Chapter 19: Escape (Final)

'Will they buy my Bullshit?'

Another round of silence appeared after the group heard Aeron's words.

A Kanto Special Task Force member and a hidden agent in Team Rocket? They looked at the young dragon on his head; greed flashed through their eyes.

The Syndicate, unlike their name, was nothing but a small organization with decent influence in Orre Region. But they would amount to nothing if they were based in Kanto or any other region. The grunts they hired weren't even as strong as an everyday trainer from different regions. Was it Team Rocket instead of The Syndicate who did the kidnapping? Aeron and the trainers would never be able to escape.

As the third-rate criminals heard Aeron's words, their eyes turned toward their boss, but internally they had already made a choice.

"But how can we help when our mission is a failure?" Although influenced by Aeron's lies, the boss kept a calm head. "As soon as we go back, we will be killed by The Syndicate for failing a mission."

With a smile that said he had already expected it, Aeron walked toward the grunts.

"We know. Therefore, we will send fifty agents, including me, to accompany you to Orre. We will act as the trainers you kidnapped in Kanto."

"Wha…"

Once again, Aeron's words brought shock to the group. The boss looked at Aeron, and he finally "understood everything."

"So, instead of trainers, you will send League members like yourself to Orre? Just how far have you guys thought…."

"Orre has been lawless for quite a while now. It's about time someone put a rein on the free horse. Once I and my subordinates finish our mission there, you will be in charge." Aeron stood right before the boss, and the latter did not move. The words 'in charge' had left a deep impact on me. "You will control the Orre in shadows for The Kanto League. The choice is yours."

"How can we be sure that..."

Before Dina, standing behind her boss, could finish her words, Aeron took out two pokeballs and held them before their eyes.

"This will be a welcome present." He spun one of the Pokeballs on his finger. "Onix and Magby. Both have talents far above your ace Pokémon."

The eyes of Dina and her boss landed on the Pokeballs in Aeron's hands.

"I don't have all day." Aeron walked to a nearby cave and placed the two Pokeballs on it, followed by more pokeballs for every grunt present. 'I am sorry.' He turned toward the group. "If you accept the offer, pick the Pokeballs. But remember, you cannot turn your back on League once you join us."

With a poker face, he turned around and passed by the grunts who were too focused on the Pokeballs to care about Aeron's departure.

"You have an hour. Tik Tok. Tik Tok."

Those were his last words as Aeron walked into the dense Viridian Forest, disappearing into the home of Kanto bugs.

-0-

"Sir, we have an emergency."

The vice-captain of Kanto Special Forces came running toward the team leader.

"What happened?" Atlas could sense the impatience in his friend's voice, along with shock and disbelief. "Did something happen to the kids?"

"No, sir…"

"What is it? Spit it out."

"They escaped."

"Oh, good." Atlas sighed in relief before his eyes burst open. "What did you say?"

"I just heard a report that kidnapped trainers have somehow escaped. They are making their way toward Pewter City at the moment."

"H-How?" Atlas asked, but his subordinate had no clue. It was then that the forest around them got cold.

"Kekeke."

A Pokémon appeared out of Atlas's shadow.

"Lady Agatha's partner."

Gengar looked at the duo before it whispered something in Atlas's ears and then disappeared into the shadows.

Atlas looked at his subordinate and gave a command. "Gather the children. Make sure they are not injured. Take them to a safe place and ask them what happened. I want to know everything."

"Are you not coming?" The vice-captain asked, and Atlas shook his head.

"I have been given a new mission."

-0-

Within the dense Viridian Forest, Aeron looked at the Pokedex, ensuring he was going in the right cardinal direction.

'I need to run as far as possible.'

He did not look back once since he started running. It won't be long before the truth is out. Even though the members of The Syndicate were easy to fool, once they opened the Pokeballs, the cats would be out of the bag. It would be better for him to disappear or run as close to Pewter City as possible until then.

"OPEN THEM ALL!"

-0-

Back in the hideout, the grunts, along with Dina and the boss, looked at the Pokeballs left behind by Aeron.

"Boss, what is your decision?" Dina asked when she saw her boss staring intently at the Pokeballs. She had already decided and would prefer if her boss had done the same.

"Which one of the two do you want?" The boss asked with a wide grin on his face. Dina sighed in relief and joy when she heard her boss's words. "I want the Onix."

"I will take the Magby."

The duo walked toward the rock on which the pokeballs were placed.

"B-Boss…"

A voice came from behind and knowing what it was for, the boss looked at the grunts.

"Take your picks."

His words brought a cheerful smile to the face of every grunt. They walked toward the Pokeballs while rubbing their hands as if they had found a treasure trove.

Each member of The Syndicate took one Pokeball. Their faces showed how excited they were to know what Pokémon had the Kanto League prepared for them.

"Kekeke." One of the grunts gave a satisfying laugh before throwing the Pokeball in the air. "Come out."

A red light flashed. It attracted the eyes of every other grunt, along with the boss and Dina. They all wanted to know what Pokémon was.

The red light disappeared, and the Pokémon appeared before their eyes.

*Woosh*

The wind blew past them all as they stared at the yellow mouse Pokémon. It did not move or breathe as it was already dead inside the Pokeball. It was one of the Pikachu Aeron, and the group had saved before. The trainers knew the Pokémon would die very soon, but they wanted to see if hope existed.

Aeron had used these Pokémon as bait for The Syndicate members so that he could escape. It was also why he apologized internally before leaving these Pokeballs behind.

"W-What is the meaning of this?" The grunt who had opened the Pokeball asked. He knew, and the rest knew as well. They recognized the Pokémon since they were the ones who had caught it so they could use it to produce electricity. The boss looked at the Pokeballs in his subordinated hands before shouting at the top of his lungs.

"OPEN THEM ALL!"

His loud voice rang out in the silent forest.

All the grunts broke out of their shock, and they gritted their teeth as they opened the Pokeballs. Red lights flashed, and the dead yellow mouse Pokémon began appearing before them all.

"W-Wha…"

"H-How…"

"What the…"

The grunts gasped as they saw dead Pokémon coming out of the Pokeballs Aeron had left them. They turned toward their boss, who was gritting his teeth as realization dawned on him.

"From beginning to the end…that bastard was playing with us, with me, with The Syndicate." His voice became deeper with each word he said. "DINA!"

"Y-Yes, boss?" The woman stuttered as she replied. She did not bother opening her Pokeball since she knew what the results would have been.

"Go after those kids. They couldn't have gone far. Take everyone with you and track them down."

"What about the boy who…." She did not want to finish her words since they were too embarrassed.

"I will go after him myself."

-0-

On a mountaintop at an unknown location.

An old man looked down at the valleys below him. He was so high up that everything below appeared smaller than ants. Even the mountains around him appeared as dots as he stood at one peak piercing the sky, leaving the rest to look at it with envy.

He had a long white beard and a short height. His eyes radiated wisdom that had seen everything but hoped to see more.

"The atmosphere is crystal clear."

Within the Viridian Forest, Aeron ran for his life after hearing the furious roar of the boss.

"Somewhere around the world."

A young man was running in another forest with a Pikachu in his arms. A flock of Spearow chased after him.

"There is a trainer, soon to be the Rainbow Hero!"

A young boy with crystal blue hair dug the ground with his pickaxe in a dark cave. A silver metallic tank floated by his side.

"Young men and women, live and keep on living."

Within abandoned runes, a blonde-haired girl fought wild Pokémon living in the ancient runes with a Garchomp by her side.

"If you do, a path will open for you."

The old man looked down at several mountain peaks beside the one he was standing on. A look of excitement appeared on his face.

"The future has once again been bathed in Rainbow Light."

His voice echoed through the mountains.

-------------------------End of Chapter-------------------------

Author's Note:

- Let me know your thoughts in the comment sections! Have any suggestions? I am open to them!

- Drop some Power Stones to support the book.

- Peace!