Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Corruptions Way ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

 

Chapter 5:

 

Disclaimer: Pokémon is not mine.

 

Ash sent his Pikachu out, who leapt in the air and fired off a jolt of electricity towards the Tauros ahead of him. The Tauros dodged, and slammed into the Pikachu, who used the chance to paralyze his foe, striking him with a more powerful bolt. The Tauros backed off, and then fell, its trainer rushing towards its side and putting it back inside its Pokéball. “Wow Ash! You're even better than I first thought!” The guy said enthusiastically, and Ash smiled.

 

“Well thank you. I've been training for seven years.”

 

“I've only been training for two months.” The younger trainer said, looking down and frowning.

 

“Oh don't feel bad. We all start somewhere. Besides, I lost when I was younger too against people far weaker than I am now. Just have confidence in yourself.” And he sent the other trainer on his way, but heard in the corner of his eye saw a smirk. He spun around, and saw Koga, the Poison type trainer and head of the Fuchsia City Gym.

 

“Good advice Ash. When you will tell I'm that it's bullshit?” He asked. Ash reached for a Pokéball, but Koga produced one first.

 

“Don't tempt me boy, I'm serious. Confidence won't make your Pokémon stronger, and I'm willing to test my theory against yours. Although it will have to be another time, for I bring a message.”

 

“What sort of message?” Ash asked annoyed. He didn't like Koga, and he never had.

 

“Pryce, the Mahogany Gym Leader from Johto wishes to meet with you. He says it is off up most importance.” Ash was shocked. He didn't really know Pryce very well, but he would go.

 

Koga led the way to a red Buick, where Pryce was in the back seat, drinking something.

“Ah, Ash.” He started, and Koga unlocked the door and unfolded the ramp inside. Pryce's wheelchair moved down the ramp, which Koga then folded up behind him. “I'm glad I could meet with you. You have no doubt, spoken with Giovanni?”

 

Ash nodded, not knowing what else to do, but words found him again shortly. “Yes sir.”

 

“And you followed him to Celadon?” Ash was shocked again, as he had been so many times in the past few days. Each time he heard the story, it sounded stupider and stupider.

 

“Yes, and I saw him in that casino. Although I still don't know what he was doing in it.”

 

“He owns the casino Ash, and the other one. It's how he makes his money.” Pryce said sternly.

 

“But what about Team Rocket?” At the mention of Team Rocket, Pryce cringed.

 

“Why don't you forget about him and Team Rocket? It will make everything easier. Everybody else has forgiven him for his past affiliations, why can't you?” Ash wanted to explain, but Pryce changed the subject.

 

“As the leader of a Gym myself, and perhaps more importantly, the mayor of Mahogany Town, I know what it's like to have responsibility. I work hard everyday, and that is partly why I'm here.” He looked into Ash's eyes, and the two stared at each other for nearly a full minute. “Ash, may I…” and he glared even more intently. Ash was ready to grant him whatever he wanted if he would stop receiving those glares. “May I have… may I have a…” And Ash was suddenly worried for the old man.

 

“What do you want Pryce? It's yours, I swear it!”

 

“May I have a 25% raise?” He asked, and Ash nearly fainted.

 

“A raise? You made it seem so serious and horrible!” He screamed, infuriated.

 

“It is serious. I've been salaried the same lousy pay for years now. This way, I can afford a new house closer to the town in a few years, and it will be more convenient for me. Also, I'll be able to buy this new car that I really want. Will you do it?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

“Wrong! You can't do that! The Indigo League oversees the eight Gym leaders of Kanto and the Cinwood and Mahogany Town leaders of Johto. If you give a raise to everybody that comes down asking for one, the budget will run out. You can only give raises and grants to members of the Elite Four or to Gym leaders if you're positive they deserve it. By the way, one of these days, come down to Mahogany Town. I'll take you around Johto, maybe we'll take a flight to Goldenrod sometime. I'd like that.” And Pryce left, leaving a dazed Ash still standing there.

 

“I can't believe you said yes.” Koga laughed. “No champion ever said yes. Is this what your self-confidence does? Drains you of all your money? Don't lecture people you stupid boy, it doesn't suit your ignorance.”

 

The next day, Brock came to Ash with his good news, he had gotten the job. He spent all his time talking about it, but Ash wasn't really following too well. He was thinking about what Pryce said. Until now, he didn't understand the responsibilities of the League Champion. They salaried everybody? They did paperwork? Ash had no idea there was actual work involved. He thought it was just a title. But greater news than that followed the next day, when Giovanni returned.

 

His black limousine pulled up in front of Ash's office, and Giovanni emerged with a posse of three of the beige trench coat wearing men. When Giovanni saw that Ash was in his office, he dropped in to say hello. “I'm sorry I was late,” he started, “but I took an extra week in Saffron City. I have plans for it you know, the same sort of plans I have for Celadon, but that's for another time. Please, let us go out for lunch, I'm starving and I imagine you are too.” Ash wasn't, but he never turned down freebies.

 

Over lunch, they talked of various things, and Ash mentioned his encounter with Pryce. “And I had no idea I paid for these guys!” Ash finished, with Giovanni laughing.

 

“Of course. Who else would? Of course, it can be miserable. If a champion doesn't like a Gym leader, they can dock your pay. After all, that's one of the reasons I quit my position as Gym leader, the champion gave me a large pay cut.”

 

“So I can give raises to anybody I want?”

 

“Well, the request must be approved by four Gym leaders other than the one that the bill concerns. But no matter. Did you hear about the Slash killings? They're all over the news right now.” Ash hadn't heard of any Slash killings, but they sounded interesting.

 

“No, what are they?” He asked.

 

“Well, three years ago, when Team Rocket had failed in an operation capsizing ships at Vermillion City, a few people responsible for the capture of the Team Rocket officials were killed brutally. Slashed across the chest, as if by a giant cat. About six people were killed, and it was a big thing. After a few months, it died down, with no arrests. Now, when I was in Saffron, some big time law enforcement guys, including the old commissioner of the Saffron Police, were found dead in the same way, slashed. You should check the news more often.”

 

Ash was stupefied. Somebody was killing the enemies of Team Rocket? In Saffron City? It was suspicious, especially considering Giovanni was there in Saffron, but he didn't mention that. On the way back to the hotel however, he considered the possibility. After all, how well did he really know Giovanni? Ash began to read the new Pokémon journal, as Giovanni left for Cinnabar Island.

 

 

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