Chapter 16

NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Where we gonna go when there's no escape

We should see this through now for our own sake

So take another step and feel the ground shake

You don't gotta fake you wanna run

I don't think you ever knew your own strength

Always kept your comfort at an arms length

So take another step and feel the ground shake

It could give you what you'd always want

- Point North

I

"He fucking betrayed us!" Emily's voice rang out, as her grip tightened on the pokéballs at her hip.

"Emily Russell! Surrender peacefully," commanded the man who had exchanged money with Benjamin earlier.

"Yeah, fat fucking chance." Her eyes flicked to her companions, both nodding in unison. With a swift release of red light, her and her friends’ Pokémon materialized on the dock, forming a formidable lineup facing their adversaries. Among them were a Honchkrow, Archeops, Reuniclus, Luxray, Unfezant, and Kleavor.

"Vaporeon, freeze the windows and door of the cabin. I don't want Erin to see or risk him coming outside," Seth ordered urgently. Vaporeon responded with a nod and released a stream of ice that enveloped the door and windows facing the town, effectively concealing Erin's curious gaze behind the icy barrier.

The docks began to attract a growing crowd, drawn by the unfolding confrontation. Benjamin slipped into the background, trying to remain inconspicuous as the impending clash loomed. Three members of Team Rocket stood poised behind their Pokémon, their unwavering gazes locked onto the boat.

"Noivern, guard the boat's perimeter. Don't let anyone approach," Seth commanded, his voice resolute. Noivern let out a fierce screech and took to the sky, assuming a vigilant position above the vessel. The situation escalated as the tension reached its peak. The hulking woman among the Team Rocket trio snapped with impatience, her voice dripping with malice. "Luxray, grab her and eliminate any obstacles in your way!" The Electric-type Pokémon lunged forward, crackling with menacing energy.

“Stop it." Seth's voice cut through the mounting chaos.. Primeape sprang into action, leaping above Luxray and delivering a powerful blow to its head. Luxray crashed to the ground, blood trickling from the impact point. Seth issued another directive, his tone unwavering. "Close Combat." Primeape swiftly landed to the ground in front of Luxray and unleashed a devastating strike that dentented in its face and sent it flying, leaving Luxray twitching in front of its summoner.

“You're outmanned. Walk away and let us go on. There doesn't have to be anymore blood split.” Brian pleaded at them, stepping in front of the Pokémon of the dock.

"Look at them," Emily interjected, her voice laden with cynicism. The expressions on the faces of the Team Rocket members exuded hostility, except for the lanky figure who attempted to fade into the background, seemingly hoping to avoid notice. "They're Team Rocket, they deserve nothing less."

The tension finally gave way to action when the prominent Team Rocket member, a fit man with blond hair, bellowed a chilling command. "Kill them all and burn down that damn boat!"

Benjamin ran through the crowd pleading as he grasped the man's arm. "That wasn't part of the agreement! I need that boat, it's my home!" His efforts to reason were met with a callous shove, sending him crashing to the ground like an unwanted obstacle.

Both sides took a deliberate step forward, each sizing up their intended targets. Ceruledge’s flames danced along its body as it clashed its swords together, Torterra slammed the ground, wrenching a sturdy root from the earth. Ditto's transformation into Kleavor, Fraxure dragged its tusk, stirring up a cloud of dirt.

Seth's voice began to rise, "Torter--" but a vivid burst of red light from behind Team Rocket interrupted, capturing the attention of all present. Emerging from the light, a Mienshao took a poised stance, its owner a slim, fiery-haired woman who had an air of intensity.

"You killed my son, you wretched bitch!" The woman's seething gaze locked onto the large women in Team Rocket.

"How dare you!" The member’s words dripped with venom as her voice lashed out. However, another crimson glow manifested to her right, giving form to a Krokorok. Then, another burst of light, followed by another and another. The docks were bathed in successive red glows, materializing more Pokémon, a cascade of forms that encircled the Team Rocket.

Seth, Brian, and Emily stood awestruck, immobilized by the surreal tableau unfolding before them. The last emergence illuminated the space between the houses on the main street, revealing Zebstrika's majestic presence. The Team Rocket members found themselves flanked not only by Emily, Brian, and Seth's Pokémon, but also by a growing assembly of dozens of citizens, some harboring their newly summoned Pokémon, their collective intent directed menacingly at the beleaguered trio.

"Then you will all face your reckoning," the blond Team Rocket member snarled, his defiance punctuated by bitterness.

"Please, no!" The skinny, skittish Rocket member pleaded, frantically recalling his Unfezant. "I just want to go home, and leave Kanto!"

"Silence!" The large Team Rocket member barked, her grasp falling short as the trembling member distanced himself, inching toward the circle of citizens.

"What did he say?" Seth inquired of Emily, who exchanged a bewildered glance with him.

"Please, I surrender!" He screamed out.

"Primeape, bring him here." As the citizens closed in, shrinking the space around the Team Rocket members, Primeape seized the trembling member by the throat, dragging him toward Seth.

"Attack them!" The remaining Team Rocket members cried out, the mounting tension finally erupting as the citizens' Pokémon surged into action.

A Greninja ripped Reuniclus's skull from its body, leaving the slimed remnants of its form to collapse. Sawk grasped Kleavor's axe-like arm, severing it and striking back, decapitating Kleavor, its head rolling into the snow. Arbok deftly dodged Honchkrow's attack, sinking its venomous fangs into the bird's wing. Honchkrow's agonizing cries harmonized with Archeops's futile attempts to escape, which were thwarted by Noivern. Noivern promptly slammed Archeops back into the fray, where a Magmar ignited it, a symphony of torment that ended in their silence.

The remaining Team Rocket members fell to the ground, their desperate pleas for mercy fading amidst the encroaching citizens. The woman, her hope extinguished, reverted to seething hatred, her tear-streaked face a portrait of wrath. "When they hear of this, they'll return to reduce your pitiful town to ashes." The scene grew obscured as more citizens gathered around their tormentors, but the ensuing screams hinted at a fate far from merciful.

Seth spotted Benjamin slinking behind a building, uncertainty covering his face. They had his boat, he couldn't go anywhere. However, he also feared the retribution he rightly deserved. "Brian, could you go fetch Benjamin? I'm afraid I might not be able to control myself," Seth admitted, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and apprehension.

"Give me a moment," Brian acknowledged, his footsteps fading away as he headed towards the source of the now-dying screams from the Team Rocket members, disappearing around the corner of a nearby block.

Emily's voice cut through the tension, devoid of emotion or bias. "What do you plan to do with him?"

Seth ran a hand through his stubble, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and conflict. "I don't know. At the end of the day, we still need him," he said, his gaze shifting towards the trembling Team Rocket grunt pinned beneath Primeape's foot.

II

Primeape forcefully hurled the slender Team Rocket grunt toward the boat's bow, stopping just inches from the frigid water. Benjamin stood by, Brian's firm hand resting on his shoulder as they ascended the ramp.

"What are you planning to do to me?" Benjamin inquired, his voice betraying a trembling mixture of anger and fear as he looked from Seth to Emily.

"You're going to finish the job I paid you for. Get us moving," Seth replied, his voice calm yet holding an air of authority. Benjamin hesitated, attempting to speak before closing his mouth.

"I'm not sure how this will go," Seth said, his gaze fixed on the shivering Team Rocket member beneath Primeape's imposing presence. "Brian, I'm not certain you'd want to be a part of this. Can you watch over Erin and try to keep him distracted from the commotion out here?"

Brian's response was thoughtful. "We could just let him go. He surrendered."

Emily's voice was firm, unwavering. "That's not an option." Her resolute gaze remained fixed on Brian.

"Then, yes, I won't be part of this," Brian replied. Ceruledge moved to comply, melting the frozen door with a swift burst of fire before returning to its Pokéball. Brian swung the door open, only to be met with a burst of flames from within. "For fuck sake, Vulpix, it's me!"

As the boat began its drift down the river, leaving Xanthic Town behind, Seth's gaze lingered on the fading sight. He hoped against hope that the brave citizens who had stood up would somehow be alright, yet he couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling of grim inevitability. Unfortunately, his gut feeling was right.

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Emily's swift kick struck the surviving Team Rocket member's side, eliciting a pained cry. "What's your name?" she demanded.

"Jimmy. It's Jimmy," the man gasped, his voice carrying a mix of pain and desperation. "Please, I surrender. I just want to go home."

"Yeah, about that… Where is home?" Seth inquired, his voice close and probing.

"It's... it's..." Jimmy stammered, his response cut short by another painful kick from Emily. "Vermillion. It’s Vermillion."

Seth's voice was low and steady as he knelt down towards Jimmy. "You have one chance to stop this. Or..." He gestured towards Noivern hovering above, a silent yet ominous presence.

“Vermillion, I told you!" Jimmy pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Fine. Noivern, submerge him," Seth commanded abruptly. Before Jimmy could offer any resistance, Noivern had him tightly gripped by both arms, lowering him into the icy river. Frantic hands emerged from the water, clawing desperately at the air.

After almost a minute Seth ordered,"Noivern, bring him back.” He complied, lifting Jimmy out of the water and depositing him on the boat's deck, his body convulsing from the cold.

"Where are you from?" Emily's voice held a steely edge.

"Please, they'll kill me," Jimmy cried.

"I'll kill you if you don't start telling the truth," Emily snapped. Lairon's imposing presence loomed beside her.

"Lairon," Emily instructed, her voice chillingly composed. Lairon's foot descended, pinning Jimmy's groin beneath its weight but hovering enough to not crush it completely. “Where are you from?”

“Blackthorn City, okay. I am from Blackthorn.” Both Emily and Seth shared a look of their worst fears flooding into them as the realization of the last decade of Team Rocket occupation becoming abundantly clear.

"How many others from Team Rocket are from Johto?" Seth's voice was firm, unwavering.

"I don't know," Jimmy wailed in pain.

"Lairon," Emily repeated, her voice a steady command. Lairon suddenly used all its force to pressure down crushing Jimmy beneath his immense weight, his cries intensifying amidst the relentless agony. The screams echoed across the river bank, a chorus of torment that chilled the air.

"ALL of them! ALL of them!" Jimmy's voice trembled with pain, his words strained and broken, his resistance shattered.

"They've been invading us all along," Emily uttered, her voice heavy with disbelief and shock.

Jimmy's hysterical laughter emerged amidst his suffering. "Invading? Don't make me laugh. We were sent here to stop the constant attacks your kind launches at us!"

Seth's voice thundered with outrage. "Look around you! Have you seen any resistance? The fight back there was the first time I've seen Kantonians stand against you. There hasn't been a military operation from Johto since the Mount Silver Massacre almost 16 years ago!"

"You started the war! You're the reason my dad is dead." Jimmy screamed beginning to become more unhinged.

"I was eight when the war broke out. I didnt do shut." Seth replied coolly.

"You attack us incessantly! It's all over our news. You slaughter our people. We need to be here to assert control," Jimmy retorted through his pain as he held his blood soaked crotch.

"You stupid fuck! Primeape.” Seth's voice rang out, seething with frustration. Primeape gripped Jimmy's throat, his voice a whisper amidst the cold air. "And now, I'm done with you, Emily. Anything more to ask?"

Emily's voice was a chilling declaration. "No."

Seth's gaze held a weight of finality. "Please… Please…. Don’t." Jimmy's voice barely audible from the pressure exerting on his neck as his hands tried desperately to claw out.

Primeape acted swiftly, lifting him off the ground by his throat, and snapping his neck with a brutal motion. The lifeless body was discarded into the water.

III

"Daddy!" Erin's voice rang out, breaking the tension in the cabin.

Seth, embracing his son tightly, and asked Brian, "Did he see or hear anything?" Brian nodded slightly while holding his hand horizontal then shaking it, indicating a possibility.

"I'm sorry if I scared you, buddy. But I'm glad you're safe," Seth reassured his son.

"It's okay. Vulpix wouldn't play with me though; she kept staring at the door," Erin replied.

"Well, why don't you go play? Dad needs to talk to Brian real quick," Seth suggested.

"Okie dokie," Erin responded cheerfully, giving his father another hug before heading to the lower bunk.

"What did he say?" Brian inquired as he took a seat at the central table bench.

"They're Johtoians," Emily stated bluntly.

"Impossible, why would he ever leave Johto to come here. Even if it was to torture us." Brian shot back.

"No, it’s all of them," Seth affirmed.

“What do you mean, all of them?" Brian asked, his bewilderment evident as he ran a hand through his hair.

Emily clarified with emphasis, "All. Of. Them. He thought we were still at war."

Brian shook his head in disbelief. "That's ridiculous. They're violent tax collectors. How could they think we're at war?"

"He mentioned that their news reports Kanto launching attacks on Johto, and they're here to defend against those perceived attacks. It seems they view this occupation as a defensive measure, and the taxes as something akin to regular taxes in Johto," Emily explained.

"Do Johtoians face execution if they don't pay taxes?" Brian inquired, his tone somber. Seth merely shrugged, uncertain about the answer.

Benjamin entered the cabin, and a heavy silence fell over the room as all eyes turned to him. "Listen, Seth—"

"I assume you tried to sell the information that Emily was a tax dodger," Seth interrupted bluntly.

"Yes, but—" Benjamin began.

"How fucking much?" Emily interjected, her gaze fixed on him.

"Seven hundred and fifty dollars," Benjamin confessed, his eyes drifting to the floor while Emily scoffed loudly.

"It doesn't make sense. Why not charge us more for me and Erin's trip if you needed the money?" Seth's realization dawned as he voiced the thought. "You overcharged us for this trip?"

"Another ship could have brought you here for half that price, maybe even less," Benjamin stammered, still avoiding eye contact. "I was afraid if I charged you more, you would have sought another option. But I still need about two thousand more before they collect next month."

"Give Emily the money they paid you," Seth instructed calmly.

"Seth, please, I need it. I was scared after Sarah and then Harold and so many others. I was terrified of not meeting their demands," Benjamin pleaded.

"I gave you two thousand for this trip, and you can keep that. But that seven hundred and fifty doesn't belong to you. Give it to her and then leave," Seth stated in a monotone voice, holding back his emotions. He couldn't believe he wasn't exploding with anger right then and there. This was someone he had trusted since childhood, and now that trust had been shattered.

"Okay," Benjamin replied, slowly making his way to Emily, placing the money in front of her before disappearing into the winter air outside.

IV

The next few days crept by sluggishly. They reached yet another town, which, unsurprisingly, contradicted Benjamin's claim of there being none, as towns dotted the riverbank much like tributaries flowing into the main current. Finally, on the eighth morning, Aureolin Town emerged into view. Although not as sprawling or populous as a city like Commerce, it still held an imposing stature compared to the small villages they had encountered on their journey. Upon disembarking at the dock, Benjamin barely spared them a glance, focused on directing Blastoise to start the trek upriver.

The city seemed almost hewn out of the mountainside, towering abruptly rather than gradually ascending. Making their way to the eastern side of the city, the bustling commerce at the dock created a hectic scene. One truth emerged from Benjamin's words – the journey ended with a truly spectacular waterfall. This colossal cascade spanned the entire river's width, plummeting a daunting fifty feet. Due to the inability to move further down river Aureolin seemed to be a waystation to channel goods toward the East coast, with numerous merchants unloading cargo and peddling their wares amid the bustling activity.

"Come on, Seth, let's find someone who can guide us to Lavender Town," Emily suggested, prompting a nod from Seth, who hoisted Erin onto his shoulders to keep track of his spirited son amidst the lively streets.

Eventually, they arrived at a weathered-looking hotel, its yellow paint on the front sign advertising vacancies. Stepping inside, the interior of the city appeared more inviting than its exterior, with thriving businesses and a bustling atmosphere.

"Pardon me," Emily inquired politely, and the front desk clerk raised a stern gaze toward her.

"How many rooms?" the woman asked curtly.

"No, we don't need a room. We're trying to reach Lavender Town."

The clerk produced a map that was markedly superior to the one Seth had been using. "You could venture through the mountains to the south of the city, but I wouldn't advise it in the winter. Instead, take the path eastward of the city, descending below the cliffside. Follow the river east until you encounter a fork in its course. Once you reach that point, continue along the river as it flows south." The clerk's wrinkled old finger traced an imaginary line on the map, indicating the path. "There'll be a break in the mountain range on the opposite side of the river, right here." She pointed emphatically at the designated spot. "About a day's walk after the fork, this will lead you directly into the city of Lavender."

“Okay, Thank You.” Emiily said gratefully.

“Just be careful, they say the mountains are haunted.”

“Uh-huh,” Seth said, disbelieving. "How much for the map?" The clerk turned her gaze towards him, sizing him up to gauge how much she could charge.

"Two hundred." she responded

"Fifty."

"You're being unreasonable, young man," she retorted.

"One hundred," he countered under his breath. She offered a smirk and began folding the map as Seth extracted the necessary funds.

"Do you folks want a room before you set off?" Observing the three weary adults and the lively Erin.

"No, thank you," Emily declined, if she was stuck in another confined space she might truly snap. Stepping back outside, they were met with a blast of chilly air. The encircling mountains lent Seth an almost claustrophobic sensation as they loomed on all sides.

V

The narrow cliff side to the right of the waterfall was a rugged, icy expanse that gripped the edge of the towering mountain range. A rocky trail, no wider than a few feet, clung perilously to the cliff's edge. Jagged rocks protruded here and there, creating a treacherous path. The snow that had accumulated in the high crevices was now melting, and the rise of the mist that hung in the air from the waterfall, didn’t make this trial any easier for them. The mist-laden air clung to their clothes, and the chill bit through the layers.

The beauty of the surroundings was undeniable, despite the challenging terrain. The imposing mountains cast their shadows over the landscape, their craggy peaks and icy facets shimmering in the soft light. The sun's rays filtered through the mist, creating an ethereal play of light and a rainbow that held Erin’s attention.

Seth's anxiety was high, however, as he navigated the hazardous descent. His constant worry for Erin's safety played like a loop in his mind. The sound of running water from the waterfall above, combined with the crunch of snow and rocks underfoot, formed a cacophonous backdrop to his racing thoughts. He also battled his own inner demons with Sarah's taunts that seemed to echo in the rushing wind.

During their journey, there came a moment when Emily's footing faltered, dislodging pebbles and rocks that cascaded down the cliff's edge. However, her swift reflexes prevented a more perilous outcome as she regained her balance just in time. Roughly half an hour later, their perseverance paid off as they reached a level expanse, the rugged cliffside finally giving way to flat ground. With the river now beside them, serving as a steadfast guide, Seth, Erin, Emily, and Brian steadily pressed on toward Lavender Town. The startling revelation of Team Rocket's true identity lingered in their thoughts, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their trip.