it at first. Pikachu were fairly common Pokemon for a lot of trainers. It wasn't until she heard its voice that she realized who this one belonged to.

'Anabel! Anabel, I need your help!"

Ash's Pikachu. The one that had been at his side since the day his journey began. She'd wondered where he was last night when she and Looker had to intervene. It was interesting to know Pikachu was able to recognize her, even after all these years.

"You're Ash's Pikachu, right? You look and sound worried... this is about Ash, isn't it?"

Pikachu nodded and dashed up her body to her shoulder. He stared her in the eyes. 'I heard about what they're saying Ash did. He wouldn't do that! You know him, Anabel. You have to believe me.'

Her heart broke for Pikachu. The earnest belief and care he showed for Ash was touching. The fact that he now had to listen to these accusations being hurled against Ash must have been terrible. "I don't believe he was responsible for this, Pikachu. My partner and I are going to do everything we can to help. How are his friends and family taking it?"

Pikachu's ears flattened against his head. 'Not well. Delia hasn't said a word since she heard. The others... they're worried about him. But they're also angry. I think some of them are starting to doubt him. They're talking to the police now in the station.'

That wasn't good. If they were talking to the police, chances were high that they were trying to find out why Ash was being accused. She could only imagine the looks on their faces when they were given practically airtight evidence that pointed to Ash as the killer. Whatever emotions they felt at that moment would likely have been enough to overwhelm her. And if they spoke with Ash? He would be crushed even more than he already was.

"I'm sorry, Pikachu. I'll do everything in my power to help." She hummed in thought. Maybe Pikachu could be useful. "Do you want to help us? If you do, we may be able to help Ash before too much damage is done."

'I'll do anything for him. What do you need me to do?'

Pokemon were inherently loyal to their trainers. It was a strange phenomenon that not many understood. Newly caught Pokemon had been recorded going to extreme lengths to protect and please their trainers. Even when their trainers were vile people - even those who treated them with no kindness at all - they would still obey and respect them. It took either extraordinarily harsh treatment or a severe lack of respect for a Pokemon to disobey their trainer. Yet... based on the immense feelings of worry emanating from Pikachu, she could tell their bond was something special. She could only imagine what the two had done together.

"We believe someone used a Psychic type to control Ash and force him to kill that woman. They turned him into a weapon and a scape goat. If you can help me track down where it happened, I can try to find any Pokemon nearby to help us find the one responsible."

Pikachu nodded and hopped off of her shoulder. 'Understood. Follow me.'

Before she followed, Anabel looked back at Looker. "He's going to help me track down where Ash went prior to going to the hotel last night. I may be a while."

Looker nodded. "I understand. Take your time and come back to me when you have answers. In the meantime, I'll get back to our original mission. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done there."

People thought being an agent of the International Police was an exciting career. For an organization like theirs that was shrouded in mystery to ensure they could be most effective, it was only natural that people made up their own minds about what they did. In the eyes of the public, they were elite operatives that infiltrated dangerous criminal organizations and brought them down from the inside. As far as the public knew, they were the best of the best. They lived exciting lives, traveled to exotic places, met interesting people, and did work that protected the world.

Some of that was true. They did have lives and experience things most people could only dream of. Their missions were always important - maybe not always world-changing, but certainly important to the people they helped. What no one who fantasized about the life knew, though, was that there were a lot of downsides. Even as a rookie agent, she knew that there were a lot of aspects of the job that were less than ideal. There was the constant danger that operatives like her put themselves in to protect others. Lots of the work they did went unheard and unseen by the public unless it couldn't be hidden, so they never received thanks for their missions. Then there were the dull aspects of the job - paperwork, surveillance, and - as she was personally experiencing for herself currently - searching for leads.

'-And then those Rattata from across the street tried to steal all of our berries! Can you believe that?'

Some people thought being able to understand Pokemon was a wonderful thing. And it was most of the time. Just not when she was conducting an important investigation to save an old friend from a crime he had no control over.

Anabel sighed. "Listen, as much as the drama between the Rattata families of Viridian City intrigues me... can you just answer my question?"

The tiny Rattata tilted its head to the side. 'What was your question again?"

She felt a flash of annoyance come from the Pikachu on her shoulder. 'Did you see a psychic type around here recently? Did a trainer use one against another human?'

The Rattata shook its head. 'Nope, sorry. Though I did see a bunch of Ekans recently try to-'

"Thank you for your time. Sorry to disturb you."Anabel practically ran out of the alley away from the Rattata. For the last two hours, they had talked to every wild Pokemon they could find. They hadn't been able to find a single one that gave them any clue about who framed Ash. They had been forced to listen to the drama of Pokemon all competing over territory, food, and anything else that could be considered valuable.

Pikachu growled. 'This is starting to aggravate me. Someone must have seen something.'

Anabel patted Pikachu on the cheek. "Have some faith. You said we still have one more spot to check, yes? We'll find one there." They had to. If they failed, then Ash's fate was sealed.

The last area they had to check was a small, decrepit alleyway. It was nothing special. Run down from years without maintenance and trainer battles, but otherwise unremarkable.

She glanced at Pikachu. "Are there any Pokemon nearby?"

Pikachu hopped off of her shoulder. He looked around the alleyway for a moment. 'Hey! Is anyone there? I need some help!'

For a moment, nothing happened. She was prepared to call it a failure. Then a Spinarak crawled out from a crack in the wall. It was big - far bigger than any Anabel had seen before. It looked at her for a moment before settling its eyes on Pikachu.

'Can I help you, young man?'

Pikachu nodded. 'I'm searching for someone. They would have been a human with a Psychic type - a powerful one. They'd have lured another human into this alley and attacked them.'

The Spinarak clicked its mandibles together. 'Now that you mention it, there was a human like that last night. Lured a boy in here and had that Hypno of hers take control. Poor boy seemed to have been trying to help her, but you know what they say about good deeds. Not sure what they did with him after.'

Pikachu and her both perked up at this news. Finally, they had a lead! If this Spinarak was telling the truth, then this could be everything they needed.

Pikachu rushed over to the Spinarak. 'Can you describe her? Please, this is important.'

'Hmmm... she was big - though all Humans are to Pokemon like you and me. Violet eyes and curly yellow hair. She was imposing as well - she tried to hide it, but it was obvious she wasn't some damsel in distress. Whoever the girl was, she was clearly capable. I certainly wouldn't want to follow her into a back alley.'

Pikachu tilted his head. 'Anything else?'

The Spinarak paced back and forth. 'There is one other thing. There was a flower on the girl's hip. Black. Like a rose or...'

Anabel's eyes narrowed. She crouched down in front of the Spinarak. "A tulip?"

The Spinarak blinked at her. Confusion rolled off of it in waves. 'Can she understand us?'

Pikachu nodded. 'She can. She's Psychic and one of those police that the humans have.'

'I see... well, yes. It was a tulip like your Human friend here said. Strange. Most Humans don't give a second thought to nature, let alone carry it around with them.'

Dread grew in the pit of her stomach. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. This shouldn't have been possible. Of all the people who could have been behind this, why did it have to be Domino? She needed to be sure. Needed to be certain before she told Looker who she believed was behind this.

Anabel pulled out her Pokegear. Connected to the International Police's database, she had access to up-to-date profiles on all the criminals they had catalogued and encountered over the years. A bit like a Pokedex for Humans. An important tool in her line of work. She pulled up the profile on Domino AKA the Black Tulip, one of Team Rocket's most dangerous Specters. There was hardly any information on the woman. Only a few photos and a list of crimes that she had been linked to. Anabel didn't doubt there were far more they didn't know about.

"Is this the woman you saw?"

Spinarak took a moment to look at the picture. 'Hmm... she was a bit older than this one, but otherwise she's the spitting image. She has the same predatory gaze in her eyes. Stay away from her if you know what's good for you.'

Well... this wasn't good. Ash hadn't just been used like a tool to murder a woman. He'd been turned into a mindless weapon by Team Rocket and forced to do something completely against his nature. Why? Because he had gotten in their way in the past? It was the only explanation Anabel could think of that they would dedicate one of their top operatives to frame Ash. He had made powerful enemies and not even known it...

"Thank you, Spinarak. You've been helpful. We'll be able to save an innocent life thanks to you."

Or so she hoped, anyway.

She sped out of the alley, Pikachu hot on her tail. She ignored his cries for answers about who the woman was. There wasn't any time. She quickly dialed Looker's number. He needed to know as soon as possible.

"Anabel? Have found out who controlled Ash?"

"I did. It was Domino, sir. The Team Rocket agent."

"..."

"..."

"Well... that complicates things."

"No, it doesn't." She growled. "We need to save him, Looker. Now more than ever. You and I both know their intent isn't to have him in prison, it's to kill him!"

She heard Looker sigh over the phone. "I know, I know... give me some time. I'll make a few calls. We'll get Ash out of this. One way or another."

She knew they would. She would do everything in her power to ensure it. No one would get in her way.

Chapter Text

"What's the plan, Looker?"

Looker let out a tired sigh. Anabel had put a lot of pressure on him to come up with a plan to save Ash from his impending doom. He was the senior operative between the two, so he was ultimately responsible for devising any strategies and leading them in the middle of operations. She was emotionally invested in this operation though. Whatever her past with Ash was, she was determined to save him once she knew that he was innocent. Chances were good that if Looker didn't come up with a convincing plan to save him, she'd have rushed off to do something stupid.

She was still a rookie. She didn't fully understand the subtleties that their job required yet despite her previous missions. She didn't understand that morals sometimes needed to be bent and emotions had to be ignored. In time, she would learn that emotions were their worst enemy. Especially in a case like this when it was pushing them to risk their original mission in order to save one person. He couldn't blame her, though. He wanted to save the boy as well.

After learning that Ash had been taken control of, Looker had ordered Anabel back to their hotel room. After conducting a sweep for bugs and finding none, they were ready to discuss what they had planned.

"I've spoken with the director. Given Team Rocket's connection to Ash Ketchum and his own involvement in the defeat of other criminal organizations, he's given us the go ahead to conduct a rescue operation." Looker raised a finger to prevent Anabel from interrupting. "However, he's made it clear that if we go through with it that we will have to leave Viridian city for the time being. Team Rocket won't be fooled. They'll know that someone helped him escape and it won't take them long to link it back to us."

Anabel grimaced. "And any plans we had would be ruined. I'm sorry, Looker."

A small laugh escaped past his lips. "Don't be. You may be the one pushing for us to save him, but I want to protect him as well. Any agent of the International Police would want to. It's why the director is allowing us to perform this little rescue."

Anabel nodded. "And after?"

He shrugged. "We'll likely be reassigned. Team Rocket is a problem in multiple regions. Wherever we go, we'll likely be dealing with them somehow."

It was the sad truth, but with how exponentially Team Rocket had grown in size and power the last few years, most law enforcement agencies had to focus entirely on dealing with them. It wasn't that they were the only criminals in the world. Minor crime rings, remnants of other evil teams, and lone offenders still existed. None of them were causing nearly as much damage as Team Rocket though. Like an infection, they had festered and gained power in the shadows while the worlds attention had been on other, more apparent dangers. By the time the International Police had realized the true extent of the threat they'd ignored for years, it was too late. Team Rocket were now the undisputed kings of the underworld.

It took everything they had - the combined efforts of the International Police, Rangers, local law enforcement, Pokemon League, and anyone else willing to help - to combat the interests of Team Rocket. It was delaying tactics at best, and they all knew it. Unless they could find a way to truly thwart a major Team Rocket operation or capture a high-ranking member of the organization, it was possible they could become unstoppable.

Looker gestured to the map he'd set up while Anabel had been away. It showed the layout of the entire city. "At around 10 tonight, alarms are going to go off across the city. Banks, prisons, museums, the power plant, Pokemon Centers; anywhere of importance. It will seem like there's a city-wide catastrophe striking. The police will be forced to send every single unit they can to try to respond to them all."

Anabel frowned and leaned forward to look closer at the map. "What happens if there's a real emergency? With all first responders being sent to these false alarms, we could be leaving people in genuine danger."

"That would be true, but it won't take long for the authorities to realize that none of these alarms are real. A few minutes at most before they arrive on scene to find confused bystanders or receive calls detailing that it's a false alarm." They would then be free to be sent to any real emergencies that could happen. "This means that by then, you need to have Ash out of his cell and guide him to the north of the city. You'll notice we've left a corridor out of the city for you two free of any police presence. We'll have a vehicle there ready to him to Viridian Forest and then out of Kanto soon after."

Not that it would be so simple. Even if they did manage to get him out of the city and lose the authorities in Viridian Forest, the boy would be a wanted criminal. No matter where he went, he would always have to look over his shoulder worrying about the day someone recognized him. That wasn't even mentioning the difficulty of getting out of the region in the first place.

Anabel nodded. "Understood, sir. What happens if we do run into police though?"

That was not something they could allow to happen. "I'll leave that up to your discretion since you'll be the one escorting him. If you decide to fight them and protect him, though, I ask that you not cause any permanent harm to them." He advised. "Whether Ash is innocent or not, these officers won't know that. They'll only be doing their job to take in a criminal."

"I won't hurt them, sir. No more than I have to." She sighed. "Can I assume that if I'm caught with Ash, I'll be considered a co-conspirator?"

He grimaced. "Unfortunately, yes. If you're caught and arrested, we'll have to treat you like a criminal with him. I may know you're not - the director and anyone else in the loop may know the truth - but the public won't. We can't risk a scandal by officially backing or defending you. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, sir. I'm prepared to accept whatever consequences come with this. It's the risk I take trying to do the right thing." Anabel patted him on the shoulder. "One last question, sir. How are we doing this? From what I understand, we're the only agents in the city. How are we going to pull all of this off?"

He laughed. "We've got friends willing to go the extra mile and help us, even though they may not know what for." He informed her. "With how often we get involved in dangerous situations, we always end up meeting people in need of a hand. Those people may then want to help us later however they can whether it be with a small favor or outright joining us. Giovanni is one of them."

Anabel smiled. "Maybe Ash will be willing to do the same when this is all over."

Perhaps. He certainly wouldn't be opposed to having a strong trainer around he was certain he could trust. "Let's rescue him first before we try the recruitment speech."

"Speaking of Giovanni, though, is he involved in this plan?"

Looker shook his head. "No, I thought it best we keep him in the dark. This way he won't be implicated if we get caught. At least then we'll still have one ally in the city willing to fight Team Rocket." One that had their complete trust. Giovanni wouldn't let Team Rocket take Viridian without a fight. "If you run into him, you have my permission to inform him of everything you know. A battle between you and him would do far more harm than good."

The only sounds that Ash could hear from his cell was water dripping from a leaky pipe above his cell and the indistinct chatter of the police in the station. This late at night, most officers were either at home sleeping or out patrolling the streets. Those few still in the station - officers, desk jockeys, and dispatchers - were uninterested in him. Locked in his cell with no Pokemon to help, he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Not that he would have had anywhere to go even if he did somehow escape his cell. Not after what he'd been accused of. Anabel may have claimed that he hadn't been responsible for the murder of that woman, but that didn't do much besides ease the burden on his mind. The doubt that had plagued him before had been soul crushing. For a moment, he had honestly believed he could have committed the murder. Knowing he was innocent helped assuage his guilt.

That didn't help with anything else though. He was still locked in a cell. The world still wanted him to rot for what he'd been accused of. He still didn't know why Anabel had taken the chance to test his innocence, even if he appreciated it. He might never see Pikachu or any of his other Pokemon ever again. Worst of all though... worst of all was that he had lost the faith of his friends and family.

They'd come to see him not long after his meeting with Anabel. Any relief or joy he might have felt seeing them was dashed the moment he saw the looks on their faces. Nothing but disgust, anger, and mistrust had been in their eyes. They demanded to know why he had killed that woman and accused him of having hidden his true nature. They demanded he tell them just what he'd planned to do if he'd gotten away with it. It had hurt to hear his friends - the people he loved and travelled alongside for years - honestly believe he was capable of this. He could feel his heart breaking in two with every accusation.

Nothing they said could ever have possibly hurt as much as the state his mother was in though. He thought she'd be angry. That she would scream and rage at him for what she believed he'd done. Or maybe that she would be a broken, sobbing mess who could barely look at him. He hadn't expected the blank, soulless look in her eyes or the monotone voice that said the one thing no child ever wanted to hear from their parent.

"I'm disappointed in you."

Those four words were enough to shatter his soul. It didn't matter that Anabel claimed he was innocent. It didn't matter that his friends all believed he was guilty. Knowing that his mother believed he was guilty and that he had disappointed her... it was too much. His mother had raised him on her own and supported him in everything he did. She would have blamed herself for this and believed that she could have prevented it somehow. He could only imagine what was going through her head.

Not that he blamed any of them for believing he was guilty. If the police had told them even a tenth of what he'd been shown, he knew it wouldn't have taken long to convince them. He'd certainly been willing to believe he was responsible for it. Any reasonable person would have.

Mercifully, the group hadn't stayed long. The officers had forced them to leave him in his cell. He was thankful. He couldn't handle being around them. Not when they believed he was a monster, and he didn't have any satisfying answers to any of their questions. That was hours ago, and he still couldn't stop thinking about it.

Shouting drew his attention away from his thoughts. He couldn't tell what it was about, but it sounded serious. Ash could hear people rushing out the doors, shouting over one another to be heard. This continued for a few minutes before it abruptly stopped as everything went silent. He frowned in confusion. What was going on? What had happened to send everyone into a panic and why were they now as silent as a ghost?

He didn't have to wonder for long when an Espeon wandered through the doors and stood in front of his cell. Ash blinked in confusion.

"What are you doing here?"

The Espeon didn't respond. Instead, its eyes glowed a faint purple. The door to his cell began to creak and shake as the same mystical power the Espeon was enveloped in began to overtake the cell. Ash took a step back quickly in fear of its power. This Espeon was using Psychic on his cell, and he wasn't sure why. He didn't have to wonder for long. The door was ripped from its hinges and crushed into a ball before being tossed aside.

The Espeon let out a low growl and gestured with its tail towards him. The message was clear: follow.

For a brief moment, Ash considered staying. He was innocent, or so Anabel had said. If he stayed, he could try to clear his name at trial and get his life back. If he ran, all he'd be doing was confirm to everyone that he was guilty. Only the guilty ran, or so the old saying always went. Staying wasn't an option, though. Not when there was such convincing evidence against him. He didn't doubt that if this went to trial that any jury he got would convict him within seconds of seeing the evidence no matter what kind of defense he made.

After all, who would be willing to believe he had been controlled by a Psychic?

With his mind made up, he gave the Espeon a nod and followed it through the station. As the two of them walked through its halls, Ash saw that it had been practically abandoned. Doors left wide open, papers scattered on the floor, faucets left running, even food left lying around uneaten. He frowned when he saw the crumpled bodies of police on the floor or slumped over their desks. He rushed towards one in worry and checked for a pulse.

It wasn't hard to find it. The officers were unconscious, not dead. He glanced at the Espeon and rushed to catch up to it.

"You're behind whatever happened here, aren't you?" He waited for the Espeon to nod. "I hope nothing bad happens while they're asleep."

The Espeon pushed open the doors to the station. Ash hesitated at the threshold, looking back at the unconscious police station. This was it. The moment of truth. Once he stepped outside, he'd officially be on the run. He took a breath... and stepped outside.

When he wasn't dogpiled by a battalion of police waiting for him outside or a crowd of angry trainers nearby, he felt a rush of relief. At least one thing had gone right today. This late at night, the streets were clear of anyone who could have seen and recognized him. Knowing his luck, that wouldn't last long the farther he got from the station but at least he didn't have to worry about it right away.

The Espeon lead him through the empty streets to an alley not far from the station. A voice in the back of his mind was telling him to steer clear of the alley. The last time he'd gone into a dark alley, he'd woken up hours later covered in blood and accused of cold-blooded murder. He'd already come this far, however, and put his faith in this Espeon. There wasn't much worse that could happen to him at this point by trusting his rescuer.

Thankfully, this time it seemed he didn't have anything to worry about. Instead of an ominous and empty alley, Ash saw Anabel hidden in the shadows. She rushed out when she saw him, stopping not far away with Espeon rushing towards her. At her side was large, black duffle bag. What surprised him most was-

"Pikachu? What are you doing here?"

His oldest friend and most trusted partner raced up his body and seated himself on his shoulder. He nuzzled Ash's cheek, stray sparks of electricity flying from his body. He must have missed him. He understood. He honestly believed he'd never see Pikachu ever again. He looked towards Anabel.

"Anabel? You're the one who helped me escape?"

She offered him a smile. "I did. You're welcome."

All he could do was frown. "But why? Helping me makes you a criminal." He grimaced. "Even if you believe I'm innocent, helping me isn't worth your own freedom."

He appreciated her help. Truly, he did. When everyone else had abandoned him, having someone willing to believe in him and go to these kinds of lengths for him helped. A far as he knew, though, Anabel was a member of the police. By helping him she was risking not just her job, but her freedom. If they were caught then chances were high she'd end up in a cell right alongside him.

"I'm not doing this because you're innocent, Ash. I'm doing this because if I don't, you'll die." His eyes widened in shock. "You may not be willing to believe it, but I have evidence that Team Rocket is behind this. That they framed you. With what we know about how they operate, they'd have killed you long before you saw trial."

"That... that's impossible. Team Rocket wouldn't do that."

They couldn't. Team Rocket were a harmless group of... well, idiots. They showed up to harass him and his friends to steal their Pokemon, tricking them into traps that were obvious in hindsight. They could barely even feed themselves! Even the other members of Team Rocket besides Jessie, James, and Meowth weren't any more threatening. They were regular Pokemon thieves with a flair for the dramatic. Sure, they could be dangerous when they caught you unaware, but they weren't a threat to anyone who knew what they were doing.

They weren't the kind of people to commit murder, least of all frame him for it. They weren't dangerous like the other evil teams he'd met over the years. Not by a long shot.

Anabel sighed. "Maybe not those three clowns you're used to following you everywhere, but they're not the true Team Rocket." She passed him the duffel bag. "The real Team Rocket are a dangerous group of cutthroats. Murdering a woman and pinning the death on someone is the least of what they're capable of. Whatever you've done to earn their attention, you're now suffering the consequences. Put on what's in that bag."

Inside the bag was a leather jacket, a pair of sunglasses, and a plain, brown flat cap. As much as he didn't want to abandon his hat, he knew that it would be too recognizable. As it was his face would be plastered all over the city once those police woke up and realized he was gone. At that point, anyone on the street actively looking for him would find him easily. Donning a disguise was his only option if he wanted to stay free.

He tossed his old hat to the ground and began to put on the disguise. If Team Rocket really did want him dead, then this would be his one shot at survival.

"What's the plan, Anabel?" He had to assume she had one if she'd been willing to break him out.

"We're getting you out of the city. The distraction my associates created won't last long, so we need to make the most of it." Anabel gestured for him to follow her. "Once you're out of the city, there will be a car waiting nearby. It'll take you to the Viridian Forest and a safe house from there. After that, we'll figure out a way to get you out of the region."

Ash frowned. "You mentioned you had friends who helped you. Who are your friends?"

She glanced back at him. "The International Police." She sighed. "We believe that you're innocent and we won't leave you to die. Not when we can help it. Now let's move. I promise you'll get answers to all your questions once you're safe."

It was said that Pokemon would flee before disaster. That they would flee sinking ships or burning buildings long before humans realized what was happening. When floods were about to strike or earthquakes were about to shake the land, people would find Pokemon dens abandoned and hordes of Pokemon migrating away. When hurricanes were imminent, Pokemon would hoard any food nearby and fight to gather materials to strengthen their homes.

In a way, criminals were the same. Whenever danger came around, they would do their best to either flee or stand their ground if they had no choice. Most were self-serving to a fault and wouldn't do a thing unless it benefitted them. If they had to, they'd leave someone else to be arrested by the police so long as it meant they could get away. If it meant earning more of a profit for themselves, they would crush those beneath them without a second thought. It was just how criminals were. When you chose to work and live in a world that meant harming others for your own personal gain, it was to be expected.

Which is why when Domino saw the other Team Rocket agents refusing to meet her gaze or avoiding her entirely, she should have taken it as a sign that something was wrong. She should have immediately confronted them and demanded they tell her what was making them act like this.

But she hadn't. Instead, she had to find out by being called into the Giovanni's office.

Being summoned to personally meet the boss was usually because of two reasons. If an agent performed exceptionally well on a mission or went out of their way to benefit the organization, he'd call them into his office for a reward. Usually, a bonus to their pay or their pick of rare, powerful Pokemon. Sometimes if they proved themselves to be exceptionally skilled, he'd offer them a promotion and special training with him. Praise from the boss was rarely given out and only ever for a job well done. Those that received these rewards usually went on to become the most powerful members of the organization.

The other reason someone would be summoned to see the boss - the reason that usually left people terrified - was when they had failed him. Or rather, they had failed him in a such a way that it would put future operations at risk or jeopardize the future of the organization. In these cases, the punishments were always severe. They ranged from immediate demotion to far crueler punishments. The worst thing was these people were never heard from again.

It wasn't hard to imagine what happened to them. She would not be one of them. She would not allow it.

Domino stepped into Giovanni's office, arms fixed at her side. She was stiff as a board when she saw her boss. Giovanni did not look happy. His eyes appeared calm, but beneath the surface she could see a smoldering rage. It was the kind of rage she had only ever heard of. Having it aimed in her direction... it put her on edge.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

Giovanni nodded. "Have you seen the news recently, Domino?"

She frowned. "No, sir. Should I?"

He didn't say a word. Instead, he gestured to the TV on the wall and turned it on. Her stomach dropped at what she saw.

"The police are reporting that the suspect in the murder of Elizabeth Burk has recently escaped police custody and disappeared into the city. This all happened in the middle of a city-wide emergency when alarms went off across the city. All have been confirmed to be false alarms done with the explicit purpose of drawing law enforcement away from the station and its surrounding area." The reporter on screen intoned. "It is believed that this was done by previously unknown co-conspirators to free Ash Ketchum. He is highly dangerous and likely armed with at least one Pokemon. It is suggested that civilians stay in their homes until his capture. If you are unable to stay in your homes, it is suggested you travel in groups with Pokemon at your side. If you see him, you are encouraged to report him to-"

Giovanni switched the TV off. "As you can see, our dear Ash Ketchum is no longer in jail and will soon be out of our reach."

That wasn't her fault! How could she have prevented someone from breaking the brat out of jail? She did her job! She made the alliance with the mob. She found out where that woman was staying. She even controlled the kid and forced him to attack the woman! She couldn't say that to the boss, though. Giovanni was forgiving, but hearing people make excuses - even if they were justified - would not help her situation. She needed to be proactive.

"What do you need me to do, sir?"

"Get out there and find him." Giovanni sighed. "The police are incompetent fools. Usually that works to our favor, but not this time. I'll be sending out grunts disguised as trainers to help, but you will be in charge. We cannot allow him to escape."

Domino nodded. "Understood, sir. This should be simple enough. Whoever helped him escape, I'll deal with them. They'll regret messing with our plans."

Giovanni frowned. "It may not be so simple. I believe his escape was orchestrated by the International Police."

The International Police... if there was any group that deserved to be considered a threat, it was them. They were different than most other law enforcement. They were crafty and competent in more ways than one. Where the police would be busy doing patrols or the Rangers would be out focusing on protecting nature, the International Police brought the fight to them instead of waiting for Team Rocket to make the first move. Where the police or the Rangers were blunt instruments that demanded attention, the International Police were group that valued secrecy and weren't afraid to... bend the rules, so to speak. They were the one's willing to do whatever it took to protect others, even if their heroics were never heard.

If the police and the Rangers were a bandage, then the International Police were a scalpel. One merely covered up the problem while the other cut it out. She'd never tangled with that group herself, but she'd heard the stories. Agents hidden within Rocket cells thwarting schemes that took years to complete. Valuable, powerful Pokemon had been within their grasp... only to be snatched away at the last moment. That wasn't even mentioning the number of their people who had been imprisoned by them.

"Are you sure it's them, sir?"

Giovanni scoffed. "No one else would be capable of pulling off a scheme like this in such a short amount of time. It just so happens that I know they have agents within the city as well." He sighed. "Why they're trying so hard to save this boy is lost on me. They may suspect we're behind all this, though I'm not sure how."

"How would they even know we're behind this? I wiped his memory just like you ordered me to!"

Giovanni hummed in thought, stroking the Persian at his side. "They may have found his lack of any memory suspicious. Suspicious enough to do some digging and look for witnesses to your hypnosis."

Her heart skipped a beat. "There were no witnesses! I swear on my life that there wasn't another Human around who would have seen us!"

He held up a hand to stop her. "Regardless of what they know, they're involved and causing us trouble like they always do."

She frowned. "Should we really be getting more involved then? If they already suspect us, sending out agents at this point may make things worse."

Giovanni shook his head. "If they escape with the boy, they'll tell him that we were behind this." He looked out the window towards the shining city in the night. "They may not have evidence to clear his name, but the boy will believe them. Convincing him to join them won't be difficult. And with how much of a role he played in the defeat of our rivals..."

"We can't allow the International Police to recruit someone like him." She finished. "I understand. I think I know where to start. I'll see to it that he's in police custody and the agents who helped him dealt with. Count on it, sir."

"Don't disappoint me, Domino."

The news that Ash had escaped from the police had sent a shockwave through the group. They were still struggling to come to terms with the fact that Ash was even capable of killing someone, let alone the fact that he was guilty. It was hard to deny when they'd been told of the evidence against him. Officers having to pull him off the woman, photos, recordings, eye-witness reports, not to mention defensive wounds and DNA evidence... it was all damning. They hadn't been shown any of it, but the confidence of the police in the evidence was enough.

For many of them, they were left without a clue about how to feel.

Angry? Betrayed? Disappointed? There were so many possible emotions they could have felt and yet they were all just left in a state of limbo. Until they saw the news and heard that he had escaped. After that... the only emotion any of them had felt was anger. If there had been any lingering doubts about Ash's guilt beforehand, they were wiped away at that point. Even with the news telling them to stay inside, no one planned on following those orders. Instead, they were all going out into the city to search for him themselves. They may not have been able to see what kind of person he really was, but they'd be damned if they let him escape without doing anything to stop him.

Or at least... that's what the others felt.

Iris wasn't entirely so certain. Ash was many things - a bit childish sometimes, hyper-focused on Pokemon, dense as a rock - but one thing that she would bet her life on was that he was no liar. It wasn't that he couldn't lie. She'd seen him do it in the past. It was just that he never did it without a reason or when there was evidence that he was lying. Yet back in that station, Ash had claimed to be innocent. He claimed that he didn't remember anything about the murder. Even with all the evidence against him, he still claimed to be innocent.

Those claims had made the others furious, but Iris had taken time to think. Ash was the last person she would ever have thought capable of murder. He spoke with such conviction in the belief that he was innocent that it made her doubt everything she had been told by the police. The boy she knew when they travelled together in Unova wasn't just incapable of hurting another person, he was the first one to put himself in danger to rescue someone else. Even if he didn't know them - even if they had hurt him or his friends - he would still risk his own life for them.

That image of Ash was completely incompatible with the one the police had claimed to have found in that hotel.

She let out a sigh. Wandering through Viridian city at night gave her a lot to think about. If only she could think about anything besides her now criminal friend. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what she would do if she found him. The part of her that still saw him as a friend - the part that doubted Ash's guilt - said she should let him go if she found him. The moral part of herself told her that she would capture him and bring him to the police to face justice for what he'd done. It wouldn't have been difficult since as far as she knew, the only Pokemon he had with him was Pikachu. When the news had said that he would have a Pokemon by his side, she knew where Pikachu had gone.

Even with Pikachu - even if he had a full team on him - Iris was confident that she could take him. Ash was a skilled trainer. In fact, he was one of the most skilled trainers she had ever met. The trust he had in his Pokemon was unmatched. The strategies that he could come up with were the kind that one had to see to believe. His instincts were second to none. Truly, if there was anyone in the world who had the capability to become a Pokemon Master it would be him. With his recent victory in the Alolan League, he was well on his way to accomplishing that.

Yet despite all that, she knew she could win. She'd been meaning to keep it a secret for when she challenged him to a match back in Pallet Town, but she had become the Champion of Unova recently. She was the first to beat Alder in years. While she still had a long way to go before she was a Dragon Master, her skills as a trainer were still elite. Iris was confident that even at Ash's best, she could win. Handicapped as he was with only a single Pokemon by his side, she knew she could win. With her authority as Champion, none of the police would question her bringing him into custody.

It was unlikely she'd be the one to run into him, though. Viridian city was huge. Ash would know how to hide in a city like this. With so many police officers searching for him as well as all the others in the group, the chances of her finding him were all but impossible-

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

She almost couldn't believe her eyes. She wanted to believe that it was just a trick of the light. It wasn't though. Across the street from her - hidden behind an imposing looking woman in the shadows of the night - was Ash. She almost didn't recognize him in that outfit he was wearing, but it was impossible to mistake the Pikachu riding on his shoulder. Or that nervous energy that he was giving off by looking everywhere.

Instinctively, her hand reached for Haxorus' Pokeball. This was it. With a single command, she could capture Ash and put an end to all of this. She wasn't sure what that woman was capable of, but Iris was sure that she could handle her. She was the Champion, after all. She grasped her Pokeball-

And paused. Her eyes met Ash's. Even behind the glasses, she could see that he recognized her. Ash was frozen on the spot, hands shaking at his side. Pikachu must have been curious why its trainer went rigid because it followed Ash's gaze to her own. Unlike its trainer, Pikachu wasn't frozen. Its eyes narrowed and sparks began to fly from its cheeks. Its intent was clear: if she made any attempt to capture Ash, it would make her regret it. Its care for Ash far outstripped any friendship she may have developed with it over their travels.

For a moment, she prepared herself for what would no doubt be a difficult battle. Then Ash placed his hand atop Pikachu's head and whispered a few unheard words to it. Even though Pikachu clearly wanted to fight, it stopped letting off electricity. It didn't stop glaring at her, despite whatever Ash said to it. Her attention was focused more on Ash, though.

He had taken off his sunglasses, allowing her to see his dark brown eyes clearly. Instead of the fear at being caught or anger at seeing her, all she found within those familiar eyes was acceptance. The message was clear: if she was going to try and capture him, he wouldn't put up any resistance.

She should have taken advantage of that. Anyone else in her shoes would have captured him immediately. It would have been so easy to arrest him then and there, even if that companion of his tried to intervene. Not everyone had the same history with him that she did or the understanding about what kind of person he was though.

She sent him a nod... then turned and walked away.

If she was wrong about this and Ash ended up hurting someone else... no, she couldn't think like that. She had to trust her gut and her gut was telling her to trust Ash. It had never led her astray before and she wasn't about to start doubting it now.

"You'd better not make me regret this, Ash. Or I swear, I'll hunt you down myself."

"That was a close one."

"I'm surprised she didn't try to capture me."

Anabel scoffed. "We got lucky your friend was willing to look the other way. We can't count on anyone else being willing to do that." She frowned. "We need to hurry. If your friend was able to find us, chances are we'll be spotted by the police soon."

Ash nodded and followed her through the streets. For the most part, Anabel and he had managed to make their way through the city without any major problems. This late at night, large crowds of people weren't a problem so long as they steered clear of casinos or clubs. There were a few people on the streets - wandering trainers and people looking for work - but they never paid any attention to them. As far as those people were concerned, the dangerous killer on the loose would have been on his own and attacking everyone in sight, not calmly walking down the street with a friend.

They hadn't run into any police yet, thankfully. With how large Viridian city was and how short-staffed their police department was, it wasn't surprising. They must have been spread thin splitting their time between looking for him and responding to other emergencies. Anabel had told him this wouldn't last, though. If they wanted him to escape, they needed to do it before the police could lockdown the city and set up checkpoints at all the exits to the city. The way Anabel explained it meant they'd only have a few hours at most before the city went into full lockdown.

He frowned. "Anabel, can I ask you something?"

She glanced back at him. "Keep it quiet. We don't want to risk anyone overhearing us and bringing the authorities down on us."

He nodded. "It's just... what's going to happen if we escape? I know you said you'd help get me out of the region, but what happens here? What happens to my friends?"

It had been bugging him ever since Anabel had told him the plan. Escaping was all well and good - especially since he didn't want to be put in prison for a crime he was innocent of - but if his friends or family were going to suffer for it, he'd stop this right now. He'd find the nearest police officer and throw himself at their feet. He wouldn't hurt his friends any more than he already had.

Anabel hummed. "That depends. If we can get away without being seen, the city may stay in lockdown for a few days searching for you until the public and local government demand it be lifted. If we're seen, then they'll send people after us - so losing them in Viridian Forest is essential to a successful escape." She shrugged. "And after all that? Well, the city will be in chaos. The public will lose faith in the police, the local officials will investigate how this could have happened, and the police themselves will feel the pressure to make up for this by either catching you or cracking down hard on local criminals."

So... not all bad then. He felt guilty knowing that the police might lose face because of him, but if it ended with more real criminals in prison than there otherwise would have been then he could live with it.

"As far as your friends and family go, chances are they'll be questioned. The authorities will want to know why those alarms were set off and how you escaped. They'll come out the other end no worse for wear though. There's no evidence that will point to them." Anabel told him. "At most, they'll be kept under surveillance in case you try to contact any of them."

Which meant he couldn't see or talk to any of them ever again. It hurt to know he'd never be able to share stories with his friends or hug his mom again... but if it kept them safe, then it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

He was content to leave it at that, but Anabel clearly wasn't. She went on. "What I'd be more concerned about is Team Rocket." She let out a tired sigh. "They've already shown they want you gone. They'll hunt you down for this. Next time they won't give you the luxury of framing you for a crime - they'll kill you outright."

Ash couldn't help it. He lout an exasperated laugh of despair. "So that's it? Even if I escape, my life is over?"

"Not quite. It's possible that the International Police can-" Anabel came to a sudden stop, sticking her arm out to stop him behind her. "This... may be a problem."

Ash leaned around her body to see what she saw. In the distance was one of the exits of the city and just beyond lay the Viridian Forest, beckoning him towards it. With no police in sight, they were practically in the clear. That was when he saw what had made Anable stop them in their tracks: a crowd of over a dozen people stood around the gates.

"Can't we just sneak through? With this disguise, most people won't recognize me."

Anabel shook her head. "That won't work. Maybe if they were moving themselves, but they aren't." She gestured to the group. "They're standing guard. If I had to guess, these are trainers who've decided to help the police look for you. That disguise you're wearing won't help when they ask to see what you look like underneath. Normally good samaritans are something I'd applaud, but in this case..."

In this case, it just made things more difficult for them. "What should we do?"

Anabel released Espeon from its Pokeball. "We can't waste time trying to find another exit out of the city. We'll have to fight our way out. Our getaway driver will hear the sounds of battle and know to come meet us halfway."

Ash frowned. "But they're just trying to help. We can't hurt them."

"We won't. The most we'll do is try to rush past them and their Pokemon." She narrowed her eyes at the group. "Although its suspicious... most trainers wouldn't be out against the orders of the authorities or have the patience to stand guard around an exit. Something feels off about this."

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "Nothing you need to worry about. Get ready to move on my signal."

Ash took a breath. He looked to Pikachu on his shoulder, a questioning look in his eyes. Pikachu was the picture of determination. Even if Ash felt hesitant about fighting his way out, it was clear that Pikachu didn't. Seeing his long-time partner's confidence was enough to bolster Ash into moving forward. Even if he didn't want to hurt these people, he'd do whatever it took to escape.

"Okay... move!"

On Anabel's order, the two of them sprinted towards the exit. It didn't take long for the crowd of trainers to notice them. They didn't try to stop them or ask who they were. Instead, they reached for their Pokeballs and released their Pokemon. An array of Raticate, Golbat, Arbok, and Muk all instantly appeared, roaring in anticipation.

Anabel ushered her Espeon forward. When it began to glow with a mystical energy, the Pokemon that stood in their way were all thrown aside like they were nothing. This shocked their trainers who all rushed to get out of the way. It must have been shocking to see a Pokemon owned by a trainer attack without an audible command. He knew that he had been when he first battled Anabel all those years ago in the Battle Frontier.

"This must be that brat!" One of the trainers shouted. "Alright everyone, you know what the boss lady said! Raticate, Hyper Fang!"

"Golbat, use Air Slash!"

"Arbok, use Acid!"

"Muk, Sludge Bomb!"

Ash didn't have any time to wonder what they meant by 'boss lady'. Not with a veritable horde of Pokemon rushing towards him and Anabel. He was forced to jump to the side, narrowly dodging the attacks that shock the ground and destroyed where he had previously stood. He panicked when he saw a trio of Raticate leaping towards him, fangs glowing a bright white. These things weren't trying to capture him. They were trying to kill him!

Pikachu leapt from his shoulder towards the Raticate. He didn't wait for a command or for the Raticate to strike. Instead, he simply unleashed its attack. One moment he was flying through the air, the next he was unleashing a Thunderbolt so strong Ash could feel his hair standing on end and so bright that he had to shield his eyes from the light. All he could hear was the sizzle of electricity striking flesh and the cries of pain from the Raticate. When he opened them again, it was to see the Raticate thrown back. Charred, scarred, and down for the count.

He felt a hand on his shoulder yank him to his feet. "No time to sit around in shock, Ash!" Anabel dragged him to his feet. He finally noticed that even with those Raticate out of the fight - along with a few others Anabel had bested - there were still enough to surround them. Worse, there was no way they would be able to fight without leaving themselves exposed on a different side.

Not unless they had a way to deal with multiple opponents.

"I have an idea, Anabel." He whispered. "Be ready."

He turned his attention to Pikachu. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail on the ground! Kick up as much debris as you can!"

It was a testament to the trust they had that Pikachu didn't hesitate. His tail glowed, shimmering like steel, and radiating pure power. Pikachu leapt straight up into the air, only to come back down and slamming his tail into the concrete ground beneath them with all the power and momentum that he could harness. Huge chunks of concrete was thrown into the air above them, forcing the surrounding Pokemon and trainers to shield their eyes from any possible debris.

Unluckily for them, Anabel had caught on to what he was doing. Instead of raining down upon them all, Anabel's Espeon had taken hold of the debris and suspended it in midair with its Psychic. There wasn't a moment of hesitation before the debris was launched towards their enemies, whistling through the air, and slamming into their enemies with enough force to shatter the concrete and send them flying backwards. Some managed to avoid the debris... only to have it redirect itself and slam into them from behind with double the force.

Some bits of debris even went towards the trainers themselves. Some managed to jump out of the way in time, cowering on the ground with their arms shielding their heads. Others had their Pokemon leap in front of them to protect them from harms. The rest weren't so lucky and took the full force of the concrete striking them in their chest. He did his best to ignore the loud cracking and the cries of pain that he heard. These trainers may have been trying to help the police with the best of intentions, but they were still trying to kill him. He couldn't show them any empathy.

Not until he was safe.

"Come on, Ash! This way!"

With most of the Pokemon down for the count and the trainers too wary to try and stop them, now was their chance to escape. In the distance, he could hear sirens wailing. The police were fast approaching. It was now or never. He and Pikachu sprinted after Anabel and Espeon past their injured foes.

"There's our get away vehicle, dead ahead!"

He saw what she meant. A truck was in the distance racing towards them, kicking up a trail of dust behind it. For the first time since he'd woken up in a cell, he finally felt a spark of hope blossom in his chest. Just a few more yards and he'd be able to make his escape. Then after that, answers to all of his questions.

"There he is! Stop, now!" He heard an Officer Jenny shout. The police had arrived. "We can't let him escape!"

He couldn't let them get in his way.

"Pikachu, use Electro Ball on the arch of the gate!"

Pikachu leapt from his shoulder. He channeled all of his electricity into his tail, forming a massive ball of yellow and orange energy that was bright enough to illuminate the entire area. With a roar of defiance, Pikachu launched his attack towards the arch of the gate. It travelled with such speed that Officer Jenny and the other police barely had enough time to register what was happening and move out of the way, let alone do anything to prevent it from striking. When it hit, the arch collapsed in on itself and took the entire gate with it. In its place was a pile of rubble, preventing the police cars from following and blocking the police from following fast enough on foot.

Pikachu landed on his shoulder just as Anabel pulled him into the back of the truck. Once he was in, the driver quickly spun the truck around and sped away from the city. Soon enough, the police and the city they served became mere specks in the distance. He leaned back, letting out a tired sigh.

His eyes drifted to Anabel. "We made it." A semi-hysterical laugh escaped past his lips. "I can't believe we made it!"

Anabel sighed, pulling Espeon close to her chest. "It's not over yet, Ash. We still need to get you to a safe house and then out of the region soon after." She smiled at him. "Just get some sleep. I get the feeling you need it after the day you've had. I'll answer any questions you have tomorrow."

She had no idea how right she was. He was so tired... so long as he got the answers he wanted tomorrow then he wouldn't say no to a little rest.

"I'll do that... thanks, Anabel. For everything."

"Don't mention it, Ash. It was the right thing to do."

Chapter Text

Viridian city was in an uproar. It had been less than a week since Ash had managed to escape police custody and flee into the Viridian Forest. In that time, the police had done their best to keep the fact that he managed to escape them quiet. Unfortunately, there were always underpaid officers struggling to survive willing to trade what they knew to the press. Once word got out that the dangerous criminal Ash Ketchum had escaped, chaos had descended on the city.

People had panicked. Some were locking themselves in their homes with their families and refusing to come out. Others had taken to the streets to search for Ash themselves and get justice for the victim. Even more were taking to the internet to criticize the incompetence of the police and peddle conspiracy theories. This was made worse by the news shining light on all the mistakes the police had made that night. Some had even begun to question if the police were even worth the funding they received if they couldn't catch a single teenage boy.

Everyone was demanding to know one thing, however, regardless about what else they were doing: What were the police going to do now?

Nothing worthwhile, as far as the public was concerned. They held a press conference to try and placate the publics fears. That hadn't gone well once the press started to ask how Ash had escaped from his cell in the first place and the police had to admit that he had accomplices. When they had no answer for who had helped him escape or why false alarms had gone off across the city, it had sent the media into a frenzy. And when the police could only sputter and offer excuses when the family of Elizabeth Burk demanded to know if they would get justice? That had been the final straw. It was clear that no words would be able to make up for what had happened.

After the disaster that was their press conference, the police had decided that actions would speak louder than words. Search parties had been sent to the Viridian Forest to comb every inch of it for any trace of Ash. Police had been alerted in all the surrounding towns and cities to be on the lookout for him. Even outside of Ash, the police were cracking down hard on local crime within the city. You could hardly go anywhere in the city without seeing police arresting members of the local gangs or investigating local businesses for fraud. Despite all of these attempts to show the public they could still be relied on to protect them, people were not so quick to forget the VPD's most spectacular failure.

The police were doing their best to soldier through it, however. They ignored the criticisms of the public and the pressure from the politicians trying to avoid any blame themselves. As Brock and the others were learning, they were using the recent events as motivation to capture Ash and his accomplices. Which meant that aside from sending out search parties into the Viridian Forest, they were now interrogating Brock and the rest of the group as potential accomplices who helped him escape.

Not that the police were calling it that. Since none of them were under arrest, all the police were doing was 'interviewing' them. No one in the group believed that. They may not have been in cuffs or an interrogation room, but it was hard to mistake the air of suspicion and hostility radiating from the police in the groups hotel room. Brock had expected the police to come for them sooner, but he guessed they'd had more important things to do at the time.

The Officer Jenny that was sat on their couch clicked the pen in her hand and flipped through her notepad. Were this any other time, he'd have tried his hand at flirting with her. Brock always had been a sucker for a pretty face. At times like this, though, he knew there were more important things to focus on.

"Thank you all for agreeing to this interview."

Gary snorted in derision. "Not like we had much of a choice."

Brock cleared his throat. "Excuse my friend. We've all had a rough past few days."

Despite the frown on her face, he could see some trace of sympathy in Officer Jenny's eyes. "I can only imagine. Has anyone harassed you for your connections to Ash Ketchum?"

Cilan sighed. "For the most part, we've managed to avoid any harassment by staying in our room. Not many are willing to make a scene when there are witnesses nearby."

Officer Jenny quirked an eyebrow at the group. "And those few that are?"

Brock grimaced. "We've had a few people outside the hotel calling Delia a monster and... other things I'd prefer not to repeat." He frowned. "Hotel security never lets them in the building, but that doesn't stop us from hearing them."

It wasn't easy for any of them to hear what was being said about Ash's mother. They all knew how much of a wonderful person she was. The care she had shown for Ash had been enough to move all of their hearts. It took all their restraint to not march outside and let those people know what they thought about them. Had it not been for Professor Oak telling them it would only make the situation worse, Brock was convinced some of the more headstrong members of their group would have already gone to drive them away.

As for Delia... she hadn't taken it well. It was hard enough having to come to terms with the reality that her son was a murderer. Being harassed by people who had no idea who she was or care at all about what she was going through couldn't have been good for her. To hear people say that she was an incompetent mother for raising Ash to become a criminal was bad enough, but to say that she was just as guilty for what Ash did? It was despicable. She hadn't said a word or eaten since the news that Ash had escaped custody reached the public.

He hoped this didn't last.

Officer Jenny nodded. "I'm sorry to hear they're giving you so much trouble. If it escalates, please don't hesitate to call us." She sighed. "Now as much as I'd prefer not to make things any more difficult for you, I need to ask you all a serious question. You don't have to answer if you'd prefer not to, but I'd advise against that if I were you."

"We understand, ma'am."

"Good. Where were all of you the night of Ash Ketchum's escape?"

"We were all here."

Officer Jenny's eyes narrowed. "Really? Members of the hotel staff all claim that the only ones who stayed in this room that night were Mrs. Ketchum and Professor Oak."

Brock winced. Even if he couldn't see them, he knew that the others all held similar expressions.

"What's this about, officer? Are we not allowed to be out of our hotel room?" Tracey spoke up. It didn't appear to be the right thing to say if Officer Jenny's eyes were anything to go by.

"You are." She began. "It's just suspicious that you would try to hide it from us. Especially since we know that Ash had help escaping. It's enough for people to make assumptions."

"You think that we would help Ash after what he did!?" Dawn growled. "Why would we do that?"

Officer Jenny scoffed. "It wasn't hard to find out that you were all close friends of his. Some of you travelled with him across the regions while others were rivals." She leaned forward. The officers that she'd brought with her all tensed up in anticipation. This set Brock and the rest of the group on edge. "You're all famous and well-respected members of your fields. If you want to stay that way, then convince me that you shouldn't be suspects."

Brock held up his hand to stop the others from talking. With how emotional they were, he didn't want them to say something they might regret. Officer Jenny was right. All of them had a lot to lose. Not just their reputations or their jobs, but families that could be affected by this. They couldn't afford to drive away someone who could help prevent that.

"I'm sorry for how my friends are reacting, Officer Jenny. They're just emotional after everything that's happened." He apologized. "You're right. Most of us left the room last night. It wasn't to help Ash escape from police custody though."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Then what was the reason?"

"We heard that he had escaped and wanted to help capture him."

"You expect me to believe that?" She shook her head. "Nice try."

"It's the truth." He leaned forward, hands cupped in front of him. "You have to understand. Ash was our friend. He was a mentor to some of us and a brother to others. We all loved him in our own ways." He scowled. "And not one of us could see what he was really capable of. If we had, maybe we could have stopped him from attacking that woman."

"So, you all felt guilty enough to try and stop him yourself?" Officer Jenny sighed. "If that's true, then I'd say you're all acting like fools. None of you are responsible for what happened. He made the conscious decision to attack her. Still, I couldn't blame you for trying. Not when so many other trainers did the same thing."

"You believe us?"

"No, I don't." She got to her feet and made her way to the door. "Friendships aren't so easily abandoned. Maybe some of you are willing to accept the reality, but I'd bet every cent in my bank account that at least one of you isn't so willing to give up on an old friend."

"I'm telling you the truth."

"The evidence will determine that. If you really were trying to apprehend him, then I'm sure we'll see security footage of you all doing just that."

When Officer Jenny and the other police left, it was like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. It didn't last, though. Even if no one said it, Brock knew that the others would all be thinking about what she said. Did any of them believe that Ash was innocent? If so, had they gone beyond just believing his innocence and tried to help him escape? Normally Brock wouldn't have even considered the idea possible, but after everything that had happened, he wasn't so sure. If he found out one of them had helped Ash escaped...

Well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. Not when he harbored the same doubts they did.

Failure was an unpleasant new experience for Domino. She was supposed to be the unbeatable ace operative of Team Rocket. She had a nearly flawless record of success! No matter how impossible a mission seemed, she always succeeded. She had faced down rampaging Pokemon determined to kill her without breaking a sweat. She'd had to fend off rivals both within and without of the organization. She had clawed her way to the top and earned her reputation as a Specter.

Yet somehow, a single brat had managed to make a fool of her. No, that wasn't right. As much as Ash Ketchum had been the center of her failure, he wasn't the one responsible. No, that honor went to the International Police. She knew that the group was a threat. All the stories about their interference in Team Rocket's operations were impossible to ignore. Up until this point, though, she'd never had to deal with their interference personally. If she ever got her hands on the agents responsible, she'd make them regret ever deciding to stick their noses in Team Rocket's business!

That was an issue for another day. Well... that is if she even lived to see another day. Standing outside of Giovanni's office, all she could think about was what would happen to her soon. It wasn't hard to imagine Giovanni punishing her for her failure. When the boss himself issued a mission, it meant he had a personal interest in it and expected it to be a success. Yet she had failed so spectacularly that now their enemy would have a valuable new piece on the board to use against them. All because two members of the International Police couldn't leave the obvious murderer alone to suffer his fate.

The boss had refused to see her in the days since Ash Ketchum had managed to escape. Too busy making public appearances to keep up his façade as a Gym Leader and calm the city down. From what she'd been able to piece together from the reports, the increased scrutiny from the public was putting pressure on the police. Too much for those on Team Rocket's payroll to stop the more honest police from cracking down on crime and interfering in their business. Now that things were finally calming down a bit, he'd summoned her for a meeting.

It had given her plenty of time to look into the International Police agents that had gotten in her way.

The first was a man named Looker. Even with all of Team Rocket's resources, his real name was a mystery to them. What they did know about him was his reputation as one of that pesky organizations most effective agents. Based on reports their moles within the International Police had sent them, Looker was directly responsible for the arrest of numerous high-ranking members of Teams Galactic and Plasma. He'd even done work against Teams Magma and Aqua in the Hoenn region, though nothing as impressive as his work against Plasma or Galactic. In recent years, he'd focused his attention solely on Team Rocket and proven to be one of the International Police's most effective weapons against them.

He was marked as a high value target for elimination. Sadly, all attempts to do that had failed.

The other agent was one they had more information on. Anabel Romanov, a former Frontier Brain, and current rookie of the International Police. A trainer that specialized in Psychic types and could command them without uttering a word. It was hypothesized that she was Psychic herself, at least on enough of a level to be able to command Pokemon telepathically. It had actually caused a minor shock for the public when Anabel retired as a Frontier Brain. The Battle Frontier wasn't as popular as the Pokemon League, but it was still a prestigious institution. Leaving such a highly respected position with - as far as the public knew - no reason was downright unbelievable.

If Domino had to make a guess, Anabel had left for the same reason most fools joined law enforcement: she wanted to help people. Bleeding hearts never were satisfied living their own lives and staying out of other people's business. They always had to get involved when someone else was in trouble with the foolish goal of helping others - for no other reason than they wanted to! It was outrageous! Domino didn't doubt for a second that Anabel was the one that had suspected something was off with Ash. Damn Psychic.

She flinched when she heard Giovanni's voice over the speakers order her inside. Her trembling fingers grasped the doorknob, but something in her prevented her from opening it. She took a breath to try and calm her nerves.

The wrath of Giovanni was not something one easily survived. He wasn't just a Gym Leader for a cover; he really was strong enough to be one. If anything, she'd bet that he held back in all of the battles he performed for the League. She didn't doubt that if he wanted to, Giovanni could take on any member of the Elite Four or even the Champion with how powerful his Pokemon were. Which meant that her chances of surviving if he wanted her dead were nonexistent.

Anyone else in her position would have run long ago. Domino was more skilled than most. She knew how to go to ground and hide in plain sight. She was skilled enough to defend herself against any attackers and had plenty of powerful Pokemon of her own. Give her a go-bag and a change of clothes, and she could be anywhere else in the world. With her training, she could survive longer than anyone else who had Team Rocket hunting them.

She knew they would find her eventually though. No one escaped Team Rocket forever. Whether they hid themselves in the criminal underworld or went to the authorities for protection, Team Rocket would eventually find them and make them suffer. She'd rather her end be quick instead. A lifetime of looking over her shoulder wasn't one that she wanted. She would fight for her life and try to convince the boss she deserved another chance.

With her resolve hardened, she pushed open the doors to Giovanni's office and closed it behind her. She did her best to show no reaction to the Persian in the room circling her with a predatory gaze in its eyes. To react in this situation was to show weakness. If there was one thing anyone who worked with the man knew, it was that Giovanni despised weakness.

The man in question was sat behind his desk, hands cupped in front of him. He let out a tired sigh, his sharp eyes staring into her very soul. "Ash Ketchum escaped."

"Yes, sir."

"The International Police will no doubt try to recruit him into their ranks now."

"Yes, sir."

"The local police have been poking their noses where they don't belong and hindering our business."

"Yes, sir..."

What was he expecting her to do? Get down on her knees and beg? She may have been terrified for her life, but she still had her pride. If Giovanni had already made up his mind and she couldn't convince him otherwise, then she would accept her fate with dignity. Begging was the last thing that she would do.

Giovanni took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "We'll be postponing your mission to Alto Mare. Until I am satisfied, you will be working to contain the situation here in Viridian."

Domino blinked in confusion. "Is... is that it, sir?"

"What? Were you expecting something else?" Despite everything that had happened, Giovanni laughed. "Is that why you're stiff as a log and can't meet my eyes?"

She flinched. Clearly she hadn't been so good at hiding her nerves as she thought she was. "I thought you were angry."

"Oh, I am. Furious, actually." Giovanni turned to stare at the city below. "However, I'm not so angry that I can't think. I know you're not to blame for this disaster."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for being so understanding, Giovanni."

"I'm no fool, Domino. You did exactly as you were ordered to." Giovanni crossed his arms behind his back. His Persian came to rest behind him, though its eyes never left her. Even with Giovanni's assurances that she was in no danger, she still felt that Persian was liable to attack. "I should have been more prepared in case the International Police decided to step in. Next time, I won't make the same mistake."

She didn't doubt it. No one made a fool of Giovanni twice. "What would you have me do, sir?"

"Deal with the politicians." He began. "I can only do so much to convince people to calm down. You will need to persuade the politicians not aligned with us to either get in line... or suffer the consequences."

If they knew what was good for them, they'd bend to Team Rocket's whims. Being an ally could make a man powerful and wealthy if they played their cards right. Fortune, fame, power, and love were all benefits of working with them. Being an enemy, however, only promised one thing: suffering.

"Where should I start?"

"The police commissioner had to retire recently due to an unfortunate scandal. His successor is one of those 'tough on crime' types and taking advantage of the crisis to show how competent he is." Giovanni chuckled. "See to it he learns why it would be unwise to keep that line of thinking and the benefits of working with us."

Giovanni let out a tired sigh once Domino was gone and collapsed into his chair. His Persian hopped into his lip, looking up to him with concern in her eyes. Despite how tired he felt, a smile spread across his face. He scratched her behind the ears, content to listen to the soft purring of his loyal feline companion.

The last few days had been far more stressful than he had expected them to be. He was used to stress. Between his duties as a Gym Leader and running Team Rocket, he was almost always working. Ensuring that those two duties never conflicted was a difficult task when any slip could potentially expose him as the leader of Team Rocket. Having that happen would throw a wrench in many of his future plans. He was able to handle it without breaking down or letting it affect him though. One of the many skills he'd learned early on in his career was how to compartmentalize his life and tackle his issues one at a time.

Having a plan go awry was nothing new either. It happened all the time. Whether because of foolish grunts like Jessie and James messing up their simple jobs or the police showing a rare moment of competence, failure was an accepted part of the job. The more annoying failures were always when the League and the brats obsessed with competing for fame and glory decided to interfere out of a sense of righteousness. He always contented himself knowing he was playing the League officials for fools and could crush the brats when they came to challenge his gym. So long as there were always more successes than failures and Team Rocket maintained an intimidating reputation, he could be happy.

This most recent failure was different. It was because he had been the one to make a mistake. He had known that the International Police would be involved. He had put them in the same hotel as the Ketchum boys victim. His plan had merely been to use them to add extra legitimacy to the case against the boy with such respectable agents being the ones to capture him. He had known exactly which agents were coming to the city and their unique capabilities - psychic abilities included. He had overlooked the fact that they could decide to dig deeper into Ash Ketchum's case to discover why he had done it - even if all the evidence painted a clear picture. Had he accounted for that possibility, he would have kept those agents as far away from the boy as possible or come up with a different plan for him entirely.

He had thought for a moment to break the boys mind and turn him into a powerful tool. Wipe his mind completely and make him a Champion puppet. Or perhaps turn him into a new agent for the Specters. Alas, that plan would have backfired. All it would have taken was one unfortunate encounter with his old friends and his old memories would have resurfaced. Worse, if he had ever found out they made him into a puppet then he would have turned on them in an instant.

Leaving the boy be would have run the risk of him interfering in the future. Killing him truly was the best option. Outright assassinating him would have drawn too many eyes, which meant they needed a subtler touch. Turning the public and his friends against him was easy. From there, all they needed to do was stage his death as a suicide. No one would look closer. It had all seemed so simple. With it backfiring, he had given his enemies a powerful new weapon.

Now he had to make a show of working with the police to find the boy and reassure the public that they were safe. With so many people panicking and the police scrambling to repair their reputation as competent protectors, Team Rocket's business was being impacted. A vigilant police force and a panicking civilian population meant criminals were all suffering a net loss when it came to their profits. No criminal in their right mind was going to even consider conducting their usual business until this storm blew over.

Even when he was done with his more public duties, though, he still had to be the leader of Team Rocket. In the early days of his leadership when Team Rocket had been confined to Kanto and Johto, he could more directly oversee his operations to ensure they ran efficiently. Unfortunately, as Team Rocket expanded into new regions it became necessary for him to appoint others to oversee Team Rocket's business. Namely the Admins - the most powerful members of Team Rocket, barring himself of course.

He was scheduled for a call with one of the more... troublesome of his Admin's. One he had entrusted with an important task.

The call arrived on schedule, and he pulled it up on screen.

"Giovanni, sir. It's an honor to-"

"Skip the pleasantries, Proton." He let out a tired sigh. "I would prefer to keep this brief and to the point."

Proton was one of his most skilled Admins. He a competent trainer with powerful Pokemon at his command and he had a knack for leading others. His cruel disposition kept the Grunts in line and made their enemies wary of fighting when he was involved. With a shrewd business sense to boot, he was the perfect choice for an Admin. Sadly, Proton also knew how skilled he was and took every opportunity to flaunt it over others. His confidence bordered on narcissism at times.

Proton tipped his hat towards him. "Of course, sir." He cleared his throat. "I've managed to clean up the mess my predecessor left in Alto Mare. So far we've managed to smuggle millions of dollars' worth of contraband and Pokemon to various regions around the world. Our operatives returning from missions are using Alto Mare as a safe haven from authorities chasing them as well. We've even begun approaching the banks here to see if they would be open to helping launder our money for a cut of the profits. If they refuse, I have a few other ideas to launder the money."

Excellent. Turning Alto Mare into a proper base would only benefit their smuggling operations in the Johto region and beyond. With such a small police force more used to dealing with rowdy tourists than real crime, Team Rocket's operatives wouldn't need to worry about dealing with law enforcement interfering. Shipments into and out of the region would pass through the city with ease to drop off cargo or pick up new contraband bound for eager clients in far-off regions.

It should have been under their influence years ago. It would have if the last Admin he left in charge hadn't been an incompetent fool. Tragically, he had suffered an accident on a fishing trip and left him no choice but to replace him.

Such a shame.

"Hmm. And your other mission, Proton?"

Proton grimaced. "That... is proving to be a bit more complicated than we initially thought."

His eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Explain."

Proton let out a tired sigh. "Annie and Oakley were not as helpful as we'd hoped they would be." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "The DMA was easy enough to find. It's on display in the museum for all to see. Finding this secret garden where the Soul Dew and a Latias reside? That's proving to be more difficult."

"Oh? I was led to believe that they had found it."

A snort of laughter escaped past Proton's lips. "Oh, they probably did." He went on. "Their directions led us to a hole in the wall bar that made me need a shower just looking at it. Something tells me their memories were altered - most likely by that Latias."

How annoying. "And the people their report mentioned?"

"An alcoholic and a preschool teacher. Neither of whom know a thing about the DMA, Latias, or the Soul Dew." Proton groaned. "Chances are the memories of who was involved in stopping Annie and Oakley was also altered."

Wonderful. So, they had nothing to go on. "Their information cannot be relied upon then. Continue searching for this hidden garden and the schematics for the DMA. It is vital we gain access to its secret and the power of Alto Mare's lone protector."

Proton nodded. "I'll continue to have my agents search then. The city is only so big. We'll uncover something useful eventually." He paused. "Should I still be expecting a visit from that pet of yours?"

"Mind your tone, Proton." Giovanni growled. "No, she will not. Her most recent mission went awry, and I need her to remain in Viridian to run damage control."

A smile tugged at Proton's lips. "So, she finally failed a mission?" It was clear the man wanted to laugh. "Such a shame. Here I'd gone and set up a nice room for her to stay in. Oh well. I'll just have to make do without her."

"She will not be staying away forever." Seeing the way Proton's face fell at the idea of her going to Alto Mare in the future was almost enough to make Giovanni smile. Almost. "Once things in Viridian are handled, she will proceed to her next mission. Unless, of course, you can find what it is I desire before then."

Proton sneered. "If it means not having to deal with that arrogant brat, I'll burn this city to the ground to find what we want." He paused. "Figuratively speaking, of course."

"Then you'd best get to it. Don't disappoint me, Proton."

Ash had thought that the hardest part of Anabel's plan would have been escaping from the police. With how they had managed to avoid the police and how little they'd had to fight, it had been surprisingly easy to get out of the city. Even losing the police in Viridian Forest had been simple with how much of a head start they'd had. No, the hardest part had been something he hadn't expected: the waiting.

Anabel and the International Police had stashed him in a small cabin within Viridian Forest. He had been the only one there the past few days. His sole connection to the outside world had been an old radio. No television, no internet, and no people around for miles. It was just him, Pikachu, and the occasional Pokemon that would pass by. Anabel had said that she was needed in town but would be back in a few days with her superior. It left him plenty of time alone with his thoughts. Sadly, even though he knew what he would hear, he couldn't stop himself from listening to what was happening in Viridian city and the rest of the world.

Pain. Viridian city and its residents were in a perpetual state of panic because they believed he was going to kill more people. The guest broadcasts the radio stations were hosting with professional psychologists and detectives weren't helping - not when they were deconstructing his every action and spinning it in such a way that he came out looking like a monster. According to them, he was a sociopathic killer who had gotten tired of hiding and purposely been caught in the act. It hurt more than he thought it would to be considered a bigger monster than most of the criminals and evil teams he'd helped stop over the years.

It made him realize that even if the International Police managed to help him flee the region, his life as he knew it was over. He would never be able to compete in another League again or battle against a Gym Leader for a badge. Traveling the world, meeting new people, and catching wonderful Pokemon would never be the same. Whatever his doubts about continuing his journey had been before he'd been framed, the decision had been taken out of his hands completely. Now... now he didn't know what lay in store for him.

He glanced around the small, sparsely decorated cabin until his eyes landed on Pikachu. Seeing his little buddy sleeping peacefully nearby was enough to make him smile, despite everything that had happened lately. His partner hadn't been with him the night of the attack. Pikachu had no reason to believe that he was innocent of the crime, but still chose to help Anabel free him. Knowing his partner had so much faith and trust in him that he was willing to attack the police and those trying to bring him to justice lit a fire in him. He could only hope the rest of his Pokemon back at Professor Oak's felt the same way, even if he might never see them again.

Ash tensed up when he heard the sound of a car come to a stop outside of the cabin. The sound was enough to wake Pikachu. When he saw that Ash was by the window and heard the engine outside, electricity sparked off of his cheeks. He growled and ran towards the door, prepared to defend his trainer with everything he had. A quick glanced out the window showed that wasn't necessary.

"Calm down, Pikachu. It's alright." He smiled when Pikachu hopped towards him and scurried up to his shoulder. "It's just Anabel and... Looker?"

What was Looker doing here? Ash knew that he was a member of the International Police but seeing him here was still a surprise. Had Looker helped Anabel free him? He'd find out soon. When the two walked through the cabin doors, he offered them a relieved if hesitant smile.

"Hello Ash. It's good to see you again." Looker offered him a small smile in return. "Settling in well? I know this cabin isn't the nicest place to stay."

"It's fine." Especially since the only real alternatives were roughing it in the wilderness with no supplies or going to prison. "How do you and Anabel know each other?"

Looker laughed and ruffled Anabel's hair. She growled and elbowed him in the gut, forcing him to buckle over in pain. That didn't stop the smile from spreading across Looker's face though. "This lass here is my new partner. A rookie that I'm showing the ropes. Between you and me, she's still got a lot to learn."

"I'm standing right here you know..."

Looker rolled his eyes. "Believe me, I know." His gaze shifted to Ash. "I hope you've told Anabel how thankful you are for this. It's because of her that we know you weren't responsible for the crime. She was determined to save you no matter the cost."

He nodded and offered Anabel a grateful smile - one that she returned. "I know you two risked a lot by freeing me. Thank you." This brought up a good question though. One that had been bugging him since he'd been dropped in this cabin. "Why do you two say that I'm innocent? That Team Rocket framed me? The police said that the evidence against me was airtight."

Looker frowned. "Oh, it is. The two of us were the ones to arrest you." He let out a tired sigh and sat down at the table in the room. He gestured for Ash and Anabel to do the same. "You've met Anabel in the past, so you must know that she's got some Psychic abilities of her own."

How could he forget? It had been one of the toughest battles of his entire journey. While most of his challenges had been difficult because of unique, powerful Pokemon or brilliant strategies from his opponents, Anabel had been different. While her Pokemon had been powerful, her biggest advantage had been her ability to communicate telepathically with them. Without the audible warning of what his opponent was going to do next, he had been thrown completely for a loop. Without the audible commands, he had been forced to adapt to a new type of trainer battle.

"I remember. What does her having telepathy have to do with me though?"

Anabel hummed in thought. "I can do a bit more than that, Ash. One of my abilities allows me to conduct a surface scan of your mind." She grimaced. "I can feel your emotions and hear your thoughts. With a bit more effort, I can also review your memories. Yours... they were gone."

"Gone?"

She nodded. "There was evidence of Psychic tampering. Further investigation revealed that someone used a Hypno to take control of you." She sighed. "Then they sent you to the hotel with the sole purpose of framing you. With no memory of your own and so much evidence against you, it was the perfect crime."

Team Rocket had turned him into a puppet on a string. It was still so hard to believe... the image he had of the group was almost completely incompatible with what they had done. He wasn't even sure when they could have done it! The last thing he remembered was going for a walk to clear his head and helping that girl look for her-

His eyes widened. "The girl..." He whispered.

"That girl was an agent of Team Rocket." Anabel reached into her pocket and pulled out her Pokegear, handing it to him. On its screen was the same girl who had asked for his help - a little younger and more threatening looking, but impossible to mistake. "We don't know her real name, but her codename is Domino - the Black Tulip and one of their elite Specter operatives."

Domino? He recognized that name! Now he knew why she had seemed so familiar that night! "I've met her before!"

Looker blinked. "You have?"

"It was years ago during my journey through Johto." A simpler time. He missed it. "She was there with a whole bunch of other Team Rocket agents trying to capture a Mewtwo at Mount Quena! They almost did, but my friends and I managed to stop them and erase their memories."

"Is that so?" Looker chuckled. "Sounds to me like you've been fighting criminals for a lot longer than I've known you if that's the case. I'd say that explains why they wanted you out of the picture, but with their memories gone..."

"They wouldn't have any personal reasons to do it." Anabel frowned. "They must be worried he'd get in their way in the future."

Looker snorted in laughter. "Talk about self-fulfilling prophecies."

Ash wasn't sure what he meant by that. "So, what happens now? Should I be worried about the police finding me before we move?"

Anabel shook her head. "Nope. No one would ever suspect that you're this deep in Viridian Forest. Even if they did, there's no chance they'd try to follow you."

"Why not?"

Looker gestured out the window towards the trees full of Bug Pokemon. "This cabin is within Beedrill's territory. Add in that it's breeding season..."

And no sane person would ever set foot here. Beedrill were temperamental and territorial at the best of times when you wandered into their territory. Doing that when they were all pent up and focused on breeding? Chances were they wouldn't stop chasing whoever was stupid enough to disturb them until they were dead.

"How are we here then? Shouldn't they be swarming the cabin to get to us?" He and Pikachu both glanced out the window and tensed up when they heard a Beedrill fly by the cabin. He was only able to breath once it was clear it wasn't the beginning of an attack by hundreds of angry Pokemon.

"There's a trail that leads here." Looker began. "You must have not noticed, but the route you took in your escape is a backroad into Beedrill territory. They either don't know it's there or don't care about people using it. Whatever the case, it makes this the perfect place for a safehouse. Unless the police can find that back road, you won't have to worry about them."

"We'll be moving you soon regardless." Anabel offered him a smile. "Once our friends in the city manage to calm the civilians down and recall the police from searching the forest, we'll make our move."

He blinked. "Friends? Are these the same ones who helped me escape?"

"Some, yes. Others are one's that we had to keep in the dark for their safety." Looker explained. "Don't worry. Another few days and Giovanni should have everything under control. Being a Gym Leader has its perks."

Giovanni? He'd heard that name somewhere before... "Who's Giovanni?"

Now it was Looker's turn to blink. "You don't know Giovanni? I'd have expected you of all people to know him since you're from Kanto." He pulled out his own Pokegear and passed it to Ash. What Ash saw made his heart sink. Giovanni - the man that Looker and Anabel said was a friend of the International Police - was the same man who had led the attack on Mount Quena and nearly bent Mewtwo to his will. The same man who had commanded Team Rocket with nearly unquestioned authority and put his friends in danger.

"He was there too..."

"Hm?"

"Mount Quena." He clarified. "He was there leading Team Rocket. He hurt a lot of innocent people and Pokemon."

Looker abruptly stood up. The look on his face was a complicated mix of alarmed and pained. "Are sure?" He leaned forward until his nose was almost touching Ash, forcing him to lean back. "Are you absolutely certain this is the man you saw there?"

"I'm certain."

"Why haven't you ever said anything before now?" Anabel piped up. "If you knew that he was a member of Team Rocket, you should have told the authorities!"

The answer was simple: He hadn't cared enough and had forgotten. At the time, he had thought the matter was dealt with when Giovanni and his people all had their memories erased. Without knowing who Giovanni really was, he'd moved on. He had Gym badges to collect, Pokemon to train, and new lands to explore. Even as Team Rocket continued to follow him across the regions and he saw them go toe to toe with the other evil teams, he still hadn't thought Team Rocket was dangerous enough to spare another thought.

"I was a kid back then... I was focused on other things." No need to say what those other things had been. "Does he know about this place?"

Looker shook his head, a frown on his face. "No. He is- was an ally, but only International Police agents are aware of our safehouses." He growled underneath his breath. "This complicates things."

"What are we going to do, sir?"

Looker was silent for a moment. Eventually, he let out a long, tired sigh. "Unfortunately, nothing at the moment. We don't have the manpower or resources to make any move against Giovanni now. I'll inform command and see where we go from there." His eyes flickered to Ash. "Then there's you."

He blinked. "Me?"

"You have two choices, Ash." Looker began. "Option one is we help you escape the region. We put you into witness protection outside the reach of Team Rocket. You'll have a new name and a new life. When we manage to find evidence to clear your name or arrest Giovanni and any other high-ranking members of Team Rocket, we'll have you testify against them. Then you get your old life back."

A new life... it pained him to even think about it. He didn't want that. Even if Looker claimed it was temporary, Ash knew that the chances of his name being cleared and him getting his life back were close to zero.

"What's the other option?"

"You come with us." Anabel offered him a reassuring smile. "You become an unofficial agent of the International Police and help us take the fight to Team Rocket. You'll have a personal hand in bringing them down and clearing your name."

His eyes widened in shock. "How would that even work? I don't know the first thing about law enforcement. I don't even have most of my Pokemon!"

Looker patted him on the shoulder. "No one who joins us has any idea what they're doing at first. We can teach you everything you need to know. As for your Pokemon..." He hummed in thought. "I could see about having agents infiltrate Professor Oak's lab once the situation dies down and smuggle your Pokemon out, but that would be months down the line. You would see them again though."

Ash bit his lip. "Are you sure you want me? I'm a criminal now. All I've ever even known how to do is compete in the Pokemon League."

Looker tsked. "You wouldn't be the first criminal we've worked with before nor the first who was actually innocent of his crime. You won't officially be an agent, but our work won't force you into the spotlight, so your status as a criminal won't hurt us."

"And your experience in the League will come in handy." Anabel added. "Not many International Police have the same skill that you do when it comes to Pokemon battles. Your experience in that field will help us in more ways than one."

"The point is that you can help us, Ash. Our leaders have already given us approval to train you as one of us if you accept. You can get justice for what has been done to you. Justice for Mrs. Burk and everyone else they've hurt as well." Looker crossed his arms. "But the decision is yours."

Ash looked away. He was at a crossroads now. One road promised him protection from Team Rocket. The other promised him a chance to fight back against them and clear his name. Both paths would lead him to a new life. A part of him wanted to take the first option and accept witness protection. Leave the dangerous work to those more experienced in it and take his chance at a new life. A different part of him, though... a different part of him wanted to leap at the chance to clear his name. To fight back against Team Rocket. To make them pay for all the people and Pokemon they had hurt.

He glanced at Pikachu, perched on his shoulder. One look made it clear what Pikachu wanted to do. With the fire burning behind his eyes and sparks dancing off his cheeks, it was obvious to them all that Pikachu wanted to fight. That he wanted to fight Team Rocket. Seeing his oldest friend looking so determined... it was enough to make the decision for him.

Ash stood and stared Looker in the eyes. He extended his hand forward. "I'll do it. I'll join the International Police."

Chapter Text

A fist swung in towards Ash's head.

He stepped to the left, narrowly managing to avoid the blow. He tried to put some distance between him and his opponent by leaping backwards. It was a mistake. One he immediately regretted when his enemy took advantage of it, not giving him a chance to catch his breath or think. A swift kick - faster than he could dodge or block - struck him in the ribs. He grunted in pain and felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs. He hit the floor hard. His limbs burned with exhaustion and his vision swam, but he didn't stay where he was. He couldn't.

Training forced him to roll to the side to avoid the foot that came down where he used to be. He rolled backwards over his shoulder and forced himself to his feet. Behind him, he could hear the telltale sound of Pikachu firing off Thunderbolts against his own enemies. When he heard him cry out in pain, he couldn't help but turn to see his Partner being crushed under the metallic foot of a Metagross. Despite how much he struggled, it was clear that Pikachu couldn't do anything to escape.

"Pikachu!"

It was a mistake to turn and look. With his attention on his Pokemon, he didn't see what his opponent was doing. When his legs were swept out from under him, all he could do was gasp in surprise. Their boot was held against his throat, and he reflexively tried to pull it away. All it did was make his opponent push their boot even harder against his throat. This was the end. He couldn't do anything to escape.

"I-I yield..." He groaned out.

The boot pressed against his throat was taken off. He took in a sharp, deep breath now that he could breathe again. An amused snort reached his ears. He sat up and rubbed his throat, eyes drifting up towards his opponent that had tossed him around like a ragdoll.

"Better. You lasted a few seconds longer this time. The same goes for Pikachu." Anabel grinned and offered him a hand up. He gladly took it. He wasn't so sure he'd have been able to stand on his own. "Though you could still do better. You let yourself get distracted."

He frowned. "Pikachu was hurt."

"In a mock battle. You knew there was nothing to worry about." Anabel sighed and gestured to her Pokemon. Her Metagross lifted its leg off of Pikachu and stepped back. Ash rushed over to his partner and crouched down by his side. He looked over for any injuries beyond the norm - broken bones, signs of a concussion, or labored breathing. When he found none, he let out a relieved sigh and pulled him in close for a hug.

"Are you alright, buddy?"

"Pi."

"He says that he's fine, Ash." Anabel tossed him an ice-cold bottle of water. He gulped it down eagerly. "Why don't you two take some time to rest? We've been going for a few hours, so you should relax a bit. We'll continue later."

He flashed her a thumbs-up. He took a breath and laid down on the ground beneath him. As he felt Pikachu curl up on his chest in exhaustion as well, his mind drifted to the past few weeks. He had managed to escape Kanto not long after he had agreed to work with the International Police. The trip itself had been far more uneventful than he had suspected it would have been. A short, uncomfortable flight in the cargo bay of a plane to the Johto region and he was in the clear. He was safe - as much as he could be, anyway - from the authorities at the International Police's headquarters in the region.

He hadn't really known what to expect by joining them. Maybe some sort of ritualistic initiation involving strange robes and creepy chanting or an intense test of his skills and intelligence to prove he deserved to be there like in the movies. He hadn't expected to almost immediately be put to work training. Not just training Pikachu but training him as well. They taught him how to think outside the box. They taught him to better understand interregional law. He learned the importance of being able to lie and understand people. They even taught him the basics of investigative work. It was all interesting to learn. Extremely difficult and outside of his comfort zone, but he was eager and willing to learn as much as he could.

Unfortunately, he was also required to learn how to fight. According to Anabel and Looker, he needed to be able to defend himself in case his Pokemon couldn't. He could see the reasoning behind that and had tentatively been excited to learn. At least until he'd found out firsthand what he was expected to do. It wasn't just learning how to throw a punch or block a strike. It was intense training to build muscle, improve his reaction time, make him faster, and in general do whatever it took to make him stronger. The combat training in particular was unique since Anabel and Looker always had him train alongside Pikachu's battles. Sometimes even forcing him to try and defend himself against Pokemon themselves! Once he'd even seen Anabel punt Pikachu into the wall like a soccer ball!

Those days were always the most painful for the both of them.

Ash sat up with a groan, much to the dismay of his partner who slid down his chest to rest on the floor with a tired groan of his own. He looked towards Anabel to see her relaxing with her Pokemon. She wasn't even sweating... he tried not to let that crush his pride. She had been doing this a lot longer than him. Of course she would be better at handling the exertion than he was. He just needed to keep working at it and eventually he'd reach her level.

"Anabel, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

She glanced his way with curiosity in her eyes. "What's on your mind?"

"Why are you having me train to fight?" The question had been bugging him ever since they had been doing this. Up until now, though, he'd been too caught up actually training to question why he was doing it in the first place. "It seems pointless when I have Pikachu with me."

Anabel frowned and sat down across from him. Her Pokemon all did the same, curled up at her sides. "Why do you think it's pointless?"

"Well... Pikachu is the one who does most of the fighting. He's capable of doing a lot more than I can." It was just a fact of life that Pokemon were naturally capable of far more than Humans were. They could take far more punishment, perform amazing feats of strength and speed, manipulate the elements and the world around them... He'd heard Clemont talk about how Human could do the same one day with technology, but that was far in the future from what he'd been told. "What's the point when I'll be relying on him so much?"

She laughed. "I remember thinking the same thing when I was training. But it's not so simple." It certainly seemed simple to him. "It's true that most Humans can't naturally compete with Pokemon, but it's not so cut and dry. Take me, for instance."

He blinked in confusion. "You?"

She nodded. "I am a Psychic." She began. "While I can't levitate objects or attack others with my mind, I can defend myself from almost any form of psychic assault. I can link the minds of myself and those around me to allow instant, silent communication - something that is essential in a battle. Even putting me aside, other Psychics more powerful than me can potentially match Pokémon's telekinetic or telepathic abilities."

"That's different though." He rushed to point out. "Not everyone is Psychic like you. The rest of us can't really compare."

Something he'd learned early on in his journey. He could still remember when he first challenged Sabrina for her gym badge. He'd lost, of course. He'd gone in expecting to beat her with brute force and she'd toyed with him the entire time. After the loss, he and his friends had been teleported to an abandoned town and become her playthings. He'd learned his lesson after that. Psychics were on a whole other level compared to any other trainer. It was a lesson that was only reinforced the longer he'd gone on his journey.

He wasn't prepared for Anabel to reach across and flick his nose with an amused grin. He could only gape at her in surprise. He must have looked funny because she laughed, though she tried her best to hide it from him.

"Not true, Ash." She wagged her finger in his face. "While the average person can't use the same abilities as psychics, they can become strong enough to fend off a Pokemon - at least up to a certain point."

"But how?"

"Simple physical strength and skill." She told him. "Haven't you ever wondered why martial artists train directly alongside their Fighting type Pokemon? How they're able to do that even though Pokemon are supposedly so superior to Humans?"

He... hadn't. It just seemed like a normal, everyday thing. He'd been more focused on traveling with his friends and training for the Pokemon League. There had never been any time to think about the differences between Humans and Pokemon in detail.

"Fighting types use the same martial arts as Humans, so martial artists train alongside them all the time without suffering any serious harm." She explained. "There's many instances of Humans being able to beat Pokemon of all types thanks to superior skill and a good deal of creativity." She paused for a moment. A frown crossed her face and her violet brows furrowed. "That doesn't mean it's advised that you fight Pokemon yourself, though. Only as a matter of last resort when our enemies Pokemon manage to break past your own."

Only as a last resort... he should have expected that. The battles he took part in from now on wouldn't be regulated by the Pokemon League. There wouldn't be anyone to stop his opponents from ordering their Pokemon to maim or kill him. When his Pokemon fainted, they wouldn't stop attacking or politely wait for him to switch. The old rules had been thrown out the window. He wouldn't be fighting for a gym badge or the prestige. He would be fighting for survival and justice.

He'd have to get used to it if he planned on sticking around.

"Is that why you've had your Pokemon attack me during training? Why you've attacked Pikachu?"

She nodded swiftly. "Better you both get the experience here in a safe, controlled environment than an actual battle. Your mistakes won't be punished so severely here." She explained. "With luck, you'll only personally have to fight other Humans. It's why I'm your main sparring partner, after all."

He frowned. "How often do you think I'm going to have to use that experience?"

Anabel let out a sigh. "If you're lucky, not often. Pikachu should hopefully be enough to handle any Pokemon. If he can't, though, you need to be able to defend yourself long enough to either get away or find a way to beat them." She quickly got to her feet and offered him a hand up. "Ready to continue? I think you've gotten enough rest."

Ash glanced down at Pikachu. He looked ready to go another round with her Pokemon, albeit reluctantly. He accepted her hand and got to his feet. He was determined to do better. If learning how to defend himself from Pokemon and how to fight multiple opponents at once was what he needed to, then that was what he would do. It didn't matter how long it took or how painful it was!

Misty hadn't called him a stubborn fool for nothing!

"I'm ready when you are."

He wasn't ready.

If there was one thought flowing through Looker's head as he overlooked Ash's training, it was how unprepared Ash was for the tasks ahead of him. He had a willingness to learn beyond the average recruit. Even if the lessons were difficult, the boy took to them with an eagerness that could only help him. Truthfully, he was learning fast for someone with no prior experience in law enforcement. While he took to the combat training the easiest, the reports on his progress all claimed that despite a reluctance on his part to lie to others, Ash had a natural affinity for the more covert part of the job. While his investigative skills were only average at best, the reports assured him that with time he could become competent enough to operate on his own.

It wasn't enough though.

No matter how eager Ash was in his training or how skilled he had the potential to become, it wouldn't change the fact that he wasn't ready for the missions ahead of them. His inexperience would only get in the way. He would make mistakes. Mistakes that could tip off the enemy to their presence and make their mission far more difficult. He would hesitate in the critical, life or death situations the job often put them through as anyone unused to being in those situations would. He could be hurt or killed if he were sent into the field as he was now, to say nothing of the risk everyone around him would be in as well.

Their next mission all but required someone who knew what they were doing. Even Anabel - a rookie herself- was far more experienced and had the fundamentals of the job down. She would still be learning, but the skills she brought with her would only benefit the mission. The same could not be said for Ash. The best thing for Looker to do would be to leave Ash behind. Theoretically, the boy would be safe here among the International Police. He could continue to improve until he was finally ready to join him and Anabel in the field. Meanwhile the two of them could work at their best and strike a blow against Team Rocket.

Sadly, that wasn't possible. While Looker wanted to believe that the International Police were incorruptible, he wasn't so naive. He didn't doubt that there were members of the International Police that were corrupt and had been bought or blackmailed by Team Rocket into being a mole. It was why individual agents were cautioned against sharing the details of their missions with those that weren't involved. If they weren't careful, Team Rocket could learn of their plans and adapt. The damage they could cause to the organization would be disastrous.

Which was why he couldn't afford to leave Ash behind. If he did, it was possible that a traitor in their ranks would kill Ash. Then all that potential he had would go to waste. Ash would never get the justice he deserved and any future he may have had once this was all over would crumble into dust.

For better or worse, Ash would be accompanying Looker and Anabel on their next mission. They'd have to continue his training themselves during the mission. With luck, Ash wouldn't hinder their mission too much and they could finish without any bloodshed. Perhaps Ash would even benefit from some on the job experience and come out the other side better for it.

Only time would tell.

For Proton, life was good. He ate the finest foods, he slept on the softest of silk sheets, and he mingled with high society like he was born among the fools. For a Unovan kid who grew up within the system, it was a massive step up from eating processed food from a can or sleeping on a bed that stabbed him in the back as he slept.

Sitting here in an immaculate dining room covered in expensive gold and silver ornaments, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. Joining Team Rocket had been one of the best decisions he had ever made. It had been nothing more than an impulse job at first. A freelance gig to help break into a bank when he had been in a rough position and needed the cash. One good performance there and an impressive pay off afterwards, and he was all too eager to join this mysterious organization from far away Kanto. A single year of grueling training, a few more years working his way through the ranks to prove his worth to his superiors, and a good deal of cruelty and ruthlessness had paid off when he had ascended to the rank of Admin all before he was even thirty years old.

A monumental achievement that promised him a future of wealth and power. He twirled the gleaming silver knife in his hand and stabbed it into the berry salad he had in front of him. Fresh and juicy Pecha, Oran, and Sitrus berries all topped with a nice helping of whipped cream. His favorite. If all the other foods arrayed in front of him were just as good, he'd have to find a way to wrangle the recipe out of the cook. He absentmindedly stroked the Lillipup tensely huddled into his side.

He glanced up when he heard someone enter the dining room and felt a cocky grin work its way onto his face. "Good evening, Mr. Caffrye."

Mr. Caffrye was exactly what one would expect from an art authenticator. He looked every bit the snooty, arrogant Kalosian everyone pictured right down to the greasy, slicked back hair, the formal suit a size too small, and a general air of superiority to all those around him. From what Proton had heard, the man's personality did nothing to offset the poor first impression his appearance could give. According to his people, the man was a sleazy pig with a penchant for wine and absolutely zero capability of holding his liquor. Add in that the man was rude to everyone he met and only knew how to shout at the top of his lungs?

Well Proton could understand why his wife would cheat on the man with Alto Mare's mayor.

At the moment, Mr. Caffrye's face was turning an ugly shade of red, and his face scrunched up in disgust. "Who the hell are you?"

He laughed and hoisted the Lillipup in his lap up with one arm. He pressed a mocking kiss to its neck before taking another bite off his knife of the fruit salad in front of him. "No need to be worried, Mr. Caffrye. Bartrand and I are getting along splendidly." He twirled his knife and pointed it towards the bowl. "Care for a berry? It's absolutely delicious. Far better than the local mush I could get from this city's trash that's passed off as food at the produce market."

Mr. Caffrye reached into his pocket. "I'm calling the police." The man growled. He didn't get far, though. Proton let out a tired sigh and snapped his fingers. On cue, his Crobat swooped down from the ceiling and knocked the phone from the man's hand. Mr. Caffrye let out a startled yep and leapt back. His Crobat growled and barred its fangs, venom dripping to the floor. It sizzled where it landed, leaving nothing but holes where floor had once been.

With the way the man shook, it was clear he understood that he wasn't to try something like that again.

"Mr. Caffrye, you and I both know that you're the authenticator for a certain auction being held soon." Proton began. "One where a number of high-profile paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts will be sold to eager collectors from all over the world."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." The lie was plain as day and they both knew it. "I'm just a simple art collector. I don't authenticate anything!"

Proton stabbed another slice of Pecha berry. "You really should try some of this. They're so juicy and perfectly ripe. It's an explosion of flavor in your mouth." He laughed and audibly bit into the slice. "The auction. I'll be slipping a few forgeries into the line-up. You're going to authenticate them as the real ones and help drive the price up."

Mr. Caffrye sneered. "If you hurt him..."

The Lillipup whimpered in Proton's arms. A toothy grin crossed his features, and he held the knife up so that it gleamed in the light. "I'm not a monster, Mr. Caffrye. I would never harm such an innocent creature like this." He tightened his grip on his knife and threw it towards the pathetic excuse for a man. It was almost funny how quickly the man collapsed to the floor after it sunk into his thigh. The way he flailed around like a beached Wailmer, clutching his wound with no idea what to do... it was definitely the highlight of his day so far. Rich bastards like this one always thought they were untouchable. Even when they were clearly at someone else's mercy.

Sadly, it couldn't last.

With a regretful sigh, he placed the Lillipup on the ground and stalked over to the man on the ground. He ripped the knife out of him - careful not to damage an artery but otherwise uncaring about whatever pain it caused the man. He wiped the blade of the knife clean of blood and set it on the table. With a snap of his fingers, Crobat landed on the man's chest with its fangs barred and hovering mere millimeters away from puncturing his jugular.

Mr. Caffrye stilled.

"You on the other hand..."

"W-why are you even interested in the auction in the first place!?" Caffrye cried out.

He raised his foot and pressed it against the man's wound. Hard. "None of your business." He chuckled as he saw the man squirm in pain. "All you need to know is if you do what I want you live, and I'll kick a little of the profits your way. You don't..."

Crobat growled with a bloodthirsty gleam to its eyes.

"Fine." Caffrye whimpered. "Just leave me and my family alone. I'll do what you want."

Proton lifted his foot and clicked his tongue at his Crobat. It was clear that it had been hoping Caffrye refused or put up more of a fight. It very reluctantly lifted itself off of the man's chest, but not before spitting a glob of poison directly next to the man's head. Proton was thankful it had missed and merely ate a hole in the floor. Watching what his Crobat's venom was capable of doing to a body wasn't pleasant to watch when he'd just eaten himself.

He returned Crobat to its Poke ball and tipped his hat at the man. "I'm so glad you've seen things my way. I think eventually you'll come to enjoy this partnership. Tell your wife I said hello and to give me a call." With a jolly whistle on his lips, he left Caffrye and his Lillipup in the man's kitchen to tend to the damage that had been done. It was a shame to leave behind all that wonderful looking food, but he other work to deal with today. The downside of power often was that he had little time for himself.

At least he got to have a bit of fun. As he let himself out of Caffrye's home, he saw that the grunts he had brought along with him were approaching. He stalked down the street at a slow enough pace for them to catch up. If they were willing to break their cover and openly approach him, he'd give them the chance to explain why. For their sake, he hoped they had a good reason.

"What is it?"

The grunt audibly gulped in fear. "How did it go, sir?"

Was that it? "It went well. That fat bastard will do whatever I want. The man is more cowardly than a Golisopod." Useful for their purposes. With him authenticating their forgeries, Team Rocket would be able to launder tens of millions through the auction without having to worry about the authorities looking into it too deeply. A stroke of genius on his part as far as he was concerned. Hidden among all of the legitimate purchases was a gold mine. Sadly, this would be a one-time occurrence, but soon enough his other ideas for front businesses would become a reality.

He'd prove to Giovanni that he was his most valuable Admin. "I hope there was more to your approaching me than that, grunt."

They nodded. "Yes, sir. We received a call from headquarters... Giovanni wants to know what kind of progress you're making on our other mission."

His heart skipped a beat. He whirled around and grabbed the grunt by the neck of their shirt to pull them close. Close enough that the worthless little grunt could see the promise of murder within his eyes. "What. Did. You. Tell. Him?"

The grunt shut their eyes. The fear rolling off of them was so strong Proton was almost convinced they would pass out from fear with how badly they were shaking. "We-we told them that everything was going according to plan. That we had almost found the Latias and were close to capturing it!"

Reluctantly, Proton released the grunt and allowed them to tumble to the ground. He sneered down at them. For all that Team Rocket had grown in strength, there were always weak-willed fools in their ranks. Hopefully once he proved how skilled he was to the boss, he could finally get some actually competent agents here. Until then he would just have to deal with the trash he was given.

"Make sure it stays that way." He paused for a moment. His hand noticeably drifted to Crobat's Poke ball. "The next time Giovanni calls, none of you are to pick up. Understand? I am the only one who will be speaking to our boss."

The grunt didn't so much speak their agreement as they did whimper and nod up at him. With a scoff, Proton stalked off down the road without paying the grunt or their weakness another thought.

While Proton's efforts to establish Team Rocket within Alto Mare and effectively turn the city into a port for their own operations were going successfully so far aside from a few minor hiccups, his efforts to find that Latias or any trace of the Soul Dew had still bore no fruit. No matter how much he encouraged his subordinates or how hard he himself searched, there was no trace of that annoying Legendary. Every lead they followed ended in a dead end and them looking like fools to the other Admins for not being able to find one Pokemon. Even their efforts to locate schematics for the DMA without arousing suspicion hadn't turned up anything!

He growled. He'd have liked to see the others try to find it, just so he could laugh and mock them when they inevitably failed. It was always easier to criticize others for their failures so long as you weren't the one experiencing the same issues. A Legendary that lived within a secret garden and could turn itself invisible on top of that meant that even if they did find the damn thing, they'd need to go in with everything they had just to have a chance of catching it. The attention that would bring to them would be bothersome and they'd likely lose at least half their people to battle or police arrest, but if it meant capturing such a rare Pokemon and a once in a lifetime find of an artifact?

It would all be worth it.

"My everything hurts..."

Anabel laughed and patted him on the shoulder. It took everything Ash had just to resist groaning in pain. "Oh, come on, Ash. It wasn't that bad."

He sent a glare her way. Her smile told him it had absolutely no effect. "You're not the one who got thrown around like a Human pinball." He let out a tired sighed. "That Espeon of yours is really strong. And that Metagross... I think it doesn't like me."

Anabel tilted her head. "What makes you say that?"

He grimaced. "Well, it kept bouncing me against the wall a little more forcefully than it needed to. I know he was holding back, but still..."

She hummed and tapped her chin in thought. "Well, Metagross is pretty prideful. It may still be angry about the time you and Pikachu beat it." Her eyes glanced to his partner on his shoulder. "Speaking of, I hope you're alright Pikachu. Do you need to see a doctor?"

Pikachu shook his head, though he winced at the movement. Clearly his old buddy was just as sore as him, even if he couldn't voice that the same way that he could.

"I'm fine too, you know. No need to see a doctor here..."

She chuckled. "Don't be so sarcastic, Ash. If you need to see a doctor, I'll take you there afterwards. Or if you'd prefer, I can take a look at you." She offered. "I am trained in field medicine, after all."

She was? Was that something she had to learn herself or was it something he'd be taught while he was with the International Police as well? A part of him hoped that he would. Who knew what could happen in the field that he may have to deal with, however far away that may be?

"Would you? Are you any good at it?"

She scoffed. "Of course I am!" A smirk stretched across her face, and she cupped her gloved hands in front of her. "I'll just need to knock you unconscious. Can't have you squirming around while I poke and prod your body to see what's wrong. Especially if I need to break out the scalpels."

He gulped and let out a nervous laugh. "N-no thanks, Anabel! I'm actually feeling fine!" He practically shouted. "I could actually go for a mile run once this is over just to prove how great I'm feeling!"

Anabel rolled her eyes and patted his head. "Well don't work too hard. Remember to give your body the time it needs to rest." She glanced around the room they were in. It was a simple room with grey walls, a small rectangular table in the center, and a large TV on the wall. "I wonder where Looker is? And why he wants you here for this?"

"Here for what?"

"A mission briefing, Ash." Looker answered as he entered the room. There was a bundle of files underneath his arms. "Anabel and I are going on a mission. And you are coming with us."

Anabel shot to her feet and slammed her hands on the table. "What!?" She shrieked. "Looker, are you insane? Ash has barely even started his training!"

She was right! He still didn't know the first thing about this job! He could barely grasp the intense form of battles the International Police used, let alone how to blend in with others or how to sniff out a crime! He'd been told it would take at least a year - potentially more - for him to complete the training. Why would Looker want to take him with them? Ash would just drag them down! He told the man exactly that.

Looker frowned and set the files he had down on the table. "He'll learn better on the job than he would here. It's not like he has no experience in dangerous situations, after all." He held up a hand to stop both of their objections and let out a tired sigh. "Listen, I share your concerns. But... the truth is he'll be safer with us out there than he would be here."

What?

Anabel's eyes narrowed. "You think that Rocket has people in the International Police?"

What!?

Looker nodded. "I do. Anyone with even a basic grasp of the situation would think the same. Whatever danger he would be in on the mission, he would at least have the two of us to protect him."

She glanced towards him. "I see... I understand then. I don't like it, but I understand." She sat back down.

Ash wasn't nearly so understanding. "What do you mean I wouldn't be safe here?" He demanded. This was the International Police. An organization dedicated to justice and investigating crimes. The idea that someone could actually be working for Team Rocket among them sounded ludicrous to him.

"There are traitors within the International Police." His eyes widened. Looker sighed. "Don't be so naive, Ash."

"It's just... why would they do that?"

Looker crossed his arms. "You tell me. Consider it an extension of your training. Why would they do it?"

Why would someone betray the International Police? Well...

"Bribes." He began. "Maybe they felt they need the money because of something going on in their personal life with their family or their health? Or maybe they feel that they deserve more than they have?"

"Indeed. Money is and always will be a big motivator in why people commit acts of betrayal." Looker commended. "What else?"

Ash hummed in thought. "Maybe... maybe they're being blackmailed? Maybe they did something in their past, and it's being used against them or they're threatening the people they care about?" He tentatively offered.

"Correct. Those are just two of many reasons that someone can betray their allies and friends for." Looker sat down at the table across from the two of them. "There are more, but those are the two primary and most likely reasons. You'll see that once you get into the field."

Ash couldn't exactly say that he was looking forward to that, but he wouldn't shy away from it either.

"So, what's our mission? Where are we going?" Anabel sighed. "Please tell me we're not throwing Ash into the fire right away."

Looker didn't say a word.

He felt his stomach drop.

"Damn it, Looker..."

Looker had the decency to cough and look away in embarrassment. "It's not that bad." He started. "It's not that different than what we would have been doing in Viridian city. We'll be rooting out corruption to strike a blow against Team Rocket!"

Ash couldn't help but find a problem with that. "Weren't you tricked into thinking the leader of Team Rocket was your ally and being played like a fiddle?"

"He makes a good point, Looker. This had better be nothing like Viridian."

"..." Looker hung his head and flicked on the TV. "So, we'll be going to Alto Mare. It's an island city in the south of Johto. It's well known for-"

"For its canals, it's ties to the Legendary Pokemon Latias and Latios, and an annual race through the canals of the city every year called the Tour de Alto Mare." He finished. "I went there when I younger on my journey through Johto. It was... an experience."

It was the only way he could describe it without going into what really happened there. A simple vacation to that wonderful city had turned into one of the most dangerous experiences of his entire life. The dead returned to hunt him and his friends down, the very water itself turned against them, and more than once he had nearly died. Thinking back now, it was one of his first real exposures to Team Rocket's true nature. In hindsight, it made him feel like a fool for not taking them more seriously. He was paying the price for it now.

It looked like his second trip to the city would only be marginally less dangerous this time. He hoped he didn't run into any of his old friends while he was there. He wasn't ready to face anyone from his past yet. He wasn't sure he would be until he cleared his name.

"You've been there before?" Looker hummed in thought. "Hopefully, you'll be able to give us some more details or potential contacts we could use while we're there."

"Well while I'm glad we'll be going somewhere nice, I'd like a little more detail about what we're dealing with." Anabel interjected. "How strong is Team Rocket's presence in the city?"

"Unfortunately, they've entrenched themselves within the city over the past eight months. They've turned it into a port for their illegal smuggling operations." Looker explained. "Practically fifty percent of all shipments being smuggled in and out of Johto are passing through the city. Our people within Team Rocket mentioned that they were looking for something in the city, but they couldn't find out what."

Ash had a gnawing suspicion that he knew what it was. He had to hope that he was wrong. A part of him wanted to bring it up with Anabel and Looker but until he knew exactly what Team Rocket's other goal within Alto Mare was, he wouldn't betray the trust that had been placed in him. Not if there was no reason.

"So, we can expect to have a hard time while we're there. What are the chances that the police have been paid off by them?" Anabel asked.

"Actually, the police of Alto Mare seem to be more competent than those of other cities. Or at least less corruptible." Looker grinned. "According to our information, they've made a few high-profile arrests and raids on Team Rocket operations. Just recently they managed to confiscate millions in illegal contraband and free over two dozen poached Pokemon."

Anabel laughed. "We'll be working with people that know what they're doing? That's reassuring."

"Indeed. What isn't so reassuring is the man leading this cell of Team Rocket." With the click of a button, Looker changed the image on the screen from Alto Mare to an intimidating looking man in the Team Rocket uniform. On the surface he looked attractive and stood out with his neon green hair, but what caught Ash's attention was the look in his eyes. Even through the still image on screen, Ash could see a cruelty behind his eyes.

"Who is that?"

"That is Proton. An Admin of Team Rocket." Looker let out a sigh. "We don't have much on him. He was in and out of Unovan foster care as a child and fell in with Team Rocket not long after he became an adult. From there he quickly rose through their ranks, leaving a trail of victims in his wake. All either dead or maimed. Some were even fellow members of Team Rocket."

Anabel frowned. "He sounds like a monster."

"He's called the 'Hammer' for a reason. Even compared to other members of this organization, he's a special kind of monster." Looker narrowed his eyes and glared at the picture of Proton. "Arresting him is one of our top priorities. If we do that then not only do we score a major win against Team Rocket, but we can also get justice for all the people he's hurt."

Anabel nodded. "Agreed. Let's just remember to be careful. I doubt he rose so high within Team Rocket by being a fool."

Ash couldn't agree more. From the sound of it, Proton was an entirely different kind of criminal than he was used to. There wouldn't be any long-winded mottos or chance to escape if things went wrong. If Ash messed up here, then he or the others could all end up dead and no one would be left to stop whatever this Proton was doing. He'd have to do his best to learn on the fly and use what little training he'd been given.

"Are the police already looking for him?" They had to be when it came to a man like him.

"Unfortunately, no. It's likely that Proton is operating under an alias and flew under the radar of the local authorities." Looker pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not uncommon for people to pass dangerous criminals on the street and have no idea who they are. It happens all the time, especially for those who can be charming when they have to."

Ash glared at the picture of Proton and could feel Pikachu doing the same. The idea that a man like him was walking around free without a care in the world... it got to him more than he thought it would.

"The truth is that when it comes to criminals, most people will never remember their names and faces unless they do something particularly horrifying and attention grabbing. Not even if they were on a most wanted list." Anabel added. "Still... this will work to our advantage. A new identity and a small disguise should be all you need to get into the city."

He frowned in worry. "Are you sure that no one will notice me?"

"Not unless you're openly declaring who you are or run into people that you know." Looker assured him. "Just trust us and have some faith in your own ability. We'll take every precaution to get you into the city with us."

Ash let out a sigh. "Alright. I'll trust you. And I promise that I'll do my best to pull my weight and be useful to you both while we're there."

"We know you will." Looker offered the two of them a smile. "However long we're there, I can guarantee that by the time we leave Alto Mare it will be with Proton in our custody and his operation burned to cinders. Team Rocket won't know what hit them."

Humans were confusing creatures. Even though she had grown up among Humans and lived with them practically her entire life, they still found ways to confuse her. They were capable of building such wonderful, beautiful architecture that could capture the imagination and stand the test of time for potentially thousands of years. They were natural storytellers in a way that a Pokemon couldn't compete with - not in a million years. Despite being a naturally weak species, their science allowed them to do such wonderful things and help so many people. To top it all off, Humans were capable of such kindness and selflessness that they could move even the darkest of hearts. Many Humans were willing to go to extreme lengths to help those they didn't know or would gain nothing from.

For all their greatness, though, Humans could be evil in a way that no Pokemon could ever hope to come close to. Their obsession with their money - their pure greed - hurt so many people and destroyed lives for no reason. They hurt others not to defend themselves or those they loved or to grow stronger like Pokemon did, but for more selfish reasons. Hatred, greed, lust, pride... the list of reasons went on. The number of times that the world had been on the brink of catastrophe due to Human actions within the last few years alone was enough to make a damning case against them. Even disregarding that, numerous Pokemon had lost someone close to them because of Human actions - herself included.

Despite how confusing they were, she still loved them. She could only hope that one day they would all become the paragons of virtue that the best of them were. Until then she'd do what she could to mitigate the actions of those with evil in their hearts and protect their victims.

It was why she found herself here within a small warehouse at the docks of Alto Mare late at night. A group of Humans were using it to store their... what was the word Bianca had used? Contraband? Drugs? Weapons? One of those. She wasn't here for that, though. What the Humans did with their strange items didn't matter to her nearly as much as the real reason she was here: the Pokemon in cages hidden behind stacks upon stacks of boxes.

These Pokemon were of varying different species and types taken from all across the globe. The fear and anger were rolling off of them would have been enough to overwhelm a lesser psychic. Abducted from their homes and loved ones, taken to an unfamiliar place, and locked in a tiny cage, all while they had received little to eat beyond the scraps their captors chose to give them. Many of them were dripping blood from untreated wounds or were covered in terrible bruises. If she didn't do anything to help them, they were destined to be sold to Humans with cruel intentions and forced to live dangerous lives. She would do everything in her power to help them escape.

If Bianca had done her part, then the police would be on their way. Until they arrived, she would need to get to work freeing these unfortunate souls and setting the authorities up for success.

Thankfully, she was capable of turning herself invisible. She could float right in front of these criminals, and they would have no idea she was there until she revealed herself. As she maneuvered her way through the warehouse towards the imprisoned Pokemon, she reached out to the minds of the Humans around her and planted a suggestion in their minds to stay away from that area for the next few minutes. With luck, most of them would have followed that suggestion. It would have been easier to take control of them and force them unconscious or to set them Pokemon free, but she never did like messing with people's minds. It felt wrong to rob someone of their free will, even if they were a criminal.

She reached out and took hold of the doors to the cages with her mind. With practiced ease, she tore the doors from the hinges of the cages and set them aside. The Pokemon inside frantically looked around to see what had freed them before tentatively stepping outside their cages and into the open. She could practically feel the relief rolling off of them all now that they were finally out of their cages. But in the back of their minds, she could also sense an underlying fear of the Humans capturing them again.

"Does anyone know what just happened?" One of them - an elderly Durant - asked.

She chose that moment to reveal herself to them all. "I happened." She smiled. The shows she used to watch with Bianca as a child always said that smiles made people feel better. "You're welcome."

"L-lady Latias!?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"What is a Legendary doing here?"

"I knew someone would save us!"

Latias frowned. This wasn't good. With how much noise they were all making, it wouldn't be long until the Humans found them. "Yes, it's me but please don't call me lady." She wasn't old and bitter yet! "I heard what was happening here and came to help. Quickly though, do any of you have the strength left to fight?"

Her question was met with a tense silence and dejected murmurs. She had to stop herself from frowning in worry. She'd suspected as much given the conditions they were living in, but she was an eternal optimist and had wanted to hope that they would be strong enough to fight. Worse, she could hear Human's closing in and releasing their own Pokemon from their Poke balls.

"I need you all to hide." She quickly turned herself invisible once more. The Pokemon she had freed weren't nearly as shocked as they were when she had initially appeared. "Once you do, I'll create a distraction to give you a chance to escape. The Humans police are on their way. If you can't escape, they'll be able to help."

The Pokemon scattered at her command. Despite the fear she could feel from them, she could also tell that there was a spark of hope blossoming in their hearts. She would do her best to make sure that it wasn't extinguished.

When the Humans and their Pokemon saw that their prisoners were no longer in their cages, they began shouting and spreading out to search for them. Some began to look for clues to track them down. They wouldn't get so far. Latias used her Psychic to grip all of the large containers within the warehouse - some stacked so high they reached the ceiling - and threw them towards the group of criminals. Slow enough that they would be able to move out of the way, but fast and loudly enough to catch their attention.

She didn't want to kill any of them, after all.

While the Humans scrambled to dodge her attacks and find out what was going on, she subtly steered them away from the Pokémon's hiding places. By the time the police arrived, it was to a scene of Humans cowering on the ground and rushing towards them for protection from the floating cargo containers hurtling towards them. All while their own Pokemon were unconscious on the ground from having been slammed or squished by the numerous objects housed within the warehouse.

It was only after the police figured out what was going on and arrested the criminals that she lowered the crates to the ground. She sent a telepathic signal to the Pokemon that had been imprisoned - all of whom had left their hiding spots to watch her torment their abusers - and advised them to go to the police as well. Slowly, they followed her advice and emerged from the shadows and walked towards the crowd of dumbstruck police and terrified criminals.

Latias let out a quiet, pleased laugh and took off into the night towards her home. She had done everything she could for those Pokemon. It would be up to the police to help them now. It was a job well done tonight as far as she was concerned. With luck, tomorrow would be just as successful if she found another group of criminals harming others.

Bianca would be so proud!

Chapter Text

"Is there anything that I can get you or your Pikachu, sir?"

"No, thank you-" Ash winced as he felt a small shock to his side. "Actually... would you mind bringing me some ketchup?"

The hostess frowned. "Just ketchup? No food?"

Not unless he wanted to wrestle with his partner over it. "Just the ketchup. A bottle if you have it."

"I'll... see what I can do."

He waited until the hostess had closed the door to their room before turning and glaring at his smug little friend. "One of these days I'm going to find out why you're obsessed with that stuff. It's not good for you."

"You know, you could always say no when he asks for it." Anabel suggested. A tiny smile had worked its way across her face.

He let out a tired sigh. "No, I can't. He gets pouty when I do that. Broods, whines, refuses to look at me..."

Anabel laughed. "He probably does that because he knows that you'll give in."

He knew that. He knew that, but he still couldn't stop himself from giving in. How could he when his little buddy could so convincingly play the part of a heartbroken friend who only wanted a small snack? Then the cycle would continue.

"We'll be arriving in Alto Mare soon, Ash." Looker interjected. "You studied the alias we gave you?"

Ash flinched. "I have... I'm not too sure I like what it is though."

Anabel cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong with it?"

"Well for one, you made me look like a clown." He tugged on the horrifically neon-colored clothes they had stuffed him in. Aside from the fact it made him hard to look at, they were a size too small for his liking and chaffed in all the wrong places. Then there was that appallingly large top hat they had forced him to wear. Compared to the simple but effective trench coats Looker and Anabel were wearing, he felt like a cartoon character. "Then there's my hair... why did I have to dye it green?"

To Looker's credit, he did his best to hide his amusement behind a sip of his drink. "It's just to get through security once we dock in Alto Mare. I promise that once we're there, you can change into other clothes. The dye... well, that's up to you. Everyone is looking for a raven haired Pokemon trainer, after all. Someone as brightly colored as you won't be looked at twice."

"It's anonymity through attention. The more people that look at you and see someone who seemingly wants to stand out, the less they'll pay attention to you and potentially connect you to your real identity." Anabel explained. "Just think of this as practice. You'll need to use a variety of different identities for this job, so getting used to being different people is necessary."

"I guess that makes sense... do I really have to call myself this though?"

"What's wrong with your name?"

"It just feels wrong." He frowned. "Red Westen seems like an obvious fake name. They'll suspect something the moment they hear it."

The flat look that Anabel sent his way was enough to make Ash regret opening his mouth. "Your actual name is Ash Ketchum… and you spent the last seven years of your life catching Pokemon." Anabel scoffed. "Don't worry so much, Ash. There are plenty of people in the world with strange names. One more won't raise an eyebrow."

Well alright then... minor blow to any remaining pride he had aside, he'd take her word for it. She knew better after all.

"So, what's the plan once we do arrive?" He asked. Anything to divert the conversation away from him making an even bigger fool of himself. Ash knew that realistically he wouldn't be doing much. Looker had told him that the only reason he had been brought along was for safety and in-the-field training. A part of him did hope that he would get the opportunity to have put what he had learned to use though. Maybe see if he and Pikachu could fight in a real, chaotic battle without making the same mistakes they had during training. Or maybe sneak into a heavily guarded base under the guise of night. Even if Anabel and Looker said the movies were nothing like reality, a part of him was secretly hoping they were downplaying the reality.

They had to base the stories one some nugget of truth, after all.

"We'll head to our hotel and settle in for the long haul. Yes, that means you can change clothes once we arrive." Looker rolled his eyes at his small, quiet cheer to himself. "Afterwards, we'll be going to the police station. We've called ahead to the chief of police in this city, and they've given us the go-ahead to interrogate their prisoners."

Anabel frown. "I still can't believe that the police of this vacation hotspot were capable of arresting Team Rocket. You'd think that police in a place like this would be... well fat and lazy. The kind who took the job for show more than anything else."

Looker chuckled. "You know what they say about assumptions: they make an ass out of you and me." Both Anabel and Ash couldn't help but groan at the terrible joke. That just seemed to amuse Looker even more if the cheeky grin on his face was anything to go off of. "It's possible they got lucky or there are a few skilled members among them. Let's withhold judgement until we meet them."

Ash couldn't help but worry though. "Are you going to have me take part in the interrogation?"

"Hah!" Looker let out a bark of laughter and shook his head... right up until he realized that was a serious question. He sobered up quickly after that. "No, Ash. You haven't had any training or experience with interrogations before. You'll be observing, nothing more."

Ash let out a sigh of relief. As much as he wanted to test out his training, he was well aware that he still had a lot to learn. Especially when it came to the finer points of the job that he... wasn't exactly capable of. If interrogations were anything like he had overheard from the agents back at the base, then they needed someone with confidence and a sharp mind leading them. Someone that knew who their prisoner was as a person and how to use the evidence they had to get what they wanted out of their captives. That wasn't him.

Not yet anyway.

Maybe he'd be able to ask some of the officers at the station for some pointers after the interrogation, like the detectives that arrested the Rocket Grunts. Veterans like them would know what they were doing.

"Please tell me this is a joke."

Anabel liked to believe that she didn't judge things based on first appearances. She liked to believe that she could keep an open mind about things. An agent of the International Police had to be able to look beyond the surface level and see what was underneath. Whether it held pleasant surprises or complicated truths, keeping an open mind helped prevent them from making rash judgements or decisions. Even as a rookie, she'd believed that her training had prepared her to do just that.

Arriving at the police headquarters in Alto Mare, she'd expected to see people hunched over their desks hard at work filing reports, sorting through victims and perpetrators, or preparing to head out on patrol with their Pokemon partners. Anything that would have lived up to the expectations the reports of their success against Team Rocket suggested. To instead find a relatively small group of officers either asleep at their desks and flirting with people she was half convinced should have been in cells instead of leisurely sitting at desks sipping martinis crushed any hope or respect she may have been fostered in her heart.

This was a sick joke. It had to be! For the love of all that was good in the world, she could see the doors to one of the cells wide open and an officer passed out drunk inside! There was no way that a police force like this handled Team Rocket's recent defeats. She refused to believe it.

Looker let out a sigh. "No. No, it is not."

Ash frowned and tugged at his green hair, lifting his brown cap off of his head to do so. Unlike during their travels here, Ash had changed into a simple brown trench coat and a pair of black pants back at the hotel. Much to her own amusement, he was forced to keep his hair green. No matter how hard he tried, the color wouldn't wash out. It was almost sad how quickly his hope had turned to despair knowing he would be forced to keep his hair so disgustingly green.

He thought it was bad luck. In reality, it was a bit of an initiation for the International Police. Every time a new agent was sent on their first mission, they were given a horrifically embarrassing cover and appearance to test them. She could still remember how her first mission. Everyone thought being a spy at a Kalosian party for the rich and famous would be exciting.

Maybe it would have been if she hadn't been forced to go as a mime to entertain the rich folk. Gathering intel wasn't easy when she was trapped in an invisible box or impaled on invisible swords to make children smile.

If she ever discovered who humiliated her like that, she would drench them in ice water.

"Should we leave and come back later?"

"And risk things getting even worse?" Anabel scoffed. "Let's just get our business done and leave. The sooner we interrogate those Grunts, the sooner we can leave these people to... whatever it is they do."

"'Afraid it won't be that simple, love."

Anabel spun to find who said that. The source turned out to be an older, purple haired man with a goatee sprawled out with his feet propped up on a desk with a glass of alcohol in one hand and a woman hanging off his other arm. He was dressed in an appalling floral T-shirt and had a cocky smirk. She could feel the arrogance rolling off of the man in waves of such intensity that she couldn't help but scowl. Who was this man?

She was about to ask when Looker interjected with a growl. "Petrovic. What are you doing here?"

Ash looked between the two with a confused expression on his face. "You two know each other?"

Looker's eyes narrowed. It was the only outward sign of how he truly felt. Beneath the surface though? Anabel could feel a hurricane of emotions all clashing with one another. Rage. Shame. Shock. Even a small bit of horror. It all mixed together into horrible array of emotions that set her on edge. She took a step away from the two of them and pulled Ash backwards with her. It wasn't subtle, but if things got as ugly as how Looker's feelings were then she didn't want either of them to get involved.

"I do. As much as I'd rather I didn't." Looker said. "Anabel, Red, this is Petrovic. Fellow agent of the International Police."

"This is an agent of the International Police? Are you sure he's not some drunk who wandered in off the street? It wouldn't surprise me." She knew that it was unprofessional to give that sort of lip to a senior agent but... could anyone blame her?

Petrovic didn't seem to. "Ho ho! This lass here's got some fire in her. Beauty and bite in one package. I love it." He grinned and gestured for the woman hanging off of him to go away. She did so without a word. "Petrovic Tethras, at yer service. Ace operative, seasoned investigator, and an exceptional lover." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

She audibly gagged. Mercifully, Ash decided now was the time to take the initiative and moved towards Petrovic for a handshake. It just so happened that by doing so he also positioned himself between the two of them.

"It's nice to meet you, Petrovic."

Petrovic eyed Ash for a moment and let out a curious hum. It wasn't long before he grinned and shook Ash's hand with enough force that his entire body shook. "Nice to meet ya, boy! That's a cute Pikachu on yer shoulder. Looky here said your name was Red, right? Seems strange to be named after a color, don't ya think?"

Ash flinched back. "I didn't get to pick my name."

Petrovic's grin grew wider. "We never do."

"Enough pestering my partners, Petrovic! Tell us why you're here. This was our mission."

"Really? I wasn't told that, ya old dog." Petrovic gulped his alcohol down and slammed it onto the table. "I was sent here weeks ago to oversee how things are going. What? Ya telling me the boss' didn't tell ya?"

"No, they didn't. If they had I would have demanded a different mission." Looker looked like he wanted to say more but managed to stop himself. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It looks like we'll be working together on this one, Petrovic. Bloody wonderful."

Petrovic let out a bark of laughter and threw his arm around Looker's shoulder. It didn't take a Psychic to know how much Looker hated that. Or that Petrovic knew exactly how it made her boss feel.

"Just like old times, Looky. This is gonna be so much fun."

Looker shrugged off Petrovic's arm and gestured towards the cells with a look of barely contained annoyance. "I assume you already interrogated the Rocket grunts?"

"Hooo boy I did. Let me tell ya, that was not fun." Petrovic shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "Didn't get a lick o' useful info out of them. I swear it's as though someone put the fear of the gods in 'em. Bastards are more scared of their boss than they are of prison."

"Well, me and Anabel will take a crack at it. Interrogations never were your strong suit. Not when witnesses are around, anyway." Looker whispered that last part so quietly that she almost didn't hear it. A part of her wanted to demand answers to that. This wasn't the time or place though.

For the first time since she'd met the man, Petrovic stopped smiling. "Mind if I stand in on yer interrogation? I promise to keep quiet."

"I do mind, actually." Looker snapped. "You are to stay outside. You can observe with Red, but that's it. Understand?"

Petrovic's eyes narrowed for such a brief moment she almost missed it before he held up his hands and smiled. "Not a problem. I'll watch the master at work. Maybe teach yer boy here a thing or two while I'm at it."

It didn't take long for one of the captured Team Rocket Grunts to be escorted from their cell to the interrogation room that Looker and Anabel were currently stood outside of. It was a tiny, glaringly white room that strained the eyes. Its odd dimensions were purposefully designed to make those inside feel claustrophobic - as though the walls were closing in on them. The small camera on the ceiling, one way glass mirror for the outside world to look in, and a broken AC unit all blended together to make the perfect atmosphere for an interrogation.

According to the arresting officers, the Rocket that they had brought for the interrogation was one involved in a recent sting. Apparently the young man had been involved in smuggling rare Pokemon into Johto. Whether it was for their own agents to use as weapons, to sell to the highest bidders, or to butcher and use for more material purposes didn't matter. What mattered was that such crimes usually guaranteed upwards of a decade in prison. Most likely more in the case of this Rocket if it could be proved he had actively harmed another Human during the acquisition or transport.

"Um... is there a reason you two aren't in there yet?" Looker glanced towards Ash. "He's been in there half an hour and all we've done is watch him."

Looker didn't mind explaining to someone as new to this as Ash. He needed to learn somehow. "Silence and isolation have a way of getting to people, Red. It can make them easier to get information out of. Gives them time to think of ways that they've messed up or how bleak their future could be."

"That's all well and good, Looky, but ya ain't gonna learn anything out here." Petrovic chimed in. "The lovely lass and ya need to get in there."

Looker scowled but didn't say anything. Just being around Petrovic set him on edge. Who knew what the man had done since he'd been here or how he would ruin things going forward? Wherever he went, chaos followed. He wished that he could send the man away before any damage could be done. If this really was originally his mission, though, and command wanted the both of them here then there wasn't much Looker could do. Clearly they believed that all of them working together was the only way to make a real impact.

He just hoped the impact they left was a good one.

"Come on, Anabel." He gestured for her to follow him. "I'll be leading the interrogation, but feel free to jump in if you feel you can help."

"Got it, sir."

The two entered the room and he slowly shut it behind him. The Rocket Grunt was shaking in his seat so bad that the chair was scraping against the floor. He and Anabel paid it no mind, though, and sat down across from him. The Grunt went to speak but paused when Looker held up a hand to stop him. He leaned forward and cupped his hands in front of him, eyes narrowed just enough to give off a convincing glare.

"You know who we are?"

The Grunt audibly gulped. "N-no. Just more police."

"Close. International Police, actually. You may have met one of us before. Purple hair, terrible accent, reeks of alcohol..."

The Grunts eyes widened, and he stilled in his seat. "You know that p-psycho!?"

Looker snorted. "Much to my chagrin, yes. He's right outside actually. He was very eager to come in here for another round with you. I stopped him, though." He quickly added when he saw the boy recoil in fear. "If you answer my questions, I'll see to it you never have to be in the same room as him again."

The Grunts eyes flickered to the one-way mirror. "W-what do you want to know?"

So far so good. Whatever Petrovic did to the Grunt had terrified them, but any reservations he may have had about that would need to be ignored for the moment. He'd take advantage of that fear to get the answers he needed. Hopefully that would be enough. He refused to actually follow through on any threat he made. Not when he knew exactly what his fellow agent was capable of.

"Any safe houses, agents, or operations Team Rocket is conducting in the city would be nice." Anabel drummed her fingers on the table and cocked an eyebrow at the grunt. "Or if you'd prefer, anything about your boss, Proton, would work as well."

The Grunt reared back in shock. "Are you insane? Why would I tell you any of that?"

Anabel scoffed. "Because if you don't, we let our friend come in here for a little chat and the cameras have a mysterious glitch that wipes away minutes of footage." Looker was surprised that Anabel had caught on to his method so quickly, but it was a pleasant surprise to be sure. "You don't want that."

"I also don't want to die." The grunt growled. "Do you have any idea what they'll do to me if I talk? What he will do to me?"

"Proton won't be able to lay a hand on you if you cooperate. I promise." The grunt didn't seem too convinced, but Looker was determined. "If you tell us what we want to know and the information is good, I'll make sure no one finds out you told us. Maybe even take a few years off your sentence."

"I said I'm not telling you anything. Not about Proton!"

Time to switch directions. "Then tell us about something else." Looker asked. "Something for us to go on. Another base you have or maybe an agent you personally don't like. Anything that could be useful to us. Do that and I will guarantee your safety."

The grunt looked interested, even if he tried to hide it. "I do this, and you won't let that friend of yours near me? You'll put me somewhere safe?" He frowned. "Police aren't supposed to lie, so you have to tell me the truth."

Not strictly true... but for their purposes? "I will."

The Grunt was quiet for a few more moments before letting out a low, tired sigh. "I'm no one important. Just a cog in the machine. They don't tell people like me any of the important things. I can't tell you who our people are outside of those that were arrested with me. Team Rocket likes to keep individual groups separate so we can't rat on each other when this happens. Only those part of a certain cell or involved in a given operation know the details. "

Looker narrowed his eyes. "But?"

"But... sometimes you hear things through the grapevine. Rumors about what the higher-ups are doing or where people are being transferred. Sometimes you hear about people being put on strange missions." The Grunt continued. "Missions to look for gardens. Visit libraries. Search for people who have lived here for years."

"Why?"

The Grunt shrugged. "No clue. I haven't been ordered to be part of those missions and I don't want to. Failure usually makes Proton angry." He sighed. "If I had to guess? It's something Proton thinks will impress the big boss, whoever that is."

Anabel frowned. "Why would Proton need to impress anyone? He's already a leader in your organization."

"All I know is that the Admins don't exactly like each other. They're constantly pulling crazy schemes to gain power and impress whoever's at the top." The grunt snorted. "Sounds stupid if you ask me. Why risk all that money and power you already got just to impress someone most people don't even meet?"

Why indeed. "Do you know anything more about this?"

"Not a thing. I was only trusted to move the cargo."

"Then we can't help you." Looker sighed. "This information is useless. Maybe one of your friends will know more. I'm sure they'd be happy to receive the same deal..."

The Grunt shot up in his seat. "W-wait! Hold on, I do know more!" He shouted. "There's an auction happening tomorrow night. Proton had us smuggle in a bunch of high-quality forgeries to sneak into the lineup. Rumor is he'll be attending the auction personally to make sure it goes well!"

Really? Well, wasn't that interesting. Not even here a full day and already they had a new lead to follow alongside an opportunity to arrest Proton. It looked like for once luck was on their side. Now all they had to do was follow through on this and they could score their first major win against Team Rocket.

Looker stood to his feet with Anabel follow soon after. "Thank you. If your information pans out, I'll follow through on my end of the deal."

The Grunts eyes shifted to the mirror. "You'll protect me from Team Rocket? You'll keep your friend away from me?"

Such doubt... he'd be insulted if he didn't understand the fear the boy had. "Team Rocket won't be able to lay a finger on you, I promise. As for my... friend," The word tasted bitter in his mouth, "he won't do anything to you so long as I'm around. I promise."

Now to interrogate the rest of the captive grunts. If they could all verify that this story was true? Well then they'd have to move quickly to be ready for the auction tomorrow night.

Proton despised museums. To most people, they were places of history and learning. A place where they could go to admire the relics of ancient times or art crafted by the hands of masters. They were places where one could learn of ancient Pokemon long since extinct, the exploits of some of greatest men and women to have ever walked the land, even the stories behind the mythical beings that ruled this world.

To Proton, it was pure temptation. Everywhere he turned there were priceless artifacts that would fetch him a hefty payday on the black market. With the right buyer, he could increase his fortunes tenfold selling even one of them and the world would be at his fingertips. Information, influence, power... all things that Team Rocket gave him in spades. It helped dull the desire to steal everything this museum held within it. Other than to potentially stroke his own ego or use as decorations, there was no valid reason for him to steal any of them.

The DMA was the sole exception.

Proton scoffed and narrowed his eyes as he stared up at the very artifact in question. The Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare. One of the most mysterious, advanced pieces of ancient technology in the world. An oxymoron if he had ever heard one. Whoever had built the damn thing must have been a genius ahead of their time. Some of the technology held within it was still considered impossible by their standards. If it could be extracted from this city or its schematics were found for the scientists back at headquarters to decipher, then Team Rocket would have powerful new weapons at their disposal.

Sadly, that was all but impossible. The eggheads had told him that removing the DMA would damage it beyond repair and with it any technology that could be recovered. He'd punished them for their snide tone but kept it in mind. It wouldn't do to present Giovanni with defective hardware. As for the schematics, a thorough search of every library or historical site within this damnable city turned up nothing. They hadn't been able to find an exhibit in this museum either. He never was lucky enough to get the easy jobs.

He was quickly running out of options. He refused to report back a failure on all fronts to Giovanni, but as time went on it seemed like that was becoming the only possibility.

"Excuse me, sir, can I help you?"

Proton was broken from his thoughts and turned to see the source of the voice. It was an old, rotund man with a bushy white beard and a set of tattered blue overalls. He looked like a country bumpkin. Someone he'd have swindled for all they were worth when they came to the big city with wide, naive eyes. He wondered what that type of person was doing here of all places.

Proton let out a long, tired sigh. "Unless you know about the history of this city then I'm afraid not."

The man quirked his eyebrow, mouth quirking up at the edges. "Well as the curator of this fine museum for more four decades, I'd say I know more about this city than anyone else alive."

He blinked. "You're the curator?"

He'd expected someone... younger. Better dressed. A lot more snobbish as well.

The man gave him a wink. "Yep! Name's Lorenzo." Lorenzo jabbed a hand towards Proton, which he reluctantly shook. "What's your name?"

"Proton. My parents had a sadistic sense of humor." Or so he assumed. That was the only reason he could think of to name their child after a subatomic particle. "It's nice to meet you."

"So, what is it you'd like to know, Mr. Proton?" Lorenzo's eyes shifted the DMA looming over them. "Does it have anything to do with the DMA, by any chance?"

"It does, actually."

He snorted in amusement. "I figured. So many people only ever come to this museum to see the darn thing. As though it's the only thing worth looking at."

Well... outside the value to collectors, everything else in this museum was pretty dull. Compared to the excitement of Pokemon fossils or the wonder of ancient technology, a few random paintings or old weapons just didn't capture the same imagination.

"I want to know why it's the only one of its kind." Proton began. "I'm a history buff, you see. I love to see how Humans have advanced and developed new technologies to combat their environments. But when I look at the DMA, it's a complete anomaly. No other civilization had anything like it before or after."

Lorenzo hummed in thought. "I'm afraid I can't answer that. The designers of the DMA were very secretive about it. Understandable given the power it holds. As far as I'm aware, no blueprints or journals detailing its construction exist."

So those ancient builders took their secrets to the grave. Rat bastards. He hoped they were rotting for this!

Proton did his best to suppress a growl. "So, nothing exists then? A shame. I would have paid a fortune just for the chance to look at them." He frowned and furrowed his brows. Hold a moment. Annie and Oakley had said that the machine was damaged during their fight with the Latias and Latios. Yet somehow it looked as good as new. Something didn't add up...

"This thing must need upkeep, though." Proton gestured to it. "A hurricane is more dangerous than predicted. A Pokemon battle gets out of hand. Maybe some stupid tourist gets clumsy and nearly breaks it. You must do something when that happens."

Lorenzo was quiet for a while. Proton let him be knowing that he was likely juggling what to say next. "A few years ago, there was a crisis. I can't go into detail about what happened, but the DMA was severely damaged. I did what I could to repair it, but I can't say I know much more about it than that."

Still more than anyone else if he knew how to repair it. Proton got the feeling there was more that this man wasn't telling him. A part of him wanted to press the man and force him to tell him what he was hiding. Perhaps he knew the exact inner workings of it and didn't want to say. Or maybe he had schematics for the machine hidden away and didn't want to reveal them. A little time under the capable hands of his people and he was confident that he could make the man spill all of his secrets.

But... that would draw attention to the museum. He couldn't afford to have the authorities or any do-gooders deciding to look into this. They were already dealing with an unusually effective police force that had cost them millions in smuggled goods. If they decided to poke their noses into their other business and screw things up?

Proton couldn't begin to imagine the punishment that would fall on his head.

He'd have to find another way to get what he wanted. Something more... subtle. He'd need reason to stay in contact and get closer to the man first. Something that wouldn't look suspicious.

"Thank you for telling me." He let out an exaggerated sigh. "If it's not too much trouble, do you mind if I call on you later? I have business in the city, and I can reward you handsomely."

"Oh? I'm not sure what I could possibly help you with. I'm just the curator of this museum. Occasionally, I build gondolas as well."

He snorted. "There's an auction happening tomorrow night and I'll be attending. There's going to be an abundance of art and artifacts for sale. If I make a purchase, I'd love for you to be an outside authenticator. Make sure I'm not being conned. You never know who could be paying off those auction workers."

He cracked a smug grin. Lorenzo either didn't notice or didn't care. Instead, he hummed in thought and gazed up at the DMA with a question in his eyes.

"I know the auction you're talking about, and I suppose I can be an authenticator if the price is right. I actually know one of the artists involved." Lorenzo grinned when he saw Proton's questioning look. "My granddaughter, Bianca. She's a wonderful artist. Sold a few paintings in the past, but this auction is the first real sign of interest in her work. I couldn't be prouder."

A granddaughter? Interesting... "I'll have to keep an eye out for her work then. If she's got the capability of becoming the next great artist of our time, then I'd be a fool to miss out." He chuckled. "I can't wait to meet her."

"Promise me."

"But-"

Bianca narrowed eyes in frustration. "Promise me. Promise me that you won't do anything dangerous tonight, Latias."

Latias let out a sigh and floated down to rest on her friend's bed. A quick glance out the window of the room showed that it was late. The sun would soon disappear to make way for the moon. Most people and Pokemon would use that time to relax at home before another day of work or spend time with their loved one's before they needed to sleep again. She missed when she could just relax and have fun. Once upon a time, she could spend her nights with Bianca watching old sitcoms on TV or arguing about whether horror movies were better than romance movies - even though the answer was obviously horror. Before the... incident a few years ago, she would even find the time to convince her brother to have fun instead of brooding and training all of the time.

Unfortunately, she didn't have the time to relax as much anymore. As the sole guardian of Alto Mare, it was her responsibility to defend it in times of crisis whether they were natural or caused by Human hands. When she wasn't training her powers, she was patrolling the city for signs that someone needed her help. Ever since Team Rocket had arrived in bulk and paraded around as though they owned the place, there was no shortage of people or Pokemon in need. She didn't doubt that if she were to fly out the window at that moment and head into the city, she could find those foul creatures hurting someone within mere minutes.

It didn't look like she would be able to do that tonight though.

"I don't understand why you need me to stay in tonight." Latias pouted at the thought. "People need my help."

"I know that your job is to protect the city, Latias." Bianca sat down beside her on the bed and brushed her hand gently across Latias' head. She unconsciously leaned into the calming touch of her lifelong companion. "It's not that I want you to stop protecting people or don't want to help you. It's just... tomorrow night is important to me and I want you there with me."

Latias' eyes flickered to Bianca. "I'll have to be invisible. I doubt we can have me pass as your twin tonight."

"You'll still be there though. That's all that matters." Bianca sighed. "This auction is my chance to prove myself to the art world. With grandpa busy with the museum, I'd like to have someone I care about with me."

Well, if she was going to go for the heart... "Alright, alright. I'll be there. So long as you promise to get dessert afterwards."

Bianca grinned. "Cheesecake?"

"Chocolate and Oran berry, if you please." Latias giggled. "If this is really your big break, then you deserve the best. Plus, I should get rewarded too for all the work I've had to do recently."

"Deal! And I promise that after tonight we can go back to fighting Team Rocket." Bianca cracked a grin and pulled her into a tight, warm hug. One that she was eager to return as best she could. "Who knows? Maybe with the money I'll get from the auction tonight, I can get us some help. There's bound to be people with experience who can help us."

"Mercenaries." Latias rolled her eyes. As much as she'd appreciate having more help, hired help wasn't what she wanted. Not when they could just as easily be paid off or leave once the money dried up. There would be no reason for them to stay since they didn't have a personal stake in this fight. "We might as well just toss it into the sea."

Bianca let out a sigh. "Beggars can't be choosers, Latias. The police aren't doing anything to stop them, and neither is the League, so hired help is all we have left. Unless you can think of anyone else? Maybe you have a few more sane Legendaries willing to step in that I don't know?"

Latias scowled and looked away. As much as she hated to admit it, Bianca was right. It seemed like no one else was willing or capable of doing anything to Team Rocket. The police in this city were a joke. They had been years ago when those first Team Rocket agents had infiltrated the city and nearly destroyed it with their greed, and they were even worse now. Bianca said that they were mostly old-timers who should have retired years ago or new recruits only interested in the authority a uniform gave them. None of whom were the type of people to go out of their way against a hardened group of criminals. Latias had been half convinced the night of her first raid against them that the police wouldn't show up at all.

The fact they did had been a pleasant surprise. As much as she appreciated them doing the bare minimum and responding to anonymous tips about illegal smuggling, she knew they couldn't be relied on for much else. After all, Human's considered Alto Mare the scenic paradise where nothing serious ever went wrong. A place for them to forget the worries of their lives and get lost in a world of art, history, and culture. Not a place to worry about criminals operating with impunity right under the noses of the authorities. Never mind that the city was almost destroyed a few years ago. That was just a fluke. Nothing to truly concern themselves with.

Arrogant. Or just plain ignorant. Either way, it was a complete lie.

"Fine... so long as you let me take a peek into their minds before you hire them."

"Latias!"

"If I'm going to trust them to help this city, then I need to know they won't betray it at the first opportunity."

Even if she didn't plan to reveal herself to them, some level of trust was needed. Looking into the unwilling or unsuspecting minds of others was an uncomfortable prospect. It was like wading into an ocean of slime all while tenacles slithered and coiled around every inch of her body, pulling her in every direction. Worse was that the longer she looked and the deeper she dived, the more... wrong she felt. Like she was intruding somewhere she wasn't supposed to be and every fiber of her being was telling her to retreat.

Supposedly the more she did it, the more those feelings would diminish. She wasn't willing to do it unless absolutely necessary though. Not even to practice. The protection of her city was worth the discomfort though.

Bianca narrowed her eyes into a glare, but Latias didn't budge. Eventually she shook her head and looked away. "Fine. Just be careful, Latias." She stood and made her way to her closet, pulling out a trio of vibrantly colored and form-fitting dresses. "Now help me choose. Which one do you think would look best for a formal event? The blue one brings out my eyes, but the green and white one's seem to suit my hair and face better-"

While Bianca rattled off the various pros and cons of her dresses, Latias let her mind drift. She would be there for her friend's big night... but she'd do a quick patrol of the city beforehand. Just so she could be sure there was nothing pressing that demanded her attention. It wasn't like anyone would notice her absence when she was invisible, after all.

She'd be there in time to see her friend's big moment. After all, it wasn't like anything else was going to demand her attention there.

Interrogating the other grunts imprisoned at the police station had been easier and faster than Ash had expected. Looker and Anabel had proven to be a good team at that sort of thing. Looker had the experience to know what to ask while Anabel had her powers to help ferret out correct lines of questioning. Compared to them, he still had a lot to learn. Even Anabel - a rookie in the organization herself - was leagues ahead of him. He'd have to do his best to make up for that difference in skill and experience with pure grit.

If this was to be his new life for the foreseeable future, he'd be the best agent that he could be. Even if he technically wasn't an agent since he was a criminal...

All of the grunts that had been arrested told them the same story: They didn't know much about the other cells in the city and an auction being held to con the rich out of millions. There had also been more talk about the rumors the first one had mentioned. Rumors about searches for gardens, libraries about the history of the city, and long-time residents of the city. To everyone else they were meaningless. To him?

It set him on edge. He'd had his suspicions when he first arrived, but now it was all but confirmed they were looking for Latias and the Soul Dew. He wanted to tell Looker what their goal was. If anyone could stop them, it would be him. But... he had made a promise to keep Latias and the Soul Dew's involvement a secret. With Looker and Anabel planning to capture Proton tonight, there was no reason to tell them yet. Not when it could soon become a moot point.

It was late. A full day had passed since the interrogations. Currently they were sat inside of a vacant house not far away from the mansion being used to host the auction. The mansion in question was in one of the richer parts of the city and looked like something out of a fantasy movie. Stone pillars of white marble, gargoyles perched atop the roof and gazes with intimidating glares on their stone faces, there were even private canals that lead into the back of the house. He could even see impeccably dressed staff all greeting the guests as they arrived to show them in. Whoever was hosting this must have been from a very old, very rich family. The guests themselves were all wearing the type of eccentric, eye catching clothes that only those with more money than he had ever seen could.

"Well don't the two of ya look mighty fine."

Now Ash may not have been a genius at understanding people, but he didn't have to be for him to see that Petrovic's compliments were neither genuine nor appreciated by Looker and Anabel. While their clothes weren't of the same quality as the other guests, they were still good. Looker was wearing a black suit and a fedora... and oddly enough a monocle. Anabel on the other hand had chosen to wear just a simple purple dress with no accessories or anything else potentially eye catching. It suited her well. Hopefully they wouldn't stand out too much.

"Zip it, Petrovic." A small snicker escaped past Petrovic's lips, but nothing more. With him thoroughly silenced, Looker turned his attention to Ash. He did his best not to flinch under his gaze. "Will you be alright while we head inside?"

He nodded. "I will. I'm just supposed to sit here and watch, right? I'm not taking part in the arrest?"

"Right. Your job is to help with surveillance. You'll be listening in and watching to give advice or let us know if something drastic changes."

"Sounds fun."

Petrovic and the police that had gone with them let out a collective bark of laughter. Even Looker and Anabel exchanged an amused glance between each other.

"You... may want to temper your expectations, Red." Anabel advised.

Petrovic slapped him on the back. Ash stumbled forward, sending Pikachu tumbling from his shoulder to the ground. The two of them grumbled in annoyance, but aside from a few tiny sparks flying from his partners cheek he didn't say anything.

"Listen kid, yer about to learn about the most boring part of the job. Surveillance is without a doubt the most soul-rending thing ya could ever do."

Anabel blinked and tilted her head to the side. "What about paperwork?"

Petrovic frowned. "Ya mean ya actually do that stuff? I just push it into a shredder and pretend I do it."

Looker let out a long, tired sigh. "Why am I not surprised?" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Red, if there is only one thing you learn from our mission here in Alto Mare, let it be this: Do not turn out like Petrovic. I will be severely disappointed."

"Yes, yes, ya don't like me. The lad gets it." Petrovic rolled his eyes. "Get going you two. Auction'll start soon and ya need to be in there if ya want this to work."

Looker nodded and hooked his arm with Anabel's. "Right, we'll be off then. Remember: watch and warn us if anything happens."

The two left the house and made their way towards the mansion. He watched their advance towards the auction but wasn't truly paying attention. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. He glanced towards Petrovic but didn't say a word. Instead, he stroked Pikachu's head and kept his eyes glued to the surveillance screen in front of him.

Sadly, Petrovic seemed to notice how his eyes would shift toward him every so often. "Something on yer mind, kid?"

He hesitated for a moment. "You and Looker... did something happen between you two?"

Petrovic snorted in amusement and leaned back in his chair, resting his feet on the table. "You could say that. He and I have a different way of doing things."

"Like?"

"Looky thinks subtlety and restraint are the way to beat our enemies. He believes throwing on a disguise and arresting these criminals so they can stand trial will work." He shrugged. "I believe ya need to go at them hard and fast. Destroy the enemy bit by bit and salt the earth so they won't harm anyone again."

Ash felt Pikachu tense up and sparks dance off of his cheeks. He scratched him behind the ears to calm him down. "Doesn't that make you no better than them? Shouldn't they stand trial for what they've done."

"Maybe in an ideal world. This ain't an ideal world though, Red." Petrovic glared at the screens that showed Looker and Anabel entering the grounds of the auction. "Our enemies kill and maim without a second thought. They live in the shadows and have the power to send the world into anarchy... but don't. We won't have a chance at beating them by following the rules."

Ash looked away. On some level, he could understand what Petrovic was saying. How could they beat an enemy like Team Rocket by following the rules? When the International Police had their hands tied and Team Rocket could do whatever it needed to succeed? After all, they couldn't stop Team Rocket when they were smaller and weaker by following the rules. How could they possibly hope to do so now that they were a giant lurking in the darkness? The answer seemed obvious: stop following the rules and fight on an even playing field.

And yet... a part of him was repulsed by the idea. Hurting others disgusted him, even if they were criminals. Stooping to the same level as Team Rocket and not following the system they were supposed to uphold would make them criminals that carried badges. Hypocrites. People to be reviled, not admired. If he did that then he would never deserve to have his name cleared, even if he was truly innocent of his crime.

"I don't expect ya to understand, lad." Petrovic sighed. "Yer one of Looky's people. An idealist if I had to guess. Only thing that'll get through to ya is reality when it kicks ya in the balls."

"I'm just trying to do what's right and stop Team Rocket."

"I'll bet." Petrovic shook his head in dismissal. "My turn to ask a question. How'd someone like ya end up with Looky, Red? Ya ain't even a trained rookie, let alone an experienced agent."

He tensed up and felt Pikachu do the same. How was he supposed to answer this? His alias had a background that he'd been forced to memorize, but would that work on Petrovic? The man was an experienced agent. What were the chances that he'd believe a lie from someone with no real experience? Not high if he had to guess.

"We've got movement! Something's happening at the auction."

Mercifully, one of the officers that had gone with them drew everyone's attention to the monitors. He was thankful for the distraction... right up until he was what was happening.

Team Rocket was there. Not in disguise as clients or members of the auction staff. No, they were brazenly stalking towards the mansion in their uniforms with their Pokemon released by their sides - an array of terrifying Pokemon that all looked ready to maim the first thing that moved in front of them. Most of those taking part in the auction had already gone inside by now, leaving only a skeleton security force outside to protect the place. For a moment, Ash dared to hope Team Rocket would see the security and walk away.

That hope was dashed when they Golbat's flew into the nearly pitch-black sky of the night to avoid detection before swopping down simultaneously and latching onto their unsuspecting victims. He flinched and looked away from the grisly sight. Even with no audio and the grainy footage of a surveillance camera, what little he could see was gruesome. His imagination made up for the rest. He could only imagine of pain of a Poison types fangs injecting its venom into your veins or your jugular being torn open and left to drown in your own blood.

They had to warn Looker and Anabel. Something had gone horribly wrong.

"Looker, Anabel, can you hear me?" He shouted into the mic. No response. Only static. He tried again and was met with the same failure.

His stomach dropped.

"Someone's jamming all transmissions." One of the officers growled.

What? Did they know that they were here watching? Or was it just do make sure those inside the auction couldn't call out? He supposed it didn't matter since regardless of the reason, the danger was the same.

"Looks like reality wanted that kick to be extra painful." Petrovic chuckled. "She always was a cruel mistress."

Ash surged to his feet. "We have to stop them!"

Petrovic cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "With what? These clowns who can't tell the pointy end of a blade from the pommel?" He silenced their protests with a glare. "We gotta wait, kid. Once there's an opening, ya and I will move in to help. Until then, ya sit here, and I'll send some of these mooks to get back-up. We can always use more meat shields, after all..."

Ash almost didn't hear that last bit. He clenched his fists. He understood there wasn't much he could do. They were outnumbered and Team Rocket would soon have hostages. If he ran in now, he'd just put himself and everyone else in danger. He wouldn't just abandon them all though. Not Looker and Anabel who had believed in him when no one else would. Not the innocent people in that auction house.

He had to do something.

He felt a paw poke his cheek and looked to his partner perched on his shoulder. Pikachu's eyes were filled with determination, and he gave a firm nod of his head. He didn't want to leave everyone to Team Rocket's mercy any more than Ash did. He felt a bitter smile cross his face.

"Alright then..."

He waited until Petrovic had turned his back to bark orders at the officers they had brought with them. Once Petrovic did, Ash took off sprinting - bursting out of the house and making his way towards the mansion. He ignored the shouts of Petrovic and the others ordering him back.

It was time to make himself useful and show Team Rocket they couldn't get away with this.

Chapter Text

It was official: Anabel despised auctions.

There was just something about them that tested her patience. Those that attended them were all among the most stuck up, dull people that she'd ever had the misfortune to meet. Anyone who decided to spend thousands, hundreds of thousands, or potentially even millions on useless baubles and paintings was someone that didn't deserve that money. The worst part was that they always felt that they were the center of the universe and therefore deserved to be lavished with attention from everyone around them. It was sickening.

Then there was the pointless small talk and boasting about how they would easily be able to buy what they wished. Or the endless talks about business ventures and pointless gossip about their rivals. Some were even bold enough to talk about criminal activity in the open! As though they were untouchable! If she didn't have something more important to do, she'd have liked to prove them wrong just so she could see the looks on their faces as they were dragged out of here like a common criminal.

Back when she had still been a Frontier Brain, she'd been invited to events like this all the time. Auctions, parties, balls; anything that the rich and powerful could use to show off how much better they were than their peers. Some had been held for good causes and she didn't mind attending those, but the rest? She burned all the invitations and pretended she never received them. Of course, that didn't help with the one's that she actually did attend. With everyone clamoring to convince her to let them become her sponsor or join them in a 'business' venture, they quickly became annoying within moments of arriving.

Mercifully, she hadn't needed to deal with any of that since stepping down from her position as Frontier Brain to begin her training with the International Police. The universe must have had a sadistic sense of humor though, because how else would she find herself back at another auction?

At least here she had an alias so that no one knew who she was.

Looker nudged her in her side. She sent him her most withering glare. The bastard had the audacity to laugh!

"Don't look so miserable. It's not every day we get to mingle with the rich and famous." Looker snatched a tiny appetizer off the tray of a waiter and popped it into his mouth. "You might as well enjoy the luxuries before things get serious."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "I can't. My time as a Frontier Brain ruined any chance that I could ever enjoy this stuff." She let out a sigh. "You really shouldn't fill up on snacks though. Knowing our luck, something is going to catch on fire or Proton will find out we're here and run. Then this whole thing will be pointless."

Looker flickered her nose. She narrowed her eyes and jabbed him in the gut in retaliation. Amusement rolled off of him in waves.

"Don't focus so much on what-if's." He advised. "We've prepared as best we can. If we fail, then we'll learn from our mistakes and try again. Worrying about what can go wrong all but guarantees that something will. You need to focus on what's in front of you."

Anabel sighed. He was right. He could be a bit strange at times, but Looker knew what he was talking about. "I'll... try."

He smiled. "Good. Because Proton is alone at the moment and the closer that you are to him, the smoother this will go."

She nodded and shifted her eyes to their target. Among the more powerful members of Team Rocket, Proton was known for two things: his cruelty and his love for the finer things in life. It was why she wasn't surprised to see that he had chosen to arrive in a blindingly white suit accompanied with stark white gloves and fedora. Even among the array of colors that everyone had chosen to dress in, white stood out the most. Given his flair for the dramatic, she wasn't surprised to see him doing his damnedest to draw attention to himself.

She began her approach, adding a subtle sway to her hips and plastering a warm smile on her face. Their eyes met from across the room, and she could see the interest in them. The plan was simple: get close to him. Play to his ego and make him believe that she was interested. Then after the auction once they were alone - with no innocent bystanders around that could be put in danger - they would spring the trap. And if anything went wrong along the way, Looker would be close by to respond with Ash and the others not far behind.

It was as good a plan as any considering they'd had barely any time to prepare.

Sadly, as was the norm for them nowadays, something went wrong.

It all seemed so normal at first. The guests were busy chatting about pointless gossip, the waiters were putting on fake smiles for everyone, and the security was sitting around completely bored out of their minds. Then the doors to the auction were thrown open. Before anyone could properly react, over a dozen Golbat flew through the doors and made a beeline straight for the security. The shock at the entrance must have been too much or maybe they just weren't used to actually needing to do anything. Whatever the case, none of them stood a chance of fighting back as the Golbat latched onto the necks of security and tore them apart in a spray of ruby red blood.

They were followed closely by a horde of Raticate and over a dozen members of Team Rocket members. They proudly wore their uniforms and strode in with all the exaggerated swagger of people who knew they were in absolute control of the situation.

One of the guests close by to the door - an older man in his fifties by the looks of it - must have thought that he could do something about that. He surged towards them with a snarl on his face. "What is the meaning of this you criminal-"

He never got the chance to finish his demand. One of the Rocket's took a single look at the man, scoffed, and slammed their fist into the man's face. He went down like a sack of bricks. The grunt then hopped up onto one of the tables and spread his arms wide, a maniacal gleam in his eyes.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" He began. "Tonight's performance is brought to you by random acts of violence!"

On his que, chaos erupted in the room. The Golbat which had previously been busy ripping into the security for the auction flew into the air and began harassing the guests, yanking them into the air and roughly dropping them to the ground. The Raticate which had swarmed the room began to let off their own attacks, tearing into the walls and lightly nipping at the limbs of those who had fallen from the grasp of the Golbat's. The Rocket grunts themselves began to flip tables and toss the guests around who had been spared the ire of their Pokemon.

Her hand drifted to wear her Poke balls should have been. When it grasped nothing but air, though, she swore under her breath and moved out of the way of a pair of Raticate's chasing a man. The auction had made no Pokemon a requirement. A way to show that it would be fair and ensure no one could use them to steal the objects for sale. A decision that left them all helpless before Team Rocket.

The grunt hopped down off the table and let out a laugh. "Man, I love show business!" He cheered. "Okay boys and girls, let's have some fun!"

One of the people trapped in the room - the authenticator for the auction known as Mr. Caffrye - managed to find the courage to speak up. "W-what is it you people want!?" He shouted. "Why are you killing people? This was meant to be a simple auction!"

She couldn't agree more. Team Rocket was supposed to be using this auction to sell their forgeries. Killing and terrifying the clients wasn't going to earn them anything but the ire of the public and more attention on their actions. It made no sense! They must have missed something in their preparations, or something had happened to make Team Rocket change their plans.

The grunt wagged his finger at the man. "Settle down there, big boy. No need to get yourself worked up. Kindly hand over your Pokegear and any other communication devices while I explain." He chuckled. "We are just here to do a little shopping. Pick up some of those tiny cakes you horde, maybe a bottle of wine or two. Ah, and we can't forget a couple of those little bits of art you've got. They'll look great in my living room!"

Anabel's eyes drifted to Looker's. Through their mental link, she could feel the same questions on her mind plaguing him.

"Looker-"

"I know, Anabel." He growled into her mind. Across the room, he was busy patching up the wound one of the younger guests had taken. "Can you contact those on the outside?"

She frowned. "Not without a link and not from this far away. What about the comms? They were supposed to warn us about stuff like this!"

"Jammed. I tried to reach them the moment this started. Team Rocket must have known that the police were here and come prepared."

She swore under her breath. That shouldn't have been possible. The only ones that knew were them and the police. She'd felt the emotions of each member of the local police that they'd brought along with them and not a single one felt anything that would have even remotely indicated they were in Team Rocket's pocket. They'd even gone a step further and watched the local police aiding them to make sure they didn't pass along a message.

So how could they have known? Who could have told them?

"It is possible this isn't actually Team Rocket and just a local gang impersonating them." Even through the mental link, she could feel his disbelief. "Though given their level of preparation and confidence, I doubt that."

Anabel turned her attention to Proton. Even though he looked every bit the fearful guest just like everyone else, underneath she could tell that he was anything but. The emotions rolling off of him were nothing except for smug superiority and arrogance. He wasn't concerned whatsoever.

"It's the real Team Rocket." She narrowed her eyes. "What do we do, sir?"

"It's simple. With no weapons, no Pokemon, and a room full of hostages? We wait for an opening to get these people out of here and call for help."

"What about the others? They must know what's going on."

"Probably." She could feel the concern coming from her leader. "If Petrovic knows what he's doing, he's waiting for reinforcements before he comes charging in. I may hate the man, but he's not stupid. Not completely."

"If he charges in here before we can get these people out, they're going to get caught in the crossfire."

"He won't care. Which is why we need to get them out before it comes to that."

Wonderful. So, on top of needing to somehow sneak an entire ballroom full of people - some of them injured and all of them terrified out of their minds - out to safety, they had to do it before Petrovic came bursting in like an action hero and got them all killed. Why could nothing ever be simple?

At least Ash wasn't in danger or doing anything stupid. She dreaded to imagine what he would have done if he were here.

Ash had been called many things in his life. He'd been called a weakling because of how he'd treated his Pokemon with kindness. He'd been considered stupid because of how often he went into things without much of a plan. He'd been called reckless more than once. Then there was everything that Gary had called him back when they'd let their rivalry get the better of them as kids. Maybe all of those were things that he deserved to be called. One thing that he had never been called before was a coward. No matter how terrifying the situation got, he never flinched. He never hesitated to meet the danger head-on.

For the first time in his life, Ash considered running. It was hard not to when he got closer to the mansion hosting the auction and was met with a sickening silence that did nothing to hide what he knew was happening inside. Team Rocket hadn't even done anything to hide the bodies of the security guards they'd killed. Those people had been left where they died. He did his best not to look at them for too long. As it was, the sickening smell of blood and venom was enough to make him want to throw up. He'd lose it if he had to actually see what state they'd been left in.

He carefully stepped around their bodies and avoided the pools of blood that leaked from them.

"I won't let them get away with this."

It was the best that he could give them. None of them had survived the initial attack. Even if they had, Ash didn't know the first thing about first aid beyond simple bruises or broken bones. What happened to these men would have required a hospital if they'd survived. The pain would have been unbearable. And here he was marching into a situation where the same things could be done to him.

Any sane man would have stayed far away. Any competent agent would have listened to Petrovic and waited for reinforcements. He couldn't though. Looker and Anabel were trapped in there without any weapons or Pokemon to defend themselves with. The guests of the auction were even more defenseless than them! At least those two had the training of the International Police. None of the others were so lucky. They needed help. Or at least a distraction so that Looker and Anabel could do what they did best and save people.

He took a breath. "Calm down. You've faced down Legends. This is nothing compared to that."

His pep talk didn't help nearly as much as he'd hoped it would. It was too late to back out now though. He was already close to the mansion. To leave now would just endanger everyone. He pressed himself up against the wall and hid in the shadows as best he could. He hadn't seen any of Team Rocket left behind to guard the entrance or act as lookouts, but he wasn't about to risk it by walking through the front doors. Knowing his luck, he'd stumble right into the middle of them and get torn apart. He needed to find another way inside.

That would be harder than it looked. It wasn't like he could climb the wall and find a way inside from the roof. Not when it was as flat as a board and the mansion towered over the few trees nearby. Breaking a window was out of the question. That would create too much noise and the Rocket grunts would fall on him like a tidal wave. He supposed he could check around the back of the building and see if there was another way inside-

He felt a tiny paw tug on his pants and glanced down towards his partner. Pikachu was pointing up towards the wall and tapping his foot impatiently. Ash followed where he pointed and felt a surge of disappointment. His partner had found an air vent. A small air vent. He'd never fit in there. He was too big and too heavy. He'd either get stuck trying or break it the moment he tried. Not to mention the noise that he'd make! It'd take someone a lot smaller and lighter than him... to...

He realized what Pikachu wanted to do. He narrowed his eyes and crouched down to his level. "Are you sure about this Pikachu?" He whispered. "You'd be in there on your own. I wouldn't be able to help you."

Pikachu nodded and placed his paw on Ash's hand. Ash could tell Pikachu was just as determined to help as he was. He just hoped that his partner was also as afraid as he was. He didn't want his oldest friend to go rushing into danger and getting himself killed. They needed to play this smart. They needed to act like the agents Looker and Anabel were training him to be.

He really wished they'd given him more training before taking him out.

Ash let out a sigh and gave his partner an encouraging thumbs up. "Okay, if this is what you want to do then I'm with you, buddy." He frowned. "I'll try to sneak around back. This place is huge, so there's got to be another entrance I can use."

He grabbed Pikachu by the sides and held him up to the vent. Pikachu didn't need any prompting for what came next. His tail glowed an almost blinding white before turning into a sharp, reflective silver. Slowly, Pikachu forced his tail under the latch and began to twist. Ash flinched at the sudden noise it made and glanced back towards the door. Nothing. No sign that anyone inside had heard.

He gave Pikachu a small glare. He needed to be more careful, or he'd bring them all down on top of them! Ash could almost feel the way that Pikachu rolled his eyes at him. It was too late to do anything about it now though. At least the vent was open enough for his partner to squeeze inside.

"Find Looker and Anabel." He told his partner as he squirmed his way inside. "They'll know what to do. Try not to draw attention to yourself, okay? I can't lose you."

"Pi."

His partner was gone not long after. Ash would need to follow his lead. If his partner was willing to risk his life walking into danger, then he couldn't do any less! He'd find a way inside. As for what came after?

He'd do what he did best: adapt and hope for the best.

Looker was beginning to think he'd offended a Legendary in a past life of his. He couldn't think of any other reason why his missions always went wrong somehow.

He tore the sleeve off of his suit jacket and tied it around the leg of an elderly woman. She'd been one of the unlucky one's to be attacked by Team Rocket's Raticate's. Nothing life-threatening though so long as the bleeding was stopped. Plenty of scratches and bite wounds, but they hadn't caused any permanent damage. The only casualties so far had been the security force - the only one's who'd possessed Pokemon of their own. Pokemon that were still stuck inside their Poke balls and had been hidden away from them all. There was no chance they'd be able to fight their way out.

"How are you feeling?" He and the elderly woman were away from the larger congregations of people. After Team Rocket had stormed the building and secured everyone in the dining room as hostages, they'd moved through the house to capture any staff hidden away to bring back here. There was no privacy since everyone was forced to stay within sight of the Rocket grunts, but it was the best he could offer the poor woman. The only one he'd allowed to remain nearby had been the little boy who had been attached to her side when he found them.

"Like my leg is a chew toy." She groaned. "I'll be fine, young man. You should be more focused on helping everyone else. Your effort is wasted on me."

"That's not true, gram!"

Looker glanced up at the source of the voice. A boy who couldn't be more than 12 years old. He should have been out on a Pokemon journey seeing all the wonders that the world had to offer and making new friends. Instead, he was stuck in here with the rest of them. He did his best to offer the boy a reassuring smile.

"It's alright. Your grandma will be fine. We'll all be fine once these people get what they want."

The elder smiled up at her grandson. "Don't listen to me. I'm just bitter is all. Why don't you give me and the good doctor some privacy?"

The boy frowned and crossed his arms. "Why? I need to protect you!"

"I need to thank him. Now listen to your grandma and go. See if anyone else would like their wounds wrapped up."

It was clear that the child didn't want to listen but knew better than to argue. Looker watched him go and let out a tired sigh. "Just so you know, I'm not a doctor."

"Just so you know, I don't care." She countered. "Whatever you are, I appreciate you trying to help. But I have to ask... do you really believe these ruffians will just let us go once they get what they want? Or was that just a lie to calm the boy down?"

Truthfully? Looker didn't know. Team Rocket wasn't usually this bold. For all the power they held, they preferred to work in the shadows. There were only two situations Looker knew of that would provoke them to not just move in the open but make it a spectacle for the world to see. The first was what the International Police had dubbed the Smokescreen Division. A unit whose sole purpose was to convince the world that Team Rocket wasn't a real threat. Bumbling idiots and petty thieves. It was a surprisingly effective strategy. As far as the public was concerned, they were a joke. If children could defeat their operatives, then how dangerous could they be?

The only other situation that would provoke them like this was when a Legendary Pokemon was involved. Every time Team Rocket found one, they threw everything they had at them and didn't care who got hurt in the process. Tens of millions of dollars, entire cells of grunts, and the kind of technology that the International Police would have killed to acquire. He dreaded to imagine what would happen if they ever succeeded and managed to bend one to their will. He couldn't see how an auction of all things was connected to a Legendary. Not when it would make any enemy of so many of the rich and powerful.

He didn't know which was worse: the idea that there was a Legendary involved and they hadn't known or that there was something just as valuable here that Team Rocket wanted?

He couldn't tell her that. He needed to put on a brave face and keep these people calm. "If they wanted us dead, they could have done that when they stormed in. So long as we don't cause any trouble, we should be fine."

At least until Petrovic came blasting in.

"Looker, I... think there's something you need to see."

He cleared his throat. "Excuse me, ma'am. I need to go check on a friend of mine."

He found Anabel sitting down at a table in the corner of the room. A Rocket Grunt was nearby but didn't seem to be paying her much attention. Even when he came close, the man didn't seem too concerned about paying attention to them like he was supposed to. A small mercy, but they'd need to be careful.

He took a seat across from her and gave her a smile. "Hello ma'am. How are you holding up?"

"What is it you needed to show me? How bad is it?"

Anabel let out a sigh and leaned across the table. "I'm being held hostage so... I could be better."

"Look at the vent above us. Try to be subtle about it."

Looker was almost offended. He was the senior agent and yet he was being told to be subtle by a rookie agent? The only thing more galling would have been if Ash had been the one to say it. With that horrifying thought now in his head, he grasped one of the glasses on the table and brought it to his lips. He tilted his head back in an exaggerated manner to look up towards the vent.

He choked on his drink and slammed the glass down on his table. This couldn't be happening! Not on top of everything else! His eyes had to be playing to tricks on him. He glanced up towards the vent one more time.

Nope. His eyes were fine.

Anabel offered him a sympathetic smile. "Careful. A man your age shouldn't drink so much."

"I know. That's how I feel too."

Looker's eye twitched. "I'm not that old."

"Why is there a Pikachu in the vents? No, scratch that. Why is Ash's Pikachu in the vents!"

Anabel drummed her fingers on the table. "Says the man with wrinkles and gray in his hair."

"According to Pikachu, he and Ash decided to try infiltrating the mansion when they saw what was happening."

Of all the horrible ideas he'd heard in the past few weeks, this had to be the worst. "I like to think I'm refined, not old."

"Did he come with Petrovic?"

Anabel tilted her head to the side and frowned. "Do you always lie to yourself to feel better?"

"No... is that better or worse?"

It was hard to say. On the one hand, if Petrovic was here that meant Ash would be safe but then Looker would have to put up with the smug bastard gloating about having to rescue him. On the other hand, if Ash came alone then that meant he was in way over his head and Petrovic had done nothing to stop him.

"Do you always insult people trying to check on you?"

"Please tell me they're not going to burst in here like an action hero. Please give me some good news!"

Anabel grimaced. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me."

"... Pikachu doesn't know."

Looker was at a loss for words.

"Explain. Now."

Anabel looked away in shame. The Team Rocket Grunt had moved away from the table and towards the rest of the Grunts on the other side of the room. All of those that had been ordered to watch the hostages seemed to be doing the same thing.

"He and Ash split up. Apparently while Ash tries to find another way inside, he told Pikachu to find us. He wants to know what our plan is."

Looker let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.

"The plan hasn't changed. We need to get these civilians out of the way before Petrovic attacks. Tell Pikachu to wait for our signal before he does anything."

As powerful as Pikachu may have been, he was still outnumbered and too inexperienced in life-or-death battles. If they weren't careful, their only way of fighting back would be overwhelmed and torn apart. If they were lucky, they could time it just right to get these people out at the same time Petrovic made his move.

Anabel was silent for a moment. "What about Ash? He can't understand Pikachu and I don't have a link with him."

Looker frowned and stood up from his chair. "That's the tricky part. We're going to have to trust that he's been trained enough to not do anything stupid."

She looked as confident hearing that as he felt having to say it. Or think it, as the case may be. At least they were on the same page.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eyes. The Golbat's that Team Rocket had brought with them were all spreading out and hovering around the room. He didn't have to wait long to find out why. A loud, shrill screech began to fill the room. He covered his ears and doubled over in pain. He wasn't the only one. Throughout the dining room, everyone was in the same state that he was. Mercifully, the screeching stopped after a few agonizing moment.

The same Rocket Grunt that had started the attack and commanded the room before hopped up onto a table again. He didn't seem nearly as amused as he had been the first time.

Looker dreaded to imagine what had set him off. He hoped Ash was okay.

Proton was a monster.

He knew this. He'd lied, cheated, and stolen for his entire life. Oh, and killed. He had a particular talent for that last one. He'd killed for money, power, and revenge. He'd killed because he'd been told to. Sometimes he killed just because he felt like it. He'd become so good at it that he had been recruited by a group of monsters even more dangerous than he was. For nothing more than the promise of power and an opulent lifestyle, he had sold his soul. Or what little of it was left at this point. He never had put much stock in that kind of junk.

Normal people could never understand living this kind of life. They were sheep. Always crying out for a savior but never doing anything to help themselves when it counted. They made it so easy for predators like him to have their fun. It shouldn't have been a surprise for anyone when Team Rocket had become the titanic organization it was today. For all that their rivals in other regions liked to pretend they were dangerous, they all deluded themselves with foolish ideals and the goal of creating a 'better world'.

It made him sick. Team Rocket didn't have such weaknesses. And their boss? He was the biggest monster of them all. Proton had met a lot of people in his life who liked to pretend they had power. All those imposters ever did was shout and stomp around making demands of everyone. They raged against the world for their powerlessness.

Giovanni was different. When he spoke, people listened. Not because he demanded it or intimidated them into doing it, but because they wanted to listen. When he entered a room, people gave him the attention and respect that he deserved. Most of all, he was the type of monster that other monsters feared. He was the only man that Proton knew could stare down an enraged Legendary and bend it to his will. That was the type of monster that Proton served, and he had no intention of angering him.

It took all his effort to stop himself from smiling as his plan came together. He dared anyone to not smile when things were going their way! He'd had to make some last minute changes to his plans for the auction, but so what? If he had to sacrifice a couple million in exchange for access to the most unique piece of tech in the world, then he'd do it without a second thought.

Anything to make the boss happy.

His Grunts were certainly happy to take a break from their normal duties to shake down the rich. He'd never seen so many grown men and women turn into giddy children so fast. They loved messing with these types of people almost as much as he did. He gave them props for taking such a theatrical spin on all this. The hostages may not have appreciated it, but he'd be having a good laugh when this was all said and done.

"Attention, you rich halfwits!" One of the more loud and forgettable ones shouted from his place atop the table. "So, we've gone looking through your little collection and it really is something. We'll be leaving soon."

Proton could practically feel the relief radiating off of these fools. It was almost sad how eager they were to believe that this would all be over soon. Mr. Caffrye even seemed to grow enough of a spine to step forward.

"S-so... you're going to let us go? You'll leave us be?" The man had such hope in his voice.

The Grunt's grin turned feral. "I didn't say that."

Proton had never seen hope leave so many people's eyes so fast. He was almost proud of these Grunts. They were really embracing his more predatory, showmanship style of crime. It was flattering. So long as they didn't screw this whole job up somehow, he'd be sure to reward them somehow. Maybe first pick of the next batch of smuggled Pokemon or a little bonus on top of their pay? He'd have to see how he felt when this was all over.

"See we've all decided... we can get a lot more out of this than just some paintings and old relics. So, we'll be taking some of you with us when we go." The collective gasp that reverberated throughout the crowd was almost deafening. "Now don't get all pouty on me. Once your family or friends pay your ransom, you'll be fine. Until then, you'll be relaxing with the most dashing rogues in the world."

There were many things Proton would have described Team Rocket as, but dashing was not one of them. Well... other than himself of course.

Mr. Caffrye audibly gulped. "And if no one pays?"

The Grunt rolled his eyes. "Then you'll be taking a nap at the bottom of the canals. I'm sure you're all good for it though."

With a snap of his fingers, the other Grunts surged forward and began to pull people from the crowds. A few of them struggled and looked to the people surrounding them for aid, but they found none. Not a single one of their fellow hostages were willing to put their necks on the line to help them. If anything, some of them seemed relieved that they weren't the ones being taken.

How typical.

One of the Grunts came close and went to grab a girl. He didn't get far. Proton latched onto the man's wrist in a vice grip and stared him down. To his credit, the Grunt didn't shout out in shock or tremble in fear. That would have ruined the plan.

No one ruined Proton's plans and got away with it.

"Now what do we have here?" The theatrical Grunt crowed. "Someone trying to play the hero? I didn't think any of you folks had it in you."

Hero? Him? He could feel the countless real heroes who'd opposed him rolling in their graves. That was the image he was trying to present though. Now he just needed to channel his inner self-righteous do-gooder and play his part. It should be easy.

"I'm just a businessman, not a hero." He drawled. "And you haven't thought this little scheme of yours through."

The Grunt tilted his head and let out a hum. "Oh really?" A Golbat landed on the shoulder of the Grunt, and he hopped off to table to walk towards Proton. "I hope for your sake you have good reasons for speaking up. Otherwise, my Golbat here is gonna have a new chew toy to play with."

It must have been an intimidating sight to be stared down by a dangerous criminal and his Pokemon. Anyone else in his position would have been shaking in their boots. Maybe he would have been too or kept his mouth shut... if he hadn't arranged for this whole situation in the first place.

Proton towered over the Grunts and let go of the one attempting to snatch the girl out of the crowd. "You're making enemies out of the rich and powerful."

The Grunt rolled his eyes. "Is that all? We're Team Rocket. If Champions can't do anything to stop us, these people can't either."

"Oh, Team Rocket will be fine." He jabbed his finger into the chest of the Grunt. "You and your people won't be."

The Grunt made a show of grabbing his hand and forcing it away. "What makes you say that?" He growled.

"You're unimportant." Proton took joy in the shocked gasps that tore through the crowd and the wince that the Grunt wore. "Grunts. I doubt you're ever given truly important work or know anything of value. If your performance here is anything to go by, I can see why. I bet you couldn't even hit the broadside of a barn at pointblank range."

The Grunt had squeezed his eyes shut at this point. "Now that's a little harsh-"

"I bet you thought you could just walk in here and steal everything in sight without anyone trying to stop you." He paused. "Aside from security, but they're all dead now so that's irrelevant. You never stopped to think of the bigger picture."

"Which is?"

Proton crossed his arms. "When the families of these fine people learn that you've kidnapped them, they'll hunt you down. Rich folk like them have almost limitless time and money to pursue their vendettas." He leaned down until his eyes were peering into the Grunt's. No one else may have been able to see the fear in his subordinates eyes, but Proton could. It was intoxicating. "They will find you all. And they will make you suffer for this."

The Grunt let out and audible gulp and stepped back. "Maybe." He began. "Maybe kidnapping isn't the right play... maybe we should just kill you all and take the valuables to cover our tracks. No witnesses left that way."

Proton let out an audible sigh even as the crowd of hostages began to whisper among themselves in fear. "Now you're just being stupid on purpose." He shook his head and gestured around the room. "There's no hiding your involvement here. If you leave now with your stolen art and artifacts, you won't be hunted down by these people's families. Kill them and you'll create enemies for life. Team Rocket may gift wrap and hand you over to them just to placate them."

Sure, the security force was dead... but they didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. They were no threat when they were alive, and they wouldn't be one while they were dead. No one important would mourn their passing. The same couldn't be said for the hostages.

The Grunt was silent for a moment. "And what would you recommend we do?"

Proton shrugged. "Exactly as I said earlier. Take your loot and go. You can escape into the city before the authorities ever arrive and get away without any trouble." He gestured behind him to the terrified crowd of people. "I guarantee none of them will try to go after you. Frankly, I'd bet they'll forget this night ever happened. Right, everyone?"

At his prompting, everyone began to shout out their agreement and promise to stay out of Team Rocket's way. It took all his control to stop himself from laughing.

The Grunt stepped back and narrowed his eyes. "Anyone ever told you you're too smart for your own good?" He let out a sigh. "Give the hostages back... for now. I need to think about what to do."

He didn't. The Grunt was putting on a good show, but this would all be over soon. The Grunts would leave and by the time the hostages called the police, they would be long gone. All while he came out looking like a hero. A wave of satisfaction hit him as those grabbed by his Grunts rejoined the other hostages.

"That was very brave. Thank you for saving me. Not many people are willing to stand up to Team Rocket like that."

And there was the reason for all of this. Proton turned to look at the source of the voice - the woman that he had stopped Team Rocket from grabbing. She was a tall girl with pale skin and brown eyes. She wore a flattering green dress and her dark brown hair had been styled to resemble the wings of a Latias or Latios - fitting given those were the guardians of this city. She was one of the artists for the auction. A rising star within the art community from what he'd heard.

None of that was nearly as important as who she was: Bianca Davri. The granddaughter of Lorenzo Davri, the curator of the Alto Mare Museum and the man Proton suspected knew the secrets of the DMA.

He allowed a charming smile to grace his face. "I couldn't just let them take these people. Team Rocket aren't known for their hospitality." He offered her his hand. "Proton. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Bianca stared down at his hand for a moment before slowly taking it in her own. "I'm Bianca. I'm glad that someone here is trying to stop them." The bitterness in her voice was clear to anyone listening. "Be honest with me. Do you think they'll let us go?"

If they knew what was good for them? Yes.

"Trust me, Bianca. I guarantee that this will all be over soon. So long as we cooperate and no one does anything stupid, they'll see reason and let us leave with our lives."

"I can't believe that you'd do this!"

Latias had made many mistakes in her life.

Most of her mistakes were small and easily forgivable. Splashing people with water or knocking them over while she was doing her patrols was never intentional, but the Humans never looked too closely. They were eager to chalk it up to a stray Water type lashing out or them stumbling over nothing. It was easier to accept than an invisible Legendary making their day more difficult.

She was always at her most careful during her job as guardian of the city. She couldn't afford to make mistakes when so many people's lives and happiness were at stake. After the... incident that occurred years ago, she'd vowed to never mess up that badly again. Not when it had nearly destroyed the city. Even when Team Rocket had appeared in droves, she'd been able to keep her mistakes to a minimum. Not once had a mistake cost someone their lives during her watch and she was proud of that.

Until tonight. Latias had believed that she could do a quick patrol of the city before the auction started. There should have been no harm in it. It was her job, after all. If she didn't do the patrol, she'd have been worried about everything that could have gone wrong and wouldn't have been able to focus on Bianca's night. Her best friend deserved her full attention, and she was going to get it. She may have had to tell a small lie, but Bianca would never have found out. She'd be finished with her patrol and back in time to see her friend get the recognition she deserved. It was the best of both worlds.

Now over a dozen people were dead and even more were being held hostage. Worst of all, her friend was in danger. All because she was too concerned with playing hero instead of keeping her promise to her friend. If she'd just been at the auction, she could have stopped this from even happening in the first place. No one would have had to die.

Once again, her actions caused other people to get hurt. Some guardian she turned out to be...

She shook her head. She couldn't get lost in her own thoughts and get crushed under the weight of her failures. Not tonight! She may not have been able to prevent this from happening, but she could still save everyone in Team Rocket's clutches. They may have been prepared for security and even the police, but she doubted they were prepared for a Legendary. Least of all one fighting to protect what was hers.

Invisible to the naked eye, she flew over the rooftops of the city towards the mansion that the auction was being held at. If people found it strange that their windows were thrown open by sudden gusts of wind or how the water in the canals was uneasy that night, she didn't stick around long enough to hear.

"I'm sorry, Bianca." She finally told her friend. Through the mental link that they shared, Latias could feel the anger of her friend. She could handle that. What she couldn't handle was the undercurrent of fear that was in the back of Bianca's thoughts. "I promise, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Of all the nights you decide to ignore me, you had to pick the one night Team Rocket attacks?"

Latias didn't bother to suppress her flinch. "I didn't know they'd do this."

"That's not the point- forget it. We'll talk about this later."

That was the last thing Latias wanted to do, but there were more important things to focus on. "How many Rocket's are there?"

"Around a dozen. Maybe more if they left people outside to watch for police. As far as I can tell, they only have Golbat and Raticate with them."

This would be easy then. With the element of surprise on her side, Latias was confident that she could take that number out without much effort. The only difficult part would be making sure Team Rocket couldn't lash out at Bianca and the other hostages before she could stop them. She was confident she could pull that off though. She didn't have any other choice.

"What are they doing now?"

"Trying to decide if they're going to kidnap some of us to hold for ransom or just leave with the artifacts and art they already have."

Latias felt a shiver run down her spine. "Does it look like they're going take you?"

"I don't think so. Proton made a convincing argument."

Proton? "Who's that?"

"I think he was going to be a buyer tonight at the auction. He was the only one of us to stand up to them though. Or... at least stand up to them and not get harmed for it."

Latias narrowed her eyes. The mansion was finally within sight. "Does he seem suspicious? Team Rocket isn't known for their kindness, so I can't imagine they'd just let someone get away with telling them what to do."

She could feel Bianca's amusement through their link. "He seems like a smug prick, but no. I think he just scared them. He made it sound like if they kidnapped anyone here that they'd pay for it with their lives."

She rolled her eyes. "That should have been obvious to anyone with a brain."

If movies had taught her anything, it was that the rich Humans were practically untouchable. Unless they were up against a plucky underdog, in which case everything started to go wrong for them all at once. Team Rocket was far from being an underdog.

"Just hurry up. I don't want to bet my life on these creeps having common sense."

Neither would she.

"I'm almost there. Just keep your head down and everything will be fine."

Ash had found his way inside. Around the back of the mansion was a door into the kitchen. The lights were on, but a quick glance through the window of the door showed that no one was there. It looked like a storm had passed through the place. Food and cooking utensils were scattered across the floor, the pots on the stove were boiling over, and worst of all he could see blood spattered across the walls. He did his best to ignore the knot in his stomach.

He reached for the handle to push open the door and... nothing. The door wouldn't budge.

Ash looked up at the night sky. "What did I do to deserve this, Arceus?"

Predictably, he didn't receive an answer. Nor did the door magically open itself to make his life any easier. He let out a despairing sigh. There was no time to find another entrance into the mansion. He'd already spent too long finding this one. For all he knew, everyone inside was being tortured. He needed to force his way inside.

Luckily for him, this was not the first time he'd been forced to break down a door. The door itself was made of a solid hardwood in a wooden frame. A quick glance at the hinges showed that the door swung inwards. He nodded to himself and stepped back. He took a breath to center himself and then kicked just above the lock of the door with all his might. He heard the faint sound of wood splintering and grinned to himself. He stepped back and kicked one more time. This time, the frame of the door broke under the assault and the door flew open with a loud crack!

He stepped inside the kitchen and adjusted his hat atop his head. Now that he was inside the kitchen, he could see that there were no bodies and not more blood beyond the spatters he'd seen coating the walls and floor. That meant that whoever had been attacked was only injured, not dead. Team Rocket must have only been targeting those that could fight back.

That didn't bode well for him, but he couldn't get cold feet now. People were counting on him.

His blood chilled as he heard footsteps coming his way and he looked back towards the door that he had broken open. He should have known that someone would come to investigate the noise! If he survived this, he swore that he'd get Anabel and Looker to teach him how pick a lock. If only so this didn't happen again.

He ducked behind the counter of the room out of sight just before the interior door to the kitchen swung open. Ash peaked his head out from behind the corner of the counter to see a Team Rocket grunt standing in the middle of the room. The Grunt walked towards the now broken door to the outside world and let out a long, tired sigh.

"Balls. Proton is gonna have my head for this." The Grunt reached for his Pokegear. "Better call this in."

Ash swore under his breath. If the Grunt reported this to the rest of his group, this situation could get violent fast. There was only one thing he could do to stop him. Ash glanced up at the counter for something - anything - he could use as a weapon. He passed over the useless pieces of fruit and the knife nearby, still dripping with a thick, purple liquid. He may have been willing to fight, but he was no killer. He never would be.

Luckily for him, he wouldn't have to become one. On the floor by his feet was a wooden rolling pin. Perfect for what he had in mind. Quickly grasping his improvised weapon in his hand, he snuck up behind the Rocket Grunt as he fiddled with his Pokegear. He was careful not to squish any of the berries or other food on the ground and alert the Grunt before he was ready. Once he was close, he raised the rolling pin and struck the back of the Grunt's head with all of his might.

"Gah!" The blow was enough to send the Grunt stumbling away and forced him to drop his Pokegear, but he was still conscious. "What the-"

Never give your opponent a chance to recover. That was one of the most important lessons that Anabel had drilled into him when they were training. He was on the Grunt in a flash, raining down blows with his rolling pin without mercy. The Grunt had raised his arms to block the strikes and growled at the sight of him. On one of Ash's slower strikes, the Grunt lashed out and grabbed the rolling pin just as it was about to come down on his arm again. The rolling pin was ripped out of Ash's weak grip and tossed aside. He didn't have much time to worry about the loss of his weapon before the Grunt tackled him to the ground.

His head hit the ground hard, and his vision swam. Two rough, meaty hands wrapped around his throat and began to squeeze as tight as they could. His eyes shot open and stared up into the cruel, enraged gaze of the Rocket Grunt above him. Ash began to writhe on the floor and struggle against the Grunt, but it was no use. No matter how much he tried to squirm out from beneath his attackers grasp or claw at his arms, nothing worked. He couldn't take a single gasp of breath.

"I don't know who you are kid, but you fucked up!" The Grunt sneered. "Shouldn't have tried to play hero, brat."

This was it. He was going to die here. He was going to die alone and afraid at the hands of some random Rocket Grunt. What would happen to Looker and Anabel when they found out he'd died trying to play hero? What would Team Rocket do to the hostages after this? What state would Pikachu be in when he discovered the bloody end that his trainer was enduring? What would his friends and family think when they heard of this?

Would any of them even care? Or would they think this was a fitting end for the violent criminal they believed he was?

He just wanted to go home...

...

...

No! This couldn't be it! He couldn't just give up here! He would fight for his right to live, no matter how hopeless it may have been. Even as his vision began to blur and darken, Ash continued to struggle against the death grip of the Rocket Grunt seated on his chest. This drew a dark laugh out of the criminal.

"A second wind? Go ahead and keep struggling. You're just drawing this out!" The Grunt leaned down to mock him. "You really are pathetic-"

Ash lashed out towards the Grunt's face. His hand latched onto the side of the Grunt's face, and he pressed his thumb over the right eye of his would-be killer. With the desperation that only a dying man could muster, he began to press down on the Grunt's eye with all of his might and dig his nail into the fleshy organ. He could feel the way that the soft tissue of the eye crumbled under the pressure and the blood that gushed forth under his assault.

The Grunt reared back out of pain and scrambled away from Ash, clutching his face in agony. As soon as the Grunt let go of his throat, Ash took in a giant gulp of air and began to let out hacking coughs. This wasn't over though. Not even close. Ash forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain that racked his entire body. He stumbled over to the stove and grabbed one of the pots of boiling water.

"You son of a bitch!" The Grunt howled in agony and lowered his hands from his wound. "When I get my hands on you-"

The Grunt never got to finish his threat. Ash threw the boiling hot water directly into the face of the Grunt without hesitation. The man reared back and let out a high-pitched, anguished scream and fell back to the ground. He was clutching his face and squirming on the floor. While no words could be heard, Ash could only imagine that he was either begging for the pain to stop or making more incomprehensible threats.

Ash didn't care. He raised the now empty metal pan in his hands above his and tightened his grip. With an adrenaline filled roar of his own, he slammed the pot down on the head of the Grunt. Once, twice, thrice. He kept slamming the pot onto the head of his potential killer until he stopped squirming in pain. By the time he was done, the man's face was a disgusting mess of blood and swollen skin. The bloody pot clattered to the ground at his feet.

Ash stumbled back against a wall and slowly slid down to the floor. His heart was pounding, and every breath set his throat on fire. He rubbed his throat where the Grunt had tried to choke him and winced at the pain that flashed through him. Slowly, he began to calm himself down and slow his heart to the point it no longer felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. The entire time he was sat on the floor, his eyes were locked firmly on the door to the rest of the mansion. That fight hadn't been quiet. He half expected other Grunts to have heard it and come to find the cause. None did though.

Eventually his eyes drifted to the still form of the Rocket Grunt in the kitchen. Cautiously, he moved towards the body and looked down at the man that would have killed him. Despite that, Ash felt only dread. He couldn't have killed the man... could he? He slowly reached out for the man's neck and felt for a pulse. It was faint - almost unnoticeable - but it was there. The Grunt was alive.

Ash let out a shaky sigh of relief. He wasn't a killer. Even when his own life was on the line, he was glad to see that he hadn't crossed a line he couldn't come back from. He wasn't a monster.

Not yet.

He couldn't stand around though. Even if he had just narrowly escaped death, Anabel, Looker, and the hostages were in danger. They didn't have the luxury of waiting on him. He needed to move. He couldn't go out like this though. If any of Team Rocket or their Pokemon saw him wandering the halls, they'd be on him in an instant. With the state he was in, Ash knew that he wouldn't stand a chance. He needed to be careful.

He glanced down at the Rocket Grunt's unconscious form and frowned. While the man himself may have been in a bad state, his clothes were fine. There wasn't a drop of blood or a single tear on them. The man wasn't too much bigger than Ash either...

He let out a scratchy sigh. "Sometimes I hate my ideas."

"What do you think they'll decide to do?"

Anabel hummed in thought and narrowed her eyes at the huddled group of Team Rocket Grunts. They'd been talking among themselves ever since Proton had stepped forward and 'heroically' talked the criminals down from kidnapping people. After that, everyone was looking at the man as though he were a hero for doing it. If Anabel didn't know that he had orchestrated all of this or that he was one of Team Rocket's Admin's, she may have fallen for it.

"I think they'll go without trouble." She told Looker over the mental link. "The real question is why he'd do this."

This auction was supposed to be a way for Team Rocket to sell their forgeries and fool them all. Now it was a heist/hostage situation, and she couldn't understand why. It felt like they were missing a piece of the puzzle that was keeping them from seeing the full picture. There was no reason for Proton to pull something like this. Not when the media would be all over Team Rocket for the deaths and trauma they were inflicting on these people.

The door to the dining room opened and a Grunt walked in with his face obscured by the hat that he wore.

Looker let out a sigh. "We're missing something important. Proton is many things, but he's not stupid. He's doing this for a reason." Looker's eyes drifted to the man in question. Their target had his arm wrapped around a beautiful girl in a green dress, the very one he'd saved from being taken. "It's possible it has something to do with that girl."

Anabel raised any eyebrow. Like Looker, she'd gone over the guest list of the auction and knew everyone who would be here. That was Bianca Davri. A local artist with some skill as a painter. No known connection to any criminal elements though. Her only living family was the curator of a local museum and reports showed that she didn't have any friends.

"If his interest is in her, it must be recent." She drummed her fingers along the table. "After all, it caused him to throw away this little money making scheme of his."

"We'll have to look into her when this is done." Looker narrowed his eyes. "There must be more to her than meets the eye."

Anabel let out a gasp and bent over, clutching her head in her hands. A heavy weight settled on her shoulders and every instinct was telling her to run to the darkest corner she could find to hide. The psychic energy she possessed that was normally so eager to be used now felt cowed into submission - like a pebble being overshadowed by an ancient mountain.

There was another psychic here. And they were furious.

"Get to the hostages." She forced out.

Looker didn't have to wait long to find out why. One moment, the room was calm and quiet aside from the hushed conversations of the hostages and Team Rocket. The next moment, the lights began to flicker rapidly before bursting in a shower of sparks and glass while casting the room in darkness. The chairs and tables in the room all began to levitate off the ground and hurl themselves towards Team Rocket and their Pokemon. They moved with such force and at such rapid speeds that that they shattered the instant they struck their targets.

Panic set in soon after.

The hostages - once cowed into submission by Team Rocket's clear dominance - now began to scream and run for the doors. Whatever was controlling the furniture and debris swirling around the room was doing its best not to harm them. The same couldn't be said for the members of Team Rocket. If anything, the force behind this mayhem was ruthless in how it dispatched them. Even when the furniture would shatter, the remnants would be used beat and batter them around the room. The Golbat and Raticate which had once struck fear in everyone were now scrambling to survive.

Anabel felt hands on her shoulders force her to her feet.

"Come on, we need to go while we have the chance!" Looker ordered.

The pressure in her head made it difficult to speak, but she gave her partner a nod. She made her way towards the hostages fleeing towards the backdoors of the dining room alongside Looker. Then an explosion rocked the room, and the main doors flew off their hinges. She turned to look at what had caused it.

The police had arrived. At the head of them and surrounded by an assortment of Pokemon was Petrovic. He seemed surprised by the chaos that he found inside, but that didn't stop him for long. He stepped forward and released a Weezing from its Poke ball.

"Focus on Team Rocket! Ignore everything else!" He shouted.

At his command, the police rushed in alongside their Pokemon. Team Rocket had already been weakened and caught off guard by the attacks of the unknown psychic. With the arrival of Petrovic and Alto Mare's police, any chance of them escaping like they'd planned was gone. They seemed to realize it too.

Anabel had once heard that a cornered Raticate was more dangerous than any Dragonite. She didn't know how true that was, but it certainly applied to Team Rocket. Realizing how dangerous their situation was, the Grunts began to fight back against the Police in a desperate attempt for at least a few of them to make it to the exit. The dining room was filled with deadly Pokemon attacks and their cries of pain.

One such attack was a Flamethrower released by a Growlithe that missed its intended target and headed straight for the hostages. She and Looker were too far away to do anything about it. She shielded her eyes so that she didn't have to watch those poor people burn alive.

She needn't have worried. Instead of the agonized screams of people burning alive and the smell to go with it, the room was illuminated in a golden light as lightning erupted from the ceiling and struck the Flamethrower halfway. Ravenous, red-hot flames warred with dazzling golden lightning in a clash of the elements before exploding in a cloud of smoke.

From the ceiling, Pikachu dropped to the ground in front of the fleeing hostages. Electricity sparked from its cheeks as it stood protectively before them to act as a shield from anymore incoming stray attacks.

Anabel let out a sigh of relief. If it hadn't been for him, there would have been many families in mourning after tonight. She and Looker rushed by him to usher the hostages towards the exits and break them out of their terror-induced stupors. She spared a glance back towards Pikachu and gave him a nod of appreciation. He didn't look back at her. He was entirely focused on protecting them from anymore attacks.

With him watching their backs, Anabel knew they wouldn't have to worry about being struck from behind. Now she and Looker would do what they did best.

Protect the people.

It all happened so fast.

Ash had been moving through the dining room disguised as a member of Team Rocket trying to find Looker and Anabel. He hadn't been able to search for long before everything turned chaotic when the furniture began to fly around the room like a tornado. It was as though the entire room was haunted and the ghosts of past were focused entirely on hurting Team Rocket. Not something he would have been against normally, but he was dressed as them. Whatever was behind that chaos either hadn't known or hadn't cared.

He'd nearly been flattened against the wall by a table!

As if that hadn't been bad enough, the police had arrived in force. That should have been a good thing since it meant Petrovic had been there to save the day. Only... it hadn't. Petrovic had been merciless in his attack. Ash had wondered what that man had meant by salting the earth and destroying his enemy.

Now he understood. He knew that it meant to be merciless to his enemies. Petrovic and the police had rushed forward into a brutal melee to beat Team Rocket into submission. Team Rocket met every blow with two of their own, not that it meant much when the police were wearing full body armor. Their Pokemon had been just as vicious. They tore into one another with their fangs and claws, spraying blood on the ground are they fought one another.

Ash was forced to scramble out of the way to avoid everything. He had next to no real combat experience while Pikachu was protecting the hostages with Anabel and Looker. If he got drawn into the thick of the fighting in his state, Ash knew that he wouldn't last long. Skirting along the edges of the battle, he bolted for the exit as fast as his legs could carry him.

He almost made it to the doors when he was stopped. Not by a member of the local police or any of the Pokemon involved in the battle. His body stopped mid-step against his will. He couldn't move a muscle no matter how hard he tried to struggle. It was as if an invisible force had coiled around him and taken control of his body. For all intents and purposes, one had. He recognized this feeling.

The feeling of psychic power wasn't one he'd ever forget.

In an instant, he was lifted off of the floor and flung into the middle of the fight. He collided with one of the Golbat's in the air and was used as a sledgehammer to beat it into the ground. By the time that he was let go, his body ached and his vision swam. He forced himself to roll off of the now unconscious Golbat and let out a gasp of pain. It was almost too much.

He was tempted to stay on the ground. If he played dead and made himself seem harmless, everyone would ignore him for the bigger threats. That mysterious psychic that had used him like a ragdoll seemed done with him now as well. His body would probably thank him for staying out of harm's way after everything it had been put through tonight.

A Raticate rushed by him. More out of curiosity than anything else, he focused his attention on the small rodent. His eyes widened when he saw where the bloodthirsty creature was going. Petrovic was in the thick of the fight, holding one of Team Rocket's Grunts by the collar and raining down blows on the poor man. He was completely unaware of the rapidly approaching death behind him.

He acted on instinct and scrambled after the Raticate. He didn't have time to think about what he'd do to it once he caught it or what he'd say to Petrovic to explain why he was wearing a Team Rocket uniform. He felt the telltale heat and heard the sizzle of the air that always accompanied a powerful Flamethrower. He threw himself to the ground and rolled over his shoulder, narrowly avoiding the blast that would have taken his life but losing the Team Rocket cap in the process.

The Raticate leapt through the air with its fangs bared and glowing with a blinding light. It was prepared to destroy Petrovic's body armor and tear into the vulnerable flesh underneath.

Ash's hand lashed out and grabbed its tail in as tight of a grip as he could manage. He had stopped the Raticate mere inches before it could sink its fangs into the man. With a desperate roar, he reared back and spun around, slamming the Raticate into the tile floor. He didn't stop there. Keeping a hold of its tail, he began to stomp on the Raticate with as much force as his tired body could muster.

Just a few months ago, its screams of pain would have shocked him into stopping. Now in the heat of battle with the survival of himself and others on the line, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He had seen the bodies of the security for the auction. They had been shown no mercy. He couldn't afford to go easy on Team Rocket or their Pokemon.

With one final stomp and a sickening crunch, he let go of the Raticate's tail and stepped away from its unconscious body. He flinched as a hand touched his shoulder. He spun around, eyes wide and ready to defend himself.

Instead, he found Petrovic offering him a cautious smile. "Red? Yer alive? Here I thought ya went and got yerself killed." He lets out a boisterous laugh. As if the violence going on around them meant nothing to him. "Guess ya aren't completely useless after all."

Ash took a steady breath. "Thank you, sir."

A frown. "Don't thank me. What ya did was stupid and, " Petrovic's eyes widened at something behind him, "look out!"

Ash turned around to see what he was talking about. All he saw was a blue and purple blur speeding towards him. It was too fast to dodge. He snapped his eyes shut and prepared himself from the pain.

It never came. Slowly, he opened his eyes to see a Golbat suspended in the air and struggling against some unseen force. Venom coated its fangs and it gazed at him with pure, murderous intent. No matter how hard it fought to attack him, though, it couldn't move an inch. The Golbat was rocketed into the ceiling not long after he realized it. It struck the ceiling with such force that it created a small crater in the ceiling before falling back to the ground in a broken heap.

Ash could only stare at it in shock. Something had... protected him. The same psychic which had previously thrown him around like a ragdoll and beaten Team Rocket into submission had saved him from a painful, inglorious end.

"Why? It doesn't make any sense! Why would it suddenly save me after all of that?"

He was pulled from his thoughts by Petrovic letting out a sigh and patting him on the back. "Looks like ya got a guardian, Red. Lucky." He cracked his neck and lightly kicked the unconscious form of one of Team Rocket. "We're done here. Time to find Looker and Anabel... oh, and the hostages I suppose."

Now that he mentioned it, Ash finally noticed that the fighting had stopped. Team Rocket and their Pokemon had all been beaten while the Police didn't seem to have lost anyone. The element of surprise and the aid of that mysterious psychic had probably helped. All that was left to do now was find the hostages and lock away Team Rocket.

The room swayed. "They went out the back door of the dining room with the hostages." He stumbled towards Petrovic. "I'll go get them. Tell them the good news..."

He got maybe two steps forward before his knees buckled. He would have slammed into the cold floor if it hadn't been for Petrovic catching him before he could fall.

"Shit kid, I don't think yer in any state to move. It's a wonder ya even managed to survive the fight." Petrovic let out a sigh. "I'll find them, kid. Ya need to see the paramedics. Get these wounds of yers looked at."

Ash knew that Petrovic was right. He was running on fumes at this point. With the adrenaline leaving his system, he was slowly becoming more aware of the pain. Honestly, seeing a paramedic about these wounds felt like a wonderful idea.

"Okay... just tell Looker and Anabel to come see me when they can."

"Don't worry, kid. I'm sure they'll be dying to shower you with praise."

"I have never been so disappointed in someone in my entire life." Looker frowned. "You deliberately ignored Petrovic's orders, rushed into a dangerous hostage situation with no training or plan, and put everyone at risk."

Ash had the decency to flinch and look ashamed at his words. That was good. It meant that he understood what he had done wrong. Looker had known that taking him with them to Alto Mare would be risky, but he'd hoped the boy would at least have some sense of self-preservation.

Currently they were out in front of the mansion. The media and the paramedics had arrived in force not long after Petrovic's assault on the building. It was a miracle that none of the hostages had died. He doubted any of them would forget this night. Team Rocket - those that had survived Petrovic's attack - were on their way to the hospital to have their injuries checked. In time, Looker and the police would have to conduct interrogations.

For now, he and Anabel had to look after the boy. He was their responsibility.

"I just wanted to help." Ash mumbled. From his position on the boys shoulder, Pikachu nuzzled his cheek in comfort. "I didn't think-"

"That's my point: you didn't think at all." He scolded. "Because of your recklessness, you didn't just put everyone in danger. You nearly got yourself killed."

That more than anything else had shocked him. Realistically, he'd known that Ash would put himself in danger, but he'd assumed that Petrovic would have been able to protect him from harm. Looker couldn't have been more wrong. Deep bruises dotted Ash's entire body. He was suffering from a concussion and if the paramedics were to be believed he'd torn numerous muscles. The worst injury, though, had to be the damage done to Ash's throat from when he'd nearly been choked to death.

Looker had almost stormed off to find the one responsible and make him pay for that. Then he'd seen the state Ash had left him in. It was... concerning to know that Ash had been forced to go that far to save his life. It was too soon, and he was too young. Looker would have given anything to have protected his young comrade from that.

At the very least the Grunt was still alive. Ash hadn't been forced to cross that line yet.

"We're not trying to seem ungrateful." Anabel offered him a smile. "It was reckless, but you and Pikachu saved lives tonight. You should feel proud of that."

Ash let out a sigh. "I guess... what about Proton? Did we manage to catch him?"

Looker clenched his fists in anger. "No. He managed to slip away in the chaos." He spoke. "It could be months before he pokes his head out from whatever hole he's gone to hide in."

Anabel grimaced. "Maybe that's for the best. Team Rocket knew that we were here." She glanced back to the police keeping the media from swarming the former hostages. "They may not have known our specific identities, but they knew enough to jam our comms. We've got a traitor among us."

"We'll have to find out who they are before we can do anything about Proton." Looker pinched the bridge of his nose. "Until we do, we'll be shooting ourselves in the foot."

Ash chose that moment to speak up. "Why were they even here though? I thought they were pawning off forgeries as the real thing. Why try to rob them and turn this into a hostage situation?"

Why indeed. Looker didn't know. Proton was only interested in two things: money and power. This auction would have earned him plenty of the former if he'd gone through with his original plan. By changing it so drastically, he lost money and manpower at the same time. It made no sense. There was something they were missing and all they had were theories.

"We think it may have something to do with one of the guests." Anabel told him. "An artist, to be precise. He specifically went out of his way to save her from being taken by Team Rocket and spent the rest of the night around her."

Ash tilted his head to the side. "Which one? There were a few here tonight."

"Bianca Davri." Looker explained. His eyes narrowed at the way Ash paled when he heard the name. "A young, local artist. We're not sure why he was interested in her though. She has no connection to the criminal underworld and has no real wealth of her own."

"I doubt he'd sabotage his own schemes for a pretty face either." Anabel sighed. "And there's the psychic that was here tonight. Whoever they were clearly they're no friends of Team Rocket. Maybe they could be an ally if we find them?"

Maybe. He didn't want to put all of his faith in an unknown, however. The enemy of your enemy wasn't always a friend. They couldn't waste resources on finding them either. They needed to find the mole first before they did anything else. It would be difficult since any of the local police could have been behind it. It could have even been multiple working together. Only time and a thorough investigation would tell.

Ash and Pikachu shared a worried glance with one another. "Actually... there's something important I need to tell you guys."

Anabel crossed her arms in front of her and tilted her head to the left. "What do you need to tell us?"

Ash closed his eyes. "Not here. There's too many people that could be listening."

Looker took a moment to look around. While there were people nearby, most of them were preoccupied talking to the police or the paramedics. The chances of anyone being nearby to eavesdrop were slim to none.

Looker placed his hand on Ash's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Alright. Once we're done here, we'll find somewhere private. What is this about though? Can you at least tell us that?"

"I think I know why Proton is interested in Bianca and his true purpose being in Alto Mare."

Deeper within the city there was simple coffee shop on the corner of a low-trafficked area. To the locals, it was a nice place to relax after a long day at work and enjoy the pleasures of life. For Team Rocket, it was a place for their agents to lay low when they arrived in the city and conduct important meetings.

Proton let out a roar and threw one of his cowering Grunts to the floor. With the coffee shop closed this late at night, no one would hear him rage.

After the disaster at the auction and the police raid, he had slipped away in the chaos. It hadn't been difficult when everyone else was focused on survival. He'd practically sprinted through the city towards one of Team Rocket's safehouses. The entire way there his mind was plagued by questions.

Why had their mole inside the police allowed the attack to begin? Who were the International Police agents that had infiltrated the guests? Who or what had turned the very room against his Grunts? Most importantly, how could he turn this to his advantage?

Proton slammed his fist into a wall and created a dent in the drywall. He ignored the pain and leveled a deadly glare at the Grunt on the floor.

"I want our people on the street and seen. If the police want to make enemies of us so badly, then this backwater city can burn for it." He growled.

The Grunt stumbled to his feet with the help of his friends. He let out an audible gulp and looked anywhere but Proton's eyes. "Are... are you sure that's a good idea, boss?" He mumbled. "That's gonna draw attention to us. We're supposed to keep things quiet here, so our smuggling operation runs smoothly. Tonight was already too much-"

Proton grabbed the Grunt by the throat and pulled him close. "I'm in charge here! Not some worthless Grunt that can't even look me in the eyes." He tightened his grip and watched the man squirm. "The police of this city have been messing with us for too long. Target the people. Set some fires. Make them fear us and the police will fall in line."

"That has to be the worst idea I've ever heard. You should listen to that Grunt. Unlike you, he seems to have common sense."

He dropped the Grunt to the ground and turned to look at the source of the voice. Standing in the doorway of the room was Domino. One of Giovanni's personal agents. He'd met her once before and that was one time too many. Her lack of respect and arrogance always wore his patience thin. After tonight, he was in no mood to deal with her.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded. "Giovanni said you weren't coming until you fixed your mess in Viridian."

Domino's eyes narrowed into predatory slits. "My mess is handled. Yours is getting worse by the minute." She pushed herself off the wall. "I always knew you were incompetent, but I didn't think you were stupid."

His hand hovered over his Poke balls. "Watch your tone or I'll-"

"Do nothing!" She interrupted with a pleased grin. "I'm here on Giovanni's orders. He's disappointed at your lack of progress finding the Latias. After I tell him what happened tonight? He's going to be livid."

Proton had never wanted to kill someone so badly. "There were... complications. I'm handling it."

She scoffed and brushed by him, gently pulling the Grunt he'd choked to his feet. "Causing chaos in the city won't help." She didn't even bother looking at him as she dusted the Grunt off. "You may have forgotten due to your overinflated ego, but we're a crime syndicate. We operate in the shadows. We don't go around acting like terrorists. Leave that to what's left of Team Magma and Plasma."

Proton clenched his fists. "Then what would you have us do?"

Domino shrugged. "Act like the Admin you're supposed to be." She mocked. "Keep things in the city quiet and wait for the public to move on. They'll forget this happened in a day or two like they do with any tragedy."

He rolled his eyes. "Is that all? And what about the International Police? Or the Latias we're hunting?"

Her grin turned feral. "You just leave that all to me. I guarantee that in the coming weeks, I'll draw that thing out of hiding and cripple the International Police in one fell swoop."

Chapter Text

Ash stared out the window of the hotel room from the bed at the dazzling yellow lights of the city illuminated by the moonlight in the night sky. He slowly stroked Pikachu's back and let out a quiet, contemplative sigh. It had only been a few hours since the attack at the auction and he was only now beginning to feel safe. The hostages at the auction were now under police protection. Even with those Grunts responsible for the attack arrested, that didn't mean other Grunt's wouldn't target them in the future.

Personally, he didn't believe they would. He knew exactly what Team Rocket was after and rich socialites had nothing to do with it.

He let out a sigh and closed his eyes. When he had first arrived in Alto Mare, he'd been eager to help Anabel and Looker. He'd been eager to take part in the operation and show off the skills he'd been taught. Like the fool everyone had always called him, Ash had imagined that he'd be like those iconic heroes he'd seen in movies as a kid. Instead, he had nearly been killed because of his recklessness and put everyone in danger.

He shouldn't have expected anything else. He wasn't an agent. He was a kid in over his head. Had he really been so arrogant to believe that a few months of training would make him ready for this type of work? That he knew better than experienced agents?

Ash was disgusted with himself. He needed to do better. He needed to trust Looker and Anabel. They knew what they were doing. Starting now he'd dedicate himself to becoming an agent that could stand beside them. He would show them that they could trust him not just to look after himself, but to have their backs. Assuming he was given the chance after his stunt tonight, anyway.

He heard the door to the room open and turned to see Anabel and Looker walk inside. They had gotten themselves out of the ruined clothes they'd worn for the auction and were back in their trench coats. For his part, he'd practically ripped the Team Rocket uniform off of him and thrown on his old clothes. He'd have even put on the disguise he'd been forced to wear to sneak into the city.

Anything to get rid of the reminder of what happened.

He cleared his throat. "Where's Petrovic?"

Looker shut the door behind him. "At the hospital. He decided he wants to guard those Grunts we captured personally. Something about not trusting the local police to do their job."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "Considering what we saw when we first arrived? I can't blame him." She lamented. "If they somehow lost those Grunts after what we went through tonight, I'd be furious."

"Oh, I would be too. I just hope he can keep his temper in check with them. We still have to question them tomorrow." Looker took a seat on the bed in the room opposite from him. Anabel chose to lean against the wall with her arms crossed. "So, what was it you needed to tell us, Ash? You said you think you have an idea about what Team Rocket is after?"

Ash took a breath to steady his nerves. This was it. The first step towards becoming a better agent.

"I know why they're here." He stressed. "Promise that you won't interrupt until I'm finished. I'll answer all your questions then."

Looker frowned. "Okay..."

"Years ago, when I was on my journey through Johto, my friends and I came to Alto Mare." He began. "It was supposed to be a simple vacation. A break from traveling and collecting gym badges. We wanted to see the sights and take part in the local culture. I even got to take part in the Tour de Alto Mare." He kept his gaze firmly on the two of them. "I might have even managed to win if a Latias hadn't dragged me off course."

Their eyes widened in shock and doubt. They both kept quiet, though, like he'd asked. "Not long after while I was exploring the city, I stumbled across two women harassing a girl. I stepped in to help her escape but that just drew their attention to me. That almost cost the city everything." He continued. "I later found out that those two women were named Annie and Oakley. They were agents of Team Rocket sent here to capture the Soul Dew and the Latias and Latios."

He never had forgiven or forgotten about those two. Working for Team Rocket had been bad enough. Capturing Latios and holding his friends hostage had confirmed to him they were monsters. What came after though? That had cemented them as people to revile.

"I ran into that girl I rescued a few hours later and she led me through the city to a secret garden. Then... well I was attacked by a Latios protecting it and the girl that took me there was actually Latias in disguise. Then the girl she was disguised as - Bianca - and her grandfather appeared." Looking back, he'd been far too trusting when he'd followed her. "Things calmed down after everyone realized I wasn't a threat. They let me relax in their garden and even told me about the history of their family. I even got to see the Soul Dew with my own eyes. It was fun but... it didn't last."

Ash could see the questions in their eyes. He couldn't blame them. This was already an eventful story. It wasn't over yet though. He still had the worst part to tell. He grimaced and looked down at Pikachu. His partner sensed his discomfort and hopped up onto his shoulder to offer what little support he could.

"Later that night, Annie and Oakley snuck into the garden. They managed to capture Latios and would have captured Latias if they had been a little luckier. Worse, they stole the Soul Dew from its place in the garden. Then when they went to the museum and activated the DMA, they took over the city and captured my friends." He flinched at the memories of that night. "They could control the water, manipulate the architecture of the city, and even resurrect the fossils of the Pokemon that once terrorized the city. Despite all of that power at their hands, Latias and I were able to stop them. We were able to free our friends."

His hands tightened into fists. "That should have been the end of it. But... the Soul Dew was never meant to leave the garden. It had been corrupted and destroyed by the DMA. Once it broke, all of the water for miles around receded. Then it came rushing towards the city in a massive tidal wave." He could still remember the all-consuming terror that had gripped his heart at that moment. The feeling of all hope leaving him wasn't something he would ever forget. "This city should have been destroyed and everyone in it should be dead."

Anabel wore a complicated expression. "What happened?" She softly asked.

Despite the interruption, Ash pushed on. "Latios and Latias did their duty as the guardians of this city. They managed to stop the tidal wave from destroying the city and restore the water to it. It wasn't without a cost though." He let out a tired sigh. "Latios gave his life in the process and became the next Soul Dew. Then... well, that's it. Annie and Oakley were arrested. The Soul Dew was placed back in the garden. Hardly anyone in the city even knew they were so close to dying. And I went back to my journey as though nothing happened."

Anabel and Looker were quiet for a moment. Long enough that it set Ash on edge. Did they believe him? Did they think that he was lying to them? The uncertainty was putting him on edge.

Looker let out a quiet hum. "That's quite the story, Ash. It's pretty unbelievable."

He felt his stomach drop.

"However," Looker went on, "you've been involved in these kind of situations before. I'd be a fool to dismiss this just because it seems unlikely. Especially when it gives me the context for what those Grunts told us at the police station."

Ash felt as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulder and he felt a tiny smile spread across his face. "So, you believe me?"

Anabel let out a chuckle and strode across the room to sit down beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. "I don't see why you'd lie about this, Ash. Not after what happened tonight." She gave him a warm smile. "You may be inexperienced, and you may not have had much of a choice joining us, but you are one of us. I'm willing to trust you."

Looker nodded along with a small smile of his own. "As am I. Despite your recklessness tonight, I trust you." He told him. "I do hope that you'll answer my questions though?" Ash gave him a small nod of confirmation. "Okay... to start, why did you hide this from us?"

"It's not that I didn't trust you." He rushed to reassure them. "I made a promise to Bianca and her grandfather that I'd keep everything that happened here a secret. The less people that know the legends of Alto Mare are real, the safer everyone will be." Or so he'd thought, anyway. "When I heard that Team Rocket were looking for them, I thought that I could keep my promise by helping catch Proton."

Anabel frowned. "Proton isn't the one behind this search, Ash. It's Giovanni. Even if we rooted out Team Rocket from the city entirely, he'd just send more. The threat would never end."

Ash cringed. He hadn't thought of that. Arresting Proton would be a good thing. From what he'd read in the International Police's file on the man and what he orchestrated tonight, he knew Proton was a monster. With him gone, the city would experience some peace and his friends here would be safe. Until Team Rocket sent someone else to take over the search. Sooner or later, they would find the garden again and put the whole city in danger with their greed.

"Earlier you mentioned that the Soul Dew leaving this garden almost destroyed the city." Looker crossed his arms in front of him. "Is this true?"

"It's what Lorenzo - Bianca's grandfather - told us after the water started to leave the city." Ash let out a sigh. "I'm not sure what to do. If arresting Proton won't stop Team Rocket, they'll find the garden eventually. Once they do, it will only be a matter of time until they steal the Soul Dew."

"And when they do they'll destroy this city." Looker narrowed his eyes. "There... may be something we can do. If you're willing to go along with it."

He gave him a firm nod. "I'll do anything if you think it will help."

Looker stood up from his seat on the bed and walked over to look out the window at the calm city below. He crossed his arms behind his back. "I'll alert the director of the International Police about the potential cataclysm that could happen if the Soul Dew is removed from the garden. If we can prove that it exists and give them its location, we could have agents permanently posted here to protect it. We can even protect Bianca and her grandfather."

Ash frowned. "They'd have to know about Latias and the others as well."

"Wouldn't that be for the best?" Anabel said. "As it stands, it sounds like the only real defender this city has is this Latias. If they're willing to work with us, we can provide them with manpower and resources. We can even try to create evacuation plans if Team Rocket succeed in stealing it."

"Or we could try to find ways to prevent the removal of the Soul Dew from destroying the city." Looker added. "The International Police have some of the brightest minds on the planet in our employ. If anyone can figure out how to save this city, it's them."

It was a good plan. While he had faith in Latias' ability to defend it, anyone could be overwhelmed through sheer attrition. With the help of the International Police, they could have a chance of stopping Team Rocket from ever getting their hands on the Soul Dew. Or even better, find a way to prevent the destruction that came with its removal and hide it somewhere far away.

There was just one problem.

"You'd need the approval of Bianca's family and Latias for this plan to work. They won't let anyone they don't trust even near the garden."

Anabel smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that. I may have a plan to get their support. I'll just need your help."

"Things are going to get worse."

Latias turned visible and floated down onto the bed in Bianca's room. The two of them had finally returned from the crisis at the auction and the two of them were exhausted. All Latias wanted to do was curl up in a nice, soft bed and drift off to sleep. She couldn't though. Not when her friend was still on edge.

She let out a sigh and lowered her head onto one of the pillows. "They are. This is the first time Team Rocket has done something this drastic. I wonder what pushed them to do this?"

Bianca huffed and plopped down beside her on the bed, bouncing on the soft mattress. "It doesn't matter what caused this. What matters is that they're escalating." She growled. "So many people were hurt. All those security guards were killed, and they didn't even bat an eye. And for what? Art? No art is worth someone's life!"

Latias couldn't help but agree. She liked to think that she understood Humans better than most Pokemon. Most Pokemon could never understand why Humans placed so much value on art, money, or the simple pleasures that came with civilization. And her fellow Legends? Those pompous fools couldn't understand anyone who wasn't a Legend - Human or Pokemon. They could never understand the beauty of a simple painting or the emotions that could come from a well-written tale. Those were some of Humanity's greatest treasures!

Yet they were not worth any life.

"I'll need to increase how often I patrol the city. If Team Rocket have stopped trying to be subtle, they could start targeting the public."

"That's not a bad idea. I'll do my best to keep an ear open for any sightings." Bianca turned to glare at her. "Don't think I've forgotten how you lied to me though!"

Latias flinched under the burning gaze of her friend. "I'm sorry!" She cried. "I thought I could just do a quick patrol and be back before you knew it. Everything should have been fine-"

"It wasn't fine though!" Bianca jabbed her finger into Latias' face. "People died. People that could have survived if you had just kept your promise and been there!"

Latias couldn't handle the look of sheer disappointment in Bianca's eyes. She knew that she had messed up! No one knew that better than she did! This was the worst that she had ever done as guardian since the night her brother died. Now people had lost their loved ones and those responsible - the leaders of Team Rocket - were still out there.

"I know, Bianca." She whispered into her mind. "I should have been better. A better friend and a better guardian. All I can do now is promise to make up for it to you and the victims. I'm sorry."

Bianca closed her eyes and laid down on the bed. "You know I can't stay mad at you. Especially when you were just trying to help." She let out a sigh and patted Latias on the head. "You couldn't have known Team Rocket would do this. No one could have. I'm sorry for blaming you."

Latias gave her a smile and pushed her head into Bianca's hand. She always gave the best head pats. "It's okay. You've been through a lot tonight."

Bianca hummed in thought. "Do you know why the police showed up?" She inquired. "Team Rocket took away everyone's Pokegears. Did you do something?"

She shook her head. "No, once I heard what was happening I came as quick as I could." She frowned. "I... think I know why they were there though."

"Well don't keep me in suspense. Why were they there?"

"There was someone in a Team Rocket uniform that helped fight them when the police arrived. He must have been a spy in their ranks." Her eyes narrowed in thought. "I... think I recognized him."

Bianca tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Really? Who is it, Latias?"

"Someone I thought we'd never see again..."

It had been two weeks since the attack at the auction. That time had been chaotic for everyone within the city. Once the media learned of what happened and spread the story to the public, the residents of Alto Mare were more on edge than ever. The police were flooded with calls from people worried about Team Rocket or accusing their neighbors of being criminals. It didn't help that not a single one of these alerts were true and only ever wasted the time of the underfunded, incompetent police force. With so many other problems to focus on, no one had the time to wonder why Team Rocket had been so quiet.

Ash, Looker, and Anabel had certainly been busy. Finding the mole within the police had been more difficult than Ash had thought it would be. Oh sure, there'd been plenty of corruption. Most of them were guilty from slacking off on the job or ignoring the minor crimes that plagued the city. Some were guilty of shaking down shops for protection money. A few of them had even taken mistresses on the side and were using the budget meant for surveillance to pay for expensive dates.

None of them were working for Team Rocket though. None of their interrogations of the captured Grunts or investigations had discovered that. Not even Petrovic and his threats had managed to flush them out. He had suggested using more... violent methods to get answers, but Looker had staunchly refused. Ash had been glad to hear that at the time. They were supposed to be better than Team Rocket, not stoop to their level. They could beat them while still maintaining their moral standards.

Ash was certain of it.

What he wasn't certain of was Anabel's plan. With the investigation into the mole turning up nothing and Team Rocket being unusually inactive, they were finally moving forward with her idea. While Petrovic stayed behind to continue searching for the mole within the police, Ash and the others were taking a trip into the city now that the public was finally calming down. The normally bustling streets and happy people were now quiet and somber. The shadow of Team Rocket was smothering the charm of this beautiful city. They sooner they could deal with Proton, the sooner they could put people at ease.

That was what lead to them standing outside of a small home on the edge of one of the canals. There was a workshop for gondolas outside but this early in the morning meant that no one had stopped by for repairs. The perfect time to hold an important meeting.

Looker glanced his way. "Are you ready, Ash?"

He took a deep breath. On one of his shoulders, Pikachu looked at him with concern in his eyes. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm just nervous."

Anabel smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "There's nothing to be worried about. We'll be right beside you."

He let out a sigh and gave her a grateful nod. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Let's get this over with."

As a group, the trio of agents moved towards the house and up the stone steps of the house. Looker knocked and the door and patiently waited with his arms at his side. Anabel was looking around the area with a pleasant smile on her face as she enjoyed the architecture of the city. By contrast, Ash was fidgeting in place and doing his best to cover his face with his brown cap.

After a few moment, the door opened and revealed Lorenzo standing in the doorway with an air of drowsiness about him. He regarded them all with a cautious gaze for a moment and narrowed his eyes.

"Can I help you three?"

Looker offered him a comforting smile and reached into his pocket to pull out his badge. "My name is Looker, and these are my associates Anabel and Red. We're members of the International Police and we have a few questions for you, Mr. Davri."

Lorenzo's eyes roamed over them all and he reached out to take the badge from Looker's hand. "International Police eh?" He hummed. "Can't say I've ever heard of you."

An easy smile graced Anabel's face. "We work for the United Regions. We're a collaborative police agency dedicated upholding the law and protecting people from criminals."

"I see. You're like the Rangers then?"

A look of annoyance crossed Looker's face, but it was gone as quick as it came. "Not exactly. We focus on organized crime, terrorism, and anything else which could have an effect on an international scale. They prefer more... environmental and Pokemon-based crimes." He explained. "We understand that your granddaughter was one of the victims of Team Rocket's attack at the auction two weeks ago?"

Lorenzo's eyes darkened as he passed Looker's badge back to him. "Yes, she was. She's already spoken to the police about this though."

Looker nodded. "Yes, we understand. But we have reason to believe that you and her will become targets of theirs in the future."

His eyes widened. "Are you certain?"

For the first time since this conversation began, Ash found the courage to speak up. "We have reason to believe they specifically targeted the auction because Bianca was there."

Lorenzo's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "I see... please, all of you come in. I'll go get Bianca. She should hear what you have to say as well."

The three were lead inside of the small but quaint home. Looker and Anabel took a seat in the living room while Lorenzo upstairs to wake Bianca. He was leaning against the wall by the doorway. It gave Ash the chance to think about what he was going to say. Anabel's plan relied on him being able to convince Bianca and Lorenzo to work with them. The issue was his status as a wanted criminal. Chances were high that once they learned who he was they'd react poorly. Not that he could blame them.

News of his crime had been broadcast far and wide. With his status as the Alolan champion, it was to be expected. Like all champions, he had been catapulted to stardom once he'd won the league. Being the first champion of Alola had only made it worse. His status as a consistently skilled competitor in the Leagues cemented the medias fascination. The interviews and awe that had followed him immediately after his victory had been... uncomfortable to say the least. Luckily for him, he hadn't stayed in Alola long enough for it to be a recurring thing. Professor Kukui had said that things would calm down once he was back in Kanto. Well... that and something about wearing masks to avoid the fame.

It hadn't mattered. In the end, the one thing people loved more than a victory was a fall from grace. Within only a few hours of the media learning of his crime, every region that took part in the Pokemon League knew of what he'd done. His escape not long after had garnered even more press and last he'd heard there was endless speculation about where he could have been hiding. Some people thought he was still in Viridian Forest. Others thought he'd gone for the oceans and was hiding out on a boat. Some even thought he'd scaled Mount Silver and was making his home at its peak.

None of it was true, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that the speculation kept him on people's minds. He doubted there was a single person in the world who didn't at least know what he'd done. Hopefully Lorenzo and Bianca would at least be willing to give him a chance to explain.

When the two of them finally came down, they sat down on the couch opposite of his two partners. Both of them looked tired but interested in what they had to say.

"So... my grandfather and I are targets?" Bianca asked.

Looker leaned forward to place a photo on the table. "Do you two know this man?"

Lorenzo nodded. "That's Proton. He's an art collector and a history buff. He came by the museum a few weeks ago to ask about the DMA."

Ash and Anabel exchanged a worried look. "And what about you, miss Bianca?"

Bianca's eyes were narrowed as she looked at the picture. "I met him at the auction. He stopped Team Rocket from kidnapping people. He disappeared in the chaos when the police attacked though. Is he alright? Is he also a target?"

Looker scoffed. "Oh, he's more than fine." He took the picture back from them. "Proton is one of Team Rocket's bosses. He has a reputation for senseless violence and collateral damage."

The room descended into silence as Lorenzo and Bianca processed that new information. It must have been shocking to learn someone they knew was a dangerous criminal. He couldn't claim to understand but he knew that it must have been difficult to process.

"Oh." Bianca eventually managed to say. "So, what happened at the auction is my fault?"

Anabel leaned forward and looked her firmly in the eyes. "You are not to blame for what happened. The only ones responsible for what happened are Proton and his lackeys."

"Why is he interested in us though?" Lorenzo spoke up. "We're not important. We have no money and power. There's nothing they could gain targeting us."

Looker leaned forward and cupped his hands in front of him. "We both know that's not true. What they want from you is far more valuable than simple money." He spoke. "After all, what is money compared to the power of a Latias and the Soul Dew?"

The tension in the room was so thick Ash could have cut it with a knife. He could practically see the wheels turning in their heads. How did they know about Latias and the Soul Dew? What did they want from them? Should they deny any knowledge or come clean? All important questions. Luckily for them, they didn't have to ask any.

"You must be wondering how we know this." Anabel's eyes shifted to him. "It's okay. You can reveal it to them."

Lorenzo and Bianca both turned to look at him with curiosity in their eyes. Ash's heart was beating so loud and fast that he could practically hear it in his ears. He took a slow, steady breath to try and calm himself, but it didn't work. With shaky hands, he slowly reached up to pull the cap off of his head and stepped forward. An uneasy smile spread across his face.

"Hey. It's been a while, Bianca. Lorenzo."

They didn't recognize him. Not at first. He'd barely been twelve years old when he first met them and in the years since he'd gotten taller and more mature features. The heavy black trench and hat that he wore couldn't have helped, but with the cap gone they had a clearer view of his face now. Even weeks later, Ash had still been unable to completely wash the green out of his hair. It was an unsightly mixture of green and black that hurt to look at.

Slowly, however, they began to recognize him the longer they looked at him. The shock was expected. He was far different and had a worse reputation than when they'd last seen him. He expected them to recoil in disgust or maybe lash out in anger with accusations. Maybe even try to plead with him for mercy out of fear. All reactions that would have hurt him to his core.

What wasn't expected was for Lorenzo and Bianca to share a brief glance at one another to pass some message he couldn't understand. Slowly, Bianca stood up from the couch and moved closer to him. He could feel Pikachu tense up on his shoulder protectively. Ever since Viridian City, Pikachu had gotten protective of him. He couldn't - wouldn't - let him hurt someone just because they disapproved of who they thought he was. Least of all someone he considered a friend.

He took Pikachu off of his shoulder and placed him off to the side. He gave his partner a firm glare and a silent message not to do anything. Pikachu narrowed his eyes and turned aside with a huff, little sparks of electricity bouncing off its cheeks. He clearly didn't agree with Ash's decision, but he would do as he was told. That was all he could ask for.

Ash turned back to face Bianca and silently gulped now that she was close. When they were younger, they'd practically been the same height. So many years later, he was a full head and shoulders taller. Even so, under her critical gaze he felt smaller than he'd ever been. He rested his hands at his side and managed to resist the urge to look away from her.

"Ash... you look well." Bianca's tone was even and gave nothing about her mood away.

He gave a short nod. "I..." He didn't know what to say. What was he supposed to say to her? Anabel and Looker had wanted him to reveal himself, but they hadn't known any more than he did about how to handle this kind of situation.

"I never expected to see you again, you know. Not after everything that happened."

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Bianca moved closer and raised her arms. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the inevitable blows. With what he'd been through recently, the miniscule amount of pain she could inflict would be nothing. If she felt he deserved it, then he wouldn't resist.

His eyes shot open. A gasp of shock escaped his mouth as her arms wrapped tightly around him and brought him into a hug. Dumbly, he wrapped his arms around her to return the hug. He shot a look towards Looker, Anabel, and Lorenzo. Each of them looked somewhere between surprised and amused. No help from them, it seemed.

"Thank you." She mumbled into his chest.

He blinked down at her in confusion. "For... what?"

She turned her head to look up at him with a coy smile. "For helping save us at the auction." She explained as though it were the simplest thing in the world. "That was you dressed as a Grunt, wasn't it? The one that was saved from a Golbat attack?"

He frowned. "How did you know about that?"

"A mutual friend of ours was there." She said vaguely. "She told me you were responsible for the police arriving."

"Ah... the police were there before Team Rocket arrived. We knew they'd be there, but we never thought something like that would happen." He admitted. "Honestly, me disguising myself as a member of Team Rocket was a last minute decision."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "Not a very bright one either since he put himself in danger needlessly."

Lorenzo let out an amused snort. "He wouldn't be Ash if he didn't act a bit reckless. It's part of his charm."

He managed a small smile. "I'm not that bad." He chuckled. "So... you two aren't angry at me?"

Bianca pulled out from their embrace and stepped back with a complicated look on their face. "Not angry, just... confused." She explained. "We saw the news reports of what you did the same as everyone else. At any other time, we'd be calling the police. But after a few weeks ago and now you showing up with these International Police, we're willing to give you a chance to explain."

Ash let out a sigh and walked over towards Pikachu. He sat on the ground next to his partner and allowed him to scramble into his lap. Absent-mindedly, he began to scratch his partner behind the ears. A chance to explain... it was more than he'd expected. He couldn't mess this up. Where to begin though?

"What do you two know about Team Rocket?" It was as good a place to start as any.

Lorenzo frowned. "They're a Kantonian crime syndicate that have infested Alto Mare. From what I hear, they mainly focus on smuggling and stealing Pokemon?"

"That's how they started out years ago." Looker interjected. "They've expanded into other types of crime since then."

Ash nodded. "They're still responsible for close to 30% of all Pokemon thefts world-wide though." It had been one of the first lessons he'd been taught upon his recruitment into the International Police. While 30% didn't sound like a lot, when one considered how large the world was and how many other criminals there were - both independents and organizations - it was startlingly large. "In recent years, their main targets have been Psychic types."

Bianca leaned forward. "Why? I know Psychics are powerful, but it's not like they're invincible."

"They don't have to be invincible." Anabel let out a sigh and leaned back in her seat. "Psychics have far more practical uses than just battling. One of them being their ability to control the minds of others."

Bianca's eyes widened and she looked to him in sympathy. "Are you saying that you were under the control of a psychic?"

Ash grimaced. "I was. I don't have any memory of being controlled or the crime though." He clenched his eyes shut in frustration. "I was weak. I couldn't do anything to resist them, and a woman lost their life because of it."

"That wasn't your fault, Ash." Anabel's voice was full of such genuine worry that he couldn't bear to look at her. "It takes an iron will and years of training to resist a psychic assault. You can't blame yourself."

Maybe not. That didn't mean he wasn't though. No matter what Anabel or Looker said, he was used as a weapon. He had been the one to kill her. The blood had been on his hands. It didn't matter that Team Rocket had forced him to do it. If he had just stayed in the hotel that night, she would still be alive.

"Anabel was the one who discovered I was controlled." He pushed on. "If it hadn't been for her, I'd have accepted responsibility for what happened... and probably have been killed by now."

"I'm a psychic." Anabel added upon Bianca and Lorenzo's questioning looks. "Once I took a look inside his head, the evidence all pointed to his innocence. Further investigation showed that Team Rocket had decided to frame him."

"Not that it can be proven." Ash said. "There's no hard evidence and the only witness was a Pokemon - which can't give testimony to anything. So Looker and Anabel helped me escape. They've given me the opportunity to help fight Team Rocket and clear my name."

"Which brought you here." Lorenzo finished. "Well, I can't say we don't appreciate the help. Our city can always use more people willing to do the right thing."

Ash chuckled. "I'm sure Latias will appreciate our help at least." Bianca and Lorenzo's eyes widened in shock, eyes flickering to Looker and Anabel while their mouths fell open. He rushed to reassure them. "I told them everything. They know about Latias, the Soul Dew, and what happened years ago. I tried to keep it secret..."

Looker chose that moment to speak up. "He did. He revealed it to us after the events at the auction." Looker frowned in worry. "Don't blame him. He only did it out of concern for the two of you and this city.

Lorenzo turned his skeptical gaze to Looker. "And what do you plan to do now that you know?"

Looker smiled. "At the moment? Arrest Proton and kick Team Rocket out of the city." He declared. "As for what comes after? I was thinking of a partnership between you and the International Police. One that could help protect this city from complete destruction. All I ask is that you hear me out before deciding anything."

Looker and Lorenzo had spoken at length about the International Police and what they could do to aid in the protection of Alto Mare. Lorenzo had seemed interested in the idea of dedicated manpower and resources. Not only would Latias have allies in her fight, with the International Police taking permanent residence in the city they could mold the lackluster, corrupt local police into a truly effective fighting force. As far as Ash was concerned, there was no reason for them to reject it.

The only issue was the Soul Dew. Neither Bianca nor Lorenzo wanted to International Police studying the DMA or the Soul Dew. They didn't like the idea of anyone tampering with those. If either were damaged beyond repair, the entire city would be put at risk. Lorenzo had nearly lost his temper when he heard Looker suggest finding a way to safely remove the Soul Dew. Not to mention he hadn't liked the idea of anyone possessing them - International Police or not. To Lorenzo, no one could trusted with that kind of power.

It had seemed like the promising alliance that would safeguard Alto Mare would be destroyed before it could even begin. Luckily for them all, Bianca had suggested that they seek Latias' opinion. As the true guardian of this city, the final say on whether or not the International Police would be allowed to work with them was up to her.

That was how Ash found himself walking through the streets of this historic city with only Pikachu by his side. Given his history with Latias, it had been decided that he would be the best one to approach her. Put a friendly face to the International Police, or so Looker had said. Meanwhile, Looker and Anabel would head back to the headquarters of the police to continue their search for Proton.

Walking through these streets brought back memories. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine he was a kid again. What he wouldn't give to return to those simpler times when he could spend every day with his closest friends. When the thought of catching new Pokemon and meeting new people was enough to make him excited for whatever the day would bring.

He shook his head and let out a small sigh. If only things were that simple. He couldn't get caught up on dreaming of a past long gone. The present was what mattered. If he could convince Latias to work with them, then he could save so many people. Not just the nameless, faceless people of Alto Mare but his friends too. They had been pushing their luck fighting Team Rocket already. Now that Lorenzo and Bianca had captured their interest, it would only have been a matter of time until they made their move.

Even all these years later, Ash was able to traverse the maze-like backstreets of Alto Mare as though he'd never left. In another life, perhaps he could have called this city home. Despite the presence of Team Rocket, the city still had an air of calm to it that he could appreciate it. Maybe when this was all over - if he could ever clear his name - he'd get a little home here.

It wasn't likely to happen, but he could dream.

Latias' home was a garden within the heart of the city hidden by an illusionary wall by a small water fountain. When he finally found the entrance to the secret garden, he paused. Bianca claimed that Latias knew he was here, even if she didn't know why. How would she react to him just showing up out of nowhere in the most secret place within the city? Was he even welcome anymore? Lorenzo and Bianca had been quick to assure him that he would be but... he wasn't so sure. If there was one thing he knew about Legendary Pokemon, it was that they were a prideful bunch.

There was only one way to find out.

Taking a quick breath to steady his nerves, he and Pikachu stepped through the illusion. They appeared on the other and moved through the narrow, granite hallway to find the garden. It was... as beautiful as he remembered it. It took his breath away. The trees and flowers were so vibrant and full of life. The pools of water scattered through the large garden had water so refreshing to look at he longed to drink from them. There even Pokemon running around and playing with one another. Mainly Yanma, Poliwag, and Pidgey's but there were others as well. Even when they noticed him standing at the edge of the garden, they waved in happiness before going about their day.

"This place is exactly like a remember it." He mumbled. "As peaceful as ever. Let's hope that Team Rocket never finds this place."

Pikachu nodded in agreement at his feet before scampering up to rest on his shoulder. Ash turned to regard his partner for a moment. "Well? Can you tell if she's nearby?" Pikachu took a quick sniff of the air before shaking his head. "She must not be here then. Well... nothing else to do but wait."

The two of them moved through the garden and allowed themselves to relax. Ash moved past the Pokemon playing in the pools of water and gave them a smile. As nice as it would have been to sit down and watch these Pokemon enjoy their simple life, he had something more important to do while he waited for Latias to return.

He had to pay his respects.

In the center of this serene sanctuary was a small pool of clear blue water. It was utterly unremarkable aside from one simple thing. Submerged in the center of the pool was a small jewel that could fit in the palm of his hand. It was an iridescent shade of blue and seemed to glow with a blinding energy in its center. It was one of the most beautiful jewels in the world. Any collector would have given their limbs for the chance to own it.

It was also the only thing standing between this wonderful city and a watery doom. The Soul Dew. It may have looked like nothing other than a simple, if beautiful, jewel but Ash knew better. He'd seen what this thing was capable of in the wrong hands once before. He would not allow Team Rocket to get their hands on it. Especially not when it contained the soul of the very creature that had sacrificed itself to save them all.

"Hey, Latios... it's been a while." He began. Pikachu hopped off his shoulder to sit on the edge of the pool and run his paws through the cool water. "I'm not sure if you're still conscious in there or if you even remember me, but I wanted to thank you."

There was no sound in the garden other than the rustling of the leaves and the chirps of the Pokemon playing.

Ash let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I guess you can't say anything. Not that I'd have understand it even if you could." He said. "I just never thanked you years ago. Funny, isn't it? You sacrificed yourself to save me and everyone else... and I was too self-centered to spare even a few words for you."

Silence.

"That's not to say I wasn't grateful!" He rushed to reassure the Soul Dew. "I thought you were so cool and so brave for sacrificing yourself. You were like one of the heroes that you'd hear about in old stories. The kind that can face insurmountable odds and certain death without a hint of fear to protect others."

He ran his hand along the surface of the water and allowed a sad smile to grace his face. "Except you weren't fearless, were you?" He asked. As predicted, there was no answer. "It's stupid to think you weren't afraid. You must have been terrified. Your family was in danger. Your home was about to be destroyed. The legacy of your father was about to be swept away. You were about to die. Anyone - Human or Pokemon - would have been scared."

Pikachu looked up to him in worry. Ash couldn't bear to look him in the eyes.

"I think I can understand why you did it though." He let out a shaky breath. "You were scared of dying, yeah. But you were terrified about what would happen to everyone else more. You couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to them. So, you were willing to give everything you had just to make sure they survived - no matter the pain."

He clenched his eyes shut and tightened his hands into fists. "I went through something similar recently. Not at the same scale but... my friends were in danger. Innocent people too. They were caught in the middle of one of Team Rocket's schemes. And I rushed off without thinking knowing I had to save them." He laughed even as tears began to gather at the edge of his eyes. "Everyone said it was a stupid idea. That I should have sat back to let those more experienced deal with it. And they were right."

A tiny yellow paw rested itself on his arms. Ash looked down at Pikachu and tried his best to give him a reassuring smile. It must not have worked because Pikachu let out a low growl and began to rub his cheek against his arms in an attempt to make him feel better. It helped more than Ash had thought it would.

"The thing is... I couldn't just sit by and do nothing. Not when everyone was in so much danger." He whispered. "The idea that they would have been hurt while I sat by and did nothing? It was unacceptable to me. So I tried my best to help them. Not that it did a lot of good. I nearly got myself killed and it turns out Latias was there to save the day, so I wasn't even needed. Just another stupid decision on my part."

He shook his head. "And now I'm rambling... sorry. This is probably the first conversation you've had in years. You don't need to hear me pity myself." He sighed. "I just want you to know that I understand the sacrifice you made for us all - better than anyone. So, thank you, Latios. I'll do my best to make sure it wasn't in vain."

"He would have appreciated knowing you thought so highly of him, Ash."

Ash spun around and raised his fists to defend himself. Pikachu hopped away from the pool of water and lowered himself to the ground, electricity sparking off of him dangerously. Ash's eyes frantically searched the clearing for the source of the voice but... nothing. There was no one else in the garden but him and the native Pokemon.

"Who said that?" He dared call out. "If you're not a threat, show yourself!"

A giggle filled the air. "If I were a threat, you'd already be on the ground." The voice was clearly amused at his response. "Still, I guess it would be rude to stay invisible."

Mere feet away from them, the source of the voice revealed itself to be Latias. She slowly shimmered into view as she lowered her cloaking ability. She was bigger than last he'd seen her with a wingspan easily larger than himself. Her feathers seemed to be a far darker shade of red than he remembered as well, and her eyes shined with a maturity that only came with age.

He quickly raised his arm to wipe away his tears even as Pikachu finally relaxed at his side. She didn't need to see that he had been crying. "Latias! You look great... how much of that did you hear?"

He hoped she didn't hear all of it.

Sadly, as usual his hopes amounted to nothing. "All of it." She smiled sadly and floated closer to him. She gently nuzzled his face, and he could feel... acceptance coming off of her. "I wondered when you'd finally show up. It's been weeks!"

He flushed in embarrassment. "It must have skipped my mind." It sounded like a weak excuse even to him. "Since when could you talk?"

Latias pulled away and rolled her eyes in amusement. "Since always? Maybe you've just finally decided to start listening?" She teased. "I'm using telepathy. I learned it not long after you left. It's nice to finally be able to talk with you Humans."

His eyes widened. "That's amazing, Latias!"

Latias grinned. "You think that's impressive? Listen to this." She turned to look at Pikachu. "It's been a while, Pikachu. You look stronger than ever. Still stealing ketchup when he isn't looking?"

What came next nearly left Ash speechless. Pikachu held a paw behind his head and let out a loud laugh. "I don't have to steal anything! All I gotta do is give him the sad eyes and he folds like a house of cards!"

"I knew you were messing with me!" He growled in response. His eyes widened in shock. "Hold on... I can understand you!"

Pikachu looked up at him in bewilderment. "You can!? Then I take it back! I really do get depressed when you don't give me ketchup!"

Latias giggled in amusement. "I can also help the brain translate Pokemon language. You're welcome."

He and Pikachu looked at her in awe. "You really are amazing, you know that?"

Latias smirked. "Oh, I know." She tilted her head to the side in curiosity. "So... what brings you back to Alto Mare? And why were you there the night of the auction?"

Ash frowned and mentally slapped himself. He was here for a reason! He couldn't go getting sidetracked by his old friends new abilities. "How much do you know about my situation?"

Latias blinked in confusion. "I know that other Humans consider you a criminal. The news say you murdered a woman." She must have noticed his flinch because she rushed to speak again. "Not that I believed them! The boy I knew years ago would never have done that."

Her faith in him was astounding. His friends had all lost faith in him the moment they heard the evidence against him. Even he hadn't believed his innocence until Anabel had looked into his mind and confirmed it for him. Yet here in Alto Mare was not one, but three people he hadn't seen in years willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...

He didn't know if that was touching or naive. Frankly, he didn't care. It meant more to him than they would ever know.

"Well... long story short, I was hypnotized by one of Team Rocket's Pokemon to k-kill that woman." Even now, the thought of actually taking a life filled him with revulsion. He swore that he would never take a life for as long as he lived. All life was precious. "The International Police - the ones you saw at the auction - rescued me. They're helping me clear my name and I'm helping them fight Team Rocket."

Latias' eyes glowed with a blue light. A shiver ran down his spine as he felt a... presence for lack of a better term enter his mind. Unlike Anabel who had clinically worked her way through his mind or the psychics he had encountered in his journey that smashed through his defenses, this presence was gentle. It slowly worked through his mind and emotions as it searched for answers. Once it found what it wanted, it slowly retreated from his mind and left him with a feeling of content.

He shook his head. "What was that?"

Latias floated up until she was looking him in the eyes. "I took a look into your mind." She explained. "I know it's intrusive but... well I wanted to make sure it was true. Now I can say for sure. There's a chasm where your memories should be."

He shifted uncomfortably in place. "Ah... can you not do that again?" He asked. "It's nothing against you. I just don't like psychics poking around in my head after what happened."

Latias' eyes widened. "No no no! You don't have to explain! After what happened, I completely understand!" She rushed to reassure him. "While I was in there, though, I did notice a few other things?"

Pikachu hopped up onto his shoulder and tilted his head to the side. "Like what?"

She frowned. "Why you're here in Alto Mare and the deal they want you to make... among other things."

The look of pure concern she gave him made Ash feel uncomfortable. He couldn't say for sure what she'd seen in his mind, but he could take a guess. If she really had heard his confession to the Soul Dew, she must have gotten curious and seen what happened at the auction.

Ash cleared his throat. "So... what do you think?"

Latias sighed and floated over towards the pool that contained the Soul Dew. She ran her claws through the water and kept her back turned to him. "Do you trust the International Police, Ash?"

"Of course!" He nodded firmly. "We're the good guys. I trust Looker and Anabel with my life!"

"I'm not talking about them." She clarified. "I'm talking about the other members. Their comrades and superiors. Would you trust them with the secrets of Alto Mare?"

He paused. Did he trust the International Police? His first instinct was to say yes even without Looker and Anabel being part of the equation. They were the ones upholding the law and fighting against Team Rocket. Even when everyone else turned a blind eye, they were there acting as the bulwark against chaos. Yet at the same time... agents like Petrovic existed. He may have had the best intentions, but that man took pleasure in the brutality. If they were willing to use those types of agents, were they truly the paragons he thought they were?

"I can't talk about the entire organization. I've only been with them a few months." He said after a few moments of silence. "What I know is that their only interest is in protecting people. Some of their people may have the wrong methods, but they all want what's best for people."

Pikachu hummed in thought. "You're strong, Latias, but you're on your own." He added. "It's only a matter of time until you're overwhelmed. The International Police are the only ones with the manpower and resources who can help."

Latias let out a slow, tired sigh before turning to face them once more. Her eyes shined with worry. "Help who? The city or themselves?" She pushed. "You know what happens if the Soul Dew leaves this garden for too long. What if in their war against Team Rocket, they decide having it here is too much of a risk? What if they try to take it regardless of the consequences?"

Then everyone in this city would die. There was no other outcome of the Soul Dew leaving the city and they all knew it.

"They wouldn't do that." He said instead. "Even if some of them may be more... eccentric than others, none of them want the destruction of an entire city on their conscious. At best, they'll study the Soul Dew to find a way to safely remove it. I don't believe for a second they'd take it if it was still a danger to the city though."

Even Team Rocket didn't seem like the type to want the destruction of an entire city. That was more Plasma and Galactic's thing. Team Rocket probably didn't even know what taking it would do. Unlike the International Police, however, he couldn't say for certain they'd ignore the temptation to steal it.

Latias stared at the two of them long and hard. It was as if she was judging whether or not her trust in them could be extended to their allies. Finally, she sighed and moved back towards them. "I'll consider it... I want to meet Looker and Anabel first. If I can trust them and they help remove Team Rocket from the city, then I'll allow an alliance."

Ash smiled. "Good! They'll love to meet you and I'm sure you'll like them. Trust me, they're the best people in the world."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I'll find out for myself later. For now, though, you have some explaining to do! I wanna hear all about your adventures travelling the world!"

For the first time in what felt like ages, a genuine smile graced his face.

"Do you think he'll be able to pull it off?"

Looker spared a glance towards Anabel and hummed in thought. It wasn't an unreasonable question. They needed this alliance to work. With cooperation from a Legendary and natives of the city, the International Police could make a difference here. Given Ash's history, he was confident that the boy could get results. He knew better than anyone how important it was that they worked alongside the law.

On the off chance that he couldn't though? Things would get... messy. It wasn't just that a Legendary was running amok in the city, there was a doomsday switch that would go off the moment someone took it out of wherever this garden was. If Latias and her people refused? They would have no choice but to act. If that meant fighting a territorial Legend and seizing control of the Soul Dew so it was in safe hands then that was what they would do. They didn't have any other choice. Thousands of lives were on the line.

"Ash can be persuasive when he needs to be." He said instead. "Have a little faith, Anabel."

Anabel huffed and leaned back in her seat. The two of them were back at police headquarters in Alto Mare. The building was massive yet still managed to be cramped with pale paint that should have been replaced years ago. When they'd first arrived, they'd found police asleep at their desks and drinking on the job. Even after revealing who they were, the lazy attitude hadn't changed. Looker and his young partner had been shuffled off into a small office room on the first floor to conduct their investigation and left alone.

Petrovic had laughed the entire time. It had taken every ounce of his self-control not to break the man's nose.

"I have faith in him." Anabel crossed her arms. "I'm just worried what we'll do if they say no."

Looker frowned. "Whatever we have to. The city is more important than the pride of a Legend." He sighed. "The director will know what to do if the alliance falls through."

Anabel tilted her head to the side. "Speaking of the director... do you know who they are? I've heard how we answer to them, but I don't actually know what they look like. Or anything about them really."

A small grin spread across his face. "That's the biggest mystery in the International Police, my friend." He said. "No one knows who they are or what they look like. All we know about them is they helped end the Great War and they created our organization in the model of the old intelligence agencies. Well... that and the rumors they challenged Yveltal to a game of riddles, but that's probably a lie."

Anabel's eyes narrowed in thought. He could see the questions swirling through her mind and her desire to ask more. It was the same reaction every new agent had when they eventually learned the mystery of their illusive leader. He doubted he'd ever stop being amused by their painfully curious expressions.

"So, no one knows who they are?"

Looker shook his head. "Nope." He made sure to pop the P as he spoke. "There's plenty of theories, of course. Some think he's a grizzled old veteran who got tired of the death and destruction. Some people claim that they're an incredibly powerful and hyper intelligent Pokemon pulling our strings. Hell, some of the crazier ones think the director is an AI developed during the war that went rogue."

Anabel blinked in bewilderment. "And what do you think?"

He shrugged. "I think it doesn't matter who or what they are. They're helping preserve the peace and that's all I care about." A slow grin crossed his face. "If I had to make a guess though... I think it's not a single person. I think it's a group. That's the only explanation for how they could achieve so much without having their identity revealed."

Before she could ask any more questions, there was a loud crash as something heavy fell to the ground and there were many shouts of alarm. Looker and Anabel exchanged a brief look before they got up to leave their small office. What they emerged to find was officers scrambling out of the door and clerks frantically shouting into phones at those on the other. Petrovic saw them and moved towards them with a grim expression on his face.

Seeing his arrogant comrade with such a look immediately set him on edge.

"What's going on?" Anabel asked.

Petrovic sneered. "We're getting fucked is what's going on." He growled. "We're getting alerts across the entire city."

Her eyes widened. "What kind of alerts?"

"It'd be easier to tell you what we aren't dealing with." Petrovic cracked his neck in annoyance. "We've got fires at the docks, there was an explosion at the northern Pokemon center, three of the largest banks are reporting robberies at the same time, hospitals across the city have lost power, and there's reports of rabid Pokemon attacking crowds of people on every street corner. It's all hands on deck."

"Is this Team Rocket?"

Petrovic scoffed. "I doubt it. There's been no mention of anyone wearing their uniforms or stealing Pokemon."

Looker's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't mean it's not them." His fists clenched in rage. "They've been quiet for weeks and we never knew why. It looks like they were preparing these attacks."

"There's no proof it's them." Petrovic growled. "They've never done something on this scale before and I can't see any reason why they'd start now." He turned his back and marched away, though not before calling out over his shoulder. "I'm going to see if I can save the people being attacked at the marketplace. You're welcome to join me."

Anabel nodded. "Right- huh?" She glanced back at Looker as he caught her arm in his hand. "What's wrong?"

"This feels off, Anabel." His eyes narrowed. "Attacks, tragedies, and emergencies happening across the city all at once? To the point that every officer and trainer willing to help is stretched thin? Doesn't this remind you of anything?"

Realization slowly dawned on her. "Viridian... it's like what we did at Viridian to free Ash."

It was said that the most dangerous enemies weren't those with the most powerful Pokemon or vast resources on their side, but those that learned from their defeat. Those that survived to learn their weaknesses and adapt the strategies of their enemies to suit their own goals. It seemed that Team Rocket was taking a page out of their book. Imitation was supposed to be the highest form of flattery, but all Looker felt was disgust.

He nodded. "Exactly. Notice how out of everything being attacked or experiencing some emergency, the museum wasn't mentioned at all?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You think they're going after the DMA? How would they even get it out of the museum? It's massive!"

"I don't know anything for sure." He sighed. "That's why I need you to go to the museum and make sure it's safe. Until we have the city back under our control, I'm ordering you to guard that museum with your life. Understood."

She gave him a firm nod. "Understood." She took off sprinting out the door towards the museum.

Perhaps he should have gone with her as back-up, but he needed to stay here. If he went into the field, he wouldn't be able to see the entire picture. Even if the police headquarters in this city was lacking compared to the International Police, it was still the center of information. Once Team Rocket made their move, he would be ready to act. He was confident that Anabel could look after herself in the meantime.

She was the strongest of them, after all.

He needed to find out what Ash was doing and cover his bases. He dialed Ash's number and raised his Pokegear to his ear. On the third ring, Ash picked up. Looker cut him off before he could speak.

"Where are you?"

"I'm with Latias like you told me. Is something wrong?"

"You could say that." A morbid laugh escaped him. "I think Team Rocket has made their move. They're trying to spread us thin across the city with emergencies and distract us from their real goal."

He could hear Ash suck in a deep breath on the other end. "What do you need me to do?"

Looker narrowed his eyes at a map on screen in the center of the room. It showed the current state of the city in real time and the situation wasn't looking good. Half of the city was shadowed in a bright red and on fire. If what he could overhear from the dispatchers and clerks was any indication, the city was in complete chaos.

"You said that the garden is hidden?" He asked. "No one should be able to find it or what's inside?"

A moment of silence. "No. Latias says she erased the memory of the garden from Annie and Oakley's minds. There's no way Team Rocket could know about it."

Thank Arceus for small mercies. "Then I need you and Latias to find Bianca and Lorenzo." He ordered. "They're targets so we need to offer them as much protection as possible. Anabel is on her way to the museum and I'm overseeing the situation from headquarters. If either of you are attacked, I'll try my best to send reinforcements your way."

"Understood, sir. We'll find them."

"No heroics this time, Ash." He warned. "I don't want you putting yourself in unnecessary danger. Am I clear?"

"I won't, Looker. I promise I'll think before I act this time."

That was all he could hope for. With a tired grunt, he hung up the Pokegear and turned his attention to the crisis map. He needed to figure out what their target was. While it was a safe bet they were after the Soul Dew and everything related to it, he couldn't get tunnel vision. If he focused too hard on the Soul Dew or the DMA, he could overlook an important detail. That could be a mistake he'd pay for in innocent lives.

Before he could spend any time truly thinking over the situation, the building violently shook from an explosion and sent him sprawling to the ground as the room was field with dust and debris. He scrambled to his feet and looked towards the source of the explosion. Where once there had been an old cement wall was now a gaping hole large enough for a truck to fit through. Once the dust settled and he could see clearly once more, he paled in worry.

Stood at the newly made entrance was over a dozen men and women with an assortment of Pokemon by their side - ranging from Golbat and Raticate to Machoke and Arbok. Their trainers were dressed in raggedy hoodies and baggy brown pants with masks obscuring their faces. Each of them was wielding a blunt weapon some kind in their hands such as baseball bats and crowbars.

One of them twirled their bat and stepped forward. "Remember what the boss said. Kick the shit out of them but try not to kill anyone. Otherwise, it's time to have some fun!"

The was all the warning they received before the crowd of deadly Pokemon, and their trainers charged forward to brutalize them all. Some of the clerks and dispatchers were too slow to react and fell under the initial blows. Their cries of pain were loud and hard to listen to, but they were not the last sounds of dying men. They were taking the orders of their boss seriously at least.

This had to be Team Rocket. Regular criminals would never have been bold enough to attack police headquarters in broad daylight. Even if they could pull it off, the retaliation would have meant the violent end of the gang sooner or later. For all that Team Rocket tried to hide their involvement by dressing their members up, he could see through it. What he couldn't understand was why they would attack in conjunction with everything else. What were they trying to distract them from?

He'd have to worry about that later. He had to focus on the here and now.

He reached into the pockets of his trench coat and pulled out two Pokeballs. He tossed them in the air and in a flash of light his Pokemon were released into the world. Growlithe and Croagunk had been his partners since he was a kid. They'd been with him through the worst moments of his life. When he joined the International Police, it had only been natural that he take them with him.

All it took was a single look around the chaotic room and they were prepared for battle. The same couldn't be said for the others who had stayed behind at headquarters. Even now they were either being beaten by the disguised members of Team Rocket or frozen in shock. If they were going to have any chance of repelling this attack, that couldn't last.

"Stop standing around!" He shouted. "Release your Pokemon and fight back! You're the protectors of Alto Mare, so start acting like it!"

That seemed to rouse some of them into action. With angry, desperate roars they released their own Pokemon and grabbed nearby items to use as weapons. It wasn't an impressive display, truth be told. Most of them only had Poochyena's, Sentret's, and Lillipup's. As far as weapons went, it was only small paper weights, pencils, and whatever else they could be used to bludgeon someone into submission. Compared to the heavily armed gang members and their imposing Pokemon, the odds weren't in their favor.

He'd have to tip the scales back in their direction.

Looker gave a silent nod to his Growlithe and Croagunk. That was all the command they needed to rush forward into the fray. Team Rocket didn't seem particularly alarmed. Not when their own Pokemon were almost all fully evolved. They learned quickly that their arrogance was a mistake. His partners may not have had the power of their evolved forms, but they made up for it with experience.

Growlithe leapt into the thick of the fighting and rammed itself into the side of an Arbok at full force. The Arbok was pushed back a few feet but appeared more annoyed than hurt. The violet serpent growled and lashed out with its tail as it glowed brightly with the purple, toxic energy of a Poison Tail. Growlithe waited until the last moment before it leapt to the side of the tail just as it slammed into the concrete floor where it had once stood, sending debris flying onto the air.

The moment it landed, Growlithe latched onto the Arbok's tail with a painful Crunch. The Arbok let out a pained cry as its foul smelling blood began to seep from the wound into its attackers mouth and it began to thrash around in an attempt to throw the faithful hound off. This only made Growlithe bite down harder and dig its feet into the ground to hold its opponent in place. With its jaws still clutching the tail, its fangs lit up in a blaze of fire and scorched the flesh of the Arbok. The smell of burning, putrid flesh was enough to send those with more sensitive noses in the room into coughing fits. All except for Growlithe who's eyes blazed with fury.

While the Arbok continued to whimper and struggling against the bite of its attacker, Growlithe spun around and threw the Arbok through the air with surprising strength given its small size. It sailed through the air and slammed into a small group of Raticate that had been gnawing on the legs of one unfortunate clerk caught in the crossfire. Growlithe reared back and took in a gulp of air... before releasing a stream orange flames from its maws that caused the air to sizzle. Faster than the Human eye could track, the Flamethrower traveled through the air directly over the bodies of the injured before slamming into the Arbok and Raticate in an explosion of heat that caused everyone nearby to sweat.

The screams of the Arbok and Raticate were never heard as the flames robbed the air from their lungs.

For its part, Croagunk had leapt directly in-between a blast of Acid and an injured Sentret. Thanks in no small part to its natural Poison typing, it was capable of tanking the corrosive liquid with ease. It was fortunate too as the acid that splashed off of his body and fell to the floor ate away at the concrete with sickening ease. The Arbok that had launched the attack narrowed its eyes in frustration and its fangs glowed as it prepared to lash out with a vicious Bite.

It never got the chance. Croagunk surged forward with speed that belied its true size and jabbed its left hand directly into the lungs of the Arbok in a Sucker Punch. The snake lurched forward and let out a silent gasp of pain as it choked on air. Croagunk regarded it with cold contempt and reared its right hand back, curling it into a fist. Air began to coalesce around its fist until it began to freeze over, and the air visibly wafted around it.

Croagunk's fist rocketed forward in an Ice Punch and slammed into the eye of the Arbok with so much force that bones could be heard fracturing even over the din of battle. The Arbok flew through the air and slammed into a wall, creating spider-web cracks where it impacted. It slowly slid to the ground where it lay unconscious, eyes frozen shut by a thick layer of opaque ice.

Croagunk paid little attention to its fallen opponent once it was clear they were no longer a threat and rushed back into the thick of the fighting. Its goal was clear: defend those that couldn't defend themselves.

If Team Rocket had come expecting an easy beat down, they were getting far more than they bargained for.

For his part, Looker hadn't just been sitting back while his Pokemon fought in the thick of the battle. The moment his Pokemon had left his side, one of the Grunt's charged towards him with a booming battle cry. He had a slim, metal battle in his hands which was already coated in blood and had already reared back ready to swing. Looker simply rolled his eyes at the telegraphed attack and waited patiently for the Grunt to get close. In the man's battle frenzy, he must have thought Looker was frozen in fear. That was a mistake that would cost him.

Once the Grunt got within striking distance, he swung wildly in a horizontal arc with enough force to crack open a Human skull with ease. Looker quickly leaned out of the way just enough for the bat to miss and swing wildly out of the way. With so much strength put behind the swing, it was out of his control. Not for long, but a few moments were all Looker needed.

Stepping into the Grunt's guard, Looker launched his fist into the man's exposed throat. Reflexively, the Grunt dropped the bat and stumbled back in pain while clutching his throat. While the Grunt let out pained coughs, Looker scooped the bloody bat up off of the floor and twirled it in his hand for a moment. He could tell by the weight and texture of the grip that it was cheaply made but it would do. The Grunt's eyes practically bulged out of his skull when Looker stabbed the tip of the bat into his exposed stomach.

The Grunt doubled over in pain and clutched his gut with his eyes clenched shut. If nothing else, that made what came next easier since the man wouldn't have to fear. Raising the bat high into the air, Looker brought it down with as much force as he could muster onto the back of the Grunt's skull. There was an audible, wet crack as the heavy bat smashed into its target and some of the blood spattered back onto Looker's face. The unfortunate Grunt crumpled to ground like a sack of bricks with vacant eyes and blood pooling beneath him.

Death was not a new phenomenon for Looker. When you lived a life of intrigue and dedicated yourself to fighting the worst Humanity had to offer, it was a common occurrence. Ash didn't realize it yet, but sooner or later he would be forced to cross the same line they all did. As distasteful and horrific as it was, sometimes it was a necessary evil in this job. He would do his damndest to make sure it didn't happen before Ash was ready to deal with the consequences though. It was the least he owed the boy.

An anguished cry erupted in the room and drew his attention away from the body of his would-be attacker. Visibly shaking with rage in the center of the fighting was a single Machoke. It seemed to ignore everything going on around it even as attacks bounced harmlessly off of its powerful muscles. The Machoke's eyes were locked firmly on the grunt that lay at Looker's feet. Slowly, its eyes slid from the body to him and the bloody bat in his hands. Realization dawned on him.

This Grunt must have been its trainer.

The Machoke's eyes blazed with fury and its fists clenched so hard he could see blood leaking from its hands. With a guttural roar of pure rage, the Machoke barreled through anyone in its way and threw them out of its path with such power he could hear bones break. It didn't matter if they were members of Team Rocket or the police, they were all treated with the same lack of restraint or care. It only had one goal now: to make him suffer and avenge its trainer.

Looker tensed up as the Machoke drew near with startling speed. Fighting any Pokemon in close combat was a dangerous gambit for a Human. Standard operating procedure was to use Pokemon of their own to deal with the danger. Failing that, firearms and excessive explosives were all highly effective on Pokemon without natural armor. When retreat wasn't possible, the only option was to grit your teeth and do whatever it took to survive.

Fortunately for him, this kind of scenario was precisely why the International Police made it mandatory for all agents to learn how to fight Pokemon.

The Machoke reared its fist back once it drew close. The fist pulsed with rabid, red energy and the Machoke's muscles throbbed. Fueled by animalistic rage, the Machoke lashed out with a Strength attack that could have turned him into a fine, red paste. Luckily for him, Looker was able to roll under the blow and out of the way of the attack behind it. Raising the bat, he slammed the body of his weapon into the side of its right kneecap.

Machoke grunted in pain but was otherwise unharmed. It turned on a dime and swept its arm out in a wide, horizontal arc. Looker leapt backwards to avoid the blow and raised his bat defensively in front of him. In a burst of speed, the Machoke was on him and launching a flurry of punches, chops, and kicks that all glowed with the powerful energy of Fighting type attacks. If the Machoke had been in control of its temper, he likely would have fallen under the assault. With its mind clouded by rage, its moves became predictable.

Not clumsy or any less dangerous, but predictable enough that he was able to bob and weave around the lethal attacks. He was never able to go on the offensive. Not without risking one of those blows landing and shattering his bones into a million pieces, but he knew that an opportunity would present itself. The longer he kept avoiding the blows, the angrier the Machoke grew. The Pokemon would grow reckless and give him an opening to capitalize on.

His predictions proved true when the Machoke growled in annoyance and raised its right hand into the sky. Quicker than the untrained eye could perceive, it brought it down with such force and precision that he would have been cleaved in two if he hadn't moved. He dodged to the side at the last possible second and could feel the wind rushing past his face. The Brick Break slammed into the floor with such power that the ground shattered underneath it. Wasting no time, Looker reared back with the bat once more and smashed it into the Machoke's right kneecap again.

Unlike last time, the Machoke visibly flinched as the bat connected with a meaty thwack and stumbled to the ground. Someone like Ash would have felt sympathy for a Pokemon in obvious pain and moved to retreat. Looker knew better. When an opponent was off balance, you couldn't afford to show mercy or restraint. He raised the bat down and swung with as much force as he could muster at the right kneecap.

This was his undoing. Mere moments before the bat would have connected with the Machoke's bruised leg, its hand shot out and grabbed the weapon in the middle of its arc. With almost pitiful ease, it squeezed its hand shut around the metal and snapped the bat in two. With another roar of anger, the Machoke was back on its feet and moved to attack. This time he was too slow to dodge and was punished for it with a powerful punch to the chest that sent him flying through the air.

He slammed through a wooden desk and rolled to a stop not far from the rubble. His vision swam and his entire chest burned with agony. Before he could think of moving, he was lifted up off of the ground and slammed into the nearby wall so hard he gasped in pain. Two powerful hands wrapped around his throat, and he reflexively brought up his own to try and pull them away. Predictably, it accomplished nothing.

No matter how skilled or strong a Human was they would never be capable of overpowering a Pokémon's raw, supernatural strength.

Looker forced himself to gaze into the smoldering eyes of the Machoke. It held nothing but contempt and hatred for him but was staying its hand. With its strength, it could have snapped his neck with barely any effort whatsoever. No... he could tell that it wanted him to suffer a slow, agonizing death for killing its trainer. As he felt its hands begin to slowly tighten around his neck, Looker knew that if he didn't act quick then his fate would be sealed.

"You must... really hate me." He forced out with gritted teeth. "Can't say I blame you if that was your trainer..."

The Machoke's eyes narrowed and stopped squeezing his neck for a moment. A moment he capitalized on.

"I don't regret it though. That man was scum that deserved worse." The Machoke snarled and bared its fangs as it began to squeeze his throat even tighter. "I... on the other hand... have no intention of dying today."

He raised his left arm above them in a quick, dramatic flourish. Instinctively, the Machoke's eyes were drawn to it. With it distracted, Looker was able to work his right hand inside of his trench coat and unsheathe a simple, silver knife from his belt. With as much speed and power as he could summon in his weakened state, he thrust the knife into ribcage of enraged beast. With a quick twist of his wrist, he yanked his dagger out of the Machoke and began to slash its chest in quick, rapid strikes.

This proved to be too much for it. Machoke released him from its grip and stumbled backwards while clutching its wounds in its hands. Once he hit the ground, Looker rushed towards the Machoke with his dagger poised to strike and ignoring the way that his throat throbbed in pain. Still clutching its wounds, the Machoke's entire body began to glow a dark, pulsating red before trying to lash out in a powerful Revenge attack.

Looker twisted around the blow to the right side of the Machoke. His enemies eyes widened as it realized what was going to happen, but it was too slow to react in time. Looker slammed his boot into the side of its right kneecap with all the force he could muster. He was reward with an audible crack and a cry of agonized pain as the Machoke stumbled to ground in pain.

With Machoke focused on its crippling wound, Looker worked his way behind it and readied his knife. He grabbed the back of the brown ridges atop its skull and forced its head back. The Machoke realized what he was trying to do and tried reach behind itself to grab onto him, thrashing in his hold the entire time. It was too late for that. In a single, swift motion he slammed his knife in the exposed throat of the Machoke and sliced through it from end to end. Its struggles slowly came to an end in his grasp as the severity of the wound finally began to set in.

With one final twist of his knife, he pulled it out and pushed the dying Machoke to the ground. Even as its life ebbed away and its crimson blood pooled beneath it, the Machoke glared up at him with all the hate in its soul and weakly tried to grab onto him. He easily avoided its grasp and turned away him it. It was no longer a threat and so there was no need to focus any more attention on the pitiful creature.

His little brawl with the Machoke had lasted less than a minute and largely gone unnoticed by the Grunts and their Pokemon. They no doubt had expected him to die and decided to focus their attention on more pressing threats. He twirled the knife in his hand and narrowed his eyes at the exposed back of one of the Grunt's kicking one of the younger dispatchers on the ground.

It was time to show them why you never turned your back on the International Police.

Proton let out a sigh and traced his fingers along the edge of the DMA. He gazed up at the ancient technological marvel with disdain. So much fuss over a worthless piece of tech that was all but useless without access to both a Latias and a Soul Dew. At this point, Proton was convinced they were wasting resources trying to learn its secrets. If he could do things his way, they would focus more on their smuggling operation and draw out that Legendary.

Sadly, Giovanni saw things differently. If his boss wanted its secrets then Proton would make sure he got them. He had no interest in being the next chew toy for the boss' Persian, after all.

He turned his attention to the rest of the museum and leaned back against the DMA with his arms crossed in front of him. Grunts were patrolling the halls and snatching the most valuable pieces of art from the walls while scientists tinkered with the ancient machine. At his side, some of Team Rocket's scientists were conducting scans of the ancient machine and sharing scientific terms which each other he hardly understood. They were the only one's here which was a little disappointing. It was the middle of the day and not a single person had shown up. Not even the curator!

That had spoiled both his fun and his plan to take the man hostage. At least his Grunts would be able to take both the old man and his granddaughter once they raided that little house of theirs. He was half tempted to join them... but that would go against Domino's plan.

As much as he desperately wanted to wipe the smug look off her face by ignoring her, he was on thin ice. He wasn't scared of her, of course. She may have been a deadly agent, but she was a child compared to him. A brat. She thought she was a predator worthy of fear and respect. She was not deserving of either as far as he was concerned. She treated their line of work like it was a game.

How he longed to show her what a true predator was capable of. Sadly, she was here with the authority of Giovanni. Which meant that if he went against her orders, he'd be going against Giovanni. His respect for the man far outweighed his hatred of Domino. So, he would grit his teeth and obey her orders.

No matter how foolish they may have been.

Proton narrowed his eyes at a nearby Grunt and motioned for them to come to him. Like the obedient little dog, they were, they rushed over the moment he called.

"Yes, sir?"

Proton cleared his throat. "What's the situation in the rest of the city?"

The Grunt frowned. "It's all going according to plan. The police and trainers are stretched thin dealing with everything. It's complete chaos out there." The Grunt explained. "But... it's not gonna last. Our people in the field say that it'll only be a few hours at most before the authorities have everything under control."

Proton snorted in amusement. Of course they would. As incompetent as the police of this city may have been, it was in Team Rocket's best interest they keep order in the city. They just needed their attention - or more specifically, the attention of the International Police - focused on something else. It wouldn't do for them to interfere with Domino's little plan.

Not that he didn't have problems with it. For someone that had been quick to lambaste him for taking hostages and making a show out of that auction, she hadn't hesitated to do far worse. The casualties after today would be in the triple digits and it wouldn't surprise Proton if news of this spread to neighboring regions by tonight. Even with their members dressed in their civilian clothes, that wouldn't fool the International Police. They'd know Team Rocket was responsible for this even if no one else did.

And she had the gall to criticize him for drawing attention to them. If the public became convinced they were behind this, they'd be considered terrorists like their rivals in other regions. He refused to be lumped in with those psychopaths from Galactic and Flare! That kind of infamy would spell the end of Team Rocket if they weren't careful.

He gazed up at the ceiling in boredom. "What about the attack on the police headquarters?"

"It went off without a hitch." The Grunt shrugged. "Far as we can tell, our boys are trashing the place and everyone inside. It doesn't seem like the police in the city have any idea it's happening either."

Lucky them. He wondered... were the International Police at their headquarters or did they rush off into the city with all the others? It didn't matter in the end, he supposed. So long as they were too busy to realize they were being manipulated like puppets on a string, Proton was content to leave them alone.

He could always have his fun with them once the Soul Dew was in their hands.

The city was in chaos.

Looker had told him that Team Rocket was creating emergencies throughout the city, but Ash hadn't realized what that meant. As he sprinted through the city, he could see what his mentor meant by spreading the police thin.

People were running away in terror and all but trampling one another to do so. The reason why became clear the moment anyone became curious. Throughout the city, wild Pokemon were rampaging through the streets and attacking everything in sight. Almost all of them were exotic in the Johto region. He could see Durant burrowing through the stone walls of homes and Bewear's tearing up the street beneath them. In the canals, Floatzel were sinking all the gondola's they could find and trying to pull those nearby under the waves. Even the skies were filled with Talonflame and Stararaptor battling for dominance with anything that they set their sights on.

There were so many Pokemon from a variety of regions that the only way they could all collectively be here was from smuggling.

They weren't ignoring one another either. Whenever the rampaging Pokemon noticed one another, they would immediately abandon whatever or whoever they were attacking to try and pummel one another into submission. A trio of Talonflame bathed themselves in orange flames and swooped down to pluck Durant off of the field, carrying it high into the sky and letting their flames burn its steel armor. A Floatzel launched itself out of the water and tackled a Zebstrika, blasting it at point blank range with a powerful Hydro Pump. In retaliation, the Zebstrika let off a powerful Thunder attack that arced away from it and struck everything nearby.

Ash wasn't sure what Team Rocket had done to drive these Pokemon crazy and make them ignore any injuries they received. Had their minds been completely shattered and left them as little more than living weapons? Did Team Rocket pump these creatures full of drugs and released them into the city for the populace to suffer the consequences? Whatever had been done to these Pokemon, innocent people were put in danger because of them.

And he could do nothing to help them. Every fiber of his being was urging him to intervene with Pikachu and fight the berserking Pokemon. He may not have been able to defeat them all, but he could draw their attention away from the civilians long enough for them to escape. If he did that, though, he wouldn't be able to protect Bianca and Lorenzo if Team Rocket was targeting them.

As much as he hated even thinking it, the reality was that protecting them was more important than stopping these rampaging Pokemon. It was what a good agent would have done and what Looker had ordered him to do but... why did it hurt so much? Why did he have to choose which people were more deserving of his help?

Not even Latias could step in to help. Through the mental link they'd established in the garden, he could feel that she was close by and invisible to the naked eye. As the guardian of this city, protecting it from threats like this was her sole responsibility. Now she was forced to choose between the city and the people that she loved the most. It must have been an agonizing choice to make when you could see the consequences of it first-hand.

Mercifully for the both of them, their help wasn't needed. Just as they rushed past a group of tourists frozen in terror as a Bewear barreled towards them, a trainer nearby tossed a Pokeball directly at the powerful Fighting type and sucked it inside. The ball had barely touched the ground before it shattered into a thousand pieces as the Bewear burst out. The attempted capture only seemed to enrage the Bewear further and cause it to turn its murderous gaze on the trainer that had dared throw the ball.

It was enough to snap the tourists out of their state of terror and send them running in the opposite direction. As for the trainer, he couldn't be older than fifteen at most. Yet here he was standing his ground against one of Alola's most dangerous Pokemon. The boy took a breath and grabbed two Pokeballs. He tossed them in the air and released a pink Gastrodon and a Sawk. Both looked powerful but the question was whether they could stand up to the might of a Bewear?

Ash would never find out.

It didn't take much longer before Ash, Pikachu, and Latias were close to Lorenzo's house. They passed by more rampages than they could count but these one's were thankfully being contained by the police and the brave trainers nearby willing to lend a hand. If the smoke rising over the city was any indication then the same couldn't be said for everywhere.

The odd thing was that once they got within a few blocks of Lorenzo's house everything became strangely... quiet. There were signs of battle from destroyed houses and scorch marks on the street, but there was no blood or any bodies in sight. He couldn't hear any battles happening nearby either and he doubted these Pokemon would be capable of being stealthy with the state they were in.

It set him on edge.

"Latias, hold on for a moment."

She appeared before his eyes in a bright shimmer of light as she ended her invisibility. Her eyes were narrowed in frustration and her claws twitched in anticipation. Whether that was because of what they'd seen in their journey or annoyance at being stopped, he didn't know.

"What is it? We don't have time to just stand around!"

Pikachu frowned and flattened his ears against his head. "She's right. Why are we stopping?"

He gestured weakly to the silent, vacant streets that surrounded them. "Doesn't this seem odd? There's no one anywhere near here and it doesn't look like anyone was hurt despite the violence that happened."

Pikachu narrowed his eyes. "They could have all escaped without anyone getting hurt. It's possible the police were able to stop the Pokemon and evacuate everyone to safety."

"Maybe..." He mumbled. "Latias, have you been able to contact Bianca or Lorenzo?"

"I've been trying since this all started but I haven't been able to establish a connection with either of them." Fear flashed through her eyes. "I thought their panic was just making it hard to contact them, but do you think something could have happened!?"

"I can't say anything for certain." He sighed. "All I know is that Team Rocket knows Bianca and Lorenzo are connected to you somehow. More importantly, they wouldn't create this kind of chaos unless they wanted to distract us from their real goal."

Latias become to visibly shake with psychic power. "Then we need to get moving! If they're after my family, then we have to protect them!"

"We will!" He rushed to reassure her. "We just need to be careful that we're not walking into a trap."

Pikachu hopped off of his shoulder and onto Latias' back. "Do you have a plan then?"

"Something like that. If we do this right, I think we can stop Team Rocket from getting what they want."

Domino took in a deep breath of fresh air and closed her eyes.

This garden was everything she had imagined it would be. As the personal home of a Legendary, she had expected it to be beautiful and ornate beyond measure. What she hadn't expected was how... peaceful it was. The air here seemed cleaner than anywhere else in the city and the entire place radiated a sense of calm that compelled her to relax. As if all of her worldly worries no longer mattered. That if she simply rested in this tranquil garden then everything would be alright.

She was sorely tempted to do just that. Unfortunately, she had a mission to accomplish. With a disappointed sigh, she stepped into the garden.

As much as she despised Proton, she could understand why he'd been having difficulty finding this place. For once, his failure wasn't a result of his arrogance. An entrance hidden in plain sight behind an illusion of a simple brick wall? No wonder it had stayed hidden for so long. They'd been looking for tangible entrances concealed in important monuments or historical buildings. No one had ever thought to go searching random back alleys and investigating every wall for an illusion.

She'd need to inform Giovanni once she delivered the Soul Dew. The next time they dealt with a Legendary, they needed to be aware of the potential for illusions.

Chances were they would never have found it if it weren't for the International Police. After the fiasco at the auction Proton had orchestrated, she'd demanded constant surveillance on these agents once they learned who they were. She was a little shocked that the agents were Looker and Anabel. What were the odds that the very people that had humiliated her in Viridian City would be her opponents on this assignment?

The truly surprising discovery was that Ash Ketchum was here. He may have taken on an alias and changed his appearance a bit, but she never forgot a face. Domino had suspected that the International Police would recruit the brat. He seemed like the type of be motivated by lost causes and a foolish sense of justice. Add in the natural desire for revenge on Team Rocket for ruining his life and she could imagine he had leapt at the chance to join them.

She couldn't understand why he was here though. It had only been a few months since Viridian. He couldn't have been properly trained yet. Either Ketchum was a prodigy when it came to this line of work, or something had forced Looker to bring him here. Whatever the case, she wouldn't question it. Tailing him from that meeting he had with the Davri's had been as simple as sticking to the rooftops and out of sight.

People never bothered to look up and she would be forever grateful for their incompetence. The stroke of pure luck that the Ketchum boy knew where the hidden garden was had just been the icing on the cake.

She paused as a group of Pokemon moved to intercept her. She couldn't help but roll her eyes in amusement. An assortment of Yanma's, Poliwag's, and Pidgey. Far from an intimidating sight. Still, she couldn't afford to ignore them. That would just risk them running off to tell the Latias her garden had been compromised.

She unclasped a Pokeball from her belt and tossed it into the air. A large Hypno materialized in front of her and clutching its pendulum tightly in its hand. It glanced between her and the aggressive crowd of Pokemon.

She gave it a dismissive wave of her hand and sauntered towards the dangerous creatures with her hands in her pockets. "Hypno, deal with these things will you?"

Despite Hypno's reputation as being a difficult Pokemon to train, this one obeyed her commands with the kind of obedience only years of conditioning could instill. With only the briefest of nods, the Hypno turned to the crowd of Pokemon and began to slowly swing its pendulum from side to side. Had any of the Pokemon noticed the faint blue glow that surrounded it, they might have been able to prevent what came next.

One by one, the Pokémon's eyes glazed over, and they all slumped to the ground as sleep overtook them. A few managed to stay on their feet and slowly hobble towards Domino. Avoiding them was as simple as taking one short step to the side or knocking them over with her boot. A crueler person would have taken joy in the weakness of these creatures, but Domino prided herself on her professionalism.

She wasn't Proton!

Once all of the Pokemon in the garden were under the sway of Hypno, she gestured for it to follow her. None of them were particularly powerful or rare so there was no reason to capture them.

Not when the true prize was right in front of her.

In the center of the illusive garden was a simple pool of water. Submerged within it was the most beautiful blue jewel that Domino had ever seen. The Soul Dew. The physical embodiment of the soul of a Latios - something Human's had once considered a god. This little thing would be worth a fortune to potential collectors. With the power contained within it, it could be used to change the world.

Anyone else would have been tempted to take it for themselves. Proton certainly wouldn't have hesitated to keep it for himself.

She was a loyal agent though. She could never betray Giovanni.

Domino reached into the pool and gently pried the Soul Dew from its place in the center. She held it up in the air so that the sun could glint off of it and hummed in thought. She wondered what Giovanni had planned for this. He wasn't the type to want world domination so she doubted this would be used for that. She'd seen him scoff at collectors of powerful artifacts as well so it wasn't like this would just be an ornament for him.

It wasn't normally her place to question him but... her curiosity was getting the better of her. Perhaps he'd be in a good enough mood to explain why he wanted it when she delivered the Soul Dew.

She glanced up at the once clear blue sky to find it filled with thick, black smoke. Her plan had gone off without a hitch. Domino would admit that she had taken great pleasure in using the International Police's own strategy from Viridian City against them. It was so cathartic knowing they were susceptible to the same tricks they used. Granted, she'd had to make some adjustments.

They didn't have the ability to create false alarms like they had. Luckily for them, Team Rocket excelled at creating real emergencies. All it took was a little coordination on their part, a few simple disguises, and the right drugs to enhance the aggression and power of the Pokemon smuggled into the city. Once that was done, all they had to do was strike at the most important parts of the city and the authorities would be stretched thin dealing with it all.

She hummed in thought and tossed the Soul Dew between her hands. By now, Ketchum and the Latias would be arriving at the Davri's home. The plan had originally called for her to be with the Grunts interrogating them but... that wasn't really important anymore. They knew where the garden was now and could create the perfect ambush for Latias whenever they pleased. They could drag every scrap of information about the DMA out of the old man and his granddaughter later.

They couldn't afford to delay delivery of the Soul Dew. Experience had taught her when to cut her losses. If she went to the Davri's now, there was a good chance that she'd find the Grunts beaten into submission and put herself in danger. It was a pointless risk. As much as she would have enjoyed taking her frustration out on Ketchum, the mission was more important.

Domino let out a sigh. She supposed she could always return to the city after she delivered the Soul Dew. Now that she thought about it, that would be glorious. The capture of a Legendary, the delivery of ancient tech, revenge on the International Police, and a chance to humiliate Proton?

She liked the sound of that.

Domino pocketed the Soul Dew and turned to Hypno with a pleased smile. "We're done here. Hypno, teleport us to Olivine City. We have a boat to Kanto to catch."

Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide to live by.

Anabel's father used to tell her that when she had been a child. At the time, she hadn't understood what he meant. How could she? To her innocent mind, breaking a toy or being denied dessert might as well have been the end of the world.

As she grew older, she eventually understood what he meant. She couldn't allow herself to be controlled by the hard times in her life or the mistakes she made. She needed to learn from what had gone wrong and use it as motivation to improve. As a veteran of the Great War, her father understood better than any why moving on was important. His lessons about failure and tragedy had been what allowed her to push forward as a trainer during her journey. Had it not been for him teaching her how to use failure as a motivator, she would never have become Frontier Brain or joined the International Police.

There was no wisdom to be gained from the chaos in Alto Mare though. This city was supposed to be a place of peace. A home for anyone with an artistic soul and a love of culture. This was a place that any trainer had to visit at least once during their journey. For many couples be they young or old, it was a haven of romance that could ignite of fire of passion within anyone. She would have loved to experience everything it had to offer in better days.

Now the city was burning, and its people were being terrorized. All for the petty greed of Team Rocket.

What lessons were there to learn from this? Team Rocket prioritized their greed over the lives of the innocent? Never underestimate how far they were willing to go? Always be prepared?

She didn't need a city to burn to understand that.

Anabel gazed up at the museum with narrowed eyes. It was... perfectly fine. The chaos engulfing the rest of the city had spared this historic landmark. There wasn't any hint of the fires or the crazed Pokemon rampaging through the rest of the city spreading here. Compared to the rest of the city, the museum and its surrounding area was a bastion of peace.

She wouldn't be fooled so easily.

If the museum was Team Rocket's true target, they wouldn't want to draw attention to it. A quick glance around showed that most of the people nearby were locking themselves in their homes. She couldn't blame them for that, but if the chaos did spread to this part of the city then their homes wouldn't be able to protect them. For their sake, she hoped that they were prepared to defend themselves if they weren't able to avoid it.

The Human's weren't the only one's hunkering down to avoid the danger. Hidden in the alleys between the houses and on the roofs of the buildings were small groups of Pokemon huddling together for safety. Compared to the powerful, psychotic Pokemon attacking the city the native Pokemon of Alto Mare were just as vulnerable as its citizens.

"Oi! I need to speak with one of you for a moment!" She called out to a group of Pidgey's perched atop nearby home.

One of the Pidgey glanced down at her and seemed to scoff. "What for? Not like you'll be able to understand what I have to say anyway."

Anabel rolled her eyes at the dismissive Pidgey. "You'd be surprised. Most Pokemon don't usually have anything interesting to say, but I kind of need you right now." She took no small amount of pleasure at the shocked look on the faces of it and its flock. "So... willing to talk now? I'm kind of in a hurry."

The Pidgey shook itself out of its surprised stupor. "What's in it for me, Human?"

Anabel could only sigh. For all the differences Human's and Pokemon possessed, one thing they had in common was greed. Pokemon were just better at hiding it. With that in mind, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a single granola bar. From the way its eyes lit up in hunger, it was clear she had won its cooperation.

"That building over there," She pointed towards the museum, "have you seen anyone suspicious enter or leave it recently?"

The Pidgey tilted its head and blinked in confusion. "Now that you mention it, yes. Normally the only Human's that go there are tourists. I'll never understand why but you Human's seem to enjoy your 'art'." It chirped. "Today was different... there was strange man in white that went in a few hours ago with over a dozen others with him. That was hours ago though and they haven't come out."

Anabel frowned and narrowed her eyes in contemplation. "Did the man in white have pale green hair?"

"Yeah. He was also wearing one of those hat things your kind are so obsessed with." The Pidgey squawked. "Look I don't know anything else. Can you just gimme the food?"

She was tempted to toss the granola bar into the canals just to spite the Pidgey for how disrespectful it was being but that would just create more problems. However satisfying it would be to see the look of shock and horror in its eyes, she knew that it would come back to bite her. Chances were high it would try to attack her at the worst possible moment.

So, she grit her teeth and tossed the granola bar up to the Flying type. Still wrapped, of course. She wasn't going to make this too easy for it. With that done, she turned her back to the Pidgey and made her way towards the museum.

Looker's suspicions about the chaos in the city had been correct. She had known in the back of her mind that he was, but she wanted to hold out hope that they were jumping at shadows. No such luck. If Team Rocket really had orchestrated all of this to target the museum, she wouldn't put it past them to target Lorenzo and Bianca as well.

She pulled out her Pokegear and dialed Looker's number. This was the best opportunity they had to catch Proton. If she could get reinforcements before the Admin left, they could take a major player off of the board. Even better, they would have the element of surprise since she doubted he was expecting anyone to show up at the museum with the rest of the city in chaos.

Except... nothing. The Pokegear went straight to voice mail. No matter how many times she tried, Looker wouldn't pick up. Even when she tried calling police headquarters directly she didn't receive an answer. Anabel turned back towards the direction of headquarters to see that the smoke from the chaos in the city had begun to block out the sun.

Something was wrong. Had Team Rocket or one of the berserking Pokemon attacked headquarters after she left? She couldn't imagine there was any other reason her calls wouldn't be picked up. A part of her wanted to rush back to just so she could be certain everyone was alright and offer help if they needed it. But if she did that she'd be abandoning the museum and giving Proton an opportunity to get away from all of this without facing consequences.

She couldn't afford to take that risk. Not when the DMA was within his grasp. She needed to have faith that Looker and everyone else who had remained behind at headquarters could handle themselves.

Anabel could worry about them later. While it wasn't ideal, she had no choice but to take the fight to Proton. Normally she would have preferred to go in with a small army at her back, but she knew that wasn't possible. She would have to rely on herself and her Pokemon for the coming battle. If there was one bright side to this situation, it was that Ash wasn't here instead of her.

Knowing him, he would have gone rushing in with nothing more than a hope and a prayer. Unlike the auction, fate was unlikely to be on his side and he would have died against such overwhelming odds.

Luckily for her, she had the foresight to come up with a plan.

Anabel unclasped a Pokeball from his belt and tossed it into the air. Her Mismagius materialized before her eyes in a flash of light and slowly opened her eyes. Mismagius turned its gaze towards the sky and hummed in discomfort. While Mismagius were a species known for the pleasure they took in tormenting both Human's and Pokemon, even they had their limits.

Mismagius turned her gaze to Anabel. "Who is responsible for this?"

"Team Rocket." Mismagius's eyes narrowed with hate. "It's too late to stop this... but we can catch the one responsible."

"Point me in their direction. I've been meaning to practice my incantations."

Anabel pointed towards the museum across the canal. "They're in there. Don't do anything rash though." She warned. "All I need you to do is do a little scouting for me. I need to know exactly where our enemies are."

Mismagius frowned. "Fiiiine... but we'd better make them suffer for this."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you'll get the opportunity soon."

With a tense nod, the Mismagius floated towards the museum and disappeared from view. For a Ghost type like her, walls might as well have not even existed. Despite how much Mismagius enjoyed tormenting criminals, Anabel knew she would remain hidden. No matter how sadistic she was, Mismagius had the same desire to fight injustice like she did. For all the eccentricities that Mismagius had, she was glad to have the Pokemon by her side.

It didn't take long for Mismagius to return. Within only a few minutes, Mismagius appeared in front of her eyes with a self-assured grin.

"Most of them are congregated around some giant machine in the center of the museum. The... DMA, I think." Mismagius told her. "There are a few on the upper level searching for small pieces of art to steal, but not many."

"Do you think you can get them all to gather together? Preferably away from the dangerous machine we're trying to protect?"

Mismagius rolled her eyes. "That'll be easy. Fighting that many at once is going to be trouble though."

Anabel smirked. "Not if we play our cards right." She reached out and grabbed Mismagius' cloak-like body in her hands. In an instant, a Psychic link had been established between the two. She grabbed the Pokeballs which held her Snorlax and Alakazam from her belt and held them out for her Pokemon to take. "Place these two wherever you feel they can do the most damage"

With a brief nod, Mismagius floated off towards the museum while clutching the Pokeballs of her teammates in her cloak appendages. Anabel turned her gaze to regard the museum for a moment before taking another Pokeball off of her belt. She tossed it into the air and released her Salamence. When it materialized, it was curled up into a ball on the ground and covering itself with its massive wings.

Slowly, Salamence unfurled his wings and stood to his full height. He took a deep breath and growled as the stench of death and despair flooded his senses. Unlike Mismagius, Salamence began to dig his claws into the ground and looked as though he was ready to tear apart the first enemy he saw. Given his species' reputation, that kind of rage could level an entire city if it wasn't controlled.

Fortunately for her, she knew how to direct him. She stalked forward and gently placed her hand on his head. "I know. I don't like this either, Salamence." She whispered. "We'll make those responsible pay though."

"Good..." He growled. "What's your plan?"

She climbed onto his back and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. "For now, just fly us to the roof of that museum over there. Quietly, if you can."

With a single flap of his powerful wings, Salamence lifted them off of the ground and flew them up above the museum. If Team Rocket had bothered to place any sentries outside to watch for police, they would have noticed her long before now. In their arrogance, however, they had refused to believe anyone would bother them while the rest of the city burned.

That arrogance would be Proton's downfall.

She slid off of Salamence's back while he hovered a few feet off of the ancient roof. When it had first been built, she imagined that it was a pinnacle of engineering and the tallest building in Alto Mare. With the advent of modern technology and building techniques, however, it was eclipsed by towering hotels that befit the holiday hotspot. Despite that, it was still one of the most beautiful buildings in Alto Mare with its ornate statues of Latias and Latios alongside its marble pillars.

It would be a shame to have to damage it, but it was a small price to pay to protect the DMA.

Anabel snatched another Pokeball off of her belt and released her Espeon. Unlike Salamence and Mismagius, Espeon stood alert the moment she was unleashed from her Pokeball. She huffed and glared down at the roof beneath her paws. Anabel knelt down beside Espeon and placed her hand atop her head. In an instant, a Psychic link between them was established.

Espeon was one of her most valued team members. She was faster than everyone else besides Salamence, had Psychic power that rivaled the strongest of her kind, and was versatile enough to adapt to any situation. Her true strength, however, was her ability to act as an amplifier for Anabel's own Psychic powers. With no more than a thought, Anabel established a link with all of her Pokemon. Not just with her but between all of them.

When most trainer's used Psychic Pokemon, they were only ever concerned with their offensive capabilities. Competing in tournaments and contests encouraged trainers to prefer flashy displays of Psychic energy or telekinetic force. Even on the defensive, they created elaborate barriers of energy to protect themselves from powerful attacks. What those trainers and even some Psychic specialists failed to realize was how powerful their more... passive abilities were.

With their minds all connected to one another, they could act as a singular being. Commands, warnings, and information of all kinds would be transmitted instantaneously from one to the rest of them. In this state of mind, Anabel and her team would operate with peak coordination as a single entity in multiple bodies. Any move the enemy made could be countered quickly and effectively without having to utter a single word.

This technique was simply known as Battle Coordination. In the past, it had been used to lead outnumbered and underpowered armies to victory when it should have been impossible. Kingdoms had risen and fallen thanks to its power. While the ability to command armies was far outside of her power, she was more than powerful enough to enhance a small team like hers without collapsing under the weight.

With only a single thought, she commanded her team to move into position and begin their attack.

Down in the museum, Mismagius floated into the center of the building and hovered in the shadows. Team Rocket hadn't noticed her presence yet which suited her just fine. With a devilish glint in her eyes, Mismagius began to let out a haunting melody. It echoed through the building and sent the career criminals to their knees, clutching their ears in pain.

Proton stumbled towards her with the Grunts and scientists he had brought with him not far behind. "Someone shut that thing up!" He tried to shout over Mismagius' brutally harmonic incantations. Once it was clear that none of his lackeys were able to ignore their pain long enough to reach for their Pokeballs, Proton growled and shifted his hands to his belt to unleash one of his own monsters.

He never got the chance. The far right wall of the building didn't so much collapse as it was shattered under the assault of her Snorlax. The ground shook so badly from Snorlax's footsteps that paintings which hung on the walls tumbled to the ground. With a bellowing roar, her Snorlax set his sights on Team Rocket and began to surround himself in a shimmering golden energy. With far more speed than a Pokemon his size should have been capable of, Snorlax rushed forward with the power of a Giga Impact and tore up the marble floor beneath him in a spray of debris and gore.

While Anabel detested death of any kind, the situation was dire enough that she was willing to cross that line. The only one that couldn't be killed was Proton. The information in his head was too valuable. The Grunts and scientists he had brought with him were expendable.

If they weren't risking an entire city for their greed, she might have felt some sympathy for them.

At the same moment Snorlax broke through the wall of the museum and launched its assault, Anabel and Espeon stepped away from Salamence. With a short flap of its wings, Salamence distanced itself from the roof of the museum and took in a massive gulp of air. While he was incapable of seeing inside the museum even with Battle Coordination, the information that flowed through their Psychic link would more than make up for it.

With a guttural roar, a stream of white-hot flames shot from Salamence's mouth. It didn't so much blast through the marble as it did atomize everything that stood in its path. The Flamethrower melted through the thick marble as though it weren't there and slammed into the ground of the museum, engulfing everything nearby in an ocean of flames that would have put any Fire type to shame. Through their link, Salamence instantly knew that it had missed Team Rocket by a good distance from behind.

A mistake that he quickly moved to correct as he directed the Flamethrower towards the cowering criminals.

On the upper levels of the museum, Alakazam regarded the attack with casual disinterest. Through their link, Anabel and the rest of her team could feel the disdain for Team Rocket. In his mind, the battle was already over and a pointless waste of time. Despite these feelings, Alakazam raised his spoons and directed them towards the debris sent flying through the air by Snorlax. With pitiful ease, he seized control of every piece with the power of its Psychic and launched them at Team Rocket from all sides in a tempest of marble and wood.

For her part, Anabel and Espeon leapt through the molten hole that Salamence's flames had created in the roof. Through the combined power of Espeon and Alakazam, they were able to gently float down to the ground. Once they touched down, Anabel reached into her trench coat and took out her shock baton. With a flick of her wrist, it extended to its full length and glinted in the light of the flames. At this point, the fire control system kicked in and the sprinklers began to cover the museum in water to combat the fire.

It didn't manage to make a dent in the flames.

At her side, Espeon's eyes glowed a brilliant shade of purple and reached out towards the smoldering ground around them. Slowly, the embers and residual flames began to rise off of the ground. They coalesced into a brilliant ball of flame held together entirely by the Psychic power of her companion. Faster than a speeding bullet, the flames were launched towards the criminals. The moment before it would have hit, the flames morphed into a dozen flaming tendrils and lashed out at Team Rocket, snaking around and holding them all in place even as they thrashed against the searing heat.

It was over as quickly as it began. In less than ten seconds, Anabel and her team launched their attack with deadly efficiency. Held in place by the flames under Espeon's control, half of Team Rocket were crushed under Snorlax's brutal attack and turned into a shower of gore that forced Anabel to cringe in barely restrained horror. Alakazam used the debris to batter the surviving members of Team Rocket out of Snorlax's path and directly into the path of Salamence's fire. Their screams were cut off before they had a chance to even begin.

All the while, Mismagius' is cackling with sadistic delight at what was happening beneath her shadowy form.

For anyone else, an ambush like that would have taken considerably longer to plan and could have gone wrong at the drop of a hat. For her team, the ambush might as well have been a practiced motion that had become second nature to them.

By the time it was over, the only survivor on Team Rocket's side was Proton. For the first time since she'd learned of the monster, he wasn't sporting a cocky or cruel grin on his face. Kneeling on the ground with a leash of flames gripping tightly onto his throat, all she could see was a mixture of shock and horror in his eyes.

She ignored the rush of pleasure she felt at having given this monster a taste of his own medicine.

Salamence landed behind her with a powerful gust of wind and leveled a heated glare at Proton. Behind him, Snorlax growled down at the puny criminal even as Alakazam and Mismagius regarded him with utter contempt. Even if Proton was incapable of understanding Pokemon, the desires of her team were abundantly clear.

She stepped forward and reached into her trench coat to pull out her badge. "You're under arrest, Proton." She declared. "I'd list what your crimes are, but we'd be here all day."

Proton narrowed his eyes at her. "I recognize you... you were at that shitshow of an auction a few weeks back." He growled.

It was tempting to zap him with her baton. "A lot of people died that day." She tightened her grip around her weapon. "Even more are dying today."

Proton scoffed and held his hands up in the air above his head. As if the fire coiled around his throat wasn't evidence enough of his surrender. "If I had things my way, none of this would have happened. Unfortunately for us both, little Domino is calling the shots now."

Anger sparked to life within her. "Where is she?"

His lips twitched in amusement. "Not a fan of hers? Can't say I blame you. She is a hypocritical brat." He drawled. "She hates you and your partner almost as much as she hates me. I'd tell you to watch your back... but it won't matter."

Her eyes narrowed. It didn't surprise her that Domino held a grudge against her and Looker after Viridian City. While the public was unaware of Team Rocket's involvement, that whole fiasco had been an embarrassment for the crime syndicate. She couldn't imagine them letting Domino off easy after messing up a job that badly.

"Once I'm done with you, she'll be next." She declared. "Domino's not as clever as she thinks. Sooner or later, she'll make a mistake she can't recover from."

Proton giggled in amusement. "Ah... truer words were never spoken. You've got no idea how refreshing it is to hear someone else see's the brat as the disappointment she is. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you won't be there when she finally gets what she deserves. Only I have that honor."

"From where I'm standing, it looks like it's the other way around."

Proton rolled his eyes. "Maybe. But you see... none of you International Police agents are leaving this city alive. Not you. Not that relic Looker at police headquarters. And that new rookie of yours - Red Westen? He'll be taking a long walk off a short pier real soon once we find him."

So, this attack on the city wasn't just meant to distract them? Team Rocket was specifically targeting her team? She needed to get back to headquarters and help Looker or failing that warn Ash to keep his head down.

"How do you know-"

He cut her off with a bellowing laugh. "Sorry, lass, but I'm afraid the time for talk is over!"

He snapped the fingers he held above his head. It was the only warning that she and the rest of her team received before a swarm of Crobat descended from the ceiling. Though... swarm wasn't quite correct. It was more like a tidal wave of Crobat suddenly appeared out of the darkness and descended upon them all with venom-coated fangs.

In unison, she and her team turned towards the army of Crobat and launched their own attacks. Scorching flames, blinding beams of energy, and Psychic propelled chunks of debris met the tide of enemies head on and... passed through them?

Her eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. Hidden among the illusions created by Double Team, the real Crobat gathered a sickly black aura in its jaws. Faster than any of them could react, the Crobat launched its Dark Pulse. It traveled through the air and slammed into the ground at the feet of both Espeon and herself. The two of them were sent flying away from Proton.

While it wasn't enough to break the Battle Coordination, it was enough for Espeon to lose control of the flames around Proton's throat. Acting on what must have been pure instinct, Proton leapt of the way mere moments before Snorlax brought his fist down where the criminal had been standing. He was lucky to be fast enough. If he was even a second slower, he would have been slammed into the ground with enough force to easily shatter bone.

Proton stumbled backwards while clutching his burnt throat. "You didn't think I'd go down that easily did you?"

He reached down to his belt and grabbed his Pokeballs in a single handful. While the swarm of illusionary Crobat continued to harass her team and keep them off balance, Proton tossed his Pokeballs into the air and summoned his team to his side. In a bright flash of light, he released his Houndoom, Tyranitar, Muk, Weezing, and a pink Jellicent. Every one of them looked just as bloodthirsty and sadistic as their trainer.

Worst of all, there was a collar wrapped tightly around Houndoom's neck. The crown jewel of the collar was a simple red and black gem: a Mega Stone.

She didn't have time to worry about that weapon in the arsenal of her enemy. The moment Proton's Pokemon gained their bearings, they rushed forward and clashed with her team in a battle that would have been the highlight of her career as a Frontier Brain had she maintained that position.

Salamence was the king of the skies. In the air, there wasn't a single species of Pokemon alive or machine that Humanity had created which was capable of competing. Their raw power and maneuverability were enough to make even Garchomp and Hydreigon think twice before fighting in their domain. The issue was... Salamence needed enough room to build up its speed and pull off its midair maneuvers.

No museum could ever compare to the wide-open spaces of the sky. Compared to that, Alto Mare's museum might as well have been a cramped box.

It was certainly one that worked to Crobat's advantage. With its smaller size, maneuvering in the museum was far easier for it than her fearsome dragon. With the aid of its illusionary doubles, it was able to confuse Salamence long enough to latch onto the back of his neck. It gathered a stream of bubbling, violet liquid in its mouth and spewed it at point blank range directly onto the cobalt scales of Salamence. He had just been poisoned by Toxic. Despite his every attempt to shake the Crobat off, it refused to leave.

With a frustrated roar, Salamence flew backwards directly into one of the marble support pillars in an attempt to crush it. The moment before impact, the Crobat gracefully dislodged itself from his back. Salamence was unable to stop himself and crashed through the wall, showering debris into the canals of the outside world. As if to mock him, Crobat cackled sadistically and flew to the edge of the hole. Purple electricity sparking across its body was all the warning he received before it unleashed a powerful blast of Venoshock that struck Salamence head-on.

Salamence's roar of pain echoed through the air.

If the local residents somehow hadn't noticed the battle at the museum before, it would be impossible for them to ignore it now.

When Snorlax and Tyranitar clashed, the two seemed to be evenly matched in their raw strength and visibly struggled to push the other back. In the wild, Tyranitar were among the most feared Pokemon any trainer could encounter. They were the undisputed lords of the mountains and took any sign of Human's in its territory as a challenge to its authority. Too many trainers had gone missing after accidentally wandering into their territory.

While not as infamous, however, Snorlax were one of the few Pokemon capable of standing up to Tyranitar and surviving. Their hunger was the bane of farmers everywhere and many would-be trainers had gone bankrupt attempting to feed them. What wasn't as well known about the docile species was their temper. When an enemy managed to enrage a Snorlax - typically by stealing its food or forcefully waking it from slumber - entire ecosystems could be destroyed in the fallout.

Her Snorlax wasn't so easily angered by such petty issues. The suffering of the innocent though? That was more than enough to send it into a blood rage. Such anger only served to make the Tyranitar more eager to fight Snorlax as a worthy rival. The grapple that the two were currently engaged in forced them to dig their feet into the ground and shattered it beneath them.

Snorlax lacked one important advantage that Tyranitar had however: a powerful set of jaws that regularly turned solid stone into gravel. Proton's Tyranitar reared its head back before lurching forward and clamped its jaws around Snorlax's left shoulder. The sickening crunch of bone breaking, and flesh being torn asunder could be heard even over the din of battle. With its teeth sunk deep into the fatty flesh of her teammate, no one was able to predict when electricity began to spark, and lightning was channeled directly into the powerful muscles of Snorlax through a powerful Thunder Fang.

Even in Snorlax's state of blood rage, he could feel his muscles begin to spasm from the point blank electricity and the agonizing pain from having his shoulder shattered. If it weren't for his blood rage dulling the pain, Anabel was convinced that he would have collapsed from the pain then and there. Instead Snorlax tried to fight back by slamming his right fist into Tyranitar's armored underbelly.

With his left arm all but crippled and the full weight of Tyranitar bearing down on him, it was useless. Snorlax stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, creating a small crater where he laid. Unlatching itself from Snorlax's shoulder, Tyranitar let out a victorious roar and leapt directly onto the stomach of Snorlax. The full weight of the armored pseudo-legend was enough to knock the wind out of him long enough for Tyranitar to begin raining down hammer blows with its stony claws and tail in a deadly Thrash attack.

Every hit caused a miniature earthquake to shake the building.

Up above the chaos on the ground, Mismagius and Jellicent phased in and out of existence as they blasted each other with the mystical energies they summoned out of the void.

The ocean was full of an almost endless number of both wonders and horrors. In the distant Unova region, however, the ocean was more known for being a death sentence. With Pokemon like Jellicent patrolling their waters, it wasn't hard to see why. Every year there were rumors that another ship had sailed into the territory of schools of Jellicent and been dragged to the depths of the ocean as punishment. While none knew exactly what happened to the unfortunate victims of these attacks, what was well known was Jellicent's desire to feed on the life energy of everything around it.

Compared to Mismagius, however, Jellicent had a sparkling reputation. In ancient times, Mismagius were believed to be the souls of powerful witches that refused to afterlife solely to torment the living. It was complete nonsense, but the reputation was well deserved. Even in the modern world, there were countless stories of how Mismagius would appear in random towns or cities for the sole purpose of amusing itself with the residents reactions. The headaches and illusions they were known to create had sent more than one settlement into a downward spiral of madness.

The only thing more infamous than their method of amusing themselves was their terrifying temper.

Mismagius flew through a domed case containing the preserved weapons of some ancient, forgotten battle such as rusted spears and swords. Jellicent was close behind her and had summoned large spheres of dark blue water at its side. One by one, it launched these Water Pulse's straight at Mismagius' head. Instead of dodging, Mismagius continued flying straight at a wall and phased through it with ease, completely out of sight. By comparison, the Water Pulse's slammed into and destroyed the strong marble wall. Undeterred, the Jellicent floated through the debris in search of its opponent.

Unbeknownst to the Jellicent, Mismagius had flown up to the roof and was now phasing through the ceiling as silently as it could. Golden electricity sparked around its body before it arced through the air directly towards the Jellicent's unguarded back. At the last possible moment, a shimmering blue dome of energy surrounded the Jellicent. The ocean monster must have heard the sparking of electricity and moved to protect itself. While the deadly Thunderbolt surrounded the protective shield of the Jellicent, the creature took the time to orient itself towards Mismagius.

The moment her attack ended, the Jellicent lowered its Protect and summoned the shadows of the room to its tentacles. With the speed and efficiency of a master, the Jellicent formed a massive Shadow Ball and hurled it at Mismagius. Despite her best attempts to dodge it, Mismagius was too slow, and the Shadow Ball slammed directly into her face. She was sent flying back and slammed into a painting of the sea that had so far survived the battle. It shattered under her weight as she fell to the floor.

Her eyes shot open, and she forced herself off of the ground. As she did, the shadows began to coil around her even as electricity sparked across her body and illuminated the area. In response, the Jellicent trilled in sadistic delight at the fact it could continue playing with its prey.

The battle of the specters was far from over.

Compared to its allies, Proton's Houndoom regarded the entire battle with disdain. It must have thought the entire situation was beneath it. With an almost casual gait, the Houndoom stalked towards her Alakazam. In its eyes was an almost cruel, predatory fire that promised it would be taking its time with Alakazam if he wasn't careful.

In ancient Kalos, legends claimed that death followed Houndoom wherever it went. The stories all claimed that whenever the howl of a Houndoom could be heard that the Grim Reaper itself - Yveltal - was not far behind. It was claimed that if one heard this howl that the only way to survive was to hide and offer a prayer to Xerneas for salvation. While those legends had been proven false in the modern era, Houndoom was still a creature to be feared.

By comparison, Alakazam was as revered and trusted a Pokemon there could be. With their immense Psychic power and intellect, they could adapt to any situation. The wisdom they held was highly sought after by people from all walks of life regardless of whether they were trainers, scientists, or any other profession.

All the wisdom in the world wouldn't help her Alakazam against a Houndoom, however.

Despite the chaos happening around him, Alakazam maintained his mental grip on the chunks of debris he had used to bludgeon Team Rocket into submission. While his Psychic power couldn't do any damage outright, he could still manipulate the battlefield to his advantage. With control that could only come from years of careful practice, the debris swirled around the Houndoom before launching at it with enough velocity to shatter bone on impact. Houndoom merely rolled its eyes at the display of power.

In a flash of light, a powerful blue shield materialized around Houndoom. Despite the constant barrage of debris, Houndoom's Protect held with remarkable ease under the assault. By the time Alakazam's attack ended, all of the debris had been shattered into tiny pebbles and specks of dust from the force used. With a cocky flash of its teeth, Houndoom surrounded itself in flames and leapt forward with the speed of a Flame Charge. It left a trail of fire in its wake and charged directly up the walls to the second floor.

Alakazam's eyes widened in shock, and he let out a gasp. He was too slow compared to his opponent, however. Houndoom leapt onto Alakazam and pinned him to the ground with its full strength. With a maniacal snarl, the Houndoom summoned a fire that put even Salamence's flame to shame. Houndoom's fire engulfed the two in a raging Inferno attack that lit the entire museum in an orange light. The sprinklers which had up until this point continued to rain water on them all seemed to malfunction from the sheer heat exuded by the fire and stop working altogether. Alakazam's cries of pain were only amplified in her teams mind through the Psychic link as the blaze burned away at him.

The Houndoom merely continued to pin Alakazam in place and cackle at his pain. Despite its Fire typing, it should have been taking damage from the powerful Inferno though! Or so Anabel believed until she saw that the flames were being absorbed into it. Flash Fire... such a simple ability and yet so deadly at the same time when used correctly.

With such powerful flames burning away at him and no way of escaping the Houndoom's claws, Alakazam was doomed if no one stepped in to help him.

Fortunately for him, Espeon realized that the instant she heard his Psychic screams. One moment, she was by Anabel's side hunched over and ready to protect her trainer. The next moment, she was gone in a mad dash powered by a Quick Attack. In the blink of an eye, she covered the distance between her and the Houndoom before leaping into the air above it. Her tail glowed briefly for a moment before hardening into iron and slamming directly into the side of the fearsome beast.

Espeon were not a physically strong species, but they didn't have to be. Espeon was strong enough to send the Houndoom tumbling away from Alakazam and put an end to the raging Inferno which had consumed her teammate. She landed defensively in front of him and growled a warning at the Houndoom. It scoffed in amusement and bared its fangs in a threatening manner, saliva dripping to the floor.

She spared a glance back at her wounded teammate. Through their Psychic link, her concern for him was clear as day. Alakazam forced himself to his feet and tightened his grip on his spoons. His skin was charred, and he smelled of burnt flesh, but he would survive. Houndoom's flames were powerful and toxic beyond comprehension, but modern medicine would be able to reverse most of the damage. He wouldn't sit by while his teammate risked her life for him.

They would face this herald of death together.

For her part, Anabel was doing her best to stay out of the way. In a confined space like the museum with such powerful Pokemon all battling at once, she wouldn't just be useless. She would be an active hinderance to her team! Instead, she opted to stay out of the way and moved to put some distance between these fearsome monsters. She had no intention of leaving the fight though.

As powerful as his Pokemon were, Anabel could see Proton taking cover close by the DMA. He must have realized that despite the battles, none of her Pokemon were willing to risk damaging it. If she could just reach and subdue him, she could force him to call off his monsters. Or failing that, forcibly return them herself.

With a brief nod, she moved took a step towards the DMA. That was as far as she got before a Sludge Bomb impacted the ground in front of her. She was forced to leap back to avoid the deadly, corrosive sludge which even now ate away at the floor. Her eyes darted to source of the attack and found both Proton's Weezing and Muk rapidly approaching her.

Clearly Proton had trained his Pokemon to go for the weak link in any fight - in this, the seemingly defenseless Human. Even with her shock baton, Anabel knew that she stood no chance against these two powerful beasts. Luckily for her, she had kept her final Pokemon in reserve for just such an occasion. Her hand fell to her belt and pulled off her final Pokeball, tossing it directly at the two advancing Poison types.

Muk let out a mocking laugh and surged forward, snatching the Pokeball out of the air and letting it sink into its putrid body.

Anabel smirked in delight.

In a blinding flash of light, Metagross materialized before their eyes. By the time Muk realized its mistake, it was too late. Metagross let out a roar of anger and stamped its massive steel forelegs down onto the Muk. The living pile of toxic waste cried out in anguish and tried to slither away, but it was too slow. Held in place by Metagross' Psychic energy, it was helpless against its brutal assault. Proton's Weezing tried to help its pinned comrade by firing off a Dark Pulse, but Metagross shrugged off the beam of dark energy with ease.

Energy began to collect within Metagross' mouth as it prepared a Hyper Beam. Muk's eyes widened, and it struggled against the Psychic hold even hard, trying to fire off blasts of poison and acid with every movement. Weezing noticed its partners struggles and let off another Dark Pulse, but like before it bounced off without doing any real damage to Metagross. In under five second, Metagross had fully charged its Hyper Beam and let it loose at point blank directly into the gaping maw.

What followed was a blinding explosion that filled the room with a foul, rotten smelling smoke. By the time the smoke cleared, all that was left where the Muk had once been pinned was a small crater and tiny patches of toxic sludge. In the center of this carnage was Metagross. With its enemy slain, it turned to the one that had dared to annoy to and attack while it was preoccupied. It leveled an arctic glare at the Weezing and launched itself forward with a burst of speed.

In that instant, Anabel reached out and connected Metagross to the Psychic link between them all.

Under the influence of Battle Coordination, Proton would learn how deadly a Metagross could truly be.

Proton began to laugh nervously from his position behind the DMA. "Well... looks like you're not as weak as I thought. Most people would be dead by now." He shouted. Then a cruel smirk graced his face. "As much as I'd love to drag out your suffering, though, I'm afraid I have to leave now that you've caused so much noise. Just remember... you've got only yourself to blame!"

He raised his left arm and allowed his sleeve to fall down. It revealed a thick leather band wrapped tightly around his wrist and in the center of it was a large, pale Key Stone. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he raised his right hand and placed his fingers atop the stone. The Key Stone flared to life with vibrant energy that cast Proton in an ethereal light that didn't fit him.

On the other side of the museum, his Houndoom's collar glowed as the Mega Stone reacted to the activation of the Key Stone. The lethal canine was surrounded in a ball of energy that burned so brightly Anabel wouldn't have been surprised if people on the other side of the city could see it. She could practically hear her heartbeat in her ears and she all but screamed her orders through her Psychic link with the team. On command, Espeon began collecting vast amounts of electricity in front of her gem stone. Within seconds, the collected lightning had formed a makeshift cannonball easily twice as large as her skull. At her side, Alakazam slammed his spoons together in the formation of a cross. Within a few seconds, a sphere a shining white and ocean blue energy formed in front of him. In perfect unison, Alakazam and Espeon released their Focus Blast and Zap Cannon attacks at the evolving form of Houndoom.

While the accuracy of these moves was notoriously unreliable, against a stationary target there was no chance of them missing.

Just as the devastating attacks would have struck the Houndoom, the energy which had cocooned around it exploded out in a violent burst of power. It blew the attacks completely off course and destroyed even more of the once pristine museum of Alto Mare. What emerged from the volatile energy was the imposing form of a Mega Houndoom. The raw heat its new form exuded was enough to make even Salamence sweat from his position outside of the museum. If it had been a deadly opponent for Alakazam and Espeon before, then it was even more so now.

If she had a Mega Stone of her own, then perhaps Anabel and her team might have had a better chance. Without one, they were fighting an uphill battle. The only option was to retake control of the battle.

Anabel sprinted towards Proton. At the same time, her mind sent several orders to her Pokemon thanks to the aid of the Psychic link. With enough trust in her, they might be able to pull this off.

Metagross narrowed its eyes up at the Weezing quivering above it. With a scoff of pure disdain, silver energy gathered within its massive maw. The Weezing cried out in terror the moment the Flash Cannon was released and threw up a Protect to ward off the attack. However, the shimmering blue shield was unnecessary as the silver beam of energy missed it completely by half a dozen feet. The Weezing began to laugh at what it believed to be Metagross' poor aim.

Until it heard Crobat cry out in shock and anguish as the Flash Cannon slammed directly into its unprotected back. Weezing had barely enough time to turn and see its ally tumble out of the sky before it felt the terrifying stranglehold of Psychic energy grip its body. Metagross used its mental power to fling both the Crobat and Weezing to the ground so hard that there were audible cracks when they connected with the floor. Metagross leapt through the air and came crashing down atop the two immobilized with the full force of a freight train, shattering the ground beneath it with ease. When it stood back up to its full height, purple blood dripped from the underside of its carapace.

With the largest threat to Salamence dealt with, he soared back into the museum with as much speed as he could muster. While he wasn't at full strength due to the potent poison coursing through his body, he was still strong enough to make a difference. He began to glow with a pulsating, crimson aura and his muscles began to bulge. With a ferocious roar of pure anger, Salamence slammed into the back of the Tyranitar that had up until this point been busy brutalizing Snorlax. He dug his claws into Tyranitar's armored carapace that there were visible cracks. Salamence carried the titanic monster through the air with the power of draconic Outrage and smashed through a wall to the outside world.

As battered and bruised as he was, Snorlax let out a groan of pain and forced himself to his feet. After the pummeling that Proton's Tyranitar had inflicted, he was in no shape to continue. Even with adrenaline pumping through his system and rage clouding his mind, he could feel every bit of damage that had been inflicted. Countless bones had been broken, he had numerous deep gashes profusely gushing ruby red blood, and his face was so swollen he could hardly see. Not to mention that one of his arms was all but useless. If this had been a battle at the Battle Frontier or the Pokemon League, he would have been disqualified long before he reached this state.

Reality was often far crueler than such simple competitions led children to believe.

Outside of the museum, Salamence had dragged Tyranitar along the stone streets and pinned it to the ground with his own considerable strength. In his enraged state, he didn't have the mental capacity to think of a plan. If he did then he would have traveled a few yards further and trapped the Tyranitar beneath the water of the canal. Instead, all he could think of doing was ripping the mighty behemoth of a Rock type out of its shell and tearing it to shreds. With this in mind, Salamence slammed his claws into Tyranitar and beat it like a drum.

Each blow was delivered for the strength of a sledgehammer and created horrific dents within the once impressive armor of the Tyranitar. Despite this, Tyranitar refused to utter a single sound throughout the assault. It was as if it believed that by allowing itself to make its pain known to the world that it would acknowledge its weakness. Instead, it endured the attacks with clenched teeth. Until finally... it saw an opening. When Salamence raised both of his claws in the air to deliver one final devastating blow, Tyranitar sprang into action. As Salamence's claws came down, Tyranitar caught and halted them mid-swing. Its claws glowed with a pulsing violet energy that was reminiscent of Dragon Claw. Letting out a mighty roar, it heaved Salamence off of its chest and slammed him into the ground with such force that he was left seeing stars in confusion.

Once Tyranitar had forced itself to its feet, it moved behind the still downed Salamence with malicious intent. With its claws still glowing with draconic energy, Tyranitar gripped Salamence by his snout with one of its claws and hoisted him up until he was roughly sitting upright on his tail. With a slow lick of its lips, Tyranitar gripped the underside of Salamence's jaw with its other claw... and began to pull in opposite directions. Even in his confused state, Salamence knew what Tyranitar was trying to do. He began to thrash and twist in the grip of the Tyranitar, flapping his wings and doing everything in his power to escape this death sentence. No matter how hard he struggled, however, Tyranitar's strength was too much for the poisoned dragon.

Tyranitar had pried Salamence's jaws wide open. Even now it looked down into the terrified eyes of its prey and let out a deep laugh that sound more like boulders smashing together than any real speech. It would be so easy for it to pry just a little further and a little harder. Tearing off Salamence's jaw wouldn't just be satisfying for Tyranitar, it would give it a trophy it could happily present to Proton as a sign of respect. The only issue was that Salamence was unworthy of such a quick death.

For daring to interfere in its battle with that pitiful Snorlax, it would make the overgrown lizard suffer.

Tightening its grip on Salamence's jaws to hold him in place, Tyranitar opened its own. The air began to hum in excitement as tiny flecks of energy began to gather in its gaping jaws. Soon enough, a massive golden orb had grown to encompass it. As Tyranitar continued to charge its Hyper Beam, Salamence tried one last ditch effort to escape the clutches of his would be killer. He gathered as much energy as he could and spewed it out in the form of a Flamethrower - hoping that if nothing else, Tyranitar would flinch at the intense heat and light long enough for its grip to loosen. Unfortunately, no such luck. The moment the Flamethrower ended, Tyranitar angled itself above Salamence as it readied itself to use its most powerful attack and destroy this insignificant worm from the inside out.

A pale glowing fist slammed into the side of Tyranitar's skull.

Massive chunks of the armor on its face flew off and it was sent soaring through the air, letting go of Salamence completely. The Hyper Beam that it had been preparing didn't disappear, however. Instead Tyranitar lost control of it completely and fired it off without any care. The deadly beam of energy lanced through the stone homes of the public nearby in a dazzlingly brutal display of golden energy before carving its way through the statues of the Eon Duo and into the smoke-filled sky. Tyranitar tumbled along the ground before eventually falling into the murky waters of canal.

Snorlax spared a brief glance for the sputtering and shivering Salamence on the ground but couldn't waste any more time. Moving as fast as his injured, cumbersome body would allow he sprinted to the edge of the canal that Tyranitar had fallen into. Down below, Tyranitar hissed in pain and thrashed in the water as it tried to drag itself to dry land. Snorlax leapt into the air and shined in the light as its entire body turned to stainless steel before he plummeted down onto the injured Pokemon. Empowered by Heavy Slam, Snorlax crashed into the beast with such forced that the two of them sunk below the waves.

The two of them crashed into the bottom of the canal and kicked up a cloud of sand, sending the aquatic Pokemon nearby fleeing in terror. While Snorlax had no desire to remain down here, it was his only chance at victory. He could hold his breath for at least a few minutes with how large his lungs were. By comparison, Tyranitar was not so lucky. For a Rock type like it, being submerged completely in water would have been akin to a Human be submerged in a vat of acid. Despite its frantic thrashing and hate filled eyes glaring up at him, Snorlax refused to remove himself from its chest.

Rearing back its one good arm, he powered up a Hammer Arm and launched it directly into the exposed throat of his enemy. Even with the added resistance of water slowing down the velocity of his attack, his fist struck with enough force that Tyranitar's mouth was forced open in a silent scream. The moment that happened was when more water rushed into its lungs.

For the first time in the entire battle, fear filled Tyranitar's eyes. The look it sent him was practically begging for Snorlax to let it live. It would find that Snorlax had neither pity nor mercy for monsters that preyed on the innocent. Slowly over the course of a minute, Tyranitar's struggles gradually grew weaker and weaker... until finally it succumbed to the hopeless of its situation. The cruel eyes which had once regarded his team with disdain were now dull and lifeless. It was fitting that such a cruel creature met an equally cruel end. Without a second thought, Snorlax pushed itself off of his fallen foe and catapulted itself to the surface.

Once he was above the water, Snorlax took in a large gulp of air and began to drag itself up onto land with the aid of Salamence.

Back in the museum, Espeon and Alakazam weren't so much fighting Mega Houndoom as they were desperately trying to stay alive. With the raw power it now held, Mega Houndoom was more than capable of burning the two of them to ashes if it desired. However, like its trainer it preferred to play with its food before it enjoyed a meal. The blasts of fire it spewed were little more than a sample of what it could do and yet every time its new toys would frantically dodge out of the way with such fear in their eyes. It was as though its birthday had come early!

Up above them, Mismagius and Jellicent continued their spectral battle. They phased in and out of existence as the fundamental elements of nature clashed in an array of colors and a cacophony of explosions. Mismagius huffed in frustration as the Jellicent's endless barrage of Shadow Balls and Water Pulses overwhelmed her own powerful Thunderbolts. She grinned mischievously and disappeared in the shadows. Jellicent's eyes darted around room and had already begun forming a new Shadow Ball to defend itself. Just as it floated above what little remained of Muk, Mismagius appeared out of Jellicent's own shadow surrounded in oily black fire and slammed into its unprotected back. While Jellicent recoiled in pain, Mismagius capitalized on this opportunity and slammed a Shadow Ball into the aquatic ghost at point blank range.

Jellicent soared backwards through the air in visible discomfort. Despite the opportunity to press her advantage, Mismagius flew backwards as far from the Jellicent as possible. She stuck her tongue out and cackled in in obvious mockery of her adversary. Jellicent huffed in annoyance and summoned another Water Pulse, flinging the cannonball of pressurized water towards her head. Just as it was about to collide with her, it came to a sudden stop mere inches before it impacted. Jellicent stared in shock as the Water Pulse twisted around Mismagius and rocketed down to the ground to slam into the unsuspecting back of Mega Houndoom.

For the first time since Mega Houndoom was released, there was no malicious amusement in its eyes. Instead, it cried out in pain and turned to level a heated glare at the Jellicent. To its credit, Jellicent didn't cower under its gaze and instead created another Water Pulse. There was no fear for the specter despite the massive power difference between the two. While Proton's Pokemon engaged in a tense stand-off with each other, Mismagius gave a brief nod of approval to Espeon and Alakazam for the quick thinking even as they cowered behind a stone pillar.

As if suddenly remembering their opponents were still alive, Mega Houndoom and Jellicent pushed aside any animosity between them and leapt to attack their enemies. Just as Jellicent was preparing a new Shadow Ball, Metagross leapt up from beneath it with one of its legs glowing as brightly as a star and leaving the trail of a comet. Jellicent attempted to summon a protective barrier around itself, but Metagross' Meteor Mash blew through it as though it wasn't even there and sent it rocketing into the sky. The moment before Jellicent would have slammed into the roof, Mismagius flew forward and lashed out with the most powerful Thunderbolt she could muster. The lightning struck with enough power to hold it in place, even as it cried out in pain.

Once the Thunderbolt ended, Jellicent plummeted to the floor and laid there in a broken heap. Mismagius narrowed her eyes at her disabled opponent and summoned one final Shadow Ball to deliver the coup de grace. Her aquatic rival let out one final, haunting scream before dissolving into a puddle of pink slime.

By the time Anabel reached Proton, she was able to see the worried scowl on his face. Watching his prized monsters being brought down by her own - no matter how much damage they suffered - must have been horrifying when his freedom was on the line. With all the people that he had hurt over the years, she refused to let him escape.

She swung her shock baton directly for his face. "Give up! You only have one Pokemon left. Surrender now and I'll guarantee you'll be treated fairly."

Proton narrowly dodged the attack and leapt back. The typical arrogance she had come to expect from criminals like him replaced any fear he felt. "Maybe I've only got one, but there's this little thing called quality. Houndoom barely has a scratch on him while half of yours are ready to keel over and die!"

Anabel scowled. As much as she hated to admit it, he wasn't wrong. Despite having the numbers advantage, the battle could still swing wildly out of her favor. If even one of her teammates fell under the power of Mega Houndoom... she didn't know what she'd do. Her team had been with her since she was a child. They had been with her through both the best and worst moments of her life. When she decided to pursue a career protecting people instead of a life of fame, they had supported her wholeheartedly. She could only hope that they were strong enough working together to beat the beast.

She lashed out with her shock baton, sparks flying off its steel tip. Proton sidestepped the attack and latched onto her arm with both of his hands. Her eyes widened and she tried to struggle out of his grip but he was too strong. With a ferocious snarl, Proton whirled around towards the DMA and slammed her bodily against the base of the machine. Without pause, he lined her arm up with the edge of the machine and rammed her arm into it with as much force as possible. She endured the pain with gritted teeth and tried to rip her arm out from his hands, but he wasn't letting up. He kept slamming her arm into the DMA until she was eventually forced to give in from the pain and loosened her grip on the shock baton.

The moment her weapon clattered to the ground, Proton threw her aside and reached down to grab it. Anabel landed on her back but forced herself to her feet just in time to see the Rocket Admin twirling her weapon in his hand.

"Well, isn't this a fancy little weapon." Proton drawled. "I see the International Police spares no expense for its agents. Shame I couldn't bring a toy of my own, but little Domino said she didn't want me 'jumping the gun'. That girl and her damn puns."

Anabel silently cursed as Proton sprinted towards her a moment later. He swung wildly with the shock baton without any thought or care put into his strikes. Each potential blow was filled with raw strength and his grip on the weapon was far too tight. He had clearly never used a weapon like this before but it hardly mattered. With the added functionality of the electricity, even a glancing blow would be debilitating.

She did her best to dodge and twist her body around the uncoordinated attacks of Proton. Occasionally, he would over extend and she could land a quick jab to his face but it was never enough. As soon as her blow land, he would backpedal and swing the shock baton in unpredictable arcs to ward off any further attacks. Then he would charge again, slowly but surely pushing her back. If the International Police hadn't placed such importance on the ability of their agents to evade attacks, she would likely have been hit by now.

Her luck ran out however when she felt her back hit the DMA. Her eyes widened as Proton swung the baton with full forced into her stomach. She clenched her eyes shut as the electricity coursed through her body. Every muscle felt like it was on fire and as though there were a thousand tiny Beedrill eating her from the inside out. A scream of excruciating pain tore past her lips as she collapsed to ground. She was unable to move a single muscle and it took all of her willpower to command her team to ignore her pain. They needed to focus on Mega Houndoom.

She would be fine. Her shock baton was only releasing enough electricity to stun her. Fortunately for her, Proton hadn't figured out how to amp up the power to lethal levels. Unfortunately, that just meant he'd likely keep shocking and beating her until she was dead anyway. With her body not responding, however, there wasn't much she could do.

Proton scoffed and grabbed the back of Anabel's head by her long, violet hair. "Pathetic. One hit and you're down for the count."

That was the only warning she got before her face was slammed into the metallic surface of the DMA. She felt more than heard her nose break under the force of the blow. Her vision swam and pain flared to life in her face anew. Proton didn't stop at just once, however. He kept slamming ramming her head into it. Eventually he must have been satisfied as he threw her to the floor behind him. Her face had been completely blooded and she could hardly breath out of her nose. Even with feeling slowly returning to her as the after-effects of the electricity left her body, moving anything made her body ache.

Proton chuckled darkly above her. "Ah... it's always nice seeing you hero types fail. So selfless and full of hope. I just love seeing your spirit fail." He turned his back to her at her feet as he gazed up at the DMA with what she could only imagine was a cocky grin. "You know, I don't know what the boss wants with this machine. Whatever it is though is gonna leave the world speechless. I can't wait to see it!"

Somehow Anabel wasn't surprised that Proton was taking the chance to gloat. Taunting her with the knowledge that Team Rocket had something sinister planned and that she could do nothing to stop it. It was cruel in a way that only this man could be.

More important though was how arrogant it was. Even if her entire body felt like it was on fire and even if she was forced to breath out of her mouth instead of her nose, she wasn't out of the fight yet. The people of this city were counting on her. If Team Rocket's people tampered with the DMA and that somehow caused the calamity Ash had told them about? So many would die. So many wonderful people that added so much joy and good to the world.

She couldn't allow something as insignificant as pain to stop her from preventing that!

With a burst of speed and strength, she slammed her foot with all of her might into the back of Proton's knee. Proton hadn't expected her to have any fight left her and fell forward to the ground face first, dropping the shock baton in his surprise. Anabel forced herself to her feet and leapt on top of his back the moment he tried to scramble to his feet. Taking fistfuls of his green hair, she began to slam his face into the ground with as much force as her beaten body could muster. Finally being given a taste of his own medicine, all Proton could do was grunt and groan in pain as she hammered his head into the ground.

After slamming him into the ground five consecutive times, she rolled off of his back and gasped for breath. At this point, her lungs were on fire and her arms felt like they were lead weights. All she wanted to do was lay down and rest.

She was not so lucky. Even with the damage done, Proton was more durable than she had believed. Struggling to force himself to his feet, he glared at her from behind bloody eyes. His once roguishly handsome face was now completely destroyed and replaced by a visage of bloody violence. Fitting for a man like him.

"You bitch! When I get my hands on you-"

He never got the chance to finish his threat. The moment she realized he wasn't going to stay down, Anabel snatched her shock baton off the floor. She lashed out and slammed it into the side of his head with what little strength she had left. When it connected with the side of his head, the very same electricity that had been used against her were used against him. He let out a high-pitched scream of pain and began to convulse from the volts of lightning before collapsing the ground.

Aside the odd involuntary twitch of his body, he seemed to be unconscious. The pain must have been too much for him to handle.

In a moment of weakness, Anabel gave in to her spiteful thoughts and jabbed her shock baton into his back. Proton let out an unconscious, pained whimper as his body began to convulse once more from the electricity coursing through his body. Eventually she pulled her weapon away and collapsed to her knees beside his unconscious form. Every breath she took made her wish for the sweet embrace of unconsciousness, but she couldn't afford that luxury.

Her team still needed her to maintain their Battle Coordination and she would be damned if her weakness saw them falter before Houndoom.

While she and Proton had fought their battle by the DMA, on the other side of the museum her team had surrounded the Mega Houndoom. While the cruel gleam in its eyes had been replaced by a cautious gaze, it didn't appear overly worried. By comparison, half of her team were about to collapse from their injuries. One wrong move could mean their end.

In the end, Metagross was the one to make the first move. Both of its forelegs glowed brightly with the power of a Meteor Mash, and it launched itself forward. Out of her entire team, it was the her only one that had a chance of taking a direct attack without serious harm. Or so Anabel had believed until she saw the Mega Houndoom began to smile. The hellhound surrounded itself with an oily black aura and leapt forward to meet Metagross' charge. Just before the two collided with one another, Mega Houndoom swerved to the side and completely avoided Metagross's blows. With a delighted cackle, Mega Houndoom bodily slammed itself into the underside and sent Metagross flying away with more force than it would have been capable of were it not for Foul Play.

As Metagross rolled to a stop barely a few feet away from her and the unconscious Proton, she saw massive dent within Metagross' armor. Mega Houndoom took delight in her shocked expression and summoned flames in its mouth, prepared for launch a Flamethrower. With her injuries, she would have been too slow to dodge and forced Metagross to choose between sacrificing itself for her or watching her die.

Fortunately for them both, it didn't come to that. Just before Mega Houndoom was going to fire its attack, Alakazam seized control of what little remained of Proton's Muk. Psychically grasping the few bits of sludge, he levitated them off the ground and launched them directly into the eyes of their would-be killer. Even dead, the remains of Muk were still a potent toxin that could weaken the strongest of fighters.

Mega Houndoom recoiled in a mixture of pain and anger, attempting to shake the sludge out of its eyes. With the Psychic grip of Alakazam, however, it refused to budge. Up above them, Mismagius tightly closed her eyes. A high-pitched, almost melodic chant escaped her lips. It could almost have been considered beautiful if it weren't for the slightly demonic undertones of the chant. When she was finished, Mismagius' eyes shot open, and she emitted brilliant pink light that illuminated the entire room. While her allies were unharmed, the moment the light touched Mega Houndoom it cried out in agony and wildly fired off a Flamethrower into the ceiling, completely missing Mismagius.

By the time her Dazzling Gleam faded, Mismagius crackled with static electricity and launched a Thunderbolt into the exposed back of their enemy. Even with the sludge blinding it, Mega Houndoom had a general sense of where she was now and angled its jaws up towards her. Just before it could launch a Dark Pulse and obliterate the annoying Ghost type, Snorlax chose that that moment to leap forward with a glowing fist. Amped with the power of a Hammer Arm, Snorlax's fist collided with Mega Houndoom's ribs the moment Mismagius ceased her attack. The canine's eyes widened in pain from behind the sludge and extinguished its flames as it was launched through the air, colliding with a wall.

A crater was formed where it collided with the wall, and it slid to the ground. With a ferocious growl, it summoned a raging Inferno and... surrounded itself in the flames? While Mega Evolution had given it a major power boost, its Flash Fire ability had been replaced and they were all left wondering why it would subject itself to the attack. The answer became clear with the sludge covering its eyes turned ash and revealed the enraged glare behind them. With its sight returned to it, the Mega Houndoom used the fire surrounding it to amp up the power of its Flame Charge and leapt forward. It blazed so brightly that it could almost have been mistake for a Flare Blitz were it not for the astonishing speed it displayed.

Salamence met its attack head-on. Under the influence of Outrage, he was the only one capable of stopping the attack. Thanks to the combination of his draconic nature allowing him to resist the flames and his enhanced power in this state, Salamence halted Mega Houndoom in its tracks. What he could not do, however, was overpower it. As such he was forced to hold it in place until the flames gradually died down.

By the time they did, Salamence's Outrage hand ended and left its vision swimming. Sensing the opening, Mega Houndoom leapt forward with the same oily black aura it had used against Metagross. With how weak Salamence was, Foul Play would be lethal. Just before it could strike, Espeon reached out with her Psychic power to the case of ancient weapon in the museum. The rusted spear within rumbled within its enclosure for a moment before launching itself through the class with the power of a speeding bullet. The spear lodged itself into the side of Mega Houndoom, sliding past its ribcage and puncturing a lung. With a simple flick of her eyes, Espeon twisted the spear and then snapped it in half, leaving the rusted tip inside of the deadly monster.

The Mega Houndoom stumbled in place and coughed up thick, black blood on the ground. On shaking legs, it leveled a glare at Espeon and opened its jaws to prepare a Flamethrower... only to be sent into a fit of coughs, hacking up blood with every breath. It was almost pitiful seeing the once powerful and cocky monster look so weak and afraid.

Her team had no pity to spare. Salamence shook himself out of his confused state and reared back before slamming his tail into the Mega Houndoom, sending it tumbling across the ground. Snorlax grabbed the canine by its imposing horns and slammed it bodily into the ground with as much force as he could muster before tossing it into the air. With a contemptuous laugh, Mismagius launched a Thunderbolt that electrocuted the Mega Houndoom and sent it flying across the museum. Having finally struggled to its feet, Metagross reared back with a Meteor Mash and slammed its right foreleg into the ribs of Proton's final monster, sending it flying into a wall.

The Mega Houndoom slowly slid to the ground. Her team watched in tense anticipation for it to get up and try to attack them again. It never did. In a blinding flash of light, the creature reverted to its previous form. The once mighty Houndoom was now a broken mess. Instead of fighting to the end with a roar to shake the heavens, it had died with a whimper against half dead opponents.

A fitting end as far as Anabel was concerned. While his team may once have been good Pokemon, they had all shown the same cruelty as their trainer. She would shed no tears over their deaths. Not when weighted against those of the entire city.

Anabel struggled to force herself to her feet, catching herself against the side of Metagross. She sent a relieved smile to her entire team and let out a slow, slightly hysterical laugh. They had managed to take down one of Team Rocket's highest ranking members without a single casualty on their end. With Proton in their custody, the International Police had a real chance of dismantling Team Rocket's power base in the city. Even better, she had managed to stop them from tampering with the DMA and bringing a brutal end to the city by mistake.

Not bad for a rookie agent if she said so herself.

All she had to do now was inform Looker of her success and wait for reinforcements. Once they took Proton off her hands, she'd be all too eager to see a doctor. Both her and her team desperately needed it after what they went through.

There was just one issue. A quick glance outside showed that the damage done to the museum and the surrounding area hadn't gone unnoticed by the local residents. Even if they were afraid to approach, they began to crowd together on the other side of the canal. It didn't take a Psychic to know they wanted answers about what had happened here.

If she had her way, answering their questions would be Looker's job while she relaxed after a hard day's work.

Now that the danger had passed, she deserved it.

As it turned out, caution had been the right decision.

Peeking out from behind the corner of a nearby alleyway, Ash and the others were able to get a good look at Bianca and Lorenzo's home. On the outside, everything looked fine. There was no sign of the chaos in the rest of the city having spread here at all. If Ash didn't know any better, he would have suspected that nothing was wrong. Standing outside the entrance to the home, however, was a man that neither he nor Latias recognized.

He was... unremarkable in every way. He didn't have any standout features and the clothes he wore were the kind he'd expect from a tourist right down to the sunglasses over his eyes and the floral shirt. He seemed utterly bored out of his mind and more focused on the cigarette in his hands. Ash knew that the man was more than just a simple tourist though.

He was with Team Rocket. A Grunt or at least someone they had hired for this job.

Ash turned to Pikachu atop his shoulder. "Can you smell how many of them there are, buddy?"

Pikachu closed his eyes for a moment and raised his head to the sky, nose twitching slightly. "Bianca and Lorenzo are inside." He began. "I can smell three others - the one outside and two in the house. No Pokemon but they may still be in their balls."

Ash saw a look of worry in Pikachu's eyes and frowned. "What else?"

Pikachu's eyes flickered to Latias. "I... could also smell blood. Human blood. A lot of it."

Latias sucked in a sharp gasp.

Ash's hand lashed out and grabbed Latias' arm. She was more than strong enough to rip herself from his grip, but he hadn't planned on holding her. When she turned her artic glare on him, he almost backed down. He steeled his nerves and kept his grip firmly on her, however.

"Latias, calm down."

"How can you ask me to calm down?!" She growled inside his mind. "Your friends - my family - are hurt!"

"We don't know that for certain." It felt like a weak excuse even to him. The idea that Lorenzo and Bianca had wounded one of the Rocket Grunts was laughable at best. "I'm not saying we can't help them. We just need a plan."

"There are three of them, Ash. They don't even have their Pokemon out!" She argued. "With my invisibility, I can sneak inside and get rid them in seconds!"

"And what happens if that's what they want you to do?" He hissed. "Bianca and Lorenzo were targeted for a reason! Team Rocket has probably planned for you to try rescuing them and is prepared for it!"

"There's no way-"

"Don't be reckless!" He scolded. "Take a moment to calm down and think. Rushing in will just put them in danger if things go wrong. Wouldn't you rather be certain they won't get hurt in the crossfire if this goes wrong?"

Latias looked like she wanted to argue. Ash couldn't say he blamed her. If it was his mother in danger, he wouldn't have had the patience to wait either and gone rushing ahead without thinking. That would have been a mistake though. He refused to allow Latias to make that mistake when he was here to be the support she needed.

Latias clenched her eyes shut. "What do you suggest then?"

"I'll draw them out." He stated. "While they're focused on me, Pikachu will sneak inside to free Bianca and Lorenzo so they can escape. Once they're safe, you'll reveal yourself and we can catch them in a pincer attack."

Latias growled and turned herself invisible before his eyes. "Fine... I just want them to be safe."

"I do too. Trust me, I won't let them get hurt."

With a brief nod to his partner, Pikachu hopped off of his shoulder and made a dash for the house. He stuck to the shadows as best he could, but he needn't have bothered. The Grunt stationed outside seemed bored out of his mind and was staring off into the distance, cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. In seconds, Pikachu disappeared around the corner of the house.

Before leaving the safety of his hiding place, Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out his Pokegear. He needed to tell Looker about this so that he could send reinforcements in case things went wrong. After he dialed and there was no answer, Ash felt his anxiety flare up. Why wasn't Looker answering? Had he just not noticed or was something happening back at headquarters that meant he couldn't answer?

Ash couldn't allow himself to worry about that.

Not when he had a plan to see through.

Ash took a deep breath to steady his nerves and stepped out from behind the alleyway. Obscured to the world, Latias floated close behind him. Through their mental link, he could feel her coiled and ready to lash out at the first opportunity. He could only hope she was able to keep herself in check. By the time the Grunt noticed him, Ash had come to stop in the middle of the street with his hands in the pockets of his trench coat.

It was the only way to hide how much his hands were shaking in terror.

"Hello there!" He shouted with what he hoped sounded like confidence. In the empty streets of Alto Mare, his voice echoed around them loud enough for Pikachu to hear from wherever he was hiding. "Do you mind if we have the chat?"

The Grunt kept turned his attention to Ash and stared at him in silence for a few moments. Dropping the cigarette to the ground and stamping it out with his foot, he slammed his fist onto the door to the house. "Boys! Get out here!"

Ash did his best not to pale at the sight of two more Grunts moving out of the house. Like the sentry, each of them was wearing plain clothes and the same sleek black glasses over their eyes. His blood ran cold when he saw the dried blood on the hands of the two that left the house. Though he couldn't be certain, they seemed to tense up once their gazes landed on him.

What he wouldn't give to have more Pokemon at his side or even a weapon of his own. He'd need to talk to Looker about getting trained in one.

"Who are you?" One of them called out.

An uneasy smile spread across his face. "Someone in way over their head." He admitted. "I know who you are though. You're Team Rocket."

In unison, the Grunts all snatched their Pokeballs from their belts and looked prepared to unleash their Pokemon on him. They probably would have if it weren't for him taking his hands out of his pockets and holding them in the air above his head.

"Now now, there's no need for violence." He called out. "I'm just here to talk."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll walk away." One of the Grunts tossed his Pokeball into the air. Following his lead, the other two did the same. At their side appeared a Dusclops, Raticate, and Glalie appeared at their sides.

Seeing such deadly Pokemon glaring at him sent a chill down his spine.

"I could say the same for you!" He declared with far more courage than he actually felt. "You see, I work for the International Police! I've already called my superiors to summon reinforcements." They didn't need to know he hadn't been successful. "They should be here soon. If you flee now, you might escape."

With their eyes obscured by those glasses, he didn't know if that worried them or not. Everything was quiet for a few seconds before one of the grunts stepped forward with the Dusclops by their side.

"Bullshit."

Ash's eyes widened.

"If there really were police on their way here, there's no way you'd be foolish enough to show yourself to us." The Grunt grinned. "After all, you must know that Team Rocket has a bounty on the head of every International Police agent."

His heart skipped a beat. He hadn't known that! Why hadn't Looker or Anabel told him that?!

"I'll tell you what, agent." The Grunt called out. "We'll let you walk away and forget this ever happened. And in exchange for this generous offer, all we're gonna need is that partner of yours."

His eyes narrowed. "Partner?"

The Grunt lazily pointed over Ash's shoulder. "That Latias, of course."

That was all the warning they received before the Dusclops sprang into action. The Ghost types single eye glowed red and teal light began to surround the area. In less than a second, they were all surrounded by teal walls of light that loomed high into the sky. With the Trick Room set up, one of the Grunt lashed out with his hands.

"Raticate, Super Fang!"

With astonishing speed, the Raticate surged forward with golden glowing teeth and leapt over Ash's shoulders. He didn't have to wait long to find out why. Latias let out a loud shriek of pain and momentarily lowered her invisibility. The Raticate had latched onto one of Latias' wings and was even now trying to gnaw through the draconic appendage. It was liable to do that too. While Super Fang was often forgotten about by most trainers, it was one of the few moves that could allow even a rookie trainer to cripple a Champion's Pokemon.

Latias attempted to shake the Raticate off of her by flying into the sky but was intercepted halfway by the Glalie halfway there. With a truly maniacal smile that was full of sparkling white teeth, it opened its massive jaws and clamped down on Latias' other wing. There was an audible crack as Glalie began to Crunch on the wing and stopped Latias in her tracks. She growled in frustration and hovered in place, eyes beginning to glow with a mystical blue energy. At that moment, the Dusclops leapt into the air, and it appeared as if its fists wear surrounded by a raging blizzard. With a haunting moan, the Dusclops used its Ice Punch to send Latias hurtling back towards him just as Raticate and Glalie detached themselves from her wings.

Ash managed to leap aside and roll behind a nearby trashcan just as Latias slammed into the ground, creating a small crater where she landed.

His eyes widened in shock. "Latias... are you-"

"I'm fine!" She growled in his mind. True to her word, she forced herself off of the ground with a thunderous expression on her face. She wasn't unscathed though. While she was capable of keeping herself airborne, it was clear to everyone that she hadn't come out unscathed. Her wings had visible indentations and were dripping golden ichor. Worse, one of her eyes was swollen shut from where the Dusclops had slammed its fist into her.

"Go invisible!" He cried out. "If they can't see you, it won't matter if they're faster now!"

Latias sent him a brief nod and faded from view once again. He felt his spirit drop when he heard the Grunts let out a collective laugh.

"Don't you realize that's pointless?" With a snap of their fingers, one of the Grunts pointed his finger towards the sky. "Glalie, use Ice Beam about five feet in front of you to the left."

No one was more shocked than Ash when the Glalie not only followed the command without hesitation but when the attack connected. Once more Latias' invisibility was disrupted and she was sent tumbling towards the ground. She managed to stop her descent moments before impacting the ground and leveled a wary glare at her enemies.

"In case you haven't figured it out, we can tell where that thing is whether its visible or not." One of the Rocket's reached up to tap the side of their glasses. "Gotta love the RND department for making such fancy toys."

Another Grunt let out a dramatic sigh. "Shame us Grunts don't get to use them so often. Nooooo, we're not worthy of them!" He spat a glob of spit on the ground. "Arrogant higher-ups. As if the Operatives and Admins are the only ones who deserve them!"

"Look at the bright side, at least that Domino woman was willing to lend these to us."

Ash paid the Grunts no mind they babbled on without a care in the world. Domino was here? The woman who had ruined his life? Not only that but she'd come with the equipment needed to capture Latias? It made sense but... why hadn't she shown herself yet? Was she still waiting for the right moment to strike? Or had she decided there was something more important than a Legendary that needed her attention?

The uncertainty he felt set him on edge.

"Enough about us." One of the Grunts drew his attention away from his inner thoughts. "This is your last chance to run. Be a good little agent and take our generosity."

Latias never took her eyes off her enemies, but he could feel her concern through their link. "Ash... maybe you should take the offer. This may be more than you can handle." She whispered. "If I lose, I need you to protect Bianca and Lorenzo for me."

Anyone else in his position would have taken the offer. As injured as she was, Latias was a Legendary. She had power that few other Pokemon could ever hope to achieve. With Pikachu inside hopefully freeing Bianca and Lorenzo from whatever bindings Team Rocket had used on them, winning wasn't even necessary here. Once he and the others were safe, Latias could just fly away and lose these criminals within the city.

Except under the effects of the Trick Room, any attempt to flee would be met with immediate force. At the very least, it would force her to expose her back and give them the chance at a free hit. Not to mention the fact that he didn't trust Team Rocket as far as he could throw them. There was no guarantee they would actually allow him to leave.

He took a breath. "I can't do that. I'm sorry." His apology was meant more for Latias than the Grunts. "I won't abandon a friend in their time of need."

Latias sighed. "You're as stubborn as ever." Despite her harsh words, he could feel her gratitude through their link. "But... thanks. For sticking with me. Just watch yourself."

The grunt huffed in annoyance. "If this is the hill you want to die on, so be it." He snapped his fingers and gestured dismissively towards him. "You two deal with him. I'll stay here in case the Latias tries to go invisible again."

Ash didn't give them a chance for the Grunts to rush him. He took off sprinting towards Lorenzo's workshop, followed closely by the two Grunts who were meant to fight him. The Pokemon ignored him as he sprinted by them though whether that was because they didn't view him as a threat or they were worried about turning their backs to Latias, he didn't know. He was just thankful he didn't have to worry about them yet.

Ash charged into the door to the workshop with his shoulder, audibly throwing them open as he burst into the workshop. It was cramped, dusty, and filled to the brim with various types of wood. Lining the walls was both powered and ordinary tools. In the center of the workshop was even a half finished gondola that was missing the seats on the inside.

The Grunts weren't far behind him and had simple knives in their hands. While Ash would normally have preferred to put as much distance between him and any attacker as possible, he couldn't do that now. With no other choice, the only option he had was to limit the way his enemies could engage him.

It had been a lesson Anabel drilled into him. When facing multiple opponents and there was no escape, finding ways to take away that number advantage was the only option. The best way to do that was give them limited space to move in and force them to attack one at a time instead of all at once. Even more essential was ensuring no one could sneak up behind him and catch him from behind when he wasn't looking.

Lorenzo's workshop allowed him to do both. All that was left now was actually fighting the hardened criminals. Neither of which seemed like the kind to hesitate before killing someone. With those knives in their hands, he didn't fancy his chances taking them on unarmed either. Perhaps if he was willing to use some of the tools on the walls that Lorenzo used he would stand a better chance, but Ash staunchly refused to do so. If he wasn't careful with them, he could accidentally kill these men.

Instead, Ash snatched up a wide plank of wood off of the floor and held it out in front of him as a shield. This caused the Grunts to laugh and twirl their weapons in the hand.

"Really? Wood? I thought you International Police were meant to be dangerous." Ash could imagine the Grunt rolling his eyes behind his glasses. "Oh well, this should be easy at least."

The Grunt rushed forward and thrust his knife towards Ash's head. His eyes widened and he reacted on instinct, bringing his shield up to block the attack while backpedaling away from the blow. There was a loud thunk as the knife slammed into the makeshift wooden shield and his eyes widened as he saw the tip of the knife penetrating just beyond the shield.

His shock soon turned to relief when it remained there. The criminal trying to kill him grunted in obvious frustration as he tried to pull the knife out of the wood, but it wouldn't budge. Ash seized the opportunity by twisting his shield to the side and roughly yanking it towards him. The Grunt kept a tight hold on the knife and was pulled along but had his arm twisted at an awkward angle. The Grunts eyes widened when Ash surged forward and slammed the wooden plank into his face, forcing him to let go of the knife and tumble backwards into his teammate.

He didn't stop there. In such a cramped workshop, the other Grunt didn't have the room to attack. Not when his ally was blocking the way forward and clutching his face in pain. Ash took advantage of that by bracing himself and sprinting forward, holding the shield out in front of him like a battering ram. He slammed into the Grunt that had lost their knife and threw them back into their partner, sending them both sprawling to the floor.

Ash narrowed his eyes down at the Grunt at his feet. He raised the wooden shield above his head and brought it down on the criminals head with a grunt of exertion. The Grunts glasses shattered under the blow, and he cried out in pain before going still. The rise and fall of his chest was enough to let Ash breathe a sigh of relief. The man was just unconscious, not dead.

Which still left the other Grunt. He managed to turn just in time to see the Grunt leaping toward him, knife held in a reverse grip. The Grunt raised the knife into the air and brought it down in a blow that was aimed for his head. Ash narrowed his eyes and brought the wooden shield up with the hopes of catching the blade in the same way he had the earlier one.

The Grunt had been expecting that and kicked Ash in the gut just as the knife scraped across the surface of the wooden plan, forcing Ash to stumbling backwards and drop his shield to the ground. With his protection gone, the Grunt surged forward and began to wildly slash for Ash's face. He was only just fast enough to avoid the life-threatening blows, but he hadn't come out unscathed. There were rough, jagged cuts along his arms that bled crimson blood and stained his trench coat. With each narrow graze, Ash was tempted to stop in his tracks and clutch them in pain. To do that would mean standing still and to stand still in such a narrow space was death.

Unfortunately, the choice was taken away from him.

When Ash's back hit the wall of the workshop, his heart skipped a beat. A feral grin split the Grunts face and he thrust his blade forward. Ash only barely managed to twist his body to the side and avoid being impaled on the end of the knife. With the Grunt throwing his entire body behind the blow, the knife sunk into the wooden wall with a harsh thunk. Ash wrapped one of his hands tightly around the Grunt's wrist to keep him in place before delivering a devastating strike to the criminals throat with his elbow.

The Grunt's eyes bulged, and he let go of the knife to stumble backwards, clutching his throat in both of his hands. Ash pounced on the opening and curled his hands into fists. His fist lashed out and struck the Grunt directly in the nose with as much force as he could. Once more the Grunt was forced to recoil in pain and shock, though it certainly wasn't the last. Running on pure adrenaline at this point, Ash was relentless in how he struck the criminal with his fists in a rapid series of blows. He made sure to target the Grunt's face and throat but once the older man tried to throw up his arms to block his blows, Ash switched targets and sent a devastating blow into the man's gut.

The Grunt had no idea what he was doing. Even with Ash's limited training and experience in a fight, it was clear the Grunt was out of his element. Without his Pokemon and weapon, he was helpless. Ash counted himself lucky for that. He didn't want to imagine having to fight someone with actual experience yet. This was already taking everything he had!

The fight eventually came to an end with one final, decisive blow. Ash launched an uppercut into the jaw of the Grunt and sent him flying back to the ground. He landed with a dull thud and laid there unmoving on the ground, his face bloodied and bruised beyond belief. For his part, Ash allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief once he realized he had a moment to catch his breath. He winced in pain, however, and glanced down at his hands. They were covered in blood and shaking so much he was almost certain that he'd broken some of the bones in his hands.

There was nothing to do about it though. While it hurt, he didn't have much of an alternative to his hands. However deadly a fist could be, Ash would take them any day over the far more deadly hammers and saws lining the wall of Lorenzo's workshop.

Stepping over the unconscious bodies of his attackers, Ash peaked out of the door to see how Latias was handling herself outside. He was greeted by the sight of Latias panting and covered in wounds while crumpled to the ground. To her credit, her enemies were all sporting various injuries of their own, but it seemed like effects of the Trick Room had been too much for her. Team Rocket had chosen their strategy well.

Ash's eyes widened when he saw the Grunt gingerly take a Pokeball off of his belt and rear back to throw it. Ash growled and grabbed the closest thing off of the wall that he could - a simple ball-peen hammer - and stepped out from the workshop.

He wouldn't allow his friend to be captured by the likes of them.

"Oi! Fuckface!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "Catch!"

His shouting was enough to distract the Grunt from his throw and draw his attention to Ash. Good. That meant he'd see what came next coming. Ash reared back and hurled the hammer with all of his strength. The Grunt swore and leapt out of the way of the hammer, dropping his Pokeball in the process. It was wasted effort though. With Ash's shaky hands and his desire to not kill anyone, the hammer flew clear above where the Grunt had been standing and smashed through the window of a house on the other side of the street.

An enraged roar was the only warning he received before the Dusclops surged towards him and wrapped its massive hands around him. Ash winced in pain and paled in terror as he stared into the menacing eye of the deadly Ghost type. At that moment, Ash realized why the creature was willing to abandon its fight against Latias to target him.

He had threatened its trainer. Even if the man had been a criminal, he obviously meant a lot to the Dusclops. Ash didn't blame the Pokemon for looking at him with such hatred. He doubted any assurances that he didn't want to kill the man would help though because this creature certainly wanted to kill him.

It would have too if Pikachu hadn't chose that moment to burst through the window of Lorenzo and Bianca's house with a roar of his own. If the Dusclops had been angry at the threat to its trainer then Pikachu looked absolutely livid at the sight of his own in danger.

Even under the effects of Trick Room, Pikachu managed to cover the distance between him and the Dusclops with the use of a Quick Attack. During his sprint, his began to flare with static electricity that coated his body completely and turned the attack into a devastating Volt Tackle. He collided with the side of the Dusclops with enough force that it dropped Ash to the ground and was sent flying back into the Glalie and Raticate it had fought beside.

Ash's eyes widened. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be helping Bianca and Lorenzo escape!"

Pikachu was hunched down on all fours, cheeks sparking with deadly electricity. While Volt Tackle had hurt him, he was still in far better shape than any of the others. "I wasn't going to just sit by while that thing had its way with you!" His partner snapped. "Lorenzo is in no shape to move and Bianca won't leave him."

Ash's blood ran cold. That... left them no choice then. Their only choice was to win this battle. Even with their enemies injured, however, Ash didn't think the odds were in their favor. Against three powerful Pokemon under the effects of Trick Room, even Pikachu would struggle.

They needed an equalizer.

His eyes narrowed in realization and flickered to Latias. "Can you still fight?" He shouted over the battlefield.

Through their link, Ash could feel a tiny fraction of the pain she was experiencing. "Y-yes!" She grimaced. "But... I don't I can move too quickly even if Trick Room ends."

That was fine. With what he had planned, she wouldn't need to move an inch. "The canals! Use the water!"

The Rocket Grunt forced himself to his feet and lashed out with his hand. "Stop her, you idiots!"

To their credit, Team Rocket's Pokemon tried to attack Latias and disrupt her concentration. Each of them was interrupted by Pikachu when he surged forward with the same combination of Quick Attack and Volt Tackle as before, slamming into the Glalie and using it as a springboard to collide with the Dusclops and Raticate. By the time Pikachu was finished with his attack and had leapt away from them to catch his breath, it was already too late.

Latias' eyes glowed with a familiar mystical blue energy, and she reached out towards the waters of the famous canals of Alto Mare. A lesser Psychic would have been able to control a small stream of the water with expert precision or vast amounts of it with the skill of a barbarian but never both at the same time. For a Legendary like her, she was able to lift enough water out of the canals that it cast a shadow over the street. Instead of sending it crashing down onto their enemies and crushing them beneath the weight, the water moved with a mind of its own and lashed out with such speed that he almost missed what came next.

Tendrils of the clear blue water wrapped around the midsections of both the Rocket Grunt and the Pokemon that had been attacking her. They were only able to utter brief gasps of shock before being dragged into the floating mass of water at enough speed to give them whiplash. Once they were within the watery prison, they began to struggle and claw for a way out. No matter how hard they tried, however, none of them were strong enough to break the psychically enhanced grip of the water.

Soon enough, they would drown if no one helped them.

Ash pointed a shaking finger at the water and closed his eyes. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Just enough to knock them unconscious!"

Pikachu sent his trainer a sharp nod and surrounded himself in golden electricity. With a ferocious battle cry, lightning lanced off of his body and directly towards the floating mass of water. Once the Thunderbolt struck, everything within became illuminated in a golden light. Though no sound could be heard from within, it was clear that those inside of the water were screaming in agony.

Once those inside stopped convulsing, Latias allowed her control of the water to slip and dropped it to the ground. While the water pooled on the ground and began to slowly make its way back into the canals, the Grunt and their Pokemon remained unmoving on the ground. Ash cautiously moved towards them each to check their pulses and let out a sigh of relief once he confirmed that they were still alive. He paused over the Grunt's body and snatched the glasses off of them.

The International Police would be interested in studying this technology.

That was a concern for later though. For now, he had to focus on his friends. He rushed over to Latias' side and crouched down to inspect her wounds. They were bad. If she had been anything other than a Legendary, he doubted she would still be conscious let alone have had the mental fortitude to pull off that trick with the water.

"How bad is it?"

He managed to smile at her reassuringly. "Normally I'd take you to a Pokemon Center and you'd be back to normal after a nights rest. Without one though..." He trailed off before letting out a tired sigh. "You'll probably need to take it easy for a few weeks. Not to mention we'll need to get you the right medicine for these wounds."

Latias groaned. "I was hoping you wouldn't say that."

Pikachu hopped up onto his shoulder and smiled down at Latias. "Look at the bright side: at least the next few weeks should be quiet. I doubt they'll try anything after this."

Latias eyes widened, and she surged off the ground... before tumbling back onto the street with a pain grunt. "Are Lorenzo and Bianca okay?"

Pikachu shifted uncomfortably and averted his eyes. "Bianca is fine. They just had her tied up is all." His partner sighed. "Lorenzo is in bad shape though. I think he tried to resist. He was unconscious when I found him and was beaten pretty badly."

Ash grimaced. "How badly?"

Pikachu closed his eyes tightly. "He's old, Ash. Maybe he'll survive if we can get him to a hospital quickly enough. But if nothing happens soon then it may be too late."

He didn't need to be a Psychic to tell how devastated the news made Latias. With a sigh, Ash took Pikachu off of his shoulder and stood to his full height. He looked down at Latias with sympathy in his eyes and clenched his fists at his side.

"I'll go tell Bianca that the danger is past." He told her. "I don't think that her or you should be alone right now."

Latias could manage anything more than a silent nod. He didn't blame her. First her brother lost his life fixing Team Rocket's mistake and now Lorenzo - her surrogate father - might die? All because of their interest in her? He could only imagine the torment she must have been putting herself through in her own head.

He wished there was more that he could do to help.

Ash made his way into the once comfy little house and flinched at the sight within. The cozy little home had been utterly destroyed. Furniture had been tossed around, the decorations on the wall had been torn apart, and the once happy photos that could be seen in the house were now shattered on the ground.

Worst of all was the sight in the center of the living room. Bianca was on her knees visibly shaking with her hands clenched into fists in her skirt. Her hair was completely frazzled and her eyes were bloodshot from how much she was crying. Her sobs were little more than whimpers but in the otherwise silent house they were as clear as day. Lorenzo...

Lorenzo looked worse than he'd expected. There were no knife wounds on his body or any sign that Team Rocket had used their Pokemon to attack him. That did little to comfort him given the state of the man's face. Lorenzo was normally a kind looking man with a bright smile and a bushy white beard that could brighten anyone's day by looking at them. Now it was little more than a swollen, bloody mess that disgusted him to even look at.

He didn't deserve this. How could Team Rocket have been so cruel?

Ash crouched down beside Bianca and gently laid his hand on her shoulder. She flinched away at his touch in fear but visibly calmed down once she realized it was him.

"Bianca..."

What was he supposed to say? What could he say? Nothing seemed right. In the end, he decided that silence was better than pointless platitudes. Instead, he merely helped her to her feet and pulled her into a gentle hug. Though she didn't return it, she did clutch at his shirt and sob into it.

"T-they... they wouldn't stop hurting him." She whimpered. "E-even when he was unconscious they just wouldn't stop!"

He clenched his eyes shut. "I'm sorry."

"They just kept laughing." She continued. She was furiously shaking the entire time. "They kept saying that unless I told them how the DMA worked or where Latias was that they'd do the same to me!"

Ash didn't think he had ever hated anyone quite like those Grunts in his entire life.

"It's alright." He whispered. "I stopped them. They won't hurt you or Lorenzo anymore."

Slowly, Bianca lifted her head off of his chest and looked him in the eyes. "Did you kill them?"

His hands tightened around her, and he was forced to look away. "No." As much as his rage may have made him want to at the moment, Ash wasn't a killer. He could only hope that never changed. "They're unconscious. Once the police arrive, they'll take them away. They'll never see the light of day again."

Bianca tilted her head down. "Oh..."

He did his best to ignore how disappointed she sounded.

"Latias is outside." He told her. "Come on. Neither of you should be alone right now."

Bianca looked down at her grandfather. "I can't leave him..."

"I'll look after him." He promised. "Just let me help you outside and then I'll come right back. I can make sure his wounds don't get any worse."

Even if he doubted it would make any difference, it was the least he could offer the man.

It seemed to be enough for Bianca. With the brief of nods, she allowed him to help her out of the house. The entire time, she remained glued to his side as though her life depended on it. With how much she was shaking, he wouldn't be surprised if she would collapse the moment he let go. The moment they were outside and she saw Latias, however, Bianca let out a gasp and tore herself from his grasp to go sprinting off towards the Legendary.

The display of almost sisterly concern the two displayed for one another brought a small smile to his face. It did nothing to diminish the tragedy that had happened today, but it gave him hope. So long as the two had each other, he knew they would be alright.

And who knew? There was always the chance that Lorenzo could pull through. All he needed to do now was call Looker again and... find... out...

Ash could hardly breath as his eyes were drawn to the canals. As if on autopilot, his legs carried him to edge of the water. With a shuddering breath, Ash collapsed to his knees and felt tears gather at the corner of his eyes.

"No... it can't be."

The water had begun to leave the city.

That could only mean one thing.

Team Rocket had stolen the Soul Dew... and doomed them all.

Chapter Text

It was happening again.

The doom of Alto Mare, the theft of the Soul Dew, the rushing water, and the deafening silence. Ash's head pounded with his heartbeat, rocking his body with every breath he took. He could hardly focus on anything, let alone think. His throat felt so dry that he couldn't utter a single sound.

This couldn't be happening. The Soul Dew was hidden in the most secure place in the entire city. Even with Latias not there to defend it, the Pokemon that made the hidden garden their home would have defended it. That was irrelevant though. Team Rocket should never have been able to find the garden in the first place!

Except they had. Somehow, Team Rocket had managed to infiltrate the garden and steal the Soul Dew. Had they known its location all along and this attack on the city had been meant to distract them from protecting the Soul Dew? Or… had his involvement led them directly to it like last time?

He didn't know which would be worse.

It didn't take long for the water to leave the city. It moved with such speed and purpose that he could have been forgiven for thinking the water had a mind of its own. The Pokemon that had once swam through the peaceful canals were trapped within its cool embrace, pulling them along with it. In less than a minute, the canal in front of him was completely devoid of all water and he had no doubt that it was the same across the entire city.

Ash wasn't a stranger to danger. In his journey as a Pokemon trainer, he had put himself in danger countless times. Sometimes it was to protect innocent people and Pokemon from vile criminals while other times it would be by complete accident. No matter how common it was for him to encounter deadly situations, he would never get used to the feeling of mind-numbing terror that shook him to his core.

Even this deep in the city, it was impossible for Ash to miss the tidal wave that towered over the city from a few miles out. Every direction he looked, he could see the deep blue water of the ocean casting a shadow of death over the city. Despite the law of gravity dictating that the water come crashing down on them all, it stood motionless before the eyes of the city.

He knew that it wouldn't last long.

The people of the city knew that too. Last time this happened, everyone in the city had been asleep or locked in their homes. They hadn't known the danger they were in. This time? One moment the city was so quiet that he could have heard a pin drop on the opposite end. The next there was a deafening cacophony of screams as people and Pokemon alike realized the destruction awaiting them.

Their screams were so loud that Ash was broken from his stupor and forced to cover his ears with his hands, not that it helped much. He wouldn't have been surprised if people on the mainland could hear the panic.

Even if they could, there wasn't much they would be able to do to save the city.

Ash heard a cry of pain and stumbled to his feet. He spun around to see the source of the voice and saw Latias, crumpled on the ground with an expression of pure agony writ on her face. At her side, Pikachu and Bianca were frozen in fear and hadn't yet noticed the state of their friend.

He rushed over and crouched down at Latias' side, breaking the two of them from their terror. His hands were shaking, and his vision swam from the pure panic coursing through his system, but he did his best to check her wounds.

"Don't move." He mumbled. "The bones in your wings are broken and you've lost a lot of blood. You can't afford to make this- "

"Worse!?" She snapped. Her eyes were blazing with barely contained fury. As it was the ground trembled with Psychic energy. "My city is about to be destroyed! I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

As if to prove her point, she tried to lift herself off the ground through sheer force of will. To her credit, she was able to make it about a foot in the air before she tumbled to the ground again with a pained grunt. Bianca let out a gasp and rushed to her side, doing her best to put pressure onto the profusely bleeding wounds and coating her hands in golden ichor in the process.

Ash clenched his eyes shut. "There's nothing you can do, Latias. Nothing any of us can do…."

Tears had gathered in her eyes, though whether that was from the pain of her injuries or their impending death, he didn't know. "No! I refuse to be useless again! I won't allow my brothers sacrifice to have been for nothing! I can't let you all down again!"

Ash winced from guilt. Her words were like daggers straight to his heart. As if the deaths of his friends and everyone else in the city weren't bad enough, this made Latios' sacrifice all those years ago pointless. It was an insult to his memory to think he gave his life for a mere five years of survival for Alto Mare.

"You haven't let us down, Latias." He cradled her broken wing in his hands, careful not to grip it too hard or cause her any pain. "You did the best you could."

Latias snapped her eyes shut. "My best wasn't good enough. It never is. If I was half the guardian my brother was, I- "

Her eyes widened and she let out a gasp of shock. Before his eyes, the injured form of his friend disappeared. In her place was a carbon copy of Bianca in every way. Or at least it would have been if it weren't for the ruby red blood that caked her clothes, a leg that had been broken at an awkward angle, or an eye swollen completely shut. He barely had a chance to fully understand what had happened before he heard the powerful flap of wings above them.

Ash spun around and looked towards the sky with Pikachu at his side, letting off deadly sparks of electricity. Up above them was an absolutely massive black bird as dark as the night sky. Upon closer inspection, its feathers, talons, and beak all appeared to glint in the light as if they were made out of steel. Its piercing red eyes had him frozen to the spot.

While he had never met one of these Pokemon before, he had seen Corviknight's in the past as a child on TV. The Galarian bird was well known for its sheer power and remarkable cunning. If it had wanted to, it could have killed them all and there was nothing any of them could have done to stop it.

Mercifully, it landed a few feet away from them and a portly man with thin gray hair and a bushy mustache hopped off of its back. He took one look at them and destruction around them before gasping.

"What happened here!?" The man rushed over with his Corviknight not far behind.

"We were attacked." Honesty was the best option here. He didn't need to give this man the wrong idea and have him sic his Corviknight on him. "A couple of criminals tried to take advantage of the chaos. We stopped them."

The man hummed in thought. "I see… well that hardly matters now. Come, climb onto Corviknight and we'll get out of here."

"Climb on…?"

The older man grunted in annoyance and moved towards them. "Are you blind, boy? There's a tsunami headed towards the city! No one in their right mind is sticking around if they can help it!" He gestured wildly to the sky and helped Bianca to her feet. "Take a look for yourself."

Dumbly, Ash looked towards the sky and felt his eyes widen in shock. If the towering tsunami was casting Alto Mare in a shadow from every direction, then the sky had been almost completely obscured. Up above were hundreds- no, thousands of Flying types and other Pokemon capable of flight in the sky. From powerful Pidgeot and Fearow to deadly Hydreigon's and Altaria. There were even more strange Pokemon such as Magnezone and Heracross high above the city. The one thing all of these radically different Pokemon had in common was that they were carrying Humans on their backs and in their claws. He could even see what must have been a flock of wild Pidgey collectively carrying people into the sky!

That was without even mentioning the dozens of helicopters hovering above the city at the same time.

Despite the severity of the situation, Ash felt hope swell in his heart. The people weren't all doomed. Unlike last time, everyone had been out in the city and awake when the water began to leave the city. It had been foolish to think that they would all just willingly accept their fate.

For once, he was glad to have been a fool.

"They're fleeing the city…."

The man grunted as he hoisted Bianca up onto the back of his Corviknight with Pikachu not far behind. "That we are. I was on my way towards the center of the city to see if anyone needed help when my partner here saw you all below us." He grinned. "Be sure to thank him when this is all over."

At this point, he'd have kissed the dang thing if it saved him and his friends.

Ash hurried over to Latias and helped her up off of the ground. While it may have looked to the world as though he was cradling her in his arms to accommodate her broken leg, in reality he was only providing support to help her levitate towards the Corviknight.

The gray-haired man frowned. "These criminals must have done a number on her. I'd say she needs a hospital, but I don't think she'll see one for a while yet."

Bianca chose that moment to speak up. "She'll be fine. We can worry about a hospital if we survive." Her eyes flickered to him. "Ash… can you get Grandpa? He… he won't be able to make it on his own."

Ash winced and glanced towards the Davri family home. He had completely forgotten about Lorenzo. A tiny, cynical part of him fueled by fear of the tsunami in the distance whispered that he should abandon the man. He might as well have been dead already and would only weigh them down. Surely he would want Bianca and Latias to survive even if it meant his death.

The disgust that pulsed through him at the thought was enough for him to squash that evil thought. No matter how injured Lorenzo, there was always the chance he could survive. He deserved the chance to survive after all he had endured.

If anyone deserved to be left here, it was him for thinking such a terrible thought.

With a brief nod, Ash took off sprinting towards the house and burst through the door. Lorenzo was where they had left him, still unconscious in a pool of his own blood. With as much haste as he could muster, Ash grabbed the elderly man by his shoulders and dragged him out of the house as fast as he could. Lorenzo was too heavy for him to completely lift off of the ground so this was the best that he could do.

Once he was closer to the Corviknight, its trainer helped him hoist Lorenzo up onto its back behind Bianca. He was worried that the man would have slid off until he felt Latias in the back of her mind. He relaxed as he realized she would keep him in place with her Psychic power.

The older man climbed up onto Corviknight's back and offered him a hand. "Come on, we need to move! Who knows when that water will come crashing down?"

Any minute now if his experience last time was any indication. Ash was all too eager to get out of the city before it hit. Except… he hesitated just before taking the offered hand. He glanced back towards the unconscious Team Rocket Grunts and their Pokemon.

They had tried to kill him and his friends. Their organization had ruined his life and the lives of so many other innocent people. More importantly, they had helped Team Rocket inadvertently cause this disaster in the first place. No one would have blamed him if he abandoned them here. In a way, it would have been justice for all of the suffering they and their organization had caused.

He could never live with himself if he abandoned them though. No matter how disgusted he may have been with them or how much suffering they caused, no one deserved to die. Least of all in a tsunami. If he left them here to certain death then it would be as good as wielding the blade himself.

Bianca's eyes narrowed and she tightened her grip on the Corviknight's back. "Ash, don't! Get on before it's too late!"

He ignored her and rushed towards the workshop. In the distance, he could hear the sound of rushing water and knew that the tsunami had begun to close in on them from all sides. His heart leapt into his throat, but he didn't let that stop him from dragging the Grunts out into the open. He yanked their Pokeballs off of their unconscious forms and hastily returned their Pokemon to safety.

Motivated entirely by survival, Ash found the strength and speed to toss the unconscious criminals up onto the back before hopping up himself. Even if he could feel her displeasure through their Psychic link, he made it clear to Latias that he expected her to keep them from falling off the same as Lorenzo.

The gray-haired trainer grunted. "Cutting it close, boy. Not many would bother saving people that tried to kill them." He didn't bother waiting for a response and slapped the side of Corviknight's neck. "Get us out of here!"

The Corviknight didn't need to be told twice. If Ash had been worried about it being able to carry all of them and still be able to fly high enough, then his fears were pointless. As a Steel type, Corviknight was far stronger physically than nearly any other Flying type. With a single flap of its wings, it took off into the air and forced them all to grip its feathers as tightly as they could to avoid being thrown off.

In less than twenty seconds, they had managed to reach the same height as the horde of other Pokemon in the sky. They managed to angle themselves in the center of a flock of Pidgey that gave them a clear view of the city below.

Just in time to see the tsunami hit.

The first thing to capture Ash's attention was how loud it was, completely drowning out any sound coming from the city in the center of the waves path. When the tsunami moved, the earth rumbled and the very air shook from the enormity of the water bearing down towards the city. The smell of brine and stale sulfur was so strong that his eyes watered.

When the tsunami struck, it struck from all sides. Like a guillotine descending upon the vulnerable neck of a prisoner, it hard and fast with no chance of stopping it. The warehouses and buildings along the edge of the city were the first to fall, but they were far from the last. While some of the rampaging water would flow down the carefully crafted canals of the city, most of it smashed through buildings, monuments, and anything else in its way with pitiful ease. In mere seconds, half of the city had been completely submerged underwater and more would be joining it soon.

He heard Bianca whimper in distress in front of him. While he wasn't much better, he put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed comfortingly to show that he was here. She steadfastly looked away from the carnage below and kept her eyes shut. As much as he wished he could have done the same, he couldn't find the strength in him to look away.

The waters of destruction had smashed through houses, toppled marble pillars, uprooted trees, and otherwise removed all traces of Human civilization as though it were never there in the first place. Even boats and gondolas which had been dragged out to see were now used as wrecking balls by the waves. The remnants of the once beautiful city were now little more than debris that was used by the water to smash through anything else in its path. Even the museum – the pride of the city – had been subsumed by the waves completely.

The only buildings to survive the ferocious assault of the waves were a few hotels, corporate buildings, and the police headquarters. While the buildings had been bashed and battered by the debris in the water, they held firm. While he was too high up to be certain, he was convinced that he could see people clustered together on the roofs of the buildings. It gave him hope that more people were using them as shelter from the danger.

He paled as he heard a loud crunch that reverberated through the air. He didn't dare move or react in a desperate hope that it had just been his imagination. It hadn't. Before his very eyes, one of hotel buildings which had stood tall in the face of the disaster wobbled in place. Down below in the water, cargo ships and massive chunks of debris were thrown against the foundation of the hotel. Cracks began to spread up and inside of the building until with one final, gargantuan wave the building tore itself in half and toppled over into the tempestuous waters below.

It sunk beneath the waves with a deafening crash. A massive plume of water was launched into the air in its wake, sending everyone above it scrambling to fly away or risk being knocked into the watery grave below by hundreds of pounds of water.

Ash watched with bated breath as the water continued to rage through the ruins of the once great city of Alto Mare, swirling debris in an apocalyptic maelstrom that didn't look like it would calm down anytime soon. Mercifully, the few other buildings still standing weathered the assault with no sign of crumbling.

The destruction of Alto Mare was far from over… but at least the worst of it was past them.

"We're coming to you live from Goldenrod City in the sunny Johto Region." The reporter on screen cleared here throat and gestured out to the beautiful port city behind her. "It has been a week since the tragedy of Alto Mare. Authorities claim that the tsunami that destroyed the city was the largest and deadliest in recorded history. Experts believe that it was caused by a small earthquake out in the deep ocean, but video recordings show that the water actually came from within the city and surrounding area."

The reporter paused for suspense. "They assure us that these recordings are complete fabrications despite the sheer number of them and accounts from survivors of the tragedy confirming this to be the case."

Left unsaid was why the survivors of the tragedy would have any reason to lie about the disaster that destroyed their home.

The reporter moved deeper into the city towards the port. The camera panned out to show that the port had been turned into a makeshift refugee camp for the survivors of the city. Rows upon rows of tents spanned the entirety of the docks in all shapes and sizes. On the outskirts were humanitarian workers and police moving in and out doing their best to help.

The reporter stepped back into frame. "The refugees have managed to find sanctuary within Goldenrod City. While the influx of thousands of people may have been a daunting task for some, the people of Goldenrod have risen to the challenge. Even now, people are opening their homes to help those who have lost their own. For those who have nowhere else to go, emergency services have done their best to give them everything they need to survive until they can move completely into the city."

A large truck slowly drove by the camera with a small mountain of crates in the back. Essentials such as fresh food and water to medicine and dry clothes were being brought in and out of the refugee camp day and night.

"The response from the international community is one of collective mourning for the victims." The reporter allowed a small smile to grace her face. "As Johto's staunchest supporter, Unova has donated over ten million dollars' worth of relief aid and has promised more in the event it is needed. In a more surprising turn of events, Kanto has also offered to support Johto in whatever way it can to aid the refugees. Could this be an end to history of animosity between the two regions? Only time will tell. Tune in later as we hear first-hand accounts of what it is like to live in the refugee camp- "

May let out a sigh and turned off the TV, setting the remote aside on the counter of the bar in her hotel suite. She swirled her drink in her hand and closed her eyes in thought.

"It's tragic, isn't it?"

She peaked one eye open and glanced behind her towards the living room. It had been a few months since Ash's escape from the police in Viridian City and May had returned to her journey since then. As much as she would have liked to stay and comfort Delia, she had responsibilities. Currently, she was in Castelia City of the Unova region to compete in contests.

While she had been exploring the city, she'd come across her rivals Drew, Solidad, and Harley. Like her, they had all decided to travel the scientific center of the world and see what challenges these contests held for them. While she was used to traveling alone, renting a suite they could all share would give her a chance to catch up with them.

May frowned and set her drink aside. "Tragic doesn't begin to describe it. How could something like this even happen?"

Harley grunted from his spot of the couch and set aside his Cacturne hat, running a hand down his face. While normally she would have expected him to mock or patronize her, it seemed that even he wasn't immune to this kind of tragedy.

"How it happened doesn't matter." Harley muttered. "I doubt any of the survivors care. I'd bet they're all more focused on what will happen to them now."

Solidad had her eyes closed tight and was hunched over a table, her salmon hair tightened into a loose ponytail and hanging over her left shoulder. "They'll be fine… they've got the sympathy of the world right now."

Drew scoffed and flicked his emerald hair out of his eyes, glaring out of the window. "Sympathy will only take them so far. They've lost their homes and their possessions. Chances are most of them will never be able to recover from this."

Solidad looked to him with her eyes wide in worry. "Everyone has been donating money and supplies to help them though. Even the regional governments have been stepping up."

Drew let out a tired sigh. "And that will only continue until people forget about them in a few months or the next tragedy happens. After that? Well, we'll just have to hope most of them have gotten back on their feet."

Harley frowned and tightened his fists. "It's not right! Those people don't deserve this."

Drew gained a far away look in his eyes. "They don't. We'll just have to hope that they can get some justice one way or another."

Harley growled. "I just wish there was something we could do."

May couldn't help but agree. She had never felt so useless before in her whole life. So many people had just survived the worst day of their lives and had their entire world shattered. If she were in their situation, she didn't know what she would do. To suddenly lose her home and potentially her family all at the same time? The very thought made her shiver in despair.

She could only hope she would have had even a tenth of their strength. To face so much adversity and still find the strength to move forward? It was inspiring. If only there was a way for her to help them. She didn't have the money to fix all of their problems or build them a new city. Worse, she didn't even have any skills that could be useful to them. All she was good at was being an entertainer.

Hold on… that gave her an idea.

"The contest…."

Drew glanced her way. "What about it?"

She forced herself to her feet and slammed her fist into her palm. "This contest is being broadcast across the world." Most were only broadcast locally or regionally, but when famous contestants such as her and her rivals took part? It wasn't unusual for them to gain international attention. "We could talk to the other contestants and the judges about dedicating it towards the survivors of Alto Mare. If we're lucky, they may make a call to action for everyone to donate and help in any way they can."

"Or even give the prize money to the refugees instead." Solidad perked up with a smile. "This is a brilliant idea. It may not seem like much compared to what they're getting from governments, but a few hundred thousand dollars can't hurt!"

Drew cupped his hands under his chin. "Even if they don't, we could always make an agreement with each other to donate the prize money that we win."

Harley chuckled. "Looks like you do have a brain in that big head of yours after all!" May let the backhanded compliment slide. If he was willing to insult her again then it meant he was back in high spirits. "Yeah, this sounds like a plan! Let's all agree to work together to win this and help those people!"

As the others all talked among themselves about how best to approach the judges and other contestants with their plan, May leaned back against the counter. Truth be told, this was the least they could do. It was like Ash always said, if you could help someone then you had a moral obligation to do so.

Thinking of him brought an uneasy feeling to her stomach and she quickly downed her drink to drown it out. While the suspicion of the police had eventually fade after his escape and she had moved on with her life, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her old friend.

A better person would have spent time worrying about when the police would capture him or how he could have turned into a monster. She… couldn't help but worry about how he was doing though. Was he safe? Was he still running, or had he managed to find a new home for himself? Did he know what the world thought of him? Was he even still alive?

These should have been the last things on her mind. He was a murderer and a monster. She should have felt only disgust at the mere thought of him! And yet… there was always a hint of uncertainty in the back of her mind. Ash was the kindest person she knew and an inspiration to anyone he met. He would never kill anyone.

She didn't know if anyone else felt the same. As far as the public and her friends were concerned, she always put up the front of someone firmly against him. She couldn't afford not to. Privately though? Doubt ate away at her and she worried for her old friend.

If nothing else, she could use the lessons he had taught her to help others. She had the power to make a difference and she wouldn't squander it.

She was certain that if Ash was even half the person she thought he was and knew what had happened to Alto Mare, then nothing in the world would stop him from doing the right thing.

Monster.

Terrorist.

Inhuman.

These three words had plagued Domino's mind for past week. Every time she looked in the mirror, she recoiled in disgust and anger. In the rare moments of silence and isolation she had, her own thoughts turned against her. She couldn't even sleep for more than an hour or two a night before she was plagued by horrific nightmares of the dead. She must have looked absolutely terrible with baggy, tired eyes and frayed hair.

At any other time, she would have been horrified. Stood in the center of Giovanni's office in Viridian City, she was expected to be at her best. As a Specter, she was supposed to be the best of the best. At the absolute least, she should have been able to look like she wasn't about to collapse from exhaustion.

This was different though. She had never felt so… guilty before. As one of the top agents within Team Rocket, she was always given the most dangerous missions. She had killed before and done so without remorse or hesitation. More than once, she had ruined people's lives and made them wish for death. Most of the time, they were criminals like her or at least people aware of the risks fighting criminals such as the police. Vigilante types like Ketchum too stupid to keep their noses clean didn't deserve any sympathy either.

But this? A whole damn city had been wiped off the map. An unthinkable number of people had lost their lives. How many of them had woken up that day expecting everything to be normal? How many of them would never be able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life again? How many children had she robbed of their future?

She may have been a criminal, but there were lines that even she was unwilling to cross. Yet somehow… she had become an even worse monster than Proton. She wouldn't be surprised if she was the worst monster since the end of the Great War.

Her only saving grace was that no one knew Team Rocket was responsible for this. No one besides her and the International Police, anyway.

It didn't do much to help.

Domino stood silently with her hands crossed behind her back and a neutral expression on her face. Giovanni was leaning back in he chair behind his desk while the setting sun illuminated him with an almost divine glow. At his side was his regal Persian, eyeing with what she would swear was a dark sense of amusement. The way it licked its lips whenever she flinched at the slightest movements told her that she was spot on.

Giovanni didn't bother paying attention to her. He wore a complicated expression on his face and looked about a thousand years old. Compared to his normally stern visage, it was clear that he was just as troubled as she was.

"Report."

Domino flinched at the underlying intensity in his voice. "I arrived in Alto Mare as you instructed. Once it became clear to me that Proton's incompetence would lead to failure, I exercised my authority to take control."

His eyes narrowed. "And you used the control to launch an attack on the city?"

She didn't dare look away from his gaze. To do so would have been a sign of weakness. "I needed to distract the International Police." She deflected. "By creating emergencies across the city, I ensured we could move unimpeded. I also ordered that all active agents wear disguises and refrain from killing anyone. That way nothing could be linked back to us."

Giovanni tapped his finger against the table, causing his Persian to lazily hop into his lap to be scratched behind the ears. "And if any of these agents were captured? They could have revealed our involvement."

"They wouldn't dare when they know when can get to them." No one betrayed Team Rocket and got away with it. "Moving on, the distraction work. Proton led a team to study the DMA up close while other agents moved to capture two people connected to it."

He quirked an eyebrow. "And what were you doing in this little plan of yours?"

She pursed her lips. "I was originally supposed to lead the capture team. However, once I confirmed that Ash Ketchum had joined the International Police and was active in the field," she ignored the rush of pleasure at seeing Giovanni's shocked look. Like her, he must have been shocked they would put him in the field so soon. "I followed him to the hidden garden of the Latias. For once, Proton wasn't just incompetent. It was hidden behind an illusion of a wall in a random alley in the center of the city."

Giovanni frowned. "Interesting… I will make our people aware of this. Knowing that Legendaries are capable of using illusions against us will save a lot of time and lives." He sighed and scratched his Persian between its shoulder blades. "How did this happen then? It doesn't sound like you planned for this."

She let out a shuddering breath. "I waited for Ketchum and the Latias to leave the garden. The state of emergency was enough to draw them out even if I hadn't planned for them. After that? I entered the garden and took the Soul Dew. I didn't want to risk staying in the city when we had the main prize. The way I saw it, once the Soul Dew was secure then we could focus entirely on the Latias. We knew where it lived and who upkept the DMA, after all."

Giovanni hummed in agreement. "A wise choice. Better a partial victory than a total loss." He set Persian down on the ground and stood up from his chair, gazing out at the city below. "Where is it?"

Domino took that as her que to move forward and took the Soul Dew out of her pocket. She hadn't dared take her eyes off it or risk it in the hands of anyone else. Not after what stealing it cost. She placed the beautiful blue jewel on his table and stepped back a respectful distance.

Giovanni gently lifted the Soul Dew up into the air, letting it glint in the light of the setting sun. The orange rays mixed with the dark blue glow of the jewel to illuminate the room in a beautiful array of colors.

"Fascinating… the power of the soul in the palm of my hand." He whispered. "Wars have been fought over less in the past."

Domino frowned. "And now a city has been destroyed for it." She ignored the growl of warning the Persian gave her. "Sir… we both know that taking the Soul Dew was what destroyed the city. Did… did you know when you gave me this mission?"

She didn't what she'd do if he did and still sent her anyway.

Giovanni was quiet for a moment before setting the Soul Dew down on his desk. "No. Annie and Oakley failed to make me aware that taking it would result in this tragedy. Had I known, I would have left the damn thing where it was."

She released a breath she didn't know that she had been holding. Giovanni was a criminal, but he wasn't a monster. No matter what someone thought of him, he couldn't be accused of being insane or needlessly cruel. It was good to know that the man she respected felt the same way she did.

"I will be speaking to them about this soon." He went on. "If I find out they knew this would happen and didn't care to tell me, they will regret it."

Domino couldn't find it in herself to care at this moment. The two of them may have been fellow Specters and mentors to her, but if they had known this would happen? She would not shed any tears at their funeral.

She'd expect nothing less if she were in their shoes.

"May I ask what you plan to do with the Soul Dew?" She dared to ask. Normally she wouldn't have questioned him like this, but after all the trouble they had gone through, and all the lives lost to attain it? She felt she deserved some answers.

To her relief, Giovanni didn't ignore her or lash out in annoyance. Instead, an easy smile spread across his face. "A soul is a powerful thing, Domino. The soul of a Legendary is the most powerful of them all. When used correctly, it can perform miracles and make the impossible possible." He laughed. "More than that I cannot say. You'll know when I have need of you."

When, not if. That meant that he planned to tell her eventually, just not now. Domino could live with that. She didn't truly care what Giovanni planned to use it for. Frankly, in her mind there was no one more deserving of its power. So long as he made the loss of Alto Mare meaningful and she had a place at his side, she could eventually come to live with what happened.

Domino nodded. "I understand, sir." She sighed. "What happens next?"

Giovanni closed his eyes in thought. "Team Rocket will put pressure on the local criminals of Goldenrod to leave the refugees in peace. Meanwhile, I will keep applying pressure on Kanto's government to provide aid to them. If for some reason they prove too stubborn to follow through on their promises, I will personally give them whatever resources they need to survive."

She blinked in surprise. "That's generous of you."

He leaned back against his desk. "We destroyed their home. Whether we intended it or not is irrelevant. I will atone for this mistake and help them recover." He shook his head. "At the very least, I can ensure the children have a future beyond simple survival."

Despite the heavy topic, she felt a tiny smile work its way onto her face. This was the Giovanni she was loyal to. Not the ruthless crime boss that ruled from the shadows. Not the wise Gym Leader that mentored young trainers. The true Giovanni was a man who had a code of honor. A true gentleman that stood above petty criminals with a vision of the future.

He was the man who had given her a home and a purpose. For that alone, he had her loyalty. Once the survivors of Alto Mare knew he was on their side, they would never need to fear for themselves or their children again.

"What about the business?"

He sighed. "We'll need time to recover in Johto, but operations in other regions should be relatively unaffected. With Proton captured, I'll need to find someone else to fill his position."

She hoped that whoever it got that honor was more tolerable. She refused to work with another Proton. It was a low bar, but Domino wouldn't be surprised if someone even worse ended up replacing the cruel man.

"And me?"

"You are on vacation effective immediately."

Her eyes shot wide open. "What!? But sir- "

She couldn't get out any more words before Giovanni pushed off of his desk, placing his hand on her head and ruffling her blonde hair. "You have been working nonstop for too long. I had planned to force you to rest regardless of how the operation in Alto Mare turned out." He frowned. "After this tragedy though? You're in no state to work."

"But I'm fine!"

His eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me." He scolded. "Your actions caused the death of nearly an entire city. Even if you didn't intend it, it still happened. It's natural that it would weigh heavily on your mind."

She clenched her eyes shut. "I'm strong enough to work…."

He smiled. "You are not weak for needing time off." He ruffled her hair one more time before stepping back. "You have the next few months to yourself. I expect you to speak with a therapist at least once a week, but you have the rest of that time to yourself."

She sighed. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

He tilted his head to the side. "Do you feel like I'm giving you one?" He chuckled. "I recommend you visit Lavaridge Town in Hoenn. Its hot springs can cure any ailment and help distract you from the stress of our work."

"I'll think about it… thank you, sir. I appreciate it."

"It is the least I can do for such an exemplary agent."

Ash, Looker, and Anabel were all sat together in a small hotel room. The orange rays of the setting sun filtered through the curtains of the room, but the light didn't do much for the tense atmosphere. Over the past week, the three of them had been so busy that they hadn't all been together since before the tragedy.

When the tsunami struck Alto Mare, Ash had been worried that Anabel and Looker hadn't made it to safety in time. Mercifully, his worries had been unfounded. Looker and the police had gathered on the roof of the police headquarters and rode out the calamity there. Despite their injuries, Anabel and her Pokemon had been some of the few to take to the skies on the back of her Metagross and Salamence. More impressively, she had been able to capture Proton and even rescue a small group of people before the waves hit.

Since the end of the tsunami and their arrival in Goldenrod, they had all been busy. Looker had taken Proton and the other captured Grunts to the police to hold while he reported back to the leaders of the International Police. Anabel had been confined to a hospital to rest and recover while her Pokemon were all handled by Pokemon Centers. Meanwhile, he had been busy working with the refugees at the docks and helping them in any way he could. Ash didn't know where Petrovic was beyond the fact that he had apparently survived.

Now that they were all finally together, they could discuss what they had failed to stop… and what they would do moving forward.

Ash scratched Pikachu behind the ears and glanced towards Anabel sat on the edge of her bed. "How are you feeling, Anabel?"

She managed a small smile. "About as good as I can. Face is still a little sore, but I should be back to normal with a little more rest."

Looker hummed in thought but didn't turn away from the window. "That's good. After managing to capture Proton, you deserve all the rest you need." Ash could have sworn there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Not bad for a rookie."

Anabel frowned. "Has he said anything?"

Looker sighed and tightened his fists. "Not yet. The smug bastard hasn't given us anything useful. He seems to think that he's untouchable and his stay with us in only temporary."

Ash felt an ember of hatred spark to life in his gut. Proton truly thought that he was going to get away with this? That they would just let his role in the destruction of Alto Mare go? Or did he believe that Team Rocket and their spies in the International Police would free him?

"Tell me we're going to prove him wrong."

Looker scoffed. "Of course we are. We just need more time to work on him and apply pressure. One way or another, we'll make him cooperate."

Good. Once Proton realized that working with them was the right thing to do, he could pay for his crimes and help them move against Team Rocket.

Anabel chose that moment to speak up. "What about the refugees? Is there any plan for us to help them?"

Looker turned around and leaned back against the window, crossing his arms in front of him with a grunt of annoyance. Ash felt his stomach drop. "Less than we should be. While we don't have the authority or resources to force people to support them, our people will be doing their best to persuade people in power to provide as much aid as they can."

"That sounds like a good thing though…."

"It isn't." He snapped. "They'll make small, token efforts at best to appease us but nothing substantial. We can't afford to force the issue either or we'll risk making enemies of people that we need as allies. And then there's Team Rocket…."

Ash frowned, gently stroking Pikachu's back. "What about them?"

Looker closed his eyes in frustration. "As of now, all knowledge that Team Rocket caused the destruction is to be suppressed. That means that the three of us and Petrovic are not allowed to spread word to the public or anyone else in the organization."

The response was immediate. Both he and Anabel surged to their feet to shout out their protests. Even Pikachu had leapt up with sparks flying from his cheeks. Before any of them could get a word in edgewise, however, Looker held up a hand to silence them.

"I don't like this any more than you do but our orders are clear." He growled. "Command says that revealing Team Rocket are behind this will only cause unnecessary panic."

"Unnecessary? A city was destroyed!" Anabel growled. "A quarter of a million people are dead! People should be panicking! Who knows what disaster they'll cause next?"

Ash flinched at the mention of the casualty numbers. Alto Mare had been a center of culture and tourism for the world. Before the disaster, roughly two hundred and seventy thousand people had lived on the island. Thousands more came to visit every day. In the aftermath, barely ten thousand had survived thanks to the aid of people with Pokemon capable of flight and brave Psychic types willing to risk death to save them by teleporting into the city from the mainland. From what he'd heard, everyone within range that had the power to help had stepped up.

He should have been inspired by the bravery and heroism of people risking their lives to save a doomed city. Instead, all he felt was a deep sense of disgust at the horrific loss of life for the sunken city.

"The truth will do more harm than good." Looker had closed his eyes at this point and set on the edge of one of the hotel beds. "If the public knew, they would be terrified. They'd think that a any moment, Team Rocket could destroy their city. At best, people would be afraid to leave their homes and lose faith in the government. At worst, they'll see threats in every shadow and turn on each other out of fear their neighbors are agents for Team Rocket."

Ash could imagine it. There was an old saying that a person was smart, but that people were stupid. In a way, it was true. Once people gave into mob mentality and were ruled by their fears or emotions, they lost all reason. If people learned about the true downfall of Alto Mare, he could easily imagine the chaos that would follow.

"Maybe keeping it a secret from the public is a good idea." He allowed. "But… why other members of the International Police?"

Looker sighed. "Because we're people too. No matter our skills or line of work, we all still have emotions. If they learn about this, there will be agents that go off the rails and let their emotions control them. They could put people's lives in danger out of a desire for bloody vengeance. We can't let that happen when we're already in a delicate position."

Anabel wore a complicated expression but sat back down on the bed opposite of Looker. "I… understand. I don't agree, but I understand." She shook her head. "How long do we have to keep it secret?

Looker shrugged. "Until they need to know. Once enough time has passed and we're in a more secure position, I'm sure we'll spread word to the rest of the organization. We just can't take any risks right now."

It made sense, he supposed. Why take such a big risk when it was safer to keep things quiet? People said that the truth should always be revealed, but his time with the International Police was showing him otherwise. If people had known about the Soul Dew, this tragedy would have happened far sooner. If they knew that Team Rocket was behind this, the world would be shaken to its core.

Sometimes, ignorance was bliss. He certainly missed the days when he thought he lived in a simple world with simple problems.

Looker focused on him and tilted his head to the side. "Ash, how are Bianca and Latias doing?"

Ash squirmed uncomfortably under the curious gazes of his teammates. Once they had arrived in Goldenrod, Bianca and Latias had stayed close. With Team Rocket's interest in them, Ash and the others had all collectively decided that they shouldn't be left alone. Mercifully, there hadn't been anymore attempts to capture either of them since the tragedy. Not wanting to take any chances, however, they were always kept close by one of them. Even now, they were only a few doors down in in the hotel.

Unfortunately, they rarely left the room if they had a choice. Neither of them were taking the destruction of Alto Mare well. As if that wasn't enough, Lorenzo had died before they even reached Goldenrod. An inglorious end for a man who deserved better. Losing both a home and a father figure in the same day would have been devastating. Ash couldn't blame them for wanting time to mourn.

"They're… as well as they can be." He eventually decided on. "I think it'll take some time before they're back to normal. If they even can be after everything that's happened."

Anabel frowned. "What do they plan to do now?"

Ash shrugged. "I don't know. It didn't seem right to force any answers out of them."

"You should speak with them, Ash. Whatever they need, the International Police will provide." Looker advised. "Make it clear that whatever they plan to do, we will be happy to support them. Latias especially."

"What do you mean?"

"Latias was the guardian of Alto Mare. She protected it for years and now it has been lost forever under her watch. Meanwhile, she lost both her brother and surrogate father because of them." Looker explained. "The way I see it, she'll want revenge."

Ash crossed his arms and frowned. On his shoulder, Pikachu shifted in place. "You want me to take advantage of her loss and trick her into joining us?"

Looker's eyes widened in shock at the accusation. "No! All I'm saying is to make the offer. She's motivated to fight them and can only be an asset. If she's going to take the fight to them anyway, then we might as well work together. Her power with our resources will strike a decisive blow."

"Not to mention we can guarantee that Bianca is protected from any future attacks." Anabel added.

It still seemed dirty to prey on her emotions and desire for revenge, but Ash could see where they were coming from. As much as he may not have agreed the morality behind it, he understood Latias was too important to not even make an attempt to recruit her.

Ash sighed and turned to leave. "Alright… I'll make the offer."

He didn't wait to hear what else they had to say. Once he left the room, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves and stalked down the hallway towards where he knew Bianca and Latias were staying. While he had a key to the room, he knocked out of a desire to preserve some sense of control for them. While there was no answer, the door did click open to let him in.

Once inside, he shut the door behind him as quietly as he could. Neither Bianca nor Latias looked to good. Bianca had such bloodshot eyes and unkempt hair that it was clear she hadn't been getting much sleep. Even Latias in her true form showed clear signs of exhaustion with bags under her eyes. Despite this, both of them tried their best to smile for him.

He couldn't blame them for failing to manage that.

He took a seat on the bed next to them and leaned back with a sigh. Pikachu hopped off of his shoulder and scurried into Bianca's lap offering her what comfort he could.

For a few moments, they all sat in silence. Neither of them had the heart to say anything and Ash wasn't sure how to even start. Nothing seemed good enough given what they had been through. Eventually, he decided to keep things simple.

"How are the two of you doing?" He glanced their way in worry. "Really, I mean. Don't tell me you're fine just because you think it's what I want to hear."

Bianca let out a brittle laugh, scratching Pikachu behind the ears. "What do you want us to say? We're surviving. It's all we can do."

Ash reached over to place his hand on her shoulder as a sign of solidarity. "I'm sorry." It was all he could say. He could never truly understand what they were going to and to even suggest that would have been an insult. "We'll make them pay."

It was the only promise he felt comfortable giving.

Bianca sighed. "Thank you… why are you here? Just checking up on us?"

Not quite. "I guess I wanted to find out what you two have planned. With everything that's happened… I want to know if I can help with what you plan to do next."

Despite the depressing atmosphere, Latias giggled in amusement. She floated off of the bed until she hovering just in front of his face at eye level. In the back of his mind, he felt the familiar tingle in the back of his mind that signaled a Psychic was at play. He suppressed his gut instinct to recoil in fear. With Latias, he knew there was no reason to worry.

"Always trying to be a hero… you sure know how to make someone feel better."

Ash frowned. "All I did was offer to help."

Latias nuzzled into his neck. Instinctively, he reached up to stroke her neck. "Just knowing someone is willing to do that is enough."

Bianca's lips quirked upwards. "She's right. You can be charming when you want to." She didn't even give him a chance to respond to that before pushing on. "As for what we'll do… well, I don't have anywhere else to go. I'll stay here and try to make a new life for myself. Hopefully I'll be able to continue my art career."

Given her status as one of the few survivors of Alto Mare? Ash had a feeling her popularity would skyrocket. Tragedy sold, or so he'd heard. The chance to own a painting made by one of the last citizens of what may have been the largest cultural city in the world would entice plenty of people with deep pockets.

Ash smiled. "You'll do great, Bianca. I know that you'll recover from this. You're too stubborn not to." He internally cheered at the brief laugh that escaped her lips. It was a positive sign. "What about Latias?"

The draconic Legendary pulled out of his reach and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Alto Mare was my whole life. This is the first time I've ever even really left the city. With it gone…."

In that moment, Latias looked like the most vulnerable thing in the world. As a Legendary, she had power that was unrivaled by all but her fellow Legends – her fellow gods. After a mere week she had fully recovered from wounds that would have been crippling for most other Pokemon. Yet with all that power, she had chosen the simple life of a guardian.

She had a good soul. The soul of a hero. Others may have called her foolish or naïve, but he knew better. Latias was someone willing to dedicate her life to protecting others without ever worrying about gratitude or glory. To her, the simple act of helping people was enough of a reward. If more of the world were like her, Alto Mare would still exist.

Without it, she suddenly had no true goal. Perhaps she would choose to make Goldenrod her new home and protect it like she had Alto Mare. Maybe she would decide to travel the world and right wrongs wherever the wind took her. Whatever she chose to do, he was certain she would be a beacon of hope for those in need.

Looker and Anabel wanted her to join them. He couldn't deny that she would be a powerful ally and could help them save countless lives in the future.

Ash took the chance. "You could always join the International Police."

Latias froze. "What?"

"Come with us." He offered once more. "You're a guardian, Latias. You're always going to protect people, no matter where you go. If you join us, you can protect the entire world, not just a single city."

Pikachu chose that moment to speak up and hopped off of Bianca's lap. Thanks to Latias, he was able to understand what his partner was saying. "The International Police are the only one's fighting Team Rocket. If you help us, we can bring them to justice and stop them from causing another Alto Mare."

Latias glanced towards Bianca. "I can't just leave Bianca unprotected."

"She won't be." Ash promised. "Regardless of whether or not you join us, Bianca will be protected. Looker and Anabel have promised me that. Team Rocket won't threaten her ever again."

Despite the assurance, she still looked uncertain. He could see that she wanted to agree but something was holding her back. Whatever it was, he would need to try his hardest to convince her.

"I don't know… allowing them into the city to protect the Soul Dew was one thing. Working with them directly though? How can I be sure they won't try to capture or study me?"

Before Ash or Pikachu could even begin to speak, Bianca chose to answer for them. "Ash could always capture you."

He spun to look at his friend with wild, surprised eyes. "What?"

Bianca chuckled. "Don't look so surprised." Bianca smiled. "You're our friend, Ash. We trust you. If there's anyone that could keep Latias safe, it would be you. More importantly, I know for a fact you see her as more than just a tool."

Latias hummed in thought and moved close enough to his face that her snout was touching his nose. "That's true… if I were your Pokemon, I know that you wouldn't let anyone use me like a tool or a lab experiment."

Of course he wouldn't! Even if Latias was a different species, she was more than a weapon to him. She was a friend that had saved his life and deserved his respect. He would never allow her to be used like a disposable tool. She was too important to him to allow that to happen.

"If you really trust me that much… I guess I would be willing to capture you." Ash reached into his trench coat and pulled out a simple, green Pokeball. Just before he tapped it on her nose, he paused. "If you ever want your freedom or feel like you can't trust me and the International Police, just let me know. I'll release you on the spot."

Bianca laughed in amusement beside him while Latias raised one of her clawed hands to pat his cheek. "And that's why I trust you enough to go with you."

Without any further delay, Latias gently tapped the Pokeball and was sucked inside. The ball didn't even shake once before signaling that he had effectively captured her. If his younger self were in his position, he would have been cheering at the prospect of catching a Legendary. As it was, Ash could only smile as hope sparked in his heart.

With Latias on their side, Team Rocket's days were numbered.

They just didn't know it yet.

There were few things in this world that Looker despised more than cutting a deal with a criminal. He understood that they were necessary for the justice system to function. Without the ability to make deals, the system would collapse under the combined weight of millions of people waiting for lengthy trials for potentially decades. It was why he would begrudgingly accept that they were necessary and would use them when he had to.

That didn't stop him from hating every second of it though. While he would agree that lesser criminals or those that showed remorse could benefit from them, he never did like how it was always the worst that received deals. The most cruel and vicious that made the world a darker place and took pleasure in every second of it. It always felt like he was letting them get away with their crimes and implicitly telling the victims that their pain was meaningless.

Across the steel table from him in the center of an interrogation room, Proton was loudly munching on a basket of chili cheese fries with his bare hands. Far from the picture of excellence of beauty he normally styled himself as, Proton's face covered in bandages and slowly fading yellow bruises from his fight with Anabel. With his glamorous white suit having been destroyed, he had been forced into a baggy set of brown trousers and stained floral shirt.

It was better than he deserved.

Proton moaned in obvious delight, tossing a cheese covered fry into his mouth. "These really are good. Truly, the best fries in Goldenrod. If I died with a belly full of these, I'd die happy."

Looker narrowed his eyes. "Good enough for you to cooperate with us?"

Proton let out a big, belly laugh and rattled his chains against the table. Given how dangerous Proton was and his volatile temperament, the man had been chained to the table by four separate sets of chains on his arms and legs. That was to say nothing of the fact he had been denied the right to use any actual silverware.

The Rocket Admin picked up a fry dripping in gravy and thrust it toward him, spattering his face in the disgusting stuff. "Oh, they're good, but they ain't that good. Now if you brought me a double cheeseburger then maybe I'd be more willing to sing."

Looker suppressed the urge to growl and lash out in anger. The smug energy radiating off of the man was infuriating. Even when he was at their mercy, the man still believed that he was the one in control. The level of confidence that required bordered on reckless arrogance. More importantly, it made one thing very clear to him.

"You don't feel an ounce of remorse, do you?"

Far from looking shamed by the accusation, Proton smirked with his chipped teeth. "Now why would I need to feel that?"

"Your people destroyed Alto Mare."

It would have been a risk to say such a thing normally. Any member of the police could have been willing to leak that information to the public. Luckily, Petrovic had been unusually cooperative with him today and had been determined to keep the officers away from the room.

Clearly even his bloodthirst saw the horror in destroying a city.

Proton rolled eyes and continued to feast on his fries. "Oh please. I had nothing to do with that. As far as I knew, I was just taking some time to visit the museum when your little friend assaulted me and mine."

Looker gripped the edge of table so hard his knuckles had turned white. "Your people caused the chaos in the city. You forced authorities in the city to respond. Because of that, Domino was able to steal the Soul Dew."

Proton quirked an eyebrow. "And we didn't know stealing the damn thing would cause that tsunami, you dense bastard. Why would we? That kind of violence is pointless." He sighed. "Now we lost a beautiful city and so much money. Such a shame."

"Is money all you can think about?"

Proton tapped his chin with a fry for a moment before shrugging in boredom. "Pretty much. It's not like there was anything else of value there. Those people all had such worthless, dull lives that I'll bet they loved the excitement. Well… at least those who survived."

Looker didn't bother controlling himself. He reached across the table and threw the half-eaten basket of fries against the far wall in his rage. "How can you believe that? You act like some kind of monster!"

Proton snorted in amusement. "Why bother hiding what I feel? Those people were meaningless to me, and I won't be losing any sleep over them." He declared. "Domino though? That brat is probably on the verge of a mental breakdown. It must be such a sight to see!"

He was insane. No, that wasn't the right word. Whatever Looker may have thought of the man, it was clear that Proton had a strong grasp on reality. He genuinely didn't feel guilt for what he had helped cause. Worse, he didn't seem to care about anyone's life besides his own. That someone like him had amassed so much power was… disturbing.

He would need to try a different tactic. Appealing to someone's guilt and empathy was only possible when they felt them.

"Do you enjoy your life, Proton?"

Now it was Proton's turn to appear caught off-guard. "Come again?"

"Do you love life? The fancy suits? The beautiful women hanging off your arm and the decadent food you eat? Or at least the power you wielded as an Admin for Team Rocket?"

Proton snorted. "That a trick question? Of course! My life with Team Rocket has been something out of a movie." He leaned forward to cup his hands in front of him. "There's nothing quite like knowing I can walk into almost any room and be the most feared man there. The women and the riches are just a bonus. The real pleasure comes from knowing that I hold power over life and death. Almost like I'm a… god."

How disgusting.

Looker held Proton's gaze with as much venom in his eyes as possible. "Well, I hope you enjoyed it. That ends today." He held up a hand to stop whatever Proton had to say in response. "You will be giving me what I want and there are two ways I can get it."

Proton snorted and leaned back in disbelief. "Enlighten me."

"Option one is you cooperate with us. You give us intel on all ongoing operations, safe houses and training facilities, as well as everyone who works for them that you know of. Then we shuffle you into witness protection as say a… garbage man or a janitor in some backwater town until we need you to testify in court against your comrades."

Proton growled and tightened his hands impotently into fists. "And option two?"

"I throw you into a deep, dark hole and leave you to the tender mercies of our 'enhanced interrogation' specialists."

Proton sneered. "Torture. And here I thought you International Police were meant to uphold the law."

Looker laughed softly and held the criminals gaze. For the first time since this started, Looker could see a hint of fear in the mans eyes. "We die in the dark so the innocent can live in the light. Do you really think we're above getting our hands dirty?"

The International Police didn't have a motto or a calling card. Their line of work was too serious for any of them to bother with that nonsense. There was a common saying among them, however. As men and women doomed to risk their lives to fight dangers the public knew nothing about, they would never be thanked. The only reward they ever received would be the knowledge they kept society safe.

It was not the glamorous life the movies made it out to be.

Proton began to sweat. "You think I'm afraid of your little knives? Team Rocket can do far worse."

Looker ignored him. "I wonder what would break you first. The isolation and starvation? Maybe the knives and poisons they're so fond of? Or could the waking nightmares of our Psychics be what does it?" He snorted in derision. "Who am I kidding? You'll crack the moment they break out the hungry Weedle."

"Enough!" Proton slammed his fists onto the table to silence him and gulped. "I-I need time to think about this!"

How typical. Eager to be the one inflicting the pain, but once even the possibility of him being the victim revealed itself he folded like a house of cards. Proton talked a big game, but he wasn't nearly as strong as he thought he was. Like everyone else, though, the fear of pain was a powerful motivator.

His weakness was Looker's gain though.

Looker scraped his chair against the ground and turned his back to the man. "You have one hour. For your sake, I hope you make the right choice."

Not even ten minutes later, Proton heard the door to the interrogation room open again.

He growled and gripped his chains as tightly as he could. "It hasn't been an hour yet, so you can fu- "

His words died in his mouth as he someone else stood in the doorway. Instead of Looker, there was a man with a familiar, disgusting shade of purple hair and unkempt goatee. On the mans face was a leer filled with so much contempt Proton wished he could wrap these chains around his throat.

"Ah… Petrovic. Come to put pressure on me for Looker?"

The man scoffed and slammed the door shut behind him. "Cameras are off and all the police are busy. You can cut the act."

Proton frowned. "Fine. What are you doing, Petrel?"

Petrel grinned and spread his arms wide as if he was going to hug him. Proton wouldn't have dared accept it even if he were still in good shape. Petrel was the kind of man to promise you the world and his eternal loyalty, then stab you in the back and rob you blind.

Why Giovanni kept him around, he would never know.

"Why, I came to free my old buddy Proton from the dastardly clutches of the International Police!" He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his trench coat. "We're comrades, after all. Us Rockets gotta stick together."

Proton grunted in annoyance. Just his luck. Now he'd be stuck in debt to this fool for who knew how long. Still, it was better than having to choose between torture and betraying Giovanni, so he'd take the humiliation without too much complaint.

"Yeah, go team! Woo." His lack of enthusiasm was plain as day. "Just get me out of these chains before Looker comes back."

Petrel laughed. "Not a problem, old pal." Despite his words, Petrel didn't move an inch. "Just one thing… what exactly were you and Looker talking about?"

Proton narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Looker wanted me to become a rat. You know, the usual song and dance all the Grunts get."

Petrel nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see. What'd you say?"

What was he getting at? "I told him to piss off. There's no way I'd betray the boss!"

Petrel cocked his head to the side as though he were a curious child. "Oh? That's not what I heard." His easy smile took on a murderous edge. "From what I heard, you flipped at the first hint of pain."

His heart stilled. "You can't be serious! I didn't even accept his offer."

Petrel hummed in clear amusement. "No. All you did was say you'd think about it." He chuckled. "What was it you always said? Anyone who even thinks of betraying us should be treated like an enemy?"

"That hardly matters now!" He all but screamed. He almost hoped Looker or one of the officers would burst through the door to see what was going on. No such luck. "You're here, so it's irrelevant! Free me and we can leave!"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm the best Admin the boss has!" He all but shouted. "I'm the one that handles the dirty work and strikes fear in our enemies! Without me, Team Rocket might as well be a defanged Litten!"

Petrel scoffed. "You always were full of yourself. Acting as though you were Arceus' gift to the world." He sighed. "Honestly, you've always been trouble. So violent and flashy that you'd have fit right in with Galactic and Plasma when they were still around."

Proton's heart was beating so fast that he could feel it in his throat. This wasn't how this was supposed to go! He couldn't die here! There was still so much he needed to do!

"L-let's talk about this- "

Petrel reached into his pocket and drew out a silver revolver. Proton instinctively tried to back away and find cover, but his chains kept him from moving even an inch out of his chair.

"I think you've told me everything there is to know. And after everything the boss did for you, you'd think you'd be more loyal."

He was loyal! More than this deceitful insect! There was a difference between loyalty and a death wish though! He would follow Giovanni to the ends of the earth and spread his empire across the world. If he needed someone dead, he would do it without hesitation. If anything ever happened to the man, he would be the first to avenge him out of respect. But to give up his life and accept torture with no hope of rescue?

Proton had his limits. Like everyone, he was selfish. No matter how loyal he was to Giovanni, Proton would always be more loyal to himself. Anyone who didn't put themselves first was either a fool or lying to themselves.

Petrel offered him a mocking grin and raised the pistol. "Tell you what? Since I'm such a nice guy, I'll make it quick. A nice reward for your years of service, eh?"

"No… no please!"

The last thing Proton saw was the cruel eyes of his former comrade.

Then he saw no more.

Chapter Text

Ash's lungs burned and his muscles ached from what felt like hours of constant exertion but may have only been close to ten minutes. Despite his body crying out for rest, he refused to give in. He needed to push himself past his limits if he was ever going to improve as an agent. Tightening his grip around the plastic dagger in his hand, he surged forward to meet his opponent.

Anabel twisted around his knife thrust and wrapped her hand around his wrist in a vice grip. She wrenched him aside at an awkward angle and slammed her foot into the side of his stomach. Ash winced in pain but refused drop the knife. Out of reflex more than anything else, he gripped Anabel's ankle with his free hand before she had a chance to bring it down. With clenched teeth and a grunt of effort, Ash leveraged his greater strength to push them forward and throw them both the ground with a loud thud.

He landed on top of her and forced her to let go of his wrist even as the wind was knocked out of her. Ash didn't have time to celebrate the small victory. He scrambled to seat himself atop her chest and brought the plastic dagger down onto her chest. Just before it could strike where her heart would be, Anabel grabbed his wrist with both hands and stopped him from delivering what would have been a killing blow in a real fight.

While he struggled to force his weapon down, Anabel wasn't complacent. With flexibility that any gymnast would have been envious of, Anabel managed to work her legs up and snake them around his neck. He only just managed to let out a gasp of shock before she tightened her grip and twisted him off of her chest with such force that his vision swam.

It didn't stop there. He had been forced to drop his weapon in the scuffle and had barely any time to react before she went back to choking him with her legs. He scrambled to latch his hands on and try to pull away, but it was no use. No matter hard he pulled, Anabel's grip was too strong for him to break out of on his own.

He hated when she did this!

Just as he was about to tap the tile beneath them to signal his surrender, he heard a familiar crackle of electricity and felt hope surge in his chest. Anabel must have heard it too for she released her hold on him and rolled out of the way just as a low energy Thunderbolt struck where she had once laid.

Ash spared a glance towards Pikachu to see his partner leap into the air to narrowly avoid the powerful, clawed limbs of Anabel's Metagross. Pikachu's tail shimmered like steel in the light for a moment before he slammed down atop his opponent's head. With an incomprehensible growl, the Metagross surged into the air and tried to shake Pikachu off. Despite its best efforts, Pikachu held onto its steel body as though his life depended on it.

Electricity sparked to life in his cheeks. It was the only warning the Metagross received before Pikachu unleashed a point-blank Thunder attack that illuminated the room in a golden light and momentarily blinded them all. The attack didn't last long before Pikachu was telekinetically lifted off of Metagross' back and thrown across the room into Anabel's waiting arms. With hesitation, Anabel gripped Pikachu by his tail and slammed into him into the ground with all of her might.

His first instinct was to rush forward and try to save his partner. He pushed it aside and instead felt his eyes move past the Metagross to the back of the training room where an Alakazam was cautiously watching the fight and occasionally using his power to toss them around. If he could take the Alakazam out, this fight could swing in their favor. Unfortunately, with Metagross acting as a metaphorical wall, it was all but impossible to reach the creature on his own.

Luckily for him, he still had one card to play.

"Latias, I need you to shield my mind and distract Metagross."

"On it!"

Ash dashed forward to meet the Metagross head-on. With a huff of what must have been annoyance, it leapt towards him to bring its metal claw down and pin him to the ground. At the last moment, Ash dove under its massive body and rolled over his shoulder until he was behind it just as the metallic limb slammed into the ground. Without pausing to look back, he sprinted towards the Alakazam.

In any other situation, he wouldn't have dared turn his back to the towering Steel type. With Latias on his side, however, he was willing to take the risk. Just as Metagross turned to chase him, Latias materialized before its eyes and fired a multicolored, dragon-shaped beam of energy at its face point-blank. It was enough to knock the Metagross back and force it to focus on her.

The Alakazam regarded him with complete disdain. With the powers of a fully evolved and competently trained Psychic type, Alakazam was untouchable to all but the strongest opponents. Most of the time, their overwhelming Psychic power was enough to take down entire teams of opponents at once.

He could feel the familiar tingle of Psychic power reaching out and enveloping him. Within his mind, Ash could feel his defenses being pushed aside and his body freezing in place mid-step. Before the Alakazam could do anything more, however, a familiar presence entered the edges of his mind. In an instant, his mind became a titanic fortress of mental barriers and the Alakazam's consciousness was thrown back into his own body. With the Psychic grip on his body gone and his mind shielded, he continued the sprint towards Alakazam.

Ash was on the creature in mere moments. While Alakazam was almost unstoppable at range, in close quarters they were more vulnerable. With pathetically weak muscles and a biology geared more towards enhanced Psychic power than true stamina, anyone could do serious damage to their kind if they got in close enough. While most trainers would never have to personally test that weakness, Ash was confident in the belief that he could handle the average Alakazam up close.

This one was not like the average Alakazam, however. Anabel had trained her Pokemon to compensate for their weaknesses and fight when the odds were against them. He had learned the hard way that the weaknesses he knew of from his time as a trainer for the League weren't always applicable to Interpol's Pokemon.

With Anabel's Alakazam still recovering from the Psychic backlash of Latias' defense of his mind, Ash launched himself forward and slammed his foot into the face of the monster. The Alakazam was sent tumbling backwards and gripping his head in his hands. With an annoyed growl, both Alakazam's fists began to glow with bright yellow and green aura that spiraled down its arms. The creature rushed forward and thrust his fists directly towards his head.

A Drain Punch was a dangerous move. Unlike most other moves, even a glancing blow could take an enemy out of the fight. The damage came less from the physical power behind the attack and more from the mystical energy of the move that drained the strength from its target. Ash spun around the blows and slammed his elbow into the side of Alakazam's head.

The green and yellow aura surrounding Alakazam's fists disappeared, and he stumbled back in a dazed state. Ash seized the opening and swept the Alakazam's feet out from under him. His skeletal body impacted the floor with a dull thud and the Psychic monster let out a pained groan. Ash raised his foot to slam it down next to where Alakazam's head lay and take it out of this mock battle.

His breath hitched in his throat as he felt the familiar edge of the plastic dagger placed atop his jugular. A pair of lips gently brushed his ear and he tensed at the sensation of breath on his skin.

"Looks like I win again." Anabel laughed and moved around him to help her Alakazam up off the floor.

For his part, Ash collapsed backwards onto the ground and laid there with his limbs splayed out all around him. With the fight at an end and the adrenaline leaving his system, his mind was finally able to focus on the state of his body. His limbs burned and felt like lead weights holding him down. He was certain that come tomorrow, he'd be so sore that he wouldn't want to even roll out of bed.

He glanced up at Anabel. To his eternal delight, she actually seemed a bit out of breath! Some people would have been demoralized at such a sight, but him? After months of being beaten around the training room and hardly ever being able to land a hit on her, this was a massive improvement!

If he was lucky then by the time a year rolled around, he may actually be able to give her a real challenge.

Ash felt a small, furry body scurry up his body and curl up into a ball. Pikachu was just as exhausted as he was and probably twice as sore. Getting tossed around by powerful Psychic types and being on the receiving end of Anabel's attacks must have been hard. With the natural durability of Pokemon, it meant they didn't have to hold back nearly as much in training. He glanced to his side as he felt the heat radiating off Latias just as she set down on the ground beside him. Though she showed no outward signs of exhaustion, he could tell from how tense she was that the fight had taken a lot out of her.

"How'd you get past Pikachu and Latias?"

Anabel cracked a grin and screwed the cap off of her water bottle. She took a large gulp of her water before leaning over him and shaking the water in front of his eyes. Without a word, he nodded his head and opened his mouth. Most of the water that tipped out didn't land in his mouth, but it went a long way towards helping him cool down.

You never really appreciated water until you were dying of thirst but could hardly find the energy to move.

Anabel plopped down on the ground beside him and returned her Pokemon to their Pokeballs. "Pikachu was easy. Once I slammed him into the ground, he was too stunned to stop me from using the dagger on him."

Pikachu grumbled from atop his chest and turned his head to glare at her. "Next time we'll spike you into the ground like a ball. See how quick to recover you are."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "Nobody likes a sore loser, Pikachu." She teased. "As for Latias? She was so focused on distracting Metagross that she never noticed me sneaking up behind her. It was too easy for me to slide the dagger into her heart. I'd recommend working on your spatial awareness."

Latias lifted her head off the ground and set it on Ash's chest, rolling her eyes in amusement. "I was busy keeping that walking tank of yours busy. It's not easy when it resists all my attacks and hits like a train."

Anabel scoffed. "Then Metagross did its job. It got you to focus on the obvious threat so much that you ignored everything else." She warned. "You may be a Legend, but you're not invincible. You need to develop your instincts for battle if you're going to be any use to us."

Latias hummed in thought. "I understand. I won't let it happen again."

This was how it always went during training. Ash, Pikachu, and Latias would enter the training room to face off against their opponents. Sometimes they'd be given time to develop a plan and other times they would be expected to adapt on the fly. No matter how hard they tried or how much they improved, however, they had yet to win even a single spar. There was always some weakness that they needed to fix or new technique that they needed to learn.

They were improving though. Every night he went to bed exhausted and every morning he woke up sore. It was worth it though. He felt stronger and more confident than ever. In the two and a half months since Latias had joined his team and they had arrived back the Johto HQ, they had dedicated themselves to training.

Every day, they were pushed to their collective physical limit and forced to defend against a variety of different opponents and tactics. He was learning the basics of combat first aid and how to pick simple locks. More importantly, Looker and Petrovic had been exposing him to different types of crimes so that he knew what to expect in the field.

He'd even gotten training in how to use a weapon. From what Looker had told him, a dagger was the perfect weapon for their line of work. Made from steel harvested from dead Metagross and forged using the fires of a Magcargo, it could cut through almost anything. More importantly, its versatility was second to none. The well-balanced daggers of Interpol could be thrown to strike any target at a distance. They were unparalleled weapons up close and personal – which many of his fights would likely become. Not to mention it could be easily concealed and drawn at any moment.

Petrovic had even told him that it could be slipped between an enemy's ribs before they – or any witnesses – could notice.

Ash had chosen not to think too deeply about that.

Anabel eyed him quietly for a moment and hummed in thought. "As for you, Ash? You should work on your awareness as well." She warned. "Even if you have an enemy on the ropes, you can't get tunnel vision. Otherwise, you'll pay for it with your life."

He frowned. "I understand. I'll try to do better."

Anabel smiled and reached forward to pat him on the chest. "You aren't doing bad. You've all gotten a lot better since coming here." She assured them. "Don't worry. With more time, you'll be a competent agent. As it is you're doing well for someone who's only been with us six months at this point."

"The lass is right, brat. You're doing well."

Ash lifted his head off of the ground and glanced behind Anabel. Standing behind her with his hands in the pocket of his trench coat was Petrovic. Ever since the tragedy of Alto Mare, Petrovic had stuck around their small team. According to Looker, he would be taking a permanent position with them until he was needed elsewhere. Unfortunately, that also meant that they had to reveal his identity to them man and the reason he was with them.

Looker had sounded like the world was coming to an end when he'd told them that.

Anabel grimaced for a moment. With her back turned, only he and his Pokemon could see it. While Petrovic was a veteran agent and deserved respect, there was no denying that he was… abrasive. Hard to be around. He was surprised Anabel put up with him at all.

She plastered a sickeningly sweet smile on her face and stood to her full height, turning to greet him. "Petrovic… to what do we owe the pleasure?"

The violet haired man grinned. "I thought I'd come check on our little criminal underling to see how he was doing." Ash winced at the insult but Petrovic either didn't notice or didn't care. "Ya definitely got potential. Yer too timid though."

"Timid?"

"Ya hesitate." He explained. "Never for more than a second but it's a weakness. In a real fight, it'll give Yer opponent an opening. Ya need to be more ruthless. If ya hold nothing back, then yer enemies will never have the chance kill ya."

Ash forced himself to sit up. He ignored the annoyed groans of Latias and Pikachu, looking up into Petrovic's eyes with a frown. "I don't want to hurt anyone though…."

Petrovic scoffed. "It's impossible not to do that in a fight. Yer priority should always be to inflict as much damage as possible. That way yer enemy can't get up and stab ya in the back. Let the docs focus on keeping 'em alive."

Anabel narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, moving in front of Ash with an almost protective air about her. "That's only important in a real fight. In training, he doesn't have to be as ruthless."

Petrovic shrugged. "Maybe not. Brat still needs to work on getting his killer instinct." He chuckled. "After all, this is a dangerous world we live in. He needs to understand that."

Anabel tightened her hands into fists. "He understands just fine. He doesn't need you pushing him."

Petrovic's eyes narrowed in frustration. It was gone a second later and he held up his hands to placate her, an easy smile spreading around his face. "Maybe he does. After all, he certainly handled that Grunt at the auction like a pro."

Ash flinched at the reminder and clenched his eyes shut. He had tried his hardest not to think about that. When he and the Grunt had fought at the auction, he had been in survival mode. He'd heard stories about people losing all their inhibitions and control when their life was in danger, but he hadn't thought that he would do the same. Then when he had been at the edge of death, he had been willing to do whatever it took to survive. He hadn't even thought or cared about the damage he could do.

In the days that had followed, and he realized what he'd done, Ash had been horrified. The Grunt had lost an eye and suffered from second-degree burns across his entire face. His nose had been broken, his jaw smashed, and his teeth had been shattered. Worst of all, the man had suffered from a severe concussion and been locked in a coma since that night. As far as he knew, the Grunt had still been comatose when the tsunami hit and died in the flooding.

If the man had been conscious, maybe he would have survived. Though even if he had, would that really be better? The kind of injuries he suffered would have been crippling. Would his life have ever been the same? Even if he was a criminal, Ash couldn't help but feel guilty for what he'd done. In some ways, it had been worse than outright killing him.

Even when he was in control of himself, he was still capable of hurting others. How could-

Latias nudged his hand with her snout and drew his eyes to her. Through their Psychic link, he could feel her concern in the back of his mind. "Ash, are you alright?"

He did his best to tune out Petrovic and Anabel's arguing. He tried to smile but even he could tell that it was brittle at best. "I'm fine. Nothing I can't handle on my own."

She frowned. "Why are you lying?"

He winced. "How can you tell?"

He felt a sad sense of familiarity in the back of his mind. "I can read your thoughts and feel your emotions, Ash. It's impossible to hide something from us Psychics once you give us a backdoor into your mind."

Ash sighed and forced himself to look away. "Then there's nothing stopping you from getting the answers you want. Why ask me?"

He flinched when he felt her clawed hand cover his own but didn't pull away. He felt a surge of… sympathy rush through his system. It wasn't his own.

"Just because I could take the answers doesn't mean I will." She smiled up at him. "When you're ready to talk, Pikachu and I will be here. I want you to know that you can trust us."

Despite the severity of his thoughts, Ash laughed and reached over to pet both of his partners. Latias leaned into his hand while Pikachu accepted it with a knowing look. He may not have known what Ash and Latias were talking about, but he knew it was important.

"I appreciate it." He moved to scratch Latias behind her ears, smiling at the soft purr that rumbled in her throat. "I just… this is something I need to deal with on my own."

If he ever could.

He blinked as he heard someone snap their fingers above them. Ash looked up to see that Anabel had left the room and Petrovic was standing above him with the same cocky grin that he always wore.

"Finally! Ya really need to start paying better attention, brat." He groused. "Especially when I'm trying to help ya."

Ash forced himself to his feet and tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean help?"

Petrovic spread his arms wide. "Of course! Yer the new rookie! It's my job to help ya in any way that I can." With an amused chuckle, Petrovic reached into his pocket and pulled a silver revolver out of his pocket. "Here. This is yers now."

Ash didn't have a chance to refuse it when Petrovic forced it into his hands and stepped back. It was… heavier than he expected it to be. Almost twice as heavy as a Pokeball but far more alien in his hands. It had a simple brown grip and cartridge capable of holding five bullets. With a barrel that must have been six inches long, it was smaller than those he'd seen in the old cowboy movies from his childhood.

It didn't feel right in his hands.

"Why did you give this to me?"

Petrovic shrugged. "Ya need a real weapon. A dagger is useful but limited. With a gun, ya can be dangerous at any range. Best part is that all ya need to do is point and shoot – no true skill required."

Latias hovered at his side and scowled at Petrovic. "It's also designed to kill."

Petrovic eyed Latias for a moment before sighing in annoyance. "All weapons can kill someone, brat. Yer hands and feet especially are dangerous. Ya wouldn't believe how many accidental deaths they cause. Compared to that, a gun is a ton more intentional."

Ash felt the knot in his stomach grow. "I don't want to kill anyone at all."

Petrovic took a deep breath and closed his eyes tight. He reached out to grip Ash's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "No one wants to be a killer, brat. I certainly didn't when I was yer age. I'll bet Looky was the same." He sighed. "Yer with Interpol now though. Ya've seen what we do. Someday, yer gonna be forced to take that step."

Ash flinched away. Was it truly that set-in stone? Was he destined to become a killer? If even Looker was a killer, then what hope did he have? Would he be forced to kill an enemy to protect an innocent life? Or would he simply snap under the pressure of this life and turn into the kind of monster he was meant to be fighting.

Petrovic ruffled Ash's hair through his black flat cap. "Look… a gun can be used for more than just killing. It can be used to wound someone just as much as it kills. Against bigger, armored Pokemon it's the one true equalizer Humanity has besides high explosives." He chuckled. "Not to mention it's great for intimidation. Ya ever want to end a fight before it begins? Just the sight of it'll make most people fold."

That… that didn't sound so bad. If he just used it to deescalate a fight and convince people to surrender, then there was nothing wrong with that. And if worst came to worst, he could use it to injure people instead of killing them.

Ash nodded slowly in understanding. Slowly, he stuffed it into the pocket of his trench coat. He'd need to find a proper holster for it later.

"I guess that makes sense… I'll need to practice with it."

Petrovic straightened his back and looked at him with an air of pride surrounding him. "I can teach ya. I'm a crack shot! Or if ya don't want me to do it, Looky and Anabel probably could. Ya know, if ya want a subpar teacher."

Ash couldn't ask that of them. Anabel was already dedicating so much of her time to teach him how to fight and Looker was teaching him all the skills he needed to be an effective spy. He wouldn't ask any more of them than he had to.

"I'll take any help you're willing to offer, Petrovic." For once, the smile he gave the man was genuine. "Please make me into the best shot this agency has ever seen."

Petrovic let out a bellowing bark of laughter. "I like yer enthusiasm! Trust me, once ya learn how relaxing it can be to shoot, ya'll wonder how ya ever survived without it!"

Domino enjoyed the finer things in life. She was hardly the only person in the world who did, but she was one of the few who could truly appreciate them. Everyone could enjoy a hot plate of food, a warm bed with thick blankets, or good glass of wine. No one could enjoy it like someone who had once had nothing though.

When you spent a childhood fighting for scraps of food with other kids on the streets of the city, you never let anything go to waste. Memories of huddling together with other street urchins or fighting for warm clothes when winter rolled around meant that she always took good care of her clothes. Even something as simple as trust in other Human beings became a truly valuable commodity that couldn't just be taken for granted.

This appreciation of life and all its joys didn't mean she was wasteful, however. Growing up with nothing, she knew the value of living beneath her means. It was always good to save for a rainy day, after all. However, as an agent of Team Rocket, living beneath her means still allowed her to have quite a comfortable life.

Even on her most indulgent day, however, she knew her limits. Eating at a high-end Kalosian restaurant with three Minccino stars in the middle of the day wasn't something she'd ever normally do. When Giovanni made reservations and called for a meeting though? Then she threw on her best dress clothes and prepared to indulge.

The restaurant was in the center of Viridian City not too far away from Giovanni's gym with a name that she couldn't hope to pronounce. Butterfree and Ledyba could be seen out front in the small garden by the brick entrance to entertain those waiting to get inside. Giovanni must have made her face known for none of the staff stopped her from skipping the line and moving in. Once inside, she could see beautifully painted walls the depicted the history of Viridian City and an elegant bar off to the side with a variety of different alcohol bottles lining the wall.

She spotted Giovanni seated at a table by the window with a pristine white cloth covering it and a beautiful view out the window to its side. His Persian sat at his feet with its head rested on its paws, glaring at her with cruel amusement. She suppressed the shiver of fear the creature sent down her spine and made her way over to him. She bowed her head in respect, her blond curls brushing against her cheeks as she did so.

"It is a pleasure to see you, sir."

Giovanni held up a hand to stop her and gestured to the seat across from him. "Let's skip the formalities." Once she had sat down, he leaned forward and cupped his hands in front of him. "I've taken the liberty of ordering for us both."

Domino frowned. "May I ask what? I've never been the biggest fan of Kalosian food."

A childhood on the streets of Lumiose City hadn't endeared her to anything from their culture.

He smirked. "Confit de Canard. It's Psyduck meat marinated in salt, garlic, and thyme for over a day and a half then slow cooked in its own fat using ancient techniques. It even comes with a side of roasted potatoes, lentils, and garlic for our dining pleasure."

She licked her lips and averted her eyes. "That… does sound nice."

"I thought so." He leaned back in his seat and snapped his fingers. Moments later, a waiter appeared at their table with two glasses and a bottle of red wine. After pouring their drinks, the waiter gave them a graceful bow and left them at the table with the wine. "How has your vacation treated you?"

Domino suppressed a heavy sigh. Her forced vacation had been… pleasant, she supposed. The Lavaridge hot springs had been as relaxing as advertised. The people had been nice and dopey enough for her. She'd even decided to indulge herself and convince the local Gym Leader that her town was sitting on a mountain of gold.

Fun times.

It hadn't done much to stop the nightmares though. Every night, she was haunted by the drowned faces of the people of Alto Mare. Sometimes when she looked in a mirror, she had to force her eyes away and ignore the sense of disgust in her stomach. Those brief moments when she was drowning in guilt were almost too much at times.

That was all they were though. Moments of horror. Most of the time, she could focus on other things and live like a normal person. Her therapist said that with enough time and acceptance, the nightmares would eventually stop.

She couldn't wait for that day.

"It was fine." She decided to say. "You were right about the hot springs. The relaxation helped more than I thought it would."

Giovanni nodded. "A good dip in the hot springs always helps. You need a clear mind to be an effective agent, after all."

Domino perked up. "Does this mean you're putting me back in the field?"

"That depends on how this meeting goes." He took a moment to savor the taste of his wine before setting it aside. "Tell me what you know of our origin."

She tilted her to the side. Why would Giovanni want her to go into the origins of Team Rocket? He had lived it. No one knew it better than him. He had lived it, after all.

"We were originally a smuggling and poaching ring. Your mother founded it in the aftermath of the Great War to save her fortune and company from a failing economy. In less than two years, she managed to spread her influence throughout almost half of Kanto."

Domino hadn't been alive at the time, but she knew basic history. The Great War had been devastating for everyone involved but Kanto had come out the other side far worse than the other regions. Half of its territory had been taken from it as a reward for the rebellious people of what was now the Johto region. Worse, Kanto had been forced to pay exorbitant sums of money in reparations and accept most of the guilt for the war.

Its government had been too weak and its people too broken to do anything other than bite their tongues and accept the terms.

Giovanni hummed in affirmation. "Indeed. Had she chosen to stick to simple crime, it's likely that she would have remained in power to this day. Instead, she chose to give in to lunacy."

Lunacy wasn't the word that she would have used but it was close enough.

"Your mother wanted to seize power and stage a coup against the government. She thought she could return Kanto to glory and cement her place in the history books." She looked down into small pool of red wine in her glass and allowed a tiny smirk to grace her face. "Then you launched a coup of your own and took your rightful place at the head of our group."

It had been a cunning ploy. While his mother had been focused on making a profit for herself and buying the loyalty of people in power, Giovanni had earned it from the rank and file through simple acts of generosity and genuine leadership. The day that his mother called for a meeting of her most powerful and loyal allies, he had sprung his trap. With nothing more than a small but powerful bomb hidden in a briefcase, the old guard had been all but eradicated.

The dream of conquest and glory his mother had died alongside her that day.

Ironically, Giovanni had a better chance of achieving that than she did. He had been the one to spread Team Rocket's influence across the globe and create order from chaos. His philanthropy had helped feed the starving people of Kanto in the post-war world and he had been at the forefront of the reconstruction effort. This had earned him the love of the people and the respect of those in power. All it would take was a simple announcement and he could have any position he wanted.

Giovanni closed his eyes and let out an almost imperceptible sigh. His Persian mewled at his side and nudged his leg with its snout. He reached down to scratch its ears, much to the delight of the regal feline.

"I can still remember it like it was yesterday. My mother had few true allies and even fewer people that she could call friend. If I was ever going to truly lead, they all had to die."

She frowned. "You did what you had to. If you hadn't killed them, they'd have thrown Kanto into a civil war. They world is better off with them all dead."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. Not all of them died that day." He sighed and leaned back in his seat, gazing out the nearby window. "Not all of them were at the bombing. A few of her allies were too far away to attend and I had to arrange for other means of assassination. One survived."

She could hardly contain her shock. The stories always spoke of how Giovanni's ascendancy was a brutal, bloody execution of anyone who opposed him. To hear that someone had managed to survive meant one of two things. They were either extremely lucky or a deadly enemy.

No one in their line of work relied on luck to survive.

"Who was it?"

Giovanni's hand tightened around his glass so hard that she feared it would shatter. "A senile old bastard." He grimaced and set his glass aside. Abandoning all sense of decorum, he patted his lap to allow Persian up so he could stroke it. "He was the architect of the Specters."

The Specters were the elite agents of Team Rocket. They extended Giovanni's influence across the globe and struck fear into the hearts of their rivals. Domino had the honor of being one of them and she knew better than most how grueling the training could be. It could break someone if they weren't strong enough. Those that came out the other end were the best of the best, however, which made all the pain worth it.

Whoever created that program must have been a genius.

"He must have been dangerous." She responded.

He snorted in derision. "Oh, he was. I sent a small army of fifty men armed with the best weapons and Pokemon money could buy. They were to ambush him in his home late at night when he was asleep and burn his house to the ground when the deed was done."

Fifty men? It sounded like overkill to her. That was the kind of force you brought to fight a Champion.

"How did he survive?"

"I underestimated him." Giovanni growled. "My men had been slaughtered. The lucky ones had just been torn apart, shot, or stabbed. Most of them were frozen solid though. He posed their corpses like statues as a message."

She grimaced in disgust. Being frozen to death was one of the worst ways to go. The scientists always talked about how freezing to death would cause the water in the human body to expand and rupture its cells to the point they exploded. It was easier to think of it as turning her body into a useless bag of mush. The expressions of agony of the faces of those who were flash frozen made for excellent motivation to avoid Ice types.

"What did he do after? I doubt he took your attempt on his life lightly."

Giovanni drummed his fingers along the edge of the table. "Indeed. I was prepared for a fight. However skilled he was, he had no allies and few resources. More importantly, I knew what his most likely targets would be. Setting a trap to kill him would have been easy."

"Heh. It's good to hear he paid for what he- "

"It never came to that. We made a deal instead." He pushed past her shocked silence, gently scratching his Persian beneath its chin. "I received a call not long after the assassination. The terms were simple: In exchange for him disappearing, I would pay him a small sum of thirty million dollars and leave him in peace."

She frowned. "Why did you accept?"

If there was one thing she knew about Giovanni, it was that he didn't tolerate threats. She'd been sent to kill more than a few of them. It didn't matter if they were uppity crime syndicates, prideful vigilantes, or rival Teams from other regions. If they were a threat, they were to be dealt with. Not even Legends were off limits.

So why had he made an exception for this man?

"It was easier than a fight." He shrugged. "Even if his death was all but certain, he was a skilled man. He knew our weak points and could have caused irreparable damage before he died. He could have revealed my identity to the world and my role as its new leader. The chance to avoid that was too good to pass up."

"Why did you trust him to keep his word? He could have taken the money and betrayed you once he disappeared."

"I didn't trust him. I trusted that I knew how he would act." He wagged his finger alongside his correction. "He was a selfish man with no concern for anyone beyond himself. He knew that I would keep tabs on him wherever he went. If he betrayed me and went back on the deal, I would take my pound of flesh from his hide if it was the last thing I did."

Her eyes widened. "And he wouldn't do anything to put his life in danger if there was no reward."

This man sounded a bit like Proton if the dead fool had been competent at his job.

He nodded. "Indeed. For the past two decades, he's upheld his end of the bargain. But in the past few years, there have been… incidents. Incidents with his fingerprints all over them."

"What do you mean?"

"Agents that I trusted on an implicit basis have been dropping like flies. Tens of millions of dollars vanish into the void with no trace." He took a short sip of his wine. "Not to mention that someone has been feeding intel to Interpol on our operations."

Domino's eyes narrowed. While assassinations did happen when people were looking to climb the ladder, the pattern made it clear who the real target was. As a crime syndicate, it was expected that there would be some level of theft from within. For that kind of money to disappear without a trace, however, there would need to be a considerable amount of people working to hide it. Add in the increasing interference of the authorities and the source of all their issues became clear.

There were traitors among them.

It wouldn't be wise to jump to conclusions though.

"I can see why you think someone is working against you but why him?" She couldn't help but ask. "It doesn't seem like there's anything that directly implicates him."

Giovanni nodded along and ran his fingers along the paws of his Persian. "There isn't anything obvious. He is one of the few with the motivation, skill, and contacts to attempt a coup though. Naturally, that puts him at the top of my list."

"I thought you killed all of his allies?"

"I did. I allowed his students to live, however." Giovanni's eyes glinted with a blazing fury in the light of day. "They were children at the time. It would have been a tragedy to kill them for the crimes of their captor. Especially when they could still be useful. "

"You allowed them to become Specters." Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "You think one of them is responsible for this?"

Giovanni grunted. "There's a certain cruelty and brutality to the assassinations that only his students employ. He would punish them for acts of mercy and reward them the more bloodthirsty they became. It normalized cruel violence to the point it became second nature for them."

She had never met one of them. By their nature, Specters worked alone. While they were more than capable of working in teams when they had to, most of her kind preferred to work alone. Trust wasn't something that came naturally in their line of work. On the rare occasions they did have to work together, however, they stuck with those they had trained alongside.

The older generations were no exception.

"If you think they're behind this, why not get rid of them then?"

"I would prefer to be certain before I make any rash moves." Giovanni told her. "It's possible that I'm wrong and none of them have turned on me. Or it could be a small group of them or even all of them. Before I retaliate, I must be certain."

She leaned forward. "Which is where I come in."

He nodded. "Correct. Your mission is to give me a definitive answer. There's no deadline and no punishment if you cannot find anything. Just keep in mind that the longer you take, these attacks on our organization will only escalate."

"Where should I start?"

"The source. Even if he is not directly responsible for this, he would know if his former students were working against me." He paused for a moment as the waiter returned with their food and set it on the table in front of them. With a graceful bow, they departed once more. "You are to depart for Mahogany Town tomorrow. Your target is Pryce Willow Harper – the Ice Gym Leader of Johto."

Domino nodded. "I understand. Am I to remain hidden?"

"For as long as possible. He will discover you eventually but don't make it easy on him. Use the time you are hidden to your advantage." Giovanni slid his Persian off him and began to cut into his food. "I shall send you all the info we have on him. I expect you to have it memorized by the time you arrive."

"Don't worry. I won't fail you, sir. By the time I'm done, the traitors will be as good as dead."

The Aether Foundation was known across the world for its philanthropy. Orphaned children were often taken in by them and given bright futures to look forward to with warm beds and full bellies. They built communal homes within major cities and often ran large soup kitchens to help anyone in need. In the eyes of the public, the Aether Foundation could do no wrong.

They were most well known for their efforts with Pokemon, however. Within their reservations and facilities, Pokemon who would have died in the wild were nursed back to health and taught how to look after themselves. Whenever the Rangers, the League, or the police rescued Pokemon from the clutches of evil Teams, they were often placed in the care of the Aether Foundation staff to rehabilitate them. For many young trainers across the world, their starter Pokemon would come from one of these facilities.

Unfortunately for the men and women of Aether, these reservations were premium targets for Pokemon thieves.

Matori stepped over the unconscious body of an Aether worker and looked around the meadow of the outpost on Akala Island. Calling it an outpost was far too kind in her mind though. With only a large circular, fenced enclosure to keep the Pokemon from escaping and a single lab in the center of the field, this was more of a ranch than a true outpost.

For a group that claimed to prioritize the safety of Pokemon, they sure hadn't done much to protect them. With only five people in total working here and all of them being scientists, there was no one to protect them. They hadn't even bothered to install any automated security systems. The Aether Foundation knew how valuable their reservations would be and yet they left them undefended. It was either arrogance or stupidity of the highest order.

At least it made her job easier.

She was pleased to see that their mission was going well so far. With the scientists all having been dispatched in the opening attack, the Pokemon had fallen so after. Most of them were either too young or too weak to stand against her people. All it had taken was a quick show of force and they had submitted like the good tools they were meant to be. With no one around to stop them, they would be loaded into the trucks on cages and driven to their hideout on the island.

If only all her missions could go so well.

She looked up at the sun high in the sky and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Gozu, I need a word with you."

Gozu was a large man in his late thirties to early forties with tanned skin and short black hair. He towered over her and most other people with a muscular build meant more for practical use than show. To her eternal confusion, he also wore an eyepatch over his right eye even though it was perfectly fine.

So long as he provided results and followed her orders, she couldn't care less about his strange fashion choices.

He stopped not far from her right and tilted his head down respectfully. "What can I do for you, ma'am?"

"How much longer until we have all the Pokemon loaded onto the trucks?"

Gozu shrugged. "Should only take another ten minutes or so. I can't wait to get out of this damn heat."

She snorted in amusement. "We're in Alola, Gozu. You'll have to get used to the heat."

He grunted in annoyance. "I thought we'd be spending more time on the water than actually working. Should've known better when the orders came directly from the boss."

He should have. He was one of her men and she worked directly with Giovanni. If he or anyone else thought that meant they would get to kick back and relax, they were dead wrong. They were expected to work twice as hard to produce the best results. Anything less would be an insult to the boss.

Vacation could come after they had something to celebrate.

"How much longer until the police realize what's happened?"

Gozu shrugged. "We've jammed all communications in a mile radius and took out the scientists before they could escape. Unless some passing trainer happens to see us, the authorities won't know anything until we're long gone."

Matori smirked. No passing trainer would be able to resist the chance to show off how heroic they were. Their kind were obsessed with sticking their noses in other people's business and demonstrating how strong they were. That obsession was the source of constant headaches for all members of Team Rocket. While she would never admit it, she enjoyed every opportunity she got to show how weak they were.

It was the only way they would learn the reality of the world, after all.

Since no one had come screaming out of the woods about how they were going to save the day or demanding to know how they could do this, that meant no trainers were nearby. Lucky them.

"Good. We can't afford to spend too long here- "

She was cut off by a rumbling roar from behind the two of them. She spun on her heels and reached for one of her Pokeballs while Gozu threw himself in front of her as a shield. The source of the roar was a Crabominable with stark white fur, bulging muscles, and a snarl plastered across its face. Unlike others of its species, however, this one had a dark orange discoloration to its skin instead of the typical sky blue.

The creature had ripped itself out of the massive cage they had forced it into and sent her people flying. It smashed its claws together and focused its attention on her. Grabbing some of the metal debris of its cage, it hurled it towards her with all its might.

Matori swore under her breath and threw herself to the side with Gozu not for behind. They narrowly managed to avoid the hunk of metal. It sailed past where they once stood and smashed through the wall of the lab with a harsh crash.

She forced herself to her feet and leveled a glare at the beast. "Still have some fight in you? I thought you'd be smarter than this. Do you really want us to hurt your little friends just because you were feeling rebellious?"

The Crabominable glanced around the clearing. While most of the Pokemon at this outpost had been caged, there were still a few Pokemon free of those confines. None of them were strong or big enough to fight alongside it, however. To make matters worse, the Grunts that she had brought with her had released their own Pokemon and were ready to attack the caged creatures if the Crabominable so much as twitched in her direction.

If it had any empathy at all, it would stand down and do as it was told.

Instead, it growled a challenge and rushed towards her.

Gozu growled and reached for the Pokeball on his belt. "Stupid beast… I'll put it in its place."

She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't. This one is mine."

Even if Gozu didn't want to risk it, he followed her orders and stepped back. He was reliable like that. Matori marched towards to creature and reached behind her back to unsheathe her dagger. When it was in range, the monster reared back its fist and launched it towards her head. She rolled underneath the blow and lashed out with her blade, striking it in the joint. By the time it spun to see her, she had already sprinted away and put distance between them.

She twirled the dagger in her hands with a mocking smirk, cobalt blood dripping from the blade. "First blood goes to me."

The Crabominable slammed its fists into the ground and sprinted towards her.

Her eyes slid past it, and she laughed in amusement. "Alright, I guess you can play too."

Crabominable paused mid-step at her words in confusion. It didn't have to wait long to find out what she meant. An Alolan Meowth leapt into the air and scurried up the back of the Crabominable to the top of its head. Her partner extended its claws and dug them into its eyes as deep as they could go. The Crabominable howled in agony and reached up to crush Meowth in its claws, but the feline had already leapt from atop its head.

Her partner rolled to a stop in front of her, crossing its arms with its back to their opponent and an air of smug superiority around it. Matori rolled her eyes and watched the Crabominable thrash around wildly now that its sight had been stolen from it.

"You shouldn't play with your food so much." She playfully scolded her partner.

Meowth scoffed and turned to look at the Crabominable. It flicked its claws and sprayed the blue blood onto the green grass beneath their feet. With a shrug of its shoulder, Meowth looked up at her as if to ask what she wanted it to do.

"Let's put it out of its misery." She ordered. "This thing is worthless to us without its eyes."

Alive, anyway. Once it was dead, they could harvest the valuable materials from its body and sell it for a hefty profit. It was less valuable than a living Crabominable, but they didn't have that option anymore. No one wanted a blind Pokemon, after all.

With a lazy sigh, Meowth picked a small rock off the ground and stalked towards the suffering monster. It tossed the rock to the ground just to the right of the Crabominable's feet. The instant it heard the impact in the dirt, it spun around and slammed an icy fist into ground. It kicked up a cloud of dirt and obscured itself within, but they didn't need to see it to know where it was.

Meowth leapt onto her back and held on tight as she sprinted towards the dust cloud. She shouted to draw its attention and was rewarded with the beast bellowing in rage as it barreled towards them. She kept shouting and dashed right, drawing it after her. As it followed, Meowth jumped from her back to behind the maimed monster.

Her partners claws glowed with a violent crimson energy and lunged forward, slashing the tendons of its two back legs. With two of its legs useless, the Crabominable tumbled forward along the ground face first. Despite its crippling injuries, it tried to force itself upright using its arms. Just as it managed to get itself a few feet off the ground, Matori lashed out with her dagger.

One quick thrust forward, a twist of her wrist, and the jugular of the beast was sliced. She leapt back as it tried in vain to grab her with its dying breath, but she was too quick. All it ended up doing was splashing her with its cobalt blood as it collapsed into a puddle of its own blood on the ground.

Matori scrunched up her nose in disgust and sheathed her dagger. "Great… now I'm going to smell like frozen seafood for the next three days."

Meowth snickered from behind the corpse and licked its paws in delight. She crouched down to scratch it behind its ears and was rewarded with a soft purr. Little bugger was always in a good mood after killing something and she would never understand why.

Gozu whistled in appreciation and stopped behind her. "Nice work, Matori. You and that Meowth of yours are like a well-oiled machine."

She smiled at the praise. "We aim to please." She stood at her full height and watched as her Grunts forced the last of the wild Pokemon into cages. "Do you think this will be enough of a message?"

He scoffed. "If it isn't then that Wicke lady is one heartless witch."

Or just plan foolish. An attack like this would deal a massive blow to the Aether Foundation's reputation. If people didn't believe that they could protect the Pokemon in their care, then who would rely on them to look after their injured Pokemon? How could new trainers trust that their starter Pokemon wouldn't be stolen? Who would want to work for a company that couldn't even protect its own employees from being attacked and humiliated?

She shook her head. "Wicke is a smart woman. She'll give us what we want."

"And if she doesn't? She already rejected us once."

"Then the Aether Foundation will burn."

Leading a team was one of the most difficult jobs in the world. In the modern world, basic leadership was a skill that many young trainers naturally learned. It took a lot to earn the respect of a full team of Pokemon and have them follow your orders, let alone traveling in groups with other trainers. Simple things like stocking up on enough supplies for a whole group, mediating interpersonal problems, setting up shifts for night watch, and so many other vital responsibilities. For many trainers, this helped prepare them for the world and gave them the ability to excel in their future careers.

No amount of experience as a trainer could prepare someone for leadership in the International Police though. As the senior agent, Looker was responsible for teaching rookies to survive and thrive in the field. He had to draft plans that kept his people alive, protected the public, and eliminated the threats that faced society. Then there was the nigh impossible task of keeping the public aware of the monsters in the shadows.

The most difficult responsibility of leadership, however, was juggling the personalities that fellow agents had. There was a common saying among agents of Interpol that no sane person ever joined their little family of spies. After give or take two decades as an active agent, he had worked with everyone under the sun. Narcissists, pacifists, Human supremacists, criminals, jilted lovers, and even former Rangers.

The worst of the worst.

None of his teams in the past had been as… versatile as his current one.

Sat in the briefing room with said team, Looker's eyes drifted to each of them over the mug in his hand while he mentally prepared himself.

Anabel was sitting to his left with her eyes closed, her chest gently rising and falling. He'd been with her long enough to know that she was meditating on her thoughts and keeping her powers under control. She was more competent than any rookie he had ever worked with before. A strong but flexible set of morals, a good work ethic, powerful Pokemon, and the ability to think on her feet. With her psychic abilities on top of that, he could see her running Interpol one day if she survived long enough.

Her only hurdle would be overcoming the stigma surrounding psychics.

In the corner of the room, Petrovic was openly drinking from a bottle of cheap white wine without a care in the world. He had chosen a spot that protected his back and allowed him to have a clear view of the entire room. As far as agents went, Petrovic was among the most skilled and experienced. If they needed someone assassinated or intimidated, he was the man for the job.

He railed against authority though. This was a man who couldn't help but test boundaries and rebel against the orders of others. Looker had been forced to watch him bungle simple missions because of his bloodthirst. More than once, he had chosen to kill targets they were meant to capture – once even going so far as to collapse an entire supermarket on the Rocket.

It didn't help that the psychopath enjoyed messing with Looker every chance he got. As the leader of this team and the only one with real experience working with him, Looker would be keeping an eye on him.

Looker grunted in annoyance and tore his eyes away from the man. He took a sip from his mug and let out a sigh of contentment. Galarian coffee was the best – a mixture of Galarian whiskey, hot coffee, sugar, and cream all in one. The perfect drink to cure his stress.

He looked to the final member of his team. Ash was busy fiddling with a simple lock that he had given the boy. On the table in front of him, Pikachu was struggling in vain to open a bottle of ketchup with his paws while Latias was leaning against him under the guise of her friend Bianca.

Ash… was not a bad rookie. He listened well and did his best to learn from them. While far from the best prospective agent, he was picking up the necessary skills to be an effective spy. He had a strong if naïve set of morals, a stubbornness that allowed him to push past any hurdles he encountered, and the ability to think outside the box. The allegiance that Latias held towards him was just a bonus.

He was also a major source of stress for Looker. Ever since the boy had been recruited, it had been like taking care of a particularly dense child. He constantly rushed off into danger without thinking things through and acted like he was invincible. As if that wasn't bad enough, he still didn't fully understand the seriousness of their job.

After Alto Mare, he was starting to realize that there were consequences when they failed. Sooner or later, Ash would break. The only question was if he would shatter into a thousand tiny pieces… or a jagged edged weapon.

This team was going to be the death of him.

Looker could feel his blood pressure rising. With a single sip of Galarian coffee, he brought it back under control. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"I have good news and bad news." He told them after setting his drink aside. "The good news is that we're going to the tropics. We'll be getting plenty of sun and have a chance to relax at the beach in our downtime."

Ash leaned forward with a smile. "That sounds great!"

Petrovic groaned. "Ya'd only lead with the good news if something worse would follow. What's the bad news, Looky?"

He hid his grimace behind a sip of his drink, "We're going to Alola."

The effect on the room was immediate. Anabel leaned forward and hunched over the table, holding her head in her hands. Petrovic let out a loud, suffering sigh and took a long swig from his bottle. Pikachu had frozen on the spot like a Stantler in headlights, the bottle of ketchup locked in its jaws. Latias leaned back with concerned eyes. As for Ash?

The smile had been wiped from his face and he let out a pained whimper.

It wasn't the reaction most people had when they were told they would be visiting Alola. The region was one of the top vacation spots in the entire world. With clear blue ocean water and white, sandy beaches it had a natural beauty hard to find in other parts of the world. The inhabitants of the island chain were famed for their hospitality and kindness towards those that came to visit. Add in the unique culture unfound in any other part of the world and it was a place most people would have loved to spend time in.

Most people didn't have to wrangle a team with a criminal former champion on it.

"Why are we going there?" Anabel asked.

Petrovic snorted. "Ya mean aside from rotten luck?"

Looker grabbed a remote and flicked on the projector in the room. An image of a woman with short purple hair and glasses in a business suit appeared on screen. The photo had been taken from a distance, but it managed to capture enough detail of the aftermath of a fight a few years ago between Team Rocket and Team Plasma.

It brought back unpleasant memories. Looker had been stationed in Unova when that conflict had flared up. While the two crime syndicates had fought over territory and influence, the International Police had been focused on damage control. Protecting civilians and suppressing how bad the violence was had been their priorities. His superiors had been convinced the shadow war would have waged for years. He'd even heard rumors of them supporting Plasma to stop the spread of Rocket.

It had left a bad taste in his mouth when he heard it. How could they claim to be protectors of the innocent when they were funding a crime syndicate with aspirations of revolution? Mercifully, he never had to find out if the rumors were true. Thanks to the efforts of a small group of Trainers, local law enforcement, and his own skill they had managed to arrest the leaders of Plasma before they could take control of a Legend.

Ironically, Ash had been one of the Trainers that helped bring down Plasma. At the time, Looker had been amazed at his bravery fighting Plasma. He could remember thinking the boy could be a good agent one day.

He wished he could go back and warn himself about how bad an idea that was.

"For the past year, Team Rocket has expanded its influence to the island chain." He explained. "The territory they control is host to the usual crimes. Smuggling, arms and Pokemon deals, drug pushing, extortion, theft, etc."

Petrovic frowned. "Lemme guess, we're supposed to do the impossible and throw them off the islands?"

"No, actually." It was the one bit of good news they had. "Local law enforcement has refused our offer to work together. They say they can handle it on their own."

He snorted. "Sure they can. I'll bet ya a hundred dollars they're too prideful to ask for help."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "That's a fools bet." She tilted her head aside. "Why are we going there then if we haven't been invited by local authorities?"

Looker shrugged. "We don't need their permission to operate in Alola. We have a base there, after all. It would certainly make things easier for us, but we have the authority to work independently when we must."

His drunken comrade slammed his bottle on the table. "And that's why they hate us, lass." He snickered. "Impotent little bastards can't stand when we disrespect them. And they despise how we can order them around and they're forced to follow orders. Hearing them whine like brats is the funniest part of the job."

"There are plenty good people in the police." Looker had personally worked alongside many of them. "And if we're lucky, they'll realize how beneficial we can be once we arrive. After all, we'll need all the help we can get if we're going to capture this woman."

Latias leaned back in her chair and watched the screen with a curious expression. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Matori Zhupikov AKA The Secretary. She is- "

Ash chose that moment to speak up. "She's the leader of the Matori Matrix. An elite unit of Team Rocket."

He had a feeling he was going to regret this but… "How do you know her?"

Ash shrugged. "I met her when I was in Alola. I was part of a group called the Ultra Guardians and we ran into her every now and then. She never seemed like much of a threat."

He forced another sip of his drink past his lips. "And why were you and your friends fighting a dangerous criminal?"

Petrovic scoffed. "Screw that, what in blazes is an Ultra Guardian and how did ya of all people become one?"

A melancholic smile crossed his face. "It was a group that worked for the Aether Foundation. We helped protect the region from Ultra Beasts and safely return them to their homes. She'd try to capture Ultra Beasts whenever they appeared in our world, but we managed to stop her every time."

At this point, learning that Ash had been part of a group dedicated to fighting dangerous, otherworldly monsters didn't shock him. He could feel his blood pressure rising at the thought of what other surprises awaited them on those islands.

He went to take a sip of his coffee. In what must have been an act of pure spite on the part of Arceus, it was empty. With a dejected sigh, he set the cup aside and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He was going to need more Galarian coffee before the day was over.

"Well, that's quite the coincidence then. Our help was actually requested by the Aether Foundation. They've offered to fund our operation in Alola and pledge future support to Interpol if we come."

Petrovic whistled approvingly. "That's quite the offer. Them Aether folks are loaded. Why did they ask for us though?"

Looker frowned. "Two weeks ago, Matori and her people raided one of the Aether Foundations outposts. They stole the Pokemon in their care, knocked out the workers, and fled before the authorities even knew anything had happened. Only a single Crabominable was killed during the heist. According to the report, the Pokemon they stole are collectively worth over thirty million dollars."

Latias growled. Collectively, they all winced in pain as her rage was felt through the psychic link she had with them all. "No amount of money is worth what they must be going through."

"You won't find us disagreeing with you." He promised. "This was only done in retaliation though."

Ash crossed his arms and glared at picture of Matori. "Retaliation for what?"

"Team Rocket demanded that the Aether Foundation hand over all the data they had on Ultra Beasts and Ultra Wormholes. According to the Foundation, Matori called them once the raid was over and gave them an ultimatum."

"Give up the data or suffer the consequences." Anabel finished. "I take it they refused?"

He nodded. "They did. A few days ago, multiple raids were conducted on Aether outposts with the same result. Worse, Aether's farms and mining operations have been crippled over the past week by fires, rabid Pokemon attacks, and strikes from workers."

"They're bleeding money and want us to make it stop." Anabel shook her head. "I guess I can understand why they want Interpol's help. Why us though? There's an entire contingent of agents in Alola already."

Looker smiled. "An old friend of mine called in a favor that I couldn't refuse. She wanted someone she trusted to help with this."

He hoped that Wicke wasn't letting the stress of all this get to her.

"So not only do we have to help a soulless corporation, but we also have to capture one of the top operatives of Team Rocket? All while the local police feel like we slighted them?" Anabel groaned. "Why can't there ever be any simple missions?"

Petrovic patted her on the back sympathetically. For once, she didn't shy away in disgust. "Yer in the wrong line of work if ya think we ever get the simple missions."

It didn't help that on paper, they must have seemed like an unstoppable team. A former Frontier Brain with Psychic abilities, a lethal assassin, the man who took down Plasma and Galactic, and a former Champion with a Legend. They should have been capable of effortlessly taking on any enemy.

If only reality were so kind. If it were, perhaps Alto Mare wouldn't have ended so violently. So many people dead... it weighed on him. Objectively, he knew that he shouldn't blame himself for the actions of Team Rocket. It wasn't as easy as it sounded though. If he'd been smarter or more careful, maybe he could have prevented it and saved the people of Alto Mare. As if that wasn't bad enough, the one victory they'd gained in that city had been stolen from them.

When Looker had been told that Proton was assassinated in the middle of police headquarters, he had been speechless. Horrified. With Proton's cooperation, they could have crippled Team Rocket and found out their ongoing plans. If nothing else, he would have been enough for them to move against Giovanni and expose him to the world. Looker had believed leaving him with the police would give him enough protection from any potential Rocket agents.

No such luck. The police hadn't bothered to watch Proton when Looker had left. Petrovic had only arrived in time to find the security footage destroyed and the corpse of the former admin in the center of the interrogation room, its face frozen in shock and horror. All he knew was that Proton hadn't expected to be killed and his killer had used a revolver to execute the man.

Looker swore that if he ever found the killer, he would make them pay. By killing Proton when they did, they were responsible for all the pain Team Rocket inflicted in the future.

"Should I really be going?" Ash asked. "My face is pretty well known in Alola. Anyone could recognize me and then we'll have to deal with a manhunt."

Looker offered his young friend a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. We'll get you a good disguise. Combine your altered appearance with a cover identity and you'll be a completely different person."

"Even if anyone does recognize ya through the disguise, they'll convince themselves it can't be ya." Petrovic shrugged. "Happens all the time with celebrities."

Ash sighed. "Just don't make me look like a clown again please. That was humiliating."

Latias tilted her head to the side. "You were a clown?"

He groaned. "Not by choice. It was horrible."

Anabel giggled. "Oh, don't be so modest. You made me laugh." She smiled. "Don't worry, your next disguise won't be so humiliating. That's just Interpol's way of welcoming new agents."

"I'd have preferred a coupon or even a fruit basket…."

Looker rolled his eyes. "Just trust us, Ash. Whatever your next cover is, you'll be unrecognizable to everyone else. If anything goes wrong, we'll be there to protect you. Your experience on the islands will be invaluable to us."

Ash grimaced. "That'll have to do I guess." He shook his head. "It'll be… strange to see Alola again after everything that's happened."

"You'll have plenty of time to come to terms with the idea. We leave in the next few days." He informed them. "Take some time to rest before we leave. I get the feeling we won't have much time for it once we get there."

Chapter Text

If there was one thing Anabel couldn't stand, it was the heat. The humidity made things so much worse. The only way to combat the heat was to wear light clothes and hope there was enough water . Otherwise, she'd die of dehydration.

Death by sweating, what a way to go!

It was for this reason she wasn't as thrilled to be in Alola as most people would be.

She and the rest of her team had arrived in Alola a few minutes ago. When she first stepped off the boat, she would admit that she had been amazed at the beauty of the tropical paradise. The water here was so clean that she could see the Pokemon within it. The air had a pleasant, salty smell to it that was oddly relaxing. In the distance, she heard happy families enjoying their day at the beach.

They'd come to alola, a fake family on vacation. They dressed the part. As such, she had been stuffed into a floral midi-cut skirt, a white crop top, and gladiator-style sandals.

Disappointingly, Ash was wearing a green floral button-down T-shirt, yellow shorts, and a pair of white sneakers. To top off the outfit, he was also wearing a simple crème fedora and a pair of sunglasses. It was a normal outfit for a tourist. Ash had been adamant about choosing it himself this time to ensure no more 'initiation rituals' could be done to him. He'd even chosen to dye his hair a simple strawberry blonde this time to better blend in.

On his shoulder, Pikachu had chosen to wear a straw sun hat with little holes cut in the top so his ears could poke out. Walking at Ash's side, Latias had chosen to take on Anabel's form. It was a little creepy how perfect the transformation was. It wasn't just that she matched the clothes Anabel was wearing. Everything from the way she moved to the shade of her hair and the brightness of her smile was the exact same.

They looked like twins. If it weren't for the subtle thrum of psychic power in the back of her mind, she would have believed it herself.

Her older comrades had also decided to dress up for the part. Looker had chosen to wear a simple pair of white shorts, an oversized green button up, white sneakers, and a yellow crossbody bag. By contrast, Petrovic had chosen to wear a pair of linen bottoms, a red pinstripe shirt halfway unbuttoned, and sandals.

As far as anyone nearby was concerned, they were just another family of tourists here to have fun.

If it wasn't for the damn heat, she may have been able actually have some!

With an exasperated sigh, Anabel started to fan herself with her hand. "How far away is this safe house of ours?"

"Not far. It's an old warehouse close to a club." Looker told them. "The owner is a contact willing to keep it stocked and safe for agents that need it in exchange for a small monthly stipend."

Ash frowned. "A warehouse? There's not gonna be any AC, is there?"

Petrovic snorted. "Nope. It's a pointless expense. Why waste the money on a luxury that will rarely be used? Better to spend it on weapons and other useful stuff."

Anabel patted her dejected companion on the shoulder in comfort. "Look at the bright side: it's bound to be better than sleeping in the wilderness."

Looker rolled his eyes. "Kids these days. I've slept through aerial bombings in Rattata infested trenches. You should consider yourselves lucky."

She and Ash both rolled their eyes at his annoyed response. Anabel had immense respect for her superiors' service during the Great War. Many survivors spoke of the various horrors they endured during that tragedy. She had no doubt that her mentor had done the same.

If he wasn't careful, though, he'd come across as a grouchy old man.

"Why stay at this warehouse though?" Ash asked. "Wouldn't it be better to stay at our headquarters in Alola?"

"Under normal circumstances, sure. The issue is we'll need to operate closely alongside the Aether Corporation for this assignment. We can't risk them knowing its location."

Latias tilted her head as she skipped alongside them. "Why does it matter that we keep it secret?"

Petrovic smirked. "Security reasons. If anyone ever found out where it was located, the agents permanently stationed there would be in danger. They could be blackmailed with the threat of revealing it to the world. Worse, if say Team Rocket were to ever learn of it they could launch an attack and wipe out our presence in Alola."

Ash winced. "I can see why we have to keep it hidden. Will we ever get to visit it?"

Looker nodded. "Once our mission is complete, we'll give you a tour. Our Alolan HQ must be one of the better ones. Beautiful scenery, competent chefs, and a little beach to relax at after a long day of work."

"Don't forget the bar." Petrovic chimed in.

Anabel sighed. "Of course, all you care about is the bar."

Petrovic shrugged. "Judge me all ya want. Let's see how high and mighty ya are after a week-long stake out in the Alolan heat. I reckon ya won't last long."

Her eye twitched. 'Must. Resist. Urge. To. Punch.'

Latias sent her a supportive look. "I know exactly how you feel." She whispered into Anabel's mind.

They arrived at the warehouse a few minutes later. It was… about what she expected. Painted plain white and nestled in between a night club and an alcohol store, it was as unremarkable as it came. In the middle of the day, there was hardly anyone nearby since the club wouldn't officially open for another couple of hours. The only unique part of it was a small gate out front that they had to get past to get to the warehouse.

The inside was different. There was a couple different sets of mattresses on ground that looked serviceable, even if they weren't the most comfortable things in the world. In the corner was a small fridge and a microwave on a desk. There was even a second floor to the warehouse with what looked like computers, a wall phone, and even medical supplies and equipment normally only found in hospitals and Pokemon centers.

Anabel had a feeling it was better she didn't know how their contact got their hands on those.

The most impressive part, however, was the walls directly opposite of the entrance. Lining the walls were weapons of a wide variety. From automatic rifles to shotguns to snipers, knives, and pistols. Close to the weapons was even a large stash of ammo boxes, a variety of different explosives, and even Pokeballs.

Anabel whistled in appreciation and shut the door behind them. "With this kind of hardware, we could take on a small army."

Ash grimaced at the sight of the weapons. "Let's try to avoid having to use them. I'd rather not wind up causing any collateral damage."

Petrovic scoffed and flopped down atop one of the mattresses. "More like ya don't wanna get yer hands dirty, brat."

Her eyes narrowed and she moved in front of Ash. "Which is smart. Not all problems can be solved with violence and explosives."

"Whatever helps the brat sleep at night." He shrugged. "I'll be adding a few of these weapons to our lessons though. If ya wind up having to use them, I'm gonna make sure ya can at least shoot straight. I refuse to die because you couldn't handle a different weapon."

Looker chose that moment to interject. "That will have to wait. Petrovic, you and I have a meeting with Aether to attend."

He groaned. "Why do I have to go? Ya know I don't do diplomacy!"

"Because as a senior agent you must set a good example? Because it's a sign of respect to a potential ally? Because I told you to and you have to follow my orders?" Looker shrugged. "Take your pick."

Petrovic leveled a glare at him. "I hope ya know how much of a bastard ya are."

"Will we be going with you?" Anabel gestured to herself and Ash.

"HAH!"

Looker didn't so much laugh as he did loudly say the word hah and let it hang in the air. "You must be joking. Ash isn't just this regions disgraced Champion, he worked closely alongside Aether for months. If I take Ash, anyone could recognize him and try to capture him."

Latias lowered her illusion and returned to her natural form. She floated down onto one of the mattresses and rested her head on her arms. "Would anyone really risk it? Wouldn't people be afraid of him?"

Looker shrugged. "Most wouldn't even be able to see past the disguise we have for him. The rest would be too afraid of angering a dangerous criminal."

Petrovic chuckled. "Except for one or two reckless and insane fools who get it in their head they can play hero."

He sighed. "Yes, except for them."

"How much is his bounty up to at this point? Three or four million? For that much cash, even I'd be tempted to turn the little bastard in."

Ash paled and took a step back. In unison, both her and Latias leveled fierce glares at their comrade. If the way he shivered was any indication, he could feel the psychic energy starting to creep into the room.

"Not that I would ever do anything!" He rushed to assure them. "Go justice! Woo!"

Looker reached down and grabbed Petrovic by the ear, hoisting him up. He ignored the complaints and grunts of pain from his abrasive partner. "Ignore him. His mother never taught him when to keep his mouth shut." He scolded. "Anabel, I want you to get familiar with the area. Possible escape routes, people that frequent the area and their habits, and potential blind spots for surveillance."

Simple enough. Looking like a tourist, she had a handy explanation for walking around and asking questions. If she was lucky, people would overlook her lingering in places as the fascination of someone in a foreign land.

"Understood, sir."

Looker glanced at Ash. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I'm tempted to tell you to stay inside so no one recognizes you. My gut tells me you'll just ignore me though and end up kidnapped or involved in a gang war."

Ash crossed his arms and gave him a deadpan look. "I'm not that bad."

Everyone in the room exchanged a look with each other at that blatant lie. Even Pikachu and Latias couldn't help but shake their head at Ash's refusal to accept the truth.

He was a trouble magnet. Anyone who spent even a short amount of time around him knew that. She wouldn't be surprised if he had been cursed by some Legend or old witch at birth. It was the only explanation for the insanity that followed this boy.

At least there were no more hidden surprises in his past.

"Just be careful. Try not to draw any attention to yourself if you leave." Looker eventually told him. "Anabel, if he does anything stupid then I'm holding you responsible."

She recoiled. "What? Why!?"

"It was your idea to rescue him. That makes him your responsibility."

She paused. "That's fair."

Ash pouted. "I'm not a pet, you know."

"Of course you aren't." Looker rolled his eyes. "Well, we're off. Stay safe and get comfortable, everyone. This is our home for the foreseeable future."

The Pokemon League had never interested Domino. To her, it had always been a symbol of narcissism. Those that participated in it were glory seekers that wanted a chance at fame and fortune without adding anything to the world. The Gym Leaders and League officials were con artists that preyed on the ignorance of children.

Perhaps if she had been in the position to go on a journey as a child, she would have a more positive opinion of it. Instead of getting a starter Pokemon and being given the chance to explore the world, she had been forced to survive on the streets. It was difficult enough for adults to do that, but children? Come the harsh winter season, she had seen more than a few tiny, emaciated and frozen corpses in the alleys.

Domino would surely have become one of them if she hadn't made the poor decision to try and rob Giovanni. She'd paid for it when his Persian hunted her down. Against all logic, he had chosen to take in the strange orphan she had been and given her a future she could never have dreamed of.

Sitting here in the middle of a packed stadium and surrounded by ardent fans of the League, her patience was quickly wearing thin.

Down below on the battlefield, her target was facing off against a gym challenger. Pryce was notorious for his borderline cruelty in gym battles. It was this ruthlessness that consistently ranked him as the second strongest Gym Leader in the Johto region. Some of the more creative reporters had even nicknamed him the Frozen Demon for the icy mask that he wore while demolishing his challengers.

They had no idea how close to the truth they were.

The challenger was a young trainer who had just started his journey this year according to the commentators. He was as bland as generic as they came. The only thing that made him stand out was the look of terror on his face.

The battle had not been going well for the boy. Of the six that he had entered the fight with, only a single one – a pitiful Graveler that already looked liable to fall over. Meanwhile, Pryce had yet to even lose a single Pokemon. This was made all the more pitiful by the fact he had been limited to only three Pokemon compared to the challengers full team.

At this point, the brat should have realized winning was impossible. Bleeding hearts would have cried out that the moral thing to do was forfeit and spare the Pokemon unnecessary pain. While she wanted this to end, it was for different reasons. Everyone knew the kid would lose which meant all of this was a pointless waste of time.

Like the prideful fool he was, though, the challenger refused to admit he had lost.

"Graveler, Rollout! Build up as much speed as you can!" The challengers voice was carried to the entire stadium through the speakers and broadcast onto a holographic screen above them. All so the audience could feel like they were in the battle themselves.

After a moment of hesitation, the Graveler rushed to obey its incompetent trainer. It curled up into a ball and revved itself up before speeding around the frozen battlefield. It kicked up shards of ice and avoided the pools of water in its path as it barreled towards Pryce's Pokemon.

For his part, Pryce had chosen a Delibird for the battle. While most often forgot about the pitiful bird, Pryce's Delibird had proven itself to be the pinnacle of its species. It had managed to skillfully evade every attack sent its way and surgically pick apart its enemies. For most trainers, being dominated by something as weak as this would have been humiliating.

It was only made worse by how bored Pryce looked during the battle.

He slammed his wooden cane into the ground. "Up."

There was no delay between Pryce's command and the flap of Delibird's wings. By the time the Graveler got close, Delibird had already flown high into the air above it. Without any need for a verbal command from its trainer, the red and white bird summoned a light blue orb in its mouth. A trio of blue beams struck the Graveler and froze it in place.

The challenger tightened his fists and stomped his foot. "Come on, Graveler, break out of there! I know you can do it!"

Domino rolled her eyes in disgust and propped her head up in one hand. That oversized rock of his wasn't even able to breath inside that block of ice, let alone break its way out. Honestly, she wasn't sure what the kid expected was going to happen. Did he think the power of friendship was going to save the day and win him the battle?

If that happened, she would puke in protest from how sappy that was.

Pryce shook his head down below, never taking his eyes off of the boy. "Recall your Pokemon. This match is over."

Tears had started to gather in the boys eyes. "N-no! We can still fight!"

Pryce scoffed derisively. "You have no Pokemon left. Accept your loss with some measure of dignity, boy."

An uncomfortable silence had washed over the crowd. Domino couldn't understand why. As harsh as Pryce was being, everything he said was true. Maybe they couldn't handle the sight of someone's hope being crushed. If so, then they were fools.

Pryce was a master at breaking children of their will to fight.

"No!" The child petulantly screamed. "I won't lose! Not like this! Graveler, break out now!"

This was just pathetic. If Pryce didn't get this over with, then she swore she would-

There was a loud crack that echoed through the stadium. Down below, the frozen form of Graveler shook as cracks slowly began to spread. This went on for a few seconds until the ice was shattered and the living boulder broke free from its icy prison.

"I knew you could do it!" The challenger cried out.

Pryce pursed his lips. "Unexpected."

Domino ran a hand down her face. "You've gotta be kidding me…."

"Let's show him what we can do!" The challenger snapped his fingers. "Rollout into Elemental Break!"

For a moment, Domino wasn't sure if the kid had lost his mind from the stress or was trying to call out some preplanned strategy. The Graveler rolled towards the Delibird and launched itself off of ground just as the Ice type flew into the air. Once it uncurled itself and its hands became sheathed in fire and lightning, everything became clear.

The kid had decided to combine Brick Break, Thunder Punch, and Fire punch to create a new move. It wasn't uncommon for trainers to do this when they hit a roadblock in their journey. It was a flashy display of power that impressed Gym Leaders enough that they would reward such creativity. To their credit, it allowed their Pokemon a bit more flexibility and unpredictability in League battles.

There were two issues with it. In exchange for the added flexibility, the combo move was typically weaker than the individual moves. The worst aspect of it, however, was the drain on the energy of the Pokemon forcing those moves together.

It was why she wasn't surprised when the Delibird moved out of the way before the Graveler's attack had even made it halfway through its arc. Without nothing in the way to stop its momentum, the Graveler flew through the air and crashed into the ground.

Pryce sighed. "Ice Beam."

Once more, three lances of light blue energy pierced the air and slammed into the Graveler. The creature cried out in pain from the freezing cold energy and was pushed back right to the edge of a pool of frigid water. It managed to hold itself firm, however, and keep itself from being pushed back or being frozen solid.

"I shall give you one more chance." Pryce called out. "Forfeit the match and save us all some time."

The challenger shook in rage. "Never!" He threw his arms wide. "Graveler, use Explosion."

The entire stadium went silent as they processed the order the young trainer had just given. Explosion was a move that almost no trainer ever allowed their Pokemon to use. While the Pokemon themselves always survived the initial attack, they were left in such horrible condition that they needed immediate medical attention.

To say that it was frowned upon in the competitive circle went without saying. However… it wasn't without its merit. From personal experience, Domino knew how useful having a living bomb could be. Unlike normal explosives which had to be aimed and had the risk of missing or not going off, Pokemon could actively seek out targets. With enough conditioning, they would never refuse the order to explode either.

The possible applications of it were endless. Whether it was demolishing a building, neutralizing a horde of enemies, or simply creating a distraction to escape these types of Pokemon were something she always kept on hand.

Just as the Graveler began glow and build up the energy inside of it for the attack, Pryce slammed his cane into the ground. "Knock it into the water with Mega Kick."

Delibird launched itself towards the Graveler and angled itself foot first. Both of its feet shimmered a metallic blue as it raced towards its target. With so much energy being sapped for the Explosion, the Graveler was powerless to evade the attack. It was launched backwards into the water and sunk to the bottom with nothing more than a whimper.

Seconds ticked by in tense silence as everyone in the audience around Domino waited with bated breath. When it finally went off, the water glowed a violent yellow before being ejected into the air and raining down all around them. At the bottom of the pool of water was a small crater centered around the unconscious form of Graveler.

To no one's surprise, Pryce had won.

While the challenger collapsed to his knees and stared ahead of himself, Pryce returned his Delibird without a word and moved towards the child. Once close, he looked down on the boy with a look of disgust.

Pryce placed the tip of his cane under the kids chin and forced him to his feet. "Do you know what you are?"

A spoiled brat?

"You are an arrogant fool." Pryce raised his voice. "A child playing at training monsters that he has no right to and chasing a dream he is unworthy of."

Up on the screen, Domino and the rest of the crowd could see tears beginning to form in the child's eyes. "B-but I-"

Pryce put a bit more pressure on his cane. "Do you know why you lost?"

The boy clenched his teeth. "You were stronger than me."

Pryce let out an audible, annoyed grunt. "A simple answer for a simple fool. A lie you can tell yourself to feel better. If you truly believe that, then you should give up on your dreams here and now. You will never achieve them."

Domino frowned. The crowd was beginning to whisper among themselves in unease about what he was saying. While Pryce had developed a reputation as a tough Gym Leader, this seemed like a little much. Even with her disdain for the brat, this was too much. There was a difference between giving someone a hard lesson and crushing their dreams.

Pryce didn't let any of that stop him, however. "Despite having the numerical advantage, your Pokemon were of such pitiful quality that it was meaningless. Even with your ability to study my tactics and prepare for the battlefield, you came here without having done a scrap of research. You thought that you would win because you felt you deserved to. Even when defeat was certain, you needlessly pushed on "

"I…." The challenger looked away.

"If I had it my way, I would strip you of your trainer license and ensure you never stepped foot near a Pokemon again." Pryce slowly removed the cane from the boys neck and turned his back to him. "From this moment forward, you are banned from challenging this gym."

The choked sob that escaped the boys lips was enough to break even Domino's heart.

"If you wish to earn my badge, then you will have to prove yourself to me." He told the boy. "Learn to think. Prepare yourself for failure. Demonstrate that you have the will to take what you desire. If you can do that, then I shall give you another chance to earn your precious badge."

How generous of him. Taunting a child with the potential for approval and their desire to achieve their dreams while all but telling them it would never happen. Domino had met Houndoom friendlier than this man.

"As for all of you in the audience." Pryce turned to the crowd with a stern glare. Even hidden among a sea of faces as a spectator, a shiver ran down her spine. It felt as though he was staring into her soul. "Let this be a lesson. I will not tolerate mediocrity or arrogance. I shall push every trainer that comes to my Gym to their breaking point and mold them into something better. It is only through these brutal methods that we can demonstrate to the world our greatness."

Without another word, Pryce walked off of the battlefield and left them all behind. While the crowd around her whispered among themselves about their worry for the challenger or how impressive Pryce was for his age, Domino's eyes followed him the entire time.

He was everything that his file said he was. Ruthless, cruel, and cunning. While his age may have slowed him down physically, it hadn't done anything to his mind. She would need to be careful. If he caught her spying on him, she didn't value her chances of surviving.

Best to stay a face in the crowd for now. She had all the time in the world to gather information, after all.

"I can't believe you're forcing me to be here with you."

Not for the first time, Looker wished that anyone else had been assigned to his team. He would have taken another rookie agent and all their issues. He'd have taken a criminal forced to work with them for their own good. He'd have even taken one of those useless fools from the Ethics Committee!

Instead, he was stuck with Petrovic. Whoever made that decision must have been drunk when they made it if they thought it was a good idea to stick them together.

"Could you just act professional for five minutes?" Looker eventually told him. "This is one of the richest corporations on the planet. Earning their support is essential."

The two of them were walking through Aether's headquarters on Melemele island. While it was not as grand as their Aether Paradise in the center of Alola, it was still an impressive two story building. There were Pokemon receiving medical attention and Aether employees going about their duties. Looker and Petrovic had come here shortly after leaving their safehouse. It wasn't too far away from a school for Pokemon trainers.

In an environment like this, common sense dictated that they act as professional as possible and keep from drawing any attention. Unluckily for him, Petrovic wouldn't know how to be professional if it hit him.

"They asked us for help." Petrovic rolled his eyes. "Far as I'm concerned, they should get on their hands and knees to beg us to help."

"It doesn't matter. When this mission is over, we'll have their gratitude. That means financial support for our operations. New tech to give our agents an advantage. If need be, it could even help provide economic leverage when we need it." He responded. "Not to mention it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the corporate sector."

You never knew when they would start to overstep their bounds and become the next criminals to worry about, after all.

Petrovic smirked. "And it gives you an excuse to flirt with your old flame."

His eye twitched. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Is that so? Then it must have just been my imagination the last time we were here years ago, and I saw you two sneaking off together. " Petrovic's laugh was almost enough to send him over the edge.

Almost. He wouldn't stoop to his level. Instead, Looker opted to ignore him and pushed his way into the office where they were supposed to meet Wicke. She was there looking out a window when they came in but turned once she heard the door open.

Wicke looked the same as when they first met years ago. A little more refined with a few more wrinkles but still the picture of friendliness. Her hair was the same dark shade of purple and behind the glasses her green eyes held wisdom within them. Dressed in her uniform, she looked exactly like what one would expect of someone from the famed corporation.

To Looker's surprise, however, she wasn't alone. Leaning against the desk in the center of the room was a man he recognized. A man with bags under his eyes, thin grey hair, and dressed in a black police uniform with a Z-Crystal hanging from his neck. He had bored look in his eyes and was fiddling with a flask on his hip when they walked in.

He knew this man.

"Sir!" He snapped a salute. "What a pleasant surprise!"

Nanu let out an irritated grunt and slipped his flask back onto his belt. "Stop saluting me, damn it. I'm not your officer anymore."

He straightened himself out but couldn't keep the smile off of his face. "Sorry, Nanu. I'm just glad to see you."

Petrovic snorted in amusement. "I'll bet ya are. Still desperately seeking approval after all this time."

Nanu rolled his eyes. "Ah, Pet's here as well. Wonderful. Still drinking the blood of children?"

Petrovic shrugged and held up his hands. "Still pretending to be a cop while sitting around doing nothing?"

Wicke coughed into her fist. "While I'm sure you all must want to catch up, we have business to focus on…."

Looker moved in between Petrovic and Nanu. "She's right. As nice as it is to see you, what are you doing here, Nanu? I thought you were retired."

Nanu pushed off of the desk and stretched his arms above his head. "So did I. Guess the higher ups decided they didn't care and 'requested' that I help you folks out."

"And you didn't think to say no? Age must be getting to you." Petrovic taunted with a Cheshire grin.

Petrovic tried to sling his arm around Nanu's shoulder, but the retired agent stepped out of the way and grabbed his wrist, twisting until Petrovic was on his knees trying to pull out of his grip. Looker knew he should have stopped it but… his partner deserved it if he thought it was a good idea to taunt Nanu.

Eventually, Nanu decided to show mercy and let go of Petrovic's hand. "I'm not exactly in a position to say no." He turned his back on the downed man and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. "So you can expect me to help out when you need me. Please don't need me."

He'd missed Nanu's brand of laziness. It reminded him of better, more simple times. "It's good to have you on board." Looker turned to Wicke. "Has anything changed since you first requested our help?"

She sighed. "They've attacked more of our facilities and stolen the Pokemon we were taking care of. No one has been killed or put in the hospital so far, but my employees are all worried they'll be next. Frankly, I share their concerns."

Looker frowned. "I promise that we'll stop them. I won't let anything happen to you." He assured her. "Have they sent anymore demands?"

Wicke frowned and crossed her arms in front of her. "Just the same demand for all our research into Ultra Beasts and Ultra Wormholes." She shook her head in exasperation. "I just don't know what a crime syndicate would want with it. It's useless to anyone outside scientific circles."

Petrovic got up off the floor and rubbed his wrist, glaring at the back of Nanu's head. "Probably plan to sell it. Rival companies, governments, mad scientists; someone'll buy the stuff."

Nanu snorted and took his flask off his hip, unscrewing the cap. "Or the plan to keep it for themselves for some nefarious scheme." He said pointed out before taking a sip of whatever was in it.

Petrovic scoffed. "Now you're just talking nonsense. Team Rocket wouldn't know what to do with that sort of stuff. They're criminals, not scientists."

Looker hummed in thought. While he was inclined to agree with Petrovic there, he couldn't help but consider Nanu's point. Team Rocket had always been interested in powerful Pokemon. Their experiments of Legendary Pokemon and attempts to capture them had been well documented. Based on the data Aether had been willing to part with and eye witness reports, Ultra Beasts were just as powerful but far greater in number.

Team Rocket could decide that the data was too valuable to simply sell. If Alto Mare was any indication, their greed could have potentially apocalyptic consequences. He didn't want to imagine the destruction that would follow if they opened an Ultra Wormhole and a horde of the creatures poured through.

"Whatever they plan to do with it, we'll stop them." Looker assured them.

"Aether's bottom line and secrets aren't our only issues." Nanu said in between sips of his drink. "There's a gang war on the horizon."

His eyes widened. "What? Why hasn't command been informed?"

Nanu shrugged. "No idea. Maybe they felt you didn't need to know. You do have a lot on your plate protecting the weak, defenseless Aether Corporation, after all." He sniped.

Wicke narrowed her eyes. "Something you'd like to say?"

He paused just before his flask touched his lips. "Plenty."

"Nanu, please." Looker needed to cut that off before it turned into an argument. "What gang war?"

Nanu sighed a sat on the edge of the desk. "Past eight months, Rocket's been taking territory. Absorbing smaller criminals into their network and wiping out those that refuse them. They've pretty much taken over every major port."

Petrovic nodded. "Sounds like 'em. Control the ports and they control Alola's life-blood."

"Exactly. Things is not everyone is willing to just roll over while they take over." Nanu explained. "Team Skull has started pushing back."

"Tell me about them."

He shrugged. "They're not exactly the most intimidating gang around. Pretty nationalistic but only to the point they'll make noise. Crimes they're most well known for are vandalism, petty theft, the occasional mugging, and pushing drugs. Oh, and jaywalking. Plenty of that last one."

Nothing that would put them on the radar of the International Police then. When he'd been told there was a gang war on the horizon, he hadn't thought this would be the force to oppose Team Rocket. They sounded like they were in over their head if they thought they could push back the Kantonian crime syndicate.

There was an opportunity here.

"What are their members like?"

Nanu scoffed. "They're kids. Orphans, runaways, abuse victims, homeless, and more than a few failed trainers. Basically, if you're a social outcast then Skull will take you. Gives them a sense of purpose and family they can't get anywhere else."

Petrovic whistled. "Wow. And this is the mighty force starting a fight with Rocket? They must have more bravado than sense."

"They just don't like the idea of outsiders coming to terrorizes what they consider their islands." Nanu shrugged. "Hasn't been going well for them. Nothing major so far but there've been plenty of small fights and a few deaths. All Skull's, as you can imagine."

Wicke frowned. "How bad is this going to get?"

"If nothing's done to stop it? Probably open war in the streets for a few weeks until Rocket wipes them out."

"No faith in Skull's chances?" Looker couldn't help but ask.

"Hah!" Nanu barked. "Not likely. They don't have the resources or manpower to push Rocket out. Worse, the only thing holding them together is loyalty to their leader, Guzma. Once he dies, they'll collapse."

They'd just have to make sure that didn't happen then.

"Is there anything the police or the Kahuna's can do?" Wicke asked.

Nanu grunted in annoyance and slipped his flask onto his hip. "Nothing impactful. Police are busy trying to keep this under wraps, so it doesn't impact tourism and tank our economy. Most they can do is respond to attacks after they happen and try to build a case against known criminals."

He paused for a moment to look out the window. "As for the Kahuna's? We're trying to protect the kids doing the Island Challenge and keep the Tapu's from getting involved. We'd rather avoid those things leveling a city to 'protect' their islands from Rocket."

Wicke hummed in thought for a moment before gasping in shock and snapping her fingers. "What about the Rangers?"

In unison, all three of them grimaced and groaned. While the Rangers could be good at their job, there was a… rivalry between them and Interpol. Agents of the two organizations never got along and always blamed each other when a mission failed.

It was inevitable when the two organizations used such different methods and had such different priorities.

"Let's hope they stay out of it." Petrovic muttered. "I'm liable to kill someone if they show up."

"Nothing will change then." Nanu pushed himself off of the table and walked towards the door, motioning for Petrovic to follow him. "Come on, let's leave these two to talk. You and I have business to tend to."

Petrovic gave him smug grin and waggled his eyebrows at Looker as he followed their former boss out. "Have fun you two!"

Looker growled and pinched the bridge of his nose once the door shut behind them. "One day, I'm going to snap, and I can't be held accountable for what happens then."

Wicke laughed and strode up alongside him, patting him on the shoulder. "He's not so bad. Just a little rough around the edges."

That was one way to describe him. "You'd think differently if you had to work with him."

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Would you rather work with Faba?"

Looker winced. Petrovic's violent tendencies and abrasive nature were bad, but he'd take that over Faba's slimy personality any day. The man may have been brilliant, but he was manipulative and deceitful at the best of times.

"Touché." He admitted. "How have you been, Wicke? Truly?"

Wicke sighed moved back to sit on the edge of the desk, taking her glasses off and setting them aside. "I've been better. Running the Alolan branch of Aether was bad enough, but no this? I almost wish Lusamine were here to deal with it."

Looker moved behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. He slowly started to massage his fingers into them. "That bad?"

She sighed in frustration. "Like you wouldn't believe. I have to look after my employees, keep up a calm façade for the public, hire new security to protect our facilities, and be in and out of meetings with shareholders all day."

Looker kept up a slow, steady pace as she massaged her shoulders. She had so many knots in her shoulders that he was surprised she was even able to work properly. "Go on."

"And the paperwork!" She cried. "I thought it when I was just an assistant branch chief, but this? It's like a ravenous monster that grows whenever I'm not looking at it!"

He cracked and did his best to hold back his laughter. He knew what that was like. "Have you considered burning it? Or getting an intern to help?"

She scoffed and leaned into his touch. "I wish. I'm not cruel enough to subject a poor intern to that fate. I can't crush their hopes and dreams like that."

"And the fire?"

"That would be admitting defeat." She tilted her head back and smiled up at him. "You know I don't do that."

He had first hand experience there. It was a loss he remembered fondly. "Don't I know it." He smiled down at her. "I promise, once I'm done with Team Rocket, you'll never have to worry about them again."

"What about the paperwork?"

He snorted. "That is an enemy not even Arceus could defeat."

Wicke chuckled. "A shame. Still, I'll have to find a way to repay you."

"How about dinner? When all this is said and done."

She tapped her chin and hummed mischievously. "Quite the demand… I suppose I can make time in my busy schedule. Anything to repay such a dashing rouge for saving the day."

He smirked and kept doing his best to ease the tension in her shoulders. No matter how dangerous and complicated the coming days would be, at least he would know one thing for sure.

It would all turn out okay in the end.

Matori liked to believe she was a patient woman. She could handle the wait between assignments with grace. When the Grunts under her command made mistakes and potentially ruined a plan, she kept herself from reacting rashly. Even on long stakeouts, she was able to remain focused and avoid getting distracted.

One thing that always tested her patience, however, was the stupidity of others.

Ever since arriving in Alola, she had been moving from island to island trying to take as much territory as possible. Whenever she wasn't doing that, she had launch attacks on Aether and ramp up the pressure until they handed over the data. With how well things were going, she predicted that Aether would be forced to give it to them before the year was out. If they proved more stubborn than predicted, they could always take more drastic measures.

Taking over Alola's criminal underworld was proving to be a more difficult task. Pound for pound, they were the best equipped and best trained syndicate in the island chain. All it had taken was a quick show of force by wiping out the largest gang in Hau'oli City and most of them had fallen in line. Those that didn't were able to be persuaded by promises of money and power.

All except for one. A syndicate that spanned all of Alola named Team Skull. While they weren't the most intimidating group, the one thing they were was stubborn beyond belief. They weren't afraid of what would happen to them if they continued refusing them. Money didn't sway them, and power seemed like the last thing any of them wanted. It didn't even matter that they would be wiped out, only that they continued to spite Team Rocket.

These fools were a group that made it a habit to attack her people's business. While nothing major had been lost yet, she'd been getting reports that Team Skull's people could be seen lurking around the docks. If they launched an attack their and managed to take it from them, that would be a devastating blow to their profits.

As if that wasn't bad enough, their futile resistance was inspiring Alola's other criminals to resist them. While it wasn't an issue yet, the idea of the Alolan's all uniting under Team Skull to throw them out of the region was troubling.

The root of all this annoyance was a single man: Guzma, the leader of Team Skull. No matter how hard they searched, the man was impossible to find. She'd heard some of the Grunts calling him a coward too afraid to fight, but that was far from the truth. You didn't lead and grow a crime syndicate by being cowardly, after all.

If she was right about him, he was biding his time. Waiting to see what Team Rocket would do until he found the perfect time to strike. They couldn't afford to give him the chance to interrupt their plans.

They needed to get the data from Aether as soon as possible. The longer they were preoccupied with Team Skull, the longer it would take to deliver it to the boss. That was unacceptable.

If they were going to crush Team Skull, they needed Guzma out of the picture. With him gone, his followers would crumble. At that point, taking over Alola would be as easy as walking in and declaring themselves king.

In pursuit of this goal, Matori was currently standing outside of a freezer door in the back of a small butcher shop in Malie City on Ula'ula Island. The owners had been more than willing to work with them once they realized how profitable it could be. It was closed for the day and would be for as long as Team Rocket needed it. Not that the owners would complain with how much they were being paid.

With an annoyed sigh, Matori slipped on a thick fur coat and walked into the freezer with Gozu not far behind. Once inside, there was not a single slab of meat hanging in the cold storage, only a few empty tables and sealed wooden boxes. In the place of the meat was a trio of Team Skull Grunts with their arms and legs tightly bound in rope. They were all huddled together trying to conserve as much heat as possible.

Their thin layer of clothes meant to weather the heat of Alola didn't offer much protection from the bite of the cold.

Matori sat down on one of the boxes and leaned forward, pulling the coat tightly around her. "You three must be cold."

They collectively shivered. "F-fuck you." One of them managed to forced out through chattering teeth.

She smiled. "That's no way to talk to the woman who can get you three out of here."

"W-w-what do y-you want?"

"A little politeness never hurt anyone." She told them. "But if you can't do that, I understand. Common criminals like you do enjoy your vulgarity."

"Who are you calling c-common!?"

Matori rolled her eyes. Of course an attack on their pride would be enough to set them off. If these Grunts turned out to a reflection of what Guzma was like, she was going to be sorely disappointed.

"In exchange for my forgiveness and your freedom, all I ask is one thing: the location of Guzma. Or failing that, some way that I can track him down myself."

One of them – the only girl among the trio – reared back. "Y-yo! We'd ne-never betray Big Bro!"

She tilted her head aside. "Really? Why is that?"

"He looks out for us. Saved us from the s-streets."

"He's the strongest there is." Another one managed to boast.

"Y-yeah! When he finds out you took us, he'll make you pay for it."

Gozu and her shared a look with each other before collectively laughing. Their faith in their leader was… admirable. They were almost like children in their devotion to their leader. She almost regretted that she would have to crush it.

"How strange. He doesn't even seem to have noticed you three are missing." Matori huffed in amusement as her three prisoners all took on various looks of shock. "That's right. It's been close to a day and there's been nothing. No manhunt, no attacks on my people, not even an offer to pay a ransom."

When none of them said anything, Gozu chose that moment to speak up. "Doesn't seem to me like he cares all that much for his people."

"A-and what? You do?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't care less if you three live or die. It's Guzma I want, not you." She cupped her hand in front of her. "Cooperate and you'll be rewarded. I won't just let you out of here, I'll pay you enough for you each to live in comfort."

One of the Grunts hung their head. "It s-sounds like a good deal. I don't wanna die in here."

"I just w-wanna see the sun again."

"No!" The girl shouted. "Guzma wouldn't just leave us. H-he must just be keeping things quiet, so she doesn't see it coming."

To her dismay, the other two Grunts were swayed by the simple, almost desperate words of their partner and echoed their sentiment. She was tempted to leave them here with nothing but their faith to keep them warm, but she still had to try.

Matori tilted her head to the side. "Are you sure you don't want to help us? Team Rocket can be a very good friend to have."

The female Grunt leaned forward as much as her binds would all and spat at her feet. "L-listen lady, we aren't turning on Big Bro!"

"Yeah! Family before money!"

"We couldn't tell you anything e-even if we wanted to! So shove off!"

Her eyes narrowed and she tightened her hands into fists. Feeling Gozu's hand on her shoulder, however, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She forced herself to her feet and turned her on the trio of freezing Grunts.

"Very well. I can see that you've made up your minds. I'll respect that. I hope you three enjoy your stay here and take the time to cool down."

She would check back with them in a few hours. See if a little longer in the cold managed to loosen their lips and lessened their loyalty. Assuming they were still alive, anyway. If not, then that wasn't an issue. Alola was crawling in enough Team Skull Grunts to build a small mountain.

Sooner or later, one of them would give up their beloved leader.

Once outside of the freezer, Matori shrugged off the winter coat and collapsed into a nearby chair with a sigh.

"All I want is one simple assignment. Just one." She massaged her temple and leaned back. It's always 'spread our influence in this backwater' or 'investigate this dangerous anomaly'. I just want a simple heist. Nothing major; just something I can have fun with."

Gozu chuckled and locked the door to the freezer. "If you wanted the simple assignments, you should have been an underachiever."

That would have gone against everything she stood for. Damn it.

"Go get the others." She ordered. "I have a call to make."

Once Gozu left the room, Matori raised her Xtransceiver to her face and dialed the number of Giovanni's contact in Alola.

She could already feel a headache beginning to form.

"What is it, brat?"

Her eyebrow twitched. "I apologize for disturbing you, sir, but I needed to speak with you about something."

On the other end, Nanu let out an annoyed groan. "Out with it. I've got important business to attend to."

A laugh track could be heard on the other end of the call. "You're watching a sitcom…."

"Not just any sitcom. This one's got a love pentagon in it and a talking Dunsparce that speaks in rhymes." He smirked at the sight of her frowning face. "You've got until the commercials end. Shoot."

She was tempted to shoot him for real. Unfortunately, the deal he had made with Giovanni gave him complete protection from any attacks or retaliation. Unless Giovanni allowed it, they couldn't punish him for anything. Short of killing her and arresting every Rocket agent in Alola, he could get away with anything.

Matori hated having to be polite to a man like him. Law enforcement always walked around with an unearned sense of superiority. Criminals liked to think they were better than everyone else. Nanu? He was the worst combination of those two.

Fitting for the man who had helped them infiltrate Interpol all those years ago.

"Has Petrel been in contact with you recently?"

"Nope." He popped the P as he spoke. "Haven't heard from him in years. Why?"

"He's supposed to get in contact with us when he and those Interpol stooges of his arrive in the region. I was hoping he had simply forgotten to call me."

Nanu shrugged. "Could be they aren't here yet and that's why he hasn't called." He smirked. "You need to work on that patience of yours. Otherwise, you'll wind up being more subpar than you already are."

'Must. Not. Kill.'

Out of his view, Matori tightened her fist hard enough to draw blood. "I'll keep that in mind, sir. Please let me know the second he contacts you."

"I'll think about it. Anything else or did you just want to waste my time?"

It was only years of working as Giovanni's secretary that kept her from telling him exactly what she thought of him.

"Do you have anything on Guzma, or Team Skull I can use?" It wounded her pride to have to ask him for help, but if he knew anything then she wouldn't turn him away.

He shrugged. "Nothing useful for finding him. Just locations of some of his Grunts and the name's of the officers on his payroll. He's been laying low ever since you people arrived in force."

Her frown deepened. "I see. Is there nothing you can give me?"

Nanu let out a tired sigh. "Look, brat. If I wanted to do your job for you, I'd call your boss and ask for it. Only reason I'm even helping is because I owe him a favor."

She snarled. "You washed-up, rotten, old, limp-"

An annoyingly catchy theme song began to play on the other end, and he laughed. "Shows back. Call's over, brat. Don't call me again unless it's something important."

When Gozu returned, he found her glaring at the Xtransceiver she had thrown across the room and making promises of painful murder. He wisely chose to keep his mouth shut until she was done and panting for breath. If he had tried to interrupt her while she was venting her rage, she couldn't be held responsible for what she would do or say to him.

"What?" She panted.

He cleared his throat and pointedly looked away. "I've gathered the rest of the Matori Matrix. What are your orders?"

She took a moment to catch her breath and calm down. Once she was certain she could get out a whole sentence without needing to stop for air, she started to straighten out her hair and clothes.

"Spread word with the local gangs and freelance criminals that we're recruiting for a job." She ordered. "Anyone willing to strike Team Skull and their allies will be rewarded."

Gozu hummed in thought. "Using them as cannon fodder? I see. I'll have the boys spread the word."

Good. While she would have preferred to rely on just the members of her unit, there were only so many of them. The price of excellence often was a limit in quantity. She couldn't risk using the regular Grunts on attacks like this either. She needed to keep them to run the day to day business in the region and as a last resort in case things turned to full-scale war.

Which left the locals as her only option. While she didn't have high hopes for them, she knew they could at least distract Skull and whittle down their numbers. And who knew? Perhaps there would even be a few that would surprise her and be worthy of joining Team Rocket as official members.

Only time would tell.

"Good. Once that's done, get everyone ready. We hit another Aether facility tonight."

"Alola is beautiful."

Ash couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he watched Latias stare in amazement at the environment around her. Using the form of Anabel to move freely through the city, she stopped to stare at everything she found. Every time she found a new landmark or a street performer, she forced the group to stop and admire them. And the moment she saw the white, sandy beaches?

He'd thought he would have to physically stop her from sprinting off to play on the beach.

Pikachu laughed at her excitement and relaxed atop Ash's shoulder with an easy smile. "It's the most beautiful region in the world. I missed it."

Ash had too. Ever since leaving, he had felt nothing but the desire to come back. Out of all the regions he had travelled through, this one had been the most… fun. The adventures he'd had were simple and fun compared to the grand events of his previous journeys. The Island Challenge had been a welcome change from Gym battles that focused more on understanding his Pokemon than simple battle prowess. Even something as simple as attending school had been a welcome change of pace.

It helped that he'd only dealt with two near-death experiences this time. An astonishing improvement compared to everything that came before and after.

He put his hand on her shoulder and guided her toward a nearby food cart. "You ever been to a beach before?"

She shook her head. "Never! I've always wanted to visit on though. The movies always make them out like the best place in the world to relax."

Pikachu nodded along with her. "They don't lie. There's nothing better than basking in the sun or feeling warm sand in your toes."

Ash handed a small wad of cash to the vendor of the food cart for three malasada's. The three of them moved away from the cart and passed it to his two companions, moving down the street. At first, he was worried Latias would turn her nose up at the doughy treat. Once she bit into it and proceeded to shove the rest of it in her mouth, however, his fears were assuaged.

He munched on some of his cinnamon malasada and hummed in delight. "I'm surprised you're so excited to see one. I thought you'd be used to seeing the ocean."

Latias silently laughed. "It's different. The water here reflects the sun and moves more… naturally. Like it's a perfect little piece of nature. Even the water here is cleaner. Alto Mare was-"

Ash winced in discomfort as she went silent. At the mention of her old home, all of the cheer in her vanished. Through the mental link they all shared, Ash could feel her sorrow as though it was his own. Vague memories that weren't his flashed through his mind. Memories of playing with Latios as a child, staying up all night watching horror movies with Bianca, and helping struggling artists find happiness. Now… it was all gone.

He and Pikachu shared a brief look. Slowly, he reached out and stroke her head. As far as any passersby knew, he was ruffling her hair instead of petting her. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to remind you of the Sinking."

The Sinking… what a simple name for a tragedy. In the days that followed the mass exodus, the media had begun referring to the death of Alto Mare by that name. According to Petrovic, it helped the average person come to terms with the death toll. That had made some sense, even if it was morbid. Then he'd learned it also glorified it in a way, turning what should have been dark day in history into a mystery and source of entertainment for the sick and twisted.

Even thinking of it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Latias shook her head. "It's not your fault. It was bound to happen eventually." The smile she gave this time was not as genuine as the last, but Ash chose not to comment on it. "Alto Mare was beautiful because of its art and architecture. It was the only city in the world with such extensive canals. But… the one thing we didn't have was a good beach. I always wished we could have had one. Now I just wish I could see the canals one more time."

It was a wish she would never be able attain. With the loss of Alto Mare, the world had lost something truly unique. More importantly, however, his friend had lost the one home she had.

Just like he had when Team Rocket ruined his life.

Pikachu hopped from his shoulder onto Latias' and nuzzled his cheek into hers. "We're here for you. In fact, why don't we all agree to spend some time at the beach before we leave Alola? Just forget all our worries and have some fun for a change."

She laughed mirthlessly. "I appreciate it. You two are good friends."

Ash shrugged. "We're a team. It's a least we can do."

The three of them walked a bit deeper into the city in a comfortable silence. The pleasant atmosphere of the city and the ambient chatter of its people was enough for the three of them. It reinforced what Ash was doing. Team Rocket was a danger to this peace and all the people that enjoyed it. To protect them, he was willing to do anything he had to.

Anything to prevent another Alto Mare.

Anything to make a difference.

Pikachu tilted his head to the side and pointed his paw. "What's that?"

Ash followed Pikachu's paw to the opposite side of the street to find a crowd of people moving toward a large building. Upon closer inspection, the people in crowd all looked disheveled and wary of being here. On the outside was a sign that read 'Makata's Fish and Chips'. After a few moments, people stepped outside and beckoned everyone inside in an orderly.

His curiosity got the better of him. He walked towards the restaurant and was stopped outside by some of the staff. They seemed more curious about them than anything else.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I ask what this is?"

One of the workers – an older man with bronze skin, greying hair, and an apron – shrugged his shoulders. "What's it look like, lad? It's a soup kitchen."

Latias blinked in confusion. "Soup kitchen?" She inquired, using her psychic abilities to make it look like she had spoken the question out loud.

The man nodded. "It's a place where we hand out free meals to those in need. It's not much, but it's honest work." He crossed his arms and motioned for the others to head inside. "Who are you three? You don't look like locals."

Ash shook his head. "We're… I guess you'd call us tourists but we're also here on business."

He nodded. "You look the type. Well I'd invite you in for a bite, but normal business hours are over. I can't afford to give away food to someone who isn't in need when someone else is."

Ash shook his hands and held up his hands. "No, don't apologize. I think it's great you're doing this." He paused for a moment in thought and rubbed his chin. "How often do you do this?"

The man shrugged. "I try to do it every day if I can. I always have leftovers and the sea isn't so far that I can't fish for more if I need it. Why?"

He glanced at Latias and Pikachu for a moment before meeting the man's eyes and standing straight. They would understand. "Would you mind if I – we – helped out? Assuming you need any, that is."

The elder man chuckled. "I always appreciate kind souls willing to lend a helping hand. I thought you were a tourist though? Why spend your time here when you could relax on the beach?"

"I just like helping people." He smiled brightly.

The cook stared at the three of them for a moment as though he was searching for something. Whatever it was, he must have found it for he nodded and motioned for them to follow him inside.

"I think you're going to get along with the others well." He looked back. "How often can you come?"

He frowned. "As often as my job lets me. I'll try every day though."

"Don't push yourself. I wouldn't want you ending up in her as a customer instead of a volunteer."

Latias crossed her arms behind her back and watched Ash curiously for a moment. "Why did you ask to help?"

He shrugged. "It just seemed like the right thing to do. It's something we can do when we aren't running around at night risking our lives."

Pikachu laughed. "Makes sense to me. Anything to destress after staring death in the face sounds good to me!"

The man glanced back. "By the way, I didn't catch your name's. I'm Makata, in case you haven't caught on by now."

"This is Layla and I'm Red. It's nice to meet you." He looked out among the happy, satisfied faces of those digging into their food and laughed as the stress left him. "I can't wait to help out.

Chapter Text

The soup kitchen was crowded again.

On Ash's first day he'd expected to deal with a dozen homeless. Yet after being on the food line he'd realized that he'd served a hundred and fifty people before his lunch break.

He'd known that poverty and homelessness existed. How could he not? His journey had taken him across the world to some of the largest cities mankind had ever built. For all the wonders of civilization, it had been impossible to miss the people sleeping under bridges or sitting on street corners begging for scraps.

Ash had always done his best to help by giving out any cash or food he could get his hands on. But afterwards? They just… faded from his mind. He didn't bother thinking of them until their next encounter. He felt disgust for not paying more attention, and angry at the world for allowing this to happen. He promised himself he would do better in the future.

Coming to this soup kitchen was as good a place to start.

The conversation of the workers and hungry ran over each other. The ruckus did nothing to dim the moon's light or the ambience it brought. And the smells… A blend of grease, cooking oil, and so many fish and Water types his mouth watered and eyes stung. It brought memories of his journey with Brock to the surface. He could remember the day Brock had managed to snag a few slices of Gyarados meat from a market and cook it for them all. It was so vivid that he almost felt as though he was physically there.

Today, Ash had been assigned to man the front counter and keep track of everyone who came for food. He smiled down at a pair of kids over the counter. Both had dirt in their blonde hair. The boy's eyes flicked around the room, never still. The girl didn't follow suit. She was rock still, only moving when her peer's paranoid turning around all but dragged her behind him. She refused to let go of his torn clothing, eyes down even as she numbly followed along with his motions.

"Hey there." Ash chirped. "What're your names?"

The boy growled up at the adult behind the counter. "Why do you want to know?"

"Bookkeeping." Ash promised, hands going up, a mute "don't shoot" that made the kids lips quirk in response. "It lets us keep track of people. That way if anyone misses a day, we can go looking for them and bring them food."

Or report them missing.

According to the other volunteers, if the soup kitchen didn't then no one else would.

He was doing his best not to dwell on that.

The boy's glare lessened a hair. "So we can come here as often as we want?"

Flicking his dyed hair out of his eyes, courtesy of another nod, the trainer explained. "Absolutely. We just need your names so we can keep track of you and your allergies."

"Uh… Allergies?"

Oh geeze. "It's stuff you can't eat. Stuff that makes you sick."

The boy blinked. "Oh! We can't eat peanuts. Mom said if we do we'll die."

Ash was tempted to ask them where their mother was. All he'd get was another hit against his faith in the world. So instead he grabbed his pen, jotting down the allergies. "I'm glad you two remembered that. Your names?"

"I'm Alan. And this is Dixie…."

"Well, Alan and Dixie, let's get you two some food!" He turned towards the kitchen and barked. "I need two meals! No peanuts!"

Back in the kitchen, he heard various sounds of affirmation. There were enough people that the kitchen was able to work efficiently. Some were members of Team Skull. Normally, Ash would have been worried about working with criminals, but Skull's were just petty thieves.

Nothing to really worry about.

While he had been relegated to the position of greeter and server, his friends had different roles. Latias - using her powers to look like Anabel - was washing everything and anything sent her way. While anyone else would have buckled under the mountain of dirty dishes, with her Psychic powers Latias washed dozens of plates at a time without missing a spot. Thanks to her legendary abilities she was able to convince everyone in the kitchen that she was very good at her job.

Pikachu was hooked up to a generator supplying the building with power. The owner was making a killing with his mouse ran power plant. With all the money Pikachu was saving him, he could afford to stock up on food.

After a few minutes, two trays were passed up. Each had a baked Magikarp with a side of garlic roasted potatoes, a fresh berry-veggie salad medley, and a steaming bowl of Slowpoke stew. Ash reached down beneath the counter and into a minifridge, plucking out two large bottles of water. He handed everything to the two children.

Dixie took her tray, her voice a whispered stammer. "Thank you, mister. You're the best!"

The two left soon after to find a seat and Ash couldn't help but shake his head and smile. Working here at this soup kitchen may not have been glorious or stopping the bad guys, but it was meaningful. Every person that he could keep from going hungry tonight was one person he wouldn't have been able to help otherwise.

Latias chose that moment to speak through their mental link. "How many is that so far?"

Ash glanced down at the list while writing down the name of the next person. "About twenty-five. If the others serve the same amount, that makes about… a hundred people."

Pikachu's astonishment could be felt through the link - akin to a weak Thundershock. "That many? At this rate, we'll break three hundred."

Latias giggled. "We can only hope so. That's three hundred people that wouldn't eat otherwise." Behind him, Ash could hear running water and feel the steam emanating from the washroom. "When we leave Alola, we should find a way to do more stuff like this."

Pikachu hummed in agreement. "I'd be up for that. Maybe I could even try my hand at tossing some of those salads."

Ash laughed chuckled under his breath. "I'll see what I can do. When we're done here I'll see if I can grab us some sweets as a treat."

"Ahem…."

Ash internally rolled his eyes. "And a small bottle of ketchup, you addicted rat."

Pikachu chuckled. "You call it an addiction; I call it the nectar of the gods."

Latias huffed in amusement. "As one of those gods, I can safely say that's not true at all."

"Then you must not be a god. Only the truly ascended can understand its greatness!"

Before Ash could chip in, he was broken from his mental conversation by a scuffle in the dining room. He leaned to get a better look and felt his hair stand on end. A trio of thugs had grabbed Makata by the neck and slammed him into a wall.

"I don't think you understood us, old man." Rockruff necklace wearer hissed. "You're operating on our turf. That means you gotta pay up when we tell you to."

Makata brought his hands up to grab the wrists of the Rockruff necklace goon. Despite the hands around his throat, he didn't look intimidated. "Boy, think about what you're doing. This is a soup kitchen. We're not some business you can shake down. We help people."

One of the thugs snorted and tossed his Pokeball from hand to hand. "That's real sweet of you folks. We're all for helping the little people out… so long as you pay us our dues first."

The punk closest to Ash laughed. "It ain't so bad, old man. We protect this place from any unfortunate accidents or nasty criminals. You got no idea what sorts of monsters are out there."

Makata glared at them. "And if I don't, then all these 'accidents' and criminals will suddenly come out of the woodwork?"

Collectively, the trio smiled. "Corretamundo."

Makata glowered. "No deal. You can do whatever you want, but you're not getting a cent outta me."

"Oh yeah?" The leader taunted. "And what about all these good people here? You willing to put them at risk over a few dollars and your worthless pride?"

Ash's skin crept at the tension of the scene. His blood boiled. He reached for his pen, clicking it on. It wasn't much, but it was something. Luckily no one heard the sound. Patrons and workers freezing when the realized what they saw then slinking off. Too afraid to notice anything else but the standoff.

Ash was willing to tolerate a lot, but this? Hell no. He wasn't about to let these people disturb the peace or be a danger.

He reached out to Latias through their link. "Can you do something? Make them see something that'll scare them to send them running?"

He could feel her hesitation through their bond. "I could. What happens if they freak out and hurt others though?"

"Then put them to sleep. If you can immobilize them and their Pokemon, that will allow us to call the police and get them out of here."

Ash reached up to scratch behind his ear but stopped as he realized it Pikachu's itch. He was still getting used to the side-effects of these mind-links. "What if one of them is a Dark type? Her powers won't work on them."

Ash fingered the sunglasses hanging from his shirt. "That's when you cut the power and come out here. We'll deal with any Dark types they have. On my signal. One… two… three-"

"What's going on here!?"

The voice that cut in was loud, confident, and furious. The thugs were shocked, dropping Makata. Everyone in the soup kitchen froze, looking for the voice.

Ash's heart stopped.

Standing in the doorway of the kitchen was a woman around his age. At her side was a humanoid, plant-like Pokemon with green petals nearly a match for her trainer's hair. An organic crown atop its head helped differentiate mon from woman. Both were holding large boxes in their hands and glaring at the thugs.

Ash shrank back against the others. He couldn't afford to let her see him.

The three thugs looked at each other for a moment before laughing and sauntering up to Mallow. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, little miss. We're just talking business with the old man here."

Mallow and her Tsareena set the boxes of food on the ground. Mallow walked past them. In their shock at being blatantly ignored, none of the criminals stopped her. She helped Makata to his feet and dusted him off.

"You need to be more careful, sir." She told the elderly man. "At your age, you can't afford to go playing hero."

Makata laughed. "Maybe not. I've always had a nasty habit of leaping before I look though."

Mallow smiled and rolled her eyes. "Stubborn… I can see why your wife is always so stressed out."

One of the thugs stomped his feet. "Oi! Girly! Stop ignoring us!"

The smile was wiped off Mallow's face. "Excuse me for a minute, sir." She crossed her arms and spun towards the criminals. "You three need to leave. Now."

The trio laughed. "Not gonna happen. Not until that geezer gives us what we want."

"Unless you'd rather take on his debt?" One of them waggled his eyebrows. "I can think of a few ways you could pay…."

Ash tightened his grip on the pen and stepped forward. He wasn't just going to stand by while a friend was in danger. He'd deal with the repercussions later.

Mallow scrunched up her nose in disgust. "No, thanks. I deal with enough trash with my job already. I don't need any more adding to my misery. Leave. This is your last warning."

The Rockruff necklace goon tried to shove her back but stumbled when she stepped out of the way. He sneered. "Oh yeah? And who's gonna make us? You?"

"Yep. Well, me… and my little friend you forgot about."

They blinked and shared a look with each other. "Wha-"

That was as far as they got before their legs were swept out from under them. Mallow's Tsareena moved faster than the eye could blink and kicked each of the men to the floor. Once they were on the ground, she moved towards the leader and placed her foot atop his throat and pressed down hard.

With her arms crossed behind her back and a taunting grin, Mallow leaned over the leader of the group. "So… are you willing to leave on your own yet? Or do we need to knock you unconscious and call the police?"

One of the thugs staggered to his feet and ripped his Pokeball off his belt. "No one messes with the Tunnel Runners and gets away with it!"

Mallow didn't bother to hide her laughter. "Tunnel Runners? What are you, twelve?"

Ash didn't bother hiding his laughter. No one else did either.

The thugs flushed. "Stop laughing!" One of them shouted. "We'll show you!"

The Skull Grunts working in the back of the kitchen stormed out into the dining room and unleashed their Pokemon. A small army of Alolan Rattata, Yungoos, and Zubat filled the room, barring their fangs at the thugs.

One of the Grunts stepped forward and clenched his fist. "Yo, if you think you're gonna hurt any of these people here, you'll have to go through us!"

A Tunnel Runner goon sneered in disgust. "Skull? What are you buffoons doing here? Don't you bastards have enough to worry about fighting and dying in your little war with them outsiders?"

One Tunnel Runner in a beanie laughed. "Yeah! Last I heard, you people were running scared. What are you doing here?"

The Skull Grunt narrowed his eyes. "We're just keeping our people fed. Ain't like they got anyone else to help 'em."

"These aren't your people." Rockruff necklace responded. "Not since your group ran with your tail between your legs and left it for the taking."

"We're back." The Grunt snapped. "And if we're willing to fight Rocket for what's ours? Some no-name gang of junkies and failures isn't gonna stop us. You best do what the lady says and walk away while we're still giving you the chance."

The Tunnel Runners scowled but put their Pokeballs away. With the immediate threat gone, Tsareena took her foot off the leader of the group and let him scramble to his feet. As his friends crowded around him, Rockruff necklace glared at the room of people while gritting his teeth.

"Fine, we'll go." He rubbed his throat. "But we won't forget this! The Tunnel Runners will make you all rue the day you crossed us!"

Contrary to their bold words, the Tunnel Runners sprinted out of the doors and didn't bother looking back. Once they were gone, the tension slowly faded away and allowed those who remained to breathe easy. Mallow and the Skull Grunts started to mingle with everyone while Makata began to laugh at what happened.

Ash released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and slumped against the wall. They'd managed to avoid any major violence and keep the soup kitchen safe. They were safe for the night. He suspected they would hear from the Tunnel Runners again though. Hopefully, Team Skull's presence should have been enough to keep them from coming back.

He hadn't liked them much during his journey in Alola and he certainly hadn't thought much of them. Frankly, he'd always thought they were bumbling buffoons even worse than Jessie, James, and Meowth had been. In the eight months since he'd been gone, though, it looked like they had turned into something different.

Something better if their words of fighting Team Rocket were any indication.

Latias gently nudged his mind through their link. "You okay, Ash? You seem tense."

"I'm fine… I just need a moment."

A moment to figure out how he could keep working here and avoid Mallow at the same time.

By the time the soup kitchen had locked its doors, it was close to midnight. Ash, Latias, and Pikachu had stayed to help clean up and get the kitchen back in order then left to head back to their team's safe house. Even with the islands being invaded by Team Rocket, it was still safe to walk the streets at night.

Granted, if anyone had tried to mug Ash or attack his team then they would have been in for a rude awakening. It was a nice change to pace to relax after working so hard.

Ash glanced at Latias and Pikachu. His Electric partner was riding on Latias' shoulder and the two were chatting while they made their way back to the safehouse.

"So he really tried to make you fight a Ground type? By yourself?"

Pikachu groaned. "He didn't just try – he did make me! More than once this mad man has made me fight things ten times my size that are immune to my attacks!" His partner shivered. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be crushed by an Onix?"

Latias giggled. "I can't say I do."

"It's not pleasant!" He whined "Those things enjoy crushing stuff! And Ash? At this point, I think he's got a few screws loose with how often he does this to us."

Ash's eye twitched. He couldn't just let that go! "Remind me again how these fights turn out? Was it you or those overgrown boulders who ended up on the ground?"

Pikachu scoffed. "You don't get to use that as an excuse! Just so you know, every team we've ever had kept a betting pool!"

Latias didn't bother to hide her laughter. "On?"

"On who the unlucky suckers were that were going to be sent against something they were weak to!" Pikachu shouted. "You should have seen how pale the Fire types would get when they realized he was taking us to a Water gym!"

Ash frowned. "I wasn't that bad. I just wanted to give you guys a challenge."

Pikachu nursed his tail in his paws, his ears twitching. "You sent me against a Rhydon. The only reason I still have a tail is because its horn was covered in water and conducted electricity!"

Latias hummed, her arms behind her head. "Well I think it's sweet. He's just trying to bring out the best in you. You should be more grateful."

Pikachu glowered at her. "We'll see how you like it when he makes you fight a Darkrai or something. When you're being pummeled into the ground? I want you to remember this conversation because I am not going to feel one once of sympathy."

Latias rolled her eyes. "Such a charmer. This is why people prefer Ash, you know."

Pikachu gasped in mock shock.

Ash chuckled. "Speaking of battling, I've been meaning to ask you two something now that I can understand you." He told them. "Why do Pokemon let Humans use them for battles?"

Pikachu blinked and tilted his head aside. "What brought this on?"

He shrugged. "Nothing in particular. It's just something I've always wondered. Your kind is naturally much stronger than us. You can enhance your strength, manipulate the elements, you even have natural healing factors. We're taught in schools that it's because you like working with us, but I've always wondered if it's true."

Pikachu clicked his tongue in understanding. "I see. Well that's sort of true? Not completely but it's the closest your kind will get. Basically, the reason so many of us are willing to spend time with Humans, going on journeys, and participating in battles is because it's pleasurable to us."

Ash flushed in embarrassment. "Pleasurable!?"

Oh Arceus… just what did Pokemon think Trainers were!?

Latias laughed and bonked the top of Pikachu's head. "Stop messing with him, Pikachu. He looks like he'll spontaneously combust any moment now."

"Alright, alright." Pikachu laughed. "So pleasure may not be the right word. It's just the closest one your language has to explain the feeling. It's more like… we enjoy fighting and getting stronger. We experience a rush when we push our limits and grow stronger. Learning new moves, taking more damage before we collapse, all of it. It's an incomparable rush."

"And it's something only you Humans excel at doing. Fighting, that is." Latias explained. "Other Legends I've met – the ancient one's – they all talk about how your kind excelled at it. You developed tools and weapons to carve out a place in the world for yourselves. Even the strongest Pokemon were wary of attacking your settlements according to them. Once you started capturing Pokemon and training them, their strength would grow exponentially."

Pikachu nodded. "All Pokemon have stories about your kind. Folk tales of weak or otherwise unwanted Pokemon being found by Humans. They'd be taken on grand adventures, given training to far surpass even the strongest of their old families, and even match the gods themselves. My mother used to tell me stories of the Human warrior Caesar and his Nidoking that overthrew a dynasty and sent Palkia fleeing in terror."

Latias nodded. "Even if most of the stories are untrue, the message is the same. If you want to grow stronger, Humans are your best chance to do so."

"This is all just generalization though." Pikachu admitted. "Not all Pokemon enjoy fighting. But all of us enjoy improving ourselves and our abilities. It's why you've got Pokemon willing to focus on improving the style and beauty of their moves with Coordinators, or Grass types improving the yield of their crop fields, or Pokemon under the care of doctors learning new ways to heal people. We all want to become the best version of ourselves we can."

Latias smirked. "It doesn't hurt that you Humans have technology either. Protection from the deadly elements, an easy abundance of food and water, medicine for the sick, entertainment beyond our wildest dreams. Really, you Humans may not be as strong as us physically, but you're far more creative and in some ways far smarter." She told him. "It's a natural partnership only monsters would try to break up."

Ash felt a smile stretch across his face. That was… a surprisingly sweet reason. The idea that both Humans and Pokemon were benefitting from their partnership filled him with relief. While he had always believed Humans and Pokemon were equals, there had always been a small nugget of doubt in the back of his mind fueled by the words of the crueler Trainers he had met. Now he could say with certainty that they were wrong.

A few minutes later, the trio arrived back at the Interpol safehouse that their group had been using as a base for their stay on the islands. This late at night, most people were asleep in bed and their businesses were closed until the rush of the morning came. Despite this, however, Petrovic was standing outside of the entrance to the building smoking a cigarette. When he saw them, he grinned. He tossed the butt of his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it with his boot.

The older agent walked towards them, arms spread wide in cheer. "Ah, the prodigal son returns!" He laughed. "How was yer time out, brat? Did ya have fun walking little old ladies across the street? Rescue any Meowth from trees?"

Ash had to suppress a sigh. After a long day and almost running into an old friend again, he was in no mood for Petrovic's mockery. "It was fine." He tried to walk past him. "I was just helping people in need. You should try it sometime instead of doing… whatever it is you do."

Petrovic held out an arm in Ash's way. He looked pleased by Ash's sharp words. "So you've got some claws in ya after all, huh?" He grinned. "And here I thought ya were a limp noodle without a lick o' fire inside ya."

Latias narrowed her eyes, and the air became tense with Psychic energy. A shiver ran down Ash's spine. His mind instinctively began to race while his eyes widened. The Psychic energy wasn't directed at him, however. Petrovic grimaced from the glare of the Legend and stepped away from Ash. He held up his arms in surrender.

"No need to get so defensive, ya overgrown lizard." The purple haired agent stuttered. "I didn't mean anything bad by it. I was just makin' an observation."

A growl escaped Latias' lips and Pikachu began to spark with electricity. "Mind your tongue. You can insult the others all you want but leave Ash out of it."

Petrovic snorted in amusement and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his trench coat. "Fine by me. It's no fun messing with him anyway. It's like kickin' a starving Lillipup. Just cruel." He looked to Ash and shrugged. "Ya got a protective pair of pets there. If only we were all so lucky."

Ash crossed his arms defiantly. "They're not pets. They're my friends and partners." He corrected the man. "And they're just as much a part of this team as you and me. Treat them with respect."

Petrovic rolled his eyes. It was clear that wouldn't be happening any time soon. "Sure. Whatever ya say, brat." The man sighed. "Just figured I'd wait outside for ya. Make sure ya made it back all safe and sound."

"Why?"

"'Cause if I didn't and something happened to ya, Looky and the other one would find some way to blame it on me." Petrovic leaned back against the wall of the safehouse. "I also wanted to talk to ya for a moment without them around to hold yer hand or make excuses."

Pikachu sighed. "Let's just head inside, Ash. I'm too tired to deal with his nonsense right now."

Ash couldn't agree more. He didn't hate the man like Looker or Anabel did, but Petrovic leapt at every chance to insult them others. Ash was convinced he was doing it on purpose. No one could be so abrasive by accident.

Petrovic wasn't letting him go inside without talking though. "What did you want to talk about?" He eventually asked.

"Well, I think it's real sweet and all how yer spending time at that soup kitchen. Ya got the spirit of a good Samaritan and I'm sure yer mommy would be proud." Petrovic looked up into the night sky at the crescent moon shimmering down on them. "I just wanna make sure you understand what's important."

He frowned. "What do you mean? Helping those people is important."

Petrovic gave him a lopsided smile. "It is. Yer free to keep doing that all you want. Ain't no one gonna stop ya." He pushed off the wall. "But yer not some geriatric with nothing better to do or kids forced by their parents to volunteer. Yer an agent of Interpol."

"I know that…."

Petrovic snorted. "Do ya? Could of fooled me. The passion ya show for the little kitchen is more than ya've shown for our work." He shook his head. "What? Is saving people from certain death less important than tossing a salad? Too glamorous for yer blood?"

Ash flinched at the accusation and looked away. "That's not it. I just… it's a lot to handle is all. The lies, the violence, and the pressure to save the day..." He trailed off for a moment before letting out an exhausted sigh. "It's not what I expected when I first joined."

"Sorry our line of work ain't all fancy suits and beautiful women at rich mansions, brat." Petrovic reached over and thumped him on the back of the head. Pikachu jolted Petrovic with a weak burst of electricity. The older agent recoiled in pain and grunted but pushed on. "Reality is always disappointing. Just cause it ain't like the movies doesn't mean ya can put anything but full effort into this. Not if ya want to survive long enough to clear yer name."

Ash's shoulders slumped in defeat. "What do you want from me, Petrovic? Do you want me to stop going to the soup kitchen?"

A shake of his head. "Nah. Keep going if it makes you feel tingly inside. What I want is for ya to understand one simple fact: this job comes first. When yer with us, ya give us a hundred and ten percent. Ya do exactly what we say and don't go trying to pull any of those useless heroics. We know what we're doing and how to protect these people." He placed his hand under Ash's chin and forced him to look into Petrovic's eyes. "Understand, brat?"

Ash glared up at him. "Yeah. I understand, sir."

Petrovic smiled. "Good. Now get to bed. Ya have a long day ahead of you tomorrow and I don't want ya complaining ya didn't get yer beauty sleep."

Once Petrovic stepped aside, Ash and his partners moved past him. While Ash didn't know about them, he was left feeling… disappointed in himself. Had he really been doing such a poor job as an agent that the others were wondering if his heart was really in it? Or was it just Petrovic trying reach out and give him a helping hand? Ash couldn't say for certain. All he knew was that he'd need to do better.

Not just for himself, but for his team and all the people that he was now responsible for protecting.

"Oh, one more thing." Petrovic called out before Ash could open the doors. He turned to see what the man wanted. Ash was almost too slow to catch the small, metallic object Petrovic had tossed at his head.

It was a lock.

At his confused look, Petrovic laughed. "I noticed ya've been practicing how to pick locks alongside everything else. For a rookie, yer pretty good at it. Figured I'd give ya something a bit more difficult to practice on than that dollar store crap." He explained. "Once ya get fast enough with that lock, I'll bump ya up to something tougher. We'll turn ya into a proper agent yet if ya do what we tell ya."

Ash smiled. "Thanks, Petrovic. I appreciate it."

Petrovic snorted. "Not a problem, brat. I'm always happy to show off for the less competent people. Gives them something to strive for." He made a shooing motion with his hand. "Now get to bed! Ya won't have any time for naps tomorrow."

"Well, Ash, we know you wanted our job to be a bit more like the movies. Have you been studying the alias we gave you?"

Ash sent Looker a nod. The team was in their safe house preparing for their mission today and munching on bacon and eggs for breakfast. A week ago, Ash had been given an alias to study. Courtesy of their HQ here in the Alola region, it had come complete with details of his new name, basic details of who he was and how he should act, a fake ID, and even advice for what to wear.

He felt like an actor preparing for a role in a movie.

"My name is Alex Woods." He stammered. "I'm a trainer from Melemele Island trying to complete the Island Challenge. I made some mistakes, though, and now I'm in desperate need of some cash."

Anabel hummed from her position in a chair by the microwave in the corner of the safe house. "What kind of mistakes?"

Ash squirmed in place and averted his eyes while wringing his hands together. Just like the alias suggested. "I made some risky investments. My friend said that it would have been a sure thing. A thousand percent return on investment but… well… then he took a vacation to Orre. And he hasn't been returning my calls."

Petrovic loudly munched on a strip of bacon dipped in syrup. In his right hand was an entire bottle of the stuff. "Not bad. Add some urgency. Loan sharks or something equally shady. Keeps people from asking questions about why a nervous brat like ya would want to get involved in crime."

Looker sipped on his Galarian Coffee. "Nothing puts people's minds at ease like knowing they have something to hold over your head. Crippling debt that could destroy your life is as good as any other."

"Remember not to add too much detail into your cover." Anabel told him. "It needs to be something you can easily remember. Too much detail and chances are you'll end up forgetting something during a crucial moment."

Ash nodded. "Understood." He took a moment munch on his breakfast. Latias was busy sipping on a smoothie while wearing Ash's form and Pikachu was busy guzzling down a bottle of ketchup almost as large as he was.

For his sanity, Ash chose not to think too hard about where it all went.

Petrovic tapped his chin in thought and sauntered over to Ash. Before Ash could ask what he was doing, the older agent unscrewed the cap to the bottle and dumped the entirety of its contents atop Ash's head.

Ash recoiled in disgust and glared up at the man. Behind him, Latias' eyes began to glow and Pikachu… well he was too absorbed in his ketchup to even notice what was happening. "What was that for!?" He shouted.

Petrovic snickered. "Yer too clean." He said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Ya ain't going to be passing as some high-class criminal. Yer a down on yer luck, two-bit thug who was dumb enough to fall for a con. That mean's ya gotta lock the part. Dirty clothes and greasy hair."

"Or in your case, syrupy." Anabel chimed in with a tiny chuckle.

Looker tried to hide his own laughter behind a sip of his coffee. "If nothing else, it'll help you blend in a bit more."

He pouted. "I hate you all…."

They all laughed. Even Latias and Pikachu were joining in on the fun. Ash supposed he couldn't blame them all for trying to keep things light. It helped him ignore the pit in his stomach.

In the past week and a half, Team Rocket had begun their counterattack. It wasn't just Skull Grunts, or their criminal allies being targeted by Rocket. The businesses that supported them or were in Skull territory were. From the reports that Looker was being sent, they were being smashed up, burnt to the ground, and otherwise harassed in some way. According to Looker, it wasn't just Team Skull being hurt either. Many of the businesses in Skull territory were directly affiliated with the Aether Corporation or were covered for damages by the insurance branch of Aether.

Team Rocket had found a way to make both enemies bleed in a strike.

They weren't just using Team Rocket agents to strike. While Rocket officers oversaw the operation, the bulk of their force was natives to the region. Freelancers, mercenaries, and small-time gangs which had chosen to align themselves with Team Rocket in exchange for a hefty paycheck or an increase in their territory depending on which they were.

Team Rocket were masking their involvement in this crime wave with this strategy. On the rare instances the media did report on these crimes, Rocket was never mentioned. These native criminals were the perfect smokescreen to protect the syndicate from public outrage and a dedicated effort from the government. No one wanted to impact tourism to the islands, after all.

By using domestic criminals to hit these businesses, they were able to mask their involvement in the crimes and keep the media from reporting on how foreign criminals were destroying Alola. Headlines like that would have created both a witch hunt against Team Rocket backed by the full force of the Alolan government and impacted the tourism so badly that even Team Rocket's profits would be crippled.

There was one weakness though. Something that Interpol was exploiting across the region in full force: their manpower. With their focus on using freelancers, Interpol agents could pose as them and get close to Team Rocket. Close enough to learn their plans and find a way to tear them down.

And Ash would be taking part in that infiltration.

"What about all of you? Are you all prepared for what you have to do?" He glared at Petrovic. "Can I help any of you get prepped? Maybe with a helping of hot sauce in your eyes?"

Petrovic chuckled. "Try it and I won't be the one missing an eye, brat."

Looker took a loud sip of his coffee. He let out a blissful moan. He always seemed so much calmer when he had it in his hands. "We're fine, Ash." He assured. "As senior agents, it's our duty to make sure you're prepared. Not the other way around."

Anabel nodded. "I'm all set for my infiltration. I have my alias memorized and my Pokemon are all aware of what we'll be doing."

"As for me, I'll be helping our contact at Aether." Looker informed them. "Interpol and I will search for moles from Rocket in their work force. We'll vet anyone who could have access to their data on Ultra Wormholes."

"Which means Looky won't be there to hold yer hand, brat." Petrovic decided to add.

It didn't do much to help the anxiety Ash had managed to ignore up until this point.

"No, but you will, Petrovic." Looker scolded. "Since this is your first infiltration, Ash, I decided that Petrovic would be best suited to overseeing you."

"… really? Him?"

Petrovic's eyes narrowed. "Oi."

Looker went to take a large gulp of his coffee. He groaned in annoyance and set it aside when he realized it was all gone. "I know that Petrovic can come off as incompetent and lazy-"

"OI!"

Looker ignored his complaints. "But he is skilled at his job." Looker shivered. Almost as though the words tasted like ash, and he had to force them out or risk choking on them. "If Anabel and I can't watch over you, then he's the best one for the job."

"He's also the only one who can if you two are busy…."

Looker flinched. "That may be true, but it doesn't mean you can't rely on him."

Anabel rolled her eyes. "Look at it this way, Ash. If something goes wrong and your life is in danger, Petrovic is the perfect man for the job. Killing things is his specialty."

"I prefer the term targeted elimination and asset removal." Petrovic grumbled.

Pikachu sat up with his ketchup bottle between his legs, licking the tomato smoothie off of his paws. "Don't worry so much, Ash. You've got me and Latias to watch your back too if things go south! Nothing could possibly go wrong that we can't handle with a Legend on our side!"

Ash didn't have the heart to remind his little buddy about how said Legend had been taken down by an overgrown rat, a floating ball of ice, and one-eyed ghost. He just couldn't do it when his buddy seemed so confident.

Latias, however, didn't seem to share his reluctance.

"Actually… I can't come."

Anabel frowned. "What do you mean you can't come?"

Petrovic snorted. "Yeah, why can't ya? Don't tell me the big bad Legend is scared of a few common thugs."

Latias glared at their abrasive teammate. "What I'm scared of is this city burning to the ground and its people fleeing in terror."

"What do you mean?" Looker demanded. "Don't keep us in the dark, Latias. What is so urgent that the city could suffer?"

The Legend sighed. "Among Legends, there are unwritten rules we all follow." She slowly munched on a plate of eggs in her lap. "One of them is that we each have our own territories. Our kingdoms, if you will."

Ash tilted his head aside. "You mean like the land with Groudon or time and Dialga?"

She shook her head. "Those are domains. The source of their powers and what they have been tasked with overseeing. My domain is emotion – I can understand it on a level even other legends never could." She explained. "Our kingdoms are different. They're the physical territory we spend most of our time in. My families was Alto Mare before… before it was destroyed. Groudon has joint claim to Hoenn while Dialga splits its claim to Sinnoh with their counterparts."

Looker crossed his arms. "I see. Those regions are where the worship of them was at their height. I take it that there are Legends who rule Alola?"

She hummed affirmation. "The Tapu's. I've never met them before, but my brother did once when he left the city. According to him, they were volatile, violent, and just plain rude."

Ash frowned. He had met each of the Guardian Deities. While he wouldn't say they were the friendliest Legends he had ever met, they were far from the worst. They hadn't just helped protect the islands from an invasion of Ultra Beasts, they had stepped in to help him and his friends save Lusamine from the clutches of Nihilego.

Latias looked up and closed her eyes. "When one Legend enters the kingdom of another, we're expected to meet with them and offer a tribute. A gift to show that we come in peace, not conquest."

"And what happens if you don't?"

"They take it as a personal insult and will stop at nothing to teach the offending Legend a lesson." She sighed. "Most of us prefer to stay on good terms, so we never have any issues. The only ones that do are those who have territorial disputes like Rayquaza and Deoxys or opposing domains like Darkrai and Cresselia."

Pikachu stuck his paws into his ketchup bottle in an effort to get as much ketchup out as possible. "My father used to warn us that when Legends fought one another, our only hope was to hide and hope for a miracle from Arceus since they're the only ones that could save us then."

Ash suppressed a snort of amusement. They had been caught in the middle of more rampaging Legends doing battle than they could count. At this point, Ash wasn't sure if Arceus was looking out for him or had some sort of personal vendetta with how often his life was put in danger.

Looker hummed. "I can see why you want to meet them. Can it really not wait though?"

She sighed. "I've already waited long enough. I should have done it as soon as we got here. Any longer and chances are they'll lose their patience. At that point, me being around any of you would put you in greater danger than if you got exposed as Interpol agents to Team Rocket."

"Well then ya best get moving, little miss." Petrovic ordered. "I think I speak for us all when I say I don't need a Legend throwing a tantrum to be the death of me. Best bring them a nice gift so it doesn't happen!"

Anabel nodded. "For once, I agree with the homicidal man child." She raised her empty plate to block the annoyed swat the man made for her head. He reeled back and clutched his hand in pain. She stuck her tongue out in childish victory and giggled.

"The sooner you make nice with the Tapu's, the sooner we can put you back to work." Looker told her.

Ash tried for his best reassuring smile. "Be safe, Latias. I don't want you getting hurt if you can avoid it."

Latias looked away in seeming embarrassment at everyone's words. "There's no need to be worried. I'll be fine. Battle's between Legends rarely end in death."

Ash frowned. "Doesn't matter. You're one of us and that means we're going to look out for you."

Looker nodded. "He's right. Interpol looks after its own. Whether you're Human or Pokemon."

Petrovic shrugged. "I have always wondered what fried Legend tastes like. Guess I'll finally get the chance to try some if ya wind up needing help."

Anabel grunted in disgust. "Even when you're trying to be nice, you still come across as an ass."

A giggle broke up the fight between their two purple-haired teammates before it could begin. Latias flashed them all a bright smile. "Thank you, all of you. I appreciate it. I promise that the moment I'm done with the Tapu's, I'll be there to help wherever you guys need me."

Looker nodded. "That just leaves us with one other issue." His gaze turned to Pikachu. Slowly, everyone else's eyes followed suit until he was the center of attention. Pikachu froze midway through licking his paws.

"What?"

Petrovic sighed. "Ya gotta go in a Pokeball, rat."

Ash frowned and reached over to pluck Pikachu off the bed. He gently placed him in his lap and wrapped his arms protectively around his starter Pokemon, giving the rest of his team an uneasy look. "Pikachu doesn't like Pokeballs. He prefers to be outside with the rest of us."

Before Petrovic could insult Pikachu and Ash for their reluctance, Anabel leaned forward in curiosity. "Why? I thought Pokeballs were designed to create a comfortable environment for your kind? None of my Pokemon ever complained about them."

Pikachu grimaced. "I guess they do. It's enough to keep most Pokemon happy and out of danger after being beaten in battle. I've just never liked them." He shivered. Ash stroked his partners ears in comfort. "It's hard for me to ignore that it's all an illusion designed to keep me trapped. It doesn't help that I'm all alone in there and unaware of the real world. In there, time doesn't even work right. If anything ever happened to Ash and I was stuck in there? I'd have no idea anything was even wrong."

Ash hugged Pikachu closer. "I'm sorry… I never knew it was that bad for you."

Pikachu sighed. "It's fine. You couldn't know and you never forced me into one."

"I see. That makes this more complicated then." Looker told them. "Most trainers keep their Pokemon in their balls. Seeing you outside of one might raise some suspicion. Enough that someone may look too closely and connect the dots to back to Ash's real identity despite the disguise."

Ash glanced down at his partner for a moment before speaking up. "Maybe Pikachu could hide in my clothes to avoid suspicion? Or maybe he could try sneaking in and following us wherever we go-"

Pikachu placed his paws on Ash's hand, tilting his head back to look up at him. "Ash, it's alright. I'll go in the Pokeball."

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you if I can avoid it."

"And I appreciate it. We can't avoid this though." Pikachu shook his head. "If I want to be there to protect you without potentially revealing who you are, I need to go in the ball. I can survive in there for as long as I need to if it means I can protect you."

A smile graced Ash's face and he hugged Pikachu closer. "Thanks, buddy. I appreciate you being willing to do this for me."

"Happy to do it. Just uh… just don't forget to let me out the moment you can." Pikachu shivered. "I still want to be able to breath real air as soon as possible."

"You've got it."

And if Ash survived this? A weeks supply of specialty ketchups all for his buddy. It'd put him back a few thousand with how quickly Pikachu went through the stuff, but for this? Pikachu deserved it.

Looker smiled. "Glad we got that sorted. Alright people let's finish up our preparations. We have a long day ahead of us!"

Ash took a deep breath. It was a little before noon and the sun hung high in the sky. At the moment, the streets were alive with movement as people went about their daily routines and Pokemon scurried alongside their Humans. No one paid much attention him stood on a street corner.

Just down the street was a bar. It should have been empty this early in the day. While he'd been watching the bar, though, he'd seen over a dozen different people come and go. Any doubt he may have had about Interpol's intel on this place was gone.

Which meant he needed to get in there soon if he wanted to do his part.

The comm piece in his ear crackled to life. "Oi, brat, get moving." Petrovic said into his ear. "The longer ya just stand around staring, the quicker people are going to get suspicious. Especially with how much of a creep ya look like."

Ash ran a hand through his syrupy, dyed blond hair and turned to look at his reflection in the window of a flower shop. Given the nature of this mission, he had been forced give up his tropical attire. He tugged at the collar of the baggy brown hoodie he wore over a stained white T-shirt and ripped blue jeans. He looked up at the cloudy sky and adjusted the sunglasses over his eyes.

If it weren't for Pikachu's Pokeball on his belt and his revolver Ash would have been the down on his luck trainer he looked… Petrovic had been giving him lessons, and while not great he could hit a target. One out of every two shots.

His glasses reassured him most. These were the same glasses he had snatched off one of the Grunts in Alto Mare. From his tests and the tests run by Interpol, they allowed him to see in infrared, night vision, and x-ray visions. He could even use them as a pair of binoculars and to record what he was seeing.

It was that feature which was allowing Petrovic to see what he saw. Sadly, that meant that he had to listen to the older agent insult him over every move he made. If that was the price he had to pay for advice, however, then so be it.

At least, he hoped so. You could never be sure with Petrovic.

With one final, deep breath he started to move towards the bar. There was a bouncer outside the door reading a celebrity gossip magazine. Once he saw Ash, he looked up.

"What is it?" He sighed. "Bars closed until later tonight."

Ash shifted on the spot, wringing his hands together. "I-I'm here about the job."

"Boss isn't doing interviews for new bartenders until next week and is only taking people with prior experience-"

He shook his head. "No, the other job. The one looking for um… independent contractors? Is that the word?"

The bouncer narrowed his eyes. "You're a little young for this line of work."

Ash looked away from the bouncers gaze. "I'm old enough. No one told me there was an age requirement."

A sigh escaped the bouncers lips. "That's because there technically ain't any. Look, kid, just turn around and walk away. There's no reason for you to get involved. Get yourself a normal job."

His fists tightened and he trembled. "I need this job!" He all but shouted. A few passersby on the street looked their way, but once it became clear that nothing dangerous was happening they shrugged and continued about their day. "I-I have debts and I need the cash fast."

The bouncer was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you." He pushed open the door for Ash to enter, though not before one last parting message. "Hope this debt is worth it."

An amused snort sounded in his ear. "Ya play the desperate failure well, brat. Then again, I guess ya did have practice in your previous life."

Ash's eye twitched. This was going to be a long day.

Once he was inside the bar and the door shut behind him, Ash could see that he wasn't the only one here. There were at least five others here, all of them older than him by at least a decade or more. They each looked over to see the new blood, but after a moment they each looked away. None of them seemed interested in him.

That was fine with Ash. Each of them were criminals if they were here. Though… technically he was as well. Maybe he shouldn't be so quick to cast judgement in that case.

Ash took a seat at the bar by himself and kept his head down. The bartender came by and asked him if he wanted anything to drink. Before Ash could tell him no, his earpiece crackled to life again.

"Ask for a beer. Take small sips but be seen drinking it." Petrovic advised. "It'll help ya fit in with the other freelancers. Get ya some more respect than the average brat."

Ash frowned but took Petrovic's advice. He ordered a beer from the bartender and was given a small, brown bottle.

"Oh, and if ya never drunk alcohol before? Best try not to think about the taste and just get it done in one go."

With that final warning in mind, Ash took a tiny sip from the bottle. It took all his willpower not to spit the foul tasting sludge in his mouth out on the counter or toss the bottle in the nearest bin. Instead, all he could do was shiver in disgust and try to force the burning liquid down his throat. Once it was down, he set the bottle aside.

"Hmm… not bad for a first time. That is a pretty weak brand though. Once our mission in Alola is over, I'll give ya a taste of some of the good stuff that Looky's been hoarding."

If what he'd just had was considered weak then Ash wanted nothing to do with it. How on earth anyone could get addicted to this stuff was a mystery.

For the next half hour, Ash sat in silence at the bar taking the occasional sip of the bottled death in his hands. He was almost convinced that nothing was going to happen. Then the door opened, and he turned to see a man with tanned skin and an eyepatch walk into the bar.

He looked familiar somehow.

Petrovic whistled in his ear. "Well would ya look at that. Ya must be the unluckiest son of a bitch this side of Alola." He chuckled. "That's Gozu Conti. He's a veteran from the Great War. Served in the Kantonian army before his region got its ass handed to it. Nowadays though? He's the second in command of the Matori Matrix – a direct link to our target."

That's where he recognized him! He'd never spoken with the man, but he had seen him with Team Rocket before. Last he'd seen, the man had been fighting a losing battle against Professor Kukui while trying to capture Ultra Beasts.

If he was here, then this must have been serious.

Ash stood up alongside all the other freelancers in a line. Gozu walked up and down the line for a moment, taking stock of each of them and muttering silently under his breath. When Gozu's one-eyed gaze landed on him, Ash looked away fidgeted in place. The man moved on not long after which allowed Ash to breath an internal sigh of relief. Thank Arceus for small mercies.

Now if only that arrogant prick could have avoided putting Ash in this situation in the first place.

Eventually, Gozu leaned back against the bar and let out a tired, annoyed sigh. He snapped his fingers in a silent order for the bartender to fetch him a drink. "Standard fee is a thousand dollars. You get paid when the job is done. Any of you wind up dead or arrested, the others won't collect your share." He snatched the bottle of whiskey out of the bartenders hand and poured himself a glass. "You'll need your own weapons or Pokemon… looks like you've all got that covered."

He downed his glass in one go and set it down on the counter with a loud thud. Then he sighed. "Any questions?"

One freelancer raised his hand. "Yeah. What's the job? All we were told was that you people were paying for a few hours of work."

"Keep your mouth shut, brat!" Petrovic hissed. "Just act like all these other stooges and you'll be fine."

Ash kept his mouth shut.

"You may have heard about how stores in Team Skull territory are getting hit." Gozu said. "And that is exactly what you will be doing."

"What if Team Skull are there?" One of them asked.

Gozu rolled his eye. "Battle them, rob them, I don't care. Hitting these businesses is more important than you lot feeling good about yourselves for beating on Team Skull."

"How do you want this done?" Ash spoke up.

Gozu sighed. "Smash up the place. Rob it blind. Hell, burn it to the ground. The more damage you do, the better." He glared at them all and slammed his fist on the counter. They all jumped in alarm. "Let me be clear about one thing though: "You'll kill no one and nothing, no matter what. I won't deal with the heat, and I'll make you all burn if you screw this up and try to screw me over."

"What if they try to stop us though?"

"Doesn't matter." Gozu growled. "The kind of heat that will fall on us if you numb skulls went and killed someone would jeopardize this whole thing. So if any of you are thinking of ignoring me on this? Remember that Team Rocket never forgets nor forgives our enemies."

Left unsaid was that anyone who broke the few rules Gozu had given them would become one. It didn't take a genius to see that was enough to scare most of them into obeying. That was fine with Ash as far as he was concerned. The less he had to worry about Team Rocket hurting others while he was with them, the better.

Gozu clapped his hands together. "Now, if you lot can manage to get this done without screwing it all up, there may be more contract work for you in the future. Some with a bigger payoff than this job." He promised them. "Impress me by keeping your mediocrity to a minimum and I'll keep your names in mind when it comes time for those jobs."

"Ya hear that? Don't go screwing this up and we'll get ya one step closer to our target." Petrovic chimed in his ear. "Normally I'd bet against ya, but with me as yer guardian angel? I'd bet every cent in my bank account on ya."

Ash blinked behind his glasses. Really? Well those were some pretty big words of encouragement. If Petrovic believed in his chances, then maybe this would all work out-

"Don't go making me broke, ya hear? Or I'll take a pound of flesh out of yer hide for making me out like a fool."

Ash suppressed a sigh. There it was. Well, he'd just have to do his best to prove Petrovic wrong. The best way to do that was to be the best damn thief he could be! And… destroy someone's livelihood while traumatizing them for the rest of their life.

This was going to be a long day.

Gozu grinned. "Now get out there, ya morons. You do this right and the only ones who will lose here are the insurance companies." He snorted in derision. "And I think I speak for us all when I say fuck those assholes."

Ash laughed alongside the others.

It tasted like ash in his mouth.

The people in the store knew something was wrong the moment Ash and his crew entered. It would have been obvious to everyone when a small army entered the store in the middle of the day and fanned out to cover all the entrances and exits. While Ash moved to close the blinds to the store, another flipped over the sign in the window to say closed.

The store owner and the only worker nervously backed away.

The business their group had been sent after was a specialty Pokemon goods store. From what Ash could see, everything a professional trainer could need was here. Specialty Pokeballs designed for specific situations were in carefully sealed display cases. High-quality foods rich in protein and zinc were available for modest fees. He could even see instruction manuals for how to raise specific species of Pokemon or teach them certain moves. If Ash had come here on his journey, he didn't think he'd ever leave.

A shame they'd have to destroy it all.

Petrovic hummed in his ear. "That stuff looks nice… see if you can grab some on your way out. Might as well nab some for ourselves. Daddy could use himself a nice Heavy Ball…."

Ash scowled. He wasn't going to steal anything. He may have to pretend to be a criminal to protect Alola, but he wasn't going to do any more than was necessary. He wasn't going to profit from destroying these people's livelihoods if he could help it.

"Let's all just stay nice and calm." The oldest goon who had chosen to take charge of this job released a particularly mean looking Poochyena. "I'm sure you two know the drill. Stay calm and nobody gets hurt. Do something stupid and my partner here tears off your legs. Understood?"

The owner and worker both nodded so fast that their heads seemed to spin.

The older man scowled and snapped his fingers, causing his Pokemon to bare its fangs at the two. "I said, do you understand?"

The store owner shielded his employee with his body. "We-we-we…."

Ash shoved the leader of their little group backwards. It was enough to send the man tumbling to the ground and draw the attention of the Poochyena. The small canine growled at him, and Ash met its gaze head on. "They understand. Let it go."

The older goon stumbled to his feet. "You're not the boss here, brat!" He growled. "I'm in charge here, okay? That means that when I give an order, you obey. If I want to rip these people's legs off, then you hold them down for me! Got it?"

Petrovic scoffed over the comms. "He's a small man with a fragile ego. Probably only gets to feel good about himself when he's tormenting those weaker than him." He told Ash. "I knew a guy like that once. Major psychopath. Saw the world in terms of hunters and prey. Kind of like this asshat. Difference is the guy I knew could back up his talk."

"Brutalizing them isn't going to help us. They're already too terrified to do anything." Ash tried to reason. "Remember what the boss said. No killing – ripping the guys legs off is all but guaranteed to do that."

"Trying to reason with him? Bold strategy, brat. Doubt it'll work though. Men like him can't handle being called out on their mistakes."

The leader glared. "I've been doing this for years! No upstart brat is going to go and tell me how to do my job. Especially not one that doesn't know how to use some damn soap."

Ash sighed. "I'm not telling you how to do your job. I'm just reminding you what our job is. Frightening these people isn't it."

The other goons that Ash had come with all seemed to agree. Ash's cover was that he was a young and stupid trainer in over his head with no other option, but he had no way of knowing if that was true for the others. It didn't excuse what they were willing to do, but he could empathize with them enough to not hate them for it.

The same couldn't be said for the leader of their merry band of men.

"As long as I'm in charge, we're doing things my way!" The man barred his yellow teeth in an attempt to appear threatening. He shoved Ash back. "You want to save these people? Then tear this place apart like you're supposed to!"

Ash sneered. "And what'll you be doing? Standing around to bark orders?"

The leader grinned. "Nope. Me and the owner of this fine establishment will be taking a trip into his office." He reached over and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt, roughly yanking the man towards him. "He's gonna let me into that safe of his and I'm gonna get myself a new pair of boots."

He frowned. "The safe? We were told to destroy this place."

The man grinned. "The boss said he didn't care what we did as long as he destroyed it. So I'm just doing our job." He turned his back and dragged the store owner into the back with him. His Poochyena stayed behind to keep an eye on the worker. "If you're so concerned about the job, then maybe you should go do yours."

Ash gritted his teeth and turned away to head towards the Pokeballs in the corner. The others had all begun to released their Pokemon and start smashing things up. The worker they had taken hostage was cowering in fear at the Pokemon they had surrounded themselves with. He harshly grabbed a Pokeball off the shelf and dropped it to the ground, stomping it beneath his boot. There was nothing else he could do. The fear of these two people wasn't worth risking the mission.

Interpol had to focus on protecting everyone.

He made sure to keep his ears open though. If it sounded like the older criminal was going to hurt the man, then all bets were off. He may have been willing to destroy this place and scare these people, but killing them? That was one line he would never cross. Petrovic would be pissed, but there'd be other opportunities and it wasn't like he was the only one infiltrating Team Rocket's network.

Ash took Pikachu's Pokeball off his belt and released him to the ground. His partner blinked and took a moment to look around. The electric-types eyes narrowed in disgust when he saw where they were and what they were doing. Ash sent his partner a reassuring smile.

"Help me smash these things up." He let out a sigh and grabbed a Quick Ball off the shelf. He smashed it under his boot and moved on to the next.

With a reluctant nod, Pikachu followed suit and began to spark with electricity. Bolts of lightning arced out from his body and slammed into multiple Pokeballs at a time. Many of them couldn't stand up to the surge of power they were experiencing and shattered into smoking shards where they laid.

Petrovic groaned. "Are you really not gonna take any for yourself? This is such a waste." He told Ash. "You realize stealing it'll help you fit in better? There's no harm in it since it's all gonna be destroyed anyway, so what's the difference?"

The difference was that Ash would be actively profiting from these people's misery.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

It continued like this for the next few minutes. He and Pikachu would smash up the Pokeballs on the shelves while the other goons were destroying everything in sight. Soon enough, the once immaculate shop looked like a junkyard. If the owner was lucky, then the insurance companies wouldn't try to fight him on its destruction and would reimburse him for what they destroyed. They were just Trainer accessories, after all.

The building itself though? That was a different story.

The other criminals had chosen to stack everything made of paper into one, giant pile in the center of the store. The plan was for Pikachu to light it on fire with his electricity and leave the store to burn down. All they had to do was disable to sprinkler systems above them and they'd be good to go.

As far as jobs went? This had been smoother than he'd thought-

A gunshot shattered the façade.

The worker began to sob as the Poochyena growled. Ash, Pikachu, and the other goons all ignored them in favor of rushing into the back towards where they'd seen the oldest of them drag the owner to. When they all arrived, they saw the owner huddled up against the wall on the floor and a bullet hole next to his head. Standing above him was the goon in charge, a smoking pistol in his hands.

Behind them on the wall? An open safe with nothing but pictures inside of it.

"Are you messing with me?" The goon shouted. "Pictures of your family? That's what you choose to keep in your safe? I don't fucking buy it! Tell me where the real safe is or the next one goes in your skull!"

"Ash, stay out of this." Petrovic ordered. "Everyone outside heard that gunshot. People are calling the police and they'll be here any moment. Ya need to get out of there, right now."

None of the other members of the crew were willing to stop him. They and their Pokemon shifted nervously, a few of them sending hopeful glances his way. The store owner had his eyes closed as tears ran down his face and he could hear the worker still sobbing behind them.

Ash made his choice.

He stepped forward. "Why did you shoot?"

The pistol swung around to aim his way. "Quiet, brat!" Their 'leader' shouted.

"You just made a lot of noise." He pointed out. "The people on the streets will have noticed and called the cops by now. They'll be here any moment."

"Are ya seriously doing this? I swear to every Legend listening, when we're done here, I am going to beat the common sense into ya that yer mother clearly never taught ya!" Petrovic scolded. "Fine! Turn your body to the side. It'll make you a harder target for him to hit."

He did as Petrovic advised, holding his hands out in a calming gesture.

It didn't seem to have that effect on the man pointing a gun at his head.

The man clenched his free hand into a fist. "I told you! I'm in charge here!" He shouted. "As soon as this bastard tells me where the real safe is, I can take his stuff and we'll go!"

Ash audibly sighed. "The boss was clear: No deaths. Do you really want to test him? Over some imaginary safe that doesn't exist?" He asked. "If the man had another safe, he'd have told you by now. Accept that he keeps his mementos in it, and we can go."

The man scoffed. "You think you're so smart? Cocky brat. Your generation always do think you know better than your elders." He growled. "I know how these people work. They've always got multiple stashes."

"I don't care. I'm not being hunted across Alola because of your stupidity." He sent a nod to Pikachu at his feet. His partner gave a nod back and scurried past the group of thugs behind him towards the Poochyena holding the worker hostage. "Drop the gun."

"And if I don't?"

Then Ash would make him.

"Ash, we don't have time for this. Ya gotta take him out quick without getting shot. It's yer only chance of escaping before the police arrest you." Petrovic warned. "Take out his gun hand, then go for the head."

The two of them stared each other down for a moment. The only sound that could be heard was the sobbing of their hostages and the breathing of the goons that had spread out at this point to stay out of the way. The man twitched.

Ash jerked suddenly to the left.

The gun went off and the bullet slammed into the wall behind him. Ash stayed low to the ground and leapt forward. He tackled the criminal in the gut and carried him forward to slam into the plaster wall behind them hard enough to cause cracks.

The leader let out a pained wheeze as the wind was knocked out of him. Ash stepped back to let him fall to the ground. He grabbed the thugs gun hand and brought it up. With one hand at the wrist and the other wrapped tightly around the base of the arm, Ash began to twist until the man let out a pained ground and he could only uselessly struggle in his grasp. The man tried to angle the pistol up towards Ash, but all his efforts amounted to was him firing uselessly into the ceiling.

"Grab his thumb and break it." Petrovic ordered. "Don't stop until you feel it break and you hear his screams."

Ash grabbed the thumb holding the pistol. Quickly and sharply, he jerked the thumb to the side until he heard a crack. As the man screamed and dropped the pistol to the ground, Ash held the thumb in that position and applied pressure to increase the pain.

"Good technique." Petrovic chimed in. "Use the door to the safe to smash his head and knock him unconscious."

Ash grunted in affirmation and hoisted the man up by his arm, tossing him into the wall. While the goon clutched his broken thumb, Ash grabbed the side of his head and slammed it into the open hole to daze him. In his stunned state, there was nothing the man could do to stop Ash from grabbing the door to the safe and ramming it into the criminals head as hard as he could.

Ash let go and the man slid to the floor, unmoving and unconscious but alive.

"Nice work, Ash. Didn't hesitate once." Petrovic praised. "I'll buy ya an ice cream cone when this is over. Ya need to get moving now though, out the back exit. I can hear the sirens from here."

Ash took a deep breath and looked down at the unconscious crook with disgust. "One of you grab him. If we leave him here, he'll just rat us out to the cops." He snatched the Pokeball for the man's Poochyena off his belt. "We're getting out of here."

The other thugs rushed to follow Ash's orders. He didn't know if it was because they were afraid of him or if they just wanted to leave before the cops arrived, but at this point he didn't care. As the others carried the unconscious body of the man out of the officer, Ash took a look at the owner on the floor.

He looked up at Ash in sheer terror.

Ash sighed and reached into his pocket. He ignored the way the man flinched away and pulled out his wallet. He left the couple hundred in cash he kept on the table and turned away.

"For your trouble."

As Ash left the office, he saw the store worker huddled into a corner with their knees pushed into their chest. On the ground, the smoking and unconscious form of Poochyena laid at Pikachu's feet. With a nod, he returned both of them to their respective Pokeball and gestured for the others who had come with him to follow him out the back.

They had to report back to Gozu.

By the time they made it back to the bar, Ash and the rest of the group were out of breath. They had to sprint between back alleys and stay out of sight of everyone. Halfway through their trip, the man Ash had beaten unconscious had woken up. Ash almost thought he would have been stupid enough to try again, but once he realized they were hiding from the police he decided to keep quiet.

It had surprised Ash.

Once they were inside, Ash tensed. Gozu sat at the counter with a drink in his hand. And behind him? A massive Aggron towered, and its horns scraped the ceiling. When it saw them enter, the Steel type let out a growl similar to steel tearing to draw Gozu's attention.

The Rocket took a long, slow sip of his alcohol before slamming the glass on the counter. When he turned to look at them, his eye narrowed into a glare that froze them to the spot, the glass still in his hand.

"Don't panic." Petrovic whispered. "I'm sneaking in. If things go south, I'll be there to get you out."

That would have been more reassuring if Ash actually believed he could survive.

"I send you people out on a simple job. Go in, smash up the place, and get out. I even let you take whatever shit you want." Gozu cracked his neck. "And yet somehow, you all manage to muck it up."

"Boss, we-"

The goon to Ash's immediate left didn't get to finish his sentence. Gozu lashed out and hurled the glass in his hands at them. The glass shattered on impact and sent the man to the ground, clutching his face in pain.

"Do not speak." Gozu seethed. "You morons may be the most incompetent group of people I've ever worked with. Because of you, now the police are cracking down on the area! Something I ordered you fools not to do!"

Gozu's Aggron growled and took a single step forward. It was enough to make those around Ash whimper in fear. Ash kept his eyes on Gozu.

"I'm tempted to have my Aggron grind you all into dust for this." He ran a hand down his face. "But then I wouldn't get any answers. So I'll give you all one chance: who's the genius who decided to go off script?"

Everyone turned and pointed at the self-appointed leader of them all. Once the attention was on him, the man backed away.

"I-I wasn't actually going to shoot him!" He stuttered. "I was just trying to scare him! Get him to show me what was in his safe! It would have worked out just fine if this asshole hadn't gotten in my way and tried to stop me."

When the finger pointed his way, Ash growled. "You son of a bitch!"

"Enough!" Gozu shouted over them. Once everyone had quieted down, Gozu stepped forward towards Ash. He loomed over him and placed his hand on Ash's shoulder to keep him in place. Ash took a shuddering breath but refused to look away from the man's gaze. "Why did you try to stop him?"

"You gave specific instructions for us not to kill anyone because it would draw too much attention." He told the older man. "There was no reason for those people to die. All it would have done is draw attention to us. The only reason we made it out is because I stopped him. If he'd had it his way? We'd have gotten into a hostage situation with the police all because he wanted a few extra dollars."

"You little-"

Gozu snapped his fingers. On command, the Aggron reached over and plucked the man out of the crowd. That shut him up really quick and left him a quivering mess. Ash ignored the rush of smug satisfaction he felt at seeing the man so terrified.

With a click of Gozu's tongue, the Aggron set the man down on the ground in front of Gozu. The Rocket looked the man in the eyes for a moment. "You disgust me." He sneered. "I knew working with common criminals like you would be a test of patience, but I thought you'd at least have some sense. Instead, the only one here with a functioning brain seems to be the brat!"

"But I-"

Gozu slammed his fist into the man's jaw and sent him sprawling to the ground. "No excuses! I am in no mood for any of it."

With the man on the floor and an Aggron standing by, there was nothing stopping what came next. Gozu raised his boot and brought it down on the man's head. Once, twice, thrice. Gozu continued to beat the man while he was done to make an example of him to everyone.

Ash flinched and tried to look away.

"Keep yer eyes on this, Ash." Petrovic ordered. "Ya need to understand what the cost of failure in our line of work is and what's at stake. Harden yerself to it now and you'll be thankful later."

Reluctantly, Ash brought his eyes back towards the beating. He witnessed every brutal blow, heard every pained grunt and wheeze, and smelled the rusted aroma of blood on the floor. The longer he watched, the easier it became not to look away.

It did nothing to get rid of the disgust he felt for the senseless brutality.

Eventually, Gozu showed the man on the ground mercy. By the time he was done, the goon who had made the mistake of disobeying Gozu looked close to death. Ash would have believed he were if it weren't for the irregular rise and fall of the man's chest.

Ash felt a twinge of sympathy. He'd need to get to a hospital.

Gozu scraped his boot on the floor. "You can all forget about getting paid for this. Now get out of my sight and take this garbage with you. If I ever see any of you again, I won't be so kind."

As the others grabbed the men on the ground and started to drag them out, Ash made to leave. Once he felt a hand on his should, he froze.

"Not you. You stay."

Ash audibly gulped.

"Stay calm. I've got yer back."

Once the others had all left and the door swung shut, Ash turned to look at Gozu. Unlike before, now he just looked curious. It put Ash on edge. The last thing he needed was a dangerous Rocket looking at him.

"What's your name?"

"Alex Woods, sir."

Gozu grunted. "Well, Woods… do you know why I kept you back?"

Ash shook his head. "No, sir."

"It's because you're the only one from that little group who showed me you had some brains." Gozu returned Aggron to its Pokeball and went to sit back down at the counter. "You kept your head when everyone else around you was losing it. That's rare."

"I know this is probably the first time anyone's praised ya, brat, but don't look too eager for praise. Ya gotta play it cool." Petrovic advised.

Ash shrugged. "I just didn't wanna end up in jail, sir."

Gozu snorted. "So would any smart man." He poured himself another drink. "You followed orders and were able to improvise when things started to go wrong. That's more than most freelancers."

Gozu reached into his pocket and tossed Ash a thick wad of cash. He caught it in one hand.

"A thousand dollars, as agreed upon."

Ash gaped at the money. "I thought we failed the job."

Gozu shrugged. "Store was smashed up and Skull's ability to protect its territory is shot. That's a success. If that bastard hadn't tried to kill someone or the others had all stepped in to stop him, they'd be getting paid too."

Fair enough. "I see… thank you, sir." He bowed his head. "I appreciate you keeping your end of the deal. I'll be going now."

Gozu took a sip of his drink and waved him away. "Sure thing, Woods. Don't show your face around that area of town and you should be fine." He advised. "Oh, and Woods? If you're ever looking for more work? Stop by the bar. I may not like freelancers, but there'll be plenty more where this came from in the future. Rocket is here to stay, and our friends will always be richly rewarded."

Ash smiled. "I'll keep that in mind, sir. Have a good day."

Petrovic snorted. "Brat, I have no idea how you pulled that off… but congratulations. Yer first real job went smoothly." He laughed. "Maybe we'll make a competent agent out of ya yet!"

The corner of Ash's mouth twitched. "Maybe."

Maybe….

It had been hours since his mission had ended. Petrovic had congratulated him but told him a true debriefing would have to wait until Looker and Anabel were finished. Until then, Ash was free to spend his day however he wished while Petrovic handled some 'business'. Whatever that meant.

Ash hadn't done much since then. Latias had yet to return from her meeting with the Tapu's, so he released Pikachu from his Pokeball. Ash and his partner had just wandered around Hau'oli City. Seeing the sights and reminiscing about better days when they had been students at Professor Kukui's Pokemon School.

They had stopped by to watch from a distance. New students had started to attend the prestigious school to learn about the wonders of Pokemon. Even from a distance, he could see that they were enjoying their time there. Playing with the wide variety of Pokemon and studying their unique biology. Competing in friendly battles to test their skills and grow their bonds with their partners. Every now and then, he would even catch a glimpse of Professor Kukui offering them advice and vital lessons.

It had brought a smile to Ash's face.

While his time in Alola had been different, he had enjoyed his time here. He had been able to truly relax and enjoy his island trials in a way his gym battles hadn't allowed him to. His friends and he would spend all day exploring the islands together just having fun. Even when they had done their duty as Ultra Guardians, they had always stuck together and treated it as a chance to study the fantastic beasts from other worlds.

Ash missed those days. He hoped that when this was all over – when Team Rocket was beaten, and his name was cleared – that he could come back. He was still its Champion, after all. Maybe he could settle down here with a nice place on the coast. He wasn't sure what the duties of a champion were beyond just defending their title, but he could imagine himself enjoying them. A sunny locale, the chance to guide trainers on their journeys across the islands, and a simple life of fame and fortune.

It would be less complicated than the work he was doing with the International Police.

When Ash had been a kid, he'd loved watching spy movies. The heroes always made it seem like such an easy, glamorous life. They'd wear fancy suits and attend high society dinners. They'd meet beautiful women and were respected by everyone. Their teams always got on perfectly and complimented each other's weaknesses. They had the best gear and the strongest Pokemon by their side. Most importantly, no matter how dangerous their enemies were or how badly the odds were stacked against them, the heroes could always come out on top to save the day. It didn't matter how numerous the army was or how powerful the superweapon could be or even what Legend was rampaging.

He'd dreamed of being a spy as a kid.

The reality was disappointing.

Ash wasn't some hero that grand stories would be told about. He didn't know what he was doing most of the time and just went along with everyone else. The enemies he faced weren't stupid and victory was far from assured. Worst of all, there was no guarantee that he would ever be able to save anyone, no matter how hard he tried. He may have been able to save the owner and his worker during the heist, but Ash knew that it wouldn't always be like that.

The sound and sight of Alto Mare drowning still haunted his nightmares. It was a constant reminder that he could never save everyone, even when he managed to claw out a victory for himself and his team. It wouldn't stop him from trying though.

The day he stopped trying to save people was the day his hope for a better life died.

As it was he found himself having to bend his morals. Lying about who he was constantly was one thing. He was a criminal and couldn't do his job if people knew where he was. What got to him was how he was forced to stand by and watch as criminals got their way. A year ago, he'd have been the first one stepping up to stop them and save everyone.

Now he was actively helping these criminals destroy lives and having to weigh saving one life against saving everyone. Even worse, he was starting to lose his restraints. Back at the store, he hadn't hesitated to inflict as much pain as possible on that freelancer. And if Pikachu hadn't been able to deal with the Poochyena or the others had tried to step in, Ash would have done the same to them. He hated it. He hated the violence, and he despised having to help people like Team Rocket. No matter how much he understood, he didn't think he could ever get used to that feeling disgust.

When this was all over, he would be glad to go back to a simple life.

If he even could anymore.

Ash looked up into the night sky and let out a tired sigh. The half-moon above them was shining down on the world from a starless sky. The streets were empty, and the people had all turned in for the night. It was about time that he started making his way back. The others would probably be back soon if they weren't there already. They'd have instructions on what to do next.

As he and Pikachu were walking down the street, he came across Aina's kitchen. The same kitchen that Mallow's family owned. Ash could see lights on inside and even hear muffled voices. That was strange… this late at night most stores and restaurants would have been closed. He wondered what was going on.

He needed to get out of here before Mallow spotted him. It was none of his business. The risk to her seeing through his disguise and recognizing him was too great to do anything else. The close call at the soup kitchen the other night was bad enough.

Just as he began to walk down the street, there was a loud crash and the shattering of glass. Ash froze. He and Pikachu shared a brief look with one another. It might have been nothing. Maybe Mallow or whoever else was inside dropped some plated. After the day he'd had, Ash wasn't willing to take any chances. Not with his friend at risk.

The two of them crouched low to the ground and crept towards the kitchen. Going up the stairs of the front porch, the two crept close to the walls of the front windows and peered inside. What he saw made his heart skip a beat.

Inside the restaurant, Mallow was surrounded by three men. They were the same ones who had tried to shake down the soup kitchen. One of them grabbed her arms and was pinning them behind her back, another was tossing Tsareena's Pokeball up and down. The final thug and the leader of the group had crossed his arms and seemed to be laughing at her predicament.

Ash clenched his fists. Those petty, arrogant bastards! Targeting Mallow just because she had been the one to stand up to them? They were too cowardly to go after Team Skull, so they targeted Mallow when she was alone and tired from a long day of work.

He looked down at Pikachu and saw the same look on his face. They couldn't just go barging in. Doing that put Mallow at risk before he could get in position. They'd need to play this carefully if they were going to make it out with everyone in one piece.

Ash tapped an unnoticeable button on the side of his sunglasses. Before his eyes, the world changed to enable him to x-ray vision. He could see through the walls of the building and how many people were inside based on their skeletons. Only Mallow and the thugs were here. That wasn't surprising. Men like this never attacked unless the fight was rigged in their favor.

While there were other entrances, they couldn't risk the time that it would take to pick his way through the locks. Smashing their way inside would be even worse. Panicking criminals tended to attack first and ask questions later. It wouldn't shock him if they turned Mallow into a human shield.

They'd need to make sure that didn't happen.

Ash reached down and unclasped Pikachu's Pokeball from his belt to hold it out towards his partner. Without Latias here to translate, a silent message passed between them. Pikachu gave him a determined nod and reached out to touch the button of the Pokeball. Once he was sucked, Ash took a breath and shrunk the Pokeball to stuff it in his pocket for safe keeping.

The reluctant agent stood up and moved to the door. He took a deep breath to mentally prepare himself. Pokeball in his hoodie pocket, revolver hidden behind his back in his waist band, and his knife on his hip. He was as prepared as he could be. It was time to put his training to good use and save his friend.

He gently opened the door which rung the bell above the entrance which usually signaled that a new customer had arrived. As soon as the thugs heard it, they turned in alarm and their hands fell to the Pokeballs on their hips. Once they saw that he was alone, they all scowled.

Ash stepped forward. "What's going on here?"

The leader of the Tunnel Runners sneered. Stepping forward, the leader was trying his hardest to appear big and threatening, even as he placed his Pokeball back on his belt. "None of your business." The man growled. "Now scram, if you know what's good for you."

Ash's eyes met Mallow's over the thugs shoulders. There was no recognition there.

He shrugged. "Can't do that." He started to circle the three thugs and put some tables between him and them. One every table there were an assortment of condiments, napkin holders, and even a few with chairs stacked on top of them. "You and I need to have a little talk."

The man snorted. "About what?"

Ash grabbed a large glass bottle of hot sauce off a nearby table. Anabel had told him that the key to hand-to-hand combat was to close the distance between you and your opponent without putting them on guard. With that in mind, Ash began to toss the bottle up and down in the air. "A business arrangement. I think it's something the infamous Tunnel Runners are gonna want to hear."

The men all perked up. "So you've heard of us?"

Ash smiled as he caught the bottle in his hand. He unscrewed the cap and tossed it aside. "Who hasn't? Word on the street is that you're the new power in the area. Real hardcore group that doesn't take crap from anybody."

Each of the thugs began to smile and laugh amongst themselves. For men like them, they must not have been used to hearing praise at all. "Well you heard right! That's us! Most badass crew this side of Alola!"

"Yeah! We're twice the gang Team Skull ever was!"

Ash hid his snort of disbelief behind him taking a sip straight from the bottle. The hot sauce burned as it went down and made his eyes water, but it had the intended effect. Each of the thugs looked at him in disgust but further lowered their guards. Exactly as he'd hoped they would.

Ash took a moment to wipe the tears from his eyes. He sauntered over to them with an exaggerated sense of calm. "I'm glad to hear it. I'd be disappointed if all the stories I heard weren't true." He was close now. Close enough that he could reach out and touch the leader.

The leader smiled. "So what is this arrangement you wanna offer to us?" He asked. "You won't find any better people for the job than the Tunnel Runners. Awroooo!"

As their leader howled, the other two howled with him. Ash winced and sent Mallow a sympathetic look. Once the three were done, Ash slung his arm over the leaders shoulder in a friendly gesture. He turned the two of them to face Mallow and the other thugs then hoisted the hot sauce in the air as a toast.

"The deal is simple." Ash laughed with a charming smile and tightened his grip on the hot sauce. "You three leave and never come back. In exchange, you avoid a visit to the emergency room."

The leader frowned. "Wha-"

That was as far as the man got. As fast as a serpent, Ash snaked his arm up and around the leaders neck in a tight choke hold. He kept a grip on the bottle in his hand and sent a splash of hot sauce in the shocked face of the thug who was holding Mallow hostage.

The criminal screamed and let go of Mallow, staggering back while clutching his face.

Mallow took her chance and got out of the way. The final gang member stepped forward to strike back. That single step was as far as he got. Ash jerked the man in his choke hold to the side and kicked him towards the other goon.

As the two stumbled to the ground, Ash turned to the one still screaming. He tossed the bottle into the air and caught it by the neck. Ash gripped the criminal by his collar to hold him in place just before slamming the bottle into the side of his head. It shattered and shards embedded into the man. He fell to the ground unconscious.

Ash dropped the remains of the bottle. As he reached into his pocket to fish out Pikachu's bottle, he was tackled from behind by a thug. Pikachu's Pokeball dropped. Ash rolled along the floor so he wouldn't end up on his stomach.

When they rolled up against a table leg, the thug was on his chest. Ash raised his left arm above his face to block a strike from the man just as it came down. Ash slammed a fist as hard as he could into the thugs groin. When the man tried to close his legs, it shifted his weight enough for Ash to thrust his chest upwards with his arms and his hips. The man was thrown off of him to the side.

Just as Ash managed to push himself to his feet, he felt arms wrap his arms around his chest. Ash leaned forward before bringing his head back as fast as he could and slamming it into the nose of the thug. When the man stumbled back clutching his nose, Ash roundhouse kicked him in the chest and sent him tumbling backwards over a table.

With the three thugs either unconscious or on the floor, Ash walked over to the one holding his groin and placed his boot on the man's throat. In his best impression of Petrovic that he could muster, he turned to glare at the leader of the gang. "Leave. Now." He ordered. "I won't ask again."

The leader slowly stumbled his way to his feet. With a bleeding and broken nose, the man glared at him. "You think we're gonna listen to you, you son of a bitch?" He reached down to grab the Pokeball off of his belt. "You got another thing coming-"

Before the man could even bring it up to throw, Ash grabbed the revolver and brought it up. He cocked his revolver. Everyone froze at the clear escalation.

It was an important lesson that Petrovic had hammered into him when he was teaching him how to shoot. It would take an average of three to five seconds for a trainer to grab a Pokeball off their belt, enlarge it, and throw it in a full arc. An extra few seconds could be added if they chose to speak a command afterwards. In the time it took them to do that, a gun could fire a single bullet that would travel thousands of feet in a single second and take them out of the fight before it even began.

Petrovic had assured him that just the sight of a gun could be enough to end most fights. Ash hoped that was the case. He didn't want to actually have to shoot someone. If the thug was going to be a threat and tried to release his Pokemon though?

Then all bets were off. No one would threaten his friends while he was around.

For a moment, everyone was afraid to move. Then the bell above the door rang and everyone turned to see who had entered. It was a woman with pink and golden hair tied into four separate ponytails. Wearing a Team Skull uniform and with an imposing Salazzle at her side, no one there could mistake who this was.

Plumeria. The Big Sister of Team Skull and Guzma's right-hand woman.

For a second, Ash wasn't sure whether to keep his revolver pointed at the Tunnel Runner or if he should swivel it around to her. He wasn't sure if he'd survive doing so but if she was here to hurt Mallow then he would do what he had to protect her.

Luckily for him, it didn't seem like that was necessary.

Plumeria took one look at the state of the restaurant and let out an annoyed sigh. "Of course I arrive at the worst possible time. Why am I not surprised."

The Tunnel Runner he was holding at gunpoint sneered. "Plumeria? Get lost! This is our turf now and your kind aren't welcome!" He growled. "If you don't, we'll make you regret it!"

Plumeria took a look at the man knocked unconscious in a puddle of hot sauce and his own blood. Her eyes shifted to Ash and the gun he held before going to the state of the other two thugs. After a moment, she started to laugh quietly to herself and rolled her eyes.

"Sure you will. I'm so scared already." She deadpanned. Then her eyes drifted to Mallow. "You. This is your families restaurant. Mind explaining what happened here?"

Mallow gulped. "I was finishing up cleaning and getting ready to go home when those three came in. They threatened to destroy the restaurant and teach me a lesson. Then before they could do anything, this man came in and… well, saved me." She frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Plumeria grinned. "My little bros and sisters told me about how you stuck up for the little guys at the soup kitchen nearby when some thugs came by to shake it down. I figured I'd come by to show our appreciation and let you know we owe you one." She glared at the Tunnel Runners. Ash could see a shiver run down each of their spines. "These the same one's from that day?"

Mallow nodded.

Plumeria's grin took on a feral edge. "Well I guess it's a good thing I stopped by." She looked at Ash and winked at him. "Nice work there, big guy. Mallow here is considered off-limits to Team Skull, so you did a good thing. I'll take them off your hands and make sure they never bother anyone again."

Ash frowned. "What are you going to do with them?"

Plumeria shrugged. "Nothing you need to worry about. Just pat yourself on the back for doing a good thing and leave the rest to me. No need for a good Samaritan like yourself to stress over the details."

The lead Tunnel Runner growled and tightened his grip on his Pokeball. "Like hell we're going with you! We're in charge here! Not some washed up gang like Team Skull-"

That was as far as the man got. Plumeria pursed her lips and let out a quick, sharp whistle. Faster than anyone could blink, her Salazzle leapt through the air and pounced on the man where he stood. With one set of claws pinning his arm to the ground and the other poised to slash his throat, the man had been eliminated as a threat in mere seconds.

Plumeria sighed. "Honestly, even if Team Skull is washed up like he says we are, we're still leagues better than this little group of disappointments will ever be." She shook her head and walked towards Ash. Once she quirked an eyebrow at him, he slowly lowered his gun and stepped away from the man he'd kept pinned down. She smiled.

He reached down to the man on the ground and snatched a Pokeball off of his belt. At Plumeria's questioning look, he tossed the ball towards Mallow.

"They took her Pokemon when they came in." He explained. "It's why she needed me to step in instead of defending herself."

Plumeria nodded. "Lucky her then." She reached down and hoisted the man on the ground up to his feet before shoving him towards his unconscious friend on the ground. Slowly, her Salazzle released her grip on the leader and forced him to his feet as well. "Grab him. All three of you are coming with me. Do as I say and stop annoying me, and maybe you'll all get to sleep in your own beds tonight."

As the Tunnel Runners collected their friend and were herded out the door by Salazzle, Plumeria turned to Ash and Mallow one last them. With her hand on her hip, she gave the two of them a nod in farewell. "Far as I can tell, no one heard the sounds of your little brawl." She told them. "Up to you if you want to call the police or not. Whatever you decide to do, Team Skull will cover the damages. Least we can do for you. Take care."

With that, Plumeria walked out of the restaurant and into the night with the group of criminals. With Ash's involvement with Interpol and his mission to infiltrate Team Rocket's operations in Alola, he knew this wouldn't be the last he saw of her. With her position in Team Skull, Plumeria was bound to be on the front lines of their war against Team Rocket. With his luck, he wouldn't be surprised if he ended up having to fight her to maintain his cover.

He'd need to do research into what Interpol knew about her so he could be prepared.

Ash shook his head and placed his gun behind his back again. He walked towards where Pikachu's Pokeball had rolled on the ground and released his partner from his ball. Once he came out, Pikachu sparked dangerously and looked ready for a fight. Once he saw the state of the place and that it was only Ash and Mallow inside, he tilted his head aside in confusion.

Ash smiled and scratched his partner behind the ears. "Sorry, bud. I didn't get a chance to use you before they were on me." He told him. "Looks like I'll need to work on my timing… and not turning my back on my enemies. Anabel would be furious if she saw me do that."

"Um… excuse me?" Mallow spoke up.

The two of them froze. He'd forgotten she was there for a moment.

"I want to thank you for your help there. I'm not sure I could have stopped them from destroying my restaurant if you hadn't shown up." Mallow smiled. "I really appreciate it."

Ash nervously laughed. "It… it was nothing. I was just trying to help out. Anyone else would have done the same."

Mallow giggled. "No. No, they wouldn't. Most people would have called the police, not come rushing in to save the day themselves. It takes a special kind of bravery to do that."

He blushed. "Most people I know would have called it stupid."

"Oh, it probably was. Doesn't make you any less brave though." She clapped her hands together. "I normally don't do this past closing time, but why don't you sit down? I'll cook you up a nice meal as a thank you!"

Ash and Pikachu shared a nervous glance. "I appreciate the thought, but I really have to get going. Places to be, you know?"

Mallow frowned and puffed out her cheeks. "Well, how about you come by tomorrow then when you're free?" She prodded. "I guarantee you'll never taste any food better than what I can make for you!"

Unfortunately for Mallow, she was only the third best cook he'd ever met. Brock and Cilan were still the true masters of the culinary arts. The prospect of tasting her food again was tempting though. It'd been so long since he'd had some of her freshly baked cakes or spicy seafood.

He couldn't risk it though. Every second he remained around her was one second closer to her discovering his identity.

"Sure, I'll do that." He lied through his teeth. "Now I really have to go."

She reached out and grabbed his arm before he could leave. Ash forced down his instinctive urge to grab her wrist and rip it off of him. Damn training. "Hold on, I don't even know your name! Come to think of it, you seem familiar. Have we met before."

Mallow leaned her face so close to his that he could feel her breath on his skin. His eyes widened and he tried to step away. Every time he did though, she followed. Her eyes were narrowed, and she was humming to herself while trying to figure out why he seemed familiar.

She was determined to get answers out of him. Even if he somehow managed to get out of her grip and sprint out of her restaurant, Ash knew that she would follow him. On the off chance that he lost her, he'd have to stop attending the soup kitchen or risk her seeing him and starting the hunt all over again.

He didn't have a choice.

Ash sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her back. He moved to sit down in one of the chairs on the floor and patted his shoulder for Pikachu to come sit on. Once his partner was firmly in place, he shook his head and leaned back.

"You always were a stubborn one. Lana was right. You're like a Rockruff with a bone."

Mallow blinked. "Lana? What are you talking about? And why do you sound so… familiar?"

He smiled. "It's because we know each other. I know I look a little different these days, but I'm surprised you haven't realized who I am." He laughed. "Guess Looker was right. No one looks beyond the surface. Close your eyes and listen to my voice. It'll come to you."

With a wary frown, Mallow did as he told her. After a few moments, a gasp of shock escaped her lips and she stumbled backwards. She looked at him with wide eyes, mouth agape. "Ash?" She whispered. "Is that you?"

"Got it in one. It's good to see you again Mallow. I missed you. We've got a lot to catch up on."

Chapter Text

11 years ago, Lumiose City, Kalos

People were stupid.

Domino had always known this. They complained about being given food that they didn't like or about how small their homes were or about how they despised their jobs. Dumb things that didn't mean anything in the long run. They complained to complain.

She didn't understand it. They were warm, they had food, and they had an easy way to keep both those things. If she had those things, she didn't think she would ever complain about anything. No one on the streets would.

Domino leaned her head back against the wall of a butcher shop she was huddled behind and looked up at the clear blue sky. She pulled her oversized orange T-shirt tighter around herself and shivered. It was wintertime and that meant that snow had started to fall in the city. Most people would have huddled up by fires with their families and put on thick clothes. Maybe even gone out to play in the snow with friends.

Her kind didn't have it so easy.

Every year when the snow fell, it was a crisis – or at least, that's what she heard the adults say. Fires were going to get harder to make and food was going to become even more scarce. The clothes they had would be worthless the deeper into the season they got. There was probably going to be another wave of the flu this year. Lots of people always ended up dying during this time of year.

Most people ignored it and moved on with their lives.

Her kind did too. No use crying over it or letting their stuff go to waste. People died every day. If she wasn't careful, then she would be one of them.

Things weren't looking too good for her this year though. Normally, she and a group of other girls in the area would have stuck together for protection. Not this time. One of the younger one's got adopted by a nice family visiting from some place called Paldea. Two others had joined of the larger gangs that had names. An older street rat had followed a nice man offering warm food and clothes back home.

No one had seen her since.

The rest of them had either drifted to other parts of the city or didn't like her. She didn't trust any of the boy's gangs to help her either. The few adults offering to help her always did so with wide smiles that hid evil. She'd be better off out in the cold than going with one of them.

Which meant she'd need to look out for herself this year. That was fine. Life on the streets was rough, but nothing she couldn't handle. She'd been doing it for two whole years at this point! She just had to get started on finding new clothes. Everything else could come later.

Domino forced herself to her feet and shifted in her raggedy brown shoes. She staggered over to the corner of the butcher shop and peaked out from behind it. There were large crowds of people in the street all watching the big television screens and billboards on the side of the buildings. All of them were so distracted by the mindless droning of the news and commercials that they made easy targets for pickpockets.

All she had to do was find one.

It couldn't just be any old moron though. With how bad winter would get in the coming days, she needed a target with enough money to give her a head start on food and clothes. As her eyes scanned the crowds, a figure out of the corner of her eye caught her attention.

It was a lone man walking down the street. He was dressed in an expensive looking orange suit with a grey fedora on his head. His suit wasn't what caught her attention though. It was the way he moved. A controlled, confident gait that subtly forced others to move out of his way. An aura of cool control that most gang leaders she'd seen could only hope to have.

He was rich. Not just rich, but rich. He was the type of person that you didn't rob. If you did, then teams of big, scary men in suits and sunglasses hunted you down. Or worse, in some cases. She knew a guy once who had thought it had been a good idea to rob a man last year with a similar presence and look of money around him.

She'd been the one to find his body after the Pyroar was finished with it. There hadn't even been any good stuff left for her to use afterwards.

If this were any other time, Domino wouldn't even think of trying to rob this man. She was desperate though. She needed supplies soon. If she didn't take this risk and she tried her luck with the usual marks… she didn't think she'd make it through this winter.

It wasn't like this man would miss whatever she took. People like him spent money like she breathed air.

Domino took a breath to steady her nerves and stepped out of the alley. As she walked down the street, she made sure to keep her eyes from staring at her target for too long. No one on the street paid any attention to her.

She'd heard one of the older girls once say that urchins were invisible. That society would willfully blind itself to their presence. Most of the adults she knew seemed bitter over that, but Domino couldn't understand why. It made pickpocketing oblivious fools on the street so much easier when they were doing everything in their power to avoid looking at her.

As far as she was concerned, she was lucky.

She followed the man for a few blocks. To avoid him catching on, she made sure to keep a good distance between them and stop to look into the windows of any store she passed by. Sooner or later, she would find an opening. Patience was key for any pickpocket.

Eventually, the rich man came to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk to check his phone. It was her moment. While he was distracted, Domino snuck up behind him and slipped two fingers into his back left pocket. His wallet came out with ease, and he looked none the wiser. By the time he was finished on his phone, she was long gone.

Domino backtracked to the alley behind the butcher shop and huddled behind the dumpster. This had been easier than stealing candy from a baby. At least those little monsters kept a tight hold on their things and screamed like banshees when they lost them.

A pile of snow fell from the rooftop next to her and she leapt back. Domino looked up at the roof where it fell from but couldn't see anything. Strange… must have been the wind.

She shrugged her shoulders and opened up the wallet she had swiped off her latest mark. What she found inside was enough to leave her mouth hanging open and her eyes as wide as dinner plates. There was nothing but hundred dollar bills inside it! With how many there were, this single wallet must have had over a thousand bucks!

The first month of winter was always the harshest, but this wallet would be enough to get her through it if she spent it right. Heh, thank the gods for rich people. You'd think someone walking around with this much money would guard it a little better, but no one had ever accused them of being smart. Now all she had to do was make sure no one stole it off her before she could buy new clothes and she'd be set-

Domino shrieked in pain as another pile of snow fell from the roof, this time directly on her head. She did her best to scrape the snow out of her hair and hissed through clenched teeth. When she went to look up at the roof this time, however, she froze.

There was a Persian sitting on the roof.

And it was looking right at her.

Domino didn't bother waiting around to see what the predator would do. She bolted as fast as she could down the alley towards the open street. Street Pokemon were dangerous, but they rarely went after people if they could avoid it. She remembered a wild Stoutland who had mauled a homeless man to death a while back. It had been so bad that even the normal people had taken notice. The maneater had been hunted down barely a day later and killed for it.

Something about this Persian… it was different. It was too clean and too well fed to be from the streets. No matter what it was, though, it wouldn't risk attacking her in the open where people could see. Even if she was an urchin, people would take notice of a feral Pokemon attacking her. More out of concern for their own safety than concern for her, but that was better in this case.

Nothing motivated people into action better than selfishness.

Before she could escape the alley and break out into the street, however, the Persian leapt from the roof. It landed in front of her and crouched low to the ground, barring its fangs. Domino skidded to a stop and spun on her heel to run in the opposite direction. She didn't make it very far. The Persian leapt after her and swatted her to the side with one of its powerful paws.

She let out a pained wheeze when she slammed into the dumpster. Her vision swam and the wallet dropped from her hands. She tried to get up and run away, but the Persian simply batted her down onto her back. As she crawled backwards on her elbows, she could see the glint of sadistic glee in its eyes. It pounced again, this time pinning her to the ground beneath its paws and barring its razor sharp fangs.

It licked its lips as a little bit of drool dribbled down onto her forehead. She tried her best to squirm and thrash around, doing everything in her power to throw the powerful beast off of her. It was no use though. She was too weak and too small. There was no chance of her being able to escape this thing on her own.

Luckily for her, Domino's time on the street had taught her a few tricks. The most important of which was to always carry a weapon. She always did her best to carry around something small and sharp enough to use as a shiv. They were usually something she could only use once, but it was enough for her to escape and live to make another one.

She slipped her hand into her pocket and yanked her makeshift shiv. It was a plastic toothbrush that she had found in a dumpster one day. After filing down the end to a sharp point, she had wrapped it in some cloth to give her something easier to grip. All in all, the process had taken her a couple of hours to get right.

She tightened her grip on the shiv and slammed it into the Persian's side. It hissed in pain and reared back. Twisting the shiv and snapping the handle, she shoved the feline monster off of her. She bolted away and down the alley as fast as her legs could carry her. Before she could get far, however, the Persian pounced on her back and pinned her to the ground. She cried out in alarm and pain as she felt its jaws grip her neck.

It didn't end there. The monster roughly tossed her aside into a nearby wall. The wind was knocked out of her, and she slumped to the ground. The Persian stalked closer until it was standing over her and placed its paw on her chest. Try as she might, Domino was too weak and out of anymore tricks to escape it again.

And they both knew it.

A feral, sadistic grin spread across its face. It flexed its paw and its claws extended through her shirt directly into her skin. Tears tickled the edges of her eyes, and she reflexively brought her hands up to grab the paw. The Persian chortled and began to slowly drag its claws down from the right of her chest diagonally across her stomach. She couldn't help it.

She screamed.

All that seemed to do was amuse the Persian even more. It dugs its claws deeper into her wound raking them through her again. No matter how much she pleaded, her words fell on deaf ears. This was how she died….

She didn't know what was worse. That she was going to be torn apart by some overgrown house cat or that this was still better than freezing to death. Domino clenched her eyes shut to avoid seeing her death come.

"Persian! That's enough!"

Until a loud, commanding voice broke through the air. Her eyes snapped open, and she snapped her head to the side to look at the entrance to the alleyway. Standing there was the very man that she had stolen the wallet from and the owner of the monster torturing her. At his command, the Persian growled in annoyance but retracted its claws and swiftly moved towards its owner.

Paralyzed in pain and fear, she remained where she laid.

The orange man sighed at his Persian and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I told you to find who stole my wallet and subdue them."

The cat chirped and pawed at the ground.

"Don't get smart with me." The man narrowed his eyes. "You and I both know that I didn't mean to play with them. I wanted them unharmed."

The Persian growled in annoyance, its tail slowly wagging back and forth.

In response, the orange man reached down and thumped his Pokemon behind the ears. "I don't care if she stabbed you. It was your own fault for fooling around. Next time, be more careful and it won't happen."

The regal cat hissed.

"Stop being dramatic. The wound isn't even that deep. You'll be fine."

It was official. This man was insane, and Domino was going to die as the plaything of his cat. Why did the universe like laughing at her so much….

The orange man picked his wallet up off the ground and stuffed it back into his pocket. Then he walked over and stood above her with a frown. He took his Pokeball off his belt and returned Persian to its Pokeball. With the monster gone, Domino was finally able to breathe a little easier.

Or at least as well as her wounds would let her, anyway.

"I'm sorry for what my Persian did to you. Much as I love her, she tends to play with her food." When she didn't say anything, he pushed on. "My name is Giovanni. What's yours?"

She drew her knees up to her chest and winced. "D-Domino…." She muttered.

Giovanni frowned. "That's a strange name you have there. Just what were your parents thinking?"

She wouldn't know. If her parents had given her a name, then it wasn't one she wanted. They had abandoned her at some scummy orphanage run by an evil witch. Far as she and everyone else like her were concerned, anything they had given them was worth less than dirt.

"Do you know why I'm here, Domino?"

What kind of question was that? "To take back your money."

Smiling, the man let out an amused laugh. "Well, there is that. But there's more. I was curious to see who had picked my pocket." He told her. "Not many have the skill to do that. Even fewer would dare to try."

She looked away. "So you came to watch me die?"

Giovanni was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "… Kalosians, I swear." She heard him mutter under his breath. "No, I wanted to meet you."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "To offer you a job. Anyone with nimble fingers like that could be an excellent thief with the right training and equipment."

She couldn't help but laugh. When she tried, though, all it did was make her wounds worse. "A job? Why would you reward someone who stole from you?"

"I can appreciate talent when I see it." He reached out and offered his hand to her. "Come with me. I can have someone look at your wounds and get you off the streets."

A frown split her face. "And if I say no?"

Giovanni shrugged. "Then I shall take my leave. I'm not some creep snatching kids off the street. If you'd rather stay here then I won't stop you." He looked around the alley in an exaggerated manner, shrugging his shoulders and moving his head from side to side. "This is a rather nice alley. The filth accentuates the corruption of the city. I can see why you'd be hesitant."

That wasn't why she was hesitant. She leaned her head back against the wall of the alley while clutching her wounds. Adults weren't to be trusted. Those were the words that all urchins who wanted to survive lived by. Girls most of all made sure to follow this rule. Those that broke them never lasted long.

But… this man didn't have to trick her. He had that powerful Pokemon at his side and the wealth to make people ignore what he did. If he wanted to, he could just take her, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Yet he was offering her a choice to say no and go her own way.

She wouldn't survive if she did. This kind of wound would get infected quickly and she'd die a few days later. Even if she got treatment or somehow managed to survive the illness, she'd be too weak to take care of herself afterwards. Go with him and she had a chance of survival. Stay here and she'd be dead within a week.

Put like that, there wasn't really a choice. She always had hated this city.

Domino reached out and took his hand in hers. "Okay… I'll go with you."

A toothy smile spread across his face. "An excellent choice, my dear." He gently scooped her into his arm and onto his back. Reflexively, she wrapped her arms and legs around him for a piggy back ride. "Now, let's find you a doctor."

She winced. "What is it you want from me?"

"What I want is to make you the best version of yourself. A thief with no peer. Someone even the Legends won't see coming." He told her. "That will come later. For now, just stay quiet and save your strength. Knowing these Kalosians, they'll probably complain about how I'm staining a suit with your blood."

Despite the situation, Domino couldn't help but laugh. That sounded like the people of this city alright. Not a one of them had ever stepped up to help anyone if it didn't benefit them. With all the noise she'd been making, people on the street must have heard her. But not a single one had stepped in to help or investigate. Instead, she was having to rely on the man she'd stolen from – the man who caused her pain in the first place – for help.

She didn't know what that said about people.

All she did know was that perhaps she could trust Giovanni.

Just a little bit….

Present Day, Mahogany Town, Johto

Pryce was a boring man.

When Domino had first heard of the man, she had been impressed. Being the architect of the Specter program was one thing. That was already impressive enough. He was the one man that she had ever seen throw Giovanni off his game though. Her boss was usually so calm and controlled when it came to his enemies. This man though… it brought out a side of him she'd never seen.

There was something personal behind this job. Whatever it was, Domino wasn't going to pry. Giovanni wouldn't tell her if she asked, and it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Whether her boss wanted the old bastard watched, dead, or given a fruit basket, she'd follow his orders without hesitation.

Her loyalty didn't make watching Pryce any less boring though.

For a Gym Leader and former criminal, Domino had expected him to be a little more interesting. Maybe he would spend his time in the icy caves to the north training. Or perhaps he had taken a new group of thieves under his wing and was teaching them the tricks of the trade. She could hardly be so lucky though.

Instead, the old criminal's routine was the same throughout the day. He went to the market to pick up groceries every day at 9:30 in the morning. Afterwards, he would go to the Gym and remain there dismantling any trainers that challenged him until 2 in the afternoon. From there, he then would walk around to various little shops and cafes in the area to waste time until 5:30. Then he'd leave town to visit a waterfall near the Lake of Rage and sit underneath it in meditation until close to 10 at night before heading home.

Every. Damn. Day. The same routine, no deviation whatsoever. She didn't understand how anyone could do the same thing every day without wanting to gouge out their eyes. She refused to believe that Pryce was any different.

There was something more to what he was doing. He must have suspected that someone was following him and was intentionally doing this. She didn't know when he had gotten his suspicions, but it must have been early on. In the weeks she had been here, it had been the same thing. Given that she was still alive though, he must not have known what she looked like. She'd have been impressed he had cottoned on to her so quickly if it wasn't so annoying.

It was a game of cat and mouse. She was following him to find out if he was behind the recent attacks on Team Rocket. He was leading her on a dull chase to get her to slip up and find out her identity. She needed to make sure she won. A man like him would kill her the moment he found out he was in danger.

It was close to 8 at night and Pryce was still meditating underneath his waterfall. At his side were all of his Pokemon, each of them busy patrolling the area and searching for any potential threats to their master. She hidden within the treetops of the forest surrounding the lake in a ghillie suit and covered in a scent suppressant. Even if she knew that nothing would come of this, she couldn't risk leaving early and missing something important.

Domino leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree and let out an internal sigh.

At least things with the Rocket cell in Mahogany Town were a bit more interesting. Since their experiments on forced Pokemon evolution had been disrupted by Interpol and their agents had all been arrested, it had taken time for them to reestablish themselves in this part of the region. It would have been the perfect opportunity for Pryce to step in and turn whatever new agents arrived.

It would have helped explain some of the inconsistencies she'd seen since arriving. Given the secrecy of her mission, she couldn't investigate their operations or members here like she would have preferred. Even though she was forced to keep her distance though, she'd still noticed a few things. Money and Pokemon from heists that weren't being reported to command. Smuggling convoys that weren't on the books. The sale of information to third parties without proper authorization.

Regardless of whether or not Pryce was involved, someone here had turned their back on Team Rocket. This entire cell was dirty. They'd need to send in teams to clean house and wipe away the filth. She was almost certain Pryce was behind it but… she needed more proof than circumstantial evidence and her gut feeling. If she was wrong and Pryce was nothing more than a cautious old criminal, then all she'd do was help their enemies.

She'd need to find more solid proof. Something that would wipe away any doubt that Pryce was their man. As far as she could see, there were three ways she could go about doing this.

Option one was the local Rocket cell. However hands-off Pryce may have been, if he was involved in their corruption then he would have needed to be involved at some point. That meant the leaders of this local cell would have had to have met him. Sneaking into their bases or private homes to interrogate them would have been simple enough. That ran the risk of being found out and tipping her hand to whoever was behind this though.

Option two was to ambush Pryce. At this point, she knew his routine and route by heart. Planning an ambush somewhere along the way would have been child's play. However dangerous he may have once been, he was an old man now. If she could incapacitate him before he released his Pokemon, she could interrogate him at her leisure. A healthy application of drugs, threats, and Hypno's powers would loosen his tongue. But if she couldn't get to him before he released his Pokemon or he wasn't behind this? She'd have made an enemy for nothing.

Option three was to break into Pryce's home. She knew when he'd be gone and how to get in without leaving a trace. If he was back in the game and really was behind this, then he'd have kept anything incriminating close. Whether it was blackmail or large stacks of cash, she was certain she'd find something in his house. Even if she didn't, though, it wouldn't rule him out. It was possible he could hide evidence somewhere else he frequented like the Gym or somewhere she didn't know about. But if she was right….

Well, there was no harm in checking his home. As long as she left no trace, then it could only help. Giovanni may have told her to take her time with this, but Domino needed results fast. The longer it took her to do this, the more time their enemies had to weaken them from the inside and put her boss in danger.

Domino couldn't allow that.

11 Years Ago, Kanto

Her new home was different.

Compared to the streets of Lumiose City, this little base hidden away in the forests of this Kanto region was a paradise. She had her own bed, hot meals and cold water, and clothes without holes in them! It was like a little dream come true. Some of the other kids here seemed to think she was weird for thinking like that, but they were stupid.

They were also the one thing she had to complain about her new home. The other kids here all varied in age, but she was kept with those the same as her in one 'class', whatever that meant. A lot of them busy trying to make friends or talking about how they couldn't wait to get Pokemon like they saw on TV. Most of those tended to avoid her after a quick glare or two. Then there were those like her – the ones who had spent time on the streets. It was in the way they moved. How their eyes were always darting around and how they never turned their back to anybody.

She preferred the stupid one's. They were always obvious with what they were thinking. It showed on their faces. Those like her… they were better at hiding it. She'd need to keep her distance.

It was easier said than done. Apparently, she had been recruited into something called Team Rocket as Specters. Silly name aside, as far as Domino could tell, they were a big deal here in Kanto. There were a lot more of them than any gang she'd seen back in Lumiose. They were better dressed, better equipped, and a lot cleaner. That last one was important. Only the really powerful gangs cared about how clean their people were.

As part of their recruitment, they were all being forced to train. Team Rocket wanted to make them all into loyal, dangerous agents loyal to their cause. Some of the kids seemed suspicious of it all while others were eager to please their new owners. She didn't lean either way. If finishing their training and working for this gang was what it took to get guaranteed food and shelter for the rest of her life, then she'd do it without hesitation. It wasn't like they had a choice any way.

At the moment, she and the twenty-nine other kids had been rudely woken up early this morning by a dose of ice-cold water. Compared to the electricity or sonic attacks their teachers were usually so fond of, the water was a refreshing change of pace. Not everyone else could appreciate it. Some of the more spoiled kids had complained about it to them. All it had gotten them was a swift jab of a cattle prod.

Idiots. They should have realized by now that complaining would just make things worse for them.

After a short breakfast, they had all been marched into a massive training room with an observatory up above and separated into groups of ten. Today, their teachers had created what looked like an obstacle course complete with multiple paths, traps, and Pokemon patrolling its length. Some of the others seemed nervous about what was ahead of them, but Domino was more interested in the observatory. While their instructors normally watched them from up above, someone else had joined them today.

Giovanni was here.

She'd need to do her best to impress him. Prove to him that he hadn't made a mistake bringing her in.

Their lead instructor for the day – a gruff, middle-aged Paldean with a burn scar over half his face – stood in front of them all with his arms crossed behind his back. His eyes ran over them for a moment before the instructor cleared his throat.

"Alright, brats, listen up. Today, your missions is to ring the bell at the end of this obstacle course!" He began. "When every member of your team has rung the bell, you will be finished for this exercise."

Domino's hand went into the air.

"Question, runt?"

"What do we win, sir?"

Whatever it was, she'd win it and make Giovanni proud.

Their instructor scoffed. "You win dinner, gutter rat." A chortle escaped his old lips. "The last team to finish goes without dinner for the next two days."

Gasps of shock and worried whispers ran through the other trainees. For her part, Domino froze on the spot and her hands curled into fists. No dinner? That wasn't going to happen. There was no way that she was going back to missing meals! Not anymore!

She'd do whatever it took to make sure she rung that bell first.

The instructor stepped aside. All at once, Domino and the others prepared themselves for the obstacle course ahead. "Ready… begin!"

They all took off at once – with her at the head of the pack.

The first obstacle in their way was a mountain of boxes stacked atop one another. As every scrambled to get their footing or leap up to grab the ledges, Domino hung back for a moment to give the others a chance to get some distance. Once everyone else had made it about halfway up the wall, she sprung into the action. Grabbing the shirt of one, she scrambled up their back and leapt up to another. With her small frame and speed, she was gone before any of them could stop her and had reached the top in under a minute.

One of her teammates was close behind her and was leaning over the side to help someone else up. "Domino, gimme a hand here?"

She was gone before they had even finished their sentence.

The next obstacle was a barbed wire field so low to the ground that they would have to crawl through it. To make matters worse, the field beneath the wires was made up entirely of mud, sharp rocks, and whatever else their instructors could find to toss in there. As the cherry on top of this misery cake, there were Rocket Grunts on the sides of the field with automatic rifles in their hands and Grass and Water Pokemon at their side.

Not for the first time, Domino was convinced their instructors hated them all.

When the others eventually all caught up, Domino had already started to crawl her way through the mud field on her forearms and inner knees. She clenched her teeth and hissed in pain as sharp rocks, pins, and needles dug into her skin. That was to say nothing of the slippery mud that made it difficult for her to get a solid pace and sent her slipping face-first into the mud.

It was nothing she couldn't handle though.

Once the other trainees started to make their way through the field, things changed. The Grunts above them raised their rifles and began to shout at the top of their lungs for them to go faster, hurling insults all the while. Deafening thundercracks echoed through the room as the rifles fired rubber bullets into ground at them. Their Pokemon did the same, launching barrages of Bullet Seeds and jets of water at them. While most missed and did nothing more than splash mud onto them, some of the rubber bullets and attacks pelted the trainees. It was enough for them to cry out in pain and suddenly jerk themselves up into the wire by accident.

Those that did ended up getting caught in the wires and forcing their teammates to slow down to get them out – though not without pain if the screams were anything to go by. One of her teammates was caught beside her, but she ignored their pleading look.

They were on their own. No one was getting between her and her food. She wouldn't disappoint Giovanni.

Eventually, she managed to make it to the end of the wire field and crawl to her feet. Compared to some of the others, all she had were a few minor scratches and bruises. A fair trade if she had ever seen one. Wiping the mud off her face onto her sleeve, she took off sprinting again just as the bulk of the others made it to the end of the field.

The next obstacle course was much simpler but no less painful. A set of three bridges made of interconnected, spinning cylinders were suspended over a small ravine. Once again there were Rocket Grunts posted on the sides of the obstacle. This time, however, they were standing next to mechanical launchers armed with basketballs and Psychic types at their side.

Something told Domino that speed wasn't going to help her here. This time she waited for the rest of them to catch up, but none of the others were eager to be the first to go. Not until the Grunts began to laugh and insult them for their cowardice, causing one of the dumber to step forward. He made it maybe three steps on the first cylinder before it spun, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the pit below. He'd have hit the ground headfirst if it weren't for one of the Psychics stopping him midair and dropping him back at their feet.

This was going to be tricky. They couldn't just rely on their own balance to get through this next obstacle, but the balance of their teammates to do it. Worse, they'd need to all be capable of staying perfectly balanced while avoiding the attacks coming from their side.

This would be nearly impossible until they ran out of balls to throw at them.

So that was exactly what she chose to wait for. While everyone else tentatively made their way onto the unstable bridges and tiptoed their way across, Domino chose to remain behind and catch her breath. She watched as entire teams were sent falling off the bridge by one foolish misstep or one mistimed dodge. If it weren't for the Psychics nearby plucking them out of the air before they hit the ground, Domino was convinced that they would all have broken limbs by this point.

Eventually, the Grunts and their machines had all run out of balls to throw at them. Since none of the Psychic types were using their powers to retrieve them, Domino mentally cheered at the brilliance of her plan and sprang into action. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stepped up onto the bridge. Placing her arms out wide at her sides and taking slow, deliberate steps, she was able to slowly make her way across the bridge. At this point, her teammates had all failed so many times that experience had helped them master the art of moving across it.

By the time she reached the end, she was so happy that she leapt off the bridge with a cheer. This caused the cylinders to spin and send her teammates who had all be close behind her tumbling down into the ravine again. This time, she spared them all a silent apology and a quick look backwards before moving forward.

She wasn't completely heartless.

The next obstacle in her way was a set of monkey bars suspended over another ravine. Unlike the previous obstacles, there were no Grunts on the sidelines with weapons waiting to knock them down. Instead, she could see an assortment of Zubat, Pidgeys, and Spearows all roosting nearby, waiting for the moment they could attack. Like before, there was a small team of Psychics ready to catch them when they fell.

Domino winced. There would be no avoiding the pain or failure this time. She'd need to just grit her teeth and find a way through like she always did. The end was in sight, and she'd be damned if she failed now!

Stepping forward, she hopped up and grabbed the monkey bars. As the other trainees finally made it through the last obstacle, she started to swing herself back and for to reach the next bar. As she slowly made her way forward, the other trainees weren't far behind. The entire time, her stomach was a bundle of knots as she waited for the trap to be sprung.

When they made it halfway, they sprung it. The Flying Types launched themselves from their perches and shrieked at the top of their lungs. Diving through the air, the tiny monsters were fearsome terrors that pecked and bit at their hands and sides. A Zubat landed on the back of her neck and sunk its fangs into her neck. Reflexively, she lost her grip and tried to pry it off. By the time she realized what had happened, it was too late.

As she fell, Domino felt some kind of invisible force wrap itself around her body like a tight cocoon. Slowly, it halted her descent and lifted her up in the air to plop her back down on the ground. Growling, Domino pushed herself to her feet and narrowed her eyes.

The Flying types were making mincemeat of everyone. With how slow they were all moving, they might as well have been sitting ducks. At this rate, they'd all fail this obstacle course and go hungry together!

She took a few steps back and crouched down into a sprinters crouch. Taking a deep breath, she calmed her beating heart… and bolted as fast as she could towards the edge. As she reached the end, she leapt forward through the air and snatched two of the bars. Using her momentum, she forced herself forward. With her sudden burst of speed and the slow speed of those around her, none of the Pokemon in the air chose to target her.

When she reached the end and let go of the bars, she rolled along the ground. With a hiss of pain, she brought her hands up to her face and blew on them. With how fast she'd been going, she'd torn off some of her skin on those bars! Oh, she was so going to get blisters from this!

A small price to pay compared to a lost dinner though.

Stumbling to her feet, Domino spared a look back. Now that the others had seen her plan work, they were all stepping back to get a running start as well. It was then she noticed that there were large buckets of rocks at the end. If she were to make a guess, those must have been here for a reason. Whether it was to target the Flying Types or enemy teams, though, she couldn't say for sure.

She couldn't say she much cared anyway.

Turning her back on the monkey bars, she moved towards the final obstacle in her path. It was a single, simple rope dangling from the ceiling. She was meant to climb it and reach the ledge up above where the bell was.

She cracked a smile. She'd climbed up pipes on the sides of buildings being chased by angry urchins before. This would be child's play compared to that. Grabbing onto the rope, it took her a few moments to get used to the way that it would swing back and forth. Soon enough, she was able to start shimmying her way up the rope until she had reached the top and could leap onto the ledge.

From there, she wasted no time in dashing forward and ringing the bell on a post at the end. She pumped her fist into the air and cheered. "First!"

The instructor waiting for her at the end quirked his eyebrow before looking away. She frowned. That hadn't been the reaction she was expecting. Slowly, the rest of the trainees all made their way up the rope to ring the bell until they had all finished the course. The final one to make the trip had been a member of the same team she was forced on.

The final boy wiped some sweat from his brow and glared down at her. "Thanks for nothing."

Before she could say anything, his fist struck her cheek and sent her falling to the ground. She hissed in pain and tried to stand up to strike back, but a boot was placed on her chest and forced her back down. It was their instructor.

And he did not look pleased.

"Good work, brats! Everybody eats!" He declared as a smirk stretched across his scarred face. "Except for the gutter rat here and her team."

She snarled and tried to push herself up, to no avail. "I was first!"

He snorted. "Aye, you were first. Your team came in last though. Listen good to what I'm about to say: you don't win, unless your team wins. That goes double for when you eventually graduate this fine institution of ours and officially join Team Rocket!" He grinded his foot into her chest. "Or in your case, if you can graduate."

The instructor lifted his boot off her chest and stepped away. "That's enough for now. Get yourselves cleaned up and to the infirmary if you need it! I expect you all to be prepared when I next come calling!"

As the other trainees began to disperse, she felt one of them spit on her and a few send her send her dirty looks. None of it bothered her. She'd grown used to it in Kalos and the adults there could be far crueler than this. No, instead she turned her head to look up towards the observatory where she knew Giovanni would be.

When their eyes met, the two held eye contact for a brief moment. Then… he shook his head and turned to walk away.

That hurt more than any of the harsh words or wounds she'd suffered today. If she couldn't even live up to the expectations of the man who had taken her off the streets and brought her in, then what good was she!? Clenching her eyes shut, she growled and slammed her fist into the ground.

She needed to do better! She needed to be better! She needed-

"Well, well. Would you look at that, sis? The little brat does have some emotions after all."

"You're right! Here I was thinking she was an emotionless robot."

Once she heard the voices, Domino's eyes snapped open, and she backed away. Standing above her were two older, teenaged girls in Team Rocket uniforms looking down on her. One of them had shoulder length, light blue hair, and amber eyes while the other had her long, golden hair styled into large buns on the side of her head with the same amber eyes.

Glaring up at them, she stumbled to her feet. "Who are you two? What do you want?"

The bluenette giggled. "So hostile. I can see why you don't have any friends."

Blondie reached down to ruffle Domino's hair. She was tempted to bite off her fingers but held back. It probably wouldn't work. "Aww, well I think it's cute. She's like a little Poochyena! So aggressive at first, but deep down I'll bet she's just full of love and affection!"

Domino's eye twitched. "I am not!" She stomped her foot into the ground just to show how fierce she was. It didn't have the effect she wanted because it just made the two older girls laugh at her more.

The blond one rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, no need to blow a gasket." She held out her hand for Domino to shake. "My name's Annie. You may have heard of me. Impossibly charming, stunningly beautiful, and the best thief this side of Team Rocket!"

Bluenette narrowed her eyes and jabbed her elbow into Annie's side. "Ahem?"

A smirk crossed Annie's face and she hid the mischievous twinkle in her eyes behind her bangs. "Oh, and this is my little sister, Oakley. She's almost as good as me. No prizes for second place though."

Oakley growled. "You're so lucky you're my sister."

"Really? I'd have said the same thing. Anyone related to me won the genetic lottery as far as I'm concerned."

Domino slowly back away while the two were focused on each other so she could slip away. Sadly, they noticed. She barely made it two steps before they turned their attention back to her. The same charming smiles were on both their faces.

She didn't trust them.

"Why are you talking to me?"

Annie sauntered over to her and crouched down until she was eye level. "Because you're just the cutest thing we've seen all day!"

Domino was just about ready to punch this girl in the throat.

Luckily, she didn't have to. Oakley slapped her sister on the back of the head and grabbed her by the back of the collar to drag her away. "Listen. My sister and I are like you. We went through Specter training when we were younger too."

Annie nodded. "Yeah! We were just like you too. So young and full of loathing for everything… where did the days go?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You're mocking me."

Annie laughed. "Out of affection, I swear." She held out her hand for her to shake again. "We thought we'd come see how you were doing. You took your loss pretty hard, cutie."

Hesitantly, Domino reached out to shake it. "My name is Domino. And I just don't like to lose. Or have my food taken from me."

Oakley snorted in amusement and cocked her hip to the side. "Better get used to it. Old Burnside loves to use hunger as a motivator for his students. He's a bastard like that."

She blinked. "Burnside?"

Annie wagged her finger. "It was the nickname our class had for him. You know, since half his face looks like a burned hotdog." She smirked. "He always hated that nickname – so naturally, it stuck."

Domino laughed. She'd need to remember that. "You two are Specters?"

"We are. Best of our generation too, not that the others would ever admit it." Oakley crossed her arms. "Listen, Burnside's singled you out to be his punching bag. He does it to every class he teaches, and they almost always end up broken messes."

Domino glared. "So what? You want to help me? Why?"

"You mean aside from the fact it'll piss Burnside off?" Annie chipped in.

Oakley rolled her amber eyes. "Because you've got a lot of potential. With or without us, I think you'll make it out the other end a good Specter. With our help though? It'll be a lot easier. We can fill you in on the tricks he likes to pull and teach you a thing or two."

"Then when you officially become one of us, you'll owe us a favor. We can always use someone else to watch our back that we know can handle themselves." Annie added. "There may be no honor among thieves, but there is solidarity."

Selfishness that benefited them all, huh? Domino supposed she could understand that. So long as she knew what it was they wanted from her and there were no hidden motives, she could get behind it. "Will that be breaking the rules?"

Oakley shrugged. "We're criminals, Domino. Nobody expecting us to follow rules is thinking clearly."

"Don't think of it as breaking rules. Just think of this as practice for when you become one of us. Thinking outside the box and doing whatever it takes to win is the Team Rocket motto!" Annie advised.

She blinked. "I thought it was something else. Didn't it start with-"

"We don't talk about that!" The two of them shouted at once.

Okay… looked like she'd need to avoid saying the motto she'd heard some of the Grunts passing around. That was fine by her. It had sounded pretty silly.

"So you two help me in exchange for me helping you later?" It wasn't too different from the sorts of deals the other kids would make back in Lumiose City. Domino nodded and gave the two a bright smile. "Okay, that sounds good to me! You teach me now, and I'll have your back later."

Her two new teachers shared a smile. "Excellent! Now come on, let's get you something to eat. Can't expect you to be at your best on an empty stomach."

Domino could see that this was the start of a beautiful friendship.

3 Years Ago, Viridian City, Kanto

"Why am I here?"

Oakley leaned back in her chair, sipping on a strawberry sunrise. "Orders from the boss, Domino. You know that."

Domino slouched over the table. "I just mean why me, specifically? You know I don't do the whole damsel in distress thing well."

Annie drummed fingers along the edge of the table they were sitting at. "Don't sell yourself short. You're the best Specter to come out of the program in years. The boss must have taken notice and decided you were the best fit."

"It certainly helps that you're the right age." Oakley chimed in.

Domino leaned back in her chair with a sigh. The three of them were in Viridian City at a small café in one of the market distracts. Just recently, she had been recalled from an assignment overseas in Unova. She'd been busy tracking down one of Plasma's illusive Sages and had managed to narrow down the search to somewhere in Castelia City. From there, all she'd have to do is set up an ambush and either capture him for interrogation or kill him.

She'd had so many ideas for how she could do it. Maybe she could stage a false flag attack on one of the local drug kingpins and pit the two against one another. Maybe kill the police commissioners' brother and pin the crime of Team Plasma. Arceus, she'd even been thinking of slowly turning their own members in the city against one another until the Sage had no choice but to reveal himself.

The possibilities were endless!

Instead, here she was back in Kanto being prepped for what was for all intents and purposes a honeytrap.

When she found out who put her name forward to the boss for this, she was going to string them up by their toes!

The target of their little plan didn't even seem worth her time. He was a fairly skilled trainer on the League circuit, but beyond that? There was no connection to any prominent criminal, business, or law enforcement figures. He wasn't someone with influence or resources they could use. As far as she could tell, he was the exact type of person they should have been avoiding if his hatred of criminals was anything to go by.

Why the boss was interested in this Silver kid was beyond her.

But if the boss wanted her to get close to him, then that's what she'd do.

She ran a hand down her face. Might as well get this over with. "Remind me what the plan is again?"

The strawberry sunrise was raised up and Oakley took a sip from her straw. "It's simple. You walk down the street – looking as dopey and innocent as you can – with this purse once he leaves the store he's visiting." Her friend slid a small, black leather purse across the table. Sticking out of the top of it was a thick wad of cash. "Then one of our guys will show up to take it. You'll struggle with it while looking as helpless as can be."

"Which means no kicking the crap out of the guy." Annie warned. "Don't want you to scare him off."

Domino rolled her eyes. She wasn't stupid. She knew how to keep a cover.

"And once he sees it, dear little Silver will step in like a hero to save your person and chase the thief away. After which, you will work your magic on him and convince him to let you travel with him." Oakley laughed. "Like taking candy from a baby."

"Oh! He's coming out!" Annie pointed towards the nearby department store at a redheaded boy walking down the street. "Better get going if you want to catch him."

Domino sighed and plucked the purse off the table, pushing herself to her feet. "This kid had better be worth it."

She left the café and started walking down the street. Dressed in a violet sundress with a dark blue sunhat, Domino looked like any other mindless fool on the street. Combined with the fact she had no Pokeballs or weapons visible on her, she would have made a tempting target for any would-be mugger.

Luckily for them, the only one around here was their agent.

As she got within a dozen feet or so of Silver, their agent dashed out of the nearby alley and grabbed the purse. She let out a loud, sharp gasp and dug her feet into the ground. She and the agent both tugged on the bag at opposite ends.

"Help! Somebody! He's trying to steal my purse!" She shouted.

"Hand over the bag, lady!" The agent shouted in response. "Don't make me hurt you over a few lousy bucks!"

Predictably, everyone else on the street were all frozen where they stood. Most of them were just gaping like a fish and shifting uncomfortably as they looked on. Some of the more generous people would have called it fear, but she knew better. They were all happy to look on and hope that someone else would help, but they wouldn't lift a finger to do it themselves.

Someone more generous would have called it the bystander effect, but she knew better. This was nothing more than pure, unadulterated selfishness. It disgusted her so much she felt like she needed a shower.

If there was one thing she would give Silver, it was that he was different than everyone else. No matter how annoying hero types were, at least they always stood by their beliefs.

"Sneasel, stop that guy!"

Just as they predicted, Silver sprang into action once he realized someone was in trouble. His Sneasel dashed in between them and leapt into the air, kicking their agent in the face. The man tumbled backwards to the ground but rolled over his shoulder. Then he took off sprinting down the street, pushing aside bystanders in his way.

With the threat gone, the Sneasel turned to look up at her and let out an inquisitive growl. Domino blinked. Was she expected to respond to it like it was a person? The file had said Silver was close with his Pokemon, so she guessed it couldn't hurt.

Crouching down, she pulled the Sneasel into a tight hug. "Oh, thank you so much! You were so brave!"

The Sneasel sheepishly rubbed the back of its head.

"Don't be modest, Sneasel. You earned the praise."

At Silver's voice, Domino perked up and let go of the Ice type. Standing up, she turned and clasped her hands in front of her. "Are you this Sneasel's trainer?"

The redheaded boy nodded down at her. "Yes, ma'am. He's my partner."

Grabbing his arm, she pulled him into a tight hug as well. "Oh, thank you so much too! I'm so glad that you were able to help me! Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't been here!"

She made sure to say that last part extra loud. Most of those nearby who had chosen to stand by, and watch had the decency to look ashamed. Good. The last thing any of them deserved was to feel proud of themselves for doing nothing.

Silver flushed in embarrassment. "I-it was nothing. Really."

Domino pulled back and smiled brightly at him. His face was now almost as red as his hair. "Don't sell yourself short! You're a regular knight in shining armor!" She clapped her hands together. "I know! Come with me. I'm gonna treat you and your Pokemon to lunch."

Silver and his Sneasel exchanged a glance. "You don't have to-"

Her hand wrapped around his wrist, and she started pulling him down to street. They were accompanied by Sneasel's chortle of laughter. "Nope! I won't take no for an answer, mister!"

That was how the three of them wound up at a nice little Unovan restaurant. She was leaning forward and propping herself up on her elbow, sipping on a vanilla milkshake. Silver shifted in his seat across from her and Sneasel munched on a small muffin in its own. With a sigh of content, Domino turned her violet eyes to his brown one's.

"You still haven't told me your name." She pointed out. "I can't keep calling you my gallant knight forever… unless that's what you were aiming for?"

Silver's eyes widened and his face turned as red as a pepper. "No no no! That wasn't- I wasn't trying to- gah!" He rested his forehead on the table and groaned. "My name is Silver. Silver Axe."

Axe huh? An alias then. In the file she'd been given, his last name was unknown – an impossibility if he was willing to give it so freely. Maybe he was the son of someone important that they hadn't been able to find. Maybe he'd been in witness protection at some point. Hell, he might have even been an orphan like her and taken a name of his own.

Either way, she'd have plenty of time to figure it out if things went well.

"That's a nice name." She took a sip of her milkshake. "I'm Tiffany Davenport. It's a pleasure to officially meet you."

He mumbled something in response. At his side, Sneasel snickered and patted Silver's back in solidarity.

"While we wait on our food, I'm curious: are you taking on the Pokemon League?" She prodded. "Your Sneasel looks too strong to be a pet."

Silver looked down at his Sneasel and smiled. "He's my partner. Has been ever since I was a little kid, and he will be for as long as he'll have me."

The Sneasel raised its claws into the air and cheered in agreement.

What an idiot.

Domino smiled. "That's so sweet!"

"Heh. Yeah…." As he trailed off, Silver's smile turned into a frown. "I am taking on the Pokemon League, but that's not why I'm here. I was visiting family, unfortunately."

She cocked her head to the side, her golden curls formed a frame around her face. "Trouble in paradise?"

Silver tried to hide his grimace behind a sip of his water. "My family is complicated. It's nothing to worry about."

"Complicated? Heh, well you're in luck. I'm an expert at complicated." Silver's eyes shifted and he started to scratch the back of his Sneasel's head. Domino would need to push a little more. "You helped me out earlier. The least I can do is offer you someone to vent to."

Setting his cup down on the table, Silver looked away. "It's nothing special. My dad just wanted me to come visit him is all."

So his father lived in Viridian City? Good to know. "I'm sensing there's more to this than your dad calling you home."

"He wants me to take over the family business. He's got all these expectations and plans for me, but never actually asked what I want to do." Silver picked up the fork to his right and began to twirl it in his hands. The precision and speed he did it with reminded Domino of a master thief. "It just gets tiring pretending to be someone I'm not."

Domino could understand that. It was a common issue for conmen. Lying to everyone they met and changing who they were day by day wore down their nerves after a while. Some ended up breaking from it and quitting the life altogether. Others adapted to it and accepted that their entire life was a lie.

She tapped her foot on the ground beneath the table. "What is it your family does? What, are you like a chef or something? Oh! Maybe a tailor?" She plucked her own knife off the table and flipped it around to poke him with the blunt end. "I could see you as a cobbler. Fixing up shoes until the sun goes down!"

Silver and his Sneasel both laughed with genuine smiles on their faces. "If only. No, he's more of your typical businessman than anything else. He's got his hands in the import and export business, pest control, casinos, pharmaceuticals, even politics. You name it, he's probably got some influence there."

Domino hid her interest behind another sip of her milkshake. Those were all common forms of doublespeak used in the underworld to hide the true business of criminals. Whoever his father was, he must have been connected to organized crime somehow if his reach was that far. She was beginning to understand why she was ordered to watch him.

"That's impressive. I can see why it would be a lot to put on your shoulders though." She hummed. "Have you told him you don't want to follow in his footsteps?"

Silver groaned into his hand. "I have. He doesn't listen though. He just says that I'm going through a phase, and I'll get over it eventually. Then I yell… and he yells back… and then we don't speak for a few weeks waiting to see which one of us gives in first."

"Sounds complicated."

Sounded stupid was what it was. If you cared about someone, you didn't let simple fights get in the way of staying close. Silver didn't know how lucky he was to have someone that cared about him. His father didn't seem to understand how lucky he was to have a loving son either.

She wanted to whack the both of them on the head.

Domino leaned back in her seat. "What is it you want to do then?"

Silver closed his eyes and crossed his hands in front of him. "I don't know. That's what my journey is about. I want to find what I'm passionate about and pursue it, not be forced into something just because it's the family business. I've tried telling him that, but he says searching without a goal is pointless."

Shrugging, Domino looked up as their food arrived and thanked the waiter for their food. "It sounds like he's just worried about you. I'm sure if you went to him with a concrete plan, he'd support you."

That's what she heard good parents did, anyway.

"Maybe…." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring down the mood with my issues."

She snorted in amusement and rolled her eyes. "I asked, you dope. Besides, it's not like you're the only one with family problems. We've all got those."

"Oh yeah? What about you? Any secrets you wanna share?"

She tapped her chin with her knife. "Hmmm… nope!" Laughter escaped her lips. "If you want those, I'm afraid you'll need to try a little harder."

Silver chuckled. "Fair enough."

"Speaking of your journey, where are you planning to go next?" She prodded.

"Ah. I'm heading to take on the Cerulean City Gym." He told her. "I've heard that Misty is a tough opponent, but she's the last badge I need before I can compete at the Indigo League."

"What a coincidence!" She cheered. "I'm heading that way too to meet up with some friends. Do you want to travel together?"

Silver blinked. "You want to travel with me? Why?"

"You mean aside from the fact you're my knight in shining armor?" She teased. Predictably, he blushed a blazing red. "I need to go there anyway, and you seem trustworthy. I just thought it'd be nice to have some company."

"I guess that makes sense…."

She leaned forward, allowing the collar of her dress to fall forward slightly. "I'm also an excellent cook, if that helps."

Silver gulped and looked away. "A-ah! Well that's good! I'm a terrible cook. I burn everything to charcoal and mix up my ingredients all the time and once I even mixed up the hot sauce with the chocolate sauce for a sundae and- oof!"

Sneasel growled and raised its claws again in warning.

The redhead flinched. "I'm sorry. I was rambling."

She and Sneasel exchanged a glance before snickering. Yeah, they wondered why.

Silver shook away his blush but refused to meet her eyes. "Okay. Yeah, sure. I wouldn't mind some company on the road. It'll be nice to talk to someone who I can actually understand."

Sneasel chirped in annoyance.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

Domino chuckled as the two devolved into bickering in front of her. Mission accomplished. While she wasn't a fan of her assignment, it wouldn't be too bad. Especially if Silver was always going to be this easy to tease. She was only meant to do it until Plasma had been defeated too which wouldn't take much longer than a few months at this rate.

So long as she protected him, she might as well treat it like a vacation.

This was going to be fun.

2 Years Ago, Lumiose City, Kalos

As one of the oldest regions in the world, Kalos was known for three things. The first was its rich history as a conquering empire that played a pivotal role in human history. The second was its rich culture of fashion, art, and sophistication. The third and final element that made Kalos stand out was its moniker as the nation of love. These three aspects combined to make Kalos one of the cultural hotspots of the world.

And if there was one thing Kalos loved to do, it was show off at every opportunity.

Nothing let them do that more than a fashion show.

As the center of the fashion world, renowned fashion designers and models would come from across the globe for the chance to have their work shown off their work. Those who stood out at one of these fashion shows would find their work in high demand and their name catapulted into the spotlight. More importantly, the tycoons of the industry could come together to make deals and find new talent.

Domino would never be able to understand.

Oh, she understood the power of clothes. Whether you were infiltrating a high society dinner, an academy for the gifted, or a military base, the right clothes could mean the difference between success or failure. The colors you chose, the condition of the clothes themselves, and even the way they were worn all played in important part in building a cover identity and disguise.

That was all clothes were though. A tool to serve a singular purpose. It was nothing worth glorifying or worshipping. The people behind it were hardly any better. The exploitation of cheap labor, staggering amounts of pollution, abuse of their models, assassinations and embezzlement, the list went on.

It glittered like gold, but beneath the surface? The fashion industry was as vile and corrupt as any other business.

Fortunately for her, she'd have the chance to strike back against them tonight.

This year, the Xerneas Illumination fashion show was being held at one of the ancient castles from the days of warlords and emperors. In addition to the hundreds that had come to show off their work at the event, thousands had come to see it in person. Millions more would be watching the live streams of the event to catch a glimpse at what the new height of fashion would be.

For her part, Domino was up above the main stage being used as a runway. At her side was a simple toolbox. She was sitting in the rafters which were holding up the massive lighting rig used to illuminate the room in a myriad of different colors. Made entirely of crystals and suspended by a single winch, it was an impressive sight.

Sneaking in had been simple. All she'd had to do was find someone with a uniform around her size and pay them a few thousand dollars to take the night off. From there, all she'd had to do was walk in with everyone else. As part of the maintenance crew, she had access to pretty much anywhere in the castle. The few places she wasn't allowed were easy to sneak into with the incompetent security forces they employed.

She'd been sent here for one reason: to send a message.

Team Rocket had been trying to establish themselves within the Kalos region for a while now. At first, it had gone well. They'd made some allies willing to profit from business with them and crushed the initial enemies at the ports who'd opposed them. It had seemed like their expansion would be a slow and easy victory.

Then they came across Team Flare.

The Kalosian syndicate and they had clashed in the past in other regions. Usually over bits of rare technology or ancient artifacts that could be connected to Legends. It had always been purely business. Whatever losses the two inflicted to the other had been minor in the grand scheme of things. As long as they stayed out of each other's way, there was some semblance of peace. Even when that had to come to an end with their encroachment into Kalos, they had believed it would still be purely business that brought them at odds.

Then their first agents in Kalos had been butchered in their beds. Their bodies strung up, their blood used to draw Flare's symbol on the walls, and their heads mailed to Team Rocket bases in Unova. Their message had been clear: Stay out of Kalos or risk war.

Perhaps if Team Rocket had been weaker, they would have done as they said and written Kalos off as a lost cause. Maybe if they and their other rivals had all joined forces, Flare could have forced Rocket into submission. Instead, Flare had chosen to strike at the most powerful criminal empire the world had ever seen and done so without any allies. An arrogant move if Domino had ever seen one.

Even then, their war could have remained professional. Plasma and Galactic had been no less brutal in their wars against them. Yet they had made a mistake that the others had never been given the chance to. Flare had killed one of Giovanni's old friends – someone he'd known during the Great War as far as she could tell.

That had made this personal. Now she and other agents all across Kalos were to give their answer to Flare: War.

Many of their agents were going to be hitting known Flare strongholds and assassinating prominent figures within the group. Some of them would be burning down labs and business connected to the group while others would target the banks connected to the group. Domino would be doing none of this. Instead, she had been assigned to strike a blow against the leader of Flare himself.

Lysandre Beausejour.

The man had hidden his connection to Flare well. As far as the public was concerned, Lsyandre was a brilliant scientist and a philanthropist dedicated to saving the world. He had fed millions and provided homes to just as many, often acting as a voice of reason and unity on the interregional stage. He might as well have been a saint.

Team Rocket knew better though. Unlike Giovanni, Lysandre had left a faint trail for them to follow. Wireless transactions that went to nowhere. Shell companies that set up shop across the world. An intense interest in the ancient mysteries of the world and anything related to Mega Evolution. Rival businesses becoming embroiled in scandals and enemies being assassinated. Slowly, they had been able to follow the trail back to him.

Like Kalos itself, his arrogance would be his downfall.

First, however, he would suffer.

Targeting Lysandre himself would have been impossible. He was too heavily protected at all times for her to accomplish on her own. Something like that would have taken months of planning and an entire cell of agents supporting her. For now, he was safe. Those close to him weren't as lucky.

While the Kalosian criminal didn't have any surviving family or even many close friends, their information pointed to him being close to one woman. Nikki Belrose, a famous model known for her obsession with perfection. Despite his efforts to hide it, Lysandre frequently had her over to his home, took her with him on trips, and sponsored her shows.

Whatever was going on between them, it was clear that he cared for her.

It made her the perfect target.

By killing one of Giovanni's friends, there would be no limits to this war. Anyone and anything Lysandre cared about would be destroyed. Even those that had nothing to do with Flare or the criminal underworld at all wouldn't be spared.

There was a saying that an eye for an eye made the world go blind. Maybe that was true. If so, then they would take both Flare's eyes and its heart. They would learn the price of standing against Team Rocket right before the little terrorist group was consigned to the pages of a history book.

As the fashion show below continued on, Domino patiently waited for Nikki Belrose to make her entrance. When she finally came on stage, the woman was wearing a flaming, flowing orange and white dress that trailed behind her. At her side, a female Pyroar walked with its main tied into a braid and dyed blue. The crowd cheered and music blared as the two of them strutted down the catwalk and posed for the cameras.

Domino smirked and grabbed the crowbar from her toolbox. Raising it above her head, she jammed it into the winch and wrenched it aside, snapping the delicate machinery inside. There was a loud creak for a moment that drowned out the cheers and the music below. Before anyone could even realize what was happening, the lighting rig fell from the ceiling.

When it came crashing down, the glass shattered it millions of tiny, razor-sharp shards. Most of the audience was fine except for those in the audience right next to the stage. For those on the stage like Nikki Belrose and her Pyroar though? They weren't just crushed by tons upon tons of glass. They were sliced into little bits and impaled on the shards before being smashed by the weight of the lights.

Gone was the standard of perfect beauty. In its place was a mangled blood stain beneath a mountain of debris.

As the crowd below screamed in terror and ran for the exits, Domino stood up and made her way off the rafters. The security forces would be busy trying to contain the situation and keep the guests from killing each other in their panic to escape. It would take a few minutes for the police to arrive in force and lock down the scene. By then, she'd be long gone, and this would be written off as a tragic accident by everyone.

Everyone except Lysandre, that is.

Team Rocket hadn't started this war, but with Arceus as her witness, they would be the ones to finish it.

Present Day, Mahogany Town, Johto

Pryce's home was on the outskirts of Mahogany Town in what could best be described as the suburbs. Painted a homely white, it was the picture of peace with a white picket fence, a perfectly maintained garden out front, and even a small chimney that could be seen from a distance. A perfect little home for a respected member of the community.

It was also very well guarded. While there were no bodyguards standing around the doors or patrolling the grounds, Domino had been watching long enough to notice the hidden guards. There was a landscaping van out front that never moved while new workers came to replace those inside every twelve hours. There were three joggers that patrolled the neighborhood in hour intervals, ensuring that there were always eyes on the streets. Finally, there was an old man who always sat on his front porch reading the newspaper.

Since she'd arrived, she'd kept a constant surveillance on his home. Finding a way inside was almost impossible. There were always eyes on Pryce's home, no matter the time of day. Someone would see her if she tried to sneak in while he was gone as long as they were watching. She could kill them, but that would only alert Pryce to the fact someone was coming for him. At best, he'd beef up his security to make it harder. At worst, he'd set a trap and kill her.

She needed to avoid both of those.

Luckily for her, she had noticed something while she'd been watching Pryce's guards. Any time they noticed an unfamiliar car in the neighborhood more than three times or if it spent a little too long near Pryce's home, they moved. The old man on the porch got up to smoke a cigarette and take a walk. The joggers all moved on the streets at the same time. Even the van suddenly started to move. Collectively, they would converge on the threat and follow them wherever they were going.

It was an impressive bit of coordination, but it had one glaring weakness. While they were preoccupied with dealing with the potential threat, they left his home unguarded. After all, why watch the house when you had the threat in your sights already? As far as she could tell, her target hadn't placed any cameras inside of his house either.

She could use that.

So she made a plan. Once Pryce left this morning, she didn't follow him like she normally did. Instead, she chose to wait until noon when most businesses had opened up and the lunch rush was about to begin. She'd ordered a pizza and was having it delivered to her targets house to see their reaction.

Thirty minutes later, the pizza arrived. When the delivery man stepped out of his car and walked up to the front door of Pryce's house, his guards all started to move. By the time the driver had gotten back in his car and started to drive away, he was moving right into an ambush by the guards.

It would take them five, maybe ten minutes to figure out the deliveryman was innocent, chalk it up to a mistake, and get back to watching the house. By then, she'd already be inside and working.

Once the guards were all out of sight, Domino left her hiding spot and approached the door to Pryce's house. She was able to pick her way through the lock in under ten seconds and shut it behind her before anyone could notice.

Now that she was inside, Domino took a moment to breath and look around. As far as houses went, it was hardly furnished, there were no pictures on the walls, and nothing that showed it was a true home. Only the nastiest, most careful criminals managed to make it to old age. They always had some tricks up their sleeves to give them an edge. Whether it was a concealed weapon, a covert escape route, or some sort of trap to deal with unwanted visitors.

A man like Pryce would have set multiple traps in his home while he was gone.

Before she took another step into his home, she reached down and lifted the rug that lead further into the house. Some criminals liked to set trembler switch near the entrance to the home that an intruder would set off by accident, activating some sort of trap like a firebomb or gas release. When she found nothing to worry about, she breathed a sigh of relief and moved on.

Tossing the place like a cop was out of the question. Not only would it have left an obvious sign that she was here, but it would also have been pointless. Someone like Pryce – someone smart enough to potentially plan a coup and lie in wait for years – wouldn't have left it somewhere easy to find. That meant she would need to get creative.

With the hours that Pryce would still be gone, she had plenty of time. She gently knocked on walls and listened closely for any hint of a hollowed-out space. She carefully pried the lightbulbs and smoke alarms out of the ceiling to search them for hidden documents. She even checked in the ventilation shafts and up the chimney. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

That was fine. She had an entire house to search, after all. However clever Pryce may have thought he was, she was better. If he had anything to hide, she'd find it sooner or later.

Her next stop was his bedroom. Placing her ear against the door, she waited for a moment to see if she heard anything. When no sound came from inside, she nodded to herself and slowly opened the door. When she heard a faint click, she froze on the spot and carefully peered around the corner of the door.

Sitting on a bureau at the foot of Pryce's bed was a claymore. A thin wire was attached to a pressure sensitive trigger that ran all the way up, through a hook, and over the door to wrap around the doorknob.

Damn it! How had she not noticed this!?

Growling to herself, she kept a tight grip on the door with one hand while reaching up to grab the wire off the hook with her other hand. While gently pushing the door open, she slowly brought the wire down and was careful not to put any more pressure on the trigger. Inch by inch, she moved her way forward. Swept dribbled down her brow and her throat felt dry. If she made one wrong move or put too much pressure on this, she'd be dead, and Pryce would know Giovanni was on to him.

She couldn't let that happen.

Domino wouldn't fail him.

Once she was within a foot of the claymore, she began to feel something akin to hope swell in her chest. Just a couple more steps and she could disarm the bomb Then she could finally get to work searching bedroom. There had to be something here if he was placing a trap at the door.

Before she could do any of that, the closet door to her left creaked opened and she froze. Out stepped Pryce, a silenced pistol in one hand and his cane in the other. Without a word, he moved towards his bed behind the claymore and sat down. With his pistol pointed at her and the claymore still primed to go off if she let go, she was trapped.

"Well… this is awkward."

Chapter Text

Silence.

Of all the things Ash had expected after revealing himself, silence hadn't been it. He'd expected there to be fear, anger, or at least plenty of shouting. To instead be faced with a calm silence and an inquisitive stare from his old friend had been unnerving to say the least.

His training told him that this was a mistake. The smart decision would have been to flee while he still had the chance. If Mallow called the police and they arrested him here, then Interpol's entire operation in Alola would be at risk. Rocket would find out not just who he was, but that he was working with Interpol.

Bare minimum, he and his team would be in immediate danger.

But… his gut told him that he could trust Mallow. She had always been someone who gave others the benefit of the doubt. You could have been the most vile man in the world, and she would still offer you a shoulder to lean on if she felt you needed it.

His reputation may not have been quite that bad, but it was close. If she was willing to hear him out and listen to his side of the story, then he'd tell her. Of all his old friends, she was one of the few he knew would give him a chance.

At the moment, he was sitting at one of the tables by himself. Pikachu and Mallow's Tsareena had migrated off to the side of the room to munch on a bowl of Poke food and have their own conversation. Mallow had left him here a few minutes ago to go and prepare some food so they could catch up, according to her.

He'd have been worried about how upbeat she was if he wasn't sure it was to hide her nervousness.

Soon enough, Mallow came out from the back carrying a glass of water and seafood salad sandwich of some kind. She set it down in front of him and sat down in the seat opposite of him, cupping her hands in front of her.

Her smile was bright enough to light up the room. "Sorry about that. I would have made you something better, but all the machines are off already." She apologized. "All we had left was some bread and Remoraid salad."

Laughing, Ash picked up the sandwich and bit into it. Despite being cold, the bread was still soft and fluffy enough that it felt like eating a cloud and the Remoraid was light, refreshing, and seasoned to absolute perfection. There was even a little hint of spice at the tail end of it to leave him wanting more.

He swallowed and smiled at her. "Mallow, your food is as good as I remember. No need to apologize. I'd happily eat whatever leftovers you have."

She giggled. "Glad to see that your appetite hasn't changed since I last saw you." She leaned forward and pointed at his head. "Like that mop of yours. What's with the yellow?"

Ash reached up and ran a hand through his dyed hair half-heartedly. "I guess I just felt like I needed a change of pace. They say blonds have more fun, so I thought I'd give it a try."

Mallow snorted in amusement. "Really? Well, I wouldn't recommend you keep it." She told him. "I preferred your raven hair. It's hard to see you without it… just another thing that has changed since those days."

Both Ash and Mallow winced. The two had been doing their best to dance around that little tidbit the entire time. Just pretend like everything was normal and he was an old friend popping in to visit. There was no avoiding it though. Now that he had revealed himself to her, they needed to address this.

He sighed. "You must have questions." He set aside his sandwich for the moment and leaned forward. "Ask away. I'll do my best to answer."

Mallow frowned. "What… what happened, Ash? The news said that you had killed someone and broke out of police custody. They had experts on explaining how you were a career criminal in hiding all these years."

Despite the situation, Ash couldn't help but laugh. A career criminal? Him? It was so outlandish that he felt whoever came up with it must have been very bad at their job. Before he'd been recruited by Interpol, he hadn't known the pointy end of a blade from the pommel or the first thing about cracking open a tumbler lock.

He shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised. People like their villains, and I guess they needed to make me into a good one. Newspapers must have sold like hot cakes when that story broke." He mumbled.

"You say that like what they said was false." She pointed out. "So, tell me the truth, Ash. I feel like I deserve it after all we've been through."

She was right about that. So, he did just that. He told her of how Team Rocket had taken control of his mind and used his body to frame him for a murder. How he would surely accepted his fate and likely died in prison if it hadn't been for Interpol. He even told her of how he had been recruited by them and was now working to bring Team Rocket down.

He didn't tell her everything. He left out the specifics of what he was doing here in Alola and didn't tell her anything about Alto Mare. But he made sure that she knew enough to get a decent picture of what had happened.

And to his joy… she believed him.

"I'm so sorry you've had to go through all of this." She stood up and glided around the table, pulling him into a tight hug that he quickly returned. "What they did to you… it's just completely evil."

He breathed in deeply to calm his nerves. "It is. But there's nothing I can do about it. No real proof that could clear my name short of a confession by the one who did it."

If the file he'd read on Domino had been even half true, he knew there was a greater chance of hell freezing over.

Mallow pulled back. "This team you're on – they're looking after you?"

He smiled. "They are. Some of them can be a handful at times, but I know that they've got my back. I've only made it this far because of all the support they've given me."

Thanks to them, he was more than just another naïve trainer in a world full of them. He could defend himself without having to rely on his Pokemon. He was learning how to pick locks and blend into various different sects of society. Even knowledge of how criminals worked was becoming second-nature.

He still had a long way to go before he was a fully-fledged agent, but Ash felt he was on the right path.

"I'm glad to hear it." She told him. "So, Interpol huh? You must be here on a mission then. What can I do to help?"

He frowned and pulled back. "Mallow, no."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'no'?" She demanded. "If you and Interpol are here, that must mean you're going after Team Rocket. I want to help. You know I can be useful!"

He sighed. "Mallow, it's not that simple-"

A finger jabbed into his chest and pushed him back. "I was an Ultra Guardian just like you, you know!" She growled. "I can handle myself!"

He held up the palms of his hands placatingly. "It's not. I know how capable you are. It's just that I can't involve you in this. I don't make those decisions and I wasn't even meant to reveal myself to you."

"So what? I'm just supposed to sit back and pretend that nothing is happening? That my friend isn't throwing himself into danger while I'm serving people their third sandwich in as many minutes?" She growled. "Not a chance!"

Ash flinched away. Yep… he knew that tone. It was the same one that every woman he'd ever known always got when they made their mind up about something. It meant that no matter what he said or did, nothing would dissuade them from doing what it was they wanted.

Usually he found it endearing, but this time? This time it worried him. Good intentions wouldn't be enough to stop Team Rocket's latest plot. They needed people with the skills and tools to do that – not a vigilante showing up out of nowhere.

If Looker could hear his thoughts now, he'd have given him the blankest stare in the world, he imagined.

"I'm not saying you can't help. You just can't help in the way you want to." His resolve held firm even under her intense glare and he straightened his back. "Look, I'll find a way you can help. Even if it's just research or something like that, it will be useful."

She flipped her emerald hair over her shoulder skeptically. "Alright… I'll believe you for now. If I don't hear from you every few days, though, I'm coming looking for you."

"Okay-"

"And the moment you find a way to end Team Rocket, I want to be there!"

Not going to happen, but this was one instance where he didn't mind lying. He smiled at Mallow and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I hear you. If I'm involved in the final battle against Rocket here in Alola, I'll make sure you're there. Champion's honor."

Her eyes scanned his face for a moment. She must have seen something she liked for she nodded and smile in approval. "Okay, good. I'm glad we can agree on that."

Ash should have been ashamed of how easy it was to lie to his friend. For her safety, though, he found that any shame had rapidly dried up. She could yell at him for lying to her once Team Rocket were gone and the region was secure once more.

He frowned. "There is one other thing… I need you to not tell anyone else that I'm here. Not even the other Ultra Guardians."

Her eyes widened. "What? Ash, if they knew that you were here and you were innocent-"

His fist tightened. "Then they'd want to get involved just like you do and put themselves in danger. Or they wouldn't believe what we tell them and they either call the police or try to arrest me themselves."

Either way, it would be more trouble than it was worth. As much as he loved his friends, he couldn't deny that bringing any more of them in on the truth would just endanger them and Alola as a whole.

Mallow clenched her eyes shut and looked away, gritting her teeth together. "Do you have any idea what it was like for us? You had only been gone from Alola for a few weeks. Our first Champion ever and best friend. We all looked up to you – loved you!"

He frowned. "Mallow…."

"Then we hear the whole world calling you a monster. We had to listen to an innocent woman's family cry over what was done to her." She dug her nails into the palms of her hands. "We all thought we were such idiots. We couldn't believe that we never saw it in you – Kiawe even blamed himself for not stopping you. As if he even could have! And Lillie! The moment she heard all of this, it was like watching someone's heart turn to dust before their eyes!"

With each harsh word, Ash's stomach twisted into knots. He had always known that the frame job Team Rocket had done would have a bad impact on his friends. Hearing just what it had done to them, though… it hurt more than he expected it too. Even if it wasn't true, he still felt responsible for it somehow.

Tears were at the edge of Mallow's eyes. "And me? I didn't want to believe it. For so long, I refused to accept you could do it. The things I said to the others…."

Instinctively, Ash reached out and pulled Mallow into a tight hug. The two just stood there for a moment in this tight embrace, the silence only broken by the occasional sniffle coming from his friend. After a few moments, she pulled away from him and wiped away her tears.

She took a deep breath. "They deserve to know the truth, Ash. That our faith in you wasn't misplaced." She eventually said once she had regained her sense of calm."

"… okay." Ash eventually acquiesced. "We can tell them. Just… just wait a bit, please. Until Interpol can get a good handle on the situation here in Alola and I can prepare myself for it."

A smile graced her face once more. "I can do that. We've waited this long – a little longer won't hurt."

Ash collapsed back into his chair at the table and tried to smile up at her. "Come on. We've wasted enough time on me tonight." He reached over to grab his sandwich and bit into. "It's been ages since I last saw you. Fill me in on everything that's happened since then."

Mallow giggled. "It's not nearly as exciting as what you've been through. Are you sure you wanna hear about it?"

At this moment? More than anything else in the world.

Domino had been in plenty of tight spots over the years.

Domino had been tracked through a forest by a hungry pack of Mightyena after being injured. She'd been hunted through the streets of Olivine City after assassinating a local drug kingpin. Once, she'd even had to rob a train in nothing but her small clothes, a single stick of dynamite, and an Arceus damned Kolibri pistol.

Yet somehow, this may have been the worst trouble she'd ever been in. At least in all the others, there was a chance for her to come out on top or get away.

Standing in front of a claymore that could go off at the slightest mistake while her target pointed a pistol at her chest? She couldn't see how she'd be getting out of this one. If she did, then it would be a hell of a story though.

Pryce drummed his fingers along the top of his cane. "So, you know a claymore when you see one? Impressive." He gestured to the side of the room. "Would you kindly toss your gun and Pokeballs aside? I find they tend to make one antsy, and if you don't concentrate on holding that line just so, I'll be down a house."

A scowl stretched across her face. Cheeky bastard. Slowly reaching behind her to her waist, she methodically unclipped her Pokeballs. For a moment, she considered releasing her team just to spite Pryce. The thought was quashed as soon as it came, however. If she tried, she'd be eating a bullet faster than she could bring her wrist up.

She tossed them all onto his bed – harmlessly out of her reach.

The aging criminal laughed mirthlessly. "Ah, good. You can follow directions." He taunted. "You must be one of Giovanni's little rats."

Her eyes hardened into slits. "Not sure what you mean. I just thought this would be a good place to rob."

A sigh escaped the man's lips. "Come now, girl. I know how this game works. I'm in no mood for it today." He rolled his shoulders. "I'll give you credit. Most people would be a bloodstain on my carpet by now. Guess you must be one of his favorites."

She sighed and her shoulders sagged in defeat. "When did you spot me?"

"Not long after you arrived in town." He told her. "You may never have been seen following me, but you got too comfortable with my schedule. Enough so that I could spot you waiting nearby in plain sight often enough to get suspicious."

Domino winced. Damn it, she'd thought that being there before him would have made surveilling him easier! Instead, all she'd done was make it easier for him to spot her and make a plan to catch her. She'd gotten too complacent, and it had cost her.

"And all this?" She asked. "How long have you had this trap set up?"

He shrugged. "A couple of days. I figured that sooner or later, you'd try to break into my home. There's nothing here beyond a half empty fridge and some old soap operas."

Wonderful. She was going to die for nothing then.

"What's the plan for me then? Bullet to the chest or the brain?" She couldn't help but ask.

Domino had always known that she'd die a violent death. In her line of work, expecting to die peacefully in her own bed and surrounded by loved one's would have been a fantasy. Still… she'd always hoped her death would have some meaning. That she'd die acquiring a precious artifact or killing a dangerous rival of Team Rocket.

So much for that.

"Nothing quite so barbaric. I have questions."

Or maybe not?

She frowned. "Alright. Shoot."

It wasn't like she had much of a choice here, after all.

"You're a Specter, aren't you?" He observed.

Despite the situation, a small, prideful smile split her face. "Sure am."

It was quickly killed from the exasperated sigh her target let out. "What a travesty. To think that my legacy would be tarnished to such a degree."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean tarnished?"

"You're sloppy beyond compare. Foolish and arrogant. Not to mention your emotions are plain as day on your face." He scoffed. "Back in my day, you'd have washed out on the first day."

With each word that Pryce spoke, Domino could feel her patience wearing thin and a growing urge to stab him. "Back in your day, we still stole children in the dead of night just to throw them into a meat grinder." She sniped. "Remind me again, what was the survival rate? One in every twenty? Just how many frozen corpses did you dispose of back then?"

A cold, cruel glint was in Pryce's eyes. "Enough. The survivors were truly effective weapons that even your boss was happy to use." He grunted. "One of them would be worth ten of your ilk."

She doubted that. The older generations were good for one thing and one thing only: violence. Annie and Oakley had worked with some of them on a job once to snag a mountain of Mega Stones from a mine in Kalos.

The psychopaths had slaughtered the mining crew, set fire to the nearby town, and stolen the eggs of powerful Pokemon in the area. That last one had caused a minor war between the various different tribes of the local wildlife and made it impossible for all but the strongest of trainers to get through the area alive, let alone unscathed.

It had been an effective strategy, but far too indiscriminately violent. Annie and Oakley hadn't walked away from that job the same.

"If all you're planning to do is insult me, then I think I'll just set off this explosive." She growled. "Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll cause enough damage the roof collapses on you."

Pryce rolled his eyes. "Claymore's are a directional explosive, brat. If you weren't taught that then the standards have slipped even further than I thought." He sighed. "Tell me, why are you here? Giovanni and I had an agreement. He lets me retire in peace, and I let him live."

Her grip on the wire in her hands never wavered. "He thought the same thing. Then you started targeting his allies and have somehow managed to take control of the Rocket cell in this part of Johto."

Pryce tsked. "And he sent you here to confirm that I was his enemy? The brat is still soft, I see. If he had any sense, he'd have sent an assassin instead. Get the job over and done with."

"So you admit that you're behind our recent string of bad luck?"

A smile. "Not one bit." He told her. "I'll admit that I've taken control of the Rocket cell in this town. Hard not too after you fools let Interpol destroy your operation and steal all your valuable research. Not taking advantage of the opening would have been such a waste."

At least she had been right about their agents here having been turned. They'd need to clean house when this was all said and done. "But…?"

"But I'm not using them to target Giovanni. Beyond simple kickbacks and instructions on how to avoid the authorities, I've been content to let them run themselves." Pryce told her. "There's simply no reason for me to get back in the game."

"Except Giovanni stole your legacy, destroyed your career, and killed all your allies. Now you're just some old fossil in a backwater region that most people consider second-rate at best. All while he lives a life of glory and fame." She sniped.

Wordlessly, Pryce raised his silenced pistol and fired it at the wall next to her. It took all of her willpower and self-control not to flinch lest she set off the explosive in front of her.

"You're lucky I don't cut your tongue out for that. Test me anymore and that luck will run out." He warned.

She wisely kept her mouth shut.

Nodding his head, Pryce continued. "You are right about one thing. I'm old. My body aches in places I never knew could and any physical strength I once had is long gone. Perhaps someday soon, my mind will go as well." He told her. "I won't deny that the idea of revenge is tempting. Burning down Team Rocket and tarnishing his image. Feeling the life slowly leave his body. Perhaps even make him watch his own son die as well."

It wasn't the casual fantasies of violence that Pryce made which scared her. It was the way he said it. The barely suppressed glee she could hear in the undertone of his voice. The excitement in his eyes at the thought of a reckoning. The way his finger seemed to caress the trigger of the pistol in an almost loving manner. That he knew Giovanni had a son when not even she or anyone else in the syndicate knew that.

This was a man who would have made even Proton shiver in fear.

Then Pryce shrugged nonchalantly. "But I'm afraid that I enjoy living far more. In my current state, I'd be a dead man if I tried anything. No, I'll stick to enjoying my millions and the simple life of a Gym Leader, thank you very much."

"Is that right? And I'm supposed to just take your word for it and deliver the message to him for you?" She asked skeptically.

Once again, Pryce scoffed. "Hardly. If all I wanted was to send a message, I could kill you here and simply call him afterwards. His phone number is public information, after all."

"If you're telling the truth," She grouched, "then this whole thing was pointless."

And that was a mighty big if. Not that she was really in any position to challenge him on this.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." He had an almost whimsical tone to his voice as he spoke. "I may not be the one trying to kill Giovanni, but I do know who is."

Her eyes narrowed. "Who?"

Pryce tutted and wagged the barrel of his gun tauntingly. "Come now, girl. You know how this game is played. If you want my information, you'll need to do a little something for me. Tit for tat, so to speak."

Her teeth began to grind together. "What do you want?"

"There's someone in town who's gunning for me that you need to kill. The son of an old enemy of mine who's decided he wants revenge." He sighed dramatically. "Human traffickers… they're so eager to say that Human life isn't valuable right up until something impacts them. Such a sensitive bunch."

"And just what did you do that caused a generational hatred for you?" She couldn't help but ask.

He shrugged. "Set the man's victims free and let them tear him apart. A bit of karmic justice." He smirked. "You may not be able to do his son in the same way, but you'll think of something."

As far as targets went, this was certainly one she could get behind. Team Rocket may have had their hands in all sorts of different businesses, but the one that was considered off limits was Human trafficking. To treat other people like chattel was barbaric. Giovanni had issued an organization-wide kill on sight order for any who practiced it.

Law enforcement liked to believe that they were responsible for the decline in that practice, but in truth? It had been Team Rocket's efforts to burn them out of the world that had done the best.

"Why me? If you've taken over this cell, then you've clearly got the manpower for it." She couldn't help but ask.

He scoffed. "Please. I may call you incompetent, but the fools you have stationed here? They're the type who choke on their own saliva. Asking them to do anything important is to court disappointment." Then he shrugged. "As for me? Well, I could kill him, but I feel it'll be so much more entertaining if you do it."

Lazy bastard….

"So," He drawled, "what'll it be? Do me this minor favor, and not only do you get to live, you can also find out just who the monster under little Giovanni's bed is."

For a long moment, Domino simply stood there in silence and mulled over her options. As tempting as it was to tell him to shove it, the reality was she didn't have a choice. Not if she wanted to find out who their enemy was, and certainly not if she wanted to survive this.

So she simply nodded and looked away. "Fine. We have a deal."

Pryce's grin became positively nefarious. He reached down and with a simple flick of his fingers, disarmed the claymore threatening her life. "Excellent. I'm glad we could come to an agreement. I guess there is honor among thieves after all."

Sixteen hours.

Latias had been waiting in the Alter of the Sunne for the past sixteen hours. The moon hung high in the sky at this point and illuminated the ancient, crumbling ruins in its light. Yet not a single one of the Tapu's had bothered to show up or send a message to her. It was as though they were simply uninterested in her presence and couldn't care less that she was here.

It was an insult. When a fellow Legend came to offer tribute within your kingdom, you were meant to do them the courtesy of showing up. To do otherwise was just asking for a blood feud to be started! There was a reason that Deoxys and Rayquaza couldn't be in the same atmosphere without immediately trying to kill each other!

She just knew that this was intentional too. Whether it was because of her youth or fondness for Humans, she couldn't say. Both tended to be looked down upon by her kind. Though if she were being honest? It was probably her attitude towards the destructive but beautiful creatures that inhabited this world alongside Pokemon.

So many Legends opposed them. Either for what they viewed as the infestation of their kingdoms, the corruption and destruction of their domains, or for simple arrogance. It tended to differ depending on just which Legend it was she was speaking to.

Mercifully, she rarely ever had to meet with other Legends. As one of the minor Legends, she almost never got dragged into conflicts or debates. The only ones who sought her out were those who had business in Alto Mare or, more curiously, a few others who shared her love for Humanity.

With a sigh, Latias dragged her claws across the stone walls around her. As tempting as it was to leave, she knew better. If she left and the Tapu's were to miraculously show up afterwards, they could use it as an excuse to attack her without retaliation.

It was aggravating. There were so many other things that she could be doing with her time. So many people that she could be finding some way to help! Yet here she was wasting it all at some dull old ruin.

Just as she could feel hers eyes getting heavier and a yawn at the back of her throat, a shiver ran down her spine and the air became thick with latent power.

The Tapu's had finally arrived.

The first to show themselves was Tapu Koko. A small collection of dark clouds gathered overhead, and thunder cracked the air. Golden lightning struck the earth in a cascade of energy that eventually merged together into a single beam. When the electricity dissipated, Tapu Koko could be seen in the epicenter of the blast and emerged from its shell.

The second Legend to make their entrance was Tapu Lele. A heavy aroma of flowers wafted through the air that was strong enough Latias could feel her muscles relaxing. There was a mighty flap of insectoid wings heard above her as the pink deity fluttered down to join them, scattering its sparkling scales all around them.

Following closely behind them was Tapu Bulu. As the horned, bovine Legend crawled out of the forest, vegetation began to grow in its wake. Up through the cracks in the ruins, trick patches of grass and vibrant flowers bloomed as life took shape in the ruins of the dead. With a drowsy yawn, they simply floated down to the ground.

Finally, Tapu Fini revealed itself to them all. Rain fell from the clouds above and a dense mist filled the area. As the mist drew near, her latent Psychic energy flared to life automatically around her. Instinctively, she pulled away from the mist that bore an unnatural connection to the dead. With an amused laugh, the horned deity dispelled the mist and floated nearby.

Once their theatrical and dramatic entrances were finished, Latias respectfully bowed her head to them. "Greetings, great Tapu's. It is a pleasure to meet you all." She began. "I am Latias. I have come to request that I be allowed to visit your islands for the foreseeable future."

Tapu Fini snorted. "Is that right? I must have been mistaken then when I sensed your presence in our islands before now." The aquatic Legend flicked her horn dismissively. "It seems to me that you've been enjoying yourself plenty so far."

Tapu Bulu raised his hand up to his mouth to cover up a yawn. "Children these days. No respect for tradition."

Latias flinched. "My apologies." She told them. "There was urgent business that I needed to attend to before I could come here."

With a tilt of his head, Tapu Koko hovered close to her face. "Does this business have anything to do with Humans, by any chance?"

"What makes you say that?" She asked as a frown split her face.

A giggle drew her attention to Tapu Lele behind her. "Foolish girl. We've seen you." Her rough, smokey voice told her. "Wandering those concrete jungles. Feeding their weak and insignificant. Even playing in the sand."

Tapu Bulu chuckled. "This business of yours sounds rather… quaint."

Her feathers ruffled in annoyance, but she pushed it down and tried her best to smile pleasantly at them. "How I spend my free time is my own, the same as it is for all of you." She told them. "I am simply trying to help people. It is my duty, after all."

"Duty?" Tapu Fini scoffed. "Your duty was to protect that little city of yours, wasn't it? Yet instead you failed and now it has been swallowed by the sea. All because you could not protect a single artifact."

Her claws twitched. "I would appreciate it if you left Alto Mare out of this-"

Another yawn came from the perpetually tired Tapu. "Honestly, I don't see why you're trying to make up for your failure here. It's just more work for you." He intoned, eyelids drooping. "Why you would voluntarily take on more work is beyond me."

Her smile turned into a frown. "Could we please move on? I didn't come here to-"

A demented, cruel laugh reverberated through her head. "I can just picture all those puny Humans of yours as they drowned. Oh, the agony on their faces! The fear they must have had in their hearts!" Tapu Lele croaked. "Crying out for a guardian that would never come. It must have been absolutely delicious!"

By this point, Latias had clenched her eyes shut and was actively fight back tears. She had known that the Tapu's would be cruel and arrogant, but to this degree? To intentionally rub her failure in her face when the wound was still fresh? This went far beyond what she would have been expected to tolerate.

Yet all she could do was grit her teeth and try to calm her raging emotions. "Their deaths were a tragedy." She managed to force out. "I may not have been able to prevent it, but I will use their deaths as the motivation I need to grow stronger."

Tapu Lele fluttered its wings and tutted. "How boring. Still, I suppose you're better than that dullard of a brother you had." She snickered. "That oaf went and sacrificed himself to save Humans! What a disappointment of a Latios."

Her blood ran cold.

Tapu Lele let out of a cry of alarm as she was flung backwards into a wall hard enough to shatter it completely. The island deity trilled in response and unleashed an explosive, psychic blast of her own that destroyed the area around her. Debris flew in every direction as the cruel Legend directed a hateful gaze towards Latias.

Fighting Tapu Lele was not a smart move. Latias understood this. Even putting aside the fact that she was a Fairy type, this Legend had millennia of experience on her side. By any stretch of the imagination, this would not be a battle she could win.

Latias didn't care. This cruel monster had insulted her brothers sacrifice and mocked the people she had failed to protect. This level of blatant disrespect and cruelty could not go unpunished. Not if she had anything to say about it.

Her eyes glowed with argent energy just as an orb of pink energy reminiscent of the moon gathered in front of Tapu Lele. The various chunks and shards of debris that now littered the ruins heeded her command and floated around them.

Just before either of them could launch their attacks, Tapu Koko blasted a bolt of electricity in between them. "That's quite enough you two!" He demanded. "End this now before you do something you'll regret."

"This runt attacked me! On our islands!" Tapu Lele cried with incredulity. "She needs to be punished!"

"You have insulted my abilities as a Legend, mocked the destruction of my kingdom, and spat upon the sacrifice of my brother." The air rumbled with each word she spoke. "Were I any other Legend, you would not have dared to do this. I will not tolerate such disrespect."

Tapu Bulu yawned and slammed his arm into the ground, cracking it on impact. "Enough. Lady Latias, lower your weapons." He groaned. "Lele… grow up."

Tapu Lele's eye twitched. "You're siding with her!?"

Tapu Fini sighed in annoyance. "You have disrespected her. While normally I would despise such boorishness, in this case, I can excuse it. Apologize now, so we can move on."

Realizing that she wouldn't be getting any support from her comrades, the pink Tapu grunted and dispersed the energy she had collected. "Fine… I'm sorry that I demeaned you and your family." She muttered."

Slowly, Latias released her hold on the debris around them and allowed it all to fall to the ground. While she didn't say anything to the cruel deity, she did give each of the others a grateful nod for supporting her.

Tapu Koko hummed. "Good. Now that we've put that matter to bed, we can move on to business." He turned towards Latias. "While I understand your desire for privacy, these are our islands. It is only polite that you tell us what you'll be doing here."

Latias sighed. It looked like there would be no avoiding this. "The Humans who were responsible for Alto Mare's destruction are here." She told them. "I'm trying to stop them from destroying anymore lives. Maybe even bring them to justice while I'm at it."

"Human justice, from the sounds of it." Tapu Fini chimed in. "It would be simpler to just kill them all and be done with it."

Tapu Bulu nodded, attempting to rub the sleep out of his eyes. "More effective as well. Humans tend to overcomplicate things." He stated. "A pest crushed is a pest no more."

"That's not necessary." She rushed to tell them. "Alto Mare was a… special circumstance. Your islands won't be destroyed, I assure you."

Tapu Koko tilted his head aside in curiosity. "And yet, you felt the need to come here and handle them yourself." He pointed out. "Despite what we may appear, we are the guardians of these lands. If these Humans are a threat, we will intervene."

She frowned. "And how would you handle them?"

A giggle came from Tapu Lele. "We'd slaughter them, of course." She declared. "Grind them into dust and burn them from our islands. Them and any other Humans who get in our way."

Her feathers ruffled in alarm. "You can't do that!"

"It is our right, Lady Latias." Tapu Koko corrected her. "The Humans have gone unchecked for too long. You are a victim of their arrogance. It is time we reminded them why they should fear us Legends."

This was bad. If the Tapu's went after Team Rocket, all hell would break lose. She could just imagine the four of them descending on the cities of the isles. With no way to distinguish Team Rocket from the populace or any care for collateral damage, they would simply cause untold destruction in their wake. In the best case scenario, they would devastate the cities and cause more damage than Team Rocket could ever dream of.

If the worst were to happen and they ended up captured because they underestimated their enemy? These islands would be left without the Tapu's to watch over them or keep nature in balance. They would be subjected to cruel experimentation and torture at the hands of the criminals, all in an effort to break their will.

As much as she may not have liked or agreed with them, she could not let that happen.

She bowed to them in respect. "Please, allow me the chance to handle them for you." She pleaded. "These Humans have wronged me, and it is only right that I be the one to punish them. If you must, you can consider it my tribute to you."

Tapu Lele snorted. "Tribute? You planned to do this regardless of our opinion. I would hardly call it tribute."

Tapu Koko silenced Tapu Lele with a glare. "This is an… acceptable gift. Ignore my fellow." He told her. "But know this: should you fail, we will expect you to pay us back tenfold."

Latias grimaced. She understood the traditions. To fail a task given by a fellow Legend always demanded immense repayment. "I understand." She muttered. "I will not fail. Just leave it to me and I'll have these Humans dealt with."

Tapu Koko nodded. "I am sure you won't, but good luck regardless. Should you need our aid, all you need to do is ask. As your elders, it is our duty to show you the way and offer guidance where we can."

She would sooner turn to Petrovic for help before them.

A pleasant smile graced her face. "Thank you." She told them. "You are clearly a group of wise, benevolent Legends. These islands are lucky to have you."

"This place is a security nightmare."

Looker glanced towards Nanu, leaning over a set of railing and sipping at his coffee. "What do you mean?"

The two of them were in the middle of Aether Paradise at the moment. This high-tech, artificial island was a wonder of modern engineering. Serving as not just a trade hub and science center for the region, it also doubled as a Pokemon Preservation and Rehabilitation facility – the largest in the entire region. It was even the sight of the famous Aether family home.

Unfortunately, it also happened to be a prime target for Team Rocket. The longer the Aether Foundation refused to hand over their data on Ultra Wormholes, the greater the risk of them storming the place became. Add in the sheer wealth and hordes of rare Pokemon held here, and it was only a matter of time until their enemies struck.

Nanu sipped leaned his back against the railing and sipped at a sugary, green abomination of a drink. "It's weak. The Aether Foundation are fools." He started. "You've seen what their security uses. A couple of cap gun and first or second stage Pokemon between them. Doubt any of them have ever been in a serious fight before."

Looker frowned. Down below, he could see some of the security force playing with the Pokemon in the reservation. "Alola is a peaceful region." He told Nanu. "I doubt they've ever had to deal with more than a rowdy Pokemon or drunken trainer at the worst."

"Doesn't excuse the fact they'll be next to worthless in a fight." His former mentor loudly sipped on his drink. "Most they'll do is be cannon fodder for a few moments."

"That's why we're here." He pointed out. "Their security may not be top notch, but Wicke has agreed to let us quietly station some agents here. They'll do whatever it takes to keep this place and that data safe."

Nanu grunted. "I know our agents are some of the best in the world, Looker. Team Rocket aren't slouches though." He sipped at his drink and swirled it around audibly in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. "They've got both strength and numbers on their side. When they hit this place, they'll come with an army."

"And we'll be prepared." Looker assured him. "The moment any sign of danger shows itself, they'll alert us. We'll have teams of agents teleporting and flying here in under a minute. Police and coast guard will be here in under five on top of that."

"That could work. It'd be a bloody battle if that happens though." Nanu admitted. "Assuming they don't jam our communications, anyway. If that happens, there won't be any backup coming. No one will notice anything until it's too late."

Looker audibly sipped on his coffee. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen." He drummed his fingers along the railing. "A signal or frequency of some kind. A constant one transmitted to our people back at the regional headquarters synced up to the alarms. Anything unusual happens and we stop transmitting? Our people know to come in hot."

Nodding, Nanu glanced back down towards the people below. "I'll take your word for it. Guess when the time comes, we'll see if we can fight them off." He grunted. "What about the data itself? You got people you trust watching it?"

Looker frowned. "Have you seen the labs down there? It's like a maze. They'll never be able to find the terminal they need, break past the cyber defenses, and get out before we trap them inside."

Nanu narrowed his eyes. "Really? And there's no other way that they could get the data?"

With a sigh, Looker took a long gulp of his spiked coffee. "The easiest chance would be for a mole of theirs on the inside to steal the data, but if they can do that, they won't bother attacking the island." He rolled his shoulders and looked away from his former mentor. "Beyond that? I suppose they could try accessing it via Wicke's computer. As the head of the Alolan branch, she'd have remote access to it."

"I see…." Nanu trailed off. "Well, sounds like you've got it all under control. Guess that means I can just kick back and relax."

Looker smirked and quirked an eyebrow at the Kahuna. "So no different from what you normally do?"

Nanu glared in mock offense at his one-time student. "Watch that mouth of yours. I'm not so old that I can't still kick your ass."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Far be it from me to give you a reason to use those old fists of fury of yours." He leaned back over the railing. "You will come and help if we need it, though, won't you?"

Nanu grunted. "Don't have a choice there. I'm a Kahuna and former officer. If I didn't show up, that'd just be more hassle for me down the line." Then he shrugged. "Not that I'll have to. From the looks of it, you've prepared for everything."

With a noncommittal grunt, Looker took another sip of his Galarian coffee. He had prepared for everything that he could. Now it was only a matter of time to see if his worries were well founded or all this preparation was for nothing.

He hoped desperately that it was the latter.

The first thing that Ash noticed when he stepped into the bar was how crowded it was. So many voices assaulted his ears at the same time, each of them trying to speak over the other and be heard. This late at night, he shouldn't have been surprised. Most people would have gotten off work and needed some way to blow off steam.

Clearly for the people in here, that was copious amounts of alcohol.

Normally, Ash would avoid these places like the plague. The only reason he'd ever step foot in one is because his job forced him to, but otherwise? He'd stick to other, more normal places to relax. Places that didn't immediately bring forth memories of men being brutalized on the floor or imposing, metal monsters standing above him.

Unfortunately, he had been invited out tonight. He couldn't just say no.

With a weary sigh, Ash spotted his teammate sitting in a booth at the bar. Petrovic looked in his element here, laughing away at some nonsense on the TV above the bar and lounging back with his feet on the table. He had even already started drinking if the empty beer bottles nearby were anything to go by.

This was going to be a long night.

He stopped beside the table and lazily held up a hand in greeting. "Hey, Pet. You called me?"

Petrovic grinned and held up a beer bottle in salute. "Ah, if it ain't the prodigal son himself! Come on, have a seat!"

Knowing that was just as much an order as it was an offer, Ash sat down across from the older agent.

"So glad ya could make it." The purplette took a swig of the swill in his bottle. "Ya came alone. What, the rat and overgrown lizard not wanna come and mingle with the common folk?"

Ash frowned. "Latias said she had some important business to handle for the Tapu's and couldn't make it. Pikachu… he just doesn't like being in places this loud. Sensitive ears and all that."

He wished he could say the same. Or at least give some sort of excuse that would have let him avoid coming here without risking offending his teammate. Not that he believed Petrovic would care, but he had to be careful. Arceus only knows what a man like him would do when annoyed.

Petrovic shrugged. "Their loss then. Guess I'll just have to find another time to get that dragon drunk." He chortled in amusement. "I'm hoping she's a loose-lipped drunk. That way she'll give me plenty of ammunition to use against her the next time she gets uppity."

Note to self then: never let Latias get drunk when Petrovic was around.

Ash leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. "So, why did you want to speak with me here?" He asked. "We could have done this back at the safehouse."

Petrovic snorted. "Fat chance of that. Looky and the other brat would've spoiled my fun."

Well, that didn't bode well for him then.

"Ya may recall that I promised to buy ya an ice cream cone for doing such a bang up job on your first infiltration the other night." The older man slapped his hand on the table. "Now, this may not be an ice cream cone, but trust me when I tell ya that it is all the sweeter."

Ash grimaced. "I doubt that. I had some during my mission. That stuff was terrible."

"Course it was!" The man exclaimed. "That was cheap, off-brand crap. Weak stuff they peddle to people just looking to throw their money away and pretend they're having fun. No, what you're gonna have tonight is gonna be premium, grade-A stuff. The kind no self-respecting man would ever turn down."

He gave his elder a flat stare. "Do I have a choice here?"

Petrovic's grin grew just a bit wider. "Not one bit." He slapped his hand on the table three more times, loud enough to be heard over the cacophony of other sounds in the bar. "Barkeep! Giratina's Void, whole bottle of the stuff and two glasses!"

Ash paled. "That doesn't sound pleasant."

"Oho… it ain't." While the two of them were waiting for the barkeep to bring the drinks over, Petrovic swung his feet off the table and leaned forward, setting his bottle aside. "So, how've things been the past few days for ya? Any trouble with your infiltration when I wasn't around?"

Ash shook his head. In the week and a half that had passed since his initial job for Team Rocket, he'd gone back to that bar every other day. Sometimes just to sit around and be seen like the others had advised, but also to take odd jobs.

Nothing as dangerous or important as what he'd done before. Honestly, he hadn't even been doing work for Team Rocket since that day. Mostly, he was helping small time criminals in need of temporary partners. People who needed a stooge to trick everyone else for small time cons. Someone who could pick the pockets of random people on the street or open the simple locks of convenience stores after hours. Once, he'd even just been asked to sit on a bench and record everyone who entered a pizza shop.

That last one had been fun. There was nothing quite like all the pizza he could eat and not having to pay a dime for it.

A part of him did still feel bad for taking part in all of that, of course. Crime was crime, at the end of the day. Compared to what he'd done for Team Rocket, though? It was much easier to stomach. He wouldn't be losing any sleep over such simple, minor bad acts.

Least of all when they were helping sell his image so he could take Team Rocket down.

"No, there hasn't been any trouble." He eventually told Petrovic. "Just waiting for when Team Rocket calls on me for another job."

Petrovic hummed. "Ya sound like ya know they will."

He shrugged. "I can't be sure, but Gozu did say I'd impressed him and there'd be more jobs in the future. I figure if I hang around that bar enough, eventually they'll call on me again."

"Fair point. Even if ya don't, I wouldn't worry about it too much." He told the boy. "There's plenty of other agents running the same or similar operations across Alola. One of us'll work our way into the good graces of their top dogs. If we're lucky, it'll be an experienced agent and not someone like ya. No offense."

Ash cracked a grin. "Some taken."

A few moments later, the barkeep arrived and wordlessly set down the bottle of alcohol and two glasses. With a nod to Petrovic, the man retreated back behind the bar.

Ash should have been surprised the man didn't ask about his age, but he wasn't. If Petrovic had chosen this place to take him to, then he'd found the one that wouldn't care about that sort of thing.

Petrovic rubbed his hands together in delight before grabbing the bottle. "Aha! Yes, finally! The good stuff has arrived." As he leaned over the table and started to pour the two of them drinks, he glanced up at Ash. "Ya know what this is?"

"The worst thing I'll ever taste?"

"If yer lucky." He grinned. "This right here is the single most beautiful drink in the world. A good, old-fashioned vodka. It'll blow that weak little beer ya had right out of the water."

Reluctantly, Ash reached forward and grabbed the glass. "Great. Can't wait…."

The older agent laughed and raised his glass in the air. "To yer first successful job! May there be countless others! Ad Victoriam!"

Without a second thought, the man downed the shot in one go. Following his lead, Ash tilted his head back and drank the vodka. Immediately, Ash could feel his throat burning and the sudden urge to spit the damnable drink out.

He ignored the urge and forced the drink down his throat. As soon as it was done, Ash lurched forward and began to furiously cough up his lungs.

Petrovic laughed again. "That's the spirit! Put some chest on yer chest!"

"This stuff tastes like lighter fluid!" Ash eventually managed to choke out.

"Makes ya feel like a dragon just before ya spit fire." The man grinned. "The first one is always the worst, but it'll numb yer taste buds and nerves for a bit. Make the rest go down easier."

Ash paled at the thought of drinking anymore of this stuff. "Please, no more…."

The sound of pouring liquid into his glass was the only response Ash got. "Don't be wasteful, twerp. This shit is hard to come by nowadays."

Ash rubbed his throat and glanced down at the drink like it was a monster waiting to devour him. He'd do anything to avoid drinking more of it.

"That thing you said before we drank. What does it mean?"

Petrovic blinked in surprise, pausing just before he could take another shot of vodka. "Ad Victoriam?" The man set the glass down. "It's a phrase from a dead language. Closest translation into ours is 'To Victory'. My regiment used to say it before every assignment back during the war."

Ash's eyes widened in shock. "You were in the Great War?"

He snorted. "Course I was. I was young and stupid once – filled with all sorts of patriotic vigor and dreams of glory." He let out a weary sigh filled with regret and bitterness. "What a crock of shit that was."

Ash flinched. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."

Petrovic shook his head. "Don't be. I wouldn't have told ya if I wanted it kept secret." He took another gulp of his drink and slammed the glass back on the table. "Ah! Your turn!"

When Ash drank the second time, he was surprised to find that Petrovic had been right. It didn't burn nearly as much as it had the first time. It didn't stop him from coughing furiously afterwards, though.

"If you don't mind me asking," he asked once he'd stopped coughing, "where did you fight?"

"Sinnoh." Petrovic told him. "I was a mechanic. Took care of the guns, artillery, armor, and everything else we needed to fight. First year of the war, I didn't see much fighting. Then Unova invaded and… well, everyone had to fight."

Ash flinched again. While he may not have been the most well-versed when it came to history, he still remembered enough of it. Enough that he knew the blockade of Sinnoh's coastline, and the subsequent invasions hadn't gone well for Sinnoh. Not once the Unovan's had arrived in force.

"Ya'd be surprised how quickly dreams turn to ashes once reality kicks in." Petrovic poured them both two more glasses. "History books nowadays talk about it like it was some grand adventure. Like we were all fighting for glorious causes in one big, beautiful, explosive clash of wills. And we might've been… at the beginning, anyway."

A frown graced Ash's face. "But?"

Petrovic sighed. "But it didn't last longer than a day once the fighting truly began." He shook his head. "Let me tell ya something, Ash. None of us cared about any of that shit once things started getting bad. We were just trying to live another day. Make it back home to our families if we had any. If we'd had it our way, the war would of ended long before it did. Before so many people had to die."

Ash looked away. "Why are you telling me all this."

"Because yer young and stupid. Full of hope and ideals. The kind that'll make ya put a cause before yer life. Take it from me – nothing in this world is worth giving yer life for. Least of all a worthless set of ideals that no one truly believes in." He took another shot. "Enough of that shit. It's too depressing – we're meant to be celebrating, so that's what we're gonna do!"

Ash took another swig of the alcohol, coughing again as soon as it went down. "R-right. Whatever you say, Pet."

He leaned back against the booth and swung his legs up onto the table once more. "Well, now that ya know all about my deep, dark past, let me ask ya something kid. What was it like on yer journey?"

Ash frowned. "You wanna know about my journey?"

"Sure do." Petrovic grunted. "Never went on one myself. Wanna know if they're everything the media hypes it up to be."

"Journeys are… they're even better than you'd think. Or at least mine was, anyway." Ash couldn't help but smile as the memories of simpler days came back to him. "Traveling to distant lands. Meeting all sorts of amazing people and Pokemon. Not to mention becoming immersed in so many different cultures. It's such an amazing thing to do."

It really had been the best time of his life. Just him, the open road, and his dreams.

"Huh… ya must've seen some pretty amazing things then."

"Like you wouldn't believe!" He could feel his excitement rising, even when Petrovic went to pour them both another glass. "I've seen caves that light up like the night sky. Been to the top of the highest mountains in the world. Arceus, I've even managed to see Legends before. Trust me when I tell you, there's nothing as majestic as one of them in their natural habitat."

You know… before they turned violent, anyway. Though, that may have just been when he was unfortunate enough to run into them. Constant, world ending tragedies that he seemed to always stumble upon often involved them somehow.

Petrovic's eyes flickered to the side. He grinned shortly after.

Ash's gut told him to bolt the second he saw it. Whether it was the alcohol or some budding degree of trust for the man, though, he didn't.

"Fantastic." He took one final swig of his vodka before forcing himself to his feet. "Ash, drink your shot and then follow me."

He downed the glass without much complaint and only coughing a little bit this time before getting to his feet. "Okay… why?"

The man grabbed his arm and dragged Ash behind him. "Well, I've shown you the joys of alcohol." He chortled. "Now it's time to show you the other reason that people come to bars to destress."

For a moment, Ash wasn't sur what he meant. It wasn't until he looked past him that he realized why and started to panic. Sitting at the bar was a girl who didn't look too much older than him. With strawberry blond hair, a cute button nose, and clothes fit for a tropical vacation, she easily looked the part of a happy tourist.

Oh no. Oh no no no. Ash knew where this was going, and he wasn't having any of it!

He was not going to get humiliated just so Petrovic could have a few laughs.

Sadly, he was too late to stop this.

"Sorry to interrupt, lass." Petrovic told the girl in his thick, country drawl. "I couldn't help but notice ya were eyeing my friend here."

She blushed and looked away. "I'm sorry! I don't usually come to places like this, and I just got caught up in the atmosphere was all."

He chuckled. "No need to apologize. My friend here is an attractive one, so ya wouldn't be the first to be caught staring." He pushed Ash forward. "Go on, kid. Introduce yerself!"

A bubble of nervous laughter escaped his lips. "O-oh. Um… I'm Alex. Alex Woods."

She smiled. "Terra."

As Petrovic force Ash into a seat next to the girl, the older man grinned. "Lovely. Well, Terra, my friend here was just telling me all about his adventures around the world." He whistled in appreciation. "Wonderful stuff. Stuff this guy's seen would make an artist weep tears of joy."

The girl looked at Ash in astonishment. "Really? You should tell me about them! I'd love to hear the stories of an adventurer like you."

It took all Ash's willpower not to trip over his words. "Honestly, it's nothing impressive. I'm sure any trainer who's gone on a journey could say the same." He sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "But if you want to listen, then I guess I can tell you a story or two."

Petrovic chuckled. "Well, I'll leave ya kids to it then." He patted Ash's shoulder and turned to leave, but not before winking at Ash mischievously. "Good luck, kid. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

This was going to be a long night….

When Ash arrived back at the safehouse the next morning, he was pleasantly surprised to see that only Looker was here. Anabel and Petrovic must have both been out – either for business or for pleasure. As for Looker, he was busy doing… well, Ash wasn't sure what, but it looked important if all the odds and ends around him were any indication.

With luck, he could just grab a change of clothes and be out before the man noticed.

"You were out late."

Or he wouldn't be able to take more than a step before Looker realized he was here.

He laughed nervously. "Hey, Looker. Good to see you." He moved to sit across from the older man at the table. "Sorry if you were worried. Petrovic just took me out drinking was all."

Something he technically wasn't old enough to do here in Alola yet. But given that he was already a criminal in more ways than one? That had been one minor law he hadn't minded breaking.

Especially once he realized just how easy it was to let go of his worries once he had some of the stuff in him.

Looker gave him a disappointed look, his brows drooping low. "Ash… I am so disappointed in you." He didn't stop, even as Ash cringed. "I mean really, going out drinking with Petrovic? Has all your training not taught you how to listen to your survival instincts!?"

Ash blinked twice. "What?"

"Petrovic!" Looker growled. "When that man gets drunk, everyone suffers for it! You should have known better!"

Ash couldn't help but laugh. "He's not that bad."

Looker's stare turned flat. "He burned down a church one night because of how drunk he was. All because they refused to give him the wine they kept inside!"

He flinched. Okay, yeah that was pretty bad. He was pretty sure that whatever religion that church belonged to, Petrovic had earned a lot of divine ire for doing that. Then again, considering just who Petrovic was, that may have been his plan. Anger enough Legends and when the time came to collect his soul, they'd kill each other fighting to see who got to punish him.

Petrovic was devious like that.

His boss shook his head with a sigh. "Did you at least have fun last night?"

Ash smiled. Despite all of his reservations and worry? Yeah, he had. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. Petrovic can be nice when he wants to… or when he's just got alcohol in him, it could be either one."

"I see." Looker reached over and grabbed his coffee, taking a short sip of the stuff. "And the rest of your night? Was that fun?"

He tilted his head aside. "What do you mean by that?"

Looker pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned in exasperation. "Ash… you reek of sex and have a giant hickey on your neck."

Immediately, Ash felt his face heat up and he jerked back as though he'd just been slapped. Oh Arceus, why hadn't he thought to shower before he left that girls place? Why hadn't he looked up ways to cover up hickeys?

More importantly, why had he even allowed her to do that in the first place!?

"Sorry, Looker." He told him. "I was just-"

Looker held up his hand to interrupt him. "You don't need to explain, Ash. You're hardly the first person to ever have a fling with someone they met at a bar." He frowned. "Though, weren't you going to be hanging out with Anabel later?"

Ash blinked. "Yeah. Why?"

"No reason." Despite his words, Looker's tone made it seem like Ash had made some grave error and didn't even know it. "A word of advice? Maybe practice your makeup skills and cover that hickey up. After you shower, of course. Wouldn't want any evidence of your escapades last night to be seen."

Huh, that was a pretty good idea. During his first few months training, he'd been surprised that he'd been given lessons on the importance of makeup and how to apply. Apparently, their agents used it all the time to make themselves more attractive or to fit the looks of certain covers, in addition to covering up bruises when needed.

Nothing had been more shocking than having the stuff applied to his face and suddenly looking like he belonged on the set of a TV show.

Shocking, but not at all unpleasant. He could see why so many people kept the stuff on hand now. There was just one problem with that.

"And hypothetically speaking, what if I have some marks in other places? Places I can't really reach to cover up? Like say… scratch marks on my back?"

Looker stared at him in silence.

Ash looked away and coughed into his hand, his face still as red as a tomato from sheer embarrassment.

Looker let out another long, tired sigh and looked up at the ceiling. As if demanding to know why the universe forced him to endure this. "Just don't take your shirt off in that case, even if you go to the beach then. But if for some reason you do, just tell her you were attacked by a pack of Rattata."

He frowned. "You think she'll buy that?"

"Of course." Looker stated. "You're just the type of unlucky son of a gun to get attacked by them. Probably while doing something stupid and reckless that angered them."

Rude, but not inaccurate. Ash leaned forward and rested his head on his hand. "Sorry. I'm just new to this sort of stuff."

"Don't apologize." Looker sipped at his coffee again. "Most of our agents end up doing the same thing. When you're constantly under stress from high-stakes jobs and near death experiences, we all need a way to relax. A bit of alcohol to take the edge off and a warm body to share your bed with are tame compared to other methods."

"So, I'm not in trouble for potentially risking my cover?" Ash inquired.

Looker shook his head. "Given that I assume you were both drunk, you gave her a false name, and your altered appearance? No, you're not." He frowned. "A word of advice, though? If she gave you a number, I'd get rid of it.

He blinked. "Why?"

Looker leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. "Personal connections are a dangerous thing in this line of work. Doubly so for a wanted criminal like you." He told him. "One-night stands are one thing. Getting attached to someone is different."

"How come?"

The older agent frowned. "We're spies, Ash. We may carry badges and fight criminals, but we work in the shadows. Get out hands dirty so that the rest of society can sleep soundly at night." He told Ash. "It's not a job that fosters lasting friendships with those outside our agency."

"What if I wanted that, though?" He couldn't help but ask. "What if I want to keep the friends I made before I joined? Or even start a relationship with someone? Are you saying I can't?"

"No. The agency doesn't care what we do in our personal lives as long as it doesn't affect your ability to do your job." Looker leaned forward and set his coffee aside. "It's just not recommended. It wouldn't be fair to the people you care about."

"It wouldn't?"

"Think about it." Looker ordered. "We make a lot of enemies in our line of work. We can't always capture or kill them either. If they find out who our loved ones are, they will target them. Just so they can have an advantage over us when they need it."

Ash flinched. He could understand that part. It was why he had done his best not to reach out to any of his old friends and companions unless he couldn't avoid it. Even putting aside that they may not have believed him, he knew that each of them were the headstrong type. The kind of people who rushed in to fix an injustice, even if it wound up hurting them.

"But beyond that?" Looker continued. "We're often gone for months – sometimes years – at a time with no way of contacting them. That means no calls, no photos, no letters, and especially no postcards. Do you have any idea what that kind of isolation can do to a person?"

He closed his eyes. "It must be horrible."

"Like you wouldn't believe." Looker reached over and patted Ash on the shoulder. "The constant wondering when you'll hear from them again. Never able to know if they're just busy with a job, or they're dead and you just don't know it. Or worst of all, they grew tired of you and moved on with their life while you continue to hold a torch for them."

Ash shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "That… that isn't right."

"It's not." Looker agreed. "It's why a lot of us only end up forming connections within our group. It's easier that way. No need to lie or live in constant worry. Most won't even attempt to have that idyllic, normal life until they retire."

It made sense. If you truly loved someone, then why would you want to put them through that sort of pain? Constant fear and heartache. Lies that could topple a world. The danger of old enemies emerging from the shadows to tarnish those they held dear.

There was just one thing he didn't understand. "But aren't you and Wicke together?"

Now it was Looker's turn to flinch. "It's… complicated. There are some people that you just can't let go of – even if it's the right thing to do." He softly told him. "We're not technically together. I've told her many times that she should move on and find someone else. Someone who can give her what she deserves."

"But?"

"But she doesn't want to hear it. Says that she knows the dangers and is willing to live with them." Looker grunted. "I should still do my best to avoid and reject her, but… I just can't help it. I can never say no to her."

Ash tentatively reached over to pat Looker on the shoulder in support. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's our decision and the two of us are happy with it. As happy as we can be, anyway." He responded, nodding his head at Ash. "Tell me, is there anyone like that in your life? Someone you want more with even though you know you can't have it? An old friend, perhaps?"

Ash pointedly remained silent.

After a few moments, Looker seemed to take that as an answer and went back to his work. "Well, whatever the case, just remember to weigh the pros and cons before you do anything. The people we love deserve that much."

Ash still didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say to that other than silence. Romance may have been the furthest thing from his mind, but he hadn't thought that it would carry this much weight to it. To think that every agent had to be willing to live knowing they couldn't have love without risking harming those they cared about….

He shook his and decided to distract himself with Looker again. Sitting on the table around them was the strangest assortment of supplies Ash had ever seen. Spackle, petroleum jelly, cake batter, fertilizer, water sealant, non-dairy creamer, and so many other things that it made Ash's head spin.

"So… what're you doing?" Ash eventually asked. "It looks important."

Looker glanced up at Ash. "Do you really want to know?"

"I do." Ash reached forward to grab one of the bottles of creamer.

"I'm making explosives."

He immediately regretted his words and froze on the spot, his fingers mere millimeters away from touching the bottle of creamer. His eyes slowly panned up to Looker's face in the desperate hope that he was joking.

He was not.

"More specifically, at the moment I'm making some home-made C4, but I've gathered the ingredients for some others to work on later." Looker continued. "Honestly, you'd be surprised how many common household items can go kablooey if things go wrong."

Ash audibly gulped. "W-why are you making explosives? Don't we already have grenades?"

Which were safely tucked away inside of a metal crate, might he add!

"One word, Ash: paperwork."

Ash felt his eye twitch. "What?"

"If we use official Interpol resources then we have to fill out the paperwork afterwards. This includes things like explosives." Looker explained. "We always have to explain why we need it, what we plan to use it for, how much, why we're not using alternatives… it's a hassle. Damn Ethics Committee uses it to make themselves feel important."

"And making them yourself means you don't have to do paperwork?"

"Nope." Looker popped the P loudly with a click of his tongue. "See, the loophole in those regulations is the word official. Make, buy, or steal our own, and suddenly we have free reign to use whatever we need. Then we get to watch the Ethics Committee flail around like the useless fools they are."

Ash got the sense Looker had some sort of grudge against the Ethics Committee, but for now, he had bigger things to worry about.

"Why use explosives at all, though?"

"Two reasons. The first is that they're the best force multiplier Humans have. Things like a Garchomp or a Tyranitar may be scary at first glance, but with a well-placed explosive, they fall just like anything else." He explained. "Second reason is their sheer versatility."

Ash blinked. "Explosives can be versatile?"

Looker scoffed. "Of course! Explosives can be useful for more than just killing!" He told Ash. "They can be used as very potent distraction, an excellent form of deterrence or trap, they can disorient and spread terror through your enemies, and they can often be just what you need to sell an effective cover."

"Really?"

"Oh, trust me, Ash." Looker grinned. "A well-timed explosion has helped sell far more covers for me than any amount of lies or intel ever has."

He'd keep that in mind.

Ash leaned forward. "Do you mind if I watch you work? If knowing how to make explosives really is so important, then I should learn how to do that. I won't always have you around to do it for me, or an easy stash to access."

He hoped that he never had to use it, but at this point, Ash knew that he couldn't afford to let his reservations get in the way. As an agent of Interpol, he had a duty to protect the world. If an explosive could help do that, then who was he to ignore it? The more skills he had to take down Team Rocket and prevent them from hurting anymore people, the better.

Luckily for him, Looker smiled. "Of course. I'll just give you a few pointers for now, but in the future? I'll have you work on them with me. Give you a bit of practical experience instead of just academic knowledge."

"Awesome! So, what's first?"

"Safety, of course! Don't want you blowing your fingers off, or worse. So, the most important aspect of working with explosives is to ensure you're in a safe, stable environment. Anything less won't cut it."

As Looker began to teach Ash about the safety, history, and various different types of explosives, Ash listened with rapt attention. This would be yet another tool in his arsenal.

Only time would tell if and when he had to use it.

Anabel took in a deep breath of fresh, ocean air and sighed in contentment. "It's been so long since I've been to the beach." She hummed. "Isn't this great, Ash?"

Ash smiled at Anabel's enthusiasm from his seat on a blanket, reaching over to scratch Pikachu behind the ears. "It is." He agreed. "Alolan beaches are the best in the world. Take it from a guy who's been all over."

She glanced back at him over her shoulder, her long, violet hair swaying in the wind and a basket tucked under her arm. "I'll take your word for it. Mr. Adventurer."

It had been a few hours since Ash had been taught about the basics of explosives by Looker. In that time, Ash had done as his mentor suggested and covered up any evidence of his adventure last night. While he'd chosen to wear swim trunks, he had made a conscious effort to come in the largest shirt he could find.

By contrast, Anabel had come dressed for a day of beach fun. She had opted for a wicker sun hat sitting on her head and freed her hair from its typical ponytail. In a fairly conservative purple and white bikini that complimented her figure, she looked ready for a day of fun at the beach.

Ash looked out towards the calm ocean waves by the shore. "When was the last time you came to a beach to relax?"

She hummed and tapped her chin in thought, setting the basket down on the blanket. "Hmmm… since before I joined Interpol, now that I think about it."

Pikachu stared up at her in bewilderment. "It's really been that long since you spent time at a beach?"

"No, I've been to a few before on business." She grimaced. "Let me tell you, swimming to shore in a dress suit is not a fun experience."

Ash was tempted to ask, but the three of them had come to the beach to relax. He'd get that particular story out of her another day. "Well, let me ask you this then: have you ever been Mantine surfing?"

Her eyes lit up with excitement. "No, I haven't. Are you going to teach me?"

"If you want. They've got a ride pavilion not too far from here that should let us rent their Mantine for a small fee." He laughed. "Trust me, it's the most fun you'll ever have on the water. A surfboard just can't compare."

"I can't wait to find out for myself." She perked up. "Oh! But first, sunscreen!"

Anabel bent over to pull the bottle of sunscreen out of the basket. As she did, Ash blinked and stared at her, tilting his head aside in curiosity. It was only when he felt the smack of Pikachu's tail on his arm that he looked away in embarrassment. If the way his partner was laughing was any indication, he knew exactly what Ash had been doing.

Mercifully, when Anabel looked up towards them with sunscreen in hand, she didn't. "Huh, you're already looking pretty red. We should get you lathered up in this stuff before you burn."

Ash cleared his throat. 'I'm fine, don't worry about me." He told her. "Remember, I spent a whole year here. I'm used to the heat. You should go first."

She shrugged. "Suit yourself. Don't come crying to me if this ends poorly for you though."

With that said, Anabel squirted some of the sunscreen into her hands and began to quickly rub it along her body, working as much of it into her skin as possible. After a few moments, she paused and glanced his way.

"Would you mind helping me out?" She asked him. "I'd do it myself, but I can't exactly reach my back."

Pikachu grinned and tried to hide his laughter behind a paw. "Yeah, come on, Ash. Help a girl out."

Ash felt his eye twitch. He was so replacing Pikachu's ketchup with mayonnaise the first chance he got. All he'd need to do is find a nice bottle, rinse it out, and pack in the mayo with a little food coloring. Then watch as all his little buddies hopes and dreams turned to ash in his hands.

It would be glorious payback.

He reached over and took the bottle from Anabel. She turned around with what looked like a pleased smile and laid down on the blanket to give him easier access to her back. Once he squirted some of the cream into his hands and began to rub his hands together to warm them up, he paused.

For the strangest reason, his instincts were telling him that people were watching him. He almost thought that it could have been a potential enemy until he took the time to look around. Multiple guys – and even a few girls – were looking at him with jealousy in their eyes. When he tried to smile disarmingly at them, all it seemed to do was worsen their glares.

He couldn't understand why.

He and Anabel were just friends.

With a disinterested shrug, he started to spread the sunscreen across her skin. Once he felt her shiver, he paused. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry. It's just a little cold for my liking." She shook her head. "Well, don't leave the job half finished!"

As he followed her orders and continued to work the lotion into her skin, he hummed in thought. "Mind if I ask you a question?"

"Go for it."

"Why'd you decide to join Interpol?" He couldn't help but ask.

She glanced back at him. "What do you mean?"

"I've just been wondering is all." He explained. "You used to be a Frontier Brain. You had enough wealth that you'd never have to work a day in your life, you had the fame, and you had respect. Most people would have been happy with that sort of life."

Anabel shifted underneath him and let out a tired sigh. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?" She told him. "It wasn't the perfect life you're thinking it was. I wasn't just a Frontier Brain, I was part of their image. That meant that everything I did was closely watched. I had to wear certain clothes, speak and act a certain way, and was expected to be on call 24/7 in case they ever needed me."

He frowned. "That sounds annoying."

She scoffed. "You think that's bad? I was outright forbidden from eating or drinking certain brands. Wouldn't want to offend the sponsors now, would I?" She sarcastically rolled her eyes. "Did you know that I wasn't allowed to be seen drinking apple juice? I had to smuggle some in by pouring it into an empty can of soda for an event once."

Ash shuddered. "If that's what I had to look forward to as Champion, maybe it's a good thing I never got around to it."

She chuckled. "You think that's bad? Try having to attend fancy dinner parties with rich people all the time." She groaned. "You know how everyone thinks the rich and famous are all incredibly weird and messed up? I can almost guarantee you, they are far worse than you imagine."

He could only imagine how grating that must have been. From what he knew, Anabel had been a prodigy from a middle-class family. Someone who worked her way to becoming a Frontier Brain through skill and a bit of good fortune. To suddenly be around people who'd been rich all their lives and forced to make friends with them for her job would have been a difficult task for anyone.

Let alone a Psychic who always knew what others were feeling.

Pikachu scampered over to the basket. As he began to pull out small packets of ketchup, he glanced back at them. "So, you joined Interpol for the change of pace?"

"Not exactly." Once Ash was done putting the sunscreen on her, Anabel forced herself to sit up and leaned back on her hands. "I wanted to do something more with my life. Do something meaningful and good for the world."

Ash blinked. "That's it? That's the reason you joined?"

She giggled and slugged him on the shoulder. "Sorry. I'm not that interesting. We can't all have a dark past or deep reason for joining up." She teased. "Interpol does good work. They may not always have the best methods, but at the end of the day, we're helping others sleep easy at night. That's more than most people can say, especially people within the League or the Battle Frontier."

He smiled at her. "Don't be sorry. I think the fact you joined because you wanted to help people is great. Far as I'm concerned, that makes you the best type of agent Interpol could ask for." He looked away from her bright, violet eyes and out towards the sea. "Not like me. If it hadn't been for what happened, I'd probably be here. Just another Champion living the high life or traveling the world."

When he felt her hand touch his, he looked to her. She was smiling up at him reassuringly. "Don't sell yourself short, Ash." She reassured him. "I know you. One way or another, you'd have found a way to do good in this world. You're just that type of guy."

He blushed and looked away. "Anabel…."

"Knowing Ash? He'd have probably done something to anger a Legend and gotten us dragged into another ancient feud." Pikachu couldn't help but chip in. "I still haven't gotten over the fact Arceus tried to kill us! Only you could have gotten us dragged into that mess!"

With the moment sufficiently ruined, Ash glared at his partner. "That was going to happen either way! I had nothing to do with that!"

"Oh, I don't blame you for that. I blame you for thinking that having me try to electrocute Arceus would actually work! And then I blame myself for listening to you!"

Anabel paled. "C-come again? You two have met Arceus?"

Ash looked away. "It's a long story. I'll tell it to you another time." He shook his head. "Come on, we came here to have fun. No need to keep talking about the past."

"Nice save. She won't suspect a thing." Pikachu whispered loudly. So loudly that when Anabel heard it, she just rolled her eyes.

"Alright, then. Keep your secrets for now. I'll get them out of you one day." She snagged the bottle from his hands. "Now come on, off with your shirt and turn around. I've gotta do your back for you."

Ash didn't have to be a genius to know that was a bad idea. Not when Looker had specifically gone out of his way to tell him to avoid that. "Nah, I'm good. Think I'll just leave it on. Too much hassle, you know?"

Anabel mockingly narrowed her eyes. "Hassle? I'm the one doing your back. All you have to do is lie down and be pampered by me."

He and Pikachu locked eyes for a moment. He'd need to think fast to get out of this one. "I'm just not comfortable with it, you know?" He tried. "It'd make me feel exposed."

Surprisingly, that worked. Anabel set the bottle aside and stood to her feet, stretching her arms above her head. "I guess I can understand that. No judgement from me then." She smirked. "Still, it is a shame. Your training has really started to pay off. You'd catch more than a few eyes here if you decided to show off."

He blushed and looked away. "I'd rather not think about that right now. Too complicated."

Now Pikachu and her were both laughing at him. "Whatever you say, Ash." She told him. "Just hurry up and do your limbs then. You promised to show me how to Mantine Surf, and I'm holding you to that."

Ash smiled.

This was going to be a fun day.

Team Skull had seen better days.

Ever since Team Rocket had arrived in force on Alola, their hold over the criminal underworld had been rapidly slipping away. The Kantonian syndicate had been ripping them apart, piece by piece. Destroying their allies, killing their people, and stealing their business.

If they had been a different group, perhaps they could have put up a better fight against them. They weren't a group of hardened, professional criminals, however. They were a band of misfits and outcasts who had come together. Even if society had rejected or failed them, Team Skull had taken in everyone and ran a simple but relatively peaceful business in the underworld.

Compared to the professional criminals and vast resources at Team Rocket's disposal? They were in over their heads. The only reason they had lasted this long in the fight against them was because Alola was their home turf.

That was quickly becoming irrelevant.

As Plumeria stood in the middle of Shady House, she watched as Guzma paced back and forth. Her boss hadn't been sleeping well ever since the war with Team Rocket started. Too many of their little brothers and sisters had died. Worst of all, the bounty on Guzma's head only seemed to grow with each passing day.

If something wasn't done soon, they'd lose this war.

Team Rocket couldn't be allowed to turn Alola into another of their bases.

"We need to do something, Guzma." She eventually told her boss. "Something to shake things up and throw them off guard."

Hearing her words, Guzma slumped down and sat on the edge of his couch. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up at her. "I know that. I've got a plan… there's just gonna be consequences if we go through with it."

She frowned. "Worse than what we're already dealing with?"

"About the same, really." After a moment of silence, he shook his head. "Alright. Fine. Reach out to our contacts and friends in Rocket territory. It's time we hit them where it hurts."

Chapter Text

When he stepped inside the bar, Ash could immediately tell that something was off today. Typically, there were at least a dozen people either lounging around at the bar, drinking their sorrows away or waiting around for a job. This bar was a popular spot for freelance criminals to connect and be seen. Practically all the odd jobs he used to establish the credibility of his cover came from this place.

Yet today, the bar was practically empty aside from the bartender and four other people. He scratched the back of his neck and took a seat at the bar. Whatever was going on, there was no reason to act suspicious now. He'd play it cool until he knew more.

He waved over the bartender. "Hey, Frank. I'll have a vodka if you've got it."

Frank didn't bother looking up at him, far more concerned about cleaning an empty glass in his hands. "No can do, Woods. Big boss said no drinks for anyone doing a job today."

"Boss?" Ash asked. "What do you mean? I never signed up for a job."

"You weren't, but the boss figured you'd want in anyway." Frank told him. "Our Kantonian friends are hiring again. Big bucks this time."

His earpiece flared to life as Petrovic spoke up. "Rocket, eh? Guess ya impressed Gozu enough he thought of ya. Lucky."

Lucky wasn't how he would have described it. Ash smiled at Frank. "Is that why the bars' empty? He's stopping by to brief us all on the job again?"

"Got it in one." The bartender shrugged. "Normally, I'd be annoyed at the lack of customers, but you know those mafia bastards. They always pay well."

"Any idea what the job is? More attacks on Skull?"

"Don't know. Couldn't care less." The bartender set the glass down. "All I do is provide the meeting point. Beyond that? I try to stay out of it. Better for my health, you feel me?"

That was probably for the best. At least this way, he couldn't be targeted if things turned against Rocket and their enemies started looking into who helped them. The bartender that let them use their bar every once in a while would be far less important than someone who sold them information or incorporated with them.

Ash glanced back at the four others that would presumably be going on the job with him. They were all older than him but varied from late twenties to mid-thirties and even early fifties, if he had to guess. Compared to the last group of freelancers he had to work with, they all looked more competent. Backs to the walls and eyes on each entrance; the faint bulge of a shirt or pants hiding a weapon; noticeably calloused hands.

These were professionals. He didn't know what it said about him that Gozu thought he belonged with these people, but he didn't like it.

"Just act natural, kid. This probably ain't gonna be any different from another smash and grab." Petrovic spoke into his ear. "Just do what ya did before, and everything should be fine."

He hoped Petrovic was right. Much as it may have helped him stand out to Gozu, Ash didn't want to have to go through that again. Dealing with crazy fools with guns and traumatizing innocent shop keepers wasn't something he relished in this job.

It took half an hour before Gozu eventually showed up. Like before, he was dressed in tropical civilian clothes and wore a gruff expression on his one-eyed faced. Without saying a word, everyone's attention focused on him as he marched over to the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"Alright, lads. It's your lucky day. Team Rocket's got another job for you – with a much higher payout for much less risk." He raised the glass to his lips and downed the expensive whiskey in one go. "Each of you've shown me you've got half a brain, so that's why you're here instead of out there hitting more convenience stores."

"This guy sure does like to hear himself talk." Petrovic snarked. "And here I thought all veterans were meant to be the gruff, silent type."

Ash suppressed the urge to snort. If that were true, then Petrovic wouldn't be nearly as bad as he was. Chances were that Looker wouldn't always look ready to strangle the man, either. Anabel might even start to like him if he did that.

Shame that just wasn't who his partner was.

"I'll keep things simple. There's a farm on the island that belongs to a thorn in Rocket's side. It's chock-full of rare and highly sought after Pokemon." Gozu told them. "Your job is to get in, torch the place, and capture all those Pokemon for us."

Whoever it was that had gotten on Team Rocket's bad side, Ash felt sorry for them. Their profits must have been seriously damaged if this was how they were taking revenge. Droves of Pokemon taken against their will and a family's livelihood destroyed. His stomach rolled in distaste, but all he could do was bite his tongue and promise that it wouldn't be for nothing.

"What's the name of the place?" Another freelancer asked.

"Paniola ranch." Gozu shrugged. "Place is owned by some simple family. Normally, we'd leave them in peace, but that kid of theirs cost us a lot of money not too long ago. We can't just let that slide."

Ash's blood ran cold. Paniola ranch… that wasn't just some random farm they were talking about. That farm belonged to Kiawe's family. If Team Rocket were targeting Kiawe, did that mean they were going after the rest of the Ultra Guardians soon? Were Mallow and the others in danger, or was Kiawe a special case?

He didn't know what was worse. The fact that one of his friends had become a target of Team Rocket… or that he was going to help them destroy everything Kiawe's family held dear. No, no, that wasn't going to happen. Ash would find some way to stop this.

He had to.

"What are we supposed to do about the family?" Ash spoke up. "They won't just let us snatch their Pokemon without a fight."

"The family won't be a problem. Far as we can tell, they'll all be out celebrating the birthday of their daughter." Gozu chuckled. "We're just gonna give them a nice little gift to return home to."

"Brat, whatever it is yer thinking of doing, keep it calm." Petrovic warned. "If ya do anything stupid, ya won't just torch yer chances of getting to the heart of this. Ya may well end up dead."

He grit his teeth. As much as it pained him to admit… Petrovic was right. Like it or not, this was going to happen. All Ash could do was go along and try to limit as much damage as he could. He would just have to hope that Kiawe and his family could recover from this.

Gozu snapped his fingers. Hearing this, the bartender sighed and hefted a massive bag up onto the counter. Peering into its depths, Ash could see an assortment of Pokeballs sitting inside.

"These have been modified to transfer to a Rocket hideout when they snag something." Gozu told them. "You're to use these on any Pokemon you find while there. The one exception to this is their herd of Miltank. Those things are prime members of their species. No Pokeballs for them."

"How are we meant to catch them, then?" One freelancer asked.

"Intimidate 'em, persuade them, I don't care. Just don't cause any permanent harm. There's a lot of people who'll pay big money for a Miltank like theirs." Gozu rolled his shoulders. "There's a truck out back with cages. Shove the damn things in there and drive it to the address on the dashboard when you're done."

Ash blinked when one freelancer pointed to him. "What about the kid? He looks a little young. We sure we can rely on him to pull this off?"

Gozu's eye shifted to him, quirking an eyebrow in question. Realizing what he was meant to do, Ash cleared his throat and stood up. "I can handle this. If all we're doing is burning a house and catching some Pokemon, then this should be easy. Anyone can do that."

"There you have it. Kid says he can do, he can do it. I'm inclined to believe him." Gozu told them. "Standard rules, of course. Flat rate for all of you and no one collects your cut if something goes wrong. Pay today is fifteen grand each and the possibility of more work in the future."

With a dismissive wave, Gozu turned his back on them to go back to drinking. Unlike the previous group of freelancers, this one didn't seem to worry about who was in charge. They simply gathered their things and headed out the back, Ash following close behind.

This was going to be a long day. Somehow, he just knew it.

Human traffickers were among the most despicable people in the world. To consider owning another person like property… it was vile. It was no surprise that people could be this evil after her time on the streets, but that didn't make it any less disgusting. Despite Pryce's involvement, Domino was all too happy to end the slaver once she found him.

The target in question? Charles Lee, a prominent businessman in his early thirties from Hoenn. As far as the public was aware, he was just a simple Pokeball salesman. The irony of him selling devices to capture Pokemon while trafficking Humans on the black market wasn't lost on her.

Killing him would be simple. There was a practical cornucopia of options available to her. She could poison his food or drink the next time he went out. A bomb in his hotel room or car would atomize him before he knew what was happening. Perhaps even a distant assassination with a sniper rifle the next time he stepped outside would be a fitting end.

All good choices. None of them would help her find out where his next shipment of people was going, however. Giovanni had strict instructions. Whenever dealing with Human traffickers, the focus was on rescuing the victims more than simply killing their oppressors. Not that the latter wasn't important, of course.

Which left her with one option: she was going to need to get him alone and work her magic on him. That would be simple enough. Men always believed two things about themselves. First, all women found them attractive. Two, they were always the smartest people in the room.

Playing into those preconceptions had been child's play. A flowing black dress that accentuated her curves and a small dash of make-up to help her violet eyes stand out. Bumping into him at the local club he had taken to visiting had been as simple as meeting his eyes across the room. A few brushes of skin here, a teasing smile there, and a bit of Hoenn's native language thrown in?

Seducing him had been easy. In a foreign land, a beautiful woman who spoke your language might as well have been a diamond sitting among rubbish.

Standing in the bathroom of his hotel room, she could only laugh quietly to herself in triumph. Sometimes, it was just too easy. The security he had stationed outside his door hadn't even batted an eye when he brought her to his room. Their boss' philandering ways must not have been anything surprising.

Walking into the bedroom of a man known to view other people as inferior normally wouldn't have been something she'd do. Too many things could go wrong, and she didn't fancy becoming another victim for him to peddle to the highest bidder. The things she did to see Giovanni's orders through….

At least she had some insurance in case things went wrong. She had released all but one of her Pokemon from their balls and given them strict instructions. If she didn't leave the building in the next few hours, they were to rampage and kill everyone inside until they found her. For his securities sake, they'd best hope they didn't get too curious and interrupt.

There was a sharp knock at the door. "Hey, what's taking so long?" Her target called out. "I thought we were going to have some fun?"

Domino rolled her eyes. So impatient. Plastering a playful smile on her face, she opened the door to find him standing outside of it in his bathrobe. Trailing her fingers up his exposed chest to cup his cheek, a light giggle escaped her. "Just had to freshen up."

Pulling him into a passionate kiss, she carefully maneuvered them towards the bed and pushed him down onto its soft seats. Straddling his hips, she trailed kisses up his neck in a hungry display of desire. He moaned beneath her. Yet when he reached up to grab her, she pulled back and wagged her finger.

"Uh-uh." She winked down at him. "The sweetest of pleasures comes to those who wait."

"But I want you now." The man groaned. "Haven't I waited long enough?"

"Almost." She purred. "Close your eyes while I get something from my purse. I promise that it'll be worth the wait."

For one of them, that is.

Once her target had closed his eyes, she placed a quick kiss on the tip of his nose and slid off the bed towards the dresser where she had left her bag. Zipping it open, she reached inside and pulled out a thin needle housing a clear liquid inside.

A mixture of Arbok and Seviper venom distilled into its current form. A few drops coating a blade or mixed inside of food were potent enough to kill a man in under a minute. Injected directly into his bloodstream, she'd be surprised if he lasted even ten seconds.

Carefully holding the needle between her fingers, she glided back over to the bed and straddled his chest. It wasn't hard to tell that he was excited at the prospect she had finally returned. She could feel it clear as day against her skin.

"Are you ready for your surprise?" She whispered, nibbling on his ear.

"Yes~" He moaned into her touch.

Domino stole a deep kiss from him, snaking one arm up to graze his neck and positioning her knee between his legs. Then, without warning, she struck! She slammed the needle into her targets artery and injected the toxin straight into his bloodstream.

Her kiss suppressed his surprised scream. When that surprise turned to agony, she slammed her knee at full force into his groin and grabbed him by the throat. The few seconds it stunned him for were more than enough for the poison to do its work. Before he could even register what was happening, his blood had thinned to nothing, his organs liquified, and the air burned in his lungs.

When his movement stilled beneath her, she leaned away from him and looked down in triumph. Fearful, agonized eyes gazed up at her in a desperate need to know why she had done this to him. It wouldn't surprise her if he had seen those same looks on the faces of his victims and laughed them off.

It was only right that she do the same.

She hopped off the bed and wiped her mouth in disgust. It was awfully tempting to use the mouth wash she'd seen in the bathroom to wipe the taste of him out of her mouth, but there was no time. Who knew how long it would be until the security got curious about the lack of sounds coming from inside and decided to investigate?

She needed to act fast.

Snatching Mr. Lee's phone from the nightstand next to the bed, Domino held it up over his face. Once it was unlocked, she went to work. Scrolling past the dating apps, social media, and mobile games, she dug into his personal files.

Without even asking for a password or a second authentication, it let in her. Domino wanted to be surprised that he would be this reckless, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. Poor bastard had been dumb in more ways than one, it seemed.

While she didn't have enough time to go through them all, what she could see was enough to make her stomach churn. Photos of men, women, and children in shipping crates that hadn't seen the sun in days. Plans to expand their operations on the Johto border. He even had a list of potential clients and influential people they could approach.

It was too much to see it all now. When she was done in Mahogany Town, Giovanni would want to see this. Every trafficking network they took down was one more step in the right direction, or so she had heard him say. She couldn't help but agree with him.

Team Rocket may have been criminals, but there were some lines never meant to be crossed. Anyone who did deserved nothing but death.

Tossing the phone into her pocketbook, she grabbed the corpse by the leg and slowly dragged it across the floor and out onto the balcony of the room. For a moment, she simply took in the gorgeous view of the lake in the distance and soaked up the suns rejuvenating rays. At times like this, she was reminded just how fortunate of a life she lived.

She shook her head and hoisted the corpse up, tossing it over the railing. For a few blissful seconds, there was silence. It was shattered as a body crashed into a car below, quickly followed by the screaming of those around to hear it.

Whistling a jolly tune to herself, she slung her bag over her shoulder and pulled out the single Pokeball she kept with her to release Hypno. "Come on, Hypno. Teleport us outta here. I would kill for a good taco right about now."

Assassinating people worked up quite the appetite. Besides, she'd let Pryce find out about all of this on his own and meet him later. All that mattered to her right now was lying low and basking in the glow of victory.

Paniola ranch was exactly like he remembered it.

The wide-open grasslands were perfect for a farm. Herds of Taurus and Mudbray roamed the fields, munching on grass in the distance. He could see a small cluster of Miltank inside of a pen, happily lounging around on a lazy day. With the sun hanging high in the afternoon sky and the gentle breeze against their skin, the ranch could have been mistaken for something out of an old cowboy movie.

It was a shame that peace wouldn't last.

The truck came to a stop in the middle of the ranch. Slowly, Ash and the other freelancers all stepped out of the truck. While some of the Pokemon had noticed them and seemed curious about their presence, most weren't overly concerned. Random visitors to the ranch were a common occurrence, after all. Why worry about the new Humans when they'll be gone soon, anyway?

He wished it were that simple.

"So, what's the plan?" Ash asked. "I doubt they're just going to stand around and let us capture them."

"We'll handle that. I doubt these things are used to fighting battles if they've spent all their time on this farm. Should be easy enough for us." One freelancer tossed a Pokeball up and down in the air. "You get to setting that house on fire, you hear? We do this right; it shouldn't take more than an hour."

Ash suppressed the urge to grimace. He'd known he'd have to take part, but he didn't think he'd be the one lighting the match that sent his friend's home up in flames. If that was what it took to protect Alola, though, then he'd do it.

He could hate himself when this was done.

"On it."

If there was one thing Ash could give this group of freelancers, it was that they were professionals. None of them were worried about impressing Gozu or trying to assert their authority. To them, this was just another job. They even went out of their way to hand him two gas canisters to carry into the house.

If only they could put their skills to better use than destroying people's homes. They were just as guilty as Team Rocket.

With a resigned sigh, Ash marched off towards Kiawe's home. True to Gozu's word, no one was around. Even the Herdier Kiawe's family owned had been taken out to celebrate with the rest of them.

Pushing his way inside, he took a moment to look at the home. Family photos hung on the wall, celebrating happy moments in their life. He could see trophies and certificates in places of pride displaying to the whole world their achievements. There was even a tiny pet bed for Herdier to sleep in. It was a perfect little home for any family.

"Listen, kid, I know ya may not like it, but this is part of the job." Petrovic spoke through his comm. "It's no different from when ya destroyed that shop. Don't let the pictures make this more difficult than it has to be."

Since they were alone, Ash didn't see any point in keeping quiet. At least for now, he could speak freely. "It's not that."

"It ain't? Here I thought ya'd be getting cold feet seeing the happy family photos." It didn't take a genius to hear the surprise in Petrovic's voice.

"Okay, it's not just that." He admitted. "I… know the family this ranch belongs to. Their son and I were close friends when I was last in Alola. Rivals."

Petrovic made a sound of understanding. "Sorry to hear that. This must be hard for ya."

That was putting it mildly.

"I won't pretend to know what yer going through. Even with all the dubious shit I've done, I ain't never had to destroy the home of someone I care about." Petrovic sighed. "Ya gotta do it, though, kid. If ya don't, they're gonna know something's up and start asking questions."

In this line of business, the wrong person asking the wrong questions at the wrong time meant death. Or worse, if some of the veteran agents stories were true. Ash set the gas canisters on the ground and walked over to a nearby wall. Among the photos on display, one of them caught his eye.

It was one taken not long after Ash had beaten Professor Kukui and become Champion in Alola. The entire class had gone out to celebrate and eat to their hearts' content on the beach, dancing, singing, and feasting until the sun rose the next morning. They had capped the celebration off with a group photo on the edge of the water, the rising sun in the background.

They had all trusted him to lead them during the Ultra Beast crisis. Each of them had helped him take on Team Rocket's worst. When he had been on the edge of victory, their faith in him had been what he needed to seize victory against all odds.

And this was how he repaid them.

He reached out to touch the photo. "Do you think they'll be able to forgive me for this? For everything I'm doing?"

"If they're anything like you? I'd be surprised if they didn't." Petrovic said. "Ya ain't done anything unforgiveable, brat. Sure, yer a bit more… shady nowadays, but yer the still the same soft-hearted boy they knew. If ya tell them why ya had to do all this, they'd believe ya. Don't go doubting that."

"And what happens if I go too far? Change too much?" He mumbled. "I'm not stupid, Petrovic. I know what I might have to do in the future. The lines I'll have to cross. What happens if I become a monster?"

Petrovic snorted. "A monster? That how ya see the rest of us? I'm hurt." He snarked. "Kid, let me tell ya a little something about lines. They're meant to be crossed. Ya can step over them when ya need to and step right back when yer done. They don't define whether yer a good person or not."

"You think so?"

"Trust me on this, kid. Some of the best people I know have crossed more lines than ya could count." Petrovic assured him. "You? It don't matter how many ya cross. Yer always gonna be the same person you've always been: an altruistic fool… but an endearing one."

Ash smiled. "Thanks, Pet. It must have been painful for you to say something nice to me."

"More than ya could possibly imagine. Now, get to work. Clocks ticking."

Ash nodded. He would just have to have faith that this job didn't change him for the worse. At the end of the day, he was helping people. He couldn't let his doubts make him forget that.

Unclasping Pikachu's Pokeball from his belt, he released his partner into the world. It didn't take long for his little buddy to recognize where they were. Pikachu tilted his head to the side in silent question.

Ash crouched down and patted Pikachu on the head. "Yeah, it's Kiawe's home." He admitted. "Gozu wants us to help burn it down. I guess he decided to hit back at us for interfering with their plans for the Ultra Beasts."

Predictably, Pikachu growled at the idea of helping Gozu with this. Sparks flew from his cheeks, and he gestured wildly around them, chirping angrily.

"We don't have a choice." Ash argued. "We need Gozu to trust us if we're going to get close enough to stop him. The only way we're gonna do that is by following his orders."

Pikachu stomped his paw on the ground, glaring up at him.

Ash blinked. Hold on… he had an idea. "Petrovic, could you call the police and warn them about this? Maybe if they get here in time, they can stop this and we can get away without suspicion."

"Hell no." Petrovic's harsh voice cut down what little rising hope he had. "We do that, this whole thing is over."

"But he won't know I had anything to do with it. If we just- "

"Think for a minute, Ash. If the police suddenly show up out of nowhere, what do ya think is gonna happen? Ya think he's just gonna shrug his shoulders and move on? He ain't stupid." Petrovic explained. "They have rats in the police who'll tell him about the anonymous tip. Best case? He considers everyone on the job bad luck and leaves ya out of future jobs. Worst case? He thinks it's better to cut loose ends and kills ya just to be safe."

Ash flinched. He hadn't thought of that. If Gozu got suspicious and dug too deep….

He sighed and shook his head. "I don't like this any more than you do, Pikachu." He told his partner. "We have to do this. All we can do is hope that this sacrifice is worth it in the end."

While he didn't seem happy, Pikachu was at least willing to go along with it. That was good. Grabbing the gas canisters, Ash meticulously poured the gasoline over every inch of the house. From the bedrooms to the kitchen and the bathroom, he left a trail of liquid death in every crack and crevice of the home.

By the time he was done, the stench was so bad that Ash wanted to vomit. He could only imagine how bad it must have been for Pikachu with how sensitive his nose was.

Ash took one last look at the house. Every childhood memory his friend had in this home would be gone soon. The one consolation was that the family itself would still be safe to build new memories wherever they landed after this. Reaching into his pocket, he fished out a lighter and flicked open the lid.

Cries of pain and a reverberating explosion drew his attention. On instinct, Ash and Pikachu both dove for cover behind the wall of the house. The two of them exchanged a wary look and leaned up to peer out of the window at what was happening outside.

A gasp tore from Ash's lips.

Standing at the edge of the ranch was Kiawe. Marowak, Charizard, and Turtonator, each of whom wore fiery expressions to match their burning anger, surrounded him. Fire scorched the battlefield and the unconscious forms of enemy Pokemon laid at their feet. The freelancers that he had come with all cowered before him.

No, no, no… he wasn't supposed to be here! Gozu had told them that Kiawe wouldn't be anywhere near this when it went down! Were his family nearby? The rest of their friends? What was he supposed to do now? What could he even do?

"Snap out of it!" Petrovic hissed. "Get yer head on straight!"

"But- "

"I know he's yer friend, but ya can't let him get in the way. If he arrests all the others and botches this job, ya can kiss yer chances of getting closer to the center of this goodbye!"

"What am I supposed to do then!?" Ash growled.

"Use it to yer advantage. Ya wanted a way out without blowing yer cover? Well, here ya go!" Petrovic told him. "Rescue that group of yers, make a show of fighting the other brat, and run away with yer tail between yer legs. No destroyed home, no hurt friend, and an excuse that Gozu won't be able to use against ya."

That… that honestly wasn't a bad idea. It was risky, but if he managed to pull this off? He just might save his friends' home. All it would take was a little theatrics and some wounded pride. Kiawe and he could survive that.

Ash glanced down at Pikachu. "Alright… I'll try to distract him. I need you to sneak around behind them." He told the electric rat. "If you can, focus on taking out Charizard. We'll never escape if that thing is chasing us down."

Reluctantly, Pikachu nodded and scurried towards the backdoor. Even at his fastest, Pikachu would need some time to work his way behind them. Ash would need to be on top of his game if he was going to get them all out of this in one piece.

He took a breath to center himself and force his nerves down. Then he pushed open the front door of the house and stepped outside, a wide and friendly smile plastered on his face. "Woah there, friend! What seems to be the problem?"

Everyone's attention spun to him upon his entrance. While the freelancers all seemed confused, Ash could see the fury in Kiawe's eyes. Frankly, Ash was just relieved he didn't turn the flames of his Pokemon on him.

Small mercy.

"Problem? What's my problem!?" Kiawe growled. His fists tightened at his side. "You thieves are here destroying my home and stealing our Pokemon!"

Ten yards. Ash kept his hands held high in front of him, palms facing upwards to show he was unarmored while he crept forward. "Ah, there seems to have been a misunderstanding. We're not thieves."

It was such a bald-faced lie that everyone – Kiawe, the freelancers, and the Pokemon themselves - couldn't help but look flabbergasted. For a moment, everyone just sat in stunned silence as a collection of Miltank rocked their cages back and forth in the bed of the truck.

Kiawe shook with rage at the perceived indignity. "Are… are you mocking me?"

Eight yards. "Not one bit." He called out. "We're here on a job. We're repo men who work for Gogoats Go-Getters – Repossess your property in thirty minutes or less, or your money back!" He smiled. "How'd that sound? I practiced all day in the mirror for that yesterday."

"You expect me to believe that?" Kiawe spat. "My family has owned this farm and everything on it my entire life! Not a single thing here was loaned to us!"

Five yards. The Fire-types were now actively sniffing the air and regarding him with critical eyes. For all the good his disguise had done at hiding his identity, it couldn't change his smell.

Ash shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you. It's the truth." He drawled. "Listen. If you want to talk this out with our boss, I'm sure Viren will be more than happy to give you people an extension."

It was a dirty tactic. Viren was the epitome of a corrupt and greedy businessman. More than once, Ash had witnessed that bastard try to steal this land from Kiawe's family. He had threatened them, forged documents, tried to bribe them, and used every trick in the book to steal it away for his own profit. In one truly despicable display, he had even witnessed him order his Pokemon to electrocute Kiawe's little sister.

To put it mildly, Kiawe despised that man.

As predicted, hearing that name set his old friend off. "He's behind this!?" He shouted. "Of all the dirty, rotten tricks that sleazebag could pull!"

One yard. By now, Ash was close enough that he could see the whites of Kiawe's eyes. A life of farm work and training alongside his Pokemon had left his old friend with a physique most could only dream of. Getting into a brawl with him wouldn't end well. Ash's one advantage was that he had experience in hand-to-hand combat while Kiawe didn't.

He'd need to strike fast to capitalize on that.

"Sounds like you and our boss have history." The tip of a golden tail poked above the edge of the tall grass behind them. Ash smiled. "So, I'll tell you what. We'll take our leave with everything we have, and once you clear things up with him, we'll bring it all right back."

Kiawe stepped forward menacingly. "You really expect me to just let you- "

He never got to finish. Ash stepped into Kiawe's guard and slammed his elbow into the Kahuna-in-trainings throat. As he stumbled back with a surprised cough, Pikachu leaped out of the grass into the air. A surge of golden, blinding electricity struck the three Pokemon behind them. While Marowak and Turtonator were still standing, Charizard had been brought to its knees.

Ash's hand flashed behind his back to pull out his revolver, pointing it at the now frozen Kiawe on the ground.

"Alright," Ash began, "here's how it's gonna go. You're gonna return your Pokemon to their balls and toss them as far in the opposite direction as you can. Understand?"

Kiawe didn't say a word.

Growling, Ash raised the barrel of his gun to the sky and pulled the trigger. The shot was deafening to everyone without ear protection. Flocks of Flying types took off from the nearby trees and fled for safety, while the few chattel Pokemon the freelancers hadn't taken now cowered in fear.

He snapped the barrel back down towards Kiawe's chest, finger beneath the trigger. "I'm not gonna ask again." Ash warned. "Return and toss them away, or I'll shoot your knees out instead. Phone too while you're at it."

He hoped Kiawe didn't call his bluff. He didn't have it in him to do that to anyone, let alone an old friend.

Slowly, Kiawe reached onto his belt to grab their Pokeballs and return them all. Forcing himself to his feet, he tossed them into the distance. While Ash couldn't exactly tell where they landed, it was far enough away that they'd be long gone by the time he managed to find them.

If anyone was nearby enough to hear it, they'd be calling the police. Ash's crew needed to leave now if they wanted to make their getaway.

"Me and my people are gonna leave with the Pokemon we've already taken. Then you're gonna forget you ever saw any of our faces." Ash told him. "Do that and I'm sure everything'll work out in the end."

Kiawe clenched his teeth and tightened hands at his side. His impotence in this moment must have been devastating to him. "Why are you doing this to us?" He demanded. "You don't work for Viren, do you? So, why?"

Ash shrugged. "You pissed off the wrong people. Should have known better than to make an enemy of Team Rocket."

Kiawe's eyes narrowed. Good. Ash may not have been able to do anything directly, but Kiawe would bring news of this to Olivia. She wouldn't stand for this injustice, he was certain. With a Kahuna involved, the pressure on Team Rocket would skyrocket. Hopefully, it would make their plans just a bit more difficult.

"You lot!" He shouted to the other freelancers. "Pick yourselves up and grab your Pokemon. We're leaving."

"But the boss said- "

"He isn't here!" Ash snapped. "And I doubt our friend here is gonna just let us burn his house down, gun or no gun."

Reluctantly, the other freelancers returned their unconscious Pokemon to the balls and scurried back into the truck. Without taking his eyes off Kiawe, he silently returned Pikachu to his Pokeball. Before he moved to join the others in the truck, however, he paused.

With the job going bad, there was a chance Gozu would hold it against them. If Ash was going to keep that man's trust for future jobs, he needed something to prove he could still be relied upon. He knew one way to do it… he just hoped Kiawe could forgive him when he eventually learned the truth.

"Give me your Z-Ring."

Kiawe recoiled in shock. "What? No!"

"You want to eat a bullet?" Ash prodded. "Give me the ring and the crystal. Now!"

Even staring down the barrel of a gun, Kiawe hesitated. Ash couldn't blame him. That had been his grandfather's Z-Ring. More than just a sentimental souvenir of family long past, it served as a reminder of everything his family meant to him. All the wisdom of his teachers and the strength he had gathered during his training condensed into a single priceless crystal.

"Come on. Think for a minute." He told Kiawe. "You got a family – a little sister, from what I heard. They love you and I'm sure you love them. Is a ring really worth never seeing them again?"

He could practically hear his old friend's teeth grinding together from over here. Slowly, Kiawe pulled the ring off his finger and tossed it in the air – which Ash handily caught with a single swipe of his hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you." He pocketed the ring and hopped onto the back of the truck next to the cages. He spun the pistol in his hands before holstering it. "Word of advice? Don't go lighting any open flames in your house for a while. And say hi to Mallow for me, would you?"

Kiawe's eyes widened at her name. Before he could ask how Ash knew her, however, the truck sped away. With a great sigh of relief, Ash leaned back against the side of the truck and looked towards the sky.

"Damn kid. Didn't know ya had that kind of performance in ya." Petrovic praised. "I know it was an act, but even I hate yer guts a little for that. Looks like all those lessons are paying off."

He didn't say a word.

What could he even say after betraying a friend? He just hoped that they arrived at the warehouse Gozu told them about soon. The sooner they were done with this, the sooner he could shower and try to scrub away the filth he felt.

Looker was used to getting into bed with all sorts of people. Warlords in foreign regions that ruled with an iron fist. Traitors and conmen that lied as easily as they breathed. Drug kingpins and crime bosses weak enough to be manipulated and controlled by Interpol. Sometimes, he would even get the chance to work with genuine heroes that refused to bend their morality in their job.

He always could appreciate that last one. The world needed more of them rather than men like himself, least of all the villains he dealt with every day. It was why Looker wasn't at all surprised to be meeting with one now. Sitting in the middle of a nice Unovan diner, he eyed the man across from him.

Guzma was… simultaneously exactly and not at all like what he pictured the leader of Team Skull to be. Like the goons that made up his little syndicate, his clothes were an assortment of baggy black and white monstrosities with a few chains for an edgy flair. That same casual arrogance that surrounded them all was even more apparent in their leader.

Yet unlike all of them, there was a cunning to Guzma's eyes. He knew more than he let on and knew how to plan ahead. Most of the people in this diner were members of Skull – even those not wearing its uniform. Even a few key people on the streets outside were members if their fixed gazes and set paths were anything to go by.

While it may have been a weak attempt to intimidate him, Looker could understand the reasoning. Rocket wanted his head, after all. He couldn't afford to just walk around unguarded or go into negotiations without some insurance.

Unfortunately for Guzma, Looker had done this dance many times before.

He swirled the straw through his Arnold Palmer. "Thank you for meeting with me, Guzma. I understand this is a difficult time for you."

Guzma scoffed. "Spare me." He grunted. "What do you want, spook? I don't exactly have the time to waste with you."

A bold lie if he'd ever heard one. If Guzma truly wasn't interested in what Looker had to offer, he wouldn't have bothered showing up. This strong, disinterested front was all a negotiating tactic. It spoke of a man who knew he couldn't show weakness, even in the worst of times.

"I'm sure. Watching everything you've built burn down around you must be difficult." Looker audibly slurped his drink. "I'll try to keep this brief, then. If you want to survive, then you'll do exactly as we say."

His counter narrowed his eyes. "Is that right? You think I'm just gonna bend the knee and become your puppet, is that it?" He growled. "Piss off. This meeting's over."

"Then go." Looker challenged. "Have fun on your own. I'm sure you've got a foolproof plan of your own for dealing with Team Rocket."

Guzma didn't move an inch. He couldn't. Not when they both knew that his chances of surviving to the end of the month were slim to none. Like it or not, he needed Interpol more than they needed him. Looker almost pitied the man.

"Excellent. Now that we've gotten the theatrics out of the way, we can get down to brass tacks." Looker leaned forward, swirling his drink in its cup. "We want Rocket out of Alola – or at least as weakened as possible. You want to survive and maintain your dominance in these islands. So long as you do what we ask, you'll have our support."

Guzma sneered and looked away. "Cops working with criminals? Here I thought your lot were meant to fight us all."

Looker chuckled. It was a common mistake. Interpol weren't simple policemen or even specialized units like the Rangers. They were spies that worked to protect everyone. Criminals that received a government paycheck and used their authority to keep the innocent safe from everyone else. It was the reason they were such an effective fighting force when it came to combating terror organizations like Team Rocket or Flare.

"Your mistake was thinking Skull is at all big enough to be a threat." He told Guzma. "You're a small fish in a very big ocean. As long as little fish like you help us catch the big fish like Team Rocket? We're content to let you swim away for another day."

"Pawns in your game, then." The kingpin sighed. "Let me guess… you're gonna use my people as cannon fodder to fight your battles?"

Looker raised the straw to his mouth to sip at his drink. He let the man stew in the silence for a few seconds before he answered. "You're no use to us dead, Guzma. The same goes for your people." He assured him. "What we want is for you people to clean up your act. You say these islands are yours? Then it's time to start acting like it."

The table rattled as Guzma slammed his fist atop it. "You think we haven't tried?" He snarled. "No matter what we do, we're always one step behind those Kantonian bastards!"

"Because you're not equipped to do it." Looker pointed out. "You're a loosely connected gang of misfits, orphans, and outcasts with nothing binding you together but a shared feeling of loss. Frankly, the fact you've managed to grow so large says more about Alolan society than it does your group."

Guzma's eyes narrowed. "Is there a point to this?"

The edge of Looker's lips twitched in amusement. "That's all going to change. We'll supply you with intel, weapons, Pokemon; anything and everything you need to defeat the Rocket cell operating in Alola." He sipped at his Arnold Palmer. "Then you'll assume a dominant stance in this entire regions criminal underworld – effectively blocking them out from doing business here. You and your people will live like kings. You, in particular, will be practically untouchable as far as the law is concerned."

"Generous offer." Guzma grumbled. "What's the catch?"

"Nothing you won't be prepared to follow." Looker shrugged. "You'll limit your crimes to petty theft, gambling, and drug trafficking – though that last one will be strictly monitored and only deal in high quality. No bad product that would kill anyone. You'll stamp down on anyone and everyone who breaks these rules, whether they're in your group or not."

Guzma took a moment to consider all this. "Hmm… I can agree with that. It's nothing I wouldn't have done, anyway. I try to keep my people off the hard stuff. I'll just consider this an excuse to make sure the rest of my islands are the same."

Good. The more agreeable he was to their commands, the more likely he was to be an obedient lap dog. "You'll also be providing security to the Aether Foundation in the future. Any shipments, facilities, or VIPs of theirs will be off limits as far as crime in Alola is concerned. You will, of course, be compensated for your generosity."

A snort escaped Guzma. "So, Interpol is in Aether's pocket? I should have known."

Looker narrowed his eyes. "On the contrary, you could say they're partners of ours. Or will be once we deal with this Rocket problem your organizations both face." He said. "Our interests simply align."

"Whatever you say, pal." Guzma shook his head. "Fine. My boys'll protect Aether. Never had much of a problem with those bleeding hearts, anyway. Half my people grew up in one of their orphanages."

Good. Wicke may have had some qualms about accepting help from criminals, but Skull was the lesser of two evils. With Aether's private security, Skull's goons, and Interpol's agents all working together? Alola just might be the first stronghold against Rocket's cancerous spread.

"Finally, if we give an order, we expect you to follow it. It won't happen often, but there will be times we need your people handle things that we can't." Looker told him. "Does all of this sound agreeable to you? Compared to us, you are getting the better end of the deal."

"Don't try to play me, G-Man." Guzma sighed. "If I know anything about you Interpol types, you always get the better deal in the end. But like it or not… I can't afford to say no. Fine. Help us survive this and Team Skull is yours to use however you want."

Looker smiled widely in triumph. "I'm glad you see things our way." He sipped his drink again, humming in delight at its fruity taste. "The first shipments will reach your people soon alongside targets for them to hit. By the end of the week, Rocket will be feeling some of the same pain you are."

Guzma chuckled. "Won't lie, it'll be good to see those bastards bleed." He blinked. "I got a question for you. Why do you seem so… relaxed? Weren't you at least a little worried I'd kill you if I didn't like what you said? I am a criminal, after all."

Looker kept quiet. A tiny smirk split his face as a red dot appeared on Guzma's chest, right where his heart was. Wordlessly, Looker tapped his chest in the same spot and flicked his eyes down to signal what he meant to Guzma. Seeing the grown man pale so fast was perhaps the most amusing thing he'd seen all day.

"Because if you tried, you and every one of your lackeys would be dead." Looker glanced out to the window towards a distant department stores roof and waved. Somewhere hidden in the distance, Anabel had been watching over them through the scope of a sniper rifle. "Now, do me a favor and leave. I saw a delicious pair of pancakes on the menu, and I'd like to eat them in peace."

It hadn't taken long for Ash and his crew to arrive at the warehouse Gozu told them about. Located at the edge of the city, it was hidden among the other warehouses of the industrial district. Mercifully, they hadn't run into any trouble with the police while making their escape. By the time anyone realized what had happened, they were long gone.

Yet Ash and the others hadn't been allowed to leave. Apparently, Gozu wanted them to stay at the warehouse until he arrived. It was… unsettling. Did Gozu suspect something? Was he going to die or was he just overthinking things? Whatever the case, he didn't like it.

Least of all since a plethora of Pokemon surrounded him in cages. He could only imagine the horrors each of them had endured or what fate awaited them once they left this warehouse. It tempted a part of him to pick the locks and let them out – give them a fighting chance at freedom. It was nothing more than a passing thought, however.

He couldn't risk blowing his cover. Ash would just have to hope he could save them all before they were lost forever.

He sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. This was taking forever. It had been hours and Gozu still hadn't shown up. The sun had already set; replaced by the moon high in the sky. If this kept up, he was going to fall asleep before the man arrived.

"Hey, don't let yer mind wander." Petrovic spoke. "I know this waiting sucks, but that's half the job. Try to keep yerself focused. How many exits are there?"

Six, last he counted. The giant warehouse doors where trucks and crates were brought in. Three doors on the ground level, one at each end of the building. Two more up top on the catwalk for those needing to get to the roof. Potentially even more if Pikachu could bust down these metal sheet walls or dig through the concrete beneath them.

"How many guards are there?"

Impossible to say for sure, but he'd seen at least fifteen patrolling the building and unloading their merchandise. Assuming there were more patrolling other parts of the warehouse, outside, or simply hidden away? There might be close to thirty or more people. Getting into a fight here would only end horribly.

"Anything ya can use to yer advantage?"

Plenty. Assuming they hadn't figured out his identity and set this as a trap, he had the element of surprise. There were sprinklers above them – if he set those off, Pikachu could potentially deal with the entire warehouse in a single attack. He could even set the Pokemon free at that point and either fight alongside them or slip away in the chaos.

He had options, even if they were more drastic in nature.

"Yer equipment, what's its condition?"

That was simple. The glasses he wore were still working perfectly. Pikachu was still in perfect shape for any coming fight. As far as his own weapons went, Ash was fine. He'd only used one of the two dozen bullets he carried on him, and his knife was hidden safely beneath his shirt.

"Whenever yer dealing with the wait, always think about these things. This, and any skills ya may get in the future." Petrovic advised. "Ya'd be surprised how useful a second language can be for just passing the time."

He'd keep that in mind. His travels had given him a solid grasp of multiple languages already, but he was far from a master. Maybe he'd ask Anabel to help him practice some of them. Who knew when he may need to stop speaking Common and instead turn to the regional dialects?

Ash saw movement out of the corner of his eye. The Rocket Grunts around them all shifted in place – not standing at attention, but noticeably more alert than they were before. It wasn't hard to guess why. As Gozu stepped out of the shadows flanked by two lackeys, Ash and the other freelancers all met his eyes.

"Alright…." The commander began. "I'll give you all a chance to explain what went wrong. What the hell happened?"

Seeing that none of the other freelancers were going to step forward, Ash chose to speak up. "We tried to follow your plan. Everything was going smoothly. We captured most of their Pokemon and were about to set fire to their house." He told Gozu. "But… your intel was off. For some reason, their kid showed up."

Gozu narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, he showed up?"

He held up his hands placatingly. "No idea, boss. Maybe he got tired and wanted to head home early. Maybe he forget something and needed to come back to get it." He offered. "But whatever it was, he was there. We had to leave."

Gozu's frown deepened. For a long time, he simply stared at them all as if he was deciding what to do with them. Despite the apparent tension in the air, Ash did his best not to let his anxiety show. He was thankful for the glasses over his eyes. If he didn't have them, he was sure his fear would have shown itself.

"Don't worry, kid." Petrovic said. "I've yer back if anything goes wrong. I'm right outside."

That helped, even if only a little.

Gozu sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Hmm. Fair enough. Sometimes, things just go wrong in this business." He said. "I'll give you all props for snagging their Pokemon, especially the Miltank. Those'll fetch a pretty penny on the black market."

"Meet a gruesome end, too." Petrovic pointed out. "Best-case scenario? They end up part of some rich League brats team down the line or part of some corporations creamery empire. Worst case? They'll be some lucky bastards filet mignon."

He wished Petrovic would stop talking.

"Well, lads, I guess a deal's a deal. I ain't gonna let people go around saying Gozu doesn't pay his debts." Gozu told them. "Stop by the bar tomorrow. Frank'll make sure you all get your money. Be sure to keep an ear to the ground – we may have more jobs coming up in the future."

While the others slowly began to make their way towards the exits, Ash cautiously approached Gozu. "Mind if I talk to you for a minute, boss?"

Gozu grunted in annoyance and rolled his eyes. "What is it, Woods? I've got more important things to do than stand around talking to you."

"What a rude son of a bitch. Working with him must be a real pain."

Ash nodded and bowed his head. "I understand, sir. I just thought you might be interested in this."

When Ash pulled out Kiawe's Z-Ring and presented it to Gozu, he'd admit that the shock on the career criminals' face amused him. The thug must not have expected a common criminal like Alex Woods to be capable of stealing one. He was supposed to be a moron down on his luck, after all.

"Where did you get this?" Gozu took it from him and held it up to the light, as if examining it for any imperfections or signs of forgery.

Ash shrugged. "The kid at the ranch had it. I think was doing the Island Challenge or something."

"And he just handed it over?"

"He did when I pointed a gun at him." Ash said. "I wouldn't have killed him over it. That would have just been stupid… but he didn't know that. I thought there'd be a reward or something if I brought one of these back."

Gozu whistled in appreciation. "For a prize like this? You bet your ass there will be." He slipped the ring onto his finger, chuckling in appreciation. "You've got debts to pay off, right? That's why you're doing all this?"

Ash nodded, shifting his eyes to the side and wringing his hands together. "Yes, sir. I'm… getting close to the deadline they gave, and I don't wanna find out what happens if I can't pay in time."

"Heh. Well, it's your lucky day." The Rocket officer patted him on the shoulder. "How much is your debt? Don't answer that – it doesn't matter. Whatever it is, the reward for a Z-Ring will more than cover it."

He forced his eyes to widen, and he leaned back in apparent shock. "T-thank you!"

"Don't thank me. You're the one who put in the work." Gozu crossed his arms and hummed. "In fact… Team Rocket could use competent people like you. What would you say if I offered you a job on a more permanent basis?"

"Well, well. Looks like you're in. Congrats, brat! Never thought you'd- "Petrovic cut out, replaced entirely by the static of a comm gone dead.

Despite the smile he plastered on his face, Ash couldn't help but feel worried. Why had Petrovic cut out like that? Something wasn't right. "I-I'd say that I accept!" He rushed to answer. "I'm in! Whatever it is Rocket needs me to do to prove myself, I'll do it!"

Gozu chuckled. "I like your enthusiasm. Alright, it's settled then. Stop by the bar in a week and I'll go over the process with you. Trust me, this is the best decision you'll ever make."

The lights above them suddenly cut out. Ash looked around in bewilderment, his glasses automatically adjusting to the sudden change in lighting to allow him to see. Before he or anyone else could figure out what was going on, the massive warehouse doors were blown off their hinges, allowing light to flood inside and blind everyone else.

Standing before the warehouse was a veritable army of police officers and Pokemon, poised to strike at a moment's notice. Each of them – Human and Pokemon alike – all wore body armor designed for heavy combat. Yet among them were a few vibrant, red and white uniforms that signaled authority and experience.

The Pokemon Rangers were here.

"We have you surrounded!" One of them shouted through a megaphone. "Come out with your hands up! If you do, no one will have to be hurt and we can promise you a fair trial! This is your first and final warning!"

Gozu spat on the ground. "Like hell we're doing that! Boys! Let's show 'em how we deal with honest cops in Kanto!"

Ash didn't have to wait long to figure out what he meant by that. A gunshot rang out and pinged off the armor of one of the police. Then… chaos erupted as the police opened fire on the criminals within and their Pokemon charged in.

He didn't stick around to take part or see what happened. Ash turned tail and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, ducking behind various crates and boxes. With the cries of Pokemon and the constant thunder crack of gunfire, it was almost impossible for him to think.

He couldn't afford to panic. Not like in Alto Mare. Wherever Petrovic was, he wouldn't get here in time to save him and Ash doubted the police would be any kinder to him than the Rocket Grunts they were after. All he knew was that he couldn't afford to be captured.

If they arrested him, then it was only a matter of time until they uncovered who he really was.

Ash took a breath to center himself. All he had to do was find his way to one of the exits and make his escape into the forest. The Rangers said they had the building surrounded, but he doubted they snuck people in there. Even if they did, it wouldn't be nearly as heavily manned.

It was his best shot.

As he crept along the edges of the fight, the constant sound of bullets pinging off a metal assaulted his ears. The growls, barks, and roars of thrashing Pokemon was only amplified as many of Rocket's captives were released and joined in the fray on the side of their saviors.

As he came to a stop just behind the corner of one large crate, the ground shook. Peering out from behind it, Ash saw Gozu and his Aggron standing above a fresh splatter of blood and gore. It was all but impossible to tell what it had once been.

"You bastards just don't know when to quit!" Grasping his dog tag in his hands, Gozu held it out towards Aggron from behind cover. Before their eyes, it and Aggron both began to glow. "It's time I showed you just what I'm capable of!"

It was too late for anyone to stop it. In an explosion of iridescent energy, Aggron mega evolved before their eyes into a walking mountain of armor. It roared a challenge towards the surrounding police and charged forward – tearing up the concrete and crushing everything in its path. It reduced anyone too slow to move out of its way to a fine, red paste on the ground.

Ash tore his eyes away from the display. He couldn't afford to focus on Gozu. He would just need to have faith that the Rangers and the police could survive Gozu long enough to bring him down.

With the exit in sight, Ash practically sprinted towards the safety of the door. Once he was outside, all he had to do was make it past the tree line and he could disappear-

A cry of pain drew his eyes to the side, and he skidded to a stop. Like him, a few of Rocket's Grunts had realized how dangerous things looked and made their way to the exit. Yet, unlike him, their attempt at escape hadn't been as easy.

Three Rocket Grunts stood in a close circle around a lone figure on the ground, a Mightyena at their side. Upon closer inspection, there was a Ranger unconscious and bleeding at their feet, a Buneary by her side and badly beaten.

"Shit!" He heard one of them shot. "What do we do now!? She just jumped out at me!"

"It doesn't matter! We gotta get out of here!" Another said. "Just kill the bitch so we can go!"

They recoiled in shock. "What? But they're a Ranger! If we do that, they'll- "

"She's dead anyway!" One of them growled. "If we leave her to bleed out like this, them Rangers'll make us pay for it tenfold. Better to just get it over with now."

Ash's body acted before his mind even realized what was happening. His hand flashed to the revolver hidden on his belt. Stepping out from behind the corner, he leveled the barrel of his gun at the skull of the Mightyena and fired.

It never knew what had killed it.

As blood spattered on the Rocket agents and the gunshot rang out, they all leaped back. "What the- "

His hand snapped up. One, two, three more shots. Three more bodies fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, massive holes in the center of their skulls. For a second, the air stilled as what he'd done began to sink in. And he felt…

Nothing.

Why did he feel nothing?

No, he didn't have time to think about that. Not now, not when someone's life was in danger! Ash rushed forward to the side of the Ranger and her partner Pokemon to inspect their wounds.

While the Buneary would survive, the odds weren't looking good for the Ranger. Frankly, it was a wonder she was still breathing at all. That Mightyena had smashed through her armor and left a massive gash across her abdomen with its claws. If he didn't do something soon, she wouldn't make it through the night.

Unclasping a Pokeball from his belt, Ash released Pikachu. Before his partner could even fully process what was going on, he raised his hand to silence him. "Turn your tail to iron and press it up against her wounds." He ordered. His voice never wavered. "Electrify it just enough that the heat will cauterize them."

Nodding swiftly, Pikachu did as commanded and laid his tail up against the Rangers wounds. Lightning danced around his fur and sparked off its steel tail, but not once did it electrocute the wounded woman. It was a testament to how bad of a shape she was in that the Ranger didn't wake up from her wound being closed.

Ash scrunched up his nose in disgust at the smell of burning flesh, but kept his nerves steady. As long as she survived, he doubted she would care about how bad her scars would be. Or if she did, at least she'd still be alive to do it.

Once the bleeding had stopped, Ash nodded. "Alright. Let's get going, Pikachu. We can't stay here any longer- "

"Oi! Todd!" A voice shouted from not far away. "What were those gunshots? Are there cops back there?"

Shit. They needed to leave ASAP. He couldn't just leave the Ranger here, though. Rocket may overlook her Buneary, but an injured officer like her? If those other Grunts had been any indication, they wouldn't show her any mercy.

He needed to take her with him.

Scooping the Ranger up in his arms, he threw her over his shoulder. With a simple nod, he and Pikachu sprinted out the back door just in time for the nearby Rocket Grunts to see them and give chase.

The hunt had begun.

Petrel watched the Ranger raid from a distance with a deep scowl. Of all the rotten luck he could have gotten, those flamboyant sons of bitches just had to conduct their raid tonight of all nights. That brats luck must have been absolutely abysmal to get caught up in this.

Nothing he could do now, though. He wasn't stupid enough to think charging in would do any good. Best thing for everyone would be to wait until the fighting was over and comb through the wreckage for whatever was left. Ash would just have to survive until then.

He didn't fancy the kid's chances.

With an annoyed sigh, he pulled out his phone and pressed speed dial. "Oi, Looker. I've got bad news. Kid's in danger." He frowned. "It gets worse. The Rangers are involved… ya need to get here fast."

Latias could never understand nightclubs.

The music was so loud you couldn't even hear your own thoughts, let alone what anyone else was saying. The lights were always such odd colors and strobed so vibrantly that it was difficult on the eyes. Not to mention such massive crowds of people that you could easily become lost in it all. Combined with excessive alcohol, she had never wanted to step foot in one again.

Sitting at the bar under the guise of Anabel, however, Latias regretted not sticking to that decision. Pokemon senses were heightened compared to Humans, but for a Legend like her? The sights, sounds, and smells in this club might as well have been an assault on her ability to think.

That was without even mentioning all the surface-level thoughts and emotions she was sensing. Desperation to forget their worries. Unbridled lust for the people around them. Joy as people danced and drank the night away with friends and strangers alike. There was even a small collection of depressed thoughts huddled by the bar.

Yet buried beneath it all were the more insidious feelings. This anger and cruelty. Those looking to prey on the innocent patrons in the bar or otherwise hiding their greedy business where the authorities couldn't catch them. This nightclub was owned by Team Rocket – a base of theirs, so to speak.

Latias had to work hard to convince Looker to tell her where it was, but it was necessary. She needed to show that she was making progress or the Tapu's would get impatient. If she didn't, the destruction they would cause would be horrific. The people of Alola didn't deserve to be collateral damage in a war between the Tapu's and Team Rocket.

Fortunately, she could alleviate that tonight. If Interpol was right, then this was a major front for money laundering, intel brokering, and drug dealing. All she had to do was get all the innocents out and she could get to work dealing with the real threats.

Her eyes flashed up above the bar towards the wall. Behind the bartender, a fire alarm hung nearby. Hidden by the vibrant lights above, her eyes glowed as she used her Psychic energy to pull the alarm. In an instant, the sprinklers above went off and doused the crowds below in an endless stream of water. Screams of annoyance and confusion quickly gave way to panic as the blaring alarm sounded off.

Touching the minds of over a hundred people at once was never a simple thing – least of all when in a state of panic – but Latias was no ordinary Psychic. Rather than trying to brute force her way into their minds, she teased at their lax defenses and slowly stalked inside until a link had been established. From there, she could direct the crowd with some level of control.

Enough that even though they were all desperate to escape an imagined fire, they didn't trample anyone underfoot. It was a common danger in emergency situations. When people were running for their lives, they never cared who they stepped on to save themselves.

Thankfully, she was here to prevent that.

Once everyone had cleared out of the nightclub, all that was left was her and the criminals inside. They had realized there was no fire and stuck around. She could sense one approaching her from behind.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid you have to leave." She heard them say. "With the fire alarm tripped, we have to wait until the fire department arrives before we can let anyone in. Sorry."

Latias glanced back at him. Wordlessly, her eyes flashed. Unlike the civilians, she didn't show any mercy to this one. She smashed through his weak mental barriers and assumed control of his mind. In that instant, everything he knew became hers.

Only fifteen people were on guard tonight. In the basement, there was a vault full of a couple million in cash. Yet the most valuable thing here tonight was in the office on the second floor inside a safe on the wall. A flash drive full of blackmail material, intel, and financial records for their operation in Alola.

Perfect.

Rising from her seat, Latias kept up her illusion and turned towards the other Rocket guards who had been watching. Like their fellow, their minds fell easily to her power, and they became puppets on a string – their minds buried under the compulsion to obey.

Her eyes flashed, and the guards moved in unison to the basement. They would get to work setting the money inside ablaze and dealing with their fellow Grunts. She would focus on the safe.

Making her way to the second floor wasn't difficult. What few guards and their Pokemon that got in her way quickly fell under her sway. By the time she reached the office, she could sense only a single presence inside. That must have been the one in charge.

Pushing open the door, she stepped inside to find the owner of the nightclub sitting at his desk. More alarmingly, a Sableye stood at his side.

How annoying.

"I don't know who you think you are, but you made a mistake coming here." The owner said. "Do you have any idea who I am? Who I work for?"

Normally, she'd have been all for letting the bad guy ramble on. Tonight, though, she just didn't have the patience for it. Her eyes flashed, forcing the man unconscious with a single thought. When her gaze turned to the Sableye, she was surprised to see them raise their hands in surrender.

"Whatever you are, I don't want to fight." They said. "I can tell you're not Human. So, if you'd be so kind as to let me go, I'll tell you the combination to the safe. Assuming that's what you're after, anyway."

Latias tilted her head aside. "No need. I can get it myself." She narrowed her eyes. The Pokeball on the belt of the owner shattered under the pressure of her mind. "There, you're free. Go find yourself a new Trainer. Preferably, one that doesn't work for criminals."

The Sableye chuckled. "I'll do that. Good luck with whatever you're planning."

As the Sableye faded into the shadows to make their escape, Latias turned her attention to the painting on the wall. Lifting it off and tossing it aside, it revealed a tiny safe that required a passcode and a retinal scan. Team Rocket spared no expense to protect their investment.

Psychic energy reached out around the edges of the safe and encased it. Latias narrowed her eyes and gave a single command: Pull. In an instant, the safe ripped itself from the wall, sending a shower of dust and debris into the room. From there, cracking it open had been as simple as flashing her eyes and snapping the metal hull in two.

A lone flash drive fell to the ground.

She gingerly picked it up off the floor and held it in her claws. With this in hand, it was finally time to go. Team Rocket would be feeling this blow for a long time. With any luck, it would help them bring Matori and her lackeys to justice.

She hoped that Ash's mission was going as well as her own.

Ash didn't know how long he and Pikachu ran through the forest.

With the massive weight on his shoulder and the Rocket Grunts on his trail, it was impossible to keep track of time. His lungs burned and his muscles ached, but he forced himself to push on through the thick underbrush.

He had to. He could hear the distant voices of his pursuers alongside the yips and growls of their Pokemon. Frankly, it was a miracle that he hadn't been caught already. That wouldn't last forever, though. Eventually, his legs would give out or he'd trip and fall. Then it would be pitifully easy for them to kill the Ranger and him both.

They needed to strike first to prevent that from happening.

With that in mind, Ash skidded to a stop behind a massive oak tree and set the Ranger down against it. It took all his strength not to collapse right next to her. As it was, he was hunched over his knees and gasping for breath.

Pikachu glanced up at him and tugged at his pants. It didn't take a Psychic to know he wanted to know what the plan was.

It'd be great if he had one.

Leaning against the tree for support, he pulled out his revolver and slowly began to reload it. He'd need every bullet he could get for the fight ahead. "Alright. Here's the plan." He panted. "I need you to hide in the treetops. While I distract them and draw them away from the Ranger, you hit them from behind with everything you have. Got it?"

Pikachu narrowed his eyes.

"We don't have a choice!" He hissed. "Unless you have a better idea, we're gonna have to fight our way out of this."

Pikachu grumbled.

The voices of their pursuers grew ever closer.

Ash tried his best to smile for his partner, but all he managed was a weak grimace. "Come on, we've gotten out of worse than this. If we can survive Arceus' wrath, a couple of thugs should be no problem."

It didn't look like Pikachu believed him, but he did what he was told anyway. He scurried past Ash and dashed up the tree to hide among the branches. This late at night, he'd be impossible to see amongst the leaves and shadows.

For his part, Ash moved away from the Ranger and hid behind a different tree. Once his revolver was fully reloaded, he drew his dagger from its sheath and held it close. Reaching up, he switched to a thermal view of the forest. He needed to know just what he was dealing with.

The sight was nearly enough to make him vomit. Half a dozen Grunts and their Pokemon – a variety of serpent, canine, and boulder Pokemon – all barreling through the forest towards him. He couldn't panic, though. Not when someone's life was at stake. For their sake, he'd find a way out of this.

He had to.

As they drew closer, Ash steadied his breath and huddled up against the tree. By the time he heard their steps crunching the fallen leaves underfoot, he offered a silent prayer to Arceus. The growls and hisses of their monsters were so close he could feel his hair standing on end.

It was now or never! He steeled his will and-

"Argh!"

-And froze as a blood-curdling scream filled the air. Screams of fear and a frenzied roar quickly followed the sound of flesh tearing and bones shattering. Peaking out from behind the cover of his tree, Ash's eyes widened at the sight before him.

A Bewear stood in the center of the Rocket Grunts, covered in the blood of one of their own. Before any of them or their Pokemon could react, it struck again – moving faster than an untrained eye could perceive. Its massive paw smashed into the chest of a Grunt, sending them flying into a tree so hard that it splintered on impact.

Their broken body collapsed to the ground in a heap.

As it descended upon the rest of the criminals, Ash realized with startling clarity where he was. Back during his time in Alola, there had been a Bewear that made its home on the island close to civilization. Back then, he hadn't known the dangers of this titan of a Pokemon and nearly paid for it with his life. There was a reason most Alolan's considered it the most fearsome Pokemon in the entire islands.

A reason the Rocket's were now experiencing firsthand.

One Mightyena tried to turn and flee, only to be batted into the horizon with enough force you could practically hear its organs turn to mush. As the Grunts finally gained their bearings and tried to give commands, the Bewear had already killed another Mightyena.

This was more than a simple territorial fight. As aggressive as they could be, Bewear never attacked without giving a warning first. Yet this one had struck out of nowhere with such rage that it left Ash petrified.

He didn't dare move for fear of it turnings its attention to him.

One Grunt managed to raise their pistol in time to get a shot off. It struck the Bewear square in the chest… for all the good it did. The enraged beast barely seemed to feel the bullet in its chest and cleaved the man in two with a single swing.

An Arbok dashed towards the Bewear and wrapped itself around the imposing monster. As it tried to constrict the Bewear's movement and choke the life out of it, its fangs glowed a sickly purple and sank into the flesh of Alola's top predator. The three remaining Grunts opened fire with panicked screams, wildly firing in the vague direction of the Bewear while a Graveler accompanying them rolled forward and slammed into it at full force.

Yet it held its ground unflinchingly in the face of the unrelenting assault. No matter how hard the Graveler pushed against it or how many bullets penetrated it, Bewear remained standing. With a guttural growl, it flexed its muscles… and ripped itself from the coiled body of the Arbok, tearing the serpent to shreds.

"Get out of there!" One Grunt shouted to the Graveler.

But it was too late. Wrapping its paws around the living boulder, Bewear lifted it off the ground with ease and used it as a shield to block the bullets of the Grunts. Dashing into the middle of them, it smashed the Graveler down upon one of them and turned them into a fine red mist in an instant.

With the Graveler lodged in the ground, it raised its mighty paws above its head. For all that the Graveler struggled to flee or beg for mercy, it could not escape its fate. The Bewear brought its arms down and demolished the enemy Pokemon in a single blow, leaving behind nothing but disjointed chunks of rock and rubble.

"Oh, fuck this!" One Grunt shouted as they turned to run.

It was a mistake. The Bewear leaped through the air and pounced upon the back of the Grunt. Despite crushing his spine under its own immense weight, the creature hammered its paws into the body and beat it into an unrecognizable mess, kicking up dust and leaving a small crater in the ground.

It only stopped at the sound of a Pokeball releasing the monster inside. Before Ash's eyes, a Pangoro materialized behind the Bewear. It didn't bother to wait for its Trainer to give a command, it simply charged at the Bewear and tackled it from behind, carrying it forward and smashing clean through a tree.

"That's it, Pangoro! Kill that overgrown son of a bitch!" The final Grunt shouted, an almost hysterical edge to his voice.

Normally, Ash wouldn't have put his faith in that. As strong as Pangoro could be, Bewear was in a whole other league. Stronger, faster, more durable; they outclassed the Kalosian bear in nearly every regard.

But this Bewear had already taken a lot of damage. By now, the poison from that Arbok's bite would start taking effect and the blood loss from its wounds would make it weaker. Just enough that every mistake it made would only result in even more crippling injuries from the Dark type.

Ash tightened his grip on his revolver. Dashing out from behind the cover of his tree, he pressed the barrel of the gun against the Grunt's head. "Return your Pangoro, now!" He growled.

The Grunt froze. "W-what? Hell no! That thing killed all my friends!" He shouted. "Wait a minute… you're the bastard we were chasing! That thing must belong to you! You son of a whore!"

As Grunt tried to spin around to face him, Ash acted on his adrenaline-fueled instincts. He pulled the trigger… and it rewarded him with a shower of blood so thick it splashed back on his face.

He froze in shock and stared at the practically headless corpse at his feet.

The gunshot drew the attention of the Pangoro. It ceased its assault on the Bewear long enough to look back and see its dead Trainer. The enraged cry it let out was enough to snap Ash from his stupor to see the monster rush towards him with fire in its eyes.

Before it could get even halfway, however, Pikachu dropped down and slammed his Iron Tail directly atop Pangoro's skull. While the beast stumbled back, Pikachu sparked dangerously and let off a blast of electricity so hot that the ground underneath him turned to ash.

The instant it seemed to start resisting the pain of the electricity, and took a step forward, Ash raised his pistol again. He pulled the trigger and watched as the imposing monster stumbled back from the force of the bullet striking its chest. Once, twice, thrice, and five more times until every bullet he had left had been spent.

By now, the Pangoro was panting heavily and absolutely coated in its own blood. It wouldn't last much longer. If the anger in its eyes was anything to go by, however, it didn't intend to die until it had brought one of them with it.

"Pikachu, full power Thunderbolt!" He ordered.

His partner charged up the electricity and prepared to launch the final attack. Before he could, however, two thick arms wrapped around the chest of the Pangoro and lifted it up into the air. Just as quickly as it was lifted up high, it was brought back and slammed into the earth.

Bewear panted above the broken body of the Pangoro. Even from where Ash was standing, he could tell the Dark type was barely conscious. He wouldn't be surprised if that last attack had left it completely paralyzed now.

That didn't seem to be enough for Bewear, however. It slowly moved towards a nearby tree and ripped it clean out of the ground with a mighty heave. Stalking towards the Pangoro, it hefted the impromptu weapon high and brought it down like a sledgehammer on an egg.

The first strike killed the creature – completely caving in its chest. Bewear didn't care. It kept hammering away at the corpse, smashing the tree into the ground again and again with every ounce of strength in its body until the tree itself split in half on the ground. By the time it was done, you couldn't even tell what its enemy had once been.

Bewear looked to the sky and roared in anguished triumph.

Then… it collapsed to the ground. Its wounds had finally proven too much for it to endure.

For a moment, Ash just stood there and tried to process everything that had just happened. He didn't know if it was exceptionally good luck or bad luck that had made him wander into Bewear territory, but he'd take his mercies where he could get them. If it hadn't been for that thing, he and Pikachu might not have survived.

Staring at the body of the Bewear, he frowned. While he could still see its chest rising and falling, it wouldn't last much longer in this condition. It needed help – help it wouldn't get out here in the forest surrounded by corpses. Soon enough, the scavengers and carrion eaters would arrive. By then, any hope of survival for it would be gone.

Pikachu tugged at his pants and pointed towards Bewear, whining with his ears pressed against his skull.

Ash closed his eyes. "I know. You're right."

Fishing an empty green Pokeball out of his pocket, he tossed it towards the unconscious Bewear. It didn't even shake once before signaling the successful capture. At least in there, it could be held in stasis until he could get it to a Pokemon Center.

That would need to come later, though. For now, he still had a Ranger to save. He could focus on himself and Bewear once they were safe.

He just had to make it out of this forest.

"How bad is it?"

Petrovic scowled. "Not good, Looker. Rangers mucked the whole operation up." He said "It's a shitshow. Lots of dead and wounded on both sides, not to mention all the freed Pokemon wandering around. They couldn't even capture Gozu with all the firepower they brought. Useless gits."

Looker sighed. "I couldn't care less about any of that." He growled. "Where's Ash?"

"Got no idea." Petrovic shrugged. "Can't find any trace of the brat. Best guess? He slipped away in the fighting and made a break for it. Smart thinking – he wasn't ready for this kind of fight."

Not by a longshot. The moment Looker had heard about what was happening, he and Anabel had come as fast as they could. Yet by the time they arrived, it was too late. The warehouse had been torn to shreds, and the Rangers stood victorious… if one could call this bloody battle a victory.

"We won't find him by standing around." Anabel said. "We need to get in there and see what we can find."

That wouldn't be difficult. While the police had set up a perimeter to keep the few curious civilians out, they couldn't stop Interpol from coming in. Not even the Rangers had the authority to do that.

It didn't stop them from trying, though. One police officer on the perimeter held up his hand to stop them. "I'm sorry, but you three can't come in here. It's an active crime scene. You should all head home."

"Well, look at that! A policeman with some manners." Petrovic chuckled. "Now that's rarer than a shiny these days."

The officer frowned. "Excuse me?"

Anabel sighed. "What he means is we're allowed to be here." She pulled out her badge. "We're with Interpol. Would you mind stepping aside so we can do our job?"

"Interpol?" The officer stepped aside. "Alright, come on. Just try not to mess anything up. We're still trying to figure everything out."

Once they were past the perimeter, they could get a better look at things. Paramedics were frantically tending to injured officers and Rocket alike. While the fires had long since been put out, the scorch marks they created lingered.

"Alright, here's the plan." Looker told them. "Petrovic, start asking the captured Rockets and police what they can remember. They might have seen where Ash disappeared to."

He nodded. "I'll make 'em talk."

"Anabel, you do the same with the Pokemon." He ordered. "One of them is bound to know something. Start with the ones the Rangers freed. Knowing Ash, he'll have done something to stand out in their eyes."

"What about you?" Anabel asked.

"I'll investigate the perimeter. It's a long shot, but there might be a trail we can- "

"When I heard that Interpol was here, I thought someone was playing a prank on me!" A voice called out. Looker turned to see a Ranger moving towards them. "Why does it seem like whenever something goes wrong, you people manage to crawl out of the woodwork?"

Looker groaned in annoyance and dismissed the rest of his team. They could get to work while he focused on this fool. "Maybe if you Rangers could do your jobs right, nothing would go wrong in the first place."

The Ranger sneered. "Clever. But then, that's you spooks in a nutshell, isn't it? Always have a comeback and always have an angle. So, what is it this time? Why are you here messing with my crime scene?"

He grinned. "We were in the area and figured we could help. You Rangers are always whining about how we don't help you, so here we are. I'll expect a thank you in the form of a fruit basket."

The Ranger scoffed. "Fat chance!"

He shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying." He tapped his chin. "Though, come to think of it, why are you people here? There was never any word of a raid happening tonight. It's almost like you were trying to hide it."

"Of course we were. Rocket has moles in the police. If we wanted this to go right, we needed to keep things under wraps." The Ranger narrowed his eyes. "Why should that matter? Interpol would never spy on fellow agencies, though… right?"

Looker crossed his arms. "No, we wouldn't."

They snorted. "Sure. Just like you'd never funnel money to criminals or break the laws yourself. You still haven't told me what you're doing here."

"And I never will." Just outside the perimeter, he could see the news crews finally arriving. They must have been salivating at the thought of this tantalizing story. He gave it one day before the conspiracy theories started. "Oh, look. Your adoring public is here. You should handle that. We all know how much you Rangers love the spotlight."

He didn't bother waiting for a reply. Brushing past the Ranger, he moved deeper into the ruins of the warehouse. Those Rangers… somehow, they always knew how to get under his skin.

"You seem unhappy. What's wrong?"

Looker blinked. Was that Latias' voice he heard just now? Glancing to the right, he saw the identical form of Anabel standing there; her head tilted to the side in curiosity. She must have snuck in while the police were distracted.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. "I thought you were hitting a different Rocket base?"

She shrugged. "I finished early. You weren't at the hideout, so I came to find you." She said. "Oh! I also brought you a souvenir."

Latias dropped a small flash drive into his hands. Looker stared at it in silence for a moment. He couldn't believe it. He knew he shouldn't have been surprised, but he couldn't help it. Latias had managed to assault an entire Rocket hideout on her own. It would have taken weeks of planning and a well-equipped team of normal agents to pull this off.

They really were lucky to have her on their side.

"I'll go over this later to see what we can use." He told her. "It's good you're here, actually. We could use your help."

She blinked. "With what?"

"Ash is missing." It was better to rip the Band-Aid off than dance around the issue. "He was undercover when the Rangers raided the warehouse. We think he escaped, but we can't be sure where."

Latias' eyes glowed dangerously. A shiver ran down Looker's spine and his hair stood on end. The sirens of the ambulances and police cruisers suddenly went off, blaring under duress. There was even the telltale sound of metal creaking under what he could only assume was her attempt to hold back her Psychic power.

"I'm going to find him." She turned to leave.

"We still have no idea where he even is!" Looker told her. "What are you going to do?"

"Search the forest. It's the only place he could go they wouldn't find him." She called back. Her illusion dispelled – vanishing into thin air as though she had never been there. "I'll move faster on my own. If you find anything, call me."

Looker cursed under his breath and let out a sigh. He knew better than to try to stop her. He'd just have to hope she was right. Who knew what state Ash would be in when they found him?

"Gah, why are you so heavy?" Ash mumbled.

The unconscious Ranger on his shoulder gave no answer.

He sighed. "Yeah. That's what I thought you'd say."

Ash didn't know where he was going. They had just been wandering further into the forest and away from the warehouse. Ever since the battle with Bewear, everyone chasing him was dead- gone. They were gone. He could focus on everything else later. Shaking his head, he glanced down at Pikachu.

"Any ideas?" He asked his partner.

Pikachu glanced up at him. He chirped in response and shook his head.

"Well, we can't just drop her off at a hospital or a police station. We'd never make it through the city, let alone be able to leave once we get her there." He said. "We need to find another way."

His partner hummed in thought for a moment before coming to a stop. Raising his head, he sniffed the air and closed his eyes in concentration. Then, without warning, Pikachu took off into the distance as fast as his little legs could carry him.

"H-hey! Where are you going?" Ash shouted. "Wait for me!"

Ash chased after his partner, careful not to drop or hit the Ranger with any branches in their way. No matter how much he called out to Pikachu, he wasn't listening. All Ash could do was chase after him and have faith that he knew where he was going.

And when they emerged from the tree line… he understood immediately where he was.

Mallow's home.

His eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing!?" He hissed to Pikachu. "No, I'm not involving Mallow in this!"

Pikachu ignored him and sprinted up to her back door. Scratching at its base and screeching at the top of his lungs, it would have been impossible for her not to hear it if she was here. So it was with a resigned sense of defeat that when she opened to door to see what all the noise was about, he walked up the steps of her back porch.

She gasped at the sight of him. "Ash? What are- "

"Hey, Mallow." He tried to smile nonchalantly. He doubted it came across well. "You, uh… said you wanted to help, right? Well, I could use some right about now."

"I don't understand, what's going on? Who is that?" Despite her protests, she stepped aside to allow him inside. "And… is that blood?"

"It's not mine." He said without thinking.

He winced. That wasn't something he wanted to think about, let alone talk about. Shaking those thoughts from his head, he moved into her kitchen and cleared off the table. Gently setting the Ranger down, he took a closer look at her wounds. Mercifully, they hadn't reopened since he closed them.

"Tell your dad I'm sorry for messing up his kitchen."

"He's out with a friend tonight." Mallow slammed her hands on the table. "Ash, stop for a second and just tell me what's going on!"

He took a deep breath. When Pikachu hopped up to his shoulder, he scratched his partner behind the ears. "I was on a job for Interpol tonight. Undercover work, you know? Everything was going fine until the police conducted a raid." He told her. "That's how this Ranger got injured. I had to blow my cover to save her, and I had to take her with me when I fled. By the time we were safe, I didn't know where to go or what to do."

She blinked. "And the first place you thought to come was to me? Ash, I'm flattered, but I'm not a doctor."

He glanced at Pikachu. "No, but you are someone with a phone. Someone I can trust." He looked to the ceiling, running a hand down his face. "I need you to call the police. Tell them you just found her outside your door and that she needs a doctor. I sealed her wounds, but a professional should still take a look."

Who knew what sorts of things had been under the Mightyena's claws or in its mouth? He may have stopped the blood loss, but if she got an infection? Then only a doctor could save her now.

A frown split Mallow's face, and she stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What about you? Are you okay?"

No. No, not by a longshot. He couldn't tell her that, though. She didn't need to know what it was he'd done. He couldn't have her looking at him like a monster… and he couldn't afford to think about it until he was back at the safe house.

He could hate himself later.

"As much as I can be." He smiled weakly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine once I get some rest."

Her glare turned stern as she jabbed a finger into his chest. "You better. If I find out you're rushing off to do something dangerous after this, I'll strap you to a bed myself."

Ash chuckled. "You know, you should be careful how you phrase things."

"Don't try to change the subject." She warned.

A genuine smile graced his face. "I promise: no more danger for me tonight. Not once I leave."

"Good." She leaned back against the table and groaned. "First Kiawe, now you. It's as though everyone in my life can't go two seconds without getting in trouble."

He flinched. "How's Kiawe doing?"

"Apparently, Team Rocket hired a bunch of thugs to steal his family's Pokemon and burn down their house. He was able to stop them, but not before they took most of their livestock. One of them even stole his grandfather's Z-Ring."

"Ah.. that wasn't just any thug. It was me." He admitted.

She froze. "… what did you just say?"

"Before you get angry, just let me explain. Please." He begged. "I didn't know what we were doing until it was too late, and I needed to get close. Helping them was the only way to do that. If I tried to stop them, my cover would have been blown."

She crossed her arms. "You just blew your cover to save this woman – a complete stranger!"

"That's different! She would have died if I didn't do anything!"

"Did you point a gun at Kiawe?" She demanded.

His silence was her only answer.

"I can't believe it! Ash, what are you doing? How could you do this!?"

He and Pikachu both shrunk under her critical glare. "We don't like it anymore than you do. I had to do it, though. If we don't stop Team Rocket, they'll take over Alola. They would have gone after Kiawe eventually. At least with me there, I prevented the worst of the damage."

"Prevented it? You helped them do it!" Mallow accused. "They may not have lost their home, but their Pokemon? They can't run their farm without them!"

"The Rangers will give them back their Miltank." Assuming they survived the raid, anyhow. "They can always find more Mudbrey and Tauros. I did what I could."

"And the Z-Ring?" She growled. "Did they tell you to take that as well?"

He closed his eyes. "No. They had no idea he had one. I took that to help sell my cover." He whispered. "I can't excuse that. But I promise you, I will get it back."

"Forgive me if your promises don't inspire confidence." Mallow tightened her fists for a minute before her shoulders sagged in defeat. "What's happened to you, Ash? You'd never have done something like this before joining Interpol."

He wouldn't have. Back then, he had been the type of person to believe good intentions and a strong bond with your Pokemon could overcome any obstacle. He'd been naïve. Now he knew better. He knew that sometimes, risks needed to be taken to do good in the world.

He hated himself for it.

"Tell Kiawe I'm sorry." He said. "I should get going. You need to call the police, and I have a team to meet up with."

"Yeah… yeah, you should do that." She turned her back to him. "Just stay safe, Ash. Kiawe deserves to hear all this from you. You can't do that if you're dead, and I don't want to lose my friend again."

A weak laugh escaped him. "You know me, Mallow. Nothing can keep me down."

He and Pikachu left soon after. An ambulance and police cruiser would be here in the next few minutes. He needed to be long by then if he wanted to remain free. At least without the Ranger on his shoulder, he could focus on finding a way back to the safe house.

Just as he was about to pass through the tree line, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Before he could even understand what was happening, something swiftly tackled him to the ground and… nuzzled his face?

"I was so worried!" Latias shouted in his mind.

He gawked. "Latias? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, moron!" She growled. "When I heard what happened, I came as fast as I could. I've been searching all over the island for any trace of your mind. Looker and the others are going to be so relieved you're okay."

A warm feeling spread through his stomach. Even with everything that had happened, it still felt good to know that the team had his back. The simple fact they had been worried about him was enough to make him smile.

"I'm fine, Latias. Just tired." He promised. "We shouldn't stay here, though. The police will be here any minute."

She lifted off him and hovered nearby, beckoning him and Pikachu to climb on. "Got it! Where to?"

"Pikachu and I could use some rest. Just take us back to the safe house. Anywhere that won't involve more fighting."

Chapter Text

Ash stared up at the gray ceiling of the safe house. The distant, rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall echoed dully in his ears. His mouth tasted of bile and death; his eyes ached; his limbs felt like lead weights, pinning him to the mattress. He shifted and glanced down at his side, Pikachu and Latias cuddled up against him.

The memories of the last few days returned to him. Latias had brought him back to the safe house. When the rest of the team returned, there had been a lot of concerned shouting, questions, and more than a few curses at the Rangers expense. It had only doubled when they learned… what he'd done. He could remember breaking down somewhere in the middle of it all. Crying like the child he no longer was.

Dimly, he could remember that not even Petrovic had insulted or mocked him.

After that night, he had just… existed, for lack of a better term. He laid in bed and slept as much as he could. He ate what little food interested him. Occasionally, he'd go for a run to try to clear his head. That was it, however. It was a cycle that suited him well.

He was just glad that the others were giving him some space.

Slowly, he slid out of bed carefully enough not to wake Pikachu or Latias. As much as he appreciated his partner's concern, they deserved the chance to rest. That night must have weighed on them just as heavily.

He shivered as his bare feet touched the cold ground. Once he was on his feet, he moved towards the bathroom nearby and turned on the tap. His throat was dry after another long night, and he could use a drink. He cupped his hands under the water to splash it back into his mouth to drink.

The water felt cool on his throat. He took another few drinks before splashing it back on his face and trying to wash the sleep from his eyes. He stood up to look in the mirror.

The dead eyes of the Rocket Grunts stared back over his shoulder.

"Argh!" He gasped and stumbled back, falling to the ground. Scrambling back to his feet, he wildly looked around the room. No one was there. Of course there wasn't. The dead didn't return from the afterlife just to haunt someone in the bathroom.

It wasn't as comforting as it should have been. He shook violently and rushed towards the toilet, raising his hand to his mouth. A fresh stream of vomit rushed out into the bowl. For a good minute straight, he hurled into the bowl before collapsing onto the ground and rolling onto his back.

Shakily, he forced himself to his feet and flushed the toilet. When he looked in the mirror this time, the dead weren't there. Only his reflection stared back at him. It was hard to look at. Pale and sweaty skin; baggy and bloodshot eyes despite all the sleep he got; an ever-present frown. As Petrovic would say, he looked like shit.

He supposed that was only fair. He felt like shit, after all.

"Ash? Are you okay?"

Turning away from the mirror, he saw Latias hovering outside the bathroom door and Pikachu sitting on the bed nearby. He flicked the switch to shut off the lights and joined the two of them by the bed.

"Sorry if I woke you two." He said.

"It's fine." Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder and rubbed his cheek against Ash's. "Anything you wanna talk about?"

"I'm fine."

Latias smiled. "You know you can talk to us about- "

"I said I'm fine!" He hissed.

It took him a second to realize how that sounded. One look at their alarmed and shocked faces was enough to make him sigh and shake his head. "Really, guys, I am. I just… I don't wanna talk about it right now."

The two of them exchanged a look. While they didn't seem happy, neither of them pushed on this. He was relieved. As much as he trusted them, this wasn't something he could talk to them about. How could he? He had killed people. He had destroyed all those hopes and dreams with the pull of a trigger. Would their family and friends ever learn why they had died?

What did it say about him that it had even gone that far? Was there something he could have done to prevent it? Could he have talked them down or found some other way to stop them? So many questions and so much regret.

Maybe Looker or Petrovic could help. But… that risked bringing up bad memories from their time in the Great War. Anabel was an option, but who knew if she had killed anyone herself yet? If she had, would she really appreciate him dredging up the memories just so she could help him?

No, it was better he deal with this himself. He'd be better, in time.

"Alright." Latias tilted her head to the side. "Do you wanna see something cool instead?"

He blinked. "Cool how?"

She chuckled. "A little secret us Legends keep to ourselves."

With those intriguing words, Latias floated away from the bed towards the center of the room. Before their eyes, her body shimmered and morphed into the shape of a Human. Unlike previously, however, she didn't take on a form he was familiar with. One with flowing scarlet hair reminiscent of dragon wings and deep amber eyes.

Ash tilted his head aside. "Who's this?"

"It's me." She said.

Pikachu rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we know you're standing in front of us, but whose form are you wearing? Cause I gotta be honest, that hair? Seems like a pale attempt at imitating your wings. Bianca wore it better."

Latias' eye twitched. "It's my form. My Human form."

He and Pikachu froze, exchanging a confused glance. "Bwah?"

She scoffed. "That's all you have to say? I show you that Legends can look like Humans and the only word you can conjure up is 'bwah'?" She shook her head. "You two really are dense."

He couldn't even be offended. She was right, after all. "So… all Legends can do this?"

Latias smiled and sat down on the bed next to him, bouncing in place. "Yep! It lets us more easily walk among your kind without fear." She told him. "Not that many of us do. Most prefer to keep to our own homes or look down on Humans. You'd never catch Xerneas doing this, from what I hear."

Pikachu frowned and hopped between them, sniffing the air for a minute. "Weird. You still smell like a Pokemon. And you're not speaking like a Human either. What gives?"

She shrugged. "That I don't know. It's just how we work. I guess it's just easier for me to keep using telepathy than trying to learn a whole new language in a different body." She smiled. "It's always fun pretending to be Human."

He could imagine. If Ash could change into a Pokemon at will, he'd probably do it all the time. All those heightened senses and amazing abilities… it'd be experiencing life in a whole new way. Though he paused for a second.

"So, why do you always look like other people, then?" He asked. "Bianca, Anabel, me?"

She laughed. "I guess to me, it's like trying on a new pair of clothes?" She offered. "It's just fun to look like other people. Test out how their body differs from others and get a bit in their head. That's not creepy, is it?"

He flinched. "I'm not going to lie… it's a little creepy."

Latias visibly deflated and slouched, looking away. "Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You're not hurting anyone. It's no different from when I thought you just used illusions." Ash blinked. "Maybe just ask before you start looking like any of us again, yeah?"

She smiled and punched him on the shoulder. He hardly felt it. "Sure thing, bud. In fact, I've got an idea."

"What's that?"

"We should visit the soup kitchen today. Just so I can show off my Human form a little and stretch its limbs." She suggested.

He nodded. "That's not a bad idea."

Pikachu hopped up onto Latias' shoulder. He ran his paws through her hair. "It even feels like a real Human's."

Latias sighed. "Pikachu. Please."

He blinked. "Oh. Right. Yeah, that sounds like a great idea! We can see how everyone's doing, stretch our legs, soak up some sun. It'll be a grand old time!" He said. "Nothing clears the mind quite like serving fresh food."

Ash flinched.

Pikachu froze. "Oh shit. Ash, I'm sorry- "

Latias glared at him. "Pikachu, just… not now. Stop talking for a second."

Corpses laying at his feet; blooding pooling beneath them. The shocked and terrified eyes staring up at him in eternal damnation. A sense of utter revulsion as a head exploded at his hands and showed him in gore-

"It's alright." He tried to smile. "I know I've been cooped up inside for too long. Getting out to see others will do me some good."

It couldn't hurt. Maybe all he needed was a chance to do something good. To work with his hands and help others in some way that wasn't so morally ambiguous. Feeding the poor and hungry was always a good way to do that.

Food was always useful, even if it came from the hands of a killer.

Latias and Pikachu exchanged a wary look. "If you're really okay with it… we don't want to force this on you if you're not ready."

"Come on, guys. You know me. I'm always happy to lend a hand." A more genuine smile crossed his face. "A chance to be useful to people who need me? That sounds like the best medicine in the world. There's just one thing I need to take care of first."

Pikachu frowned. "What's that?"

His eyes drifted to the dresser in the room and the Pokeball sitting atop it.

Bewear's Pokeball.

"I need to deal with them. And I'm going to need your help."

"So, how goes the good fight?"

Looker sipped at his coffee. "Better than I'd expected, worse than I'd hoped."

Nanu snorted. "Same shit, different day."

It wasn't often that Looker could sit back and relax with an old friend. Ever since Nanu had left Interpol, he'd practically been unreachable. He never took calls and detested unannounced visits, preferring to laze away his days in retirement.

Not that Looker could blame him for that. Most people in their profession died young. They never got the chance to retire or enjoy a simple life. It was only natural his friend would be resistant to getting drawn back into the life. Under normal circumstances, he would have respected that and kept his distance as much as possible.

Sadly, that just wasn't possible this time.

Sitting in the kitchen of his mentor's home, Looker could tell that retirement had been kind to Nanu. While his house was far from anything extravagant, Nanu lived in a wonderful little home, drove a nice car, and even had a small clowder of Alolan Meowth roaming the grounds. With a nice little garden out front and photos hanging on the wall, he had a wonderful home for himself.

Looker envied that. He certainly couldn't afford a home this nice in Alola.

"I heard Skull's been hitting back against Rocket. Couple of their businesses were hit pretty hard recently. Even had to take a couple Rocket boys to the morgue." Nanu quirked an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Know anything about that?"

He hid his smirk behind another sip of coffee. "Maybe they have a fairy godmother."

"Lucky them." Nanu placed his feet on his table. "I hope you know what you're doing. Getting into bed with Skull could turn nasty."

Looker shrugged. "It's no different from any of the other hundreds of criminals we work worth. At least with Skull, I can tell Guzma has a modicum of morals. Makes him better than most of our assets."

"For now." Nanu pointed out. "Give it time. Once he feels his power is secure and he's gotten a taste for the high life, he'll resent your power over him."

"We know the risks. While I can't tell you what they are, we have contingencies in place. If the day comes he decides to bite the hand that feeds him, we'll take his head and replace him with someone else." Looker sipped at his coffee. "For now, he's a necessary evil."

Nanu grunted, dragging his feet off the table to lean forward. As he rested his elbows on the edge, he grabbed a nearby saltshaker. "When I first got recruited to Interpol, we were still a pretty new group. Barely a hundred agents overall. As you can probably guess, the idea of a multiregional, covert agency wasn't something most were too keen on when we'd all been trying to kill each other just a year prior."

He could remember. While Looker had been recruited later on when the group was more established, everyone knew how high tensions were back then. An entire generation of people had been tossed into a meat grinder, and the survivors were left to pick up the pieces.

Before Interpol, Looker honestly hadn't known what he'd do with his life. How could he? Normal life just seemed so… different from what he had once believed it to be.

"Most of us hated each other." Nanu continued. "We never believed this thing was gonna last. An agency with no loyalty to any region? Focused on the common good? It was outlandish. Far as we were concerned, this was just an excuse to prepare for the next war."

"That obviously didn't last."

"You know how it is. The more exposed you are to other cultures and people, the less easy it is to hate them. It's the whole reason we push kids to go on journeys and see the world." Nanu tossed the salt up in the air. "But we weren't there yet. It only changed once the reactionaries started rising. The cult leaders, the opportunists, the extremists. People who saw opportunity in the despair."

It was a common sight. Victorious regions saw a surge of nationalistic pride and validation of their superiority. The defeated felt shame and anger towards the world for their loss. Both ended up funneling people into extremist groups. The modern teams like Plasma, Galactic, Flare, and even Rocket, could trace their origins back to the aftermath of the war.

"I remember the first big assignment we got handed. There was a group of monarchists in Galar pushing to restore the monarchy. Establish radical reforms to recapture their glory days." Nanu told him. "Called themselves the Kingsmen."

"I vaguely remember them." Looker said. "They tried to bomb the United Regions building, didn't they?"

Nanu nodded. "Sure did. Dirty bomb – would've rendered the building and the next five-mile radius around it inhospitable. Only reason it didn't go off is because we got a tip from a CI at the time." Nanu said. "After that, they became public enemy number one. Police, Rangers, the League, us – everyone wanted their head. But they were always one step ahead."

"How'd you stop them?"

"For a while, we couldn't. The police were useless – mix of utter incompetence and sympathies to them. The Rangers? Please. They're better at protecting trees and eggs than people. As for the League? They considered it good PR and nothing else." Nanu sighed. "Which just left us to sort it out. As usual."

Looker frowned, setting aside his coffee. It wasn't uncommon for Interpol to feel alone in their fight. They might as well have been with how many dirty cops there were in the pockets of criminals. Perhaps if the Rangers and them could get over their clashing methods, they might be able to work together.

Sadly… that just didn't seem possible.

"Eventually, that mysterious Director of ours hatched an idea. A false flag." Nanu reached over to grab the pepper shaker, moving it in front of the salt. "Our agents disguised ourselves as Kingsmen and slaughtered members of the local mob – including the daughter of its head."

"Making an ally for yourself in the fight." Look frowned. "Harsh… but I can see its usefulness."

"And it was. Overnight, the Kingsmen were being attacked on all fronts. We approached the head of the mob and proposed an alliance. The same kind you have with Skull now." Nanu unscrewed the tops of the shakers, tossing them aside. "Within two weeks, we'd crippled the Kingsmen. In a month, we'd gutted their manpower. By the second? We'd wiped them from the earth."

"It sounds like a successful operation. So, where did things go wrong?"

Nanu snorted. He lifted the shakers into the air and poured the spices onto the table. They coalesced into a single mound of black and white. "We armed an enemy. Propped the mob up like kings, thinking we could control them. In the end? They slaughtered over a dozen agents in front of their families. I still remember the words of their kids afterwards."

Looker scrunched his eyes shut. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We got ours back." Nanu smiled cruelly. "Unlike the Kingsmen, we knew everything about the mob. We dismantled them in a single night. Every leader of theirs? Butchered in their homes. Their foot soldiers? Wiped out in droves. We even extended it to everyone that did business with them. Galar's underworld bled like mongrels that night. Taught them an important lesson."

Never kill an agent of Interpol. Hell would rain down on anyone who dared try it.

"… you think we're making the same mistake with Skull."

Nanu chuckled. "Sure do. I'd hate to see you wind up dead just because you all forgot the past." He smirked. "Can you imagine the paperwork I'd have to fill out for a dead Interpol agent? I'd kill myself just to escape it."

Looker rolled his eyes. "Well, thank you for your concern, I guess. It's appreciated." He drawled. "I'll keep it in mind. I'm sure the higher-ups will do everything they can to keep Skull in line."

"You do that." Nanu sighed. "And how about your team? They doing alright?"

"My team is fine." He said. "Petrovic is the same as always, but he's at least reliable enough to get the job done."

"How you haven't broken down and killed him yet is a mystery to me." Nanu laughed.

Looker cracked a smile, reaching for his drink. "I ask myself that every day." He sipped his coffee. "Anabel's doing well. Despite being new to the agency, she's exceptionally skilled. She'll go far. Maybe one day, she'll even run a Regional division."

Nanu whistled in appreciation. "Sounds like you have high hopes for her. Having a Psychic like her on the team must be useful. I'd have killed to have someone like her around back in my day."

"She took down a high-ranking member of Team Rocket all on her own." Looker said. "If this is her at the start of her career? She'll be damn near unstoppable once she has a decade of experience on her side."

"And the other one?" Nanu questioned. "How's Alola's disgraced Champion handling life as an agent?"

He doubted Ash would appreciate the descriptor, but the boy wouldn't approve of his identity being revealed either. Nanu was someone Looker trusted, however. He wasn't the type to go blabbing to the media about this sort of thing.

Besides, Team Rocket already knew Ash had been recruited by them. With how little he knew about what Ash was currently working on, there was nothing worth telling anyone.

"Better than I thought he would." Looker admitted. "He picks up skills quickly and practices the basics every day. In the six months I've had him on my team, he's improved by leaps and bounds. I'd almost call him a prodigy, if it weren't for how naïve he can be sometimes."

"Really? He's learned to control his emotions?" Nanu asked. "Back when I met him during his Island Trial, he was quick to anger."

"Let's just say he learned early why impulse control was important." Looker grimaced. "Surprisingly, the covert aspect is where he shines. He picks up covers well. Makes them feel real. He's quick on his feet, too. Boy can adapt to changing situations well."

Nanu whistled in appreciation. "Lucky you. Two promising rookies to mold however you want. It'll be good for your career once they're fully trained." He smirked. "If snagging a Legend for Interpol hasn't already."

"Latias isn't loyal to Interpol. She's loyal to Ash." He corrected.

"And the boy is loyal to you, so it might as well be the same thing." Nanu snorted. "A Legend… I'd never have thought I'd see the day one of those crazy monsters would willingly work with a Human. Boy must be special."

He didn't know the half of it.

"He'll make a good agent. Maybe not the best, but a good one. With the right motivation, he could be a powerful weapon against criminals and terrorists everywhere." Looker shook his head. "Assuming he can work past his issues."

"Issues?"

"He killed his first men the other night."

Understanding dawned on Nanu's face. "Ah. Shit. First one's always the worst." He grunted. "Didn't think the kid had it in him."

Looker hadn't either. For as well as Ash was adapting to the life, he was always more of a civilian than an agent. Not just in how he thought, but in the way he carried himself and viewed others. Someone used to seeing the best in them. A heroic heart who saw all life as precious. It was something Looker had wanted to protect.

He had failed. In a single mission gone wrong, Ash's innocence had been stolen. More than ever before, he had been forced to confront the reality that life was so easily taken away. With the simple pull of a trigger or the slash of a blade, people could die. For a lot of people, that kind of reality could be crippling.

Ash would get through it, though. He had the team to look out for him. More importantly, Ash's first kill was a good one. It hadn't been to save his own skin or to hold up a cover. He did it to save an innocent woman's life. With enough time, Ash would come to terms with it and emerge all the stronger for it.

He would make sure of that.

"Give Ash my regards." Nanu said.

"I will. And you do the same to Acerola." Looker told him. "Speaking of whom, when will I get to meet her? She sounds like a lovely girl."

"Never." Nanu held up a hand, halting Looker's questions. "Don't. I may be willing to help Interpol, but I want her nowhere near any of this. Got it? Far as Interpol is concerned, she doesn't exist."

He tried not to take it to heart. If Nanu was telling the truth, he had taken the girl under his wing. An almost familial role in the girl's life since coming to the region. His old mentor was just trying to protect her. For that alone, Looker wasn't offended.

"Fair enough." With one last sip of his coffee, Looker stood up. "I'd better get going then before she comes to visit you. You have a lovely home, Nanu. One of these days, you'll have to tell me how saved up the money for it."

Standing amidst an empty clearing in the forest, Ash took a moment to soak in the fresh air. He shut his eyes and listened to the wind whistling through the tree leaves. The distant voices of Pokemon could faintly be heard in the background as the sun's rays shined down upon him.

He sighed in contentment, allowing his shoulders to relax.

"This spot will do nicely." He mumbled.

Pikachu scratched himself behind his ears. "It's definitely better than the safe house. At least here, if Bewear rampages and tries to kill us, she won't hurt any innocents."

Bewear was female? That was good to know. "Anything I should know before I release her?" He asked Pikachu. "Did she say anything we could use to calm her down if she gets angry?"

Pikachu frowned. "I don't know… she wasn't exactly coherent when she was fighting Team Rocket. She just kept shouting 'give them back' over and over again."

Ash crossed his arms. Give them back? Did she mean Team Rocket or Humans in general? If it was the latter, then Ash doubted she'd be willing to negotiate. She may decide to kill him the moment she's released from the ball.

A hand resting on his shoulder drew him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Latias' reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Whatever set Bewear off last night, we'll make sure she doesn't hurt you. Not that we'll need to do much. I'm sure that she'll listen to reason."

He doubted it, but he was glad someone was optimistic. He narrowed his eyes in thought. "You should transform back. I think she'll take seeing a Latias better than another Human."

She huffed. "Hoping to wow her with my divinity? I guess it's as good a plan as any." Her eyes flashed and a curtain of light enveloped her, morphing back to her true self. "At least I have more access to my power like this."

Pikachu rolled his eyes. "As if you'd need much of it. You're a Psychic – just use some of that brain magic of yours and Bewear won't be a threat."

Latias blinked in disbelief. "Brain magic? Is that what you think being a Psychic type involves?"

"You trying to tell me it isn't?"

She looked away. "Well… it's a lot more complicated than that! There's a lot of control and discipline needed!"

"Mhm." Pikachu didn't sound convinced.

Ash chuckled. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad you're here. With your Psychic abilities and Pikachu's lightning, I think we'll be able to handle ourselves if it comes to a fight. Let's just try to avoid it if we can."

He grabbed Bewear's Pokeball off his belt and enlarged it in his hand. For a second, he simply stared down at the green ball. What would she do when she was released? What would he say? There was only one way to find out.

He tossed the ball into the air and released the Alolan bear from her confines.

The three of them stood in silence as Bewear materialized. The massive creature blinked as she took in her surroundings. As if it confused her to be back in the real world. When her eyes landed him, however, all traces of confusion were lost. Her eyes blazed with fury and her muscles tensed.

Pikachu's cheeks sparked and Latias' eyes glowed in warning, but Ash raised a hand to stop them.

"It's alright. You're safe now." He assured her. "No one's gonna hurt you."

Bewear raised her arms threateningly. "Human! Release me now or I will rip you apart!"

He held up his hands defensively. "Easy now. No need for threats." He told her. "I'm going to release you, don't worry."

Bewear narrowed her eyes. "You can understand me, Human?"

"I can." He smiled, gesturing to Latias with his head. "My friend here is translating for me."

Her eyes shifted to the dragon. Though she tried to hide it, Bewear took on a more defensive, hunched posture than before. "A Legend… it doesn't matter. You say you will release me? How can I trust that?" She challenged. "I know how enticing my kind is to your people."

A fair point. Most trainers sought out powerful Pokemon for their teams and loathed to part with them. While Pikachu and Latias claimed most were fine with it, Bewear didn't seem to share that opinion. He couldn't blame her.

He raised the Pokeball and pointed it towards her. For a second, she seemed ready to attack. He clicked the button on the ball and held it down for a moment. A blue beam of energy encased Bewear, but rather than suck her inside, it simply glowed for a few seconds before dispersing harmlessly.

"There. You're free." He pocketed the ball.

She didn't seem to expect that. "Just like that?"

Ash shrugged. "Just like that. The only reason I caught you that night is because you needed help. Your wounds would have killed you if I didn't."

"I see." She visibly relaxed and lowered her arms to her sides. "I guess some of your kind do have honor, after all."

"It's the least I can do after you saved our lives. If it hadn't been for you, Pikachu and I would have died that night." He smiled. "Just consider it a favor returned."

A strange rumbling sound escaped her lips – laughter. "Alright then. Well, thank you, Human. But if that's all, then I'll be going. I have prey to hunt."

Pikachu stepped forward, raising his paws in curiosity. "I actually wanted to ask you about that. When you were fighting Team Rocket the other night, you kept shouting at them to give someone back. Who did they take from you?"

Bewear glared. "Excuse me?"

Latias raised claws placatingly. "We're not trying to pry. It's just, Team Rocket are our enemies. It's our job to stop them and rescue the Pokemon they've taken. So, if you lost someone to them, maybe we can find them for you."

The chances were… not great. While Ash hoped they'd be able to rescue all the Pokemon taken by Team Rocket, he knew things weren't that simple. There were dozens of different hideouts, warehouses, and businesses they could have taken their captives. Even assuming they hadn't already been sold off, finding them would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

"You don't need to tell us if you don't want to." Ash said. "I understand it must be hard to trust us. You hardly know us."

Bewear tightened her fist. Without a word, she slammed it into a nearby tree and toppled it in a single blow. Ash flinched as it struck the ground but remained firm where he stood. She wasn't trying to hurt them yet, so there was no reason to worry.

She growled harshly, fangs barred in contempt. "They took my daughter."

He flinched. "I'm sorry. How did it happen?"

"I was out collecting food for us. The same as always. We lived with a Maraenie and Mimikyu, and they always watched her closely when I was gone. They were more than strong enough to deal with any wild Pokemon that wandered by. I figured the same would be true for Humans."

Pikachu cautiously moved forward to pat her on the leg. When she didn't immediately push him away, he rubbed his cheek against her. "You couldn't have known."

"It doesn't matter." She snapped. "Those monsters destroyed my home and took my family from me. By the time I returned, they were already long gone. The only reason I even know it was them is because a patch with their R was left behind from the battle."

"And you've been hunting them ever since?" Latias asked.

"Someone has to." Bewear grunted. "The Humans haven't done anything to stop them, and most Pokemon are too afraid to draw their ire. So, I kill any that I find wandering the forest."

"You'd have had to go into the city eventually if you wanted to find your family." Pikachu pointed out. "What was your plan, then?"

Bewear shrugged. "Kill everyone who gets in my way. Free their other captives. Keep doing that until I either find my baby girl or slaughter every Rocket on the island."

"You'd have died." Ash gently pointed out.

"Then I'd have died knowing I did everything I could to save her. I already lost her once before and gave up… I'm not about to give up again." Bewear shut her eyes. "You three are young. You can't understand the pain of a losing a child."

"No. We can't. But we've all lost loved one's." Ash told her. "If we find your daughter, we'll bring her back. And if we can't? I'll make sure the people responsible for this pay."

"The word of a Human shouldn't mean much… but somehow, I believe you when you say it." Bewear said.

Ash smiled. "Thank you. We'd better get going then. Goodbye, Bewear." As he turned to leave, he felt a massive paw rest upon his shoulder. He glanced back up at Bewear with a frown. "Is something wrong?"

"Before, you said that you hunt Team Rocket. Is that right?" She asked.

He nodded. "It is. They've hurt a lot of good people, both Human and Pokemon. I work for a group dedicated to bringing them to justice. No matter the cost."

"That's why those bastards were chasing you that night. You did something to anger them."

He flinched. "It's… not as simple as you make it sound, but yes. That's the gist of it."

"Then I want to come with you." She demanded.

Ash recoiled in shock. "W-what? Why?"

"Because I can't do much on my own. Like you said, I'll die if I keep doing this on my own. I already would have if it weren't for your rescue." Bewear admitted. "But with your help? I'll have a better chance of rescuing my daughter."

He frowned. "I thought you wanted me to release you."

"That was when I thought you would get in my way. Now I know you'll help me." She blinked down at him. "If you're worried about me pulling my weight, don't be. I'm strong enough to take on anything they throw at us. Whoever we go up against, I won't let them harm you or anyone else. I'll die before that happens."

"That's not going to happen." He rushed to tell her. "It's just… are you sure? The work I do isn't straight-forward. A lot of its in the shadows. Sometimes, I have to work with Team Rocket to trick them into letting me close."

Not that his cover as Alex Woods was worth a damn anymore.

"If it gets me one step closer to rescuing my daughter, then I'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means working with those monsters." Bewear growled. "It'll be all the sweeter when I can crush them when they least expect it."

Ash hesitated. On the one hand, having a powerful ally like Bewear on his team wasn't something he could pass up now that she was willing. On the other hand, she seemed… off. He supposed he could chalk that up to losing her child. Something like that would cause anyone to act strange and short-tempered.

If someone had gone after his mother, he doubted he'd be any more forgiving than Bewear.

He glanced back at Pikachu and Latias. "What do you guys think?"

Pikachu shrugged. "I say let her come. We already know she's strong and dedicated. I'd be happy to fight with her at my back. We can always use the firepower she brings."

Latias nodded in agreement. "She deserves the chance to find her daughter. If we can give that to her, then we should do it. You did the same for me after Alto Mare."

All fair points. Ash closed his eyes and hummed in thought. Regardless of what he decided, Bewear was going to keep targeting Team Rocket. Eventually, her luck was going to run out and he wouldn't be there to save her next time. When he put it like that? It wasn't even a choice.

He held his hand out to shake. "Alright. You can come with us. Welcome to the team, Bewear."

Bewear smiled and shook his hand. Mercifully, she didn't break it by accident. "You won't regret this."

"Neither will you. We'll find your daughter. You have my word."

Sometimes, Anabel hated her job.

She loved working for Interpol. Really, she did. Compared to being a Frontier Brain, it was truly meaningful work. Traveling the world to fight the bad guys and protect the innocent? It was every kids dream job made reality, minus the flashy costumes. If her younger self could see her now, she'd be completely enamored with the future.

But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Just like a journey wasn't a walk in the park, being an agent of Interpol required fortitude. They skulked in the shadows and dirtied their hands so others could live peaceful lives. They risked their lives against the worst monsters of society. Most people would never even learn of the sacrifices they made for them.

If they did, they'd only ever see Interpol as the same monsters they fought.

Anabel sighed and leaned her head back against the head of a semi-truck. Looker had ordered her to drive it to the outskirts of the city and park it at an old, abandoned rest stop on the highway. She had to wait until someone from Team Skull came to take the cargo in the back off her hands.

Working with criminals was nothing new. She'd worked with small-time thugs in the past. They were mostly harmless in the grand scheme of things, and more often than not, she could have the police arrest them when the job was done. Even Ash was technically a criminal, and she had no problem working with him.

Organized crime was different. More insidious. Unlike freelance criminals or minor gangs, a simple arrest or fear of retaliation couldn't stop them. Their greed commanded them to always push for more money, more power, and more control over everything around them. Even if everyone calling the shots were removed, new leaders would rise to take their place.

There were only two ways to stop organized crime: wipe them out entirely… or find some way to control it.

As a rookie agent, Anabel didn't have much say in what they did. She lacked the experience that Looker and the other higher-ups did, not to mention the full picture of what they were facing. If it had been her call, though? She wouldn't be making a deal with Team Skull.

All they were doing was creating another enemy to fight ten to twenty years down the line.

The distant roar of an engine reached ears. Peering down the road, she was a single truck coming her way. The poorly painted skulls across its hood made it clear just who they were.

Anabel sighed and pushed off the semi-truck. It was time to get this over with.

When Team Skull's truck came to a stop, a small group of Grunts lead by Plumeria stepped out to greet her. Seeing the right-hand woman of Guzma was a surprise, but Anabel hid it well. Why would they send someone as powerful as her to pick up a simple delivery? Surely their Grunts weren't that incompetent.

"You're late." She told them.

Plumeria shrugged. "There was traffic." She gestured to the truck. "Everything's here?"

Anabel rolled her eyes. "Of course. We always keep our word."

"Sorry if I don't take the word of a spy at face value." Plumeria crossed her arms. "Show us. I want to verify everything's there."

Annoying, but smart. The partnership between their groups was still young. Trust would come with time. "Have it your way."

She led them around the back of the truck and unlocked the doors. A wave of freezing air rushed out to greet them and caused some Grunts to shiver. Sealed, refrigerated crates marked as seafood were visible to them.

"I hope you've got more than Clamperl cakes for me back here." Plumeria quipped.

"You really think we'd waste good Clamperl cakes on you people?" Anabel asked.

"Oi!" One Grunt said. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She smirked. "If you need me to spell it out for you, then you're worth even less than I thought."

The Grunt turned red with anger. "You- "

Plumeria silenced them with a glare. "Enough. She's trying to get a rise out of you." She said. "Just open the crates."

While they grumbled and glared at her, they did what Plumeria told them and pried the crates open. Inside were piles of dry ice and Magikarp packaged securely. Anabel took the opportunity to grab one of the dead Water types from the box and hold it up for them to see. She slid her hand into its underside where a slit had been made and rummaged around inside.

She pulled out a tiny bottle of bright red pills.

Plumeria whistled in appreciation. "Enhancements? Impressive. I thought they took this stuff off the market? Where'd you people get it?"

"We make it." Anabel told them. "We don't waste anything that can give us an edge."

And that was exactly what these enhancements – collectively referred to as X-Items – were. An edge over their enemies. While commercial use had been outlawed after several scandals in the Pokemon League and Contest circuit, the military was still technically allowed to use them. While not given explicit permission, Interpol had chosen to do the same.

They needed to if they were going to stand up against Team Rocket's own use of X-Items.

"How pure is this stuff?" Plumeria asked.

"Your Pokemon won't die, if that's what you're asking." She told her. "The effects will last roughly an hour. As long as you don't overdo it, your Pokemon will punch above their weight limit."

Plumeria grinned. "Impressive. What else do you have for us, spook?"

Anabel gestured to the crate again. "Clear away the Magikarp and ice for me."

Unlike before, the Grunts didn't grumble when she gave them an order. This time, they rapidly did as she asked and revealed the spoils hidden beneath the surface. Rifles, shotguns, pistols, grenades, and even a few combat knives.

"Holy shit." One Grunt mumbled.

"You'll find similar stocks in the rest of the crates." She told them. "There's enough firepower in this truck to take on a small army. Same as the rest of the shipments you've been getting until now."

"I just had to make sure you people weren't scamming us. We are partners now." Plumeria stretched her arms behind her head. "Don't worry. With this kind of gear, we'll hit more Rocket bases as agreed."

"Only when civilians aren't around." Anabel stressed. "If we find out you've been using these to target anyone but Team Rocket, we'll make sure you regret it."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry so much. We're not interested in hurting anyone who doesn't deserve it." Plumeria rolled her eyes. "Loosen up a little. We're not monsters."

That was debatable.

"There's an RPG in one of these crates." Anabel sighed. "I shouldn't have to say this, but since most of your people are morons, it's for emergencies only. Any of your people get trigger-happy with that and I'll make them pay myself."

"You won't have to. I'll make sure none of my little bros or sisters do something stupid." As if to emphasize her point, Plumeria glared at the giddy Grunts behind her. "And Pokemon? We were told we'd be getting a shipment of those as well."

She gestured over her shoulder. "Their balls are in the crates in the back. It's an assortment of Fighting, Dark, Water, and Grass types this time." Anabel said. "While they're far from the strongest around, they're better than what your people are using now. Should put you on even footing with Rocket."

And she meant that. These Pokemon weren't on Interpol's level, but they had still been trained and raised well. Assuming Skull took advantage of the X-Items and trained occasionally, they'd be more than powerful enough to beat the average Rocket Grunt.

The downside was that the police would be left completely behind. It was a necessary evil, though. For every good cop on the force, there were three bad ones and a dozen more cowards complicit in the corruption. Those not in Rocket or Skull's pocket were either in someone else's or relegated to positions of little influence.

One of these days – when Interpol had dealt with their own double-agents and Team Rocket – she hoped they could fix that. Until the public could rely on the police to protect them, they were just another tool for criminals to use.

"Heh. I could use a good Water type on my team." Plumeria nodded to herself. "Well, that should about cover it. Thanks for this, spook. Pass along our thanks to your boss for me."

"Just don't screw it up." Anabel hopped out of the back of the semi-truck. "We're investing a lot in your group. The least you can do is live up to our expectations."

Plumeria frowned. "Don't worry. We may not look like much, but we're stronger than you think. These islands belong to us. We're damn sure gonna fight for 'em." She said. "You need a ride back to the city?"

Anabel snorted and unclipped a Pokeball from her waist, releasing Salamence to the world. "I'll be fine on my own."

The Skull leader shrugged. "Fair enough. Just thought I'd be polite and offer." She smirked. "You know, you need to lighten up a little. Take the stick out of your ass. Who knows? You just might get laid."

Oh, she was not having this conversation.

Without a word or a glance in Plumeria's direction, Anabel hopped onto Salamence's back. She ignored the amused laughter of the Skull Grunts as her dragon lifted into the air with a telepathic command.

The sooner she got back to the city, the quicker she could put all this behind her.

"How many did we serve today?"

Makata hummed in thought and glanced down at the clipboard in his hands. "Hmm… looks like we managed to get a solid two hundred people today. Not bad."

Ash smiled in contentment. That two hundred people who'd be going to bed tonight with a belly full of warm food. While it was sad so many people needed help, it was better they were here to provide it than not.

"Say, lad, how have you been doing?" Makata asked. "We haven't seen you the past couple of days. Everything alright?"

An uneasy smile crossed his face. "I'm fine. Work has just been stressful."

Makata made a sound of understanding. "Ah, the plight of the working man. Let me tell you a little secret, son." He said. "Never put a job before your own well-being. Doesn't matter if they threaten to fire you. You should always come first."

Ash chuckled. "I appreciate the advice, but it's nothing like that. Just some realities of the job I didn't think I'd have to deal with."

"Well, my point still stands. Don't let a job force you into anything you don't want to do." The elderly man smiled. "Arceus knows a good kid like you deserves better."

Good… he honestly didn't know if he could still call himself that anymore. Once, he would have said he was without a second thought. After working with criminals to terrorize people? Targeting a friend and nearly setting fire to their home? K-killing people?

He wasn't so sure.

"Say, where's that Layla girl you're always coming with?" Makata asked.

Layla? Ah, right. The alias they'd given Latias when she was disguised as Anabel. He'd need to think of something to explain her supposed absence and the 'new girl' taking her place.

"She's on shift at our job today. Couldn't get out of it." Ash told him.

"I see. And this Scarlet lass? She works with you both?"

If any of the others had heard that name, he could only imagine the judgmental looks they'd give him. It wasn't his fault, though. Thinking up names on the fly was hard and Latias' Human form had such bright red hair. It had been the first thing to pop into his head and by then it had been too late to change.

"No, she's just a friend I made on the island who wanted to come with me." He told the man. "I hope you don't mind."

Makata chuckled. "Of course not. Anyone willing to come lend a helping hand is good in my book." He said. "How much longer you think you'll be staying in Alola?"

"Honestly? I don't know." Ash admitted. "We've been making a lot of progress on our work, but there've been a couple… snags, you could say. It could be a long while before we're gone. Or we could get lucky tomorrow and be gone by the end of the week."

Because there was no rest for an agent of Interpol, or so he heard Looker say. Assuming everything went perfectly, and they captured Matori and her people soon, they might not have more than a few days before heading off to handle whatever crisis needed them next.

That wasn't likely, though. With how things were going, it would be a long time before they cornered Matori. They'd need a great stroke of luck if they were going to catch her soon. Whatever they did, Ash just hoped Interpol knew what they were doing. He'd rather avoid an open war with Team Rocket in the streets of Alola.

"You just be sure to spend some time relaxing. I appreciate you coming by, but you should enjoy yourself while you're here, too. Alolan food and culture is meant to be experienced, not just witnessed." Makata told him. "In fact, if you and your friend get going now, you might experience some of that Alolan nightlife the tourists love."

Ash frowned. "Are you sure? We can stay to help you close up."

"Please, Red." Makata laughed, pushing him towards the door. "Go. You've done enough for one night."

He laughed at the elders pushiness and bid him farewell. Latias and Pikachu both moved to join him once it was clear they were leaving. As they stepped out of the restaurant-turned-soup-kitchen, he looked up to see that the sun was beginning to set. Nightfall would soon be upon them.

"Well, seems like we got out a bit early tonight." Pikachu hopped up onto Ash's shoulder. "What's the plan now?"

Ash shrugged as the three of them walked down the street. "We could always head back home."

Latias scoffed. "Sorry, Ash, but I've seen more of that safe house in the past few days than I ever wanted to. Please, anything but more of that."

He snickered. "Alright, fine. We won't go back there." He said. "How about the night life? Makata did say we should take some time to relax."

She blinked. "Like what? Night surfing? You think we can sneak into the Mantine pens on the beach and take them for a spin?"

The good samaritan inside him said no, they shouldn't do that. He found it surprisingly easy to ignore it. Mantine surfing was one of the best parts of an Alolan vacation, and for someone like Latias? It would be a fun new experience. One her own transformations couldn't compete with.

There was just one problem.

"As fun as that would be, they've probably had long days. They'll be tired by now." He told her. "I was thinking maybe we could go clubbing."

Latias grimaced. "Clubbing? Really?"

"Why not? It'll be fun!"

Pikachu scratched at his ears, pulling them down by his cheeks in displeasure. "I don't know, Ash. Those places are pretty loud. Besides, what would we even do?"

"Dance, obviously. Come on, it's been ages since we let loose." He said.

The look Pikachu gave him bordered on pity. "Ash. You can't dance."

He gasped in mock shock. "I can too!"

"Only if you consider flailing around like a beached Magikarp dancing." Pikachu chuckled. "Even then, I'd give the Magikarp the edge for style points."

Latias nudged Ash on the side. "Come on, Pikachu. I'm sure he's not that bad. Maybe we can teach him the two-step and watch him really set the dance floor on fire."

His eye twitched. "As if you can do any better."

"Wanna bet?" She grinned. "Bianca and I took dancing lessons when we were kids. Well, she did and then showed me how to do it when she got back, but it's basically the same thing. I'm practically a master at it."

He'd make them eat their words. He swore it! "Well, there's also karaoke. That's bound to be fun!"

Latias snorted in amusement. "You do remember you're the only one here who can speak Human, right? Pikachu and I won't be singing, that's for sure."

"Maybe. I, for one, just can't wait to hear him sing his heart out on whatever trashy song they pull up. Arceus help us if he gets into the Vodka." Pikachu teased.

A blush heated up his cheeks. So he'd developed a bit of a taste for vodka after going out with Petrovic. What was the big deal? It wasn't like he was drinking it all the time. If he ever got as bad as Looker and started mixing it with everyday drinks, he'd know he'd gone too far.

Poor man really needed to get a handle on his alcoholism. Really, what could possibly be so stressful he was driven to drink so much?

"Since you two seem so eager to see me make a fool of myself, I guess it's settled then. We're going clubbing." He spun on a dime and gestured for them to follow him. "Come on. Let's see if Makata knows any good places nearby."

He had said they should have fun, after all. As a local, he'd know all the good places too. Not the ones that would try to scam tourists with flashing lights and overpriced drinks.

Yet when they returned to the restaurant, they saw something odd. Rather than having closed up and prepared to head home for the day, the lights were still on inside and the door was ajar. Makata would never have been so forgetful to do that. Something was going on.

He unclipped the glasses from his shirt and placed them over his eyes. When he flicked on its x-ray vision, he found a set of four figures deeper inside the building. One of them obviously must have been Makata, but he had no clue who the other three could be.

Pikachu lightly zapped him – a common habit when he needed to get Ash's attention. "What's wrong?"

"Makata's inside talking to a few people," Ash mumbled. "The other volunteers all left earlier, though. No one usually comes by at this point."

"Maybe they're just more people looking for food. We did close the kitchen down a little early tonight." Pikachu suggested.

"Maybe… Latias, what kind of emotions are you picking up?"

She closed her eyes, a faint glow outlining her figure. His hair stood on end, and he suppressed the urge to shiver. After a few seconds, her eyes opened into a glare and she tightened her fists in anger.

"Fear and sadistic pleasure." Latias growled into his mind. "Team Skull is trying to shake him down."

What? No… no, that couldn't be right. Team Skull had made a point of defending this place against those Rockruff wannabes and trying to protect the islands from Rocket. Why would they do this? Especially to someone who hadn't done anything to draw their ire in the first place!

His fist tightened. A quick glance around the area showed that no one else was around. Most were either busy inside other stores or heading home for the day. Practically no witnesses in case things went wrong.

No doubt Team Skull had chosen it for that exact reason.

"Latias, transform back into a Pokemon and go invisible." He ordered. "Pikachu, linger behind and try to stay out of sight. We're gonna figure out what's going on and get Skull out of here."

One way or another.

The two quickly moved to follow his orders. Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and stalked inside low to the ground, hiding behind walls, out of sight. Latias' eyes glowed a dim violet and took a step forward, morphing back to her true self before fading from sight altogether.

He took a breath to steady his nerves and stood inside, placing his sunglasses back on the neck of his shirt. Once he was inside, he saw the Skull Grunts had surrounded Makata. Two in front, one behind. No Pokemon had been released yet, and no weapons had been drawn.

"What's going on?" His voice boomed. No anger or suspicion, just enough alarm that it shocked the Grunts into stepping away from Makata.

Clearly, they hadn't expected anyone else.

Makata visibly swallowed and held up his hands, trying to wave him off. "N-nothing, Red! Everything's fine." He said. "What are you doing? I thought you and your friends were going out to have fun?"

"I forgot to ask you something." He frowned. "Are these three giving you any trouble?"

"They're not- "

A Grunt stepped forward and puffed his chest out in a juvenile display of masculinity. "This ain't any of your business, Kantonian. Clear out of here if you know what's good for you."

Kantonian? From the sneer on the man's face and the utter disdain with which he saw the word, Ash could only guess he had something against Kantonian's. Considering he was from Skull, it was more likely rooted in something that Team Rocket had done than anything else.

Then again? Maybe not. Back during his time in Alola, Guzma and the other Grunts he met made it very clear their stance on foreigners in what they perceived as their islands. They'd gone so far as to try to stop the creation of the Alolan League itself just because it would give the region more connections with the outside world.

"I'm making it my business." Ash grabbed a chair and scraped it across the ground. He spun it around to face away from them, taking a seat and crossing his arms over the back.

"Red, please!" Makata begged.

The Grunt tightened his fists and stepped forward. He tried to loom threateningly over Ash with a deep scowl and a hunched posture, almost like a Mightyena preparing to pounce. It might have even been intimidating if Ash hadn't met worse before.

"Not too long ago, you people were defending this place from a different gang shaking it down." Ash pointed out. "What changed?"

"They were on our turf. If we let them do business here, we'd have lost all the respect people have for our name." The Grunt behind Makata said.

Ash couldn't help but snort in derision. "Respect?" He asked. "You people are a laughingstock. Since when has anyone ever given you respect?"

Makata visibly paled while the Grunts sputtered in response. Through their Psychic link, Ash could feel the surprise coming from Pikachu and Latias. He paid none of it any mind. All that mattered now was protecting Makata and the soup kitchen.

"You got a death wish, pal?" A Grunt growled.

"Do you?" Ash challenged. "Plumeria named this place off limits. You really think she'll approve of you shaking down a soup kitchen, of all places?"

"Ain't just a soup kitchen." Another one said. "It's also a business. He gets the friends and family discount, he pays us, and we protect this place from all them bad folks who harassed him before."

Hypocrites. Greedy bastards who only cared about themselves. He should have known better than to think Skull was different. At the end of the day, they were just like Team Rocket. The only difference is one wore fancy suits, and the other wore black leather.

"If you want to protect them from bad folks, maybe you should leave." Ash narrowed his eyes. "Before someone gets hurt?"

"Ash, calm down." Latias whispered into his mind.

The Grunt leaned close – close enough that Ash could smell his rancid breath. "That a threat?"

"A promise."

There was an imperceptible shift in the air. Makata frantically backed away. The Grunts all moved to surround him, hands drifting to their belts. Ash had less than a second to decide what to do.

His instincts chose for him.

He reared his head back and slammed it into the nose of the looming Grunt. A sharp cry of pain as they stumbled back. They only regained their bearings long enough for Ash to break the wooden chair he'd been sitting on over his head.

One Grunt leaped forward, his knife flashing from the sheath on his hip. A combat knife. Similar to the one Ash trained with.

Ash ducked away from the first wild swing towards his neck. At the second, he stepped into and around the blow to grab his opponent's wrist. Wrenching it aside, he slammed it into the thick muscle of their thigh. He shoved the screaming man away.

A pair of shoes squeaked against the clean floor behind him. Ash dodged to the side just in time to see a knife strike where his head had once been. The carelessness earned him a shallow cut on the side of his cheek.

He retaliated with another headbutt to this Grunt's nose. They stumbled back, but unlike the first one, they drew their pistol from their belt. He stepped aside and grabbed their arm, twisting it at a painful angle. They only managed to get two blind, wild shots off before being forced to drop the gun.

His hand reached up to grab the back of their head. Fingers curling around their hair, he forced them down and slammed their head into the nearby wooden table. They cried out as their head bounced from the impact.

Dragging them across the hard surface, he threw them to the floor. Once they stopped tumbling along the ground, they tried to climb to their knees. His leg flashed out, slamming into the back of the Grunt's head and sending them crashing back to the ground.

He raised his boot again… and found he couldn't move. He was being held in stasis by some invisible force. The back of his mind tingled with familiarity, and his hair stood on end. Annoyance flashed through him.

"Latias, what are you doing?" He demanded.

"You need to stop! Now!" She shouted. "They're already down!"

He paused and looked around him. One Grunt was a crumpled, unconscious mess surrounded by the rubble of a chair. Another squirmed on the ground, torn between ripping the blade out of his leg and fearing the pain to follow. The final one whimpered on the ground and clutched the back of their head.

Why… why had he thought to keep going? How far would he have gone if Latias hadn't stopped him?

"What the hell is going on here?"

A gruff, familiar voice cut through the silence. Ash looked up to see Looker standing in the doorway with Pikachu at his side and a scowl splitting his face. The instant Latias released her Psychic hold on his body, he stepped away from the Skull Grunts.

"I- "

"Not one word." Looker strode forward and crouched down in front of the Grunts. For a moment, Ash could see nothing but disdain in the older agent's eyes. "Pick yourselves up and get out of here. You and your people are never to come back. Understood?"

"G-Guzma's gonna fuck you people up!" The Grunt groaned.

Looker snorted. "You tell him that whenever he's feeling lucky, he should give Looker a call. I'll be more than happy to see him test his luck." He snatched the man by the collar and dragged him to his feet. "Now, go!"

The Skull goons didn't think twice about following those orders. Once they had ripped the knife from one Grunt's leg, they grabbed their unconscious friend and hobbled out the door as fast as they could. And if Pikachu just so happened to zap the three on their way out?

No one cared enough to say anything.

Looker reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white business card. "Call this number. They'll take care of the damage." He told Makata. "If Skull comes around again, just call. They'll handle it."

Makata barely managed to nod, too shocked by everything that happened to speak.

Looker turned and left without a word. It didn't take a genius to know that he expected Ash to follow. With one last apologetic look towards Makata, he hurried after his leader. He could feel Latias not too far away while Pikachu hopped up onto Ash's shoulder.

None of them said anything as they walked down the street. Even as police cars rushed by them towards Makata's, no one dared speak up. What could Ash or the others even say?

They didn't stop walking until Looker had led them to a secluded portion of the beach. By now, most people had already gone home for the day. What few people were still around hardly even noticed their arrival, let alone cared enough to eavesdrop. Even when Latias shimmered into existence as her Human self, no one noticed.

A sigh broke the silence. Looker shook his head. "In case you were wondering, I was originally coming to see how your work at the soup kitchen was going. Make sure everything was alright." He said. "It seems I showed up too late."

Ash remained silent.

"Nothing to say?" He asked.

"… they were shaking down Makata. I couldn't just do nothing." Ash meekly said.

"And your first instinct was to pummel them into the ground?" Looker frowned. "Ash, you're smarter than that. You know there's always more than one way to solve a problem. Violence isn't always the answer."

"What was I supposed to do? Just let them get away with it? Maybe hold the door open on their way out?" He snapped.

"Watch your tone." Looker warned. "You could have had Latias use her powers to convince them to go away. Or wipe their memory or throw them in an illusion, or any number of things. You could even have called me and I would have had Guzma stop this."

With each accusation, Ash flinched away. He couldn't even look anyone in the eyes for the budding shame in his soul. Instead, he kept his eyes squarely locked on the warm sand beneath his feet. Why… why hadn't he thought of any of this? Why had he jumped straight to violence?

"I'm sorry." He mumbled. "I… I let my emotions get the better of me. They were going after a good person. Someone who's only crime is thinking he could help the most unfortunate people in the world and not be taken advantage of. I just acted without thinking."

Latias frowned, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder comfortingly. "Ash…."

"Come on, Ash. Don't be so hard on yourself." Pikachu nuzzled against Ash's cheeks. "You overreacted. It happens to us all. Nothing to be ashamed about."

"While I wouldn't go that far, Pikachu does have a point." Looker said. "What you did was stupid. But I can understand why."

Ash dared to look up hopefully. "You can?"

"You think you're the first agent to see tragedy and leap into action?" Looker snorted. "It might as well be a rite of passage. I still remember when I was reckless enough to try that."

"What happened?"

"A woman's dead husband owed a bookie some money. More than she could pay out. From what little I gathered, he wanted her to burn down her business and give him the insurance payout or he'd kill her." Looker said.

Latias scowled, arms crossed over her chest. "What ended up happening?"

"I killed them." Looker shrugged. "They came to smash the place up and make an example of her in public. Unfortunately for them, they weren't bullet proof. What a shame."

A brutal end to those criminals… but if they really were going to kill that woman, then they deserved it. "It sounds like you did the right thing." Ash said.

"Did I?" Looker stood on the edge of the shore and crouched down to cup his hands in the water. "They had business partners who weren't too happy with what happened. In the end, I had to kill an entire branch of the mob and burn their ledgers just to keep them from retaliating. Were all those deaths really necessary? Do you still think I did the right thing?"

Ash didn't know what to say. Taking a life was a serious matter, and Looker had apparently killed scores of people to protect that woman. But they had been planning to kill her and worked for the mob. Who knew how many others they had hurt before Looker showed up or how many they'd have hurt in the future?

"I don't expect an answer." Looker said. "You just need to understand that your actions can have consequences. Imagine for a second that Interpol and Team Rocket don't exist. Would you have been prepared to fight a war against Skull to protect that place?"

"Yes." Ash's answer was immediate and firm.

How could he do anything else? When someone was in need, he would never turn their backs on him.

"Really? Even if you had to kill them?" Looker prodded. "Because it wouldn't end with just those mooks back there. You'd have to kill all of them – every single one that came after you. Once you cross that line with a crime syndicate, they take it as a personal affront. They won't rest until they've made an example of you."

Ash shuffled his feet, hands trembling. "I…."

Looker breathed deeply and stood back up. "Just think on what I've said, Ash. I don't need an answer. You, however, do. You need to decide exactly what it is you're willing to do and the lines you're prepared to cross for other people." He said. "Understood?"

He nodded. "Yes, sir…."

"Latias, Pikachu." The two perked up at their names. "I expect you two to think about this as well. Whatever he decides, you'll need to be willing to go just as far. Am I clear?"

"I already know how far I'm willing to go." Pikachu narrowed his eyes, cheeks sparking dangerously. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect Ash. It doesn't matter what that involves."

"Pikachu…." He mumbled.

For her part, Latias sighed. "I don't think I can go as far as the rest of you. But if it was to prevent another Alto Mare? I don't think there's any length I wouldn't go to. I failed as a Guardian once; I won't fail again."

Looker hummed in acknowledgement. "Good… I'll leave you three be then. I need to go handle Guzma and keep his people from retaliating. Before I do, though," When he turned to Ash, all traces of judgement and disappointment were gone. Replaced by concern. "Do you want to talk, Ash? About… the other night?"

Ash scrunched his eyes shut. "Not… not yet, Looker. I still need time."

"Alright, Ash. Take all the time you need." He strode past Ash, patting him on the shoulder. "Just remember that we're all here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

It was a nice sentiment. But… Ash didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell them he felt disgusted or horrified by what he'd done. He couldn't even say he was depressed by the lives he'd taken. Because the truth was that Ash didn't feel anything at all. Not an ounce of regret for the lives he'd taken. More than anything, that was what disturbed him.

How could he possibly tell anyone how much of a monster he was?

"HQ called again, boss."

Matoria groaned, slumped over her desk and nursing a headache. "Ignore it."

Gozu frowned. "You sure? They'll want a status update."

"And tell them what? That we lost an entire warehouse full of product to the Rangers? That some random vigilante stole information on all our allies in Alola? Or how about the fact those wannabe gangsters have started hitting our territory and killing our people?" Matori growled. "I'm not telling HQ about this disaster."

"You're smarter than this, boss. If you think they don't already know, you're lying to yourself." Gozu told her. "It'd be better for you to face the music now than keep avoiding them forever."

Matoria grimaced. "I can't do that. Not until I have some good news to cushion the bad."

Gozu crossed his arms behind his back, narrowing his one eye. "Want me to round up the boys and hit Skull?" He asked. "We know where some of their hideouts and businesses are located."

She scoffed. "That'd be a battle, Gozu. Skull aren't the weaklings they were a week ago." She said. "With the firepower they have now, picking a fight with them without a plan would just end badly.'

Ever since Interpol started backing Skull, Rocket's business had been hit hard. Not to any devastating degree, but enough to be alarming. They'd gone from practically untouchable to businesses burning and Grunts dying in little more than a week.

As usual, those damn spooks always made things worse. This takeover of Alola wouldn't be nearly as easy as they'd hoped. From this moment on, they'd have to start treating Skull like the old rivals Flare or Plasma. A genuine threat they'd need to dismantle piece by piece.

If that was even possible at this point. With Interpol turning Skull into a puppet on a string, it might not even matter if they killed Guzma. They could easily replace him with someone else in the gang or an agent loyal to them altogether.

Her fists tightened in rage. "Those Interpol bastards… I'm going to enjoy the day we can burn their base in this region to the ground."

She'd dance on the ashes just to spite them.

Gozu took the seat across from her, wincing in pain. His escape from the Ranger raid the other day hadn't been easy. "We don't have the manpower for something like that yet. Let alone the approval from higher up."

"I know that. But it's time we stopped messing around." She said. "Taking Alola's criminal underworld was always secondary. We have a bigger mission to worry about."

"Aether."

She nodded. "Giovanni wants their data on the Ultra Wormholes. At least if we can get that, he won't be as angry at our failure with Skull."

Giovanni always seemed less concerned with their criminal rivals in the grand scheme of things. It was almost like he considered them minor obstacles or annoying pests. Whenever a crisis caused by a rogue Legend cropped up, though, he always flew into high alert. Dropped everything he was doing to mobilize their people to combat the threat.

In truth, she wasn't sure it was just greed motivating him. As powerful as Legends were, they weren't worth the hassle of catching. Too powerful, too unruly, and too many things that could go wrong. If you failed, all you earned was the ire of an immortal beast leagues above any normal Pokemon.

It never stopped Giovanni, though. Whatever he had planned for the Legends was too big for her to know. One way or another, he'd get what he wanted.

It might as well be her to deliver it to him.

Gozu nodded in agreement. "What's the plan?"

"We hit Aether. They've had more than enough chances to accept our offer." She said. "We get in, get the intel, and burn their island to the ground."

"We'll need our best for something like this."

"Then get them ready. By the end of the week, we'll remind our enemies what happens when you make an enemy of Team Rocket."

Pallet Town was always so beautiful during the summer.

The sun hung high in the sky, its peaceful rays shining down upon the cozy town just as it always did. This time of year, children could always be seen running through the town with their Pokemon or playing with their friends. Even the adults could take it easy and relax with their hobbies. Some would even take the opportunity to go out for a bite to eat with their friends.

Or at least, they normally would have. Today, however, the only restaurant in Pallet Town was closed.

Delia sat on a bench in the middle of Pallet Town's park, absent-mindedly munching on a sandwich slice. While normally she would have been hard at work running her restaurant, she just didn't have the motivation to do it.

That was hardly anything new, though. Ever since the… incident, she just didn't have as much motivation or energy to do much of anything. It was a struggle to get out of bed most days. If it weren't for the constant check-ins by Professor Oak, she didn't think she'd have bothered.

A soccer ball rolled to a stop at her feet. Her eyes glanced up to see a pair of children laughing among themselves. A tiny smile crossed her face, and she lightly kicked it back towards them. A few mumbled thank you's later, and they went back to their little game.

Her smile died an ugly death when she looked past them to their parents in the distance. Though they tried to be subtle about it, many of them were whispering among themselves and pointing at her. She didn't need to hear them to know what it was they were saying.

'There's Delia Ketchum again. You know, she never smiles anymore. Oh, but who can blame her? Did you hear what her son did? Poor woman must be horrified. To spend all that time and not know what she'd raised. Wait… do you think she knew and didn't care?'

It was all anyone could say about her anymore. They either treated her with disgust and suspicion after the news broke about what Ash had done. Or – and this was more often the case here in Pallet Town – they looked at her with pity.

She despised the latter most of all. Scorn she could handle, but pity? She hated that feeling. It was why even when she did go out to run her restaurant or take a walk; she tried to avoid other people. It was easier that way. Delia had hoped that minding her own business in the park would spare her.

What a fool she'd been.

Even Professor Oak and the others at the lab treated her differently. As if pity wasn't enough, most of them treated her like glass. Like the slightest thing or a wrong word would set her off. Arceus forbid she come around to the ranch to visit the Pokemon….

She sighed and started to pack her food away. This had been a mistake.

"Mreow?"

Delia blinked as she felt something prod her leg. Soft but pointy and insistent. Starting, she glanced down. A white feline, a Persian, looked up at her with big, wide eyes. The creature tilted their head to the side. Their white whip of a tail swept back and forth.

Hesitantly, she reached down to scratch their ears. "Hey there, little guy. Are you lost? Did you wander away from your trainer?" She asked. "We don't see many of you around Pallet Town outside of the ranch."

The Persian merely looked towards her bag, tilting their head aside and meowing.

A chuckle escaped her. "Oh, I see. You're hungry, are you?" She teased. "Well, I guess there's no harm. Just let me see what I can get for you."

After a moment, she fished her sandwich out of the bag and offered it to the regal cat. The feline monster eagerly bit into the sandwich and tore it apart, their eyes squinting as they reached the meaty center. Only for it to pause as a thick, red substance coated their lips.

"It's ketchup." She explained with a worried frown. "I'm sorry if you don't like it. It was all I had-"

The Persian leaped up and pressed itself against her. Delia gasped in shock. The imposing cat nuzzled their forehead into the crook of her neck, the beige fur surprisingly soft on such a large monster. Even the gem wasn't uncomfortable.

Delia hummed in amusement, reaching up to scratch it between the shoulders. "Looks like you like that, huh?"

A gentle purr was her only answer.

"Persian… what am I looking at?"

A voice drew her attention to a man in a stark black suit standing in front of her. He was around her age, if she had to guess, with piercing brown eyes and short brown hair nestled under a fedora. Were it not for the utterly baffled look on his face, she might have been intimidated by him.

Instead, all she did was smile. "Are you this Persian's trainer?"

He quickly schooled his features and cleared his throat. "Yes. I'm sorry if she bothered you. She doesn't normally wander off like this."

Delia giggled. "It's fine. I don't mind getting a little attention from a cutie like her."

Persian purred at the praise.

The man sighed dramatically. "I see she's wrapped another one around her paws." He rolled his eyes. "Persian, get down and let the woman breath."

Feline ears flicked back and flattened against her skull. A light mewl of annoyance passed her lips, even as she pushed off of Delia. To spite her master, the creature curled up at Delia's feet and just started nuzzling her legs.

Judging by the twitch of his eyes, he knew exactly what she was doing.

"Don't be so hard on her." Delia reached down to massage her shoulders again, earning more purrs for her efforts. "She's a sweety."

"Be that as it may, I'd prefer she not wander off to harass strangers." The suited man drawled. "Do you mind if I sit for a minute?"

She shook her head. "Not at all."

Once he was sitting down, he took his hat off and set it down in his lap. He turned to her with a curious frown, eyes flicking down to his cat. "May I ask how you got her to be this… affectionate? Normally, she abhors people touching her."

"She was hungry, so I gave her some of my sandwich." Delia told him. "I think she liked my ketchup?"

He scrunched up his nose in disgust. "Ketchup? On a sandwich?"

She couldn't help but laugh again. "It's not just any ketchup. I make it fresh every day. Those store brands can't compete."

Her pride as a chef wouldn't allow it.

Persian seemed to agree if her sudden chirps were any indication.

The man rolled his eyes. "Don't get any funny ideas. I'm not feeding you ketchup from now on."

Persian grumbled in response.

"No means no." He scolded. "And no, I shall not be bribing her for the recipe since you won't be eating it again. End of story."

Aghast, Persian looked up at her with the most pleading look imaginable, golden eyes wide and watery.

Delia cooed in delight. "Don't listen to the mean man, Persie. I'll make you all the ketchup you want whenever you come around."

She purred and licked Delia's fingers.

The man snorted. "Wonderful. You've turned my cat into an addict after a single taste." He shook his head. "If I'd known this would happen, I'd have kept Persian in her ball after visiting Oak."

Delia blinked curiously. "You know Professor Oak?"

"Hm?" He looked up at her. "Ah, yes. We're old friends. There's a new batch of trainers starting out soon, and he asked me to bring a few alternative starters for them. I could hardly say no, given my position."

"Position?" She asked. "What is it you do?"

"I'm the Gym Leader of Viridian City." He tilted his head aside in apparent confusion. "Did you not know?"

She laughed nervously. "Sorry, but I… don't follow the League circuit."

Not after everything that happened.

"Then I must appear terribly rude for not introducing myself." He gently grabbed her hand and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles. "Giovanni Sakaki Cassano. A pleasure to meet you."

Despite her best efforts, a faint blush spread across her cheeks. "Delia Ketchum."

She expected him to flinch away in disgust upon hearing her last name. By now, Ketchum had become an infamous name as far as the League was concerned. One to be looked at with scorn and disgust. The horrific downfall of Alola's first Champion all but guaranteed it.

Giovanni didn't flinch away, though. There wasn't a hint of judgement or even pity in his eyes. Just a simple flicker of recognition.

"Well, Delia, I hope you'll forgive me for my faux pas. I'm normally not so careless." He said.

"It's fine." She frowned. "You… don't want to ask me anything? Or get anything off your chest?"

It was what most people did when they realized who she was.

He sighed. "Hardly. It's none of my business, and I'd rather not spoil a pleasant conversation by being rude."

That was… surprising. Most people couldn't stop themselves from poking their nose into her private life. Even her old friends all kept asking such cruel, invasive questions. No matter how much she made it clear she'd rather they didn't.

Giovanni looked around them and tsked in annoyance. Standing up, he placed his hat back on his head. "It looks like we've drawn some attention."

Delia took a look for herself. Sure enough, the other residents in the park were all staring at them. Some tried to be subtle and sneak glances from behind books or their phone while other openly stared and whispered with their friends. Even the kids had all stopped to gawk.

To them, the idea that someone as famous as a Gym Leader would deign to speak with the pariah of Pallet Town must have been shocking.

"I'm sorry." She apologized. "They don't mean anything by it."

His lips drew down, and his brow furrowed. As if something confused him. "You shouldn't be apologizing for their actions." He held out his hand to her. "Professor Oak told me there was a wonderful little restaurant in town. I was thinking of giving it a taste… care to join me?"

Her restaurant… a Gym Leader wanted to eat her cooking. Something like that would have been a dream come true for most chefs. The publicity they'd get from impressing one of them could catapult a small business into massive success.

"I guess you haven't heard." She smiled sadly. "Pallet House is closed today since the owner needed some time off."

He grimaced. "A shame."

It really was. Delia watched his face for a minute before glancing down at Persian. Giovanni seemed like a nice enough man. Certainly more kind than anyone else she'd dealt with in the past six months. It was a pleasant surprised.

Maybe she could surprise him in exchange… and pamper Persie while she was at it.

She took his hand in hers, much to his surprise. "Why don't I treat you to some food at my home? It may not be up to your gourmet standards, but I promise it'll be good."

He chuckled. "You know, I don't just eat five star food."

"Good. That means you won't be above trying the same ketchup Persie here enjoyed so much."

He groaned dramatically. "The things I endure for good food."

She and Persie exchanged a look.

Oh yes, he was absolutely being forced to try the ketchup. They'd drag an admittance of enjoying it out of him if it was the last thing they did.

For the first time in a while, Delia wore a genuine smile.

Chapter Text

Even all this time later, Aether Paradise never failed to steal Ash's breath away.

When he had first come to visit it with Lillie and the rest of his friends from Alola, it had been a stunning display of modern technology. An artificial island created for the rehabilitation of injured Pokémon and the advancement of Humanity? One with enough beauty to match any forest he'd ever seen?

It was a one-of-a-kind experience.

Looker had brought the entire team with him this time. Ostensibly, it was so they could get a feel for the grounds and see what they were fighting to protect. Maybe that was true for the others, but for Ash? He got the feeling it was more about getting his mind off of the people he'd killed.

It wasn't working, but he appreciated the sentiment. Pikachu would have too, if he were allowed outside of his ball.

Being back here now, it was no less beautiful. Something about it was… different, though. Where before he had been enraptured by the advanced technology and menagerie of Pokémon, now his mind couldn't help but wander.

With the island so far away from the others in the Region, it would take a long time before help could arrive if there was an emergency. Aether had barely any security on their docks overseeing the incoming ships or cargo. What little security they had were armed with only a few Pokemon and simple pistols, at best.

Everywhere he looked, Ash saw flaws in their security. Too few cameras at key points; lax security on their phones or playing with Pokémon; nonexistent cover. He could go on… and that worried him.

Why was it so hard for him to look at things normally now? Why could he only see flaws where he once saw beauty?

He blinked when he felt something nudge his arm. A quick glance to the side showed a concerned Anabel looking up at him.

"What?" He asked.

"Is being back here difficult for you, Ash?" Anabel asked. "I know it's been a while."

"No, I'm fine." He tried to smile. "What makes you say that?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Did you forget that I can feel people's emotions?"

He cringed. Right… he had forgotten, actually. Even if he knew that she was a Psychic, Anabel wasn't like any other he had met. She was just so normal. Most Psychics always had an aura of power surrounding them; a glint of confidence in their eyes, that lingering suspicion they knew your every thought.

Anabel, though? There was never a hint of that with her. He didn't know if Interpol had trained her to hide it or if she was just naturally able to blend in. Whichever it was, he was thankful that she had better control of it than other Psychics.

"Sorry." He apologized. "I guess I'm still trying to get used to it all."

"Get used to what?" Latias asked.

Rather than hide herself, she had come in her Human form today. Wearing a stylish black and white suit with a navy-blue tie, she cut an imposing figure next to Anabel. Or she would have, if she weren't constantly looking at everything with wide, curious eyes.

He shrugged. At the moment, the three of them were standing on the railings above the nature reserve of the island. Looker and Petrovic had gone off to see Wicke, leaving them behind here. In this section of Aether Paradise, injured Pokemon were slowly being rehabilitated and allowed to practice their survival skills for when they were released back into the wild.

"Being an agent, I guess?" He said. "It's strange. I used to just accept things the way they were. Never gave a second thought to my surroundings or the people. Now…."

"You can't walk into a building without knowing how many exits there are. You can't sit by windows and have a hard time turning your back to other people." Anabel finished. "I miss anything?"

He sighed. "It's hard to take what people say at face value, too. I'm starting to think that everyone is always lying."

"It's alright, Ash. I was the same after my first few missions." Anabel smiled reassuringly, tucking her violet hair behind her ear. "I'm pretty sure most new agents feel this way."

He wasn't sure how much he believed that. Ash couldn't picture Looker acting on edge every time he went out for a bite to eat. Their leader was always in control. He doubted Looker had a problem turning it off, so to speak.

"Does it ever get any easier?"

"You never stop, if that's what you mean. You're always going to worry about these sorts of things now." Anabel ran her fingers along the edge of the railing. "It's like the old saying. Ignorance is bliss."

Was it? Once upon a time, Ash might have believed that. It was an easier way to live, he'd give it that. Without having to worry about anything, you could focus on enjoying life and taking it as things came.

Ash… wasn't so sure he would want to go back to that. As peaceful as that may have been, it made him vulnerable. Too easily manipulated by others. Not to mention unprepared for the real dangers of the world. If he'd been half as aware back when Domino hypnotized him, none of this would have happened.

Anabel patted him on the shoulder. "It'll get easier. Eventually, it'll be as natural to you as breathing. You won't even notice you're doing it."

"Like riding a bike. You spend so much time thinking about how it works when you start out, but don't even worry about that stuff after a while. Even after years go by." Latias chimed in.

"Latias… you've never ridden a bike. How would you know?"

She laughed, flipping her scarlet hair over her shoulder. "Bianca needed someone to vent to when she was a kid. It was either me or my grouchy brother."

He rolled his eyes. If it was Bianca, then he got the feeling it was more ranting rather than venting. As much as he loved his friend, she could be intense when she was angry. He still remembered how she'd sicced an angry Latios on him after stumbling into the garden in Alto Mare.

Good times.

His eyes drifted down below. Some of Aether's doctors were tending to a clutch of baby Flying types. Laughter and joyful chirps were carried on the wind up to them. Within the walls of Aether Paradise, the problems of the outside world might as well not exist. Working and living here was like a dream come true for humans and Pokémon alike.

"Does Looker really believe Team Rocket will attack this place?" He suddenly asked.

"It's not something we can ignore." She said, "Team Rocket made it clear. If Aether doesn't hand over the data on Ultra Wormholes, the company would bleed for it."

Latias tilted her head to the side. "They've already done that, though. Wasn't that the whole point of targeting their businesses and research stations?"

"And it hasn't worked." Anabel pointed out. "For as much money and public faith they're losing, it's not enough. Aether isn't capitulating. If Team Skull wasn't around, maybe they'd be willing to wait it out."

"But since we've helped save them, we're putting too much pressure on Rocket." Ash finished. "You think Rocket will try to take the data by force because they're worried about Skull?"

Anabel shrugged. "It's possible. Right now, they're splitting their focus and resources in two ways. Back when Skull and Aether were weaker, that was just fine. Now that they've got us backing them? They can't afford that luxury anymore."

He had to agree. They wouldn't be able to deal with this discreetly. Not without risking their entire operation in Alola, anyway. If they were going to remain in Alola, they needed to focus their full attention on Skull and Interpol. Team Rocket would need to either abandon their plans for Aether completely… or make a dangerous gambit.

"If they attack, can we fend them off?"

"It's hard to say." She sighed. "If they're desperate enough to attack, they'll come in force. Dozens of Grunts; their strongest Pokemon; military hardware. Nothing less than a small army."

Latias frowned. "Would they really risk something that overt? They'd be labeled terrorists."

"None of that matters if the prize is valuable enough. Pay off the right people and wear the right disguises? At that point, it's easy to convince the world someone else launched the attack."

Ash was sensing a but coming.

"But if they think it'll be easy, they've got another thing coming. The second they launch their attack, Interpol and every other branch of law enforcement will come down on them like a hive of angry Beedrill." Anabel smirked. "Not to mention the agents we already have hidden among Aether's security and workforce."

He sighed. "I guess we'll just have to hope that's enough. I'd rather avoid the violence, if we can."

"Have a little faith, Ash. We have everything under control."

"Have there been any new threats recently?"

Wicke shook her head. "None. Team Rocket hasn't threatened me or the company in the past week."

Off to the side of her office, Nanu snorted in derision. "That you know of. If they were threatening your people, I doubt you'd know about it."

Her eyes narrowed. "We're like a family here at Aether. We don't hide things from each other."

"Ya know, every time a company says that, it's a big sign they're abusive to their people." Petrovic drawled. "No wonder yer people ain't coming forward. Poor bastards."

Looker reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Stop, all of you. Arguing won't get us anywhere."

While none of them were happy being called out, they stopped their bickering before it devolved into an argument. When Looker had taken up a position as leader, he'd known half his job would be keeping the peace. He'd just thought it would be within his young team, not experienced adults.

"Have there been any signs they've tried to steal the data covertly?" Looker asked. "Odd security alerts that turned out to be nothing? New members of the science team a little too eager to prove themselves? Maybe some custodial staff who linger in restricted areas?"

Wicke sighed. "No, nothing like that. We haven't hired any new members for the science team, and few of them even work on Ultra Space research since we closed the holes half a year ago. Most of our custodial staff are just Pokemon too, so it's not like they could sneak an agent in with them." She said, "There haven't been any security issues I'm aware of either."

He narrowed his eyes in thought. Had Team Rocket really chosen not to try stealing it? Or did Wicke and the rest of the foundation just not nice the attempts? If they pulled off a heist without anyone noticing, the sudden cessation of threats would make sense.

It would be impossible to know for sure.

"Have there been any cyberattacks?" He asked. "Maybe some glitches with your systems?"

Wicke shrugged. "None that I can remember. Our tech is state-of-the-art. Anyone trying to hack their way in won't get far before we catch them." Her brow furrowed in concern. "What do you think this means?"

"It could mean nothing. They might just be too preoccupied with Skull to worry about you." Looker said. "With how hard Skull has attacked their territory recently, a little uncertainty would make sense."

Nanu flicked the cap off his flask. "Or they're preparing for something big. A grand display of power that'll stun the Region into submission."

Wicke shifted in place and bit the edge of her nails. "What kind of display?"

Nanu shrugged. "Way I see it? They've got two options. They either kill Guzma in such a gruesome way that Skull capitulates instantly and paves the way for their domination." He paused for a second to drink from his flask. "Or they burn Aether to the ground and take what remains from the ashes. Could go either way."

"We won't let that happen." Looker rushed to assure her. "They're far more likely to attack Skull than Aether. They know that we'll prioritize protecting that data more than anything else."

Skull would surge through their territory if they lost that gambit. The risk they'd be taking just wasn't worth it-

The lights abruptly shut off.

Petrovic narrowed his eyes. "What the hell's going on?"

"Another shipment already, Jimmy? That's the second time this week."

"You know how it is. Corporate wants their shipments."

"I'm just not sure why they'd want all this food. We've got plenty already."

"Eh, it ain't my money. I try not to think too hard about what the bigwigs are doing, you know?"

"Heh, fair enough. Alright, we'll just open the crates to make sure everything looks right and we'll start unloading."

"I-is that really necessary? Come on, it's a waste of all our time."

"Sorry, Jimmy. Boss says we gotta check every crate. Won't take more than a minute before you're on your way."

"R-right. Yeah."

"You look a little pale, bud. You doing alright?"

The doors to the cargo crate were pulled open. Light flooded in, illuminating the inside and revealing not crates of preserved or fresh food, but over a dozen men armed with assault rifles.

"What the-"

A gunshot rang out.

Matori sighed and stepped over the corpse of the dockworker. Similar gunshots could be heard in the distance as other ships pulled into the docks. Her eyes drifted up towards the captain of the small cargo ship, who even now was trembling in his boots.

"P-please, I couldn't stop him. You have to understand-"

Matori didn't waste her breath. A single shot between the eyes dealt with the problem. She waved her hand forward, gesturing to the docks ahead of them. The Grunts obeyed her silent command and moved forward to secure the area and kill any of Aether's security who had heard the gunshots.

She raised a finger to touch her earpiece. "Gozu, are you in?"

"Aye, we're in, boss." She heard gunshots on the other end. "We've secured the north of the island."

Matori glided over to the railing of the boat and looked over the edge. Dark silhouettes moved beneath the surface of the water. They emerged to reveal themselves as her Grunts, pulling themselves and their Pokemon up onto the docks. While they busied themselves with removing their rebreathers, her eyes flicked to the sky where flocks of Flying-types were converging on the artificial island.

And with them, the dozens of Grunts they carried along.

She unclasped a ball from her belt and released her Meowth to the world. "You know the drill, people." She cracked her neck. "Get in and grab the data. Kill everyone you find and make an example of them. If you spot any Psychic types? Nab 'em."

Project Ambrosia could always use more of them.

"By the time we're done, I want this place to be a pile of ash."

"They're here."

"How can you be sure?" Wicke asked.

Looker reached into the holster beneath his trench coat to pull out his pistol. Nanu and Petrovic both did the same. "The power to the island wouldn't go out for no reason. Since your backup generators haven't kicked in either, that can only mean they've been sabotaged."

Petrvoic scowled. "Comms are down. They're blocking every frequency, even Interpol's."

"If they're able to do that, it means they've got a mole on the inside." Nanu pointed out. "I doubt we'll be getting any reinforcements. Something tells me they kept that special signal of yours up and running."

Nanu was right. One of their agents really had sold the info to Team Rocket, their entire defense plan was bust. No one would be coming to help them. Not until the fires raged so violently, it would be impossible to miss them from the other islands.

If they were going to survive this, they needed to act fast.

Ever since being assigned to Alola, he had studied his enemy. Matori wasn't a precision weapon for Team Rocket, she was a blunt instrument. Specialized in hitting secure facilities and massacring those inside. The Grunts under her command – dubbed the Matori Matrix – were all dishonorably discharged veterans whose loyalty only extended as far as their next paycheck.

If the psych eval had been correct, she'd stubbornly stick to her attack no matter how dire things looked. All he had to do was play on her pride and goad her into overextending.

The real danger would be Gozu. His experience in the Great War would overcomplicate things. Even if they captured Matori, he could still lead the rest of the assault force without much trouble. Both of them would need to be swept from the field if they were going to survive this.

"Petrovic, get on your Golbat and fly to HQ." He ordered. "Get us as much reinforcements as you can manage. Interpol, police, League, I'll even take the Rangers if you can manage it."

The man in question snorted. "I'll see what I can do. Just try to survive until I get back, would ya? It ain't no fun mocking a corpse."

He felt a small tingle in the back of his head. "Looker? Looker, are you there?"

Anabel.

He held up a hand to silence Wicke and Nanu. "I'm here, Anabel. How are you contacting me?"

"Latias is boosting the range of my telepathy. What's going on?"

"I'll keep it short. Team Rocket has launched their attack. I've sent Petrovic to the other islands for reinforcements, but who knows when they'll get here." He frowned. "Where are you and Ash?"

"We're at one of the nature reserves." A spike of alarm. "We just heard gunshots. What's the plan?"

"Anabel, I want you to link up with any security in the area and lead them. These people aren't used to this level of violence. They'll need your leadership if they're going to survive." He ordered. "If you can, try to make it to the armory."

The firepower wouldn't hurt, after all.

"I'll do what I can."

"Latias, I need you in the air." He said. "Keep as much pressure on them as possible. If you can, find Gozu and Matori. Even if you can't take them out, don't let them leave the islands."

A rush of confidence. "I'll keep them focused on me. They won't be able to resist attacking me once they realize I'm here."

It's what he was hoping for. If they were lucky, the prospect of catching a Legend would be more enticing than the Ultra Space data. With Latias' speed and strength, she might be what they need to turn the tide of battle their way.

"Ash, you know where the science labs are?"

"Yes, sir."

A tiny smile graced his face. "Good. Get there and guard that place with your life. If they breach those labs, they'll have access to everything. Prototypes, research data, Ultra Space; anything and everything they could want."

"They won't get it. I promise." The young agent practically growled.

With his orders given, he felt the connection between them sever. Good. Looker had faith in his team. As young as they may have been, he knew they could handle themselves. Come hell or high water, they'd defend this place and its people if it was the last thing they did.

And he'd be right alongside them.

"Finally done having your Psychic chat?" Nanu asked. "We're a little strapped for time."

He ignored Nanu. "Wicke, the Aether family has a mansion in the center of the island, right?"

She nodded shakily. "They do. But with none of the family in Alola, it's been abandoned for the past few months."

"Doesn't matter. That's where you're going." His eyes slid to his old mentor. "Nanu, I need you to protect Wicke at all costs."

He frowned. "You sure about that? I'm a Kahuna, Looker. I'd be more useful fighting with you and the others."

"Please, Nanu. You're the strongest person I know. If anyone can protect her, it's you." Looker sighed. "I'd stay with her if I could, but I need to be out there. I won't ask my people to risk their lives without doing the same."

Wicke frowned and took a step forward, cupping his cheek in her hands. "Looker…."

He couldn't meet her eyes.

Their leaders during the Great War had sat back and ordered men to their deaths. Endless suicide charges to take a few feet of land or a worthless hill. It always ended the same: thousands dead or maimed. All in the name of Regional glory and the pride of their generals. Generals all too happy to sleep miles away from the battlefield and let other men die for their ambitions.

Looker would sooner cut his own arm off than become like them.

Nanu looked away. "Fine… the minute I see reinforcements coming, though, and I'm joining in. Not about to let my least favorite student die."

He smiled. "Thank you, Nanu." He turned and pushed open the door with Wicke not far behind. Glancing back at Nanu, he frowned. "Aren't you coming?"

The Kahuna grunted. "I'm coming. Just let me get one last drink in. It could be my last, after all."

With an exasperated sigh, Looker sprinted away and left Wicke outside the office. He didn't have any time to waste. Not with so much at stake. He would just need to have faith in his old mentor.

Once the door shut, and he was alone in the office, Nanu let out a tired sigh. He screwed the cap back on his flask and pushed off the wall towards Wicke's desk.

That boy really did trust him too much.

Unnoticed by the others, Nanu had slipped a thumb drive into Wicke's computer and downloaded every file in its database. While he couldn't know how much had been stolen before the power went out, he'd be willing to bet the data on Ultra Space was in there somewhere. To think that if Matori had just held off her assault one day, none of this would be necessary.

He shook his head in derision. Well, that wasn't his problem. Let the girl hang herself for all he cared. Once he gave this data to Giovanni, he'd be one step closer to getting out from under the bastards thumb. If he was lucky, it could even end the violence in Alola.

"Sorry, Looker." He mumbled, pocketing the thumb drive. "You should have known never to trust an old spy."

Three hours.

It had been three hours since Domino was supposed to meet with Pryce. In all that time, however, he had yet to show his face. A little tardiness was understandable. She had been the one to select the meeting place, after all. An old criminal like him wouldn't show until he was certain there wasn't a trap lying in wait.

A tiny café in the middle of a crowded mall had been an easy choice. It was public enough that neither of them needed to worry about an open attack. At the same time, it was just crowded enough that if either of them did, slipping away in the chaos would be simple.

Even if he sent assassins and hid them among the populace, she was prepared. Three of her Pokemon were hidden in the shadows and crevices nearby. A single signal was all it would take for them to leap into action and tear her attackers apart.

Hypno was hidden among the crowd, blocking his presence from the mind of everyone around him. Ariados had chosen to hide in the vents, out of sight and out of mind. Even the pen dangling from the pocket of her shirt was a Ditto in disguise. She was as prepared for an ambush as she could be.

The longer she waited, however, the more on edge she grew. Pryce wouldn't just forget to meet with her. He may have been an old bastard, but his mind was still as sharp as ever. Even if he looked down on her, she was here representing Giovanni.

Any slight against her was a slight against him.

Even Pryce wouldn't risk his wrath.

With an annoyed sigh, she dropped three sugar cubes into her mug of hot chocolate. It was her fifth one today, but that hardly mattered. Indulgence was the best thing about being a criminal. When your life and freedom were on the line, the boogeyman of heart disease stopped being so scary.

Frankly? She was far more likely to die to a bullet or Pokemon attack than a clogged artery.

"Chocolate? And here I had you pegged for a coffee lover." A familiar old voice said. "Then again, I suppose as long as it's not tea, you Kalosian's can keep sticking it to the Galarian's."

Her nose crinkled in disgust, and she fought back a sigh. "You're late."

Pryce slid the chair out opposite her and took a seat. His smile was entirely too pleased. "My life doesn't revolve around little Gio's games. I had more important things to do."

With narrowed eyes, she hid her annoyance behind a sip of hot chocolate. "We had a deal, Pryce. A trafficker for a traitor. You'd better not be thinking of going back on your word."

"And what if I am?" He challenged, leaning back in his chair. He set a simple briefcase down at his side. "What will you do if I tell you nothing? Kill me? If you were capable of that, I never would have caught you in the first place."

Domino scowled in distaste and set her cup down with a noisy clink. Her pride cried out in protest at the disrespect, but she forced it down. He had gotten the better of her then and had her dead to rights. Even if she was stronger physically than the fossil, she knew better than to underestimate him now.

He wouldn't come here unless he had a plan to deal with her in place.

"Maybe I can or maybe I can't. End of the day, it doesn't matter." She said. "If you go back on our deal or kill me, Giovanni will consider it an act of war. You wouldn't last a week."

"Bold words. I'm almost tempted to see if your confidence holds up being frozen solid." Despite the almost jovial tone of his words, his eyes remained as sharp as ice.

Domino tensed her legs in anticipation to evade.

She nearly flipped the table when she saw him reach down below, but calmed once she realized he was only grabbing the briefcase. If the grin on his face was anything to go by, he'd noticed the distress he caused her and took no small amount of joy in it.

"Fortunately for you, I'm a man of my word." Pryce slid the briefcase across the table. "Everything you want is in there."

She clicked open the locks and lifted it open. While some might have been worried about a trap, she knew better. Pryce wouldn't risk hiding a bomb inside, not when he was so close to the center of the blast. Even if he was prepared to invoke Giovanni's wrath, the attention and potential damage this could cause him were too great.

True to his word, the briefcase was full of documents, photographs, and manilla folders. Too numerous and too sensitive for her to go over in public.

"Summarize it for me." She demanded, snatching a single photo from the pile before shutting the briefcase.

It was of an older man in his late thirties to early forties. With a thick head of spiky brown hair and a goatee most would be jealous of, he looked cut an imposing image.

Pryce grinned. "The man you're looking for is Curtis Vaughn. An old operative of yours and something of a rising star." He grabbed a sugar cube from the table and popped it in his mouth. "Though you people would better know him by his title. Iron-Masked Marauder, or some such nonsense."

Domino grimaced. Oh, she knew the man alright. He was one of the first-generation Specters under Pryce's watchful eye. Ruthlessly efficient and excessively cruel didn't even begin to describe the man. She'd had the displeasure of working with him before on a mission. The victims he left in his wake… it would have been kinder to kill them.

He was always a loyal agent, though. He'd killed traitors for Giovanni in the past, even fellow Specters he'd known since he was a child. To think that he would turn traitor….

There was just one problem.

"He disappeared six years ago on a hunt for Celebi." She said. "We always assumed he got too close and bet on a bad hand."

"A fair judgement. Legends are notoriously prideful about their freedom. In this case, however, you'd be wrong." Pryce told her. "He nearly caught Celebi and bound it to his will. If it weren't for the aid of a small group of wandering trainers, he would have succeeded."

That hardly surprised her. Pokemon Trainers had the annoying habit of poking their nose into other people's business. Rocket had lost a lot of money to vigilante types over the years, and she knew the same could be said of their rivals in other regions.

"So, he what? Faked his death and has been working behind the scenes against us for years?" She asked. "Why?"

"He's a criminal, my dear. He wants what all of us do: money, power, and the freedom to act upon our desires. As long as little Gio remains at the top, he'll never have those things."

"And he came to you. Why?" She demanded. "You tortured him and everyone else like him for years. Turned them into monstrous pawns for your own power. By all rights, he should want you dead."

He laughed. "Oh, I'm sure he does. But he's also such a good boy. Does whatever his master wants, even all these years later." Pryce shrugged his shoulders. "He thought I'd want revenge on your boss for exiling me all those years ago. Came by around a year ago asking for my help leading his little splinter group and planning how to strike against you people."

"What did you tell him?" She growled.

"I told him I wasn't interested in his power trip and not to come back." He yawned. "Then he offered me a couple million to act as a consultant. I'd be a fool to pass up that opportunity."

Her fingers tightened around her mug. "You son of a whore."

"How eloquent." He teased. "It was hardly anything specific. I know nothing about Rocket's inner workings nowadays, and I didn't want any details. All I gave him was a broader grand strategy. Methods for dealing with larger opponents, a list of little Gio's weaknesses, and how best to exploit them."

"You were the one who told him to start feeding information to Interpol."

"Them and any other enemies Rocket may have. A coordinated effort is always more effective than a lone agent." Pryce hummed in thought. "I'd wager that if those fanatics in other regions had survived, he'd be working with them too."

"How many people has he turned to his side?" She demanded.

"You think he'd tell me after I said no? Don't be delusional." He tsked. "If he's started assassinating close allies of Gio and directing Interpol to your more important operations, though? He's getting close to the endgame. He'll make his move soon."

This was bad. If what Pryce said was true, then Marauder had to have a large support base in the organization. Enough that he felt confident in risking exposure and death at Giovanni's hands.

"If he thinks Rocket will follow him, then he's lost his mind." She stated. "We're loyal to Giovanni."

"You are loyal to Giovanni. Perhaps other key agents and members of the leadership. But the average Grunt or lieutenant? They won't give a shit who calls the shots." Pryce warned. "My guess is they'll hedge their bets and wait to see who looks stronger. All it'll take is enough of them seeing the king bleed and they'll flock to Marauder in droves."

She hated to admit that he was right. Most people who joined Team Rocket were selfish at heart. That was fine. Everyone was selfish, even those who claimed otherwise. It was just Human nature. All that mattered to them was the money and respect being in Rocket afforded them.

Even if they wouldn't have any of that without Giovanni.

"We'll just have to kill him and remind everyone why Giovanni is at the top." She snapped the briefcase closed and stood up, dragging it off the table. "I'd best be going… unless there's anything else you need to tell me?"

"Not you, but I do have a message for little Gio." He leaned forward, cupping hands together on the table. "Marauder knows his secret. If he wants it kept safe? He'd best step down now before things get bloody."

She frowned. "What secret are you talking about? What needs to be kept safe?"

"Now that would be telling. Why spoil the fun?" He smirked. "I'm sure you'll figure it out one day. If you live long enough to see Giovanni's downfall, anyway."

Aether Paradise was on fire.

Soaring high above the clouds, Latias had a clear view of the chaos below. Firefights had broken out across the entire island between Rocket and Aether security. Gunshots shattered the air like thunder cracks, drowning out all else. Fires raged below and scorched the earth, the scent of blood and smoke omnipresent everywhere she went.

It was an all too familiar feeling.

For a moment, Latias wasn't in Alola anymore. No, she was back in Alto Mare. A city that had once been a bastion of peace, romance, and culture for the world. Reduced to a pile of wreckage and a mass grave at the bottom of the ocean.

She could still hear the screams of a city under siege in her nightmares. Smell the blood and the smoke that tainted the air. Sometimes she would even see the bodies in the water of her dreams and recognize them as people she'd once knew.

Worst of all was the overwhelming fear that had gripped the city. The pressure had been so intense that Latias herself felt like she was drowning under the negativity – the fear, anguish, and loss of hope. At the time, she'd forcefully cut herself off from the emotions of those around her just so she could focus.

They had needed a guardian… and her failure would go down in history as the worst tragedy since the end of the Human's Great War.

She would not– could not– fail again. Her memories receded, and she found herself back in the present. In yet another beautiful region at the mercy of Team Rocket, with even more innocent people dying for their ambitions. All so they could get access to data on the mysterious Ultra Space.

It disgusted her.

Down by the docks, a firefight was taking place between Rocket's goons and Aether security. Only… it was far more of a massacre than a fight. Armed with powerful Pokemon and assault weapons, Rocket cut through Aether like a scythe through a wheat field. Bloody-white uniformed bodies alongside their Pokemon partners littered the grounds.

Team Rocket hadn't just come to steal data or send a message. They'd come to exterminate everyone on the island.

An angry cry escaped her lips, carried along the winds down below. Faster than the Human eye could perceive, she fell upon the Rocket group and unleashed her Psychic power upon them. From within the center of their formation, a shockwave of mental energy blew them all off their feet.

The first thing she felt was their shock, quickly followed by fear. Before they could even process what happened, Latias' eyes glowed a vibrant blue. The air hummed with Psychic power. The Rocket Grunts and their Pokemon were collectively lifted off the ground, suspended high in the air.

Only to be slammed back down with enough force to shatter bone.

She ignored their cries of pain and tossed them all aside. With broken bones, none of them would be a threat. Turning her attention to the Aether security she'd saved, the guns of the broken Rocket Grunts flew into their hands.

They'd need them if they planned to keep fighting.

Her eyes flicked to the groaning, prone bodies around her. Dealing with them had been easy, but they weren't the driving force behind this attack. If she wanted this to end, she needed to know where Matori and Gozu were in the middle of all this.

Breaking past the mental defenses of these Grunts was easy. Blinded by the pain of broken limbs and unused to defending from a mental assault, their knowledge soon became hers. Every pleasant memory, intrusive thought, or passionate feeling were stripped bare and revealed to her mind's eye.

Nothing. These Grunts were useless. Aside from general orders to cause mayhem and steal anything of value, they didn't know the finer details of the plan.

That was fine. There were always more where these came from.

Latias flew above the island – a sonic boom shattering the air in her wake. With so many attacking the island, it wasn't hard to find more Grunts. All across the island, so many people needed help… and only she could provide it to them all.

In myths from ancient times, Latias and Latios were considered the messengers of the gods. Traversing the world at blinding speeds and dominating the skies, even when facing other Legends. It was perhaps what her kind were most known for.

In modern times, her speed was not nearly as overpowering as it had once been. With the advent of jet engines and the widespread use of planes, Humans had long since surpassed the speed of Legends with their technology. Even ignoring their inventions, Humanity had found ways to enhance and train the speed of average Pokemon to previously unheard-of levels.

Yet as she flew above the island, she knew none of that mattered here. No Pokemon here could match her and there wasn't a jet in sight. For all intents and purposes, she was the undisputed master of the skies and could rain punishment down on her enemies unimpeded.

Across the island, she appeared where she was needed most. Flames and draconic energy spewed forth from her mouth, scorching the ground beneath her and sending Rocket scattering. Her mind seized hold of their bodies and all the loose debris nearby, battering and bashing the invaders into submission.

By the time they realized there was a Legend rampaging across the island, she had already smashed through half their forces. Kinetic barriers of Psychic energy swirled around her, protecting her tough hide from the bullets and energy attacks of her foes below.

Her very presence rallied the spirits of Aether's defenders. Once they had realized a Legend was on their side, they fought back with renewed vigor. It was as if a deity had descended from the heavens to smite their enemies. Even outnumbered and outgunned, Aether security and the Interpol agents hidden among them fought like wildcats.

Sooner or later, Matori would have to show herself. She was the only one who could rally her dwindling troops into action. Throw in the tantalizing possibility of capturing a Legend?

And it was only a matter of time.

Anabel had always wanted to be a hero.

When she was a kid, she would always fantasize about fighting evil and saving the day. Cartoons and fairy tales had instilled a strong sense of morals in her. Some of her greatest inspirations as a kid were the superheroes she'd see in her stories. When her Psychic powers had manifested, it had been like a dream come true.

Her journey hadn't changed anything. Traveling the world had given her a greater appreciation for the people and cultures around her. Unlike the nebulous concept of 'people' that she had once believed heroes fought for, now she had names and faces to use as motivation. Even after becoming a Frontier Brain, her drive to help others had only grown stronger.

Becoming an Interpol agent had been the culmination of all her years of training and ideals. Working from the shadows to fight the monster's society didn't know existed? Preserving the delicate sense of normalcy that good men and women enjoyed? Often using weapons and Pokemon that she'd only dreamed of in the past?

There was no length she wouldn't go to protect the innocent.

Anabel held her breath… and squeezed the trigger of the rifle in her hands.

In the distance, a glowing Manectric's head jerked backwards, a shower of blood exploding out the back.

She didn't wait to see its body hit the floor.

The moment she'd severed the connection to Looker's mind, Anabel had sprinted towards the armory hidden on the island. The attack had left Aether scrambling to survive with the sidearms and Pokemon they had on them.

Against the units of Team Rocket, Aether security didn't stand a chance on their own. If they survived this, Wicke and the other execs would need to start taking their security more seriously.

Fear that wasn't her own surged through her. Bitter, piercing, and dreadful all at once. Foreign faces of children and a loving husband flashed before her eyes. A heart beat in her ears before being drowned out by the buzz of insect wings.

She swiveled her gun. A Vespiquen dragged a groundskeeper up in the air. The hair on her arms stood on end as phantom mandibles clicked together in her mind like cruel laughter. Saliva dribbled down and splashed into the worker's eye. Her heart skipped a beat as phantom, insectoid claws dug into her skin.

She ignored it all. Waited for the insectoid to rear its head back and spread its jaws wide. Took a deep breath… and fired.

Her bullet shattered the red crystal of the Vespiquen's crown, showering the groundskeeper in blood and shards. Relief tickled her consciousness, even as the groundskeeper landed in a heap next to the insect's corpse. It was like a gasp of fresh air after being on the edge of drowning. Warm, soothing, and vibrant.

Anabel's instructors always said a sniper rifle suited her well.

They were right.

Her attention was drawn to the northwest. A small contingent of Aether workers and a lone security guard had barricaded themselves within an office building. Rocket were banging on the doors and siccing their Pokemon on them, but to no avail. The concrete walls held up against the energy attacks and massive bodies of the monsters. Even the makeshift barricade of desks and filing cabinets held strong against the hungry jaws of a pack of Mightyena.

One of them ushered the others aside and reached down to grab a grenade off his belt.

He never got the chance. A single pull of the trigger was all it took. The grenade exploded on his hip once her bullet pierced its shell. The flames engulfed the Grunt and everyone else nearby. It tore those not engulfed in the fire to ribbons by the burning shrapnel slicing through their bodies.

From her perch, Anabel had a clear view of the battlefield below. By now, most of Rocket had taken a more conservative approach to their attack. Wildly looking around the battlefield and blindly firing at every rooftop or ledge they could see.

It was a mistake. The best place for a sniper was inside a room with an open window. It hid the shooter, masked the sound of a supersonic round, and made the muzzle flash impossible to see.

She could pick targets off with impunity up here.

No matter how many she killed, however, it wasn't enough. Team Rocket could always replace the Pokemon and Grunts she took out here, no matter how skilled they were. No, if they were going to deal any lasting damage, she needed to target the head of the snake.

She scanned the battlefield. A pack of Mightyena to the north tore an intern apart. One of the nature reserves had been set ablaze by a roaming Magmortar, condemning everything inside to a fiery death. To the west, a Grunt gunned down a security guard begging for his life.

None of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was finding Matori. With so many of her peons running about, however, finding her was all but impossible.

Anabel needed a way to flush her out. Thankfully, she had just the technique.

Battle Coordination. The same technique she had used to take down Proton in Alto Mare. It was just a shame that she wasn't strong enough to place the entire island under her influence. Perhaps one day she'd be able to link that many minds together, but not yet. She was still too weak.

At her side, Espeon's eyes glowed with Psychic power. The two had connected their minds to amplify their power. Together, they linked the scattered minds of Aether's security and workforce. Every thought or feeling one had was felt by them all. Every word spoken or sight seen was instantaneously known across the battlefield. Orders were given and carried out simultaneously.

They were a hivemind now. Dozens of bodies acting as one in pursuit of a single goal: the defense of Aether. With her as the guiding influence, those under her sway fought with greater courage. Their shots hit their mark, their Pokemon swarmed the invaders, and they moved with a level of coordination no training could give.

The ground beneath an entrenched group of Aether security shook. A window near the edge of the room cracked. Her own precognition flared to life, compelling Aether's goons to do the same and dive away. It was the only thing that saved them, as an Onix erupted from the ground with a mighty roar.

She squeezed the trigger. Onix flinched back as a bullet slammed into its eye, a guttural growl drowning out the gunfire nearby. Anabel didn't hesitate, swiveling her rifle to its other eye and squeezing the trigger. The gargantuan rock snake thrashed and screamed in pain as its sight was taken from it.

Before she or any of her forces could capitalize on its injuries, someone else beat them to it. Faster than their eyes could perceive, Latias swooped down from the skies. A blast of sickly green wind blew from her mouth, slamming into the beast with enough force to push it back.

Try as it might, the Onix couldn't move an inch. Blind and paralyzed, there was nothing it could do to stop Latias from lifting it into the air with her mind and hurling it off the island. Even with the sounds of battle raging around them, a distant splash could be heard once the Onix hit the water.

The Legend battling on their side set a spark of hope through the mental link. Hope snapped from mind to mind. They could win this.

Even she was relieved. Anabel could manufacture a lot of emotions, but hope wasn't one of them. That had to come from within.

Anabel's eyes widened. She quickly swiveled her scope around to the southeast. Her troops had managed to pin a small group of Rocket Grunts down by a groundskeeper's workshop. Jets of fire, streams of water, and a sporadic stream of bullets kept them from escaping.

One of them had spotted a flash of purple hair amidst the firefight.

Purple was a rare enough color that those who had it stood out. Combined with the Rocket officer's uniform and Alolan Meowth at her side? Anabel could safely say that she had found Matori.

Even hidden behind cover, Anabel had a clear line of sight on her. She watched the Rocket admin blindly fire around her cover and shout orders to her Grunts.

It would be so easy to kill her. A bullet to the head and she would rob Rocket of one of its most effective agents. Rocket's attack on Aether and their entire operation in Alola would crumble with her death.

Shame she couldn't just kill Matori.

She'd just have to capture her instead.

Shooting to wound rather than kill was a tricky thing to pull off. There were only a few places in the Human body that could take a bullet without severing a major artery or destroying a vital organ. Getting shot in the shoulder wouldn't kill quickly… but almost any gunshot could be fatal if given enough time.

They'd need to act fast. Easy enough with the hivemind at her disposal

She zeroed in on Matori. Slowly, she directed her troops to feign a retreat. Deliberately missing shots, shouting about their grievous wounds, falling back to different pieces of cover. Just enough to sell that they were on the run.

Matori took the bait. With how poorly her plans in Alola had been going, she couldn't afford not to capitalize on this opportunity. She stepped out from behind her cover, ushering her people forward with a wild wave of her arm.

A flag in the background flapped to the right. Anabel shifted in place. Her breath stilled as her scope slid just slightly to the left of Matori. She gently squeezed the trigger and watched with bated breath through the lens of her scope.

It happened fast. One moment, Matori was galvanizing her troops into action and calling for the deaths of Aether security. The very next instant, she was blown off her feet in a shower of blood once the bullet struck.

Anabel didn't have to wait long to see if she survived. Matori screamed loud enough to drown out the gunfire around her and writhed on the ground. A mental command to her forces urged them out of cover, laying suppressive fire down on Matori's Grunts.

It wasn't enough. One brave Grunt rushed through the gunfire long enough to drag Matori back into the cover of the workshop. Try as they might, Aether wouldn't be able to break past the perimeter of assault rifles and enraged Pokemon Rocket was using to keep her safe.

No matter. Matori wasn't stupid enough to think she could survive a wound like that forever. Eventually, she'd surrender to get the proper medical aid. Assuming Looker or one of the other Interpol agents on the island didn't get to her first.

All Anabel had to do was keep her right where she wanted her.

It was a testament to how effective Interpol's training was that Ash's nerves weren't getting the better of him.

In the past, his heart would hammer in his throat. It didn't matter if he was facing down Legends or the megalomaniacs behind evil organizations. The fear he felt chilled him to the bone. How could it not? When death and destruction on untold scales played out before his eyes, only a fool didn't feel fear.

He always managed to fight past his nerves, though. If it meant protecting his loved ones, then his own fear was insignificant compared to their lives. Even in Alto Mare, facing down common criminals had been enough to make him hesitate.

Yet this time… Ash felt calm. Even with the muffled sound of gunfire and explosions coming from the outside, his nerves were steady. Rather than fearing for his own safety or running into one of Rocket's goons, the only thing he felt was determination.

He wouldn't let Team Rocket get their hands on Aether's data. If they got access to the Ultra Wormholes, who knew the damage they could cause? Who knew what their greed and arrogance would let in? He had seen the power of the Ultra Beasts and walked the grounds of a world destroyed by them.

Ash would die before he let that happen to his world.

His partner ran at his side, easily keeping pace with him. After surviving rampaging Legends and cruel organizations during their journey, Ash knew Pikachu shared that same commitment. The only one he had doubts about was Bewear… but even she would die before letting Team Rocket get what they wanted.

Even if it wasn't for the same reasons.

They just needed to reach the science labs. With how often he had visited Lillie, he knew this place like the back of his hand. From what he remembered, Aether had spared no expense to build the labs safely underground. Or underwater, considering this was an artificial island.

He just needed to make it through the office complex and-

A gunshot split the air. Ash and Pikachu both dove for cover behind a nearby cubicle. Sparks danced across Pikachu's cheeks. Ash's hand reflexively flew to the revolver on his hip. Yet when no follow up shots came, an uneasy frown wormed its way across his face.

Ash peaked around the corner of the cubicle. Down at the end of the hall, one of Aether's employees was dragging themselves across the floor. Older than Ash, but still too young to be a regular employee on the island. With the amount of blood leaking from their leg, the bullet must have hit an artery.

His first instinct was to rush forward and pull the boy to safety. Training and caution kept him rooted in place. A wise decision when a group of Rocket thugs stepped out from behind the corner. And at the head of the group was none other than Gozu himself.

The veteran criminal looked down at the Aether employee and scoffed. Without missing a beat, he drew his sidearm and shot the boy clean through the back of the head before he could even blink.

Ash tightened his fists.

"I told you people; we're going for clean kills. That means shots to the head and the torso." Gozu chastised. "We're professionals, not psychopaths. Start acting like it."

Professionals… what bullshit. They could call themselves whatever they liked. It wouldn't change what they were. Psychopathic monsters. Only someone truly evil could butcher the innocent and defenseless without flinching. Team Rocket liked to parade themselves around as above the cruelty of their rivals in other regions, but deeper down?

The only difference was the uniform. They were all the same.

He'd once thought they would never go to this extreme. That there was a limit to their cruelty. After what they'd done to him, though? What they'd done before Alto Mare drowned? He knew better. The only limit was what they felt they could get away with.

And if they somehow managed to pull this off? They just might. If word of this carnage got out, Aether and Alola would both suffer an economic hit as people now associated both with a massacre. Interpol, the police, and even Team Rocket would face the dangerous effects of a world who now saw them as dangerous terrorists, not simple mobsters.

The panic and fear that would cause… Ash couldn't begin to imagine how bad it would get. All he knew was that everyone would be doing their damndest to cover this up. Explain away all the dead, the injured, the destruction, and all the danger Team Rocket posed.

It would be like none of this ever happened. Whether Team Rocket snagged the intel or not, the world would never know what really happened here.

Ash was going to make damn sure they failed. He owed the dead that much.

"Search the rest of the floor. Make sure there aren't any stragglers hiding out nearby waiting to ambush us from behind." Gozu ordered. "I'm going on ahead to the labs. Find me once the floor is secure."

Ash and Pikachu exchanged a look. They needed to get to the labs, but if they could take down Gozu's backup before dealing with him? It just might tip the odds in their favor.

He glanced behind him towards the door of a nearby office that had been left open. Whoever it belonged to must have run the moment they realized what was happening. It would make for a good hiding place to ambush a Grunt when they came this way.

When the two of them snuck into the room and shut the door behind them, however, Ash heard a sharp gasp. He froze. Hidden in the corner of the room behind a filing cabinet was an elderly woman — an accountant, as far as he could tell.

Slowly, he pressed a finger to his lips. He gestured behind him towards the door and mouthed the word killers to her. If her shaky whimper and tear-stained face were anything to go by, it didn't have the calming effect he'd been hoping for.

"Alright, boys. You heard the boss." Footsteps grew louder as the Grunts drew closer. "You three take the left. We'll handle the right. Radio in if you find any trouble."

They were splitting up. That would make this easier, but not by much. If these people were former military like Gozu, they wouldn't wander far from each other. Unless he handled this delicately, he'd end up in over his head.

His eyes flicked down to the revolver in his hands. This wasn't the time to get trigger-happy. The Grunts may not bat an eye at their machine guns going off, but if they heard a revolver shot? They'd have no choice but to investigate. Which left him with one option.

He holstered his revolver and drew his dagger. His hand started to shake, but a quick glance at the woman in the corner of the room steadied it. This was no time to hesitate. Protecting her was more important than his reservations.

Pikachu raised his head in the air. He held up his paw and closed his eyes, ears twitching every few seconds. Ash watched his tiny, yellow paws flex closed four times. Finally, the electric mouse opened his eyes and looked up at Ash.

It was fortunate that Ash had spent years communicating silently with Pikachu. He'd had to learn his little buddy's tells. After all, he wasn't always lucky enough to travel with a Psychic.

He looked back towards the woman in the room. He silently shushed her one more time before tightening his grip on his dagger. With his hand on the door handle, he waited for Pikachu's signal.

A few moments and one sharp nod later, Ash pulled the door open and stepped out. On the other side of the office space, one of Rocket's Grunts was checking each of the cubicles for survivors. He gestured for Pikachu to watch his back while he crept forward.

Getting behind the Grunt was easy. With ample cover from the cubicles and carefully moving on the balls of his feet, it was just a matter of waiting until his back was turned. Yet once he was close – a single cubicle wall behind the man… he hesitated. Could he really go through with this?

A distant gunshot echoed from the other side of the floor.

His eyes narrowed. The terrified face of the elderly woman and the dead Aether employees flashed through his mind.

No more. They wouldn't kill anyone else if he could stop it.

It happened fast. Once the Grunt stepped out of the last cubicle to move on the next one, Ash sprang forward. A kick to the back of the knee sent him stumbling down. Before the man could cry out in alarm or react, Ash slipped his hand over the criminals' mouth and jammed his dagger clean through his throat. With a simple twist, he tore the knife from his enemy's body.

The Grunt let out muffled cries of pain, followed shortly by the gurgles of a man drowning in his own blood. The struggling stopped soon after. With a shuddering breath, Ash released his hold and let the body drop to the ground.

For a moment, Ash stared down at his blood-soaked blade. His hand wasn't even shaking…

Sheathing his dagger on his hip, Ash snatched the Rocket's rifle off the ground and searched the body for anything else useful. Aside from a couple of empty Pokeballs and an extra magazine for the rifle, there was nothing he could use.

One down. Six more to go.

Finding the other three on this side of the floor had been easy. They were busy checking the rooms further down the hall. With no clue that their friend was already dead, it made what came next far easier.

The first was simple. He'd gotten careless in one of the offices, and decided to rummage through the open safe on the wall. A bullet to the back of the brain dropped him quick enough. Since it came from the rifle, none of the other Grunts gave it a second thought.

The second hadn't been any more difficult. The moment he stepped out of the office, Pikachu leaped into action. His tail turned to steel and smashed through the skull of the Grunt. It didn't so much cave in as it exploded in a shower of blood and gore. Almost like a hammer smashing through a melon.

It was far from quiet. The third Grunt rushed out of the office he'd been searching, gun raised and ready to fire. If Ash hadn't been waiting for him, he might have managed to get a shot off. Instead, he stumbled back as a burst of bullets slammed into him. The first three slammed into his Kevlar vest. The fourth blasted clean through the Grunts eye and straight out the back of his skull.

He breathed a sigh of relief. That just left the three on the opposite side of the building. Once they were dealt with, he could move on to dealing with Gozu. He could rush that way and take them from behind… or he could play it smart and set a trap.

Searching the bodies for a working radio was easy. Next to the Pokeballs on the hip of one Grunt, he also found an unused grenade. Petrovic had taught him the basics of how to handle them, but this would be the first time he'd use one on anything other than training dummies.

He couldn't pass up on the firepower, however. Not now.

Ash held the radio up to Pikachu, turning it on. On cue, Pikachu let out an exaggerated roar and a blast of thunder at the nearby cubicle. It scorched the wood, and the air crackled with primal power. As far as the Grunts on the other end knew, this was a call for help.

"Hang tight! We're on our way!" One shouted through the radio.

Perfect.

Setting up an ambush was about the proper staging. Looker had once told him that positioning and timing were often far more important than firepower. If you could catch an enemy off guard and strike where they were weakest, then it didn't matter how powerful they were.

It didn't take long for them to get into position. While Pikachu rushed forward and hid within the cluster of cubicles, Ash stayed a bit further back within one of the open rooms. It was only another couple of minutes before he heard the Grunts arrive.

Interpol called hallways and alleys fatal funnels. Anywhere that was narrow and offered no cover was the worst place to be once the bullets started flying and Pokemon launched their attacks. Staging one of the fallen Grunts to look like they were merely injured had been a simple case of propping them up against a wall and placing their arms over their stomach.

Once he heard them take the bait and approach, Ash pulled the pin on the grenade and blindly tossed it around the corner towards the group. At that exact moment, Pikachu dashed out behind them and let off a blast of electricity so bright and powerful, the hairs on his body stood on end. Ash raised his hands to cover his ears.

While Team Rocket screamed and convulsed under the lightning, some of the electricity arced upward and struck the grenade. From there, it didn't take long for the intensity of the heat to ignite the gunpowder within and set it off.

The explosion that followed was deafening. Even covering his ears couldn't fully suppress the noise. It shook him to his very bones. Even with the wall and distance between him and the explosion, Ash was nearly blown off his feet.

Ash shook away his disorientation and stepped out from behind cover, rifle raised in anticipation. He shouldn't have worried. All that remained of the Grunts were mangled bits of gore coating the walls and a scorched hole in the ceiling where the grenade had gone off.

He winced. All this death… he hoped it had been quick. Quick enough that they hadn't even had time to register the grenade going off.

Pikachu scurried towards him. There wasn't a scratch on him, thankfully. He'd gotten to cover just before the grenade went off and avoided the shrapnel. Thank Arceus for small mercies.

Now, if only the bastard could give out some big ones.

"Is the old woman okay?" He asked.

Pikachu offered him a confident thumbs up.

Good. While she must have been terrified by all the gunshots and explosions, it was better than being dead. As long as she stayed hidden until reinforcements arrived, she'd survive this. He'd make sure anyone who could be a threat was more focused on him.

"Come on. It's time we dealt with Gozu once and for all."

When he'd been young, Pikachu had never wanted to have a trainer.

It was strange. Most Pokemon dreamed of going on journeys with Humans. It didn't matter what species or Type you were, all Pokemon grew up wanting to be strong. Whether you lived in the untamed wilds, the deep oceans, murky caves, or within sprawling cities, there was one fact of life all Pokemon understood.

Humans were strength personified.

Everyone knew the stories. Runts of the litter and the weakest of the tribe being cast out. Despised for their weakness. Adrift in a cruel world of bloody survival. Only to one day stumble upon a Human village and be taken in. Raised among their kindness and taught their ways, they found a source of strength more effective than simple survival.

Strength enough to not just surpass the alphas of their tribe, but to challenge the very gods themselves. Time and again, myths of Legends being bested by Humans and their Pokemon partners popped up across the world.

For Pokemon, strength was everything. It wasn't just simple combat; it was a way of life. The euphoria of growing stronger and the thrill of breaking your limits… It was an indescribable feeling. All of them sought it, in one way or another. Yet in the wilds, you were either born strong, or you were weak. Try as they might, Pokemon could never achieve the same heights on their own.

It was more than just that, though. Humans… they weren't just strong in a physical sense. They could fight well, but they lacked the same natural abilities as Pokemon. Somehow, though, they turned their weakness into strength.

Their bodies were weak, so they created armor. They had no fangs or claws or ability to harness energy, so they created weapons. Disease ravaged their bodies, so they eradicated it with medicine. Mother nature denied them the open skies and deep oceans, so they crafted machines to take them there.

They didn't just survive; they thrived. No matter what the world threw at them, Humans always overcame it. Their cities were on every continent and only expanding. The stars – once considered out of reach for all but the strongest of Legends – had been laid bare for them.

Perhaps most terrifying of all… their destructive potential rivaled the strongest of the gods. Even with Pikachu's limited understanding of Human technology, he knew this. If any Legend ever truly became a threat to their existence?

Humanity would retaliate with enough power to turn the world into a barren wasteland.

Despite all of this, Pikachu had still never wanted a trainer. Why give up his freedom to follow some random Human around the world? He could get strong on his own, or so he'd thought. That hadn't changed after being captured or meeting Ash. To say that his first impressions of his trainer had been poor would be an understatement. All meeting Ash did back then was cement his belief that Humans were overestimated.

Things had changed, of course. Seeing someone willing to die to protect you tended to have that effect on people. For as much as he teased Ash, his trainer was exceptional. Things Pikachu once thought impossible were now second-nature to him. To say that he was the strongest of his kind wouldn't be a stretch.

Few Pokemon alive could claim to have fought not one, but three Legends and won.

He owed it all to Ash. The Human he had watched gone on unbelievable journeys with and watched grow into a remarkable young man. If there was anyone who personified Humanity's will to grow stronger, it was him.

Recently, however, there had been a change in his partner.

Once upon a time, Ash wouldn't dream of hurting anyone. He was too kind-hearted to wish anyone actual harm. Ever since joining Interpol, though, he'd gotten more violent. Not eager, but willing to use it if he had to.

Not that Pikachu could blame him. He couldn't even blame Interpol, since all they'd done was help. It was just the monsters they were facing. Rocket, Skull, and all the rest. It was hard to keep your hands clean when constantly exposed to the cruelty of the world. Doubly so when others were relying on you to protect them.

Just because he understood why didn't mean he approved, though. The others may not have realized it yet, but he had. Ash wasn't built for this job. He wasn't meant to be an Interpol agent. Sooner or later, something in him was going to break beyond repair.

If it hadn't already.

Pikachu considered it his greatest failure that he couldn't protect Ash from all this.

When the two of them neared the entrance to Aether's labs, they came to a stop and hid behind a nearby wall. Close to ten meters away on the other side of the room, Gozu and his Aggron stood outside the entrance of the labs. The ground shook as the lumbering monster slammed its steel body into the reinforced doors keeping them out.

The man either hadn't heard or didn't care about the gunshots earlier. He must have thought it was just his Grunts dealing with security. It gave them the perfect opportunity to ambush him.

Pikachu looked up at Ash as if to ask what the plan was, but stopped. To his shock, Ash had already decided what to do. With his stolen rifle raised, Ash lined up a shot with the Rocket's exposed back. There wasn't a hint of anxiety, fear, or even anger on his face.

Only a calm sense of acceptance.

It was unsettling.

Ash held down the trigger. Deafening thunder cracks shattered the air. Even with years of League experience, Pikachu still flinched at the sound. Gunshots were always more impactful than explosions made by Pokemon attacks.

The ambush didn't work. Gozu wasn't an untrained civilian who would freeze up or frantically search for the source of a gunshot. He was a veteran of the Great War. The instant he heard the gunfire, he dove to the closest piece of cover he could find: Aggron.

Not that it was needed. Faster than its kind should have been capable of moving, Aggron spun on a dime and hunched itself over Gozu's body. The bullets bounced harmlessly off the metal titan's steel armor.

Once the rifle clicked empty, Ash ducked back behind cover to reload his weapon. Pikachu's cheeks sparked dangerously.

"Guess my boys are all dead." Gozu shouted from behind Aggron. There was no chance for either Pikachu or Ash to hit him from this angle. "You must be with Interpol. Aether's rent-a-cops sure wouldn't get the better of them."

"I'll give you one chance. Surrender now." Ash tossed his empty magazine aside and slotted his extra one in place. "Reinforcements are on their way. You won't escape."

A snort echoed through the room. "We'll see about that." There was a brief pause. "Hold on, I know that voice… Woods!?"

"Figured it out, have you?" Despite the taunt, Ash didn't look amused. "Pat yourself on the back. It only took a couple weeks and me shooting at you to realize it. I can see why Team Rocket kept you around."

Gozu growled. "I'm gonna enjoy putting a bullet in you, brat."

"Bold words for a man hiding behind his Aggron." Unclipping Bewear's Pokeball from his belt, he unleashed her. "My offer still stands. This doesn't have to end in violence. I promise you'll get a fair trial."

"Shove it up your ass, Woods."

Ash closed his eyes. "There's no reasoning with you people, is there?"

He almost sounded… disappointed? Tired? Pikachu couldn't tell what was lurking beneath the surface of his friends' words.

At his side, Bewear materialized from her ball and stood at her full height. For a moment, she looked around in curiosity, turning her body back and forth. Once her eyes landed on Aggron and Gozu, however, that all changed. Muscles bulged beneath her thick fur, her eyes blazed with unspoken fury, and a menacing growl bubbled past her lips.

"Easy, Bewear." Pikachu advised. "We can't rush in."

A bright glow drew his attention back across the room. The telltale glow of Mega Evolution enveloped the room as a cocoon of energy encased Aggron. Cursing under his breath, Pikachu sent a blast of lightning towards them. He felt the rush of wind as Bewear sprinted forward and even heard the thunder cracks of Ash's rifle.

It was no use. The cocoon of energy completely protected Aggron from anything they threw at it. In mere moments, it exploded outward in a violent display of light and pushed Bewear back. When the blinding light subsided, the hulking form of Mega Aggron towered over them.

It all went downhill from there. Aggron bulldozed forward and collided with Bewear. After a brief struggle, he lifted her up and hurled her towards Pikachu. He only managed to get out of the way thanks to a quick burst of speed and quick reflexes.

In the chaos of it all, Gozu and Ash were gone.

As much as he hated it, that may have been for the best. Pikachu couldn't fight Aggron and protect Ash at the same time.

He never took his eyes off Aggron. "You alright, Bewear?"

She forced herself to her feet, dusting herself off in the process. "It'll take more than that to take me down." She growled. "What's the plan?"

"Hit him hard. Try not to die." Pikachu shrugged. "Ash is usually the one who comes up with the plans."

Bewear snorted. "Lovely."

That was all that could be said. This time, when Aggron rushed forward, Bewear dodged to the side. Just as the steel monster started to turn, Bewear slammed a glowing fist into his gut. A gasp tore from his lips. Instead of retreating, Aggron rammed his horns into Bewear's shoulder.

Once the two had forced themselves apart, Pikachu sprinted forward. Electricity sparked around him, eventually encasing him entirely in something akin to a Volt Tackle. Just as quickly as he harnessed the energy, however, his tail turned to steel.

All the energy he had gathered was conducted into his tail. It glowed a vibrant gold and sparked dangerously. A tiny indicator of the destructive power he had funneled into his tail.

Aggron reared back, a ball of golden energy appearing in its mouth. Pikachu seized the opening and leaped through the air, angling himself towards his enemy's head. Just before he could strike, Aggron jerked his head out of the way at the last second.

It was only partially effective.

Pikachu had meant to decapitate Aggron in one blow. The strength and sharpness of his tail combined with the intense energy of his electricity could cut through almost anything. If it hadn't been for Aggron's reflexes, he could have ended this fight here and now.

Instead, all he did was slash out Aggron's eyes. The sound of metal sizzling and shearing grated on the ears. The only thing more unsettling than the feel of cutting through Aggron's flesh beneath the armor was the agonized scream he let out once the pain set in.

Even blinded, Aggron was far from out of the fight. Before Pikachu landed on the ground, a set of gargantuan claws grabbed Pikachu in midair. Faster than he could blink, Aggron slammed Pikachu into the concrete floor hard enough to create a deep crater.

Pikachu felt more than he heard his bones crack under the force of the blow. It only worsened once the claws wrapped around his body started to squeeze, as if trying to pop him like a balloon. He could hardly breathe, let alone think straight under the intense pressure forced upon his body.

Mercifully, he was not alone in this fight.

A pink and black paw collided with the side of Aggron's face, sending him crashing through a distant wall. Before he could fully recover, Bewear descended upon his prone body. Powerful blow after powerful blow rained down on the crippled Aggron, cracking and denting his metal hide.

Pikachu struggled to his feet. It hurt to breathe, and his heart pounded in his throat. He couldn't afford to pass out now, though. They needed to finish off Aggron so they could find Ash.

Aggron's body glowed with golden energy.

"Bewear, look out!" Pikachu shouted.

It was too late. Before Bewear could move out of the way, Aggron slammed his bulky tail into the back of her legs. When she stumbled, he raked his shadowy black and silver claws across her chest.

This was bad. If Pikachu didn't act quickly, Aggron could kill Bewear. Even with her type advantage and Aggron's loss of sight, Mega Evolution more than evened the playing field. That she was still standing at all was a testament to her strength.

His eyes shot to the ceiling and sprinklers that hung above them. It was a longshot, and a risky one at that. It had just as much of a chance to kill Bewear as it did Aggron. Desperate times called for desperate measures, however.

He'd just need to have faith in Bewear.

Lightning sparked off his fur, striking the sprinklers above. His electricity was more than hot enough to break the glass vials in the sprinklers and set them off. The entire area and everyone in it was bombarded with enough water to put out a wildfire.

The effect was instantaneous. With the water conducting the electricity, Bewear and Aggron both cried out in pain. Aggron stumbled away from Bewear's downed form, uselessly thrashing about and trying to kill an invisible enemy.

His struggles amount to nothing. Forcing her body to work through the pain, Bewear lumbered behind him and wrapped her arms around her chest. Faster than he could react, she lifted him high above her head before bringing him crashing back down to earth.

The resulting impact shattered the floor and shook the building. By the time the dust cleared, Pikachu ceased generating electricity. It wasn't needed anymore.

Bewear – bleeding and exhausted – towered above the broken body of Aggron. And he was broken. She had smashed his once imposing armor into tiny fragments and jagged shards, exposing the vulnerable flesh underneath. Even if he could still see, it wouldn't matter. Not with the countless broken bones he had suffered.

"G-Gozu…." Aggron croaked. "Run-"

He never got to finish. Bewear crushed his head beneath her fist with a sickening squelch and a spray of blood. Pikachu might have pitied the creature if he hadn't knowingly helped his trainer slaughter innocents.

"That… was for… my daughter." Bewear panted.

Then she collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Pikachu followed soon after once his legs gave out. The last thought he had before unconsciousness took him was hope.

Hope that Bewear could find the strength to save Ash where he couldn't.

His rifle clicked empty.

Ash swore under his breath and ducked behind cover just in time to avoid a hail of gunfire from down the hall. Tossing the rifle aside, he dashed towards an office complex in the distance. With no more ammo, the rifle was useless to him.

That just left him with his revolver, his dagger, and whatever he could find lying around. It wasn't looking great, but he didn't have any other choice.

"That's it, Woods! Keep running like the rat you are!" Gozu yelled.

Ash ignored the man. No good would come from shouting back or losing his nerves. All it would do was give Gozu a better idea of where he was, and he, for one, didn't trust simple cubicles to block bullets.

"What's wrong? No more quips? No offers to surrender?" The taunts continued. "Don't tell me the big bad Interpol agent is scared?"

The voice was drawing closer by the second. Ash couldn't stay hidden forever. He needed to go on the offensive and force Gozu onto the back foot. Glancing up at the wall in the corner, he spotted a light switch. Taking an empty Pokeball off his belt, he tossed it towards the opposite side of the room.

It bounced loudly off the side of a filing cabinet. When Gozu spun to open fire on the harmless cabinet, Ash dashed out of cover and flicked the lights off for the entire floor. He dove back into cover the instant his hand left the switch.

It may have been a minor advantage, but Ash would take whatever he could get.

"You think this is the first time I've fought in the dark?" Gozu snorted. "Kid, you are out of your league."

Maybe. He didn't have any choice but to fight, though. He doubted Gozu would just let him walk away, even if Ash had been cowardly enough to try.

He drew his revolver and crept around the sides of the office complex. By now, Gozu had to have been running low on ammo. If he could catch Gozu while his rifle was empty, he just might end this quickly.

That was easier said than done, though. Gozu wasn't going to just keep firing wildly at every random noise until he ran out of ammo. Even if he did somehow pull that off, it wouldn't take more than a couple of seconds at most for Gozu to switch magazines.

The only advantage Ash had was his trench coat. When it came to their agents, Interpol spared no expense. The best equipment, the best training, the best food, the best of everything. It was what gave them an edge over their enemies.

Their clothes were no exception. While they couldn't provide everything an agent could want to wear, Interpol gave every field operative a set of suits and trench coats specially designed for their line of work.

Each of them was made of a ballistic polymer weave. Lightweight, high tensile strength, and five times as flexible as Kevlar, they were the standard for Interpol agents. It could stop bullets, blunt the damage of physical strikes, resist the elements, and even provide a limited degree of protection from energy attacks.

It was a closely guarded secret of their organization. If what Looker and Petrovic said was true, Interpol was more than willing to kill to keep it a secret. Ash hadn't understood at the time. With his life now in its hands, though? He finally got it.

He took a deep breath to brace himself… then vaulted over the top of the desk he'd hidden behind.

The sudden noise drew Gozu's attention. Gozu raised his rifle to fire just as Ash brought the flaps of his trench coat up to protect his face. The instant he did, a hail of gunfire struck him. His chest, stomach, arms, and even his thighs felt like they were being hit with rocks.

Despite the discomfort, however, not a single one got past his coat. The bullets bounced harmlessly off of him and struck the ground. The moment he heard Gozu's rifle click empty, Ash lowered his coat and snapped his revolver up.

Three shots rang out.

The first narrowly missed Gozu's skull, shattering an office window behind him. The second two struck him clean in the chest. He tumbled backwards over the back of a desk.

Not a single drop of blood was on the ground or walls.

Gozu must have been wearing a bulletproof vest.

He grabbed the back of a nearby office chair and fired his remaining three bullets through the desk. None of them struck true, but they did force Gozu to roll out of the way.

The criminal forced himself up out of cover, a pistol of his own in hand. Ash smashed him across the face with the wheels of the office chair. Gozu lost his grip on his pistol and stumbled backwards.

Ash leaped over the desk and hurled his empty revolver at Gozu. The Rocket had only just reoriented himself when Ash's revolver slammed into his face.

Wrapping his fingers around the pommel of his dagger, Ash thrust it towards Gozu's throat. The veteran dodged to the side and into Ash's guard. Large, calloused hands wrapped around his wrist and twisted at the same time as an elbow slammed into his jaw.

He grunted in pain and dropped his knife. Clutching his face, he stumbled backwards into the desk. The two seconds it took him to do that was enough for Gozu to snatch the blade off the ground.

His breath caught in his throat. Gozu rushed forward, slashing at Ash's neck. He dropped low, dodging the blade by a hair's breadth. His fist shot forward and slammed into Gozu's bladder, just above his groin.

Even high on adrenaline, the force of the blow was enough to leave Gozu stunned and stumbling backwards.

Ash stood up and reached behind him to grab the closest weapon on the desk he could find. A stapler. From the best weapon, but it would have to do.

For a moment, the two of them circled each other. Watching every minor movement they made. Waiting to see who would strike first. The instant Gozu's feet shifted on the ground, Ash unfolded his stapler.

Gozu leaped forward, thrusting his dagger towards Ash's neck. He dodged to the right, grabbing Gozu's wrist. When he tried to twist the older man's wrist and force him to drop the blade, he slammed his forehead into Ash's nose.

There was an audible crack, and a sharp pain, but Ash refused to let go. He seized the opening and lashed out with his stapler, slamming it repeatedly into Gozu's face.

The cries of pain were visceral. Gozu recoiled and practically ripped his arm out of Ash's hold. In the process, he slashed Ash clean across the chest and cut through his trench coat.

Ash hissed in pain and stumbled back. Reflexively, he brought his hand up to touch his wound and winced. He was lucky. The cut wasn't deep. If he'd been a second slower, that could have been the end of him.

Not that Gozu looked any better. His face was a complete mess. Bloody and bruised, he had staples jammed into his flesh and out the other side. One lucky blow had even forced a staple just below Gozu's one good eye, nearly taking it out altogether.

"Motherfucking bastard!" Gozu growled. "You're dead! You hear me!? Dead!"

He wasn't wrong. Ash had held his own well so far, but he knew it wouldn't last. Gozu was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. If he wanted to win this, he'd need to do something drastic. All he had to do was play on Gozu's rage…

And hope to any god listening that Looker's reinforcements got here before he bled out.

Ash took a deep breath and dashed forward, the stapler raised high in the air. Its trajectory would be obvious to a man like Gozu. As predicted, Gozu stepped into the attack and caught Ash's wrist, forcing it aside.

Just in time to slam the dagger into Ash's gut.

The air was forced from his lungs, and his eyes bulged. Even with adrenaline pumping through him, the pain was excruciating. He could hardly even think straight.

"Not so cocky now, are you?" Gozu dropped Ash's arm. "Once I'm done with you, I'll find the rest of your team and all your little friends. They'll get exactly what they deserve for helping you."

Ash mumbled something in response, too quiet to hear.

An arrogant laugh escaped Gozu as he leaned close. "What? Something to say?"

"Ah… I-I got you."

Gozu blinked. "What-"

Ash lashed out. His jaws wrapped around Gozu's jugular and bit down as hard as he could. Ash didn't register the foul taste of the blood filling his mouth. He didn't hear the tearing of the flesh. Stopping wasn't even a thought in his mind.

He needed to protect Alola.

He needed to protect his friends.

Nothing would stop him.

A pathetic gasp escaped Gozu. He let go of the blade buried in Ash's stomach and stumbled back, clutching his neck. It was useless, though. Ash had ripped out an artery. There was no stopping the inevitable.

Gozu collapsed to the ground, choking on a river of his own blood.

Ash spat the chunk of flesh in his mouth out. For a moment, he stared down at the body at his feet. Disgust warred with relief before quickly being overshadowed by worry. Were Pikachu and Bewear okay? Had Anabel and the others managed to repel the attack?

His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed next to Gozu. He released a shuddering breath. He couldn't worry about that. Not now.

Not when every fiber of his being told him to rip the dagger out of his stomach. The pain was excruciating, growing worse with every passing second. The only thing that stayed his hands was his training.

If he wanted any chance to survive, the dagger had to stay inside.

Ash grit his teeth and reached over to grab Gozu's hand. As he suspected, Kiawe's stolen Z-Ring had been taken as a trophy by the man. He wouldn't let it stay on the man any longer. One way or another, he was returning this to his old friend.

Once he'd ripped it from the limp hand of the corpses, Ash's vision began to blur and his eyes grew heavy. It was almost a relief that unconsciousness would claim him. At least this way, the pain wouldn't plague him anymore.

"I'm sorry, everyone." He whispered. "I guess I'm still not good enough…."

Chapter Text

"This is June O'Lay with Alolan News Network coming to you live from Aether Paradise with an exclusive story."

The reporter stood in a former nature reserve. While it had once been a beautiful replica of Alola's forests, its devastation was clear to everyone watching. Gone were the towering trees and vibrant flowers that once made up the reserve. In their place was a field of ash, scorched earth, and trees charred black by mighty flames.

Even the building that houses the reserve wasn't unscathed. The roof had been blown out and its walls completely smashed. The catwalks above the reserve were all but gone. Whatever had caused this destruction had spared nothing in its path.

"It's been two weeks since the recent crisis at the Aether Foundation. After a dramatic display of force by the local authorities and the mounting questions of the public, the company has finally decided to give us the answers we deserve." Ms. O'Lay smiled. "With us today is Alolan branch chief Wicke."

Wicke smiled and waved at the camera. "Hello."

"So, how are you doing today, Ms. Wicke? It must be stressful overseeing the reconstruction." The reporter asked.

"I'm doing alright, Ms. O'lay."

"Glad to hear it, ma'am. Now, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that I'd prefer not to beat around the bush." She thrust her microphone into Wicke's face. "What happened here? Aether and the police have been tightlipped about it all."

"That was at our request. We decided it would be best to keep it quiet until we had the situation under control." Wicke said. "No need to cause a panic after the danger is passed."

"A fair point. You still haven't answered my question, though."

"Two weeks ago, the scientists of the Aether Foundation detected fluctuations in the ambient energy levels of Alola. Anomalies in space that we only ever detect when Ultra Wormholes are about to appear."

"Just for clarification, these Ultra Wormholes are connected to the same creatures that attacked Manalo Stadium eight months ago?" Ms. O'Lay asked.

"That's correct. Those particular Ultra Beasts have been dubbed Guzzlord's." Wicke closed her eyes and hung her head. "After the tragedy of that day, Aether vowed to keep a constant vigil for any sign of their return."

The reporter frowned. "If you detected them across Alola, then why did none of these Ultra Beasts appear anywhere else?"

"Thanks to our efforts, we prevented that from happening. Our scientists discovered how to strengthen the bonds of reality across Alola, at the expense of its strength here." She explained.

"Was that really the best option?" The reporter asked. "Just look at the destruction. Surely, there must have been another way."

"None that wouldn't have put the main islands at risk." Wicke gestured for the reporter and her crew to follow her. "Our only mistake was underestimating the strength of the Ultra Beasts."

"I see. How did things go wrong?"

Wicke sighed. They stopped at the edge of a small lake. While the waters seemed healthy, there wasn't a single Pokemon in them. A few of the rocks jutting out of the water even bore the scorch marks of a flame attack.

"We thought only one would come through the wormhole." She said. "Instead, nearly a dozen Guzzlord flooded our facility. They overwhelmed our security and rampaged across the island. It was… horrific."

"A dozen!?"

"It's why the police and the Rangers mobilized in force. If it hadn't been for their help, none of us would be standing here now." Wicke hung her head in mourning. "We owe our lives to the brave men and women who came to our defense. Aether will never forget their sacrifice."

The reporter appeared unconvinced. "Inspiring words, Ms. Wicke. Yet the rumors persist. Would you care to comment on them?"

"And what rumors might those be, Ms. O'Lay?"

"Word on the street is that there were no Ultra Beasts involved in the attack at all." She said. "In fact, they claim the foreign crime syndicate, Team Rocket, was behind this travesty. Witnesses report- "

"Thrill seekers, conspiracy theorists, and amateur fishermen are not credible witnesses. None of them stepped foot on the island, so how could they know?" Wicke countered. "Why would we make up a story about Ultra Beasts? Why would the police or the Rangers go along with it? None of us have anything to gain."

"Why indeed?" The reporter smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "You must admit, though. None of the victims' bodies were ever returned to their families. One can hardly blame the public for being skeptical."

Wicke's lips thinned into a tired line. "It's not skepticism that fuels these conspiracies, but thinly veiled cruelty born of ignorance. Guzzlord are not like other Ultra Beasts nor any Pokemon in existence." She explained. "They're the perfect life form. They can live in any environment, survive nearly any attack, and consume everything in their path."

The reporter frowned. "What does that have to do with- "

"Everything." Wicke stressed.

Ms. O'Lay stood in silence for a moment before grimacing in disgust. "I-I see."

"We informed the families privately to avoid the media backlash. However, if it will spare them harassment by conspiracy theorists and other vulture, I have no choice but to reveal it to the world as well."

"Is there any chance more Ultra Wormholes will open in the future? Should the people of Alola be worried?"

"There's always a chance, but our scientists are the best and brightest in the world. With the support of the Alolan people, I'm confident that we'll discover a way to prevent this from ever happening again." Wicke bowed dramatically for the camera. "The Aether Foundation gives you its word."

The TV in the room was muted.

"I don't buy it."

May glanced at her brother. The two of them were sitting on a couch in the hotel room they had rented for the night. She had come back to Hoenn recently and ran into him in the city. In the hopes of catching up, they split the cost of a room and had been spending the past few days together.

"Don't buy what?"

Max shrugged. "Her story. It just doesn't add up."

She rolled her eyes. "And what makes you say that?"

"For starters, she completely dismissed all the witnesses as crazy looneys!" Max growled. "Just because they didn't go to the island doesn't mean they're lying. They had video footage and everything!"

May suppressed the urge to sigh. Her brother had taken up an interest in conspiracy theories recently. While normally it was harmless speculation about long dead historical figures or archeology, sometimes it crossed into the real world. He didn't understand that not every terrible thing to happen in the world had some sinister force behind it.

Sometimes, bad things just happened.

"Here, take a look at this!"

Before she could protest, Max thrust his Pokegear into her face. Despite his confidence, however, May didn't see anything. The photo he'd shown her was just a bunch of blurry figures and what could have been Aether Paradise in the distance.

If she squinted.

"Max… this is just a bad photo."

He growled. "It's more than that! This shows Pokemon flying towards the island during the attack. Wild Pokemon don't go towards danger, May."

"This picture is so blurry I can't even be sure those are Pokemon, let alone what direction they're flying." She said. "Even if they are, who's to say they aren't the police or Rangers? Seems a lot more likely to be them than some shadowy criminals."

"Not just any criminals! Team Rocket!"

May pinched the bridge of her nose. "Max… Team Rocket is a lot of things. Stupid; incompetent; comedians in the wrong line of work; people with way too much time on their hands." She could go on, really. "One thing they aren't, though, is monsters. They'd never attack Aether."

"I mean the real Team Rocket! Not the three that followed us around for years!" Max pouted and crossed his arms. "They're dangerous criminals that rule the underworld. They're capable of anything, no matter how cruel it is."

She desperately wished she could turn the news back on. "Why would they even want to attack Aether in the first place? They're all the way over in Alola."

"The Ultra Beasts, obviously!" Max practically leaped into the air as he shouted it. "Aether is the only place in the world that's been able to study them! If Rocket got the data from their labs, who knows what they'd do with it?"

"And where did you hear all this?" She asked.

To Max's credit, he tried to appear confident. Yet once he started to shift in place and couldn't look her in the eyes, she knew she wouldn't like the answer. "So, there are these forums- "

May was so glad the hotel room came stocked with a full bar.

"Max… I think we need to have a talk about internet literacy."

"It's not like I just took them at their word! I dug into it a little." He protested. "You wouldn't believe how many crimes Team Rocket gets away with and the media just ignores! Some people even call them the Invisible Empire!"

And yet, they still rode around in hot air balloons and wasted time chasing children with random Pokemon around the world. No matter how much Max believed this stuff, she just couldn't see it being possible. Team Rocket wasn't anywhere close to as dangerous as he believed.

"Even if this is all true – and that's a big if – why would Aether or the Alolan government lie about it?" She asked. "There's just no reason for them to hide such a blatant attack like this."

Max snorted, pushing his glasses up his nose. "If people knew what really happened, Aether's stock prices and Alola's economy would tank. They'd never recover!"

"Look at you playing the detective. You know, if you ever decided to quit being a trainer, you could probably make it big as a private investigator." She teased.

"I'm serious!" He whined.

Chuckling, she ruffled his hair and ignored his protests. "Well, whatever really happened, it doesn't matter. A lot of people were hurt or lost their loved ones in the tragedy. I'll just have to add them to the list."

He blinked. "You mean you're actually going through with your festival thing?"

It was a little more than a festival. Contests; performances; tournaments; music; science expos'. All that and more would be available for people to see when they came. While she'd originally meant for it to be a simple regional event, it ended up gaining international attention. If ticket sales were anything to go by, this was going to be big.

Finding financial backers had been easy. With her reputation and the support of other big names in entertainment, many companies had been eager to help set this up. For some, the chance to show off their products and rake in the profits was all they wanted. Others were more interested in just having their names attached to the event.

None of that mattered to May. She wasn't doing this for fame or money. She already had plenty of that. No, the true purpose of this festival was philanthropic.

Ever since The Sinking, May had been inspired to use her platform for the betterment of the world. Any time she entered a contest, she dedicated it to a worthy cause that would help people in need. Any winnings she made were used to support that idea.

The refugees from Alto Mare were only the beginning. Orphans, survivors of domestic abuse, the sick and the dying. It didn't matter who they were or what they were going through. If there was a chance for her to help them even a little, she'd take it.

"It won't be ready for a couple of months. We're still getting all the permits and waiting for everyone's schedules to clear up." She explained. "But if everything goes according to plan? It should be ready by the end of the year."

Max smiled. "I'm happy for you, sis. You've been talking about this stuff for a while. You're gonna rock the world with your performance."

She chuckled. "Actually, I won't be competing. It just wouldn't be right, since I'm the one who set it all up." She said. "I'll be acting as a judge instead."

Her first time doing it too. This would be a festival of new experiences, that was for sure.

"Doesn't matter. I know you'll do great." Max said. "You've spent years on the other side. I'd bet everything I own that you know what makes a great Contestant and how to score them."

May smiled and flicked his nose. "Thanks, ya goober. I'm glad you have so much faith in me." She stood up from the couch, stretching her arms wide. The mini fridge was calling her name. "Have you thought about coming?"

"Contests? I don't know, May. I'm not exactly great at that sort of stuff…." He trailed off.

"There's more than just contests to compete in." May made her ways towards the fridge by the bar. "We're hosting a Pokemon tournament as well. No badge, but there's a pretty big prize pool for the top contenders. We've got people from all over the world competing."

Max's eyes lit up with excitement. "There's gonna be so many rare Pokemon there!"

"Among other things." May snatched a can of peanuts from the fridge. "It's why you should come. You might not win, but it'll be a great learning experience. And who knows? You just might place high enough to earn one of the prizes."

"You know what? Yeah, I'll do it!" He pumped his arm in the air. "Kirlia and I have been practicing. We're finally able to enhance her power by consuming the energy she makes from her attacks."

May perked smiled. That was unorthodox and impressive. She'd never have thought to do that. If her brother could pull it off in his matches, she'd have to give her hand a try at it. As the elder sibling, she couldn't afford to fall behind him.

Her pride wouldn't allow it.

"Where'd you learn that?" She couldn't help but ask.

"An old match of Frontier Brain Palmer's." He looked away. "Ash was amazing in that battle."

She froze. The can of peanut dropped to the counter. A familiar smiling face and a deep set of brown eyes flashed through her mind. Guilt, anger, longing, and unwilling worry warred within her.

"Oh… that's great, Max." She smiled bitterly. "I'm glad you're learning so much."

Max reached out. "He's innocent, May. He didn't do it- "

"Max!" She snapped. "Stop! Just… not now. I can't have this conversation with you."

Once the world learned about what Ash had done, it was all anyone could talk about for months. Everyone had an opinion, and they made sure everyone else heard it. Experts gave their professional opinions on who they thought he was. Podcasts and TV hosts spouted off conspiracy theories left and right. Anyone he had ever met was forced to endure endless questions and accusations from a public hungry for answers.

It was too much.

Max had always idolized Ash. Even more than their dad, Ash was his hero. With every League competed in, Max was cheering him on from home. After journeying across two regions and facing down some of the strongest Legends the world had ever seen, it would have been impossible for him not to admire the Pallet Town native.

So, when Max lashed out at the media for daring to report the story, May hadn't been surprised.

It'd been such a shock to the world as well. Everyone else was happy to criticize and condemn him, yet here was a child calling them out. Max had called them frauds. Greedy and lazy pigs who couldn't be bothered to do any research themselves. He'd even gone so far as to accuse them of being bribed.

The only thing that saved Max from a media firestorm was their dad's sterling reputation. Even then, most news outlets writ him off as an ignorant kid talking about things he couldn't possibly understand. Nothing to get angry about. He'd surely realize in time what kind of man Ash was.

And if they just so happened to be more critical of Max's own career in the League? Well, that was completely unrelated. A journalist never let personal feelings impact the story, after all.

Her little brother looked away. "You're all so eager to just forget him. Just pretend he never existed!" He growled. "Well, I'm not like all of you! I won't just throw a friend under the bus to make my life easier!"

Her fists tightened and forced herself to take a deep breath. It was all she could do. It took everything in her not to snap at Max and say something she knew she'd regret later.

He was just a kid….

"I'm going for a walk, Max." She forced out. "Don't follow me."

May didn't wait to hear what he had to say. She brushed past him and stepped out into the hallway, slamming the door shut behind her.

She couldn't be around him right now. Once she'd cooled off, she'd come back and hopefully have a better idea of what to do. Because right now? All she felt was an overwhelming sense of shame.

Max didn't understand how deeply his words cut. He didn't understand how desperately she wanted him to be right. Ash was her closest friend. He'd been by her side during some of the most difficult times in her life. For Arceus' sake, he'd risked his life to save hers countless times.

Did Max think she wanted Ash to be a killer? That she wanted to act like he never existed? None of this should have happened! In a perfect world, Ash would still be an innocent man, too busy pursuing his dreams to stay in one place or focus on anything else.

It wasn't a perfect world, though. She'd seen the pictures of what he'd done. She'd heard the grieving family on the news following his escape. Try as she might, May couldn't ignore all of that. No matter what her feelings towards Ash may have been, there was no excusing cold blooded murder.

She ran a hand down her face, stepping out into the cold air of the night.

"I wish things could go back to the way they were." She muttered.

The slow, mechanical beep of a machine filled the air.

Ash's eyes slowly fluttered open. He shifted uncomfortably in place while they adjusted to the light. A quick look around revealed that he was in a hospital room of some kind. He wasn't alone either. Pikachu was curled up at his side, snoring away silently. Latias' Human form was slumped over in the corner in a chair, scarlet hair obscuring her face. Even Bewear was out of her Pokeball, sleeping soundly by the door.

Memories flooded back to him. Gunfire, screams, the foul taste of blood. Every horrific moment of the attack rushed back to him as though he were still there. He tried to force himself up, only for pain to flare in his chest.

He hissed and dropped back onto the bed, clutching an invisible wound.

"Careful, Ash." A familiar voice said. "You'll rip your stitches if you move too suddenly."

His head snapped to the source of the voice. On the opposite side of the room from his Pokemon, a familiar face sat at a table with a book in her lap. Dark gray eyes met his deep brown. A tiny, amused smile stretched across her copper skin. The older woman leaned forward, her black hair cascading down her face.

Olivia Lychee, the Kahuna of Akala island.

"Speechless, eh?" She teased. "Good to know I still have that effect on men."

"… I guess this is the end of the line." He muttered.

She frowned. "Come again?"

Ash didn't know how, but the police must have found him while he was unconscious. Looker's plan called for everyone to respond to the attack, so it was only natural they'd show up. Even if they hadn't known who he was when they found him, his identity would have been revealed once he made it to the hospital.

He just couldn't figure out why his Pokemon were here. Any competent officer would have known to take them away and force them into their balls.

"How many officers are outside?" He asked.

However many there were, it didn't matter. Ash wasn't going to try escaping. He wouldn't hurt innocent people just so he could remain free.

An amused laugh brought his attention back to Olivia. "I think you've got the wrong idea, Ash. There aren't any police outside." She said. "And before you ask, no. I'm not here to guard you or anything like that."

His brow furrowed. "Then what's going on?"

"Our agents found you once the attack was over. You were in pretty bad shape too, so they brought you to the one place in Alola that could help you." She told him. "You're lucky to be alive. The doctors said if you got here even a few minutes later, you may not have survived."

"Our agents?" He repeated. "Where am I? What are you talking about, Olivia?"

"Guess our training hasn't quite knocked the denseness out of you yet." Olivia stood up and straightened her back, slamming her fist above her heart. "You're at Interpol's regional HQ, Ash. Sorry we couldn't give you an official tour before now."

Ash's jaw hung open. "You're an agent!?"

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "In a manner of speaking. I'm the regional commander and overseer. I give the orders, approve the operations, and read the reports." She said. "In other words? I'm your boss."

Olivia was one of Interpol's leaders? Ash almost couldn't believe it. He'd always imagined that the leaders of Interpol would be these imposing, larger-than-life figures that stared unflinchingly into the abyss. It was hard to reconcile that with the clumsy woman desperate for love that he'd known during his time in Alola.

Despite all this, he straightened his back and held his fist over his heart. "Sorry, ma'am! I didn't know!"

"You're fine, Ash." She rolled her eyes. "If it was obvious what I really am, I'd be a pretty poor agent. And none of that ma'am stuff! You'll make me feel old if you keep doing that."

A tiny smile split his face. "Okay, Olivia. I'll try not to say that." He said. "How long have I been out?"

She shrugged. "About two weeks."

He choked. "Two weeks!? Why the hell was I asleep for so long?"

"The doctors said you needed your rest. I can't say I disagree with them, considering how we found you." She leaned forward. "Do you remember what happened? What you did during the attack?"

It was impossible not to. All that death and destruction… it wasn't something he'd ever forget. Ever since joining Interpol, it had forced him to witness the depths of Human cruelty. He wasn't sure he'd ever forget what he'd seen.

Let alone what he'd done.

"I remember." He sighed, leaning back against the bed. "Is everyone alright? How many people did we lose?"

"Less than we thought, more than we'd hoped. Half of Aether's security died in the attack and a quarter of the survivors were injured. Casualties weren't as bad for the civilians, but we still lost too many for my tastes." Olivia said. "Fortunately, we didn't lose any agents. A small win, but not one to overlook."

He smiled. Good. That meant that Looker and Anabel were alright. "What about the data? We stopped Team Rocket from stealing it, right?"

"Thanks to the efforts of your team? We didn't just stop them, we decapitated the heads of their Alolan leaders in a single day." Olivia said. "Matori surrendered once I arrived with reinforcements and I made it clear there was no escape. As for Gozu… well, you know what happened to him."

Blood. Flesh. Wet gasps and dying eyes.

Ash grimaced. "Yeah…."

Olivia moved towards the bed, stopping next to him. "We don't have to talk about what happened now. You just woke up, and I doubt you want to relive it." She said. "Once you're back on your feet, though, I expect you to start seeing a shrink."

"But I- "

"That's an order, Ash. You bit out a man's throat and nearly died. Anybody would need therapy after something like that." She assured him. "It's not a punishment. I just want to make sure you get the help you need. Knowing you, you'd just bottle this up and move on with your life if it were up to you."

It hadn't failed him yet.

He glanced to his side at his team. "I'm surprised they haven't woken up by now."

If Olivia saw his attempt to divert the conversation, she didn't comment on it. "They haven't left your side since we brought you in." She told him. "You've got a loyal team, Ash. I hope you appreciate them."

He did. More than they knew. If he didn't have Pikachu and the others by his side, he knew he wouldn't have made it this far.

Reaching out, he gently judged Pikachu awake. "Wake up, bud."

Slowly, Pikachu's eyes fluttered open. Any confusion he may have had disappeared once he realized Ash was awake. The electric rat let out a joyous cry and leaped onto Ash's chest, rubbing his cheek against him. The sound was more than enough to wake Bewear and Latias up.

Latias let out a yawn and brushed the hair out of her amber eyes. She gasped and looked ready to tackle him. "You're awake!"

Olivia held up a hand to stop her. "Easy, Latias. He's still recovering from his injuries."

She shrunk back, scratching her head. "Right. Sorry."

Ash blinked. "You know who she is?"

"Looker's reports are very thorough. He spared no detail." Olivia said. "Not that she cared much about hiding it while you were injured."

Bewear stalked forward and sat at the foot of the bed. One of her massive paws came up to rest at his feet. "That's an understatement. She looked ready to fight those Humans in red before Interpol took you away."

He blinked. Humans in red? "Why were you trying to fight the Rangers?"

Latias laughed nervously and looked away. "They tried to take you to a hospital on the main islands. I knew if they did that, they'd figure out who you are."

Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. "She's not the only one." She said. "Your Bewear was standing guard over you and Pikachu when they found you. From what I hear, she almost killed a team of Rangers who got too close."

She had? That came as a surprise to Ash. While she'd joined his team, they'd only been partners for a few short weeks. He knew she had joined to fight Team Rocket and rescue her daughter, but defending him still came as a surprise.

Bewear noticed his look and shrugged. "I was injured. If I wasn't pacing myself from my wounds, I wouldn't have missed."

Pikachu snorted. "I don't think that's why he's surprised, Bewear"

Ash chuckled. "I'm just glad everyone's alright." He glanced at Olivia. "Speaking of, what about the rest of my team? Where are they?"

"On assignments." Olivia retook her seat across from him. "Anabel is dealing with Skull's leadership. Petrovic is working with other agents to mop up the last stragglers of Rocket still on the island. As for Looker… he's cleaning house, so to speak."

Her cold tone kept him from digging deeper. He didn't think she was angry at him, but at someone else instead. Whoever they were, he pitied them. Looker wasn't the type of person you sent to deal with a minor problem.

It might be best to distract her from whatever was on her mind.

"So, how long have you been with Interpol?" He asked. "Must be a long time if you're the regional commander."

Olivia seemed happy for the distraction. "Close to a decade now. Originally, I was just an asset helping them on an archeological dig. A greedy conglomerate dug too deep and angered an old Legend." She explained. "I helped destroy the Legend and find them the intel they needed to bring the company down."

Latias cupped her hands in front of her, eyes wide with admiration. "That's amazing!"

"It's certainly an adventure I'll never forget, that's for sure." She shook her head. "Guess I impressed someone back then. They offered to train me as an agent, and I wasn't about to say no. Eventually, the Director made me Alola's commander. The rest is history."

"You know the Director?" He blurted out. "I thought no one knew who they were?"

Olivia snickered. "Oh, I'm sure some people know who they are. It'd be impossible to run Interpol as a complete unknown. But no, I've never met them. All I get is the occasional order from them."

"How do you balance it? Being the commander and a Kahuna?" He asked.

"It's not easy, that's for sure. Keeping things running and the public from finding out about our work is hard enough on its own. Throw in the island traditions, guiding the next generation, and playing babysitter to a temperamental Tapu?" She sighed. "It's pretty much impossible to have a social life."

He winced. As a field operative, Ash already struggled to have a life beyond the job. He couldn't imagine having to juggle that alongside other duties. It sounded like more trouble than it was worth.

That reminded him of something important, however.

"How's everyone doing? Since my… my…."

"Your fall from grace?" Olivia finished. She offered him a sad smile. "Are you sure you wanna hear about it?"

He nodded resolutely. "I need to."

"Fair enough. Well, once you were stripped of your title, the other Kahuna and I gathered to decide who would become our replacement Champion. The obvious choice was Professor Kukui, but he shot that down before we could even ask him. None of us wanted the position. So, eventually we reached out to the top contenders from the League."

He tilted his head aside. "Who did you end up choosing? It can't have been Guzma."

Olivia snorted. "As amusing as that may have been, no. We decided that Hau was the best choice. He's young, strong, and exemplifies the spirit of Alola."

Ash hummed in thought. Hau… he was the best choice. He was younger than Ash by a few years, but had still given him an intense battle during the tournament. If it had been a full team battle, Hau might have won. As it was, Ash was all but certain the boy could surpass him one day.

He just hoped the Alolan native wasn't taking the lackluster way he became Champion to heart.

"As for Kukui and your friends… they didn't take it well. The media left them alone, especially once they realized Kukui wouldn't play their games." Olivia closed her eyes. "Kiawe threw himself even harder into his training. He hasn't said anything, but it's obvious what happened with you weighs on him."

Ash looked away. "I'm sorry."

"You've got nothing to apologize for, Ash. It's not your fault Team Rocket framed you, and it's not your fault Kiawe is being a stubborn fool." She narrowed her eyes. "Though that little stunt you pulled at his family's ranch didn't help."

Pikachu nuzzled his hand. Though he couldn't smile, Ash appreciated the gesture. "I didn't have any other choice. I tried to limit the damage, but I know that doesn't excuse it." He sighed. "I took back his Z-Ring during the attack on Aether. I was going to give it back to him, but I've got no idea where it is now."

"With your things," Olivia said. "I had a feeling that's what you were planning, so I didn't touch it. A word of advice, though? Don't see him. It'll only put both you and him in danger."

"I need to give it back to him, though."

"Then have Mallow do it." Olivia shrugged. "I know you've revealed yourself to her. Have her deliver it to him or plant it somewhere in his house. Trust me when I say that he's in no state to listen if you reveal yourself now."

He didn't want to admit it, but Olivia was right. Ash wasn't just the shame of Alola and a criminal, he'd nearly turned Kiawe's life upside down. If he revealed himself now, all he'd get was a punch to the jaw and a call to the police.

"I'll think about it." He eventually said. "What about my Pokemon? Is there any chance we can sneak my Alolan team out of the lab?"

He dared to hope.

It was a foolish mistake.

"Sorry, Ash. It's not so easy." She sighed. "Ownership of them was transferred to your mother. She had them all transferred to Professor Oak's lab back in Kanto, and that place is still watched too heavily to sneak any of your Pokemon out."

"I see… I'll just have to stick with the team I have." He smiled at the three of them. "They're more than strong enough to help me."

Each of them stood a little taller at his praise. Even Bewear seemed pleased with the praise.

"I'll leave you four to talk. I have business I need to take care of, and the doctors will want to know you're awake." Olivia stood up and stretched her arms. "It was nice seeing you again, Ash. I'm glad we were able to get to you before something went wrong."

He got the feeling she was talking about more than just his injuries.

"Thanks, Olivia. I appreciate it." He smiled. "You always were my favorite Kahuna."

"Heh. Charmer."

"It's a gift."

"What are you doing here, Looker?"

He smiled. "A man can't just stop by to see an old friend?"

Nanu glared. "Not when it's you."

Looker held his hand to his chest and recoiled in mock hurt. "That is cutting, sir! And here I thought we had something special!"

"I'll cut you for real if you don't get the hell off my lawn-"

"Who's at the door, Uncle?" An unfamiliar voice said.

Before Nanu could protest, a girl with purple hair and gray eyes pushed him aside. She was around Ash and Anabel's age, maybe a year or two younger at most. With ghostly pale skin and a patchwork dress, she stood out compared to most others her age.

She was also exceptionally tiny.

Looker held out his hand. "Hello. My name's Looker. I'm an old friend of Nanu's."

The girl gasped. "Nanu has friends?"

His lips quirked upward. "Despite his best efforts, yes."

Nanu gave them both a flat stare. "Hilarious." He deadpanned.