Pokemon World Disaster

First Meeting

"All right, here's what we know so far," Ash said, beginning the meeting. Since Greninja couldn't speak in a language the other humans in the room could understand, he had told Ash to take the lead. "These attacks are being made by an organization known as the Shadow Beasts. They are not human, but we're not sure if they're Pokemon either. They're just dark masses with no solid form."
"How are they hurting the Pokemon?" Dawn asked fearfully. Piplup shivered in her arms.
"With a single touch," Ash replied. Several people in the room voiced their disbelief at this, but Ash raised his voice above them. "I'm not exaggerating. If you want proof, well, I had a run-in with one of them just a couple days ago. Lillie can vouch for this."
"It's true," Lillie agreed when everyone's eyes turned to her. "Ash almost died from it. If we had found him even five minutes later, he probably would have."
Everyone in the room shuddered at her proclamation, Greninja, Serena, and Pikachu worst of all. The frog-ninja Pokemon could still remember with perfect clarity the panic he'd felt when his connection with Ash had wavered. He felt a paw on his shoulder and turned to see Delphox giving him a sympathetic look.
"So how are we going to beat them?" Paul asked. "If they can do that much damage with one touch, what are we supposed to do? No one here has that much power."
"Individually no, but together we might stand a chance," May pointed out. Greninja had to admire her for her optimism. Paul, however, still remained skeptical.
"One touch, May, one touch," he reminded her. "That's as powerful as Arceus himself right there. You're not telling me we'd stand a chance against the god of Pokemon, are you?"
"I'm just saying-" May started to protest, but Ash interrupted them.
"You're both right," he stated calmly. "The Shadow Beasts are undeniably powerful, more powerful than any of us are. But don't forget, we're all going to be stronger together. And we have something that they don't."
"What might that be?" Paul asked.
"I'm curious to know as well," Hawlucha whispered to Greninja.
"Something worth fighting for," Ash replied, still in that same calm voice. "Think about it. Think about all the Pokemon that have been hurt over the past few months. How would you feel if they were your Pokemon?"
Ash's words seemed to stun the others into silence. Even Paul was looking at the raven-haired boy in awe. Greninja smiled to himself; Ash had gotten the point across perfectly. He had made the others realize that even if they were severely outmatched in terms of power, they would still triumph. For the sake of the Pokemon that had been injured and all that still would be. They were going to beat the Shadow Beasts.
"We'd want revenge," Misty said softly.
"Exactly," Ash said to her. "You'd want revenge, and you'd stop at nothing to get it. That's the way we have to fight against the Shadow Beasts. And we're going to do it together."
"So...we're just going to go attack?" Max asked skeptically. "I agree with you Ash, but there's no way we can just attack them blindly."
"You're right, Max. We can't do that," Ash agreed. "That's why we need to find their base. Where there's a base, there's always a leader. If we can take down their leader, then the war is already won. After all, even the most powerful organization is nothing without its leader."
"But how are we going to do that?" the bespectacled boy asked nervously.
"Well, I think I might have a guess as to where they could be," Ash said. "Remind me again how long ago the attacks in each region started? It was four months in Kalos, wasn't it?"
"That's right," Greninja answered before remembering that Ash and the other Pokemon were the only ones that could understand him. Thankfully, Clemont nodded in agreement with Ash.
"Three months in Kanto and three and a half in Alola," the raven-haired boy continued.
"They've been happening for a month in Hoenn," May chimed in.
"Two months in Sinnoh," Dawn piped up.
"Two and a half months in Unova," Georgia added. Iris, who had been about to speak, scowled at her.
"And I've heard they've been going on in Johto for the same amount of time as the Kanto attacks," Misty finished.
"Now we're getting somewhere," Ash concluded. "The attacks have been happening here in Kalos for the longest amount of time. So it's logical to assume that any base the Shadow Beasts have would be located here. Therefore, all we need to do is figure out where it is."
"But that could take ages!" May exclaimed.
"It's better than having to go on a wild goose chase around the world, though," Reggie pointed out. May nodded, admitting he was right about that. "So what should our plan of attack be, Ash?"
Ash seemed to pause and think for a moment. "Well, we'll need a strong team to get into the base, but we'll also need others to protect the other regions," he said musingly. "I'll decide who to take into the base later. For now though, we need to do some training so we're at least a little more prepared for a battle."
No one had any objection to that, so the meeting was adjourned and everyone went off to train their Pokemon. Greninja and Ash, however, remained seated at the table long after everyone else had gone. Nothing was said between the two, and nothing needed to be said. Each could feel the other's worry, not just about having to fight such a strong and seemingly indestructible organization, but about making their friends risk their lives as well. But at the same time, Greninja knew that he wasn't going to let the Shadow Beasts win. He would beat them. For all the Pokemon that were hurt because of them. For all those that were to come. For Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Dawn, Paul, Misty, May, Iris, Georgia, Burgundy, Reggie, Cilan, and all the other Pokemon here, but especially for Delphox.