"Welcome to the Grand Opening of the Sanfernan Pokemon Battle Park! Take a moment to grab a brochure from any kiosk located in the visit…s center, because there is a lot to explore. This park has been designed for entire families to relax and have fun. Enjoy our themed amu…ment park with rides for all ages. Take the chance at catching a rare pokemon at our built in Safari Zone, located at the eastern section of the park. Dine in one of tw…ty of our five star restaurants. If you feel like extending your stay, check in to one of our finest hotels."
"And now, for our main attraction. Behold the three hundred story pokemon battle tower for trainers young and old. Compete with your pokemon and show your skills as a trainer on live television! Each victory will adv…nce you a level. This tower has been designed to host dozens of battles at once per level. Work your way to the very top! Literally! The roof top is a prem…ition of victory. Defeat a wave of twenty trainers in a row and gain the Champions badge, a symbol given to only the best of trainers."
"We at Poke-Tech Incorporated wish to thank you for your visit and hope you have a pleasant and eve…tfull time."
The ad with the very pretty announcer flickered on the cracked screen of the Kisok then went black. Her pleasant mood didn't match the destruction that surrounded.
Cobalt walked cautiously through the ruined visitor's center. It was dark, few lights were working, but he was surprised they were even working at all. He never thought he would ever return to this place.
The power grid is still active.
In the dim light, he could see the scorch marks on the walls, bits of the concrete ceiling now laying on the floor. He flinched when his eye found a boney arm protruding, crushed underneath the slabs of rock and metal reinforcement. He tugged his blue cap over his jet black hair, keeping hiding his eyes from the horrifying images around him.
So much death…even after all these years, I still can't believe what happened.
The lingering darkness made him uneasy, and his hand brushed over the pokeballs strapped to his belt. His fingers went over each of the six, firmly attached. Four of them were regular pokeballs, and he felt the iconic "U" of the fifth one. When he felt an energy radiating over his fingers, he stopped at the sixth.
I am ready…
"Welcome to the Grand Opening of…" The sudden sound made him jump. The kiosk was displaying the ad again
"Behold the three hundred story pokemon battle tower…"
Cobalt's hands curled into fists, the memories sinking in. He had though he was past this, but the tremor in his body defied him.
Cobalt?...
He grabbed a chunk of concrete and hurled it into the screen. The chunk bounced off the screen, leaving it even more cracked. But the ad kept playing.
"Each victory w..ll adv…"
Cobalt picked the chunk up again, this time smashing it into the screen himself. Over and over, he slammed the rock into the screen. More cracks appeared, the image displayed was nearly unrecognizable.
Cobalt! Stop!
With a final thrust, the rock went through the screen. The screen shattered, sparked, and then was silent.
His heart was beating in his ears, his teeth clenched so tightly that he risked biting through his own jaw.
Calm yourself! Breathe Cobalt!
He gasped for air, realizing that he had temporarily stopped breathing. He coughed violently, leaning over the machine, his head dizzy from reoccurring memories.
"You holding up?" a familiar voice called from behind him.
Amethyst walked up to him, her bright, purple hair reflecting the poor lighting. It contrasted to her black jacket and pants. Her Houndoom, Kuroi, was striding by her side, looking up at Cobalt with the same concern that she was.
"I'm fine, Amy," he said, lowering his gaze from her piercing, bright green eyes.
She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hang in there, okay? We'll get him. Here, and today." She reassured him with a kiss on the cheek.
Cobalt felt blood rushing to his face, but he didn't react to it. While he wanted to return the affection, he needed to focus at the task at hand. All the work, research, and planning had led up to this. They had one chance to take Promethium down, once and for all.
"Let's keep moving," he said. The two of them stepped over and ducked under rubble from the trashed visitor's center, trying to find a path to the inside of the park. There was an occasional crunch under their feet, broken and cracked pokeballs littering the ground.
This must be the pokemon center area…So many trapped…
Cobalt nodded to himself.
When they reached the exit to the building, they found it blocked by heavy steel beams.
"Oh..that's just perfect," Cobalt sighed.
Amethyst inspected the steel, brushing dust off of it looking for something. She found a brand name molded into the metal.
"It's steel shipped in from the Kalos region. I hear they used this stuff to build the tower in Luminos city," she said. It didn't surprise either of them. This park was an expensive build.
"Can Kuroi melt the bars?" he asked.
Cobalt…
Amethyst shrugged.
"Not sure. This steel is supposed to be able to withstand super high temperatures. Kuroi might be able to, but it would take a few hours. You don't have any heavy lifters huh?"
Cobalt shook his head, to which Amethyst sighed.
"We're stuck then…Damn it!" she said. She punched a concrete pillar. "Damn it…"
Cobalt…I know you can hear me.
Cobalt ignored the voice in his head, tending to Amethysts hand. He checked, and there were no broken bones, but he wrapped her freshly scraped skin with his white bandana. Amethyst wiped away a single tear running own her cheek. That punch had to have hurt.
Cobalt. I can help.
"I can't…" Cobalt said.
"Huh?" Amethyst asked, but Cobalt turned away.
"I don't want you to see this…" he whispered, seemingly to himself.
I see through you. Or have you forgotten?
He hadn't.
"But Amy is…"
After all that's happened, you still don't trust her enough?
It wasn't that either. He trusted Amy with his life, and he had no doubt that she had the same level of trust in him. No, that wasn't the reason he wouldn't.
What is your reason?
Cobalt's throat tightened, his hand returning to his belt.
"I want to protect you," he said.
As do I. I can't do that cooped up in here though, can I?
He sighed, his eyes closed in deep thought.
"Cobalt, you're scaring me," Amy said. "What's going on with you?"
Cobalt gripped his sixth pokeball, power emanating from it, surrounding his entire being. He unclipped it from his belt, and pressed the button. The pokeball expanded in his hand, the energy expanding with it. The aura grew so massive that Amethyst could feel it emanating.
"What…what is that? Your sixth?" she asked. Kuroi was growling quietly by her side, half afraid, half ready to protect her.
"No. My first," he replied.
Cobalt looked down at the pokeball in his hand, the perfect sphere showing cracks, but not from age.
"Come on out Viola!" he cried, tossing the pokeball into the air. It opened, and a white energy flowed from inside. It materialized on the ground, taking the form of a four legged pokemon. She was light blue, with a scarf like tail. On her forehead nested a crown of ice. She stood on dark blue paws that formed frost where she stood.
"Cobalt… how long have you had a Glaceon?" Amethyst asked.
"I wanted to tell you…" he said. "Believe me, I trusted you, so understand that I had my reasons for not telling you."
He turned to Viola, who was taking in the destruction well. She stretched and arced her back, no doubt relieved to be out of the cooped up containment. She looked up at him, mirroring the determination that he felt.
"Are you ready old friend?" he asked.
Command me.
Amethyst flinched.
"No…did she just…"
Cobalt pointed his finger in the direction of the door and steel beams.
"Viola! Use Ceribrium!"
Viola's eyes glowed bright purple, the flaps along the side of her head began waving as if in the wind. A great purple aura surrounded her as she channeled her psychic energies. Suddenly, a beam began to rise, levitating in the air. The others soon followed, floating like in space. With a swift tilt of her head, Viola sent the beams into the door, smashing the doors open. The clang of metal echoed as the beams fell to the ground outside.
She looked up at cobalt with a smile, and he couldn't help but feel one appearing on his face as well. Amethyst's face however was frozen in disbelief.
"How…It's not possible!" she said.
Cobalt tugged at her arm.
"Let's go," he urged.
"But… I don't…"
We can explain along the way. It's nice to finally meet you by the way.
Amethyst nodded, not really certain what to say. She followed the two out, Kuroi right by herside.
Cobalt stared off into the distance. Past the broken down amusement park, the ruined Safari Zone, and god knows what else, he saw the remnants of the Pokemon Tower. Three hundred stories, reduced to a mere twenty in only a matter of minutes. His hand gripped again, but his anger had subsided.
"Your death will not be in vain..brother," he whispered to himself. "We'll get the man responsible…" He glanced at Amethyst, who nodded to show that she was ready.
The four of them set off, in search of the leader of Promethium.
The Pokemon Terrorist Organization.