Confronting Shadows

I was elated to witness Charizard's successful ascension to the Legendary stage. With one more Legendary stage Pokémon under Cecilia's command, the Blackthorn family now boasts a total of seven Legendary stage Pokémon among their ranks. However, I remained vigilant, knowing that this was only the beginning.

In a world where mythical and even higher-level Pokémon existed, attaining the Legendary stage was merely a step into the vast realm of true powerhouses. I understood that I had to be patient, gradually accumulating strength to face the potential challenges that loomed in the future. This moment was a significant milestone, but the journey toward greater power had just begun.

After another hour of stabilizing herself and fully absorbing the incredible gains of achieving the True Legendary rank, Cecilia stepped out of the barrier with me by her side. Her Charizard was engaged in a conversation with the Dragonite, a shared moment of recognition and honor.

The entire assembly took steps forward to congratulate Cecilia for finally realizing her lifelong dream, one that had persistently eluded her. Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, Cecilia couldn't contain her emotions. She picked me up, spinning me around in unrestrained happiness.

She alone understood the weight of past failures, especially the one 80 years ago, which had led her to give up on the dream of breaking through. Little did she know that her savior would come in the form of a five-year-old, making the impossible possible.

"I take it that was the Mega Stone you handed over to Charizard at the end. Why am I not surprised that you could get your hands on such a treasure? Cecilia must have been lucky this time around, because all her efforts over the centuries have not been in vain. With another Legendary rank, I can breathe much easier and delegate most of the responsibilities to her while I chill," the old man remarked, his keen observation leading him to the conclusion that the Mega Stone played a vital role in Charizard's breakthrough.

While everyone joyfully discussed this new achievement, Alice stood on the sidelines with a look of longing in her eyes. A True Legendary class trainer—she didn't know if she could ever reach such heights. I noticed Alice's emotions and moved toward her. Although I had almost fully recovered from the damage I sustained during the ascension, I still looked a little pale.

"Don't worry, Alice. You will reach that stage eventually. I promise that I will help you get there," I assured her confidently, offering her comfort and hope. This assurance brought tears to Alice's eyes and filled her heart with pride. She knew that I would keep my word.

"Now that Cecilia has successfully reached the Legendary rank, our family is much more secure. However, we must not drop our vigilance. Recent events have shown that our enemies are still lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. The incident with the expedition team on the surface may appear to be an accident, but after a thorough investigation, it seems that someone is targeting the Blackthorn family," the ancestor stated.

The ancestor had already received all the relevant information regarding the recent expedition. It was clear that the Blackthorn family was facing threats.

"It seems that many have forgotten the name Blackthorn and have become bold enough to provoke us and target our members. The League has also recently sent representatives to form an alliance. However, from our network, we already know that the higher echelon of the League has been infiltrated by shady characters," Isabel added angrily.

Isabel, who had been fuming internally since receiving the investigation report on the recent expedition, couldn't contain her anger. The reports confirmed that the incident was, in fact, a targeted ambush on the Blackthorn family.

"little Aron What do you think about the league and its proposal? Do you think it would be a good thing for the family?"

The elder directed a question to me, seeking my opinion on the League and its proposal.

"We do not have to make decisions just yet. First, let's find out what their true intentions are. The League was originally established with the pure intention of avoiding future human conflicts and enhancing coexistence with Pokémon after the war. But have you ever wondered why someone like Professor Oak isn't actively involved in League activities from the forefront anymore? Wasn't he the one who put in the most effort to end the war and establish the League? But considering the current situation, he has removed himself from the core of League activities and has immersed himself in his research. We need to understand that the League is not a single entity; it's run by people and involves politics and a power struggle. Politics is a dangerous game, and if we plan to get involved, we need to tread carefully. Right now, our number one priority should be to bolster our forces because we can still be targeted from the shadows. The recent incident showed us that our family ranks have been breached by spies and traitors," I cautioned the core elders.

I wanted to emphasize that the current League was not the same as the one with its original purpose; it had become more like a den of snakes where everyone vied for more power. In my past life, the League had become so corrupt that when the full-blown war broke out, it couldn't even survive the initial stages of the conflict. The people who had betrayed humanity for their own benefit were largely part of the League. However, I clarified that it didn't mean that everything and everyone within it was bad. It was just that the individuals who truly held power were often corrupt.

I continued, "The League, in its early days, represented a noble vision of coexistence and cooperation between humans and Pokémon. Professor Oak and others like him had a genuine desire to ensure peace and harmony. But over time, as more people with varying motivations became involved, that vision became muddied. The pursuit of power, influence, and personal interests began to overshadow the League's original ideals."

The core elders listened attentively as I elaborated, "We must be cautious and discerning. We should determine the current state of the League, who holds the real power, and what their true intentions are before we consider any alliances or commitments. We should remember that, in this world, strength speaks volumes. So, while we explore these possibilities, we must also focus on strengthening our own position. We must be prepared for any challenges that may arise, especially considering that our family has already been infiltrated by those with ulterior motives."

Isabel Blackthorn, the elder with a keen eye for details, interjected, "Aron makes a valid point. We shouldn't be naive and jump into agreements without understanding the full implications. Let's gather more information about the League and their activities, and keep our eyes and ears open. The recent incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the shadows."

The old man, the ancestor of the Blackthorn family, nodded in agreement. "I trust Aron's judgment, and he has a unique perspective on these matters. We'll proceed with caution and prioritize the security and well-being of our family."

The discussion continued, with the core elders making plans to discreetly investigate the League's current state and intentions while also strengthening the Blackthorn family's defenses. The meeting served as a reminder that, in a world filled with both allies and adversaries, knowledge and prudence were essential for survival.

As I spoke, my voice carried an undertone of urgency and determination. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, old man. We cannot afford to have traitors lurking within our ranks, potentially compromising our family's safety, secrets, and very existence. The recent incident with the expedition team is evidence that our enemies are not only lurking in the shadows but have managed to infiltrate us."

The room felt charged with tension as I continued, "My suggestion is a thorough and uncompromising screening process. I mean everyone—no exceptions. This includes every member of our family, including myself. We must leave no room for doubt. The Blackthorn family has wartime protocols designed for scenarios like this. It's time we fully deploy them, net every single black sheep within our ranks, and expose them for who they truly are."

My words hung in the air, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. I knew the risk of harboring traitors within our family, for my past life had shown me how such individuals could lead to the downfall of even the most powerful families. The aura surrounding me was palpable, reflecting the urgency and determination with which I believed we needed to act.

Isabel, observing the determination in my eyes and feeling the aura I exuded, gave a slow nod. "Aron's right. We need to be swift and thorough in our actions to protect our family. It's time to cleanse our ranks and ensure that we remain strong and united."

"Little Aron, are you sure such drastic measures are needed, We haven't deployed such drastic actions since the end of the war fifty years ago." One of the elders was hesitating to deploy such drastic measures because such things always ended in a lot of bloodshed, and he wanted to know if such extreme means were necessary.

I could sense the hesitation in one of the elders' voices—their reluctance to deploy such drastic measures. I felt compelled to provide a clearer perspective on why these actions were necessary.

"Look, everyone, we need to consider the gravity of the situation," I began, my voice firm. "How did top-secret information about our expedition, including its exact route and schedule, fall into our enemies' hands? This is information that is so highly classified that it should have been beyond anyone's reach outside of our innermost circle. The very fact that such sensitive data was leaked indicates that the infiltrator must be incredibly high within our ranks—someone we would least expect. We lost not just over a dozen individuals, but we must also consider the suffering of those dozen families, and we are partly to blame for their deaths."

My frustration and guilt were palpable as I continued, "Their lives were lost due to our negligence, and we must remember that. Do we really want to allow another such incident to occur, potentially on an even larger scale? We cannot afford to take any chances with the safety of our family. It's not just a matter of protection; it's a matter of justice for those we've lost. We must act now to secure our family's future and prevent further tragedy."

I could feel the weight of the situation pressing upon the room as the core elders contemplated my words. The loss of life in the recent expedition had affected me deeply, and I was determined to ensure it would not happen again.

Isabel, the eldest among us, chimed in with a somber expression. "Aron is right, you know. We've grown complacent during this time of temporary peace. The absence of war has made us dull, and we've let our guard down. But imagine: If a war were to break out suddenly, how many times would we have been caught off guard and killed due to our lack of attention?"

Her words hung heavily in the room, emphasizing the gravity of our current situation. Isabel, with her wisdom and experience, was the first to fully comprehend the depth of the issue. She recognized that they had been living in a world where the strong reigned supreme and treachery lurked around every corner. One misstep, one moment of inattention, and they could find themselves plummeting into the abyss. The threat was real, and we needed to act swiftly to protect our family from further danger.

The core elders exchanged concerned glances, realizing that our family's safety and future rested on the decisions they made in the coming days. The old man, typically jovial, looked grave as he contemplated the path forward.

The old man closed his eyes, deep in contemplation, for over a minute. His brow furrowed as he weighed the options, considering the consequences of the choices before him. After a moment, he took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. Opening his eyes, he delivered the final verdict.

"Fine, let's hunt down every single one of them. Show no mercy, no matter who they are or what background they might have."

The ancestor's decision sent a shiver through the room. It was a clear indication that he understood the gravity of the situation and was prepared to take ruthless measures to protect the family.

I seized the moment to make my exit. "Old man, if there's nothing else, I would like to take my leave. I need to make some preparations myself. See you all later, everyone. Grandpa Alfred, shall we?"

With a nod, I turned to Alfred, ready to depart for my own preparations. My first order of business would be to attend to the new egg I had obtained from the family vault.

Alfred, always at the ready, nodded in response to my question. With a serene expression, he held out his hand, and from the Poké Ball at his belt emerged his loyal Gardevoir. The elegant Psychic and Fairy-type Pokémon was an expert at Teleportation. With a graceful wave of her hand, she created a rift in space, and in an instant, we were transported back to my home.

As we materialized in my living room, the familiar surroundings greeted me. Alfred's Gardevoir had a faint smile on her face, as if teleporting were a simple daily routine for her.

"Thank you, Alfred," I said with appreciation. "You and your Gardevoir are always so efficient."

He offered a humble smile in response. "It's our duty to assist you, Aron. If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask."

After Alfred took his leave, I was left alone at home. The solitude was both a comfort and a rare luxury in my busy life. Alice had departed to make arrangements for the healed expedition team members, and the house was quiet.

Without wasting any time, I made my way to the basement of my home. This was where I kept my secret base, a place filled with ancient knowledge, rare treasures, and the many secrets of my past life. The entrance was cleverly concealed behind a bookshelf, and only I knew the intricate series of steps required to access the hidden chamber.