Pokemon: Advanced Wishes Black or White

Chapter 20: Let the Games Begin

Ash and his friends saw people running in fear through the streets. What was an organized city an hour ago descended into chaos. The sound of sirens echoed through Castelia's streets.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Iris gulped.

Cilan looked stern, "I hope it's not what I think it is." Given their recent misfortunes, the gang had their suspicions.

They reached a square with billboards and giant screens. Unfortunately, there was no time to gush over the setting. They stopped as soon as Looker stopped. "Hide," Looker ordered everyone to seek cover behind the corner of a building.

"Right," Burgh ensured the safety of the children.

Ash and the others peeked from their hiding spot. At the square's center, they saw people running away from Team Plasma, Team Neo Plasma, and Team Rocket. The grunts used their Pokémon to take as many hostages as possible. Beyond the crowds, they saw a set of red stairs with people on their knees and hands behind their backs. Team Neo Plasma and Team Rocket held their prisoners there. Among the villains, Ash and May saw N with a unit of Team Plasma members. The young leader confronted Ghetsis, who stood by his organization, and Zinzolin. Ash remembered Ghetsis and Zinzolin as the ones who caused trouble in Striaton and Nacrene City. There was also a blond-haired man beside Ghetsis in a lab coat. He held a device in his left hand. A Team Rocket unit stood side by side with Ghetsis and his team. The Rockets stood behind a well-combed man in a suit and a devilish smile. Near him were Team Rocket operatives, including Jessie, James, Meowth, and Pierce.

"It's a bad guy reunion," Hilda knew of the gangs plaguing Unova.

Looker glared from the corner of the wall at the villains, "I'm sure you've already met Ghetsis, Zinzolin, and N, according to reports from the police. The other two men standing there are Colress and Giovanni. Colress is the leader of Team Neo Plasma. Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket."

"He looks familiar," Ash tried to remember where he'd previously seen Giovanni. His eyes wandered when he noticed Trip among the hostages.

Pikachu whispered to him, "Pikachu..."

"Yeah, I see him too, pal," Ash nodded to the mouse. He poked May, "May, look, it's Trip."

"Oh no," May worried for Ash's rival. He was a jerk, but she didn't think he deserved to be a hostage.

Hilbert groaned in dismay, "Darn, I can't believe they caught Trip." The boy seemed to know him.

"Wonder if he tried to challenge them," Hilda wouldn't put it past Trip to confront the villains. She also appeared familiar with him.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Bianca sighed.

"You three know Trip?" Iris got curious.

"Of course, we grew up with Trip; he's a childhood friend from Nuvema Town. We tend to make fun of him for being a hothead, but he's not so bad once you get to know him," Hilda explained to Ash's friends.

"Makes sense since you all grew up in the same town," Cilan acknowledged.

Ash ran out of the corner of the building with Pikachu, "I have to help him!"

"Ash, wait!" May called out, but the boy sprinted.

"That dumb kid is going-" Iris was interrupted by Professor Juniper.

"To get himself killed," the frustrated Professor ran after him with the others. May ran the fastest, desperate to reach her lover.

Looker sighed. He should've expected Ash's rashness would get them caught. "Let's go," Burgh followed with him.