Hibiki glanced over the electronic photo. Sanchez wore no hat in his picture, but he did have on the shadow-black cloak, and his eyes were barely visible through a curtain of hair. Bill's face wasn't as young, nor was his skin as tight as Sanchez's, but his hair was the right color. Hibiki made a combing motion with his fingers.
"Scrape your hair over your eyes. And, uh . . ." Hibiki looked at the list that Kenta had left behind, and his personal notes on Sanchez. "Blow it out of your face from time to time. It says here he likes doing that."
Bill nodded, and peeked around the edge of the bush. Topaz was gone, and Kenta and Red had just about reached the guards. He took the pokedex back. "Alright. I'm as ready as I'm gonna get. I still feel exposed though."
"Don't be afraid," whispered Hibiki, trying his best to be encouraging. "Even if it all goes to hell, I'll be here to back you up."
They could hear Kenta talking now.
"-orders are to escort him through Victory Road. Not that he needs it."
There was a gust of air, and Hibiki felt emptiness where Bill's presence had just been beside him. He looked out as the cloaked imposter headed towards Kenta, Red, and the guards. There was a noticeable rigidity in Bill's step, but thankfully, the cloak seemed to make his movements flow more naturally. If all went well, he would fool the guards and set up his equipment within Victory Road tunnel, which he'd brought under his cloak. This would leave Hibiki to slip around to the public Indigo HQ entrance, where he would blend in with the audience as just another spectator. That was the plan, anyway.
Kenta marched into the tunnel, still in character as a security officer. Red lingered with the guards for a couple more seconds, and Hibiki saw him pass back a slip of paper with his signature on it.
They asked for his autograph? he thought incredulously. Geez . . . well, at least he's in.
Red disappeared into the darkness, and the guards turned their attention upon Bill in his Sanchez costume. Hibiki couldn't make out their speech, but he saw Bill turn over the pokedex, and they looked at it. Bill made a halfhearted blow at his hair.
Come on, come on . . . Hibiki thought, feeling himself start to sweat. Then he heard the guard on the left speak, in a loud and none-too-gentle voice.
"This is a Johto-brand pokedex. But it says here you're a Kanto trainer."
Now the guard on the right spoke, in a tone just as accusatory. "Take off your hat, pretty boy. I want to see your face better."
Oh, crap, thought Hibiki, his hair's too frizzy. He must have been trying too hard not to let it show!
Bill, now cringing meekly, removed his hat slowly and with obvious great reluctance. One guard immediately pulled out a pokeball, while the other snatched his radio.
"You're not Sanchez! Who are you? Do you realize it's a crime to impersonate a Pokémon Master for official business?"
Busted, thought Hibiki, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through him as he stood straight up from the bushes and drew back his throwing arm. Gotta stop this before it gets any more out of hand!
"Snorlax, use Yawn! Put that guard with the radio to sleep!"
In a burst of white, Snorlax's enormous bulk appeared on the field, shaking the ground as he touched down. He inhaled a huge breath, preparing a hypnotic yawn through the power of suggestion that would surely-
It happened so fast that Hibiki only registered the event after Snorlax was thrown skyward. The guard with the pokeball had released his own monster: a four-armed, muscle-ridden Machamp wearing a shirt with the word "bouncer" imprinted on it. The Machamp had proceeded to punch Snorlax with sufficient force to knock a train off its tracks, and Snorlax now rolled and bounced, leaving dirt skids wherever he struck the ground. He was finally stopped by a looming boulder, which left a Snorlax-shaped impression as he fell. Hibiki stared, mouth agape.
Dear God. That was brutal.
"Come out of there with your hands up!" the Machamp's trainer roared at Hibiki. "Or I'll send this guy in to take you. I'm warning you- he might accidentally break your bones!"
Hibiki fingered his Master Ball, in which Steven's Metagross dwelt. I can't believe it's gone this badly, this quickly! he thought, heart pounding. But it's too late for anything else now. We have to use force, or we're done for!
"Go-"
He never got the words out, for something happened the next second that nobody was expecting.
Machamp was suddenly gored through the chest by two horned pokémon that appeared out of nowhere. One looked like a narwhal with fins shaped like wings, and the other was a horse-like creature that really did have wings. Then people appeared- at least ten of them- all wearing standard civilian clothing, but with pokeballs in hand. Machamp groaned and fell, and the two horned pokémon withdrew to their apparent trainers.
"Don't move!" shouted the girl with the winged horse. "We have you surrounded, and we DO have the power to beat you, uber pokémon or not!"
The guard with the radio gritted his teeth angrily. "You stupid kids kicked the wrong hornet nest," he growled. "I've already called for backup, and then we'll see who's surrounded-"
He stopped short and his eyes went wide, then his expression went blank and he dropped forward. In the same instant, his partner with the Machamp dropped to the ground, and behind them stood Kenta and Red in fighting stances. Kenta straightened up and looked around at the people who had unexpectedly come to their aid. His eyes stopped as they fell upon Bill and Hibiki.
"Are you guys okay? We only caught the tail end of it," he said hastily, with a concerned face. "What happened?"
"I'm sure you can guess that it didn't work," answered Bill. "As to these folks, I'm as lost as you."
Hibiki withdrew Snorlax, and hurried back to his companions. He could feel the gaze of all the eyes looking back and forth, between his own group and the new arrivals. He could also make out a few whispers, most in awed reverence.
"Red . . . it's really him."
"What do we say to him?"
"Ian, say something."
The boy with the narwhal pokémon, apparently Ian, stepped forward. He was dressed in black pants and a hoodie, and wore glasses that seemed to reflect any light, giving a sense of glowing eyes. He approached Red, followed by the girl with the winged horse, and both of them bowed at the waist.
"Master Red . . . I'm Ian, and this is my sister, Ivy." He glanced distrustfully at Kenta. "I thought this guy was a guard at first, but-"
"He's with me," said Red, raising his hand and indicating at Hibiki and Bill. "They all are. Thank you for stepping in, but . . . who are you?"
"We are the Vanguard," said Ian in a strong voice, as he and his peers stood up straight. "And we have made it our mission to fight on the side of all free trainers, at the front lines."
"That fight is still a few hours away," said Kenta hurriedly, "and you may have started too soon. You heard what that guard said; we must assume backup is on its way. If you want to be there for the final battle, you guys had better scatter for now."
"We started exactly as we meant to," Ivy cut in confidently. "But you're right. We mean to wreak a little havoc here and there, and distract 'em until Brendan starts the real fireworks." Her gaze turned upon Hibiki. "He's nearby, isn't he? Aren't you that kid who's always hanging around him?"
Hibiki's stomach did a flip- he hadn't expected anyone to recognize him. "Is it really that obvious who I am? I need a haircut or something."
"And elevator shoes," Kenta added with a hint of a smirk.
Ivy looked back and forth, between Kenta and Hibiki, and suddenly her eyes widened as revelation struck.
"Wait . . . it's you!" She pointed at Kenta. "You're him! Brendan!" Her hands flew to her mouth in excitement. "Oh my gosh, I didn't think- . . . Brendan! There's so much I have to tell you!"
Hibiki caught movement in his peripheral vision, and he glanced up at the sky to see a group of flying pokémon heading their way. They were not yet close enough to determine exactly, but they were large-sized and carried riders. Bill followed his gaze, and he touched Red's arm nervously. "We've got company."
"There's never any time," muttered Kenta. "Sorry, Ivy, but we have to go. See you at the Indigo League Stadium."
"Wait!"
Now Ian spoke up, looking at Ivy. "I can take our people out of here. Can you go with Brendan's group and fill him in?"
"Fill us in?" Hibiki repeated.
Red backed into the cave, still looking skyward. "Gold, we really have to go . . ."
Kenta turned, and waved for his companions to follow him. "Alright, let's do whatever- but we gotta disappear. Come on!"
"Scrape your hair over your eyes. And, uh . . ." Hibiki looked at the list that Kenta had left behind, and his personal notes on Sanchez. "Blow it out of your face from time to time. It says here he likes doing that."
Bill nodded, and peeked around the edge of the bush. Topaz was gone, and Kenta and Red had just about reached the guards. He took the pokedex back. "Alright. I'm as ready as I'm gonna get. I still feel exposed though."
"Don't be afraid," whispered Hibiki, trying his best to be encouraging. "Even if it all goes to hell, I'll be here to back you up."
They could hear Kenta talking now.
"-orders are to escort him through Victory Road. Not that he needs it."
There was a gust of air, and Hibiki felt emptiness where Bill's presence had just been beside him. He looked out as the cloaked imposter headed towards Kenta, Red, and the guards. There was a noticeable rigidity in Bill's step, but thankfully, the cloak seemed to make his movements flow more naturally. If all went well, he would fool the guards and set up his equipment within Victory Road tunnel, which he'd brought under his cloak. This would leave Hibiki to slip around to the public Indigo HQ entrance, where he would blend in with the audience as just another spectator. That was the plan, anyway.
Kenta marched into the tunnel, still in character as a security officer. Red lingered with the guards for a couple more seconds, and Hibiki saw him pass back a slip of paper with his signature on it.
They asked for his autograph? he thought incredulously. Geez . . . well, at least he's in.
Red disappeared into the darkness, and the guards turned their attention upon Bill in his Sanchez costume. Hibiki couldn't make out their speech, but he saw Bill turn over the pokedex, and they looked at it. Bill made a halfhearted blow at his hair.
Come on, come on . . . Hibiki thought, feeling himself start to sweat. Then he heard the guard on the left speak, in a loud and none-too-gentle voice.
"This is a Johto-brand pokedex. But it says here you're a Kanto trainer."
Now the guard on the right spoke, in a tone just as accusatory. "Take off your hat, pretty boy. I want to see your face better."
Oh, crap, thought Hibiki, his hair's too frizzy. He must have been trying too hard not to let it show!
Bill, now cringing meekly, removed his hat slowly and with obvious great reluctance. One guard immediately pulled out a pokeball, while the other snatched his radio.
"You're not Sanchez! Who are you? Do you realize it's a crime to impersonate a Pokémon Master for official business?"
Busted, thought Hibiki, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through him as he stood straight up from the bushes and drew back his throwing arm. Gotta stop this before it gets any more out of hand!
"Snorlax, use Yawn! Put that guard with the radio to sleep!"
In a burst of white, Snorlax's enormous bulk appeared on the field, shaking the ground as he touched down. He inhaled a huge breath, preparing a hypnotic yawn through the power of suggestion that would surely-
It happened so fast that Hibiki only registered the event after Snorlax was thrown skyward. The guard with the pokeball had released his own monster: a four-armed, muscle-ridden Machamp wearing a shirt with the word "bouncer" imprinted on it. The Machamp had proceeded to punch Snorlax with sufficient force to knock a train off its tracks, and Snorlax now rolled and bounced, leaving dirt skids wherever he struck the ground. He was finally stopped by a looming boulder, which left a Snorlax-shaped impression as he fell. Hibiki stared, mouth agape.
Dear God. That was brutal.
"Come out of there with your hands up!" the Machamp's trainer roared at Hibiki. "Or I'll send this guy in to take you. I'm warning you- he might accidentally break your bones!"
Hibiki fingered his Master Ball, in which Steven's Metagross dwelt. I can't believe it's gone this badly, this quickly! he thought, heart pounding. But it's too late for anything else now. We have to use force, or we're done for!
"Go-"
He never got the words out, for something happened the next second that nobody was expecting.
Machamp was suddenly gored through the chest by two horned pokémon that appeared out of nowhere. One looked like a narwhal with fins shaped like wings, and the other was a horse-like creature that really did have wings. Then people appeared- at least ten of them- all wearing standard civilian clothing, but with pokeballs in hand. Machamp groaned and fell, and the two horned pokémon withdrew to their apparent trainers.
"Don't move!" shouted the girl with the winged horse. "We have you surrounded, and we DO have the power to beat you, uber pokémon or not!"
The guard with the radio gritted his teeth angrily. "You stupid kids kicked the wrong hornet nest," he growled. "I've already called for backup, and then we'll see who's surrounded-"
He stopped short and his eyes went wide, then his expression went blank and he dropped forward. In the same instant, his partner with the Machamp dropped to the ground, and behind them stood Kenta and Red in fighting stances. Kenta straightened up and looked around at the people who had unexpectedly come to their aid. His eyes stopped as they fell upon Bill and Hibiki.
"Are you guys okay? We only caught the tail end of it," he said hastily, with a concerned face. "What happened?"
"I'm sure you can guess that it didn't work," answered Bill. "As to these folks, I'm as lost as you."
Hibiki withdrew Snorlax, and hurried back to his companions. He could feel the gaze of all the eyes looking back and forth, between his own group and the new arrivals. He could also make out a few whispers, most in awed reverence.
"Red . . . it's really him."
"What do we say to him?"
"Ian, say something."
The boy with the narwhal pokémon, apparently Ian, stepped forward. He was dressed in black pants and a hoodie, and wore glasses that seemed to reflect any light, giving a sense of glowing eyes. He approached Red, followed by the girl with the winged horse, and both of them bowed at the waist.
"Master Red . . . I'm Ian, and this is my sister, Ivy." He glanced distrustfully at Kenta. "I thought this guy was a guard at first, but-"
"He's with me," said Red, raising his hand and indicating at Hibiki and Bill. "They all are. Thank you for stepping in, but . . . who are you?"
"We are the Vanguard," said Ian in a strong voice, as he and his peers stood up straight. "And we have made it our mission to fight on the side of all free trainers, at the front lines."
"That fight is still a few hours away," said Kenta hurriedly, "and you may have started too soon. You heard what that guard said; we must assume backup is on its way. If you want to be there for the final battle, you guys had better scatter for now."
"We started exactly as we meant to," Ivy cut in confidently. "But you're right. We mean to wreak a little havoc here and there, and distract 'em until Brendan starts the real fireworks." Her gaze turned upon Hibiki. "He's nearby, isn't he? Aren't you that kid who's always hanging around him?"
Hibiki's stomach did a flip- he hadn't expected anyone to recognize him. "Is it really that obvious who I am? I need a haircut or something."
"And elevator shoes," Kenta added with a hint of a smirk.
Ivy looked back and forth, between Kenta and Hibiki, and suddenly her eyes widened as revelation struck.
"Wait . . . it's you!" She pointed at Kenta. "You're him! Brendan!" Her hands flew to her mouth in excitement. "Oh my gosh, I didn't think- . . . Brendan! There's so much I have to tell you!"
Hibiki caught movement in his peripheral vision, and he glanced up at the sky to see a group of flying pokémon heading their way. They were not yet close enough to determine exactly, but they were large-sized and carried riders. Bill followed his gaze, and he touched Red's arm nervously. "We've got company."
"There's never any time," muttered Kenta. "Sorry, Ivy, but we have to go. See you at the Indigo League Stadium."
"Wait!"
Now Ian spoke up, looking at Ivy. "I can take our people out of here. Can you go with Brendan's group and fill him in?"
"Fill us in?" Hibiki repeated.
Red backed into the cave, still looking skyward. "Gold, we really have to go . . ."
Kenta turned, and waved for his companions to follow him. "Alright, let's do whatever- but we gotta disappear. Come on!"