(A/N: For those of you following Poké Rangers: Eon Force, I'm sorry to say that it is no more. I'm leaving what's there of it up, but it will not continue. I was just not happy with how it was turning out, feeling that I rushed story points in too quickly. You may see the Eon Force name again someday, but for now, we're going to Kanto having planned out a story in much more detail ahead of time.)
Chapter 1-The Merge Part 1
Deep in the wilderness of Kanto lies a secret base owned by the criminal organization known as Team Rocket. The place is always bustling with Grunts returning from assignment, stolen Pokémon struggling against their cages, and the occasional battle between members.
'Except for today.' Dr. Fuji thought to himself as he walked through the halls. He didn't blame the Grunts for staying out home, or in the field, or literally anywhere else. The experiment they were going to perform today was highly dangerous.
Fuji glanced through his notes as he entered his lab. Pages on pages about the legendary Pokémon Mew. Theories on how its DNA worked and the potential of creating any Pokémon you desired from it. That was what Giovanni hoped they would accomplish by the end of the day. And that was why he had rushed the experiment forward despite Fuji's protests that it wasn't ready; the possibility of having any Pokémon at a moment's notice, even extinct ones nobody knew about, was just too good to pass up.
"Are we ready?" Fuji sighed at his boss's voice.
"As ready as we can be on this schedule. I ask again that you give me more time to research the DNA we recovered. If it's as unstable as I think, then…"
"I've waited enough." Giovanni interrupted. "I want to see something produced, or we might just have to find a new scientist.
'Then maybe you should do that.' Fuji thought to himself. But he didn't say it. As much as his cautionary nature wanted this experiment put off, the curious scientist in him was looking forward to it.
"Alright." Fuji said, indicating a glowing pink canister. "Would you mind hooking the DNA sample up to the machine? My assistants all got mysteriously sick this morning."
"Cowards." Giovanni muttered, starting to help prepare. "Don't they realize that we're about to enter a new era? You'd think they'd want to be present for such a moment."
"I'm sure they would." Fuji said. "If they didn't think they might not live through it."
"Hmph." Giovanni finished attaching the sample of Mew's DNA and Fuji typed a few things in on his computer.
"Okay. Beginning synthesizing. What Pokémon should we make?" Fuji asked his boss.
"How about Mew itself?" Giovanni asked. Fuji glanced at him nervously.
"Sir, you are aware that doing that would require the most complex synthesis process of any Pokémon out there? We should start with something smaller and more stable…like a Caterpie."
"Caterpie!?" Giovanni snapped. "Have you lost your marbles, doc? Why would we want a freaking Caterpie? Either go big or got home and I'll do this myself."
Fuji typed in the necessary information to create a Mew. Except he didn't notice that he'd made a mistake. Instead of Mew, he'd typed Mewt.
One little letter. A simple typo. But that was all that was necessary.
Fuji's hand hovered over the 'Enter' button and he glanced at Giovanni, who nodded. With a sense of dread, Fuji pressed the final button.
The machine hummed to life, the DNA canister draining partway. Giovanni approached the exit bay and leaned in eagerly as something began to form.
"Sir, you really shouldn't stand so close." Fuji warned him.
"Relax, doc." Giovanni said, tapping the glass covering. "This glass was enhanced to withstand blows from a Machamp. I think it can handle anything…" Before he could finish, alarms went off around the lab. Fuji glanced at his computer frantically.
"Something's gone wrong. I don't know what…." Giovanni's scream cut him off. He looked over to see energy pulsing through the glass, rising up his boss's arm and coating his body. "Sir!" Before he could figure out what was happening, the lab exploded.
Fuji pulled himself up on his hands and knees. The lab was gone; the entire base was in ruins. Fuji wasn't sure how he'd survived. Flames licked at the walls. Nearby stood a solitary figure.
"Sir?" Fuji asked hoarsely, thinking he recognized the silhouette. Giovanni turned and Fuji sucked in a breath. The right side of his boss's face no longer looked human. The skin there was a light grey, almost white. An ugly red line etched down the middle where it met the human side. Giovanni's eyes glowed red. Fuji shook his head and more details became clear. A large paw on the end of his right hand. A lengthy purple tail curling around his body. What appeared to be a tube sticking out from the back of his head.
Without so much as a word, the new Giovanni turned away and floated into the air. Fuji groaned and passed out once more. As the flames closed in, a new figure approached.
1 Year Later...
In the small community of Pallet Town, everybody was gathered in the center of town, prepping for a party. Streamers were strung on any lamppost or tree branch within reach and a banner proclaiming, 'Congratulations, Ryan! Our New Champion!' hung at the square's entrance. A woman with long black hair and piercing green eyes carried a cake over to a picnic table and set it down.
"Has anybody seen Brent?" she asked.
"Your son's that way." A teenage boy with spiky black hair and a deep tan told her, tilting his head to the south. "Training as usual."
"Thank you Rick." Brent's mom said, heading off. She soon found her son just outside the town's limits. He had two of his Pokémon out, a Blastoise and Machamp, who were practicing their attacks on each other. "Brent?"
"Hey mom." He said. He had his mother's eyes, which remained fixed on his Pokémon even as he spoke. He also shared her black hair, but he was slightly taller. He wore a faded blue shirt and jeans, with a belt of Pokéballs around his waist. Nearby a black backpack sat on the ground.
"Is my memory failing me, or aren't you supposed to be getting ready for Ryan's party?" she asked him.
"I am getting ready." He told her. "When he gets back, my Pokémon will be ready to face him." His mom sighed.
"Look, I know you guys are rivals and you're a little annoyed that he beat you to the Championship…" she started.
"I am NOT annoyed." Brent cut in, sounding very annoyed. "It just gives me a higher bar to aim for."
"Right. But as I was saying, don't you think you could set it aside for a one day?" she finished. "You'll plenty of opportunities to battle him in the future." She added, putting a hand on his shoulder. "And I know someday you WILL defeat him and become Champion yourself."
"Thanks." Brent told her. "Machamp, DynamicPunch!" he ordered. The Fighting-type leaped forward, but Blastoise easily stopped the blow with Protect, firing a Hydro Pump point-blank to take its opponent down afterwards.
"Blastoise has come a long way." His noted.
"Sure has." Brent agreed. "He can't wait to have another go at Ryan's Charizard." At the mention of his rival's starter, Blastoise turned and growled lowly. Brent chuckled. "Not too happy about being beaten despite his type advantage."
"I can imagine. Now c'mon." his mom said. "We need to find the party poppers. Ginger has completely lost track of them."
"Probably for the best." Brent said as he recalled his Pokémon. "At least she won't accidentally set them all off."
"I heard that!" a voice called down the road.
"How does she always do that?" Brent marveled.
To the north, on the road to Pallet Town, a boy in a red jacket stopped his bike. He pulled a white cap from his head and wiped sweat off his brow. He had light brown hair, brown eyes, and, like Brent, a belt of Pokéballs.
"Almost home." Ryan said to himself. "First thing I gotta do is find Brent, see if he's up for a rematch." He grinned at the thought. "'Course he will be."
Before he could continue on his way, a voiced called out from the woods on his left.
"HELP!" somebody screamed. The voice was feminine, Ryan couldn't tell how old. Leaping from his bike he ran in that direction.
"I'm coming!" He called. "What's going on?!" No reply came, so he picked up the pace and called again. "HELLO!?"
"I'm here!" a voice came back this time. "Get these things away from me, please!" Ryan burst into a clearing and stopping in shock.
A girl about his age (17) was sitting on the ground, scooting back from a mob of…things. The ones closest Ryan whirled and he gulped at the sight.
They were human-shaped, but had craggy purple heads similar to a Koffing. Their legs were bulky and resembled a Machoke's. They had a Scyther's blade as a left arm and an Arbok for their right, twisting and snapping at the air.
"What…what are those!?" Ryan asked.
"I don't know!" the girl told him. "But they're not friendly!"
"Right. Hitmonchan, go!" Ryan sent out a Pokémon to fight them off. The creatures charged to meet him. "Double Team!" Right before they could land a hit, Hitmonchan multiplied into three. The creatures looked at them in confusion and Ryan took the opportunity to dart past them.
"You okay?" he asked, helping the girl to her feet. She had long blonde hair and light blue eyes, and was wearing a yellow T-shirt and black skirt.
"I'm fine." She replied, dusting herself off and picking up a black cap from the ground.
"Mega Punch!" Ryan called to his Hitmonchan, who knocked several of the beasts to the ground. Unfortunately, they just got right back up and leaped back into battle. Before long, Ryan's Hitmonchan was panting and retreating, trying to fend the mob off.
"Oh man, it's hurt!" the girl cried.
"Hitmonchan, return!" Ryan called, and the Pokémon returned to its Pokéball. "We've gotta get out of here!" Without another word, they turned and ran, the monsters in hot pursuit.
"My name's Allison, by the way." The girl told him as they weaved between trees. "I'm a Pokémon healer."
"Great! Think you can work your magic on my Hitmonchan if we get out of this?" he asked.
"Definitely." She replied, ducking in fright as a blob of slime splattered a tree next to her. The trunks dissolved; the stuff was like acid. "Keyword being 'if'."
Just as they were about to reach the road where Ryan had left his bike, the creatures managed to circle and cut them off. The two teens skidded to a stop.
"Now what?" Allison asked.
"Now we fight our way through." Ryan said determinedly, pulling a Pokéball off his belt.
"Your Hitmonchan wasn't even able to hurt them." Allison reminded him.
"You have a better idea?" he asked. Allison thought a moment, then reached into her bag and pulled out a Pokéball of her own. "Didn't think so."
Before they could send out their Pokémon, a blast from their right sent the monsters flying. The two turned to find a man in a scientist's long white coat holding some sort of laser gun. He had frizzy white hair around a tremendous bald spot.
"You guys okay?" he asked. "The G-Spliced didn't spit on you, did they?"
"Almost." Allison told him. "Who are you and what are those…G-Spliced?"
"The name's Fuji." He told her, firing another blast as the G-Spliced tried to get back on their feet. "You kids better come with me."
Shortly…
"I'm sorry you two almost got hurt." Fuji apologized. He had taken the two back into the forest, to a lab he'd set up there. "They were after me. You two were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Story of my life." Ryan muttered. "You still haven't told us what they are."
"Genetic monstrosities created by fusing numerous Pokémons' DNA together. Mewtwovanni uses them as foot soldiers because they're easy to make." Fuji explained.
"Mewtwovanni?" Allison asked.
"Have you ever heard of Team Rocket?" Fuji asked.
"Of course we have!" Ryan said. "Uh, I mean, I have anyway. Can't speak for her."
"Yes, I've heard of them." Allison said. "Bunch of lowlife criminals who steal Pokémon to exploit for their own gain."
"Yes, well, that is an apt description." Fuji admitted. "A year ago, I was a scientist working for them." He told her.
"Oh. Uh, no offense?" she said quickly.
"None taken." Fuji brushed it off. "It was a mistake to join, but I couldn't find anybody else to support my research and, well, you know how it goes. In any case, we manage to acquire DNA samples from the legendary Pokémon Mew. Supposedly, Mew contains the DNA of every Pokémon in existence, a fact which intrigued our leader, Giovanni."
"I still don't see how that leads to those…things." Ryan said.
"I'm getting to that." Fuji said. "Giovanni ordered me to construct a machine which could use Mew's DNA to artificially create Pokémon. Unfortunately, he didn't give me much time to do so. Corners that should never have been cut were. And when we tested the machine, the DNA's unstable nature went out of control. It fused with Giovanni's body, twisting his mind and creating a new persona. One that calls itself Mewtwovanni."
"And this 'Mewtwovanni' created those G-Spliced?" Allison asked. Fuji nodded.
"Yes. He's continued to run Team Rocket, but their goals have shifted a bit, from profit to world domination."
"Well it looks like he could get it. Those things were strong!" Ryan exclaimed.
"Yes." Fuji agreed. "Without somebody to stop them, I expect Team Rocket, or rather, Mewtwovanni, will control the entire earth."
"So who's gonna stop them?" Allison asked.
"No ordinary person or Pokémon could stand up to them. Which is why I've spent the past year working on…" He was interrupted by a flashing red light on his computer.
"Alert! Alert! G-Spliced attacking Pallet Town." The computer said, showing the attack on screen.
"Pallet Town!?" Ryan practically shoved Fuji aside to get a better view. "That's my home!" On screen, G-Spliced rampaged through the streets. Ryan saw them tear down a banner congratulating him on his championship. Then he saw Brent and his Blastoise trying to hold them off with their Hydro Pump. "There's got to be something we can do!"
"They'll destroy you." Fuji told them. "Unless…"
"Unless what?" Ryan asked him.
"Unless you take one of these." Fuji finished, pulling out a box. He opened it to reveal five wristwatch-like devices, each with a type symbol engraved on them. "These morphers can give you enough power to fight them off."
"Wow, thanks!" Ryan said, reaching for one, but Fuji pulled the box back before he could.
"Not so fast. You'll need five people to unlock them. Got anybody in mind?" he asked.
Meanwhile, in Pallet Town…
"Skull Bash!" Brent ordered, and his Blastoise slammed into the G-Spliced, sending them flying back. But they just got up and came back after him. "What is with these guys? Why won't they stay down?!"
"Brent!" he turned as his friend Ginger came running up. She was a bit shorter than him, with curly red hair, eyes a similar shade of green as his own, and a splash of freckles across her cheeks. Her real name was Tiffany, but everybody called her Ginger. "They're everywhere!"
"Yeah, I noticed." He said. "Raichu, get out there and help Blastoise!" He sent out another Pokémon, which began firing Thunderbolts at the creatures.
"The gym leaders are trying to mount an offensive, but these…whatever they are won't stop, no matter how much punishment they take." She told him.
"Can you please tell me something I don't know?!" he snapped, and Ginger stared at him. "Sorry."
"It's okay. And yes, I can. Ryan's back." She informed him. Brent whirled.
"He is? Where?"
"With the gym leaders. He asked for you." She said.
"Then let's get over there." Brent called back his Blastoise and they took off, his Raichu following and hurling electric attacks to keep the G-Spliced off of them. Soon, they found the gym leaders surrounded by a mob of G-Spliced. Ryan's Charizard was blasting them back with its Flamethrower, but they shook it off without so much as a charring.
"Brent! Come here!" Ryan called to him. Brent noticed that a blonde girl and some scientist were standing next to him as he and Ginger ran up.
"Ryan. Wish we could battle now, but…" Brent waved at the creatures.
"Yeah, I know. The G-Spliced." Ryan said with a nod.
"The what?" Ginger asked.
"Not important right now." The scientist said. "We need five people to unlock the morphers. These two make four. Where's the fifth?"
"I don't have many friends…" Ryan admitted. "But it's two more down, right?"
"TWO MORE DOWN?!" Fuji nearly exploded. "We need five now! This isn't a scavenger hunt!"
"I know, I know." Ryan said.
"You have a way to stop these guys?" the group turned as Rick, recently appointed gym leader of Pewter City, spoke up. The other gym leaders had gotten separated trying to keep the G-Spliced away.
"Maybe." Fuji said. "But it'll be dangerous."
"More dangerous than not stopping them?" Rick asked, and Fuji shrugged.
"You got me there. Still, I need you all to tell me that you understand the risk. You might die." He said.
"I'm in." Ryan said. "With what you told me, I don't see how I could say no."
"Me two." Allison spoke up. "Somebody's got to do it."
"I don't know what exactly is going on, but I'll help." Ginger spoke up. "Even with a little danger."
"You know I'm in." Rick said. "As a gym leader, it's my responsibility to do whatever I can to keep this region safe…and take on all challengers." Everyone turned to Brent.
"Can't be more dangerous than watching our starters go at it." Brent said, grinning at Ryan.
"It is." Fuji said seriously.
"Alright, fine. I get that. I'm in." he said.
"Perfect." Fuji opened the box and passed morphers to each of them. "Strap these on your wrists. 'Poké Power, unleash!' is the activation code." The five did as he said and faced off with the G-Spliced.
"You guys ready?" Ryan asked.
"Ready!" they agreed.
"Poké Power, unleash!" they all called together, pressing the type symbols on their morphers.
"Golem!" Rick called. A massive boulder surrounded his body and after a few seconds he burst free. The suit now covering his body was black with white boots and gloves. A Rock-type symbol was emblazoned on the chest. A helmet formed around his head to complete the transformation. "Black Ranger!"
"Pikachu!" Allison cried, being surrounded by a sphere of electricity. When she jumped free, she was in a suit similar to Rick's, except hers was yellow and had an Electric-type symbol on the chest. It also had a skirt. Her helmet formed to finish her morphing sequence. "Yellow Ranger!"
"Venusaur!" Ginger called, being cocooned in vines before tearing free wearing a green version of Allison's suit with a Grass-type symbol. Her helmet formed a moment later. "Green Ranger!"
"Blastoise!" Brent cried, a sphere of water surrounding him. He freed himself covered in a blue suit with a Water-type symbol, his helmet covering his face. "Blue Ranger!"
"Charizard!" Ryan finished. He was engulfed in flames and emerged in a red suit with a Fire-type symbol. His helmet formed to finish the transformation. "Red Ranger!"
"Defenders of the world!" they all called together. "Poké Rangers Kanto!" The five of them struck a pose as an explosion burst behind them for no apparent reason. Ginger glanced over her shoulder.
"Did…what was that?" she asked.
"Never mind." Ryan told her. "Let's get to work!" As the G-Spliced charged at them, the Rangers ran to meet them.
Ryan sent the G-Spliced at the front of the pack to the ground with a flying kick, then blocked blows from the others. An Arbok arm tried to bite him, but he grabbed it and hurled the minion into the others.
"Charizard Saber!" he called, a blade similar to a Charizard's wing forming in his hand. The swung it and the blade emitted a jet of fire, sending a whole line of G-Spliced flying. Unlike when they'd been hit with Pokémon attacks, the G-Spliced melted into the ground from the hit.
"Blastoise Cannons!" Brent called, leaping over several acid blasts as twin rifles similar to a Blastoise's guns formed in his hands. He fired back and multiple high-pressure jets of water tore through the G-Spliced. Landing, he spun in a circles, smashing several G-Spliced to the ground with the barrels of his weapon.
"Venusaur Whip!" Ginger swung her weapon, grabbing a G-Spliced by the leg and pulling him off his feet. Several more closed in on her, but she leaped and snapped the whip repeatedly, sending them all to the ground. Another leaped above her, but she spun and swiped across its chest, sending it crashing down onto its allies.
"Golem Mace!" Rick smashed a trio of G-Spliced with the weapon, then slammed it into the ground, sending an Earthquake towards the others. They all stumbled and he smashed one of them hard enough to embed it in the wall of a nearby house.
"Pikachu Striker!" Allison formed a blade similar to a Pikachu's tail and swung upward, launching a G-Spliced. When it landed, blasts of electricity arced from its body, taking down several more. Leaping, she charged her weapon and blasted lightning down onto the crowd.
The G-Spliced were soon reduced to a dozen, who stepped back nervously as the Rangers gathered together.
"Fire!" Ryan called, and they all shot ranged attacks (Fire Blast, Hydro Pump, Solarbeam, Thunder, and Rock Slide) at the remaining monsters, destroying them all with their most powerful attacks.
Several townspeople began to poke their heads out of hiding places and on seeing that the monsters had been destroyed, came out and cheered, clapping enthusiastically. Ryan high-fived Brent.
"We did it, buddy." Brent said, and Ryan nodded.
"Yep. All of us." He agreed as the rest of the team congratulated each other. Fuji approached them.
"I'm proud of you, Rangers." He said. "That was excellent battling for your first time."
"Thanks!" Ginger exclaimed. "This is amazing!"
"Yeah, but Dr. Fuji?" Rick asked. "How do we, uh, get out of these suits?" Fuji glanced at the crowd forming around them.
"Come back to my lab and I'll tell you."
Meanwhile, at a secret Team Rocket base…
Mewtwovanni sat on a throne, eyes closed as if asleep. Suddenly, they blinked open.
"So, Fuji has recruited Poké Rangers, has he?" His voice sounded like two speaking at once: one human, the other much deeper and more evil. "We'll have to do something about that. Rhynix!"
From a room to his left a monster stepped in. He had the appearance of a large, bulky person, with muscular arms seemingly made of Onix and a Rhydon's head.
"You called, boss?" he asked, kneeling.
"I have a mission for you." Giovanni told him.
Next Time: The Merge Part 2
(A/N: All feedback is appreciated. In particular, I would like to hear your thoughts on this first chapter compared to Eon Force's. Did it work better as a start? If so, why? If not, why not? What can I do better as it moves forward? I look forward to seeing what you have to say.)