Authors Note: I've been out of town for the past week and a half. Sorry about the lack of updates
Ash looked Sawyer in the eye "Yeah, what's up? You battled great against Paul! You know he absolutely deserves that Elite Four spot"
Sawyer responded "Yeah, actually I was going to ask about that."
Ash looked at him puzzled, "What do you want to ask?"
Sawyer took a deep breath in and responded, "I'd like to ask you for a job. I'm sick of doing nothing with my life just working security at a bank. I was meant for more then that.
I applied for a gym spot but never got a response."
Ash slightly sweatdropped, "Sorry, I guess I didn't see your name, or maybe my assistant Lille over there put you in the maybe pile"
Sawyer looked down at the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry for asking."
Ash shook his head. "I have bigger plans for you than just a gym leader. A trainer of your caliber should be an Elite Four member.
Sawyer's eyes widened. "You can't be serious!"
Ash nodded. "I am dead serious. You deserve that spot more than anyone else I know. Now do we have a deal or not?"
Sawyer offered his hand to Ash. "Deal. No questions asked."
Ash smiled and shook the hand. "Awesome! We don't have a league built in Alola yet, so we're still figuring things out. But, I'd like it if ya moved to Alola. Paul and I are gonna start training soon."
Sawyer shrugged. "I mean I think I could use a change of scenery. Kalos is getting old and no way am I going back to Hoenn." Sawyer said Hoenn with some venom in his voice, clearly expressing distaste for something that happened.
Ash replied, "Awesome. Can't wait to have you on the team Sawyer!"
Sawyer smiled, "As can I"
Lille walked back in the room with Zuko and Paul.
Lille gave Ash a grin and showed him a check which had a huge number written on it.
Ash's eyes bulged "How can we ever pay that back!"
Lille giggled, "Slowly over time, they're being nice about it. They were super impressed by Paul's battle and the Z move."
Ash pointed towards Sawyer, "Also, I hired him as an elite four member."
Paul's eyes widened. "WHAT! WHY WASN'T I CONSULTED ABOUT THIS!"
Ash ignored Paul and kept talking to Lille, "I think he's a great fit and he's a strong trainer and a nice person. He'd be great for us."
Lille nodded her head, "You know best. It's your Elite Four"
Ash grinned, "Thanks Lille!"
—----
The next day, Ash received a text message. It was from Clemont.
I have an item which you'd find interesting. Meet me at the house on Route 14. Come alone
Ash felt like that was slightly fishy, but he chose not to sweat it and headed towards the swamp alone.
After all, Clemont would never do anything to hurt him. He decided to only bring one Poke Ball.
—-
Meanwhile inside .....
A figure in a black suit held a knife to Clemont's throat, a mega ring around their finger. His Rotom Phone was on the floor with Ash's contact information open.
"Don't even think about moving."
Clemont was strapped in a chair, tied down with chains around his arms.
"MMMMMHMMM MMMMM MMMM" Clemont tried to shout through the tape which was around his mouth
The figure slapped Clemont and the chair fell down towards the floor. "Quiet. You're disposable at this point, be grateful I haven't put you in the ground yet."
Clemont stopped talking and simply gave the figure a glare. The figure laughed at his death glare.
"Oh, I bet you're wondering why I'm doing this! Why do I need Ash? Well, the answer is easy. He's a Champion, arguably the weakest one. And some people are willing to pay massive money to see a Champion dead. But that isn't the main reason, I want to do this to send a message. I want the world to know who I am. And the first man to murder a Champion would do that job quite well"
Clemont seemed like he was laughing, and the figure kicked him in the ribs before speaking again.
"Do you think me telling you this makes me an idiot? Or, perhaps it's a warning. After all, you are disposable" The figure spoke slowly and reached for a Poke Ball.
"Bisharp, I need your help."
A strong Bisharp materialized in front of Clemont and awaited its orders.
Clemont's eyes widened in fear as he realized what would happen to him.
"Goodbye Clemont, can't say it was a pleasure."
Clemont started struggling on the ground, desperately tring to escape.
The figure shook his head. "This is foolish, Bisharp, use Guillotine and end his life"
Bisharp's blades began to glow and he lunged at Clemont
The door opened
Ash saw one of his best friends impaled by a Pokemon.
Pikachu cried out and released a thunderbolt at Bisharp who crashed through the window.
"NO! CLEMONT!" Ash screamed out in vain.
The figure laughed "Hello Ash."
Ash turned his head and glared at the figure. "How.... How dare you! Just who are you?"
The figure laughed, "Well, I suppose you should know who I am. After all, you'll be dead in a moment."
Ash turned his cap backward, "We'll see about that."
The figure laughed, "Oh! We have a feisty one!
Ash threw a Poke Ball. "Gabite, attack!" Ash said in a voice so angry, even Pikachu looked horrified.
Gabite turned around, doubting if his trainer really just said that
Bisharp returned through the window and stared down Gabite
Ash pointed at Bisharp. "Rock Smash. Now"
Gabite lunged at Bisharp and sent the steel-type flying into the wall, landing a 4x effective attack.
Bisharp stood back up, but Pikachu trapped him in an Electro Web without a command from Ash. Bisharp struggled against the electric net before Gabite struck him with a fin and sent him down again.
Ash gave his next command. "Finish this wih Dragon Pulse."
Gabite launched a blast of Draconic energy, enveloping Bisharp.
Ash turned his attention towards the figure. "You'll pay for what you did."
The figure shook his head, "No, this ends now. Let's go Gengar!"
The figure released a Gengar which stared down Ash's two Pokemon.
The figure squeezed his ring and Gengar was enveloped by a purple veil of light. Ash took a step back.
"No way...."
The figure laughed, "The power of Mega Evolution. Never gets old. Now you'll die by the hand of a power you've never felt. Gengar, use shadow ball on Gabite."
"Gabite! Draco Meteor!"
The figure looked amused, "Indoors? No way."
Gabite's Draconic Ball of Energy flew towards Gengar's Shadow Ball and was completely enveloped and sent flying back towards Gabite.
Gabite was struck with a mixed attack from Gengar's Shadow Ball and his own Draco Meteor. Gabite fainted instantly
Ash gulped, "Pikachu, show them how it's done best buddy!"
"Pika Pi" Pikachu ran forward
The figure pointed at Pikachu "Psychic now. Slam him against the walls and use Sludge Bomb when you feel like it"
Gengar's eyes glowed and he moved faster then Pikachu could process while slamming him against the walls.
Ash grinded his teeth and yelled out "All out Thunderbolt! Bring down the roof!"
Pikachu cried out in pain and released a massive Thunderbolt just as Gengar launched a sludge bomb and sent the roof crashing down.
Pikachu was struck with the sludge bomb and fainted from the blow. But the roof collapsing gave Ash a chance to lunge at the figure and unveil him.
The figure was a man. And he looked angry
"Guess we met face to face at last. My name is Reukra and I'm the leader of the Cult of Perfection. Nothing personal, but I know you're out of Pokemon."
Reukra pointed at Gengar. "Gengar, use Hypnosis and then I'll end him myself."
Reukra pulled out a knife and approached Ash. "Goodbye Ash Ketchum"
Gengar started his Hypnosis attack before he was struck with a blast of water.
A mysterious figure moving at blinding speed struck Reukra and sent him to the floor.
Gengar was struck once more and fell back, fainting. The figure materialized in front of Ash. It was none other than his long-lost Greninja. And the Pokemon looked PISSED. "Ninja Nin!"
Greninja formed two swords out of Water Shuriken and pointed at Reukra.
Reukra laughed, "Fine by me. Porygon-Z, help me out. An odd-looking Porygon Z emerged and gave a cry.
Reukra pointed at Greninja. "Blast that Pokemon with a Hyper Beam."
Ash felt his heart skip a beat and a familiar feeling clicked in his head. "Ok Greninja, let's do this again!"
Greninja was surrounded by a veil of water and he lunged at Porygon, dodging his attack and slamming into Reukra. Reukra's mega ring fell off from the impact and Greninja turned around and faced Porygon.
Reukra pointed at Greninja "USE THUNDER!!"
Porygon tried to blast Greninja, but it was too late. Greninja had already hit Porygon hard, using an attack Ash didn't even recgonize.
Reukra cursed and reached for his knife, "Well, this isn't going according to plan. Goodbye for now Ash. Porygon use Teleport!"
Reukra gave a wave and threw his knife towards Ash and it landed cleanly in his gut.
Ash screamed out in pain and fell on the ground, bleeding. He picked up the mega ring and stared into it, with Clemont's body by his side.
Ash passed out
The next day......
Ash woke up, with Bonnie and Serena by his side.
Ash looked at Serena confused, "What happened? Serena? When did you get here! OH MY GOD CLEMONT! BONNIE IM SO SORRY!"
Bonnie looked at Ash with eyes filled with tears and just hugged him. Serena joined in the group hug and the Kalos crew mourned the loss of their own. Lille looked at Serena and felt bad for her. She may be her rival, and both of them were bitter over the events of yesterday between the two of them, but now wasn't the time for this.
Bonnie looked at Ash. "Clemont is ok Ash. He's not dead, the doctors say he's going to be ok."
Ash took a deep sigh of relief. He sprung up again "Wait! What about Greninja!" as he said this, Greninja stood up and handed Ash the Mega Ring. Ash palmed it for a second and held onto it.
"I guess I'm going to need to stop Reukra now. And I'm gonna use this mega ring to achieve my goal."
Bonnie spoke up, "Ummmm I was wondering if it would be ok for me to come to Alola with you. We aren't safe in Kalos anymore and Clemont won't be working anytime soon. I'm willing to be a gym leader!"
Ash smiled and pulled her in for another hug, "Of course Bonnie, you're welcome to come along as a gym leader."
Greninja stepped forward and held out his hand, almost making an offer to Ash. Ash grabbed the webbed hand and shook it firmly. "Guess you're back with me Greninja." Ash reached for his bag but struggled to do so
Serena handed him a Poke Ball and Ash placed it on Greninja and it shook three times eagerly. Ash smiled and whispered to no one in particular, "Glad to have you back."
Just then, Paul,Sawyer and Lille walked in the room. Paul smiled when he saw Ash awake and simply stated, "Glad you're ok. Now let's leave this region."
Everyone laughed at Paul's upfront comment. And for a moment, Ash's struggles were forgotten.
—-------
Meanwhile in the Torren Region
"How did the assasination attempt end up"
A cloaked figure spoke to a woman. "Not well, Reukra was foiled at the last second by a damn Greninja."
The woman sighed, "Pity he didn't die. After all, he's a constant thorn in our side, foiling our attempts to obtain the power of Darkrai."
The woman pointed at the cloaked figure. "I want you to find Ash Ketchum, I know if anyone has an idea on how to obtain a Darkrai, he does."
The cloaked figure kneeled
Wherever Ash Ketchum was, he'd have to add the Cult of Darkrai to his list of enemies.