24 Chapter 24 Holding a Hostage and Scott Goodwin

"…I'm sorry what!?"

Faust repeated himself again and Abner looked at the teenager in front of him as if looking at a new species of Pokemon.

"Don't look at me like that, it isn't a course of action I would take under normal circumstances. I know you're here to ensure my safety and that's precisely why this is necessary. You see I'm going to be taking a few steps to ensure I have my way. The things that are going to happen in the next few days will piss a lot of people off. In order to ensure my safety there is a need to hold an individual against their will in order to buy time", said Faust looking at the man in front of him.

"Maybe if I knew the details…", started Abner before Faust interrupted him.

"Abner Flag, there is a plan. A plan works best when people know their parts, rehearse their parts to perfection. Knowing more only serves to distract an individual from their role in a bigger scheme of things. I understand the need for information, of course, that's only when you're making a decision. Over here, you don't need to make a decision. Here you just need to do what you're told. The steps I'm about to take may endanger my life, but if you do your part we can avert the danger temporarily. A temporary alleviation will give me time to prepare for what's to come. The only reason I bothered speaking to you directly was because I think I know the kind of man you are. Upright, honest, loyal and above all, simple. You pulled put of competitive battling because you saw the obvious nepotism at the higher levels. A cesspit of corruption and cronyism, the battles are formatted to ensure no new champions emerge. The Alliance justifies it as a way for a trainer to face the greatest odds stacked against them. But…you know what I'm trying to say."

"That is different. You're asking me to take a prisoner", said Abner surprised at how much Faust knew or had deduced.

"Wrong. I am going to take them, prisoner. Your job is to ensure he stays a prisoner and above all…stays alive", said Faust smiling.

"What bearing does this have for RL? Why're you doing this? Is there an alternative?"

"Hmm…the entire thing is for the benefit of RL. I am doing this because I have no alternative left. Of course, the goal will not be to do so. I shall offer an alternative for the person, which I believe very strongly will be declined. Hence the need for the extreme step."

Abner didn't speak for a while before raising his head and looking into Faust's eyes.

"Does Professor Ross know?"

"How long before she comes to know…I believe you will report this the very first thing you leave my house."

Abner didn't speak after that, about ten minutes later he just sighed and said, "Fine. But if the Professor refuses, I can't do anything."

Faust smiled and lifted the phone lying face down in front on the table. Abner looked at the screen and saw that there was an ongoing call. Before he could say anything, a voice sounded from the phone.

"You have my permission Mr. Flag. You may assist Professor Faust as he so deems necessary."

Faust smiled and said, "Thank you Professor Ross."

There was silence on the phone before Professor Ross replied, "Don't thank me. I have no idea how you can be so brazen and audacious. Antagonizing one of the most powerful families. I hope there are no unforeseen circumstances."

Hearing the call disconnect, Faust grumbled under his breath.

"…its only brazen if the other person knows..and….they'll not know…for now…"

Having received the consent from Professor Ross, Abner Flag left soon without any further probing. Faust was exhausted both physically and mentally, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

              *************************

In the beautiful metropolis hundreds of kilometres away, a blond-haired young man observed a Dragonair as it used an electric attack to strike metal mannequins. Scott Goodwin had spent most part of the year in Dragon Nest City training for the final graduation assessment of the Grand Coast Trainer Academy. Normally, one would never have permission to leave the Academy during their last year. But exceptions were always made for the powerful. Scott knew very well that he was powerful but he also knew that the Dragoon Family was the reason for his power. It was a fleeting power that he held, capable of being taken away as much as it was capable of being magnified. 

He thought back to yesterday when he had spoken to his father. Truthfully, he had come to look down on his old life and old self. Applegrove Town was nothing to him anymore. It was a pitiful place, a place that embodied as much weakness as the Dragon's Nest City did strength. He had hardly kept in touch with anyone from over there, he had even grown apart from his own family. It didn't bother him, after all, it was by his choice. 

'Such a fool. A new dragon-type and you choose the most oppressive force to partner with. Hmph! Partnerships are for equals, when I report with proof to the Dragoon Family…there will be no partnership. A complete domination. After all, a dragon never shares it's spoils.'

               **********************

"So…you have spoken to Scott four times in the last six years? By the way, is it four including the day before or is that the fifth?", asked Faust flipping the pen waiting for Mayor Goodwin to reply.

"Umm…its four including this time. But I'm sure he won't do as you speculate", replied the mayor wiping his forehead with an already drenched handkerchief.

"Hmm…and if he does?", asked Faust closing the diary in his hands.

The Mayor didn't reply. Faust had woken up early and decided to confront the mayor about the situation and how it would turn out. He had elaborately described the situation and clearly succeeded in making the man realise his folly. The actual goal for this meeting was simple, Faust wanted to check if there was anything he could do to come to an understanding with Scott. The first thought was obviously to see if the person had any love or loyalty left for the place of his birth and his family. Now he was sure that there was no hope. He also wanted to make sure there was no opposition from the inside, the mayor being the person of most concern.

The mayor looked at Faust and whispered in resignation, "Then we will do as you have proposed."

Faust stood up smiling and said, "Thank you for your time. But just in case…"

Faust tossed out a Pokeball and the large frame of Aurorus appeared in the room.

"What's the mea-"

Faust interrupted the mayor's outburst with a command to the Aurorus, "Stay here and make sure he doesn't move from his chair. I'm sure he can stay put for a few hours."

The Aurorus nodded and lowered its head nuzzling it against Faust's back. Faust pet the Pokemon and then turned to the mayor who looked like he would pass out any minute. Faust walked up to the table and picked up the mayor's phone. Looking around the table, he saw another cordless phone and tossed it out of the mayor's reach. 

"Okay that's it I think. Mayor Goodwin…it may seem excessive right now but believe me I'm doing this for Applegrove Town."

Saying so, Faust walked out shutting the door behind him. He then dialled a number on his phone and put it to his ear. The call connected and Abner Flag's voice came over the phone.

"Make sure to get here as soon as possible, your job is just to monitor anyone that I send into the room."

"Roger that."

Faust disconnected and started walking towards Kyle's room. Opening the room he saw Kyle standing at the large window overlooking the only main street in Applegrove Town. 

"You know I understand the necessity of all this…but holding my father prisoner isn't all that appealing. No matter how foolish he is, I think he got your point", said Kyle.

"We can't take any chances. The moment your brother is here…we need to control him. What happens from now must stay in Applegrove Town", replied Faust plopping down on a chair.

"Do you think it's strange that I feel like you've changed a lot since the time you received your Pokemon egg? I mean you look the same…maybe a little more…no a lot more confident. See that's my point, these subtle changes have added up to a lot since I've been spending time with you."

Faust chuckled and replied, "Technically it has been a lot of time since then. Remember the rift…we spent months in there. I think…that getting a Pokemon opened up a whole new world to me. Its kinda difficult to explain, since that day my priorities changed. That is why this is important, Applegrove Town cannot become a satellite of Dragon's Nest City."

'There will be no way for my secrets to remain secret if that happens.' added Faust in his head.

Kyle just sighed and patted Faust on the shoulder, "That won't happen. As long as you can take care of my brother. Although I find it hard to doubt your prowess in battles, Scott is kinda elite of the elite you know."

Faust smiled and stood up to face Kyle, "Don't worry about that. I've got quite a surprise in store for him."

             *************************

A huge Dragonite was flying just a few kilometres from it's destination. A blond haired young man sat on it's wearing a visor presumably to protect his eyes from the strong winds. Soon a small town came into his view and he patted the Dragonite twice on it's back. The Dragonite let out a loud cry and began descending towards the town. The Pokemon and it's rider landed some distance away from the town. Getting off the Pokemon's back, the rider took off the visor and surveyed his surroundings before turning to the Dragonite and nodding. The Dragonite let out a cry before taking off in the direction he had just come from. The man looked around for a bit before he started walking into the direction of the town. Unknown to him, an orange bird Pokemon that had been observing him for sometime now took off into the sky flying towards the town.

              **************************

"He's here."

Faust disconnected the call, turned to Kyle and nodded. Taking a deep breath, Kyle walked out of his room and Faust followed him out.

"Little brother, it has been a while. It looks like not much has changed around here", said Scott looking around the room before his eyes settled on Kyle.

"Indeed elder brother...nothing seems to have changed too much", replied Kyle looking at his elder brother with a complicated expression. He could see that Scott seemed a bit impatient and not very inclined to make conversation. It didn't make much of a difference to him but nonetheless it was annoying. 

Faust observed the interaction between the two and only now could he see the kind of relationship the two siblings shared. There was definitely nothing brotherly about the two. 

"Where is father?", asked Scott as he reached for the glass of Apple juice that was places in front of him.

"Dealing with some matters, why are you here?", asked Kyle in return, observing his elder brother as he sipped the juice.

"It doesn't concern you. Don't be bothered by it, it's nothing important."

"Actually it does concern me. I know why you're here, it's the new dragon-type."

"So it seems like you know. Its strange though, why father would even bother sharing it with you...perhaps you received a good Pokemon? I remember father telling me last time that how he wished you were half as good as I am", said Scott with a smirk. He didn't know much of the details but he knew of Kyle's constant troubles. It didn't bother him, in fact, he found satisfaction in the misery of his little brother. It satisfied him to know how much of an insurmountable benchmark he had become. He relished in the fact that there were people out there who aimed to achieve his success but could never in their life hope to do so. He saw the expression on Kyle's face change as he clenched his fists tighter in frustration. It gave him immense pleasure and fed his ravenous pride.

Faust noticed Kyle's reaction as well and decided to speak.

"Nice to meet you."

Scott looked at the person who had spoken up and frowned. 

"Who are you?"

"Ah sorry for not introducing myself, my name is Faust Williamson and I am Kyle's friend."

Scott smirked and said, "And what do you think you're to achieve by mentioning that to me? As a matter of fact, why're you even here?"

Faust smiled and stood up, "Oh I believe it's common courtesy to introduce yourself to people you meet. But since it's an etiquette cultivated in civilized human beings, you may not be familiar with it. But don't worry the fault is mine, I expected courtesy from an animal."

Scott was unable to reply immediately to the direct insult to his face delivered with a smile so innocent. 

"I would watch my mouth if I were you."

"But you're not. Also, I never said anything untrue. You came here, sat down and started behaving like you own the place? But then again, I keep forgetting that I can't expect common social courtesies from a dog. Wait...you don't look like a dog...perhaps a pig? But you're too scrawy to be a pig. Hmm...your face reminds of one of those. What were they called, ah, yes! Monkeys! Its amazing how millennia have passed and some people just can't seem to evolve. Kyle you never told me your elder brother was an exquisite specimen of substantial evolutionary defect, it's so fascin-"

"SHUT UP! DO YOU HAVE A DEATHWISH BOY!? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO I AM!?", exploded Scott interrupting Faust.

Faust looked at the fuming red face of Scott and replied, "Now you're being unfair and stupid. You never did introduce yourself, so how do you expect me to know who you are!?"

If this was a cultivation novel, Faust was sure that Scott would've vomited blood and fainted at the moment, judging by how he was stuttering at the moment.

"YOU..YOU...YOU"

Kyle had already graduated from stiffled giggles to full blown laughter on the side. But Scott was too angry at Faust to notice anything else.

"YOU ARE DEAD BOY! GET YOUR POKEMON OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHERWISE PREPARE TO DIE!"

Faust shook his, clicking in tongue in disappointment and said, "Scott Goodwin, there's a time and place for everything. You can't expect civilized people to always accommodate your lack of common social sense."

"THE YARD OUT FRONT! NOW!"

Faust smiled widely.

"I'm glad you finally understand us civilized people."