CHAPTER 13. Why can’t I hold all these girls? For such a passionate and dedicated trainer like Ash, a single day without a battle or training exercise with his Pokémon provoked in him an anxiety that went through his body and disconnected him from reality, keeping him troubled and almost completely irrational before any event that could stir up in the least expected moment. But almost two days were fulfilled, and the unbearable idea of not being able to fight side by side of his partners because of the instruction of an unknown guy who, additionally had taken his friend without explaining his real intentions, was becoming a powerful explosive that forced Ash to try and focus his thought in any other possible way. At first he considered going with Bonnie and explore the forest, looking for wild Pokémon to play with. An idea that a couple of days before had seemed gratifying for him, but now he just considered it too childish. Another possible distraction had been helping Clemont in one of his new inventions, but then he found out that, despite his “incident” with whatever was invading his mind, his friend’s endless technical chat seemed extremely boring. Instead, Ash wished to talk about some matters that now he could call mature or according to their age, but then he realized that he did not have an idea of what really meant having those chats with his pal. Feeling defeated and lost between the world of childhood that his friends represented, and the pre-adolescence one that he thought he belonged now, Ash let himself drop in the cold floor of the Pokémon center’s battlefield in order to think over the one thing that seemed to fill the void left by Pokémon battles and his dream of becoming a master: girls. “We’ve met many cuties... don’t you agree, Pikachu?”. Ash said while sighing with relieve. Pikachu bent its pointy ear, puzzled at its trainer’s weird attitude that he had shown since the puberty changes had molded this boy in a matter of days. “I hadn’t thought about until now, my friend. But had I known it before, maybe now I’d have a brides streak that would impress even Brock”. He laughed with a cunning face that showed some proud of his appeal, along with a mock toward his old travelling partner who seemed to fail in the romance he was looking for with passion. Besides, Ash was the only one, as far as he could discern among most of the trainers of his age who he had faced in his journey, in receiving at least two chick kisses by two pretty girls. Well, one of them technically had been a Pokémon with the ability of taking human shape, but… can Paul from Sinnoh brag about of the same thing? How many girls had left with their broken heart that co*cky boy named Trip? Zero, possibly. And that without taking into account his current friend who seemed to suffer from a complete aversion toward the constant compromises in which his little sister was trying to engage him with. “I think I should send some messages to our friends, don’t you think, pal?” He asked while staring at Pikachu. “Who knows. I may even get more than one girl”. Ash burst in laughter while his yellow partner scratched its head and growled with certain modesty before the conceited attitude of its trainer. But he then quickly remembered that person who was now occupying the main spot of his thoughts, at least in the girl’s department of his head. Little after the beginning of his journey, she had introduced herself as a person without clear goals, save the one of meeting with the one she remembered from her childhood, and who had made a strong impression in her memories. Having been infected with the parasite could have been a traumatic event for him, along with an annoying burden that forced him to abandon Pokémon battles until that guy showed again. But despite this, Ash could not help but thank those new sensations and feelings that were guiding him into a new world of… pleasures, from which he was now aware of, and he was ready to take full advantage of. “All right, Pikachu!” He exclaimed at the same time he abandoned the frozen ground in a single, powerful jump. “Serena has shown so many hints that I should kick myself for not noticing before”. Pikachu crossed its arms over its body without leaving its gaze filled with skepticism and confusion before the words of its training. Ash smiled, entertained with his partner’s expression, and considering it as obtuse as he was before. "You’ll see! I was with Brock for so much time that I exactly know what I must NOT do!” Suddenly, a strange sound that resembled that of an object falling down from the sky interrupted that moment of litany with its powerful presence. Ash looked up at the sky, covering his front head using his palm hand so the sunrays could not impede his view, and looking for the responsible who produced that sound. But as soon as he had identified the Pokémen that was heading towards them at full speed, a tremendous force cleared up most of the snow covering the battle field that was used as an airstrip, unleashing an air bubble that even managed to push the nearby trees and vibrate the Pokémon center’s windows. Bonnie sheltered Dedenne and the strange green colored Pokémon inside her bag, while Clemont rushed toward his sister in order to protect her. Ash covered his face from the snow lifting his left arm, and commanded Pikachu to take on a battle position, jumping forwards and starting to emanate little yellow lightings from its red cheeks. The veil of snow cleared up, and a prehistoric winged creature revealed itself little by little in the landing spot. Pikachu’s lightning bolts intensified after responding with its instinct a probable threat that vanished as soon as a girl’s familiar voice greeted everyone gathered there with a cheer tone. “I’m back!” A smile illuminated Ash’s face after seeing her, who immediately went after her, along the rest of the traveling gang. “Are you ok?” Ash asked. Serena nodded and received the gesture with a smile, pleased of having reunited with her friends. “Everything went well thanks to Clint”, Serena responded while gazing at her mentor, who descended from his mount with skillful technique, and approaching the group of friends who were eager to receive them”. “Safely returned as I promised”, Clint said while removing the googles from his head and exchanged a slight, gentle smile with the rest of the kids who were still looking at him with distrust. However, it was Ash the first one to stretch his arms toward that guy as a token of appreciation for protecting one of the most important persons for him. “Thanks”. He said, smiling with the same style Clint had used before. Clint accepted the gesture and firmly shook And’s hand, thus marking the first step to a mutual trust and respect between both of them. “We have a lot to talk”, Clint assured and then he turned his gaze at the blonde boy with big, rounded glasses. “Sorry, I forgot your name”. “Uh… It’s Clemont”, he responded a bit discouraged after realizing that he did not seem to remember the name of the one who had knocked him down two days ago. Not to mention that since Clint and Serena had departed to wherever they went, he had dedicated most of his time to examine the weapon he had left in the forest. “Can I ask you a favor?” “Uh?” He exclaimed with surprise, but he immediately was interrupted with the cheering and childish voice of his little sister. “Look, brother! It’s an Aerodactyl!” Bonnie yelled while her sparkling eyes admired that prehistoric creature that made her remember certain ancient Pokémon who had mistaken her with its mother some weeks ago. “His name’s Sevatar”, Clint said while approaching to her. “It’s such a cool name!” She exclaimed. “Would you like to pet him?” “Really?!” She cheered with her little girl’s charm. Clint affectionately nodded. “Yeah, let me help you”. Ash and Clint stared with astonishment how that guy, the same one who just two days before seemed to possess nerves of steel and a cold personality in order to achieve his mysterious objectives, now fraternized so well with Bonnie; expression a care that only a close relative could show as he carried her and placed her on his shoulders so she could pet the fierce looking Pokémon’s head. “Surprised, guys?” Serena asked both of her partners, getting them out of their stagnation. “Appearances are deceptive. Don’t you think?”
“In fact… yeah”, Ash finally responded. He got even more surprised after witnessing the same docile and friendly attitude shown by Aerodactyl, completely contrasting its intimidating look.
“Well, it’s time to give a well-deserved rest to the loyal Sevatar”, Clint said while pulling out the pokéball from his chest and returning his partner inside it. Bonnie bid farewell to that Pokémon while gesturing with her palm hand, and then descending from Clint’s shoulders. Delighted of meeting with someone so tolerant and friendly towards her.
“Thank you very much!” She exclaimed again with a broad smile and a slight blush in her cheeks.
For Clemont, that fact was what he needed to place some of his trust in that strange guy. However, a person like him with a somewhat skeptical attitude could not draw conclusions hastily. For the time being, he assumed the hypothesis that, if his sister seemed to sympathize with him in such a short time, it was an indication that Clint did not possess bad intentions and could be trusted. He even seemed to have forgiven the fact that Clint had not remembered his name some minutes ago.
“About that favor…”, Clemont said, drawing Clint’s attention. “What do you need?”
Clint searched inside his pocket until he pulled out a piece of fold paper, which he delivered to the blond kid. He rapidly proceeded to unfold it in order to examine the content in detail. Once that he concluded with his analysis, a confused and not so satisfactory look ruled all his face, as if that petition represented more of a mystery than a true challenge for someone of his intellect.
“You’ll see why”, Clint assured with a firm stare that Clemont could not ignore, nodding and accepting his strange petition.
“What’s that, Clemon?” Ash asked filled with curiosity.
“Patience, Ash”, Clint answered with a calm tone. “We still must wait a bit more for someone who will be vital in this operation”.
A mild mechanical sound could be overheard from the place they were standing. Of the entire group, Clemont was the only one to pay special attention to guess correctly with the unmistakable roar of a powerful motorcycle approaching the Pokémon center at full speed. His eyes sparkled with excitement while speculations and predictions were carried out in his mind about the specifications that a machine like that one could possess, using as a reference the sound of the engine and calculating the approximate travelling speed of the motorcycle.
All of the sudden, the rest of the group could finally envisage the vehicle breaking through the frozen road without giving itself towards the midday’s tranquility of a peaceful town. It then slightly turned left in order to take an intersection that lead it directly to the training field, and in just a matter of seconds, that obsidian motorbike adorned with yellow-lightning panels was a couple of meters away from the group and the young man who was waiting for her.
“Who is it?” Serena asked filled with curiosity.
“You will like Ellie”, Clint answered. “In fact, Ash already met her in one of his gym battles in Unova”.
“Uh?” Ash exclaimed as confused as his yellow partner on his shoulder.
The thin and clear snow cover caused by the sudden stop of the motorcycle slowly dissipated in order to reveal the slender feminine figure totally dressed up with black leather, still mounted over her motorized beast and turning her gaze, hidden with the yellow helmet, towards the group. She turned off the engine in order to give her mount a well-deserved rest, lowed the side stand and descended from the vehicle.
Clint approached to her with a smile of relief in his face, expressing certain joy after seeing her again after weeks of harsh work and research. But all of the sudden, a little white Pokémon similar to a flying rodent posed in its trainer’s arm, jumped towards Clint with the cute and unmistakable squeak of an angry Pokémon.
“Say hi, Emolga”, commanded that woman.
Multiple sparks of yellow electricity appeared at the end of Emolga's tail while an orange-yellow orb of electrical energy emanated yellow electricity forms from the sparks. Emolga then jumped into the air and flipping forward, fired the orb from its tail at Clint, who let out a comical – and well deserved – scream of pain while the power of hundreds of volts ran through his body until he fell backwards to the ground.
The gang witnessed such weird scene with certain bewilderment. However, Ash was already familiarized with this kind of incidents after having travelled for a long time along his yellow partner. And he knew very well when an electric attack denoted a sign of slight resentment and happiness towards another person.
The woman of enviable figure proceeded to slowly remove her helmet while her hair softly fell over her shoulders, revealing a pretty familiar face of clear skin and seductive blue eyes that matched the dark tone of her hair. For someone who, according to Clint, Ash had already met before, he still found it difficult to recognize that woman from among the others he had met in his journey.
“Auch…”, Clint whispered, trying to regain the control of his muscles, “… don’t you think that this was a bit excessive?””
Elie crossed her arms over her chest and turned an accusative gaze at him while Emolga returned to its pokébal. “First you leave me without telling you a single word after discovering revealing news…”, she began. “Then you head into the lion’s den with little time to prepare a backup plan… and now you welcome me with that dumb, condescending face you know that I love…”. Ellie abandoned her serious look and mockingly smiled with an energy that illuminated her face. “Yes, I think you totally deserved it, dear”.
“I-IT’S ELESA!” Serena exclaimed after some conjectures and diggings in her memory had finally the image of that famous model and gym leader of Univa who had inspired many of her designs while she prepared her performances. “The radiant beauty!” She yelled with the shriek of a fangirl who had just met one of her idols.
Elesa laughed a bit and made a gesture of touching her delicate lips with her index finger towards Serena in order to indicate to hold her excitement. “You don’t want to cause a commotion of fans and paparazzi right here, do you?”
“Ah, ¡it’s true!” Ash finally exclaimed. However, there was still something that did not coincide with the look of that gym leader he had met before. “I’m sorry, Elesa. I could not recognize you because of your haircut”.
“Well, in my job it’s common to constantly change my style”, she responded with a gentle smile. “But look at you! You are now taller and mature than the last time!”
Ash laughed, a bit embarrassed and pleasant of being noticed by an older and pretty woman-
“Wow, you are so cute!” Bonnie pointed out while she approached to her in order to admire the traits of a professional model.
“Thank you! So you are!” She responded with a warm gesture that made the youngest member of the group to blush.
For Clemont, this moment represented one of the biggest and most intimate secrets she had kept with suspicion throughout all this time: Elesa had been one of the reasons he had decided to become a gym leader since the first time he saw her picture in a specialized magazine, engraving her face forever in his mind.
Keeping in touch with the rest of gym leaders of different regions was something usual that was performed at least once a year in order to share experiences and new methods to encourage new challengers to improve their battle techniques. Nonetheless, and because of the tight schedule of a girl who also worked as a professional model, he had never been able to strike up with his crush. Something ironic and unusual for someone extremely shy with the so many girls his sister constantly tried to engage him into impossible marriage ties. However, using all his might to keep his composure was now vital in order to not act like a fool in front of her.
“Hey! I know you!” Elesa said while approaching to him. “You are the electric gym leader of this region, aren’t you?”
Clemont paralyzed after trying to engage in conversation with her. The single words that responded the gesture seemed to vanish in a weak whisper that came from his mind like a whiffle. To make things worse, the muscles of his face seemed to have atrophied, so the air that emanated from his lungs blew up his cheeks like two, big red balloons about to explode.
Fortunately, Clint came to rescue, totally recovered of the shock he previously received, and anxious to carry on with the plan he had in mind.
“Nice! We are now all an affectionate group!” He said with a sarcastic tone, “But we have to keep up with many things. Shall we enter now?”
. . . .
They sit around one of the many tables located in the farthest corners of the Pokémon center while an atmosphere of suspense was taking over the scene where some terrifying truths were about to be revealed.
“Very well…”, Clint began while turning his gaze at Ash. “I think that the best way to start would be telling you exactly what I’m doing”. He deeply breathed and settled into his seat while the first words coming from his mouth caught the attention of the one gathered there. “I’m Clint, and a terrible event happened to me eight years ago in Kanto… the same thing that Serena experienced a couple of days ago…”
Clint turned to the girl sitting next to him as if he indicated that it was her time to speak and be honest with the ones she appreciated the most, just as he had recommended to her while both were heading to Snowbelle city. Serena deeply breathed and, for the first time, the words flew without apparent difficulty or stammer that would have instead worried her friends with the traumatic event she had experienced.
Actually, revealing the truth consumed every single drop of energy she possessed in order to not letting her be dominated by the memories and fear of becoming the victim of a sinister cult that pretended to kidnap her for a purpose that she ignored, but because of the members’ weird features, she could get a sick idea of what they had prepared for them.
From the strange clothes used by the cultists, going through the initiation ritual that made her hallucinate with walls moving like gigantic Sevipers, along the chilling shrieks that seemed to proceed by the paints adorning the hall; and concluding with the cacophony of stimulating pain that exacerbated her senses. Serena concluded her story by giving a deep breath while the moving but wrathful eyes of her friends illuminated their faces. Specially for Ash, who clenched his fists with all his might after knowing that some unknown folks had almost broke the will of someone dear for him.
“And you took her back with them?” Ash asked while staring at Clint with a look of resentment so unusual for someone like him, even managing to scare his loyal partner.
Clint crossed his arms over his chest and with a severity unsuitable for someone who moments before seemed to be so fraternal, he responded with another question. “Would you rather let her be dominated by her fears?”
There was some true behind that question. Despite his long record against criminal organizations, this group seemed to defy all the conventional methods he expected from a usual team “something”, with goals of world control using the power of a legendary Pokémon or any other massive destruction device. With this in mind, Ash was not entirely sure if returning to the same place where Serena had been almost kidnapped was the most appropriate method in order to overcome the fears for someone so young like her.
“And what did you find there, Clint?” Elesa interrupted with the question that grieved her since his last phone call.
It was then that Clint resumed the narration by telling them every single detail that had happened in the maiden’s palace. From the anecdote of the Order of the Maiden, whose ceremonies and rituals were carried out in the tower known as the Stairway to Heaven - trademark -, the alleged attack of an unknown and old cult in Serena’s initiation, the mythic Pokémon used as symbol of the Order, and the possible complicity of Palermo, supreme leader of this group who seemed to hide many more secrets than the ones she pretended to know.
“In a nutshell… just half-truths and an interesting story we have to get to the bottom”, Clint concluded with a deep sigh. “Bu… we have a name, Ellie”. A weak spark in his eyes managed to catch the attention of Elesa while he coordinated his words with the true and fearful meaning of that name. “The Cult of Pleasure”.
A shiver went down the spine of the group after discovering the name of the Cult that now turned into the biggest threat to defeat in that moment. Now that the league had been suspended indefinitely, Ash had resolved almost immediately to face and take the ones who dared to attack his friend down.
“I think it’s enough for your little sister”, Clint said towards Clemont, who had not realized that Bonnie was tugging his overalls. “I wanted her to listen in order to have a notion of what’s going on, but I think I went a bit overboard”.
“N-No! I-I’m brave!” Stuttered Bonnie while looking at her brother.
“Clint’s right”, Clemont assured. “This is not appropriate for you, Bonnie”.
“I can fight!”, Bonnie protested with a childish pout. “Besides, Dedenne and Squishy can help!”
That weird and green-colored Pokémon caught Clint’s attention, who immediately gave a closer look at him in order to carefully observe that creature that he had already seen a while ago in some articles and ancient texts which described the nature and qualities of that legendary creature, but now forced him to ask himself what the hell it was alongside such little girl. Maybe… just maybe, he had found another rough diamond that could be useful for the cause.
“All right then”, Clint said, surprising the people there with his approval. “She can be with us until we can figure out what to do now”.
“Are you sure of this?” Clemont asked with incredulity.
“Well, you are the big brother here, so… you have the last word”.
Clemont thought about it for a while rubbing his chin in order to make it easier the flux of his ideas. On the one hand, exposing his sister to a danger that he could not entirely comprehend yet would mean a totally reproachable act as the one in charge of her security. On the other one, Clint seemed to not have any problem with Bonnie staying. Besides having shown his qualities as protector after taking care of Serena.
“All right”, he sighed with defeat. “But at the first sign of danger, I’ll put you in the first flight to dad. Ok?”
“Yay!” Bonnie yelled triumphant.
With that brief pause finally resolved, Ash broke with the moment of happiness of the youngest member of their group with another query that had kept him awake and anxious since yesterday, costing him so much to be able to clear his mind of that dilemma.
“This cleares many doubts I had, but you haven’t explained to me what this exactly relates with what happened to me”.
Elesa turned her baffling gaze towards Clint, who suddenly remembered that there was still an unfortunate incident to be told, and whose consequences and effects had lead him to unveil a bit of the mystery that surrounded this Cult of Pleasure.
“He was infected”. He said with a severe tone.
The blue eyes that expressed Elesa’s complete serenity and self-control, all of the sudden were filled with the remorse and pity that only a person familiarized with the effects of that condition could prove. For Ash, he found that expression uncomfortable and annoying, as if all of the sudden he had caught a contagious and incurable disease that would change his life from now on.
It was ironic how close he was to the truth.
“Serena and I made a deal while before leaving that place”, Clint said without changing his severe tone. “And now it’s time for you to take….”
“I’m in”, Ash responded without waiting for Clint to finish his offer.
“Don’t be reckless, Ash”, Clint reprehended.
“Help you find these guys, isn’t it?”
“Not entirely”, he assured with annoyance. “Do you want to know why asked Clemont to keep you away from battles”
Ash’s hasty expression was suddenly tamed with an enormous interest that cleared the bothers and frustration of his complete uncertainty about what was happening to him.
“By the way…”, Serena interrupted trying to appease the strain of the moment, “… I don’t want to sound petulant, but why is Elesa helping you?”
“Ah, yeah…”, Clint exclaimed with a sudden change of heart when broaching the subject he was eager to explain. “In my quest, I’ve found valuable allies who had helped me in countless of times…”
“And I’m one of them…”, Elesa continued, happy that Serena had brought the subject. “Thanks to my many contacts in the media, I’ve managed to get large quantities of information that can be useful in Clint’s quest”.
“And now that you mention it, Ellie”, Clint said while pulling out a memory card from his jacket. “The witch… I mean, Palermo gave us the profiles of everyone who had participated in one of her mad ceremonies”.
Elesa contemplated that Little memory card with a glance of hope that she quickly erased from her face, due that what it would contain inside could very well a trap or erroneous information that would take them in other directions. They had to act with caution and keep themselves skeptical before anything that this information revealed to them.
Clint took out his laptop, turning it on immediately and inserting the memory card in one of the device’s slots. He waited for some seconds so the antivirus program analyzed the vast quantity of files contained inside the memory, and once it concluded with zero risks of infection, he selected the main file found in the root.
After fighting to control his emotions since the beginning of this talk, an intense shiver finally went down his spine while his left hand was gently held by Elesa, who shared his excitement before what could very well become the highest reference towards a new research that would finally put an end with the dark and twisted intentions of the Cult of Pleasure.
However, what they saw in the screen was a bit disappointing.
“What the heck is that?” Ash ascked after seeing hundreds of disorganized files with icons he could not discern.
Clint slowly sighed with a smile that everyone gathered there found rather strange.
“They are a just a bit messy, that’s all”, Clint claimed. “Time to use some of Bebe’s magic”.
“Bebe?” Clemont asked while inquiring into his mind in order to find the memory of that person who seemed familiar to him, but he could not remember very well.
“She’s in charge of the Pokémon storage system in Sinnoh”, Elesa explained. “A great hacker and friend”.
Clint selected a program located in the computer’s main screen, in which he introduced some commands that gave as a result the appearance of a bar that was being slowly filled along a percentage number that specified the remaining time to finish.
“Well, this will take a while”, Clint said while abandoning his seat and addressed to Clemont. “How long will you take to make what I asked?”
“I’ll have it in a flash”, He claimed with a co*cky smile.
Clint nodded and then he approached to an impatient Ash who still asked himself about the moment when he was going to answer the question he asked before.
“I’m sorry to make you wait, but there’s only one way to make you completely understand how your life is going to be from now on”.
Clint’s severity had left him more anguished about his condition, as if the seriousness of the issue required a special approach that would take more time than what he was willing to accept.
Ash was about to protest when, all of the sudden, Elesa left her spot and approached to Clint with a disapproving look that demonstrated a great dominance over the “pseudo-military” young man.
“When was the list time you slept?” She asked with the same dominant and severe attitude Clint had previously used with the kids.
Clint’s imperious attitude disappeared.
“Oh, come on Ellie…”, he reacted as if he was a kid trying to get away with it, using absurd excuses. “My record is five days”.
“And do I have to remind you that in THAT occasion you ended up acting as if you were a Spritzee?”
This last revelation managed to steal a guffaw to every one of the boys gathered there, after imagine that the sever and manly Clint gracefully walked on tiptoes with serenity as if he were in a flower field.
“Ok, ok, ok!” He protested with his face red with shame. “Geez!”
“I’ll take care of explaining him”.
“Very well…”, Clint said with a more approachable tone after considering that after three days without rest, a quick nap would renew him. “I think I’ll also need to take a shower for a change”.
“Take your time”, Elesa said with a tender smile.
“And pass that pillow to me, because…”, he whispered so the rest could not listen, “… you know that if you’re not there, I need to cuddle with something soft”.
Once Elesa accomplished his absurd - though affectionate – demand, Clint gazed at the group before taking a well-deserved rest in one of the Pokémon center rooms.
“See you later”. He said while raising his palm hand to say good bay and climb the stairs.
Silence ruled the Pokémon center’s lobby once again, and Ash was eager to… whatever was going to happen with him.
“Well…”, he said while playing with his hands impatiently as if he was trying to unravel the mystery Clint had referred. “Now what?”
Elesa looked at him with a defiant smile that made his heart galloping after contemplating the beauty of her face.
“As Clint would say… it’s time to learn in the most painful way possible”.
TO BE CONTINUED…
