PARAGON
Origin Child Arc [2]
Chapter 2 : Invitation
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By the time they arrived at the dinner party, the sun had long begun its descent, bathing the afternoon sky in scarlet and lavender.
Beneath the ethereal vista sat another mansion, though it dwarfed Iris’ rented abode. Rainbow-colored palm trees lined the concrete driveway that snaked up a gentle hill leading to the mansion proper. Crystal clear rivers lazed down the hill beside the driveway as they emptied from a fountain on the deck of the second floor. The mansion was white, its pristine edges uninterrupted except to make way for more mansion. It seemed to expand ever horizontally and vertically, like some great cubic cloud.
A dozen cars and other luxury vehicles were already parked in front of the modern castle, but their limousine passed them all, coming to a stop in front of the main entrance. A red carpet led to the ebony front door. On either side, twin hordes of journalists and press people waited behind velvet ropes for a glimpse of the new World Champion. This would be their last chance to snap pictures or get an interview, for they were not permitted within. This party was invite only.
“Well then,” Cynthia said. “Ready to face the music?”
The four trainers exited the limo, and were immediately assaulted by an array of flashing cameras as the crowd undulated to face the new arrivals. Ash waved to either side of the red carpet politely, but entertained no questions. They’d be stuck outside till midnight if he did, Cynthia had said. She and Iris strode up on his left, while Alain flanked his right, blowing kisses to the others. As they stalked down the red carpet toward the mansion, suited League attendants seemed to materialize out of nowhere, falling in lock step behind them. By the time they reached the shallow marble steps leading to the front door, a small village had accumulated around them.
Ash stepped across the threshold and into the manor. At his appearance, the other guests already in attendance started cheering and applauding, the ones nearest clapping him on the back and pumping a fist. He smiled and raised a hand in thanks and in greeting.
To his left and right, Iris and Alain looked starstruck, and if his attention hadn’t been drawn to the sudden congratulation, Ash was sure he would have too. The interior of the mansion was cavernous, somehow still feeling sparsely populated despite the large gathering. Waiters slipped between the guests wielding trays of champagne and appetizers. Just beyond the far wall, which was made of nothing but glass from floor to ceiling, a cerulean pool glimmered beneath fluorescent spotlights.
“This is crazy…” Iris murmured, her eyes transfixed on the League banners that hung from the brutalist vaults above.
“Yeah,” Alain agreed. “I’ve been to several parties for Lysandre Labs before, but frankly, those can’t even compare to this.”
“The League spares no expense for its Champions,” Cynthia said. “Even more so for its World Champion.” She was the only one who didn’t look shocked, wearing her usual cool visage. “Before I forget Ash, there’s something I want to talk to you about later, if you have the time.”
“Sure, I’ll—” Before he could finish, a dark skinned man in a slate suit walked up to him.
“Ash Ketchum!” he bellowed. The smell of cologne wafted from his body. “Welcome to Rose Manor! I am Rose, of Macro Cosmos! I trust you’ve been enjoying your stay in Wyndon?”
Ash glanced back to Cynthia, but saw that she had also been captured into conversation with some other guests. Same for Iris and Alain. Catching her eye, she nodded, indicating they’d catch up later, and Ash turned back to Rose. “Yes, Wyndon’s been good to me, to say the least!”
Rose guffawed. “Ahhh, where are my manners? Congratulations on your victory! Please, join us in the lounge. Our gym leaders have been dying to meet you.” He led Ash over to a group of smartly dressed individuals of varying age and gender, pokéballs clipped to all of their belts as they relaxed among the room’s black leather furniture. Once together, they began to speak of battle, and a unique phenomenon called Dynamaxing, which could only be achieved in the Galar Region.
The afternoon wore on and as the sun vanished behind the manicured hedges that encircled the property, Ash was beginning to reach his limits. Every time a conversation ended, another one invariably started with someone else. At this point, it seemed like every single person at the party had introduced themselves to him. Even the wide spread of food options had done little to recharge his battery. Most of it was too fancy for his tastes, and he’d only ended up eating a few of the small sandwiches at the end of the table.
In a rare moment of solitude, he found himself against the glass wall toward the back of the manor. Swallowing the last of his sandwich, he observed the crowd gathered before him. This was a party thrown in his honor, yet he recognized few faces, and those that he did, he recognized from their celebrity. Even just standing in this plastic palace felt off… he felt like he’d feel more at home on the moon. This is not my place, he thought. My place is on the battlefield, on the roads between cities, hell, even a pokémon center.
What am I doing here?
Pikachu noticed his discontent, and cooed softly on his shoulder. Ash turned and looked into his closest partner’s eyes. They couldn’t speak to each other, of course, but they’d spent more than enough time together to communicate.
“Sorry, Pikachu. Guess I’m just tired from everything that’s happened today.” He stroked behind his ears.
That was probably it. The day had been long and eventful, and a nice, long sleep would put this sulking to rest. At the very least, Pikachu had enjoyed the party, flexing his muscles every time someone showered him with praise. The least Ash could do was tolerate his own party for a few hours.
Still…
“Feeling lonely at the top, Master Ketchum?”
He spun around. Leaning against the window beside him was a man Ash hadn’t seen before. He wore a spotless white three-piece weaved of silk. A watch made of diamond clasped his wrist, and his pale dragon skin dress shoes curved perfectly over his feet. His hair was bone white to match his imperial attire and parted down the middle, its length no further than his ears, which were pierced by inconspicuous earrings laden with sapphirine gemstones. A thick cape topped with fur cascaded over his broad shoulders down to his knees, and the platinum chain that kept it fastened around his neck looked heavier than the man himself.
His expression betrayed nothing, but his piercing silver eyes bolted Ash where he stood. How had a man like this snuck up on him?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” Ash finally said.
The man smiled and extended a gloved hand. “My name is Albrecht. I’m no world-class trainer like you, but… Well, I won’t mince words.” The corners of his mouth twitched. “I’m here because I’m rich, and I have many friends who are rich. It is an honor to finally meet you.”
Ash frowned and took the man’s hand cautiously. Pikachu’s ears bent in confusion, unsure of what to make of him.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Albrecht?” Ash asked. This man did not seem like a fan, unlike the many others he’d shook hands with earlier. Which begged the question of why he’d approached him.
“I was going to ask you the same thing, Master Ketchum. You looked deep in thought, like something was troubling you. I figured I’d take the opportunity to introduce myself, now that you aren’t surrounded.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” he said quickly. “Just getting a bite to eat.”
“Dreadful, isn’t it. If they had served salted sand and mudwater, and least I may have considered going back for seconds,” he scoffed.
That surprised Ash. Weren’t the hosts friends of his? What a strange man.
“I’ve had better,” Ash agreed, and he smiled slightly, unable to help himself.
“Best get used to it. Now that you’re World Champion, you’ll be attending a lot more of these parties. You can kiss the route-side picnics goodbye. Now you live in a realm of gods.”
Ash didn’t respond immediately. Is this truly my life now? All the blood, sweat, and tears we poured into training… all for a security detail and parties at giant mansions? What… what comes next? He couldn’t just go back to challenging gyms as if he wasn’t the World Champion. Was the World Championships every five years all he had left to look forward to? I’ve reached the top. I’ve beaten the strongest trainer in the world. My journey… is over.
No. No, this couldn’t be the end. Could it?
“Have you spoken to Leon tonight yet?” Albrecht continued, ignoring Ash’s inner strife.
Ash shook his head, to clear his thoughts and to answer the question. “No. I haven’t actually seen him at all tonight, now that you mention it.”
The man smirked, though in amusement or disdain, Ash couldn’t tell. “That’s because he isn’t here. He wasn’t invited. No one has any use for a has-been World Champion. Because of his loss today, I’m sure his many contracts and sponsorship deals have all gone up in smoke.”
“Just because of one loss?” Ash said, incredulous. “That’s… he doesn’t deserve that. He should be here.”
“Well, I’m not sure the man himself would have come even if he was invited. He may not seem it, but he was a proud trainer, a proud man. I don’t think he would have wanted to attend a celebration in honor of his own defeat.” Albrecht shrugged. “Perhaps if he wasn’t World Champion, the League could have shuffled him back into the fold, horizontally integrating him in some other position. But… there is no position horizontal to the World Champion. He was their face, and he was defeated. An unforgivable sin. No doubt many in this room lost a lot of money today because of him…”
Ash looked around the room at the many partygoers. They had all been nice enough to him tonight, as they shook his hand and congratulated him and told him how proud of him they were. Could they all have been hiding their contempt behind smiling veneers?
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The weight of his accomplishment, his deed, was beginning to bear down on him fully. He had displaced Leon, who had been World Champion for over a decade, and Leon had only become World Champion after the previous World Champion retired. A World Champion hadn’t been truly dethroned in generations… Just how much had Ash upset the status quo? For now, it seemed like all his victory had brought him was the end of his adventure, and a feeling of foreignness.
“Why are you telling me all this? Is that why you came up to me? You want your money back or something?” Ash demanded. “I won’t apologize for achieving my dream!”
“As well you shouldn’t,” Albrecht snorted. “But you should know what exactly achieving that dream entails. You’re, what? Seventeen? You may still be a child, but you’ve taken your first step into a brand new world… a world of monsters.” He clicked his tongue. “And you’re a monster too, in your own right.” He nodded at Pikachu, and the mouse’s ears perked up. “You’ll have to tread carefully going forward, lest the same thing happen to you, as what happened to Leon. If you’d like—”
“Ash.”
Cynthia stood in front of them, alone. Albrecht slowly turned to face her.
“Good evening, Champion.”
“Would you like to introduce me, Ash?” Cynthia said, never taking her eyes off of Albrecht.
Ash glanced between the two of them. By all accounts, he should have been the biggest man between them. He was the World Champion! But the air seemed to get heavy as Cynthia and Albrecht stared each other down. It was an oppressive feeling.
“Yeah… this is Albrecht. He…” He trailed off, not knowing exactly how to introduce the man.
“Just an old friend,” Albrecht spoke up. “I had hoped to help young Ash navigate his new position, but I suppose I’ll leave that to you. And after I went through all the trouble…” he murmured, before clapping his hands. “That was quite the entourage you put together, and on such short notice too. Well done.” He smiled.
Cynthia narrowed her eyes. She seemed to be debating saying something else, but ultimately decided against it. “I was hoping to speak with Ash. Is now a good time?”
Albrecht shrugged dismissively.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Ash said. “I was thinking of heading out soon anyway.” He held out a hand. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Albrecht.”
“It was nice to meet you as well, Master Ketchum. I’m sure we’ll meet again.” He shook Ash’s hand and nodded to Cynthia, before strolling off back into the party,
“Who was that?” Cynthia asked, once he was out of earshot.
“I’m not sure. Some rich guy.”
“He seems dangerous,” she said, folding her arms. “He’s powerful.”
“Yeah, he said he and friends were all filthy rich or something, that’s how he got into the party without being a trainer.”
“Hm.” She continued to scowl, deep in thought for a few more moments, before turning back to Ash. “Well, let’s get on with it then. It’s been a long day for both of us.” She motioned back toward the window. “Let’s talk outside. I could use some fresh air.”
“You said it.”
They walked outside into the backyard and around the pool. Luckily, everyone else had retreated inside at the onset of night, so they were able to slip out unmolested. Cynthia led him beyond the pool to a brick terrace that overlooked the entirety of Wyndon. Beyond a granite balcony, the whole city unfolded in a canvas of lights, bustling and busy even at this hour. The sky above glittered, thousands of diamond-like stars spread across a deep indigo abyss.
Cynthia leaned against the banister and Ash mirrored her. Compared to the party inside, it was dark and quiet out here. With the moon behind them, their profiles turned black, nothing but silhouettes against the urban backdrop of Wyndon.
“So, how are you feeling, Ash?” Cynthia asked. “I’m sure there’s a lot on your mind now.”
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy last few hours. Every time I think I’m starting to accept becoming the World Champion, something happens that reminds me how insane all of this is.” He chuckled. “Plus, Albrecht gave me some stuff to think about too.”
“Oh? Like what.”
Ash exhaled, debating where to start. “He just… reminded me of how fragile everything is. My position as World Champion, the dream I’ve had since I was a child, my own confidence in deciding what to do next.”
Cynthia nodded, absorbing everything he was saying. She hadn’t expected this much introspection. “You’re worried about what to do next?”
“Not worried, per se. Just a little… anxious, I guess. I’ve gotten so used to there always being another gym to challenge that I guess I never gave it much thought,” He smiled and pet Pikachu’s back, and the mouse purred. “But I’ll get through it as I always have. Together, with my pokémon.” He turned back to her. “Sorry, for worrying you. I don't think that’s what you wanted to talk about.”
Cynthia shook her head. “Not at all. In fact, that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She met his eyes, and he felt compelled not to look away.
“Have you heard of the Paragon Organization?”
Ash knit his brows and pondered for a few seconds before answering. “Never.”
“Good,” Cynthia smiled. “That’s exactly how it should be. Put simply, the Paragon Organization is an organization I started after I became Champion. We are a group of high caliber trainers that contains threats and prevents catastrophes that even the League doesn’t stand a chance against. We work to protect the peace, and stop disasters before they can happen, so the public never needs to find out about them.”
“The Paragon Organization…?” Ash repeated, curious.
She fixed him with an iron gaze. “I want you to join us, Ash. You’re one of the strongest trainers I’ve ever met, even before today.”
Ash could see how much this meant to Cynthia. No doubt it’d been weighing on her all night. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but her eyes shone with determination. She was serious.
“With the Paragon Organization, I think I can give you what you want,” she continued. “If you join us Ash, I will promise you the adventure of a lifetime, nothing like the sign-posted journeys and regulated gym battles you’re used to. In Paragon, it will be dangerous. Your life will be in danger. But on the flipside, you’ll be able to reach new heights, both you and your pokémon.”
“New heights… above World Champion?” Ash asked quizzically.
“Above even World Champion,” Cynthia confirmed. She rested a hand on the pokéballs on her belt. “You did well today… against my TV team.” She smirked.
“What…? You mean that wasn’t your strongest team?!” He had only barely scraped out a win against her!
“Of course not,” Cynthia said proudly. “It’s an unspoken rule, probably because so few actually reach this level, but it only makes sense that the League wouldn’t want their combatants’ pokémon to be too powerful, even in the World Championships. For one, it’d cause a death spiral where if one trainer absolutely smoked the competition, they’d never be able to generate comparable hype for the next event.”
“Is… is that why Tobias never became Champion?” Ash asked. “He should’ve been plenty strong enough to do it.”
“Well, Tobias isn’t Sinnoh’s Champion because I defeated him, thank you very much,” Cynthia said haughtily. “For him, I did use my strongest team, and that was the end of that. It’s a shame League challenges aren’t televised. I wish everyone could have seen his face after I put him in the dirt.” Her eyes narrowed in delight as she recalled the memory.
Ash nodded slowly. So it took a team full of Legendaries for Cynthia to break out her ‘strongest team?’ And he still lost?! Just how much was she holding back against us? Does this mean…
“The main reason they have an unofficial cap is so they can sell tickets,” Cynthia continued. “No one would go to the battles in person if they knew they could get taken out by a stray pokémon attack.”
“I thought they had protective barriers to protect the crowd?”
Cynthia smirked. “As if that could stop us at our peak.”
Ash’s mind whirled. He’d effectively been told that his win against Cynthia earlier today had been a farce! Which meant his win against Leon wasn’t earned either. World Champion…? The title almost seemed to mock him now. It was a cold realization, but also… within the hollowness he’d been feeling came a faint trickle of hope. The end…? Maybe…
“Let me ask you a question, Ash,” Cynthia said, breaking his train of thought. “You once told me that you dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Master. Do you feel like you achieved that dream tonight?”
The question echoed in his mind, continuously asking him. Every time it did, his subconscious burbled, and before long, a memory from the distant past bubbled to the surface.
Ash and Gary ran through the Oaks’ house, action figures in hand, sound effects and saliva shooting from their gap-toothed mouths.
As they curved around the banister of the second floor balcony and raced down the stairs, Daisy Oak whipped to the side just in time to avoid them.
“Stop running in the house, you’re going to hurt yourselves!” she cried, but they both pretended not to hear her. As they got to the bottom and rounded a corner out of sight, she sighed and smiled wistfully.
“Boom!” Gary shouted, slamming his Blastoise against Ash’s Charizard and knocking it out of his hand. “That’s another win for Pokémon Master Gary and his invincible Blastoise! Try again next time, Ashy-boy!”
Ash grumbled as he walked over to his Charizard and picked it up. “No fair, Blastoise can’t fly like Charizard can. There’s no way you could catch up to us.”
“Hmph! Don’t be a sore loser! Blastoise can shoot water out of his cannons to fly! He’s the pokémon of a World Champion, of course he can do something as easy as fly! Plus, his water is super effective against Charizard, so there!” Gary crossed his arms and turned his nose up, looking down on Ash as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Grrrr!” Ash grit his teeth. “All you care about is hurting my pokémon! Pokémon Master Ash is so powerful, he can beat every pokémon in the world without even touching them! Yeah! Even the legendaries!”
Gary scowled at Ash, processing this new development in their game, before grabbing his collar forcefully. “Wha— What’d you say? O-Of course Pokémon Master Gary can do that too!”
Ash grabbed his arm and the two began tustling around the living room.
Professor Oak stepped into the room, newspaper in hand, and froze when he saw what the two were up to. “Hey, stop fighting you two! Head outside and play until dinner’s ready! C’mon— get—out—!” He batted his newspaper between them to break them up, and eventually they let each other go, though they both glared at each other, clothes wrinkled and hair messy.
“Last one out’s a rotten egg!” Gary suddenly said, before dashing toward the front door.
Ash quickly followed, the action figures forgotten already, as they raced toward another adventure.
As the memory faded, the dream within settled like silt upon Ash’s mind, clear as day.
“No,” he said resolutely. “I finally understand what’s been bothering me. I’ve been challenging gyms and conferences for so long that I lost sight of my true goal. Today, I became the World Champion of the Pokémon League. But my goal was never to beat the strongest trainer in the Pokémon League. My dream is to become a Pokémon Master!” As he spoke, he seemed to get more and more excited. “There’s still so much of the world I haven’t seen, so many pokémon I have yet to meet! There’s still so much I don’t know!”
Cynthia grinned, ecstatic that the young man seemed to have broken out of his slump. “Then that brings me back to my initial request. Will you forsake your title of World Champion, and let me show you a world beyond the constraints of the Pokémon League?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I will. I don’t yet know what it means to be a Pokémon Master, but I’ll continue on my journey until I find the answer.”
“It’s a little scary how fast you accepted,” Cynthia sweatdropped. “You did hear the part where I said your life would be in danger, right?”
Ash smiled. “I’ve always been ready to put my life on the line for the sake of my dream. Right, Pikachu?”
Pikachu raised his hand, giving a thumbs up. It was true. Ash had almost died to protect him from a flock of Spearow on his very first day as a trainer. Their journey hadn’t ended there, and it wouldn’t end here either. He’d stuck by his trainer this far. Why would this new chapter of theirs be any different?
“Well then, let’s get out of here. We have a lot of work to do.”
Next — Chapter 3 : Homecoming