Pokémon: Tears of the Fallen

Chapter 42: NΔmes in the SΔnd, PΔrt 1

[Sorry for the delay! A quick note: I made a temporary error on the previous chapter; I accidentally had a line that Molly said. Melody is the one that really said that line. Molly has NOT spoken a line! It's fixed now, though! Anyway, let's continue the story! Enjoy this three-parter!]

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"For when great immorality grimly begins dominating, fallen people shall rise from darkness forever; good prevails eternally."

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Still Monday, September 3rd. 11:07am. We're now in Saffron City in the Kanto region. It's sort of an isolated outside area on a video call, using someone's laptop on a wireless connection. We start by seeing who answers the video call.

Lysandre: "Excellent. I was waiting for you lot to update me. How did the roundup go?"

Tyson: "Just fine. Typical hollering and struggling, but we handled it well. Would you like them to meet you?"

Lysandre: "Bring them to me."

Tyson motions for the 3 newly acquired captives to come forward to face Lysandre on the laptop.

Lysandre: "Greetings. I am Master Lysandre of the Tekiyoku. You 3 are the earliest of what is to be a series of people captured to aid the Tekiyoku in exchange for the lives of your parents or guardians when our rules are disobeyed. Butch, tell me who our new friends are."

Butch: *points to each as he introduces them* "This is Hiroshi Arima; he also responds to Richie. He's from Fucshia City. Next, there's Fleura Melody Hiramatsu from Cinnabar Island, where we just sailed from. Lastly, this is Molly Akiko Hale from Greenfield in Johto, whom we received from Domino and Shelly as requested."

Lysandre: "Hello, Molly. You're quite young. How old are you?"

Molly holds up 9 fingers.

Cassidy: "Gonna tell you now, Master; she doesn't speak. Not a word. Refuses to."

Lysandre: "As long as she obeys, that won't matter. You all are gonna be helping these members stationed in Kanto with anything they need. Service to our organization is a great repayment for your disobedient parents."

Richie: "Hey. Bite me."

Alberto then slaps Richie.

Alberto: "You will show respect to our leader, boy! Never speak out of turn!"

Richie: *glares and growls*

Lysandre: "An insolent one. I'm sure you'll all find ways for him to be useful."

Melody shyly raises her hand.

Lysandre: "You may speak."

Melody: "M-- Mister Lysandre, h-- how long will it be until we can go back home?"

Lysandre: "Oh, about 1 or 2 weeks, tops."

Richie: *to Melody* "No."

Melody: "Umm... excuse me?"

Richie: "Don't believe that. He's lying. I know it."

Lysandre: "You're astute enough to earn me telling this truth, then. You 3 will be captives until your new caretakers here have deemed that you've repaid the organization. It's up to them, with approval of myself."

Melody: "B-- But this is insane. I just woke up like any other normal day to suddenly find myself taken from my mom. Please, w-- what if we find the money to pay back the taxes? Then, can we go home?"

Cassidy: "Any money you 3 help us get will go to the Tekiyoku. It's too late for that."

Richie: "Why would you bother anyway? How would you expect to earn any money for taxes here? It's not like anyone would give it to us. Especially once they see we're helping the Tekiyoku."