Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 42: Old Masks

Driftveil City rose ahead of us with broad streets, heavy buildings, and the smell of dust, iron, and river wind. After the drawbridge, I expected the city to feel solid under my feet. Instead, the first thing I heard was Team Plasma shouting.

Two men stood near the street leading toward the hill beside the Gym. One wore the old white uniform that still made my chest tighten. The other wore black, sharp and new, like the same wound had learned a different shape.

"C'mon!" the black-uniformed grunt snapped, spreading his arms with a grin that made my hands curl. "Let's have fun stealing Pokémon together, like we did before!"

"I can't," the white-uniformed man answered, and his voice shook for a reason that did not sound fake. "I learned the hard way that stealing from others is wrong."

The black-uniformed grunt laughed at him. "Too late to start acting righteous now. People still call you a villain, don't they? If the world already hates you, make them kneel instead."

My throat tightened when he said that. It sounded too close to the things Ghetsis had wanted people to believe.

The white-uniformed man lowered his head. "My lord N would be sad. I can't betray what he wanted."

"N?" the black-uniformed grunt spat. "Team Plasma's king was a traitor. He disappeared and abandoned everyone when we needed him."

Heat rushed through me before I could stop it. Pikachu's tail pressed against my shoulder, and Alice stepped half a pace closer to my side.

Pikachu's meaning came low and fierce. "Do not let his words pull you into his hands."

Before I could answer, Hugh rushed past us and slammed into the black-uniformed grunt hard enough to knock him backward. His face was twisted with rage, and his fists shook like he wanted to tear answers out of the man.

"Start talking, you Team Plasma trash!" Hugh shouted.

The black-uniformed grunt winced, then glanced around as if remembering he had been told not to start a public fight. "You're going to pay for that. But not here. Not yet."

"You're not getting away!" Hugh yelled, already chasing after him.

The white-uniformed man watched them disappear, his shoulders sagging. I forced my hands open and walked toward him.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

He looked startled that I had asked. "I'm fine. We were friends once. Team Plasma split two years ago. Some of us follow Lord N's wish to atone and protect Pokémon. Others still follow Ghetsis and want to take over the world."

Iris stared after Hugh. "So Team Plasma has two sides now?"

"That is a bitter and complicated taste," Cilan said quietly. "One recipe spoiled, then split between regret and ambition."

The former grunt looked toward the hill near the Gym. "If you want the rest, come to our home. It is on the small hill beside the Driftveil Gym."

He left us standing in the street. The city continued moving around us, but I could still feel N's name hanging there like a knife.

We stopped at the Pokémon Center first, mostly because everyone needed a breath before walking straight into a house full of former Team Plasma members.

Hilbert and Hilda were there, sitting at a table with drinks and maps spread between them. Hilda looked up first, and her face brightened when she saw us.

"Ash! Alice! Everyone!" Hilda called, waving us over. "You finally made it to Driftveil."

"We did," I said, trying to sound normal. "How many ribbons do you have now?"