Poison War: Shadows of the World

**"Poison War: Shadows of the World"** is the twenty-first chapter of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.* A sudden blackout leaves Gringy City in darkness, causing a lot of chaos and panic all over the place. Ash and company decide to investigate the power plant, and in doing so he ends up learning a lot more than he bargained for...

## Plot

In Gringy City, a couple of children are searching for their missing Arcanine, Emma. A telepathic voice speaks to them, asking if she can help, and reunites them with their Pokémon. Suddenly, the city suffers a complete power outage, leaving it in darkness and causing fear among the residents.

In the Power Plant, Belladonna approaches the main control room, with the door watched by two guards. When they threaten her with their guns, she refuses to stand down and uses her powers to block the bullets when they shoot at her, feeling disgusted with herself. She then spits back some poison in the face of one of the guards, killing him instantly. The other, horrified, tries to plead for his life talking about his family. Moved by this and recalling her own childhood, she just knocks him out and locks him in a nearby closet, leaving a message carved on the wall so he can be found later, and leaves a controlled Nidoqueen to guard the door until she and the others leave.

Meanwhile at the city, Ash and his group are wondering what's going on. Ash and Pikachu think this might be an excuse to investigate the power plant and possibly find Muk, so they try to convince Misty and Iris to go there, on the grounds that the people there might need help. They finally agree to go and check if they can do something about it, and leave immediately if that's not the case.

Near the power plant's entrance they see a line of Koffing guarding the place and looking like they're in some kind of trance. Misty immediately asks Ash to swap the Poké Balls of Slowpoke, Poliwrath and Wooper for Goldeen, Gyarados and Starmie. She explains that a Poison Heart Bloodliner must be controlling these Pokémon, as she's seen that look before, which Iris recalls she can do the same with Dragon-types but has never done it herself. Ash complies, and after leaving Sliggoo to guard his stuff, they all get ready to cross the water to the power plant with the help of Misty's Pokémon. As they go unnoticed by the Koffing, Misty notices what they look like, and asks her Goldeen what it felt like when she used her powers on her. Goldeen does not respond, but the look makes it clear it wasn't a pleasant experience. A Tentacool tries to attack them, and while Misty considers using her own control to override the Poison Bloodliner's, she ultimately decides that she can't do it again, and decides to fight it instead.

Ash gets out of the water along with Starmie and Pikachu, and they find surrounded by a group of possessed Vileplume. Ash brings out Charmeleon and sends him along with Pikachu to fight them, quickly taking them out. A Tentacruel emerges from the water and tries to attack them, but Charmeleon blocks his attempt and threatens to boil his ocean. Ash reminds him they don't have the time for that and prompts him to follow him and Pikachu inside, much to his chagrin but he ultimately complies.

Elsewhere, Iris along with her Pokémon and Misty's Gyarados are trying to fight their way through, and they end up running into Evanna and her three Tyrogue. The three Tyrogue engage in battle against Emolga, Excadrill and Axew. One of the Tyrogue hurts Axew, and when she tries to go to his aid, Evanna uses her Power-Up Punch to block her Dragon Claw, and the two then start fighting each other.

Meanwhile, someone else is also investigating the power plant, before being attacked by a Tentacool that she stops using psychic powers. She realizes that these Pokémon are being controlled. She then flashbacks to her childhood, being at her uncle's home, who took her in after her parents passed away in a car accident that also caused her to lose her voice. She developed her powers including the ability to use telepathy, but she couldn't reveal it to the world, and it saddened her greatly. Her uncle comforted her, assuring her that her powers were a gift that she could use to help people, and how the world is always moving to be a better place as long as you can see the good in other people and do acts of kindness for them. She then snaps out of her memories and teleports across to get to the power plant.

In Fuchsia City, Red and Yellow are planning to challenge the local Gym Leader soon, discussing how weird it is that a badge from a ninja-themed gym is a heart and not something like a kunai or a toad, as well as how some of her victims end up running to the Pokémon Center asking for Pecha Berries and complaining about caltrops in their feet. They spot a Pokémon nearby that seems asleep, and Yellow finds it adorable and asks Red to catch it. Red however quickly points out that the Pokémon has a collar with a tag, including an address to Melemele Island for the owner. Suddenly, the Safari Zone warden, Kaiser, comes out grumbling as he talks to a girl named Lilo, who quickly reveals herself to be the owner of the Pokémon, a Komala named Stitch. After Yellow introduces both herself and Red, he stares at Lilo, who seems to get the unspoken message and challenges him to a Pokémon battle. Red decides to use Pikachu while Lilo brings out a Pokémon named Crabrawler. Due to its appearance Red assumes it might be a Water-type, only to find himself surprised that it's actually a Fighting-type, briefly catching him off-guard. Red's Pikachu manages to win nonetheless, and the second bout goes underway. Red brings out his Charmeleon, while Lilo brings out an Exegguttor that's a lot taller than the ones Red knows. At first, Red thinks he has the upper hand, until he realizes a Shadow Claw attack doesn't do super effective damage, and then Lilo orders Exegguttor to use Draco Meteor, making him realize the different typing, albeit a bit too late as Charmeleon ends up poisoned and forces him to forfeit. Now going for best two out of three, Lilo brings out a Mudsdale, another Pokémon Red does not know, but quickly deduces by its name and appearance to be a Ground-type, so he brings out his Victreebel. Red also takes notice of a white ring she suddenly puts on her wrist with a crystal, and seems ready to use it, but before the battle can go underway, Kaiser calls Lilo to do some paperwork. The battle is interrupted, but Lilo proposes that they settle the score in the upcoming Tag Tournament that she's planning to enter, which Red agrees to.

Back in the power plant, Belladonna is in the control room, waiting for a message. Her Golbat, after relaying it from her other Pokémon, informs her that "Tokiomi is still alive", much to her displeasure, wondering why he's taking so long to die. Then, Aurora comes in to inform her that she's checked the entrances and frozen them solid as she asked. Belladonna assures her that with Evanna and Vedia on watch they'll be just fine and she can stay with her if she wants. Aurora accepts it and the two embrace each other as Belladonna comforts her. However, Aurora's thoughts reveal that she's feeling conflicted about the whole thing that's happening. She knew that Belladonna wanted to kill her father Tokiomi after she learned that he abandoned her when he found out she was a Bloodliner, even though until then he'd been a loving and doting parent to her. Despite everything, Aurora doesn't want her father to die, but she feels that telling Belladonna that she would take it as an act of betrayal and she doesn't want to be left alone.

Elsewhere on the plant, Ash, Pikachu and Charmeleon run into Ash's Muk, who is surrounded by a bunch of Grimer. Ash has Pikachu attack Muk to weaken him and prepares for the catch, but upon throwing the Pokéball one of the Grimer jumps in the way and gets caught instead. Ash tries again and another Grimer takes it again. Ash realizes he's going to run out of Poké Balls if this keeps up and needs a way to neutralize those Grimer first. Fortunately, Misty's Starmie finds a nearby crate full of them, which the Pokédex hacks immediately and Ash spends the next five minutes throwing to catch the Grimer, who seem determined to protect their boss. In the end, only Muk remains and Ash manages to catch him, sending him to Oak's lab along with his thirty-two Grimer friends, much to the scientist's (and Bulbasaur's) chagrin. Ash brings out his other Pokémon: Yanma, Butterfree and Snivy, and they split in groups to cover more ground.

Five minutes later, Charmeleon and Snivy find themselves in a big scuffle, with Charmeleon using an Ekans as a whip to smack his foes around, and then throwing it while yelling "Use Fling!" trying to imitate Ash. Snivy finds it ridiculous, while also complaining about the large amount of Poison-types there are in Kanto. She then tries her newly learned Aerial Ace to defeat an incoming Zubat, and seems pleased with herself when she does it perfectly, and then triggers her own evolution, becoming Servine.

Misty along with Staryu, Psyduck and Wingull are fighting their way through another route. As they turn around several corners, suddenly she gets attacked from behind, getting dizzy and almost falling over, but Psyduck, either accidentally or intentionally, throws himself in front of her to cushion her fall.. When she regains her bearings, she spots her attacker: the same short girl with glasses she saw at the restaurant the previous day. At first, Misty assumes she's the one controlling the Poison-types, but the bespectacled girl denies it, saying that "Belladonna" is the one responsible for that. Misty tries to move, but then realizes that a shadow coming from the girl has her legs pinned to the ground, which the girl reveals to be the move Shadow Sneak coming from her. Misty counters using Whirlpool. The girl has a Gastly for backup that leaves Psyduck paralyzed, but fortunately Staryu and Wingull are still battle ready. The girl finds it interesting that she is a Bloodliner as well, and after asking Misty for her name, she introduces herself as Vedia.

Ash manages to get to the control room, seeing the message on the wall about a living guard inside. Despite the Pokédex's warnings, he decides to enter and when the door won't budge, he just kicks it open. As soon as he enters, however, he gets pinned against the wall by an Ice Beam, which he noticed came from a nearby girl who looks rather nervous and shocked at what she just did. Another girl gets up from the chair and approaches him, and Ash quickly deduces she must be the Poison Heart Bloodliner they're looking for. As she comes nearby, he notices she has eyes similar to Red, and facial markings similar to his own. The girl, looking murderously angry, demands to know about Vedia and Evanna, but Ash didn't see anybody on the way here. Suddenly, the girl's eyes glow orange and she asks once more, and this time Ash feels compelled to talk, adding that he also brought friends along. Ash realizes that this girl, like him, probably possesses two Bloodlines, and she prepares to attack him with a Poison Jab. She however looks at the other girl, whose name she reveals as Aurora, and stops to ask her what's the matter. Aurora points out the physical resemblance between her and Ash. The Poison Heart Bloodliner, Belladonna, admits that they do share some traits, and then uses her Bloodline once more to force Ash to tell her if he's a Bloodliner. Again, Ash feels compelled to talk, explaining how his own abilities work in full. Belladonna suddenly calms down, and this time asks him about his parents, albeit not using her powers. Ash tells that he only met his mother and doesn't know anything about his father. Belladonna then thanks Aurora for stopping her, since had it not been for her, she could have killed her own brother.

Elsewhere, Evanna continues to battle Iris, taking notice of how the wild girl seems experienced in fighting, albeit in a more self-taught, instinctive manner rather than formal martial arts training like herself. She also has seen in her eyes that the two of them share similarities; namely, the loss of a biological family, being adopted into a new, loving one, and then losing it over again.

Back in the control room, Belladonna starts asking questions to Ash, starting for his name. Trying to keep himself safe, he decides to play along, introducing himself as Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town as he usually does. Belladonna reveals that she comes from this city, namely from the Old Cesspit, which used to be (and still is) the worst part of the city back when it lived up to its name. She then asks for his age, which he reveals as fifteen (not counting whatever he lived in The Old Timeline), and she reveals to be sixteen herself. She then inquires about Ash's mother, asking if she sucked, making him feel offended at such remark. Belladonna apologizes, stating that she had an awful mother, and so did Vedia, while Aurora and Evanna lost theirs at early ages, and between the four of them they only had one good parent, who unfortunately died. Ash, hoping to buy time for someone to find him or think about something, decides to talk about his own mother, that despite having him barely at the end of her teens, she's been very loving and supporting of him, even though she had every reason to be bitter about raising him alone. Belladonna admits she sounds like a good mother and wishes she would have been her mother too. She herself knows nothing about her father, except that he apparently was a handsome foreigner with whom her mother had a one-night stand and then vanished completely, while Ash himself didn't feel like asking Delia about the matter. Belladonna then explains how her mother was a hoarder and had their house full of so much trash it attracted Grimer, and they would often eat everything in sight, including Belladonna's clothes and toys. She then explains that her mother threw her out when she found her kissing a pair of twin girls (who, much to Ash surprise, turn out to be named Annie and Oakley), as apparently the only thing she wouldn't keep was a lesbian daughter. She then went off on her own and found Aurora, Vedia and Evanna, and they've been better off since then. When Ash realizes that the *four* of them are in a romantic relationship, Ash becomes confused and shocked at the implications, thinking that this is the one thing he would have never expected to find in the new timeline.

Back with Charmeleon and Servine, the two continue to fight the Poison-types, whose sheer numbers are dwindling quickly and most of them aren't that strong. Servine comments that she enjoys her new power, albeit laments that her arms have shortened after evolving. Charmeleon replies that sometimes you give up something to get new powers, but it's worth it. Suddenly, a Weedle tries to attack him from the back, and he casually flicks it away with his tail, triggering his own evolution into a Charizard. As he looks at himself, once more he's not pleased at evolving against a small bug, and tells Servine that if somebody asks, he fought a Scolipede, and then changes it to a Deathropod, while denying that the Weedle was ever here, causing Servine to roll her eyes.

Back with Evanna and Iris, Ash's Butterfree and Yanma arrive to help her. Realizing that the wild girl might have brought more help and the others might be in danger, she tries to bail out of the fight, only to get her arm pinned against a wall by a String Shot. This triggers her memories on how her father was killed, as they were shopping for groceries in Azalea Town when a woman lost grip over her baby carriage, which rolled down the street. She jumped in to save it, not realizing that she stepped on a Slowpoke's tail, and immediately everyone ganged up on them for it. She managed to get away, but her father didn't, as he was shot by a String Shot and they beat him up to death while she escaped, unable to save him. The memories bring her to tears, as she doesn't want to lose her family a third time, while Iris and Ash's Pokémon look on her.

Belladonna finishes telling Ash her story about how she and the others came together, and when Ash inquires about it being illegal, Belladonna replies that she has no use for the laws of man, before correcting herself to *human* laws, and that he, as a Bloodliner, is also above said laws and they can make their own rules to live as they please. Ash then asks about if said rules state that it's okay to invade a power plant, which Belladonna explains that the power plant gives energy to the hospital where Tokiomi, Aurora's father, is on life support and she wants to kill him. Ash points out that she's going to kill several other people apart from him, which Belladonna replies that anybody in that probably deserves what's coming to them anyway, as they're in there for drugs, alcohol and bad lifestyles. While Ash agrees that Tokiomi seems a horrible guy, he still thinks they're going too far, but Belladonna asks her if he's ever lost somebody he cares about, or if he's ever seen a loved one suffer and felt anger over not being able to punish the one responsible. She charges a Poison Jab to emphasize her point, telling him that if somebody hurts one of his loved ones, he has to pay them in full with interest. Ash then recalls the rage he felt against Paul when he blasted Primeape away, somehow knowing that it strengthens the connection between them, which makes him feel worried.

Meanwhile, Misty and Vedia continue to fight each other, both of them having recalled their Pokémon and the latter clearly having the upper hand. Vedia asks why Misty tries to oppose them, noticing that the two are similar, seeing in her eyes that she knows what it feels to be rejected and thrown out by her family, and discriminated for being a Bloodliner. Misty replies that she once felt that way, but she found someone who cares for her and she cares for in turn, like she does Belladonna, though the two seemed to reach different conclusions, with Misty deciding that humanity isn't as bad as she thought while Vedia took the opposite and thinks Misty is wrong. A telepathic voice then speaks up and says that Vedia is the one who is wrong for thinking that, before a girl with purple hair teleports in and attacks Vedia, freeing Misty from the grip of her Shadow Sneak. The girl introduces herself as Anabel, and explains that she can't talk physically but her Bloodline gives her telepathy to make up for it. Vedia takes the chance to make a run for it, much to her annoyance.

Back in the control room, the door is smashed by Charizard, allowing himself, Servine, Pikachu and Starmie to get inside. As Pikachu sees Ash frozen against the wall, he attacks Belladonna and Aurora with his Thunderbolt, which the latter counters with her Ice Beam. Charizard attacks Belladonna and pins her against the wall. Pikachu notices the resemblance between Belladonna and Ash, and while he has no time to explain, Charizard seems ready to blow a Flamethrower on her after she bites him in the arm with Poison Fang, before a Golbat comes in and rams him in the chest to force him to let her go. The Golbat informs her that Tokiomi is finally dead, much to her delight. She then commends Ash's Pokémon, while also calling him "brother" much to the shock of Pikachu and the others, before she and Aurora Teleport away using a Shellder. With the Pokémon in shock about the "brother" thing, Ash decides to put them up to speed about what happened, and this encounter has him wondering if the resemblance between him, Red and John Archer might mean they're all related. Iris then comes up, and he's relieved to see she's alright. Then, Misty and Anabel teleport, the latter much to Ash's surprise to see her so soon. Misty explains that Anabel saved her, and Anabel reveals that she's a Bloodliner like them, but since she's unable to talk, she uses telepathy to communicate. Misty invites Anabel to join their group, and after some more chatter, they hear police sirens approaching, so they quickly teleport away, not before going with Sliggoo to pick up Ash's stuff.

At the Team Rocket HQ, Giovanni reviews the latest incident of the Poison-types invading the Gringy City power plant, as reported by Jessie, James and Meowth while the media officially blamed it on the Giva City dam they were trying to build for displacing those Pokémon. He then visits Felgrand, who's now a prisoner in a cell, battered and bruised, to ask for answers. Showing him a photo of Ash, he recognizes him as the Bloodliner kid who busted his operation, but seems not concerned about it. But, when Giovanni shows him a photo of Belladonna, Felgrand pales in shock and his expression turns from annoyance to fear. Apparently, she looks like his mother, whom he along with the rest of his brothers (barring the E one) killed. He realizes that both Ash and Belladonna bear those marks on their cheeks like his mother did, and recalls she had a bloodline that allowed her to manipulate people's minds, and furiously demands that Giovanni tells him which of his brothers broke the pact they made of never having children, lest that their mother's bloodline would resurface again. Giovanni however leaves him alone, already feeling he's got enough answers for the time being.

In Orre, Gonzap and Wakin oversee the training of Wes, an amnesiac kid they found in the desert speaking things about Clembots and other stuff they don't understand. While they consider him weird, his battling skills led him to be recruited into Team Snagem, as he could beat their battle simulations on the first try, and he's currently doing so in the virtual simulator.

## Continuity

* First appearances of Anabel and Lilo. Anabel joins Ash's group.
* Ash catches Muk and his thirty-two Grimer.
* Misty catches a Tentacool, albeit it happens off-screen until it's revealed much later.
* Snivy evolves to Servine and Charmeleon evolves to Charizard.
* It is revealed that one of the Seven Brothers of Orre is the father of Ash, and several other lookalikes of him.

## Characters

### Humans

* Anabel
* Ginny
* Belladonna Tyrian
* Power Plant Guards
* Ash Ketchum
* Iris
* Misty Waterflower
* Aspear Berry Salesman
* Evanna Narec
* Anabel's Uncle (Flashback)
* Yellow
* Red Tajiri
* Safari Zone Warden
* Lilo
* Aurora Aoi Borealis
* Professor Samuel Oak
* Vedia
* Random Citizens (Flashback)
* Kyle Narec (Flashback)
* Paul (Flashback)
* Police Officer
* Giovanni
* Felgrand
* Gonzap
* Wakin
* Wes

### Pokémon

* Arcanine (Ginny's)
* Nidoqueen (Wild)
* Pikachu (Ash's)
* Koffing (Wild)
* Weezing (Wild)
* Gyarados (Misty's)
* Goldeen (Misty's)
* Starmie (Misty's)
* Sliggoo (Ash's)
* Tentacool (Wild)
* Vileplume (Wild)
* Charmeleon (Ash's)
* Tentacruel (Wild)
* Kakuna (Wild)
* Gloom (Wild)
* Excadrill (Iris')
* Emolga (Iris')
* Weedpinbell (Wild)
* Axew (Iris')
* Nidoking (Wild)
* Beedrill (Wild)
* Tyrogue (Evanna's)
* Pikachu (Red's)
* Komala (Lilo's)
* Crabrawler (Lilo's)
* Charmeleon (Red's)
* Alolan Exeggutor (Lilo's)
* Mudsdale (Lilo's)
* Victreebel (Red's)
* Golbat (Belladonna's)
* Nidorino (Belladonna's)
* Oddish (Belladonna's)
* Ekans (Belladonna's)
* Muk (Ash's)
* Grimer (Ash's)
* Bulbasaur (Ash's)
* Snivy (Ash's)
* Yanma (Ash's)
* Butterfree (Ash's)
* Weedle (Wild)
* Ekans (Wild)
* Nidorino (Wild)
* Bellsprout (Wild)
* Oddish (Wild)
* Nidorina (Wild)
* Zubat (Wild)
* Venomoth (Wild)
* Staryu (Misty's)
* Wingull (Misty's)
* Arbok (Wild)
* Psyduck (Misty's)
* Gastly (Vedia's)
* Servine (Ash's)
* Spinarak (Wild)
* Ariados (Wild)
* Charizard (Ash's)
* Slowpoke (Wild; flashback)
* Primeape (Wild; flashback)
* Shellder (Aurora's)