Chapter 18: …where (future) legends wait…

Other poked her head through a wall, her golden eyes sweeping the room. “Do you see anything from your angle?”

Libra floated through the wall above the younger ghost, looking around herself. “No, I think we’re safe to go this way. Head back and tell the others.”

Other nodded, phasing back through the wall and popping out beside Sakura. “The passage this way is clear.”

Rin nodded, looking haggard. “We appreciate it, little sister. Give us a second to finish wrangling everyone together, and we’ll start making our way down the tunnel.”

“...hey, do you think Mom should give all of us an allowance?” Other mused, watching as Sakura quietly wrapped a sore on the leg of a Herdier.

Sakura sighed. “Not really the time.” She looked around at the freed pokemon. “Is anyone else wounded?” At a range of head shakes, she nodded. “Alright, let’s get moving again.”

Noibat fluttered up to perch beside Gordon on Rin’s hat. “Alright, combat team up front. Rearguard make sure no one lags behind.” Twenty pokemon forged forward, rounding ahead of the advancing crowd of weaker Pokemon, Rin and Sakura following closely behind.

Gordon chuckled as they advanced. “I’ve not ridden with a charge in a long time! And you, good lass? Do you fly with your colony often?”

“Eh. I’m the only Noibat around. Mother had a night of passion with a trainer’s Noivern, and I was the only egg from the encounter who was a Noibat,” She chirped quietly as they rounded the corner. “I love my family, but… most of them are tough and dumb. I go my own way, which got me here,” she groused.

Gordon started to reply when Libra ghosted out of the walls, a tiny frown on her face. “Good news, I found the shaft leading upwards. Bad news, it is guarded, and I do not believe we can take them all without the alarm being raised.”

“Then we’ll just have to blitz past them as soon as possible. We don’t have another way out,” Sakura declared firmly, her sister only missing out on being the one to make the declaration by seconds, instead nodding her head in agreement. “Shock and awe. Go for the trainers before they can call their Pokemon with disabling blows, and get out as soon as possible.”

Rin nodded and moved to speak, only for a faint pink light to surround her. With a quiet pop, Agate reappeared in the room, clearly exhausted.

“I’ve returned from calling for help,” The Espeon called, before collapsing to the floor, breaths coming in wheezing gasps. “If you’ll excuse me… I’m going to rest now.”

With a nod, Rin pulled out her Pokeball and returned Agate. “...might have been easier just to have her take us out.”

“But then we’d have to leave everyone here behind.” Sakura said softly. “And she might not have gotten us entirely clear.”

“Unlikely. My sister is an exceedingly strong psychic, but she is young, and she would have strained herself to take as many of those here that do not have other methods of easy escape with her as possible. It does not help that the mines we are in have a significantly higher than normal concentration of Dark Gems than others,” Ren added, grimacing as he pawed at one of said gems, before picking it up with his teeth. “We can, however, use that to our advantage.”

“Ooh, dig a few more of those out for me,” Rin cooed. “I could use the stock–”

“Not the time,” Sakura sighed once again. “Come on.” She walked forward, shadows reaching down the hallway even as the Pokemon swarmed forward. The group of guards around the corner looked up to see two dozen Pokemon and a single, shadowy figure bearing down on them in a sudden rush.

“What the hell!” one of the poor unfortunate souls growled, before she reached down and grabbed a trio of miniaturized Pokeballs from her belt, throwing all three out in tandem, each of them expanding and releasing a Stoutland. “Get them, girls–”

Other popped up from the ground behind the woman, then flickered, taking her shape. “Use tail whip!” she called, mimicking the woman’s voice. The three dogs dutifully spun, their stubby tails whipping around to smack the oncoming rush of Pokemon. Then all three dogs blinked as they saw two copies of their mistress, right before a tide of teeth and elemental blasts bowled them over.

The woman spun, reaching out to strangle her alternate, only for her hands to pop the illusion, Other dropping to the floor. “Aww, I didn’t think that would work!” The Zorua snickered. The woman almost had a chance to snarl before hypnosis dropped her to the floor, the other guards not having had a chance to respond before the other Pokemon had taken them down rather viciously.

Rin waltzed over to the guards, pulling a length of rope out of her knapsack. “Alright, let’s secure them, make certain they can’t just get up and warn their friends.” She paused. “Also, frisk the bodies, take anything interesting.”

Sakura took one of the ropes from her sister, frowning as she tied up two of the guards while her sister tied up the other. “...I don’t think this is what grandpa taught us knots to do.”

“Eh, it works.” Rin shrugged. “Drag them out of the way of the hallway. Oh, and can you lock their Pokeballs?”

“That would require hacking them,” Sakura pointed out, shaking her head, having already waved her dex over the balls. “I’m okay with that, but you’re the only one that has the technical skill to accomplish that.”

Rin paused. “...next time we meet with Officer Bles, we should ask her to give us permission to do that. Might be useful.” She shook her head with a sigh. “For now, just return everyone and let’s keep going.”

Sakura nodded, leading the group up the passage higher in the derelict mine. At the top of the passage, she stopped to listen, making sure the others would have time to regroup on her. A set of quiet footsteps gave her pause, and she looked over at Other. “Check that, please?”

Other nodded, then slipped into the wall. She emerged, only to come face to face with a round, purple body. The Drifloon peered back at her. “Uhh- ghost fox?”

“... Fuck.” Other mumbled, considering her options. However, before she could continue to consider violence, she blinked as a very young green-haired human came into view. “You… are not with these poachers,” Other muttered, not at all expecting the boy to understand, seeing as she wasn’t speaking human at the moment.

The human looked up, then smiled sadly. <<Did these men slay you, lost one?>> He asked in fluent Pokemon. <<I am sorry.>>

Other blinked. “Well now, I wasn’t expecting to run into someone who was able to speak our language fluently without assistance from aura or technology,” the vixen stated seriously, eyeing the boy. “You aren’t a poacher. Why are you here, and why are you only watching.”

The boy blinked. <<Lost one, release your grudges. Fighting these humans will bring you no peace. As for me…>> He spread his hands, eyes tired. Other started as she realized something; unlike nearly every other person she’d met in this world, his belt had no sockets for Pokeballs. <<I keep none of your kin in bondage, and I am small. I cannot fight, and I will allow no one else to fight for me.>>

The Drifloon sighed. “He’s really nice, but he doesn’t want to be a trainer. A real shame.”

<<I will not continue the cycle of slavery.>>

“Where in distortion did you pull slavery- wait, nevermind, I see how it could be interpreted that way, and you are correct even for some Pokemon and their trainers,” Other blinked, completely taken aback by the statement. It was just so… alien to this world, so beyond stupid given the powerful and tangible effect of bonds and symbiosis present here. Such exploitative relationships only weakened people, in this place.

Not that it didn’t happen, but it was so culturally unacceptable that none in power tended to utilize it, overtly, at least.

<<Some? No. Humans lead Pokemon astray, or brainwash them… most of the time.>> The boy shook his head. <<Even my father cannot help but->>

“You… haven’t actually observed human society at all, have you?” Other blinked, shaking her head. “My malice isn’t towards humans, child. It is towards a now dead man and injustice in general. And towards a very specific group of Pokemon.”

<<I see.>> He looked back at Drifloon. <<My friend is leading me out of this den. You could join us, if you would like.>>

“Yeah, I’m not abandoning my sisters, or my teammates.” Other murmured. “Come on, let me lead you to them. They’re close, and we can all escape together.”

The boy nodded. <<I would love to meet your siblings, lost one.>> As Other popped out of the wall and led the boy and the balloon around the corner, he smiled. <<I’ve not met a Mischief of Zorua before.>>

“Gonna have to disappoint you there bub. They’re human,” Other explained, cackling gleefully at N’s befuddled look, “Pokemon can be raised by humans just as humans can be raised by Pokemon, and just as Pokemon and Humans can have children together.” Other blanched. “Not that I really wanted to know that, but hey, that’s what the internet does to a fox.”

The boy scrunched up his face. <<I can tell you are not lying. But that’s impossible–>>

“Other? Are you–” Sakura looked up as Other trotted into the group, the boy starting as he looked back and forth between Other and the purple-haired girl. “Oh, hello. Since Other didn’t maul you, I assume you’re a friend?”

“That or not with this slaving scum.” Rin pointedly kicked one of the bound guards on the floor, the unconscious woman completely unresponsive to the abuse. “Seriously, poaching. Cringe.”

“You memed again, sis.”

“GODDAMMIT!”

The new boy looked down at Other. <<How did… no, that’s… you have the same feeling.>>

“That’s a private matter.” The boy’s head snapped up as Sakura spoke. “Yes, I can understand you.”

“...I don’t get it,” the boy said brokenly. “How can you talk like that? How can you get it?”

“I’m attuned to psychic energy.” Sakura explained more patiently, blinking in surprise that the boy didn’t simply ask of the other methods trainers had of directly communicating with their Pokemon. It was… fairly common knowledge. “I’m using a psychic ability to touch their minds and translate their intent and message for me.”

“Meanwhile, I’m using technology.” Rin tapped her earpiece. “I can tell you’re not good at speaking English. Do you need to keep speaking Pokemon?”

“How can you… you can hear them protest, then. How can you be trainers?” The boy asked.

“Oh child,” Ren interjected, the Umbreon padding over to the green-haired boy and sitting down right next to him. “Rin and Sakura would release us in a heartbeat if that was what we desired. But we do not. It was our bonds with our trainers that allowed our evolution in the first place, and we have no desire to leave our siblings, even ones born from another mother.”

“I don’t get it,” He said quietly.

“You don’t have to, yet,” Sakura said kindly. “Come on, we’re going to get out of here together.” She smiled. “My name is Sakura. What’s yours?”

“N.” The boy said back.

“...huh, weird. Anyway, we’re going to try and get all these Pokemon out of here. If you’re a non-combatant, stick with the middle pack and warn us if you notice anything strange.” Rin instructed, Libra swooping back to her from a scouting run. “Come on; I don’t think they’ll miss those sentries for much longer.”

N nodded absently as the mixed group of humans and Pokemon began to storm down the appropriate passage, pushing deeper into the complex. He resolved to watch, wait, and see for himself what the reality of this group should be. They could be an ideal he’d not yet seen.

Or just an anomaly. But best to be sure.

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“Ren, Mean Look! Don’t let him get away!” Sakura called just a bit too late as the only guard who had managed to remain standing after their latest ambush escaped down the tunnel. He screeched as he reached the exit, yelling that there were intruders and escapees all the while into his radio. “Shit.”

Rin panted as she skipped to a stop beside her sister. “Well, we made it this far without triggering an alarm,” she muttered. “All uphill from here.” She grimaced, looking at the defeated bodies of the man’s friends. “...do you have enough of a psychic touch to keep them asleep longer than when their friends get back? We can’t afford to get flanked.”

Sakura grimaced and shook her head, “Not without risking permanent harm that I’m not willing to inflict, even on criminals like this. It’d be more humane to kill them if it came to that.”

Rin scowled. “Hmmm. Alright, give me a bit. I hate doing this, but I can hypnotize them with Magecraft into remembering something they very urgently had to do.”

“...right.” Sakura sighed. “That’ll scatter them, at least…” She trained off as Drifloon popped through a wall, blinking. “Oh, did you see something?”

“Yeah. The guy ran into a group of dudes looking for N, I think? And they all pulled out their teams and are coming here fast.” He bobbed up and down. “Oh, and I found the ramp to the next level!”

“That’s good news, at least.” She frowned as she heard the approaching footsteps. “Shields up!” The scattered handful of psychic types set up Light Screens and Reflects just as a mixed group of Pokemon led by a Leavanny, a Scolipede, and a Pignite rounded the corner. “Rock type bombardment, now!” She yelled, a fast gesture causing a scattered bust of power gem and rock throws to smash into the oncoming forces. “Rin, do you have any Stealth rock or Spike gems?”

“I’ve got one Stealth Rock, no spikes left!” Rin barked, throwing the gem with a muttered German incantation, pointed stones floating around the tunnel before going invisible moments later. “Down to very few low level moves, and far too many ones that aren’t useful in tunnels!”

Sakura nodded, wincing as the Pignite stormed through the attacks only to be intercepted by Agate, the barely recovered Espeon bowling him over with a psybeam. She flicked her wrist, a bolt of shadow curling around the legs of an onrushing Zebstrika, sending the equine pokemon tumbling to the ground. “Two more floors to go, and we keep running into these bastards. How many more are there?”

Agate panted as she skidded to a halt beside her trainer’s sister. “This is a major Reaper safehouse for the entire region! There are at least thirty trainers here, many of them on the top levels.” She focused, another psybeam cutting out of her gem and hammering into the Scolipede’s flank, more Pokemon from both sides joining in on the skirmish.

“We aren’t going to be able to hold on much longer.” Rin grimaced, eyes flicking towards Agate, “Let alone escape.”

As Rin spoke, Ana slammed a Leaf Blade into the downed Zebstrika, knocking it out of the fight completely, before barely pivoting to the side as a gout of flame from the recovered Pignite with a barely restrained hiss of agony, the other Pokemon snorting in disdain at its fellow Unovan Starter. Moments later, they were cratered onto the floor by one of Libra’s psychics, the wick at the top of the Librarian Litwick’s head glowing with far more force than it ever had before.

“Stay away from my family, heathen.” The usually calm and demure Pokemon howled with rage far more typical of the more grudge aligned ghosts, a barrage of ghostly flames pouring forth from the steadily growing flame at the tip of her wick, eyes igniting with inner fire more akin to fully evolved monsters than anything else.

The Will-o-Wisps were immediately followed by a barrage of Hexes, the Ghostly flames striking with malice as they caused the Pokemon afflicted by burns to wail in agony, their burns flaring in response to the specially crafted curse that was contained within all uses of Hex.

One of the Reapers flinched at the sight of the little fire type manipulating the mass of flames. “Nope.” He palmed a ball and sent out his Pokemon. “Seismitoad, get her!”

“Absolutely not!” Rin called, a truly horrifying grin filled with glee on her face, “Agate, Sunny Day!”

Libra’s flames were doused by the oncoming water, only for the bright light filling the passage to give her a second wind. She began to draw in energy, her wick igniting gold as she drew in the power of the sun, channeled far underground and aided by her teammate’s use of Sunny Day. The power filled her, causing her form to be filled with molten gold, and the little fire-type focused the strike into a lens. “Solar Beam,” she mouthed, just before the attack went off, scouring the water-ground type and most of the enemy from consciousness.

Rin went to congratulate her partner, only for the light within Libra to erupt. As Libra’s new form became apparent, the exposed candle of Libra’s body was now encased in ghostly glass, a metallic cap covering both the top and bottom of the crystal globe. The newly evolved Lampent whistled as she looked around for new targets.

Rin darted forward, wrapping her second Pokemon in a hug. “Oh, you evolved!” She froze, then cursed, pulling out her scanner. “Dammit, I wanted to have this on! Do you think you can describe what the sensation was like, maybe–”

“I certainly can, but now is not the time.” Libra turned and looked over their battered forces. “We will need to rally and rush the exit now, while we still have a chance to get loose entirely. Even if we lose, help is on the way…”

“But we’d rather not be hostages, yes,” Rin agreed grimly. “N, how’s our medical supplies?”

“You have a lot left, but everyone is tired,” the boy replied, bandaging a Vulpix’s side. “... I do not like violence,” he muttered sadly.

“Help is on the way, N-san.” Sakura said, lugging a wounded Boldore to the child’s side. “We only need to keep them occupied and stay free until help is here.”

N frowned. “My father is strong. But he has not found us yet. There must be those yet stronger here.” He grimaced. “I hope the help you called for is even better.”

“Oh, I assure you, they are,” Agate snarked, only to yelp in pain as she agitated one of her injuries. “Ah, potion please nice healer boy.”

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“What do you mean your men can’t find my son?” Ghetsis asked sourly, eyes narrowed as he gazed at the man in front of him. “This was supposed to be a simple business transaction, not a farce!”

Daniel Bowman, chapter leader of the Reapers, shrugged. “Dunno what to tell you, suit. You wanted your kid to see the base, get an idea of how we treat our merchandise. Not my men’s fault he slipped away to talk to one of the wild Pokemon who hang out in the side tunnels.” He shrugged, uncowed by the Zweilous hissing at the man’s side. “We’ll find him. We’ve got guys at the only way in or out–”

“Boss!” A panting man dashed into the meeting room. “We’ve got trouble!”

“...dammit, this is what I get for taunting Murphy.” Daniel said, getting to his feet. “Well Karl, let’s hear it. What trouble?”

“You know those two kids we grabbed, the ones who fought back? They got loose and released all the Pokemon down on the bottom floors! Half our guys are missing, and they’re coming up the stairs to floor two now!”

“Floor two? Huh, that’s good work.” Daniel paused. “Did their daddies lend them a Garchomp or something?”

“...no? I saw a Lampent, and a couple of Eeveelutions. They’ve taken command of the wild Pokemon, though.” The man said. “And two of them are tossing out Pokemon moves alongside their teams.”

“Huh, so just a couple of prodigies. Ergh, I'm going to need to scrub this location…” Daniel looked at Ghetsis. “Interested in helping, asshole?”

Ghetsis’ eye narrowed, and he moved to speak, only for a harsh buzzing to come from his coat. The green haired man withdrew a cell phone, looking at the screen with at first annoyance, then shock. “...no, I don’t believe I will. Find my son and send him back to me as soon as possible, but I have been called away.” Ghetsis slid the device back into his coat, returning his dragon without a glance. “Your incompetence is showing, Mr. Bowman.”

“Yeah, yeah, buzz off suit,” Daniel retorted, even as he tossed out a ball of his own. The Sylveon which emerged from the ball grinned wickedly at Ghetsis, even as his trainer turned and walked over to a console set in the wall. “Go ahead and scram, asshole. Just double the payment for the next shipment of Pokemon, call it a ransom for the kid.”

Ghetsis swirled his cloak as he walked away. Once out of the room, he pulled the device back out and called the number on-screen. “You’re certain of what you heard?”

“Positive, Regent Ghetsis. The League is sending one of their heavy hitters to rescue the girls. Are you going to strike a blow against tyranny here?”

“I am not prepared to face an Elite, Bronius. N will be taken in, and I will be able to reunite with him afterwards.” Ghetsis scowled. “For now, I must make myself scarce.”

“...I hope our Prince shall be alright, lord regent,” Bronius said back, before cutting the call.

Ghetsis slipped his device back into his robes, not looking back as he strode from the mine. Though N’s slipping away might be a problem, the harsh treatment by the gang until Ghetsis could ‘rescue’ him would suffice to drive him further into his ill-treatment of humanity. It might not be to plan, but this expedition would serve, nonetheless.