Chapter no.213 Six Stages of Grief

[ POV Change ]

[ Back to the present.]

After that event, Mewtwo slowly watched the metamorphosis of Team Rocket from a private research organization into an actual militant service, working undercover to fuel its research. However, every notorious organization needed a head, a face to lead it, a face that all agents would respect, and a face that would take the blame should things go awry.

But Giovanni, the Ex Viridian Gym leader, was a businessman. He couldn't afford to be the face of the devil, after all, how else would he be able to enjoy plausible deniability when the time came? And yet… he needed the devil.

And so, he created one.

The one they called Boss.

A man sitting in the shadows, with a Persian at his feet. A man, or rather a position, one that was occupied by two individuals to date. The first is a man called Magnussen, and after his slaughter, a man called Archer.

Giovanni remained the Ex Viridian Gym leader, the one who was mind-punked by Mewtwo and the Boss of Team Rocket into following their commands, should Team Rocket be defeated by some grave eventuality.

Pragmatism. It was a good skill to have. Mewtwo could certainly see the advantages of having it.

"Where is he?" he finally asked.

"In his gym office."

Without further delay, Mewtwo disappeared.

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Austin stood in the midst of Lavender Tower, his eyes focused on Raticate's grave. The air was filled with the scent of burning tobacco as he took a drag from his cigarette. The tower was a solemn place, with towering pillars and ancient cobblestones that whispered secrets from ages past. A cold wind swept through the open windows, causing the flames of the torches to flicker and dance.

( ~ Tap ~ )

The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, and Austin turned to see Elite Four Agatha approach him. Her attire was that of a witch, with a long black cloak draped over her shoulders and a pointed hat on her head. In her hand, she held a gnarled wooden staff that was crackled with dark energy. Her sharp eyes locked onto Austin, and she spoke in a commanding voice.

"You know it's considered rude to ignore your elders."

Austin took another drag from his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke. He didn't even acknowledge Agatha's presence.

"Well."

"Elite Four Agatha," he croaked.

"It is Agatha and nothing else," the old woman replied, her voice dripping with disdain. Her sharp eyes jumped from Austin to the floating shadow Pokémon hidden behind the pillars. For some reason, the shadow Pokémon felt extremely familiar, and judging by the manner it was shying its eyes away, Agatha knew that it was not a coincidence. She knew this Haunter. It was only a time before her memories spotted it.

"My name is Ash."

"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. I have heard quite many mentions of your name," Agatha replied in a half-sardonic tone. "Then again, they are not... undeserved."

"Thanks," Austin replied as he puffed on his cigarette.

"...."

"....."

"Aren't you going to tell me to stop smoking like the twin grandmas?" he asked.

"No, it's human nature to find something to wash away your grief with. And again don't let Grady and Brady hear you call them grandma, they are very vocal about that topic."

Austin nodded while trying to give Agatha a cigarette.

"What are you trying to do, speed up my journey to the grave?" Agatha said as she took out a military water bottle.

Austin could smell the alcohol reeking from the water bottle. So that's what she meant by something to wash away grief. Austin and Agatha stood silently as they indulged in their vices.

"You know, you have the same look in your eyes just like I did when I was younger."

"When? A hundred years ago?"

"Kekeke, no, make that two hundred years back," Agatha chuckled as she took a huge gulp.

"The look of revenge," Agatha's words caused Austin's smile to drop before he puffed his cigarette.

"So are you going to tell me otherwise?"

"No, I was just like you, consumed by revenge when my father died at the hands of the monster you killed."

"..... Sorry."

"For what? For taking away the thing I hated the most. For ruining my revenge."

"....."

Agatha took another gulp as she said, "I don't know who hurt you but remember the words of this old crone obsessed with revenge. Revenge consumes you and pushes away all the people you hold dear."

"....."

"But I know you're not going to listen. I was just the same. They say there are five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance but for people like us who have been scarred by the world there exists a sixth stage; revenge."

Agatha's words caused Austin to close his eyes as all the moments he had with Raticate began to flash through his mind.

In silence, Austin opened his eyes which glowed crimson red.

The look in Austin's eyes told Agatha everything who closed her bottle as she said, " Looks like my words didn't seem to have an effect. I just came here to thank you for freeing my family from the curse. Even if I feel anger towards you for taking away my revenge, I am still grateful that the curse is finally gone."

Austin absentmindedly nodded as Agatha turned to leave before Austin curiously asked," Aren't you going to stop me ?"

" Kekeke, no, you have made up your mind. Even if I stop you here, you will stand up again to walk this path of destruction. I can only advise you to focus your anger on the thing you're getting your revenge on and not let it lash out against the innocent, I made that mistake and to this day I never forgave myself."

Austin could feel the sorrow in Agatha's words as she left leaving behind a young man who was at a crossroads in life.

Not knowing what he should do next.

.....

Marowak and Cubone walked towards the hall.

They wanted to thank the human for protecting them.

Suddenly as the human came to view, Marowak immediately stopped Cubone from advancing further.

Her instincts told her that this human was dangerous.

Hearing the commotion, Austin glanced toward the duo and with a nod, he left with Pikachu on his shoulders.

Marowak and Cubone glanced at what Austin was looking at. Only to find, a torn piece of clothing with the symbol of team rocket on it, set ablaze.

Glancing at Austin's back, Marowak had a gut feeling that this human was going towards a path of destruction.

Whatever the result would be, Marowak knew that the world is going to go through a storm with that human at its epicenter.

....

Man is such a strange and selfish yet selfless creature.

Words and actions can create such an influence on the body and mind of man.

These emotions led man to conquer this world and these emotions led man through the pathway of life.

Brady and Grady looked at the retreating back of Austin before they walked up the lavender tower to see what made this young man wait from dusk to dawn.

On the top floor of the tower, a Shiny Alpha Haunter floated, her spectral form glowing in the darkness. Raticate, a plump and furry creature, stood beside her, his whiskers twitching with anxiety.

"Isn't it time for you to leave?" Haunter asked Raticate.

"Then who will look after that idiot of mine?" Raticate replied, his voice tinged with concern.

Haunter's response was simple. "I will."

The air was thick with tension and danger as everyone stood at the precipice of their fate.

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Walking down the cold roads leading away from Lavender Town. Austin found himself in enjoying the zephyr that created a beautiful and comforting environment.

Pikachu wondered what his trainer was thinking since he hadn't tried to make any kind of lame joke which if Pikachu was honest he really liked.

The air about his trainer had changed and the look in his eyes his eyes made Pikachu nervous.

Austin suddenly stopped in the open meadow as he said," Pikachu use iron tail on the ground to create line."

Pikachu while a little confused obliged as he jumped from Austin's shoulders and with a backflip mid air tore a line through the ground with iron tail.

Austin pulled out all his pokeballs before through them upward as in a flash of light everyone appeared infront of him.

Fearow and Charmeleon were ready to battle but relaxed when they saw no one but their trainer infront of them.

Clefable and Munna frowned when they sensed the dark aura combining from their trainer's heart.

Ninjask suddenly stole Wortortle's glasses before disappearing causing Wortortle to dramatically cover his eyes while using Scizor's legs to hide his shame.

Scizor sweatdropped while Bulbasaur's eyes rolled at Wortortle while he took a step away from Shedninja who floated midair ready to receive is trainer's command.

Butterfree sat on Krabby who was enjoying cutting the grass around him.

Pidgeot frowned when she saw there were no trees around them for her to perch.

" Guys."

" Pidgeot !"

" And Gals."

Pidgeot nodded as Austin continued," Can everyone stand over the line ?"

Everyone looked down before adjusting themselves.

Austin patiently waited before placing everyone's Pokeball infront of them as he stood a few meters away.

"From today onward you don't have to listen to what I have to say anymore. You can go wherever you want."

Austin's words shook everyone to their chore.

Was there loving trainer abandoning them ?

" I am going to hunt down team rocket. It is not going to be easy. Many of you and I could end up like Raticate but I am willing to do it. And I give you all a choice, cross this line if you want to come with me and potentially endanger your lives or you can destroy your Pokeball and leave. The choice is yours."

The look in Austin's eyes told everyone that this wasn't some kind of joke.

Pikachu and everyone looked at each other as they silently gazed upon their trainer who had a calm look on his face but his hands were shaking.

Afraid that none would follow him in this path.

Pikachu and everyone smirked before charging towards their trainer.

Austin didn't need to know what his pokemon said but he was certain he heard their voices loud and clear.

They were in this together. Even if he walked through hell, they would follow him.

Austin wanted to tell them how dangerous their journey would be.

He wanted to say so many things but the overflow of emotions and tears caused Austin to lose his voice.

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[ Lavender Town - Ainsworth family mansion ]

Agatha was sitting in the main hall, on a rather old-fashioned wooden rocking chair, her face getting illuminated on and off from the light of the fireplace. Despite it still being morning, the amount of sunlight entering into the mansion was feeble at best.

Agatha gazed upon the shiny alpha haunter who was talking to caesar and the others.

" You are leaving aren't you."

Agatha asked her as she stared at her father's starter.

The shiny alpha haunter smiled mischievously as she rubbed her head.

The old crone pushed back into her chair. "You are going after that unusual trainer, Ash Ketchum."

Haunter didn't understand if the young man had just been complimented or insulted by her old master's daughter.

"It was a compliment." Agatha replied, as if reading her mind. "Most trainers are more… shall we say, pragmatic about pokémon?They consider them as tools, and… pets, if you want a better term. Those which they can easily trade when a better opportunity comes walking. But I can see that young trainer treating his pokemon like family, if that trainer is your choice then I can say you made the right choice."

Haunter smiled as she patted Agatha's head before disappearing into shadows as she left the Ainsworth family mansion.

A cruel, sinister look flickered on the old woman's face. "You found something interesting in that trainer, didn't you. Maybe it was fate that joined you two, a pokemon left alone under the rule of a cruel being, rescused by a kind and gentle soul whom they decided to follow through the path of hell, quite poetic "

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[ Sometime later, in a different office.]

The man in the shadows petted his Persian softly, making the cat purr at him lovingly, as he stared at the head of tech department Carr, in front of him, the other man's head down in shame.

"So… the infamous Executive Butch was defeated by a bunch of ghosts…"

The head of tech looked up, terrified... "Please… Please Boss, believe me. We received a transmition from the black box.…" Carr's face was blank. "And we received confirmation about the death of Executive Butch alongside Magmortar and Dusclops that you gave him."

"And yet, that didn't stop the men from capturing the Ghastly Population. Your story is… full of holes, I'm afraid, Carr."

"Boss… I'm speaking the damn truth. Believe me. Get a psychic, but whatever, just believe me. I have no reason to lie."

The Boss frowned. "As unfortunate as it is, you are speaking the truth. However, losing an entire fleet of our men along with an executive is a great loss for team rocket."

" All of Butch's captures, all the prisoners, all the remaining pokémon, will be transferred to Petrel."

Carr's paled. "Pet—trel? Why?"

The man in the shadows smirked. "You will find out soon enough. Contact Petrel immediately. He will tell you where to go."

Carr's knuckles were white. "Yes… yes, boss."

"Leave."

His head bowed, the man who was once an admin, turned away to get out of the room.

"Wait."

He stopped.

"Exactly how many ghosts were there?" The man in the shadows sat up, a little straighter.

"Endless…. Endless. Terrifyingly endless from what we have gathered from the black box before the transmission was fully cut off." Carr kept on stammering, as he left the room.

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[ Omake Paragraph ]

It is rare for any species of pokemon to be universally loathed across cultural backgrounds, especially one which is not of the dark type and will not attack humans unless provoked. Nonetheless, Golbat have been demonized (quite literally, in many religions), used as a motif for villainy and terror (including in recent years by Team Rocket, which frequently handed out Golbat to its members) and become the subject of deliberate extermination campaigns. Their imposing fangs, wings, long tongue, and association with the night terrify people in a way which neither Zubat nor Crobat ever do, and humans have confronted this fear with bigotry and unthinking vengeance.

The environmental movement has made some progress in recent years at rehabilitating Golbat's image, but it is a long struggle with setbacks whenever a foul-spirited trainer uses a Golbat to commit crimes or puts one on their flag when conquering nations – never mind that virtually all pokemon are loyal to their trainers. Indeed, some have privately mused it would be easier to preserve caves if Golbat didn't exist; when they talk about the need to protect endangered cave pokemon, their opponents describe it as a breeding ground for Golbat.

Some would think that, because they can still be found in wide numbers in parts of some caves where most trainers fear to enter, this superstitious loathing has had little ill effect. This is not true, for Golbat did not evolve in caves, but were pushed there by human aggression.

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[ Omake Paragraph]

It should not be surprising that a pokemon which itself is frequently called an "epidemic" and "infestation" should also be one of the leading vectors of disease in the pokemon world. Zubat is not only fearsome in appearance, with their lack of eyes, purple wings, and fangs, but also extremely dangerous to an unprepared pokemon.

A Zubat's mouth is open frequently for echolocation, but this is quite unsanitary and leaves it easy prey for airborne viruses: rare is even the cold that a Zubat does not catch. Although it is far from the only pokemon to learn techniques such as leech life and bite, its sharp fangs pierce the skin deeper and are shaped in a way that allows for the easy transmission of viruses. Finally, its poison-type immune system keeps it alive to carry diseases that would kill an ordinary pokemon.

Thankfully for humans, it is pokemon who suffer the brunt of Zubat bites, although woe betides those who venture into a cave without a Pokeball. Typically Zubat infections can be cured at a pokemon center, but occasionally they run across incurable mutant diseases, most of which kill fast and spread faster.

To add insult to injury, Zubat is believed to be one of the few pokemon which can not spread the Pokerus, a strange pathogen that increases a pokemon's abilities and is prized by trainers worldwide.