Hardcore

“Answers?” “Don't play dumb.” “I honestly have no idea what you are talking ab-” “This city is in shambles. People are living in their own filth, they are stealing and looting, and there is something up I know it.” “….” “Look I know this city is suppose to be amazing and vibrant. Someone who has been here multiple times told me. It was Bright, it was a positive atmosphere. People were happy. Now…..now they are miserable and scared. Now they need you. They need you to save them and bring this place back from the brink. So Please Whitney…...let me help you and tell me what happened here.” “I…..Okay. I…..I trust you.”

Later, outside the old Global Trade Center Rikku and Whitney stand ready to go in. Rikku looks to Whitney before they go in. “So you said the source is in here right?” Whitney took a deep breath and whispered “Yeah. They set up a base here after it was shut down. I didn't think anything of it because they were small time criminals. Random petty theft and vandalism. Nothing major. Then one day this guy came to town and…..well whipped them into shape and over the course of the last year they have been taking this city.”

Rikku looked perplexed a bit. “From what you said earlier every resistance has been crushed before getting any momentum and that is why you buckled?” She approached the door and Whitney grabbed her arm before she could open the door.

“It was to save the remainder of the good people of this place. I buckled to keep them safe from this.” “They were never safe.” “I know. I know that eventually they would be put in danger. I just wanted to keep them safe as long as I could. But I know now. I know I must take action. I must stop these thugs and take my home back!”

Rikku grinned and nodded. She opened the door to the center and they both enter. Rikku sends out her Raticate to scout. “Ok Ricky. Go see what it is we are up against.” The pokemon nods and runs off into the darkness.

“Will he be okay?” Whitney said worried. “Well he did beat you.” Rikku joked “Point taken.” Just then the Rat pokemon came rushing back. He stopped in front of his trainer and slapped his tail six times to indicate there were six people up ahead. “Six. Great. Well, what pokemon do you have on you?”

“Um…...I have my Clefairy, my Togekiss for quick escapes, and Miltank. How about you?” “I have Ricky and Bell.” “That's it? A Raticate and Bayleef?” “Yes.” “You sure you don't have any in your bag?” “Uh…...Well there is Tara but she is a new born and not battle ready…….OH!” “What?” “Muscle! That Machop I got in case you beat down Ricky and Bell!” “Perfect! A Fighting type will do us good.” “I hope so…..I'm not that great with them honestly…..” “Well now's the time to get better!” Whitney finally started show her confident cheery side for the first time in a while. “Smartass…...” The girls started to make their way in farther. Rikku had sent out Muscle and had Ricky lead the Machop to the spot she wanted them to wait. “On three…..” “One….” “Two….” “Three!” The duo burst into the room with the men. Rikku sent out Bell and the Bayleef used its grass attacks to keep a few of the grunts at bay while Whitney used a combination attack with her Clefairy and Togekiss on the rest. Once they took out most of them a stoic man walked in. He was tall and well groomed. He was wearing a very distinctive suit with a few tears and frays along the seems. He had a cane with a gem in it and when he walked in he did not break his demeanor.

“Enough.” He spoke. Everyone stopped. His cold and stoic tone struck everyone in the room. “What do you want here?” “We are here to drive you out. You are ruining this City” Rikku shouted. “I am ruining this city huh? Me? I have brought order to this place. It was in chaos. It was in denial from the reality of the world around them. You are the problem that plagues this city. You are the people who are ruining this city. YOU are the ones ruining this world.” “You bastard.”Rikku retorted. “Well, Whitney? What about you? Do you feel this way too? Do you think I am Ruining this city? Please. Tell me. But remember what you wanted. Remember YOU let ME take control.” “...” “Whitney…...what is he talking about?” Rikku asked. She hoped he was just lying to get a rise out of them. “I'm sorry Rikku…….I should have told you……..I'm sorry.” “Well I might as well tell you. She isn't going too. Whitney was having financial trouble as this Global Trade Center had been shut down when the Holo-System went global from Kalos. Goldenrod was not getting the income to sustain the Gym or the Department Store properly. She was about to shut down the Gym until I came. Offering her a way out.” “At a cost…..” “Now, now, Whitney. It was a small price to pay to bring your City into the real world.” “You turned this bright city into a dark place! This isn't helping the people of this city, it's demoralizing them and making this place a hole!” Whitney shouted. She clenched her fists in frustration and had a determined look in her eyes. She was not letting this man run her town anymore. “You are finished! Miltank! Clefairy! Take him out! Rollout! Metronome!”

The two pokemon let loose their attacks at the man and he just raises his finger and the attacks are stopped by two Golem's. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should know better by now. You cannot stop me with your pokemon. You are too weak.” “Muscle! Ricky! Now!” Rikku signaled her two other pokemon. The Machop and Raticate took out one of the Golems temparily freeing Whitney’s Miltank. “Bell, Use Razor Leaf and keep it at bay. Whitney can handle the other one just fine.”

“Damn girl and her interference!” The man growled. “Miltank!” “This is too much. Golem! Brace yourselves!” The two rock pokemon take the hits dead on and hold back the attacking pokemon.  “You win this day. I will give you Goldenrod back but mark my words. This is not over. I will take this city back and I will not be stopped by either of you. Goodbye you worthless scum.” “You aren't going anywh-” Before Rikku could get out that sentence she notices the Golem starting to glow. “Shit. Whitney! We have to go!” “But what about him?” “Forget it! These Golem are going to use Explosion! We have to get out of here now!” Rikku recalls her pokemon into the safety of their pokeballs and grabs Whitney. In the confusion Whitney recalls her pokemon as well and the Girls make their way out. The building explodes leaving no trace of the man or his pokemon. Whitney looks up and sees him flying away on a pokemon he had with him. He got away.

Later back at the Gym Rikku and Whitney are recovering from their experience……

“Rikku…...thank you.” “You are the hero.” “No…..I'm not. I'm weak. I let that man ruin this city…..I'm no hero.” “…..Follow me.” “Wha-?” Beofre Whitney could finish her thought Rikku takes her outside the gym to see the people of the city gathered outside. They are cheering. They are happy that the city is theirs again. “They are cheering for you Whitney. To them, you ARE a hero. You gave them something they thought they lost. You gave these people hope again.”