Chapter 3: The Legend of Pokétopia
With Firefly back and fully recovered from her battle the gang decided to make way for Rusty and Rubic's den so they could learn more about this legend they were told about. Along the way two voices called out to them.
"Hey! Wait for us!"
"Slow down you guys!" Everyone immediately recognized those voices.
"Stickers! Ironside!" Firefly called back. They paused and allowed their friends Stickers and Ironside to catch up. Ironside was a Ditto, though he too was altered by Team Rocket. His body, usually pink and squishy, was now a more metallic coloration and smooth to the touch. This was all due to Team Rocket introducing Steel type DNA to him. Not only was his body texture changed, but his type as well. No longer a Normal type he was now a Steel type Ditto, hence his name. Also, he had the unique ability to change into any Pokémon at will. However, any Pokémon he transformed into became a Steel type and all attacks he used were also Steel types.
"We heard you had quite the interesting battle, Firefly," Stickers said.
"You could say that," Firefly replied.
"I'd like to hear about it," Ironside said.
"Well then, come on. I'll tell everyone about it once we get to Rusty and Rubic's den," Firefly said. With two new followers the group continued on their way, everyone eager to hear the story of Firefly's recent battle.
After witnessing Firefly's, or as he still referred to her as 01's battle Giovanni headed back to his office. He had called one of the scientists to his office earlier for a private meeting. He was sitting at his desk waiting, his Persian by his side. Minutes later the scientist walked in.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked.
"Yes. Have a seat," Giovanni said, motioning to the chairs in front of his desk. The scientist sat down, slightly nervous as he wondered why he had been summoned to Giovanni's office. The Team Rocket leader paused for a moment before finally speaking.
"Tell me, what is your opinion of 01's progress?" he asked.
"My... opinion, sir?" the scientist asked, making sure he heard the question right.
"Yes, your opinion," Giovanni replied. The scientist noticed the annoyance in Giovanni's voice and decided to answer quickly.
"Well, sir, I believe she is progressing very well," he replied. "Her powers are evolving at a good rate. With some more time she'll easily be the strongest Pokémon we have."
"And what of her sleeping abilities?" Giovanni asked.
"They are awakening at the predicted intervals," the scientist replied. "It's only a matter of time before all of her sleeping abilities are awakened."
"And can we control her if 'she' awakens again?" Giovanni asked.
"We're not sure," the scientist replied. "There are too many unknown variables for us to be sure." That wasn't what Giovanni wanted to hear.
"I want you to focus on gaining control of her in case we have another incident like we did that time," he said. The scientist stood up and bowed.
"Yes sir," he said. He then stood up to leave but Giovanni had one more thing to say to him.
"By the way, you wouldn't happen to know what became of that ancient Pokétopian tome, would you?" he asked.
"No sir," the scientist replied.
"I see... if you do find the person responsible for its disappearance inform them that there will be severe consequences if I find it in their possession," Giovanni said. The scientist nodded and left to carry out Giovanni's orders. The evil leader remained at his desk, his thoughts filled with the vision of him ruling the world with an army of loyal Pokémon by his side.
The walk to Rusty and Rubic's den was a short one. Situated close to the lake it was a very spacious cave that was large enough to accommodate all of the Pokémon comfortably. While Rubic went through her collection of reading material, looking for the book she took from Giovanni's office, the rest of the Pokémon listened as Firefly retold the events of her earlier battle.
"So they opened the roof, and as soon as the sunlight hit the Onix he sprouted vines all over his body?" Stickers asked.
"Yeah," Firefly replied. "I tell you it was a strange sight to see."
"I'll say," Ironside said. "So, what happened next?"
"Well, things got tough for me right then," Firefly said. "He was moving a lot faster and it was getting harder to dodge his attacks. Pretty soon he had me pinned down. He tried a Solarbeam but I blocked it."
"What?! An Onix using Solarbeam?!" Aqua asked.
"Believe me I was just as surprised as you are," Firefly replied. "After that I saw him getting another one ready. I was prepared to just take the attack when I felt a new power awaken inside me."
"A new power? You mean your Grass abilities?" Farris asked.
"Yeah," Firefly replied. "The next thing I knew I was charging up my own Solarbeam."
"So getting hit by sunlight gave you the ability to use Grass techniques?" Rusty asked.
"I don't know if that's what did it, but that's how it happened," Firefly said.
"So, how did you finish him off?" Farris asked.
"Well, we both fired our Solarbeam attacks, but mine turned out to be stronger than his," Firefly said. "After that I defeated him with that new Fire attack I've been working on."
"You mean your Fire Storm attack?" Farris asked. "You finally perfected it?"
"Sure did, and let me tell you it did a number on him," Firefly said.
"Whoa, you're getting stronger every day," Ironside said. "Pretty soon no one will be able to defeat you."
"Now that's something we can all agree on," Aqua said. While everyone talked about Firefly and her new abilities Rubic came running towards them carrying a large book, at least large when compared to her.
"Here it is!" she said. Everyone gathered around the Igglybuff as she set the book on the ground. The cover was faded and worn, probably from years of use. Everyone was anxious to see what it said on the inside.
"Well, what are you waiting for?! Open it!" Stickers said. Rubic wasted no more time and opened the book. However, that's as far as the excitement went. Though she could read as well as any human the language of the text within the book was one she was not familiar with.
"What the?! What is all this?!" she said.
"What's wrong?" Rusty asked.
"What's wrong is that I have no idea what the hell any of this says," Rubic replied.
"I thought you said you could read," Aqua said.
"I can, but this is a language I've never seen before," Rubic said. While she and the others tried to figure out this language Firefly was looking very closely at the book. For some strange reason she knew exactly what was written in the book.
"Well, can't you just sound out the words and try to, you know... wing it?" Rusty suggested.
"I can try," Rubic replied. She went back to the book and tried to sound out one of the words on the first line, but she was having great difficulty with it.
"Sorry guys, I can't make any of this out," Rubic said.
"Oh man," Rusty said. "I at least wanted to know what the title was."
"It's 'The History of Pokétopia'." Everyone looked in shock in Firefly's direction.
"Firefly, you... you can read this?" Rubic asked. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"To tell you the truth I had no idea I could read this," she replied. "I was looking at it just like the rest of you and it just... came to me." To say they were surprised would be an understatement. But rather than question her new-found understanding of this new language they decided to just accept it.
"So, you think you could tell us what all this says?" Rusty asked.
"I'll try," Firefly said. She walked up to the book and looked at it. Though the language was still strange to everyone else it was oddly familiar to Firefly. She couldn't explain why but she knew she had seen this somewhere before. However, everyone was waiting for her to tell them what it said, so deciding to figure out her own mystery later she began to inform them of the books contents.
"Well, according to this book, hundreds of years ago there was a civilization called Pokétopia," she read. "In this civilization humans and Pokémon lived side-by-side in perfect peace."
"That doesn't sound too remarkable," Farris said. "All the humans would have to do is capture them and they'd have loyal Pokémon."
"That's just it," Firefly said. "If what I'm reading is correct they didn't capture them. All of the Pokémon were wild."
"What?!" This was obviosly a shock to everyone.
"You mean to tell us that humans lived side-by-side with wild Pokémon?!" Aqua asked, not sure if he had heard Firefly right.
"That's what it says," she replied.
"Amazing," Stickers said. "What else does it say?" Firefly looked over the book again, seeing what else it had to say about the ancient civilization of Pokétopia. It didn't take her long to find another interesting piece of information.
"Hey, listen to this," she said. "This book says that Pokétopia was ruled by kings and queens, one royal family for each the humans and Pokémon."
"Pokémon royalty? Now there's an interesting idea," Farris said.
"I can just imagine myself as a queen," Rubic said, going off into a day-dreaming state.
"Don't get your hopes up," Rusty said. "Remember, this was hundreds of years ago."
"A girl can still dream, can't she?" Rubic replied.
"Anyway, how did they choose their kings and queens?" Farris asked. Firefly read a bit more before beginning to explain.
"It says here that the humans chose their king and queen in the usual diplomatic way, but the Pokémon had a completely different method," she said.
"What was it?" Farris asked.
"Well, it says Pokémon chose their kings and queens by way of the Pokémon Elder Council," Firefly said.
"Elder Council?" Rubic asked.
"Yeah," Firefly replied. "The Elder Council consisted of 10 Pokémon that were considered legendary by the humans, but to the Pokémon they were seen as gods."
"This must be them right here," Rusty said, pointing to the next page. On it was what looked like a hand-drawn mural showing a large city, complete with figures representing the humans and Pokémon that lived there. Also present was a large group of Pokémon that supposedly represented the Pokémon Elder Council.
"They look familiar, but I can't quite make them all out," Aqua said.
"Maybe there's something about them on another page," Stickers said. "Let's look ahead." The others agreed and looked ahead to the next page of the book. There, they found the information they were seeking.
"Well, what's it say?" Stickers asked.
"This is them alright," Firefly said. "Wow... I had no idea some of these Pokémon were held in this high of regard."
"Well, you going to tell us who they are?" Ironside asked.
"Alright, hold your Horsea," she replied. She looked at the pictures and read off the names beneath them:
Ho-oh: Goddess of Rebirth
Mew: Ancestor to All
Mewtwo: Confused Cloned Judger of Life's Purpose
Lugia: Beast of the Sea
Celebi: Guardian of Time
Latias: Missile Dragon of Emotion
Latios: Missile Dragon of Speaking Mind
Jirachi: The Great Wishmaker
Rayquaza: Balancer of Nature
Deoxys: Distant Traveler from Space
"Wow... Incredible," Stickers said. Everyone else, too amazed to speak, nodded in agreement with her.
"Yeah," Firefly said. "And to think, they make the decision on who becomes the King and Queen of all Pokémon."
"Speaking of which how do they do that?" Aqua asked.
"Yeah, what was that 'different method' you were talking about earlier?" Farris asked. Firefly read a bit more, trying to see if it said anything about that.
"Ah, here it is... whoa."
"Whoa? Whoa what?" Rubic asked.
"Apparently the method is more complicated than I originally thought," Firefly replied.
"What do you mean?" Farris asked.
"They don't choose the Kings and Queens, but rather those who can become Kings and Queens," she replied.
"Okay, now I'm confused," Rusty said.
"Let me explain," Firefly said. "Certain Pokémon that, on the day of their birth, the Council deems worthy of becoming either the King or Queen of Pokémon are visited by Ho-oh and given a special mark called the Mark of the Phoenix."
"And that means they can become either the King or Queen, right?" Stickers asked.
"Yeah, but it's not that simple," Firefly said. "It says that if they live long enough they can seek out the hidden location of the Pokémon Elder Council and request to undertake the Trial of Selection."
"What's that?" Rubic asked.
"According to this it's a trial that tests the Pokémon both physically and mentally," Firefly said. "It's an extreme test of a Pokémon's will and desire to succeed."
"That doesn't sound too hard," Ironside said.
"I wouldn't go that far," Firefly said. "According to this the test has been known to have sent many Pokémon to their deaths." A collective gasp was heard as everyone took in what Firefly just told them.
"So, what happens if they pass the test?" Farris asked.
"Should they pass they'll be named King or Queen by the Elder Council," Firefly said.
"Amazing," Stickers said. "Well, does it say anything about where the Council is or what the test is like?" Firefly read a bit more.
"... Nope. All it says is that those chosen are supposed to locate the Council themselves," she replied. "As for the test it's different depending on the life experiences the Pokémon had growing up."
"So that's something that'll remain a mystery to us," Farris said. "Well, what about the Mark of the Phoenix? Surely they have something in that book about it." Once again Firefly read ahead a few pages to find out if it indeed did have any information about the Mark of the Phoenix.
"Um... oh! Here's something!" she said. "Let's see... It says that the Mark of the Phoenix, a mark indicating that this Pokémon has been deemed worthy of becoming either the King or Queen, is bestowed upon chosen Pokémon on the day of their birth by Ho-oh, the Pokémon Goddess of Rebirth. The mark is shaped like one of Ho-oh's feathers."
"A feather huh? That makes sense," Farris commented.
"Do any of you guys have that mark?" Aqua asked. Everyone checked themselves and each other, looking for the mark. After a few minutes though they came up with nothing.
"Oh well, doesn't look like any of us will ever become a King or Queen," Stickers said. While everyone else agreed Firefly was still looking at the book, almost as if she was mezmerized.
"Shaped like a feather... could it be?"
"Yo, Firefly. You okay?" She was snapped out of her thoughts by Ironside's question.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "Well guys, I'm heading back to my den for some R&R."
"Okay," Rusty said. "Take care." With that she said her goodbyes to the rest of the group and left on her way back to her own den.
Firefly arrived at her den minutes later. However, she wasn't the least bit tired. She only came up with that excuse so she could have a reason to head back to ther den to think. The things she read in that book made her think about many things from her past, especially about things her mother had told her before she was captured by Team Rocket.
"...Mother, how I wish you were here right now," she said. "There's so many things I need to know that only you have the answer for." She then began to think back to one of the few times she could remember with her mother.
The sun was high in the sky as a mother Ninetails watched her mate playing in an open field with three of their children, a male Vulpix and two female Vulpix. However, visibly missing was the youngest of their four children.
"Now I wonder where she is?" she said. Shortly after that the sounds of footsteps was heard behind her. The Ninetails turned around and saw a small Vulpix approaching her. She smiled as her daughter sat next to her.
"Well, what have you been up to, Firefly?" she asked.
"Nothing much," she answered. "Mother... what does it mean to be 'chosen'?" Her mother was taken by surprised by her question. This was a question she knew was coming, yet she wasn't prepared for at the moment.
"Why do you ask, dear?" she asked her.
"Well, some of the other Pokémon told me that I've been 'chosen'. What do they mean, Mother?" Firefly replied. She was a bit reluctant to answer, but she soon decided that now was as good a time as any.
"Look at you left paw," she said. Confused Firefly looked at her paw. There, on the pad on the bottom of her paw, was a small mark in the shape of a feather. She looked up to her mother.
"What is this?" she asked her.
"That, my dear, is a special mark that was given to you by Empress Ho-oh when you were born," her mother said.
"What does it mean?" Firefly asked.
"It means that, when you are old enough, you will have a chance to do something great," she said. "My dear Firefly, you are destined for great things..."
As Firefly thought about that day she looked at her left paw. There, still visible, was the same feather mark.
"Is this really the Mark of the Phoenix? Am I really one of the chosen Pokémon spoken about in the legend? Oh Mother... you always had the answer for any question I had..." As she thought of this she closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her muzzle.
"I miss you so much," she said. "I hope you, Father and everyone else is safe." Right then the feeling of sleep started to come over her. She laid down and drifted off to sleep.
Days later Firefly was lounging around the lake with the rest of her friends. None of them have been called into battle recently, which they were all thankful for. However, one thing was amiss.
"Hey Rusty, where's Rubic?" Firefly asked.
"I had her return that book," he replied. "It was risky enough for her to take it in the first place."
"But having her put it back? That's just as risky if not more," Farris said. Before Rusty could reply they noticed a Rocket grunt walking in their direction. He appeared to be carrying something. As he got closer they could see that he was carrying Pokémon, but not just any Pokémon.
"Rubic!" Rusty jumped to his feet and ran towards them, the others following shortly after. Once he saw them approaching the grunt placed her on the ground.
"Now, you be careful from now on. We don't need the boss finding you wandering the hallways," he told her before walking off.
"Thank you!" Rubic called. Once he was out of sight she turned around, a smirk on her face.
"Sucker..." she muttered. By then her brother and everyone else had gathered around her.
"You got caught again, didn't you?" Rusty asked.
"Yeah, but it's no big deal," Rubic replied. "All I had to do was pour on the 'lost little Pokémon' routine and he couldn't help but bring me back."
"You mean they still fall for that?' Stickers asked.
"Every time," Rubic replied. Rusty shook his head, not knowing if he was more ashamed of his sister for the way she acted or out of disbelief for the Rocket grunts that still fell for her act.
"So, you got the book back to Giovanni's office, right?" Aqua asked.
"Not exactly," she replied.
"What do you mean 'not exactly'?" Rusty asked. Rubic looked over at Firefly.
"You remember that scientist that had you fight that Scizor and three Scyther a few weeks back?" she asked.
"Don't remind me," Firefly said. "Thanks to that battle alone I was healing for five days."
"Well, I do believe that now all debts have been paid in full," Rubic said. The others were confused as to what she meant.
"What are you talking about?" Rusty asked.
"You'll see."
Later that week, on the outside of the facility, a lone person was seen on a scaffold cleaning the windows. Having their base built in the mountains meant that the weather outside had the possibility to be very cold, as it was now. The person sneezed loudly before getting back to work, all the while one thought going through his head.
"... I have no idea where that book came from..."
Thanks to Rubic's hobby of collecting reading material the group has now learned of an ancient civilization where Pokémon and humans lived together in peace. Not only that but they also learned of a legend involving a Pokémon Elder Council, a challenging test and the naming of a King and Queen of Pokémon. But what does this have to do with their current situation? And is the mark on Firefly's paw really the Mark of the Phoenix? Find out in the next chapter of Firefly: Queen of the New Breed!
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