Hello! Welcome to the Valeo region, a bountiful land filled secrets of the past just waiting to be uncovered! My name Prof. Cedar and my livelihood are dedicated to the study on how people and Pokémon adapt to nature and each other. Are you perhaps an aspiring Pokemon Trainer? A Breeder? Or maybe Coordinator? If you are nearby come to my lab and we can get you on your way today!
With a quick click, I immediately shut off my PokeGear for the day. As of today I already had enough of my fill of audio dramas while also keeping my end of the promise to Ozma in hearing Cedar's first broadcast over the local radio. He's no Prof. Oak way back when he used to host his own talk show with Mary but its a step forward for him considering how he usually sticks by a script he's made so he doesn't go off topic.
"Io, can you come down for a moment?"
I stuffed my PokéGear into my pocket and scuffled across my bedroom, forgetting my partner Larvitar who was comfortably sleeping on the bed woke up because of me. "Sleeping in?" I asked him to which I got a calm shake of his head. "Alright come here."
Larvitar nudges close to the edge bed and sticks one leg out before carefully letting himself down. As he approached me I scoop him up from the floor and held him in my arms as I went down to meet Ozma.
"You took your time." Ozma almost lets out a chuckle at how slow I was.
"You know how Larvitars are. All the slowness that comes from being a Rock-type" I felt a small jab at stomach from the so and so Rock-type. He knows I am aware that he isn't so good with heights and I really do tease him for it -without malicious intent of course- but I am proud that he tries to overcome it.
"Remember what day it is today? There is a showcase of a new way to train Pokémon and I hear it's going surpass the unlimited use of Technical Machines. Can you believe it? I sure can't."
Could that be true? Better than the unlimited usage of TM's? I've been told time and time again by Ozma that back in the heyday when she was just a Pokémon Trainer that you had to be picky in choosing which Pokémon would learn the move because they only had one use. But that was back then and now things are different and I'm not sure about her but I would never want to go back to that.
"So why wear your usual Gym Leader's attire?"
"Io, I do hope that's not your go-to word when asking about girls clothing." She shook her head. Her long-sleeved plum colored turtleneck vest that ended with polished silver nut bracelets to her wrists pegged pants accompanied by silver mid-calf boots that just makes her seem ready to tackle any terrain. A tilted silver Poké Ball design on her right thigh giving it just a bit of flare. Still, fashion isn't really my thing and how to comment it outright even less.
"No…" I replied.
"I just had a feeling. Call it a girl's intuition where I might need to do more than just watch. Now get dressed, you can't go to a public space with sleazy clothes like that."
After a quick trip upstairs I return with a sky blue puff vest on top of a white baseball shirt that had maroon colored sleeves that reached half my wrists. It was going to be cold so I may as well dress cozy. But more importantly, I couldn't just leave the house without my baseball cap that Ozma got for me on my tenth birthday. Dark purple with a gold outline along with its bill and across the button in the center that just maybe it was trying to go for a Luxury Ball look.
"Good!" Ozma nodded in approval but then her gaze just so happens to shoot at my feet "Are those hiking boots?"
"They are comfy and easy to wear!"
"Alright fine if it's just the light ones then. Let's get a move on before they start without us."
We quickly hit the road into the streets to be met by the honking and roaring of cars driving by and the hoard of civilians trying to get to their destination. That's how things are here during the day in Lustereal City and even more so if you live near the roadways. Loud noises and big crowds aside you can easily move around if you know which streets to take through. The same can be said that if you don't know you can get lost just as easy.
The place where the exposition was going to take place was at the Memorial Gardens which was an urban park nearly untouched by suburban life. I can't remember all the details but I do know it came to be because it was the place where the first people in Valeo and their Pokémon strengthened their resolve to make this place their new home. From that point, the park became a place to relax and look forward to a better tomorrow and to celebrate great achievements.
"You think you will be fine without me?" Ozma asked without looking at me. Her gaze was scanning around in an attempt to look for someone before a Gastly materialized in front of her in an instant and she jumps back in surprise. "Bwah?!"
"Gotcha!" A familiar face poked out from a bush as the Gastly circled around Ozma. A boy with his hair combed to the side and going along a part of his forehead. From there his white bandana with splatter azure flame designs stood out very clearly.
"Callisto!" Ozma shooed the Gas Pokémon away from her "Is that going to be your default greeting? That's the twelfth time you do this don't you push your luck any more than that."
"Yes Ozma, ma'am." he threw a dull reply as we gave each other a fist bump.
"Well since your friend is here now I can leave without any worries. Stay out of trouble you two." Ozma walks away from us towards the stage, avoiding the Machoke and Machop that were helping the equipment staff with the camera's and audio while some Electrode where on standby in case the power went out.
"Come on Io, Gus and I found a good spot close to the stage." Callisto proceeds to point behind him with his thumb. Gus floated on ahead of them while doing erratic playful maneuvers as I settled Larvitar down so she could walk with us after carrying her all the way from home.
I could spot some Scientists and Reporters at the front, the Ace Trainers stood out because how well trained their Pokémon looked, some Poké Fans just talking the day away and Office Workers being pressured to do their share to make sure the event goes well. Honestly, all this excitement and buildup is so contagious that I even started feeling giddy that I just wanted it to start already.
May I have your attention, please! The spokesperson took center stage and the noise of the crowd settles down. Hurriedly Callisto and I rushed to the spot we were supposed to go to but in doing so made I ended bumping into someone though I swear nobody was in front of me. From the build and lack of budging I assumed it was a man.
"Sorry!" I moved on past him as I could barely hear him say 'no problem'. He strolls away into the crowd and just like that, I lost him.
"What was that all about? There wasn't a guy there before." Callisto looked onto me confused. His confusion was as good as mine but at least I wasn't alone in thinking that it was odd. But odd occurrences aside the spokesperson continued his speech now with a large box that was as tall as two people being pulled onto the stage by two Machoke on a trolley cart.
I would like to thank you for joining us in witnessing a grandiose achievement by our own great minds in the field of Pokémon Growth & Development. Let me ask you. Have you ever thought that you can do a lot more for your Pokémon? Help them reach even higher heights never thought possible? To you all, I'd like to present-
As the box dramatically began to open up smoke bombs erupt onto the stage. People scream ducking for cover, the Ace Trainers were unable to respond quick enough due them being ambushed by Sandile through their use of Dig and falling into the pit they had created. Ozma was already on the scene trying to repel the group of Desert Croc Pokémon with her Lairon but they kept avoiding the attacks she ordered by using Dig in a glorified game of Whack-a-Diglett.
A sharp whistle comes from the stage and without hesitation, Callisto and I got there witnessing as a shady group of seven members accompanied by a pack of six Hondour and one Xatu were quickly closing up the box, placing what looked like fultons on its sides in preparation to steal it.
"I think not! Cal, back me up we're gonna need to buy time for Ozma! Tara, use Sandstorm!"
"Oh yeah, it's gonna get HOT! Gus drop some Will-o-Wisp into that Sandstorm!"
Larvitar stands her ground onto the stage and takes in a breath before unleashing the furious Sandstrom the pores on the sides of its body as Gus materializes above to bestow his Will-o-Wisp into the sand. The force of gravel and sand became an infused spectral azure blue twister that was prepared to trap and disrupt their movements before it was abruptly broken up by a dark malicious pulse.
"Oopsie daisy, that could have been messy! Finish the job. I'll hold back our unwanted guests." A male figure stepped out from behind some curtains alongside a Houndoom as the wind was picking up fast from a helicopter that began to descend upon us. "Oh, would you look that its the boys from before! I didn't think you would have the guts to come up here. Tell you what? Just walk away and things won't get rough."
"I knew it so you were that guy I bumped into. Well, you can forget it! There is no way we are going to let you leave with that machine!" Callisto and I took our stance to prepare for the worst and the man just laughs and covers his face with one hand in pure mockery to our defiance. It was in that small window of opportunity the machine gets fultoned up by large balloons and is caught by the helicopter above and began to fly away with it.
"We're done here, Lupin sir! The machine is secure and Xatu is ready for a Teleport!"
"Already? Hold on... I can't just leave without leaving a little something for meddling kids like these. No time for executions so this will have to do." the man whom now we knew as Lupin snapped his fingers and his Houndoom reacted to it by unleashing a merciless Inferno onto Tara and Gus. The attack intensity sets the stage ablaze as the two Pokémon were crying out in pain from the attack.
"We have to call them back, Io!" Cal unhesitantly called Gus back into his Poké Ball but I didn't. I was blinded in frustration and in amidst Tara's suffering I could feel hers as well. We were beaten down like Zubats and kicked to the curb like we weren't even worth it yet Lupin delayed himself to prove his point. Tara's cry snapped me back to my senses and communicated me her desire to fight. But I won't let her. Back to the Poké Ball, she went. Any more would be suicide.
"What were you expecting? If your attacks were easily undone by a single Dark Pulse then you were way over your heads. Ingrain this loss into yourselves and remember me well as Lupin an Enforcer of the Apex Corps. If you don't like to lose again then get stronger. Way stronger or else I'll do more than leave a few burns not just to you but anyone close to you as well. Just count yourself lucky that Corvo is going to nag my ear off if I am one more second late with this thing." Lupin waves us off as hindrances as he walked to his fellow Apex Corps minions where as soon as he within proximity their Xatu teleports them away to parts unknown.
With the departure of the Apex Corps, everyone had begun to evacuate the area. If it weren't for the immediate response of the firefighters with their teams of Blastoise the park would have been a goner. Callisto and I weren't in very good shape and neither was Tara and Gus after the stunt we pulled and we had to be taken to a hospital. Burns alongside the blisters that had begun to develop because it wasn't even caused by the hazardous burning stage. All of it was done by Lupin's Houndoom.
The next time - No, there won't be the next time. What Lupin said was a threat to me and everyone else I care for. The Apex Corps will pay for this.
A/N
All rights to the Pokémon franchise does not belong to me in any way or form. The only thing that is original is the ideas and some characters that I present to you in the story.
Pokémon has always been something I've always wanted to write a FanFiction since high school and I honed myself by getting critiques from friends at university until then to come to this point. I will always be thankful to them in taking the time to indulge in the shenanigans that I had cooking up.
The inspiration for the story is from the spin-off games Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon: XD Gale of Darkness and an amalgamation of the many movies that have come out that will be incorporated bit by bit as the plot unfolds.
If you got the time to give me some Feedback and Suggestions, I would welcome them openly.
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Edit: Some grammar mistakes were fixed to the best of my knowledge. Any more attempts at correction will be done at a later date so as to not get in the way of updating.