Ash and co appeared in Cerulean City about a day after they were supposed to due to the very tragic circumstances leading them to stay an extra day.
"Well, we're here," Ash said, stretching his arms behind his back as Abra took a bag of chips as her payment and disappear.
Misty looked around and sighed, "Ahhh, it's nice to be home again,"
Psyduck was next to her feet and copped, "Psy-y-y"
"Well don't get used to it," Ash said, snapping Misty out of her trace, "We are still walking and all the gyms are closed so you can't even use that excuse."
Misty raised a finger and wanted to argue but she couldn't bring herself to speak, so Yellow asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well according to Blaine apparently Lance called a meeting and all Gym leaders, including Misty's sisters had to go."
Brock nodded, "Huh, I remember when I needed to go to those, but he doesn't usually call them without at least a week's notice, I wonder why."
Green rolled her eyes, "Surely the invasion of Cinnabar and Admins, along with whatever else had nothing to do with it."
Brock scratched his cheek, "I mean, that certainly is a possibility, but I don't think he would call an emergency meeting just for that,"
Misty looked between them, "Wait, are we just ignoring the fact that he just said he talked to Blaine when he was Knocked out the entire day!"
Ash gave a blank expression, "I was out for like 30 minutes, you guys just abandoned me to go do whatever, so I ran into him as he was leaving."
Everyone whistled slightly including Pikachu at Ash's words, Misty spoke, "W-well in our defense Psyduck did hit you pretty hard."
"And who's fault is that, the Pokemon or the trainer who doesn't know where he is half the time?" Ash asked sarcastically since he knew exactly why, in fact, he planned it.
{Flashback}
Before the Gym battle he had Abra, Machamp, and Psyduck with him to explain the plan, which made them all confused as to why he wanted to, and quote, have Machamp throw Psyduck and hit Ash, only for Abra to come in with his Pokeball and disappear before anyone noticed.
But Ash bribed them all with what they wanted, Machamp more training, Abra food, and Psyduck…. Well, Psyduck just kinda agreed.
—
Misty played with her fingers, "The Pokemon?"
"Don't play coy," Ash said blankly.
Before this could get any more awkward Green spoke up, "Well it's been fun and all, but I should get going, I need to beat you and Gary there and win our bet."
From Green's bag, Jigglypuff jumped out and puffed up like a large balloon as Green grabbed on, "See ya!!"
But before she went too high Ash quickly grabbed her arm, "Wait." making Green look down surprised at Ash
To anyone watching from outside this looked like a scene straight out of a romance novel as the wind blew past them.
But that was immediately broken when Ash held out her hand, "Give me my wallet."
Green handed him the wallet and puffed her cheeks, "You're no fun." With that he let Green go as she flew into the sky.
Ash sighed and put his wallet away, then he turned to his friends, "Don't think I forgot about you guys."
From behind he could see Misty trying to sneak off, she flinched when Ash called her out and even more when he grabbed her by the collar of the jacket she had on and started dragging her along.
"Come on, time is money,"
"No no I don't wanna go back into that forest, noooo," Misty said as she tried to break out
Brock, Yellow, and Psyduck looked at each other for a second before slightly laughing and following behind.
—
{International Police headquarters}
Darwin and Tempest walked into the place, with their rank they were able to go in with no problem, they asked around and eventually found their way to the interrogation room.
When they entered they saw a lot of officers interrogating grunts, they even saw some dealing with the other admin Cole, but they didn't come here for that. They went to a second room where they were greeted by a familiar officer.
It was 'The Gentleman' from back on the S.S. Anne, he greeted them, "Ah hello, it's good to see you young people again!"
Tempest put on a smile, "Hey, it's good to see you're doing better now, I hope nothing went wrong since the last time we saw you!"
"No, no, but they put me on desk duty to supervise everyone, the nerve I tell you, I would wipe the floor with most people here Gurararara!" 'The Gentleman' laughed.
But Darwin skipped the formalities, "Anyway did you get our message?"
He stopped laughing and nodded, "Yes, follow me we have him in a special room, a special case that one, even in restraints, no Pokemon, and a dislocated arm he still took a bit to Pacify."
The person in question was of course Cliff, and when Tempest heard about that she raised her eyebrow, "What do you mean about his Arm? That wasn't in the reports we read."
He shrugged, "I couldn't tell you, that's just how he was handed to us,"
Tempest sighed and muttered under her breath, "Serves him right."
Darwin and 'The Gentleman' both noticed but for the sake of their own mental health they didn't say anything as they approached the room.
"Here we are, we've tried getting through to him but he's quite resilient, the weirdest part is that he hasn't even asked for a lawyer."
Tempest nodded her head at his words but Darwin tightened his gaze, "Tell me, what's off limits"
"Well, we aren't allowed to torture unless we get word from a higher up-"
Darwin cut in, "Well congratulations were both higher up, about as high you can go without being Champion, so what now?"
He sighed, "Well, although this isn't regulation I suppose I can't stop you considering you would technically outrank me, and also I don't think the higher-ups mind," he said the last part with a smirk as he walked out of the room.
They walked into the interrogation room, then Cliff noticed them and chuckled, "Ohh, looks like they brought in the big guns, 2 of the Mediocre 4, what were you two on a date or something."
They both ignored him as Darwin sat down across and Tempest stood next to Cliff, who was restrained to the table.
"So, we can do this the Easy way or the hard way the choice is yours."
Cliff laughed, "Eat my-" but he was cut off when a furry yellow arm slammed his head into the metal table, behind him was now Electivire.
Darwin continued, "I'm sure you'll find that we aren't as lenient as the police here, so now I'm going to ask a few questions, for your best interest I recommend you answer."
"Nev-" Ciff started as a light shock was sent through his body.
"1. What were you all doing at Cinnabar Island?"
Cliff put on a smile, "Having a vacation what else,"
Neither Darwin nor Tempest were convinced, "We'll get back to that, 2. Where are your little admin buddies hiding."
"Would you believe me if I said I don't know?" Cliff said, also not getting any sympathy from the two.
Darwin leaned in closer as Electivire held Cliff's head, "3. Where are all your Team Rocket Bases?"
Cliff smirked, "I think there's one under your mother's hou-" he was cut off when Darwin immediately sent a punch to his face.
Darwin wasn't the strongest but he was built under that fur coat so he made Cliff's nose bleed.
"What nerve did I? Well maybe I sh-" he was cut off by the surge of electricity coursing through his body from Electivire
When it stopped Darwin looked at him, "We are being very nice right now, do you have any idea what position you're in!"
Cliff was facing down, "Don't matter." then he looked up, "Compared to all of you, including that Electivire, You're more human than him,"
—
{With Ashtwo}
Ash was sitting in the common room of the Team Rocket base, he was making the final preparations before he perform his heist, since the last time he'd been working on every possibility.
Besides the fact he just got another fat paycheck from Porygon2 hacking into the money reserves, and it seemed like last time the people didn't get caught so he could do it the same way.
Of Course, he sent Aki's share over to him, he also spoke to him since he just received the plans for Porygon again, which made him extremely excited and eager to start making them again.
But Ash reminded him that Aster was still around and could come after him if he found out he 'replicated' it, he also reassured him that Aster hadn't managed to make any Porygon, and he won't due to there now being a 0 where a 1 should be.
To which Aki just sent Laughing emojis.
But other than that the only change to his team was that Grimer evolved, but that's about it, he did train but he did slow his progress since he didn't want to stand out more than he did, so being 'mediocre' at training was a good step.
But at the moment he was letting Porygon2 try to get deeper into the Team Rocket database, despite having a major upgrade there were some things that even Porygon2 couldn't get into, which was stopped since it was made of data but he digresses.
But other than that, everything has been going to plan, he was even able to plan around Jessie, James, and Meowth since he knew about most of their scheme, there was just 1 problem he couldn't plan around, well 2.
As he thought that he felt a slap on his back, "Hey Bro!"
'Speak of the devil' Ash mumbled under the scarf as he looked over to see Jay, "Oh it's you, haven't seen you in a bit."
"Yeah, been super busy, but Enid sure helped me out, but I'm still no closer to beating her," Jay said, nodding his head as from the corner he could see the albino of the hour approaching.
Ash gave his usual stoic face and monotone voice, "I see, very well, then I suppose I shouldn't keep you two, I'll leave first."
Ash packed up his computer and grabbed the sleeping Meowth that was on his lap to leave, but before he could Enid stepped in front of his path.
"Just wait one moment, what is wrong with you!"
Ash was confused, "I don't know what you mean."
"Don't pay dumb you know what you did, you're always one-upping me on purpose, and it seems like you're too much of a coward to confront me," Enid accused Ash.
"So I want to settle this," she held out a Pokeball, "I challenge you to a battle, if I win you have to become my servant!"
"..."
"..."
"...No," Ash said as he went around, making Enid immediately freeze.
As Ash walked towards the door, but suddenly it opened revealing a familiar purple-headed girl, Sayoko.
"Oh good, all 3 of you are here!" she said, clapping her hands, "I have a mission for the 3 of you."
That broke Enid out of her trance as she looked at Sayoko thinking about how her protagonist Aura must be at work.
Before that, though Sayoko looked towards Ash and in perfect Unovan(English) spoke, "I do hope you don't disappoint me,"
Ash frowned and answered back in Unovan(English), "What do you mean?"
Sayoko smiled and spoke back in Kantonian, "Good, I was wondering if you really were from Unova, good for you, anyway don't sweat the details I just needed to inform you all the mission will be sent to you in a day's time, until then get ready."
As Sayoko left Jay put an arm around Ash, "Isn't this great Bro, we finally get a mission together!"
As Ash looked at Jay and then at Enid he sighed, mumbling 'Goody'
–
{Pallet town}
Classes ended for the day, and everyone left to go do whatever they did, leaving Oak alone in the classroom doing some work, but today it was a little different as Paul walked up to him with a note.
Oak noticed him and sat up, "Paul, what can I do for you, my boy."
In a huff, Paul handed him the paper, "Over the break my brother started challenging the Battle Frontier, I was there to watch him, he currently possesses 6 of the 7."
"Yes I remember your brother, Reggie, he was quite the skilled battler, though I always felt he was more suitable for a Breeder." Oak mused.
Paul scoffed at that idea but continued, "Anyway, soon he will go challenge Brandon of the Battle Pyramid, so I came here to inform you I will be leaving for the time being."
Oak raised his eyebrows, "You know this isn't normally how this works, besides you might miss important lectures."
"It doesn't matter, I already know everything I need to know to be a trainer, all I'm missing is a license, the only reason I'm saying this is because my brother asked me to tell you."
Oak sighed knowing Paul's tendencies, "Ok, fine you can go, but you have to write a report about the battle when you return to make up for the test you're going to miss."
Paul scoffed as he walked out of the room, leaving Oak alone to sigh, if only Paul let himself open up.