"You dare?" Rayquaza's incredulous demand was so low and angry that the very ground shook with its passage.
Annie and Oakley shrunk back, but Lawrence III's arrogance knew no bounds. Rayquaza's imperious treatment of him all day via Jane had soured him; now the thought that he would have to take Rayquaza's allegiance instead of earning it was foremost on his mind. He stepped forward, roaring his own challenge, "Yes, I dare! Humans are masters of this world now, thanks to our technology! We fear no Pokémon! We capture and tame them! Even you, ancient one!"
Rayquaza reared back much like Arbok, although he lacked a hood to spread. His huge mouth contained surprisingly few teeth; but four were gleaming fangs. That was enough to intimidate as Rayquaza hissed like a steam geyser building up pressure. "Humans," he snarled, "I tire of your kind already. I reclaim Machu Picchu as my own. Get off my mountain immediately or suffer the consequences!"
Yet even Rayquaza had to pause as a huge waterspout roared three hundred feet straight up from the Urubamba River below to focus near him. Barely did the waterspout form before it shattered, releasing its occupant: Lugia. The strange combination of avian and sea serpent spread his long, broad fin/wings to flap gently; holding him in place with perfect poise and power. "Hold, brother!" Lugia charged Rayquaza; his mental 'voice' was as deep and powerful as the sky dragon's but warmer. Lugia continued, "Will you sweep away the good humans along with the bad again? Please, I beg of you; reconsider. Remember the battles of long ago before you make your choice, brother."
As Rayquaza considered briefly, Lawrence III still refused to yield. The old man called out, "Lugia! Finally; we meet again. At so very long last."
Lugia actually landed to rest his tired wings. The legendary Pokémon's gasps for breath, a result of his headlong flight to reach Machu Picchu in time, did not interfere with his deep Psychic voice that spoke directly into the minds of all that 'heard' it. Unlike Rayquaza, Lugia did not require an intermediary. Lugia remarked, "Yes, I know you as well, selfish one. Prepare yourself; this will be the last time we meet. I cannot allow you to continue twisting the very world around you to further your deplorable ends."
Lawrence III actually smiled. "Is that a threat, Pokémon?" he wondered mildly, "Cassidy, activate the capacitor. Butch, man the firing mechanism." At his words, his minions sprang to life. Technicians tore the covering tents off the equipment surrounding the Intihuatana. Cassidy seated herself at the engineering control board; Butch slid behind the controls of a contraption that looked suspiciously like it had been ripped out of a World War II bomber's tailgun. At the duo's touch, the machines running all along the plaza crackled to life.
Most of it, anyway. Rudy couldn't help but gloat at the sight of some sections of conduit remaining dark, "Hey, sorry about that, Sir Talbot. My sabotage and all, I mean."
Lawrence III was jolted into replying, "That was you?" He recovered quickly to sneer, "Then I must apologize for how some of my employees noticed and repaired much of that sabotage. We've still got enough juice for what must be done; I'm sure."
Rayquaza interrupted, "Enough of this debate. Raichu, summon your clan. Use them to expel these foul humans from our land and you will have your friend back; unharmed." At Raichu's eager rallying cry, untold numbers of Pichus and Pikachus popped up out of the stonework. As one, the huge clan readied the biggest Thunderbolt the world had ever seen. Only Rayquaza's Air Lock ability kept the very air of Machu Picchu from instantly solidifying into a choking cloud of thunderstorm at so many supercharged ions floating around.
Lugia's sea-blue gaze remained fixed to Rayquaza's narrow yellow response. "Brother," Lugia whispered, "Are you so eager to rewage that old war?"
"Come, brother. Fight for what you believe in if you can. Or do you only believe what Mew tells you to believe, now?" Rayquaza hissed.
Lugia launched straight up into the air, barely avoiding Rayquaza's massive Iron Tail. The sheer might of Lugia's telekinetic abilities reached out to uproot part of Machu Picchu's ruins; hurling the tons of stone at Rayquaza in a move called Ancient Power. Rayquaza slithered in and around the flying rocks with a burst of Extreme Speed that also slammed his massive bulk against Lugia's slightly smaller form. The sky dragon's momentum sent both Pokémon crashing into the Principal Temple, completing that part of the ruins' destruction.
Which only made Lawrence III's grin grow wider. The tourist crowd and most of Lawrence's Army alike broke, running and screaming out of the plaza any which way they could. But with Annie and Oakley still between him and his hated enemies, their Snag Machines still ready, and Butch and Cassidy remaining for backup, Lawrence III still felt he had the upper hand.
Misty's Pokémon restraint collar was the last one for Rudy to unlock. Her hand instantly found the one she wanted at her waist. "Go, Corsola!" she yelled.
Ash and Rudy's combined grip stopped her from releasing her Pokémon. "No!" they yelled together. Ash clarified, "See those machines? They'll Snag your Pokémon! Remember how Mewtwo did it before?" Misty's eyes widened in fright, "No! Then…then what'll we do? We've got to help Lugia!"
As one the three youths turned to each other. Each was of the same mind.
All three youths looked sternly at the Pokéballs adorning their waists. "I swore I'd protect you," Ash reminded his Pokémon friends, "I swore I'd stop sacrificing you in my fights. All of you, stay in your Pokéballs. No matter what; don't you dare interfere. I…I can't stand to lose anymore of you."
His stern countenance rose, taking in the equal look from his betrothed; from his brother. Ash growled his command, "Now, let's go get our Pokémon back."
The brothers broke toward the sisters standing guard. Misty paused in following them just long enough to order Delia, "Stay here!" Then she raced after them. Even the Morgans, overhearing the Snag Machine warning, joined Misty in dashing to confront the Lawrence's Army Pokémon with their own bare hands. Which would do the large group of attackers little good. Without having to worry about their own Pokémon being Snagged, Annie and Oakley simply deployed more to bolster their strength. Rudy stopped to gasp in horror; his own Feraligatr had appeared, a nasty gleam in his eyes at the sight of his former master. Scizor clicked her claws menacingly; drawing Ash and Misty up short.
"What's the matter?" Oakley crowed, "Didn't you know our Snagballs are also Heal Balls?"
Annie chimed in evilly, "Yeah, go ahead and send out whatever you'd like. We'll bash 'em up, Snag 'em, then throw 'em all right back in your face!"
It had been a very long time since Delia had engaged in a schoolyard fight; she hesitated as she took one step forward. Drawing up her courage from deep within, Delia took two more steps…only to find her shoulders caught in a firm grip from behind. She whirled; the face she half-hoped, half-dreaded to see again for the last two months was finally there.
He didn't have a beard anymore. And he had grown old. But now, in the flesh before her, she couldn't possibly mistake the face altered for every official interview and photograph he couldn't avoid over the last couple of decades. The man she now knew as Giovanni Columbo was absolutely, irrevocably, unarguably none other than her supposedly late husband, Vance Ketchum. Just as Ash had warned her.
She slapped him; hard.
Giovanni tasted his own blood and felt the inside of his cheek with his tongue gingerly. He hoped she hadn't cost him a tooth; his dental work was getting expensive. "Hello to you too, Delia," he countered mildly.
Meanwhile, the clan of Machu Picchu had finished uniting their power. As the crowd's stragglers finished clearing the plaza, the clan's combined Thunderbolt was unleashed from a million small bodies. Just as Lawrence III had calculated, the conducting equipment strung all along Machu Picchu attracted the bolt. Instead of blasting the remaining humans off, the massive attack fueled Lawrence III's machines. The capacitor actually strained to contain the incredible power.
But not for long. Lawrence III turned to Butch, who already had the continuing battle of the legendary Pokémon in his gunsights. "Now, Butch! Fire the cannon at Rayquaza!"
As Rayquaza reared back into the sky, the ancient Pokmon's rage disappeared into surprise at the great pain of the massive Thunderbolt striking him. Lawrence III had done his homework; the half Dragon-Type's resistance to electrical shock was canceled out by his Flying-Type's half vulnerability to it. And a bolt that big could easily humble even the mighty Rayquaza. The massive creature writhed, pinned in mid-air by the savage current arcing throughout his coils.
Jane, finally released from his power, collapsed across the cold sundial like a marionette with her strings cut. The jade orb, perfectly clear and empty, rolled out from beneath her blouse to bounce unheeded across the grass. Raichu refused to leave her, only pausing at trying to drag her to safety long enough to order his clan to stop firing. They tried; but they had been trying since the second Lawrence III had turned their power against Rayquaza. Once the connection was made, the inventor's brilliant devices were remorselessly siphoning every erg of power from the clan. Only Raichu himself, too busy to join in, had been spared.
Lawrence III cackled at the sight, readying a Snagball for the capture of Rayquaza. He threw with all the might his weak body possessed. The Snagball rose, hardly able to miss its huge target…
And was blasted out of the sky by a silver bolt of power.
Lugia flapped his broad white wings, bringing himself out of the crater his and Rayquaza's battle had formed in the ruins. Lugia encouraged, "Stand firm, brother!" Another Aeroblast from Lugia's beak traced a line around the plaza, severing the Pichu clan's parasitic connection to Lawrence III's equipment. Cassidy screamed and covered herself against the resultant sparks pouring from her console as it shorted out. Released from the electrical grip also, Rayquaza found the strength to stay in the air; just barely. All around the plaza, the clan of Machu Picchu struggled to stand despite their severe energy drain.
"No!" Lawrence III bellowed, "Cassidy, switch to auxiliary power! Butch, bring that do-gooder down to Earth!"
Cassidy threw the manual switch, unaffected by Lugia's brownout; Butch fired at Lugia himself. The massive bird tried to lift off and dodge; his exhausted wings were too heavy to clear the ground in time. Although far inferior to the blast that had felled Rayquaza, the remaining electrical charge was more than enough to knock Lugia from the sky as Lawrence III wished. The charge left Lugia's every feather and limb sticking straight out on end. It would've been comical were it not for Lugia's howl of pain.
Across the plaza, Oakley's grip ever so thoughtfully held Ash's head up by his hair to see Lugia's fall. He could only lay there, trampled and bleeding, from the vicious assault Giovanni's Scizor had given him at Oakley's bidding. Misty lay twitching in a similarly bloody heap nearby. In fact all of Ash's friends had been mercilessly beaten down by the sisters' Pokémon rather than risk losing more of their own Pokémon friends.
Yet the one who had received the absolute worst of it by far was Rudy; he hadn't had the heart to even try to defend himself against his Feraligatr's attack. Annie shared her sister's mean streak when provoked and had taken perverse joy in ordering Feraligatr to savagely beat Rudy into unconsciousness.
Still untouched, Delia and Giovanni appeared at Jane's side. The big man slipped an arm under Jane, ready to carry the still-unconscious woman to safety, while Delia fell to her knees to beg Raichu for aid. Cassidy observed all this from her post nearby without interfering. Raichu looked to his clan, but everywhere his gaze fell, all he saw was his kind struggling to remain conscious; much less fight.
Again a Snagball soared. Bouncing its clasp against Rayquaza's scales, the device automatically opened up to allow its capture beam to spread. The weakened creature roared and twisted, all flailing coils and straining might…but in the end Ash could only gurgle, "NO!" through his own blood as Rayquaza was captured by Lawrence III.
The madman next turned toward the only obsession he had that was older than his urge to destroy Ash. Lugia's Recover move had restored enough of the serpent-bird's strength to enable him to stand. Feathers smoothed back into place, Lugia commanded with a fair portion of his usual power, "Release Rayquaza or suffer the consequences!"
Lawrence III smiled thinly as he raised another Snagball. "You suffer," he returned, throwing the ball to form his most long-awaited capture of all.
Just as another latecomer crashed the party. A blast of Psychic energy shattered the Snagball in mid-air. Accompanied by a bright pink trail of energy falling like pixie dust from the sky behind her, Mew herself soared out of the skies into Machu Picchu. "Mew!" the tiny Pokémon challenged, right in Lawrence III's face.
He laughed, "Wonderful to see you again, my dear! Let me show you what I picked up recently!" He cracked open the newest Pokéball added to his belt. Rayquaza, his health completely restored by the Snagball that had captured him, appeared to loom over his master and his challenger alike. Mew was just as confused at the strange look in Rayquaza's eyes as Rudy had been over Feraligatr before. "Mew?"
"Go, Rayquaza! Take her with Dragon Claw!" Lawrence III commanded.
Although his limbs were tiny compared to the rest of him, just half of Rayquaza's arm was twice as long as Mew was tall. Mew's Protect bubble popped into existence around her just in time to absorb the brunt of Rayquaza's attack. The tiny defender couldn't absorb all the sheer momentum of the massive blow however; Mew was knocked clear across the plaza and into the ruins' residential sector. What little remained of a once-proud home crumbled down atop her at impact. Rayquaza slithered through the sky after Mew at Lawrence III's command.
Lawrence III, determined to keep his eye on the prize this time, turned back to Lugia. "Don't worry, I've still got plenty of Snagballs. Once you and my Rayquaza double-team Mew, I'll have quite a few newly captured feathers in my cap, wouldn't you say?" Lugia tried to power up an Aeroblast but his legs collapsed out from under him. Across the field, Ash faced a similar fate as he tried to stand, except it took a sharp blow from Oakley to make him stay put.
Pikachu used his safety catch to appear uncalled for. As the mouse's Agility move sent him racing toward the Intihuatana once more, Oakley's mechanical sleeve ejected a Snagball into her waiting grip. Desperately, Ash clamped onto Oakley's wrists and restrained her. Oakley barked, "Agility, Scizor! Stop Pikachu with Fury Cutter!" Scizor launched into hot pursuit as told, but Pikachu had a head start and determination on his side. Pikachu skidded to a stop at Raichu's side. "Pi, pika! Pikachu!" he ordered, clasping his paws into Raichu's.
The clan leader agreed with Pikachu's plan instantly. The mice combined their power just as the entire clan had before; their Thunderbolt crackled into the onrushing Scizor. The Bug- and Steel-Type toppled forward, already unconscious before her face hit the ground. Oakley kicked Ash aside and recalled Scizor to her Snagball.
But Pikachu and his new friend weren't done yet. Again they combined their power. The resulting Thunder rose high into the sky before crashing back down atop Lawrence III. The shock absorbers Lawrence III had built into his Snag Machine for just such an occasion took much of the volts for him; the remainder was still more than his weak frame could withstand. Lawrence III collapsed where he stood, hardly breathing; not that Pikachu cared one bit.
Oakley did, however. With a shriek of rage, the general broke Ash's weakening grip and tossed a Snagball of her own. Right at Pikachu. Weak from his exertions, Pikachu barely saw it coming. The Snagball impacted off his belly and opened up. Pikachu grabbed anew at Raichu's paws as the capture beam wrapped tightly around him. Raichu's long tail, in turn, looped around the Intihuatana for anchorage as the Electric-Types pulled against the beam.
They might even have won if the capture beam had not finished digitizing Pikachu. The proud Pokémon refused to cry out as his limbs steadily went intangible in Raichu's grip. But he could not help turning a sad gaze to his oldest friend. Ash saw the unstated message of sorrow, not blame; Pikachu felt he had failed Ash when it really mattered. "Pikachu!" Ash gurgled.
The Snagball reduced Pikachu to a burst of light and drew him inside itself. It clamped closed around its capture and began flying back to Oakley. Enraged, Ash's adrenaline fueled him into standing and throwing off Oakley in one powerful motion. Yet even as Ash stood, another of his Pokéballs sprang open; Tauros appeared with earth-shattering fury. The huge, powerful bull had obeyed Ash's command for far too long. As Tauros stomped the ground and brayed an angry challenge, Ash forgot some of his own rage to yell, "No, Tauros! Get back!"
Annie's voice rang out across the plaza, "Go, Hariyama! Arm Thrust that Tauros!" Tauros instantly whirled at the sound; the earth shook beneath the charging bull. Annie's humanoid Hariyama was there to meet it; literally getting the bull by the horns with both of Hariyama's enormous hands. Both Pokémon strained to uproot the other.
In the meantime Ash had turned back toward Oakley, making a flying leap toward Pikachu's Snagball as it flew closer. Her foot caught his hip mid-jump in a snap kick; Ash missed. As Oakley's hand clasped the Snagball, her knee crashed savagely into Ash's face as he rolled over and stood. The new jolt to the older wound brough Ash, swimming in a haze of semiconsciousness, to his knees. He wasn't even sure if he was seeing what he thought he was seeing as Annie got the better of Tauros and stole that Pokémon friend away from him too. Just in case, Ash moaned toward the remaining Pokéballs at his waist, "Don't…please don't…risk yourselves…"
Despite her latest victory, Annie was as exhausted as her Pokémon from the long battle. She turned from viewing her sister making sure Ash stayed down this time to wearily study the unconscious form of her boss across the way. Lugia had disappeared. After retrieving her Hariyama, the blonde summoned the strength to bellow out toward where Mew and the sky dragon's Wild Battle still raged. "Rayquaza! Ancient one, yoo-hoo, over here!"
Rayquaza's Iron Tail had just sent Mew smashing through the Sacristy Temple. Thus buying himself a minute, the sky dragon paused to study Annie at her call. She pointed out, "Hey, your master's out right now. But since I'm his employee too, that makes me your boss. How about a Hyper Beam to blow all these annoying people out of my hair for good?"
The legendary Pokémon considered briefly. Apparently whatever Snagball effect made their victims hostile to some could also made them docile to others; to the right individuals at least. Rayquaza's huge mouth opened as power gathered in his throat. Oakley hurried to join her sister, Butch, and Cassidy around Lawrence III's unconscious body at the Intihuatana and out of the line of fire.
Oakley was the only one who checked Lawrence III for a pulse.
Giovanni and Delia had carried the still-unconscious Jane to safety on the opposite side of the plaza, Raichu never leaving their side. Delia gasped when she looked back across the field. Her son and all of his friends lay in broken, unmoving heaps; helpless before the coming assault. "Do something!" she charged Giovanni, clamping her grip onto him. His grim visage took in the tableau before him; Delia could see the wheels turning furiously in his calculating mind.
The answer was not a good one.
Delia's grip fumbled at Giovanni's pockets, retrieving a Pokéball. "Go," she bellowed, "whoever you are!" Nidoking appeared in a burst of light. Delia was pleased to recognize the species when she saw it; she just wished she knew what sort of attacks Nidoking could have. She could only repeat herself with the half-plea, half-command, "Do something! Stop Rayquaza!"
At Giovanni's silent nod, Nidoking turned and spit a powerful jet of water-Surf Attack-at Rayquaza. Rayquaza did not even flinch. Rayquaza's Hyper Beam poured forth; and Mew was there to meet it. Her Protect force field bubble absorbed the long blast, sparing the humans and Pokémon of Machu Picchu any further destruction, at first. Perhaps still angry over their long-ago rivalry for the Inca's affections, Rayquaza didn't pause for breath. Instead he poured on the Hyper Beam until his sides strained inward where his rapidly emptying lungs lay.
Mew's Protect was weakening under the prolonged assault. She glanced around from behind her shield; dozens of drained Pokémon still struggled to aid each other in escaping the blast's ground zero. Not to mention the helpless humans. She could not just allow anyone to be destroyed before her. The Psychic-Type changed the shape of her shield from a bubble into a funnel; with herself at the center.
The last gasp of Hyper Beam hit Mew full-force. The tiny powerhouse was blasted into the ground of Machu Picchu so hard she formed a crater twice her size at impact. Rayquaza watched to see how much fight she still had left in her, catching his breath, as Mew struggled to stand on her little paws.
Her big blue eyes did not meet Rayquaza's intimidating gaze. Instead she looked around Machu Picchu again at all the people and Pokémon still depending on her for their safety. Mew could only come up with one way she thought would guarantee that.
A massive wave of pink energy burst from her body in a circular fashion. Mew's Softboiled healed up all the humans, all the Pokémon, throughout Machu Picchu of every injury they possessed. At the cost of her own power. Too weak to stand now, Mew collapsed bonelessly face-first against the rim of her own crater.
Without time to fine-tune her aim, that included Lawrence's Army bathing in the glow of sudden health. Seconds after rising like a dark phoenix, Lawrence III's unerring toss of a Snagball hit Mew right in the back. The capture beam washed over her. Surprised, Mew made a weak grab at the very earth for purchase. The huge amount of power she's sacrificed to those around her didn't leave Mew the strength to use Softboiled on herself, much less another attack to break free. Instead Mew raised her head to the stars twinkling across the vast expanse so far above her.
"Mmmmeewwww!" she shrieked with all her might; her physical voice and her psychic one as well, as the Snagball drew her completely in.
Her desperate plea transcended the limits of time and space, falling on the ears that Mew intended it to reach…although its recipient would not, could not, arrive in time.
Back in Machu Picchu, Lawrence III himself could hardly believe it as his Mew-filled Snagball returned to him. He turned to his lover for confirmation at what he was seeing, yelping like a small boy, "Did you see that? I caught Mew!"
"And Rayquaza!" Oakley cheered him on, "Let's find Lugia and wrap it up too!"
"Yes, and then-" Lawrence III broke off as a round of hacking, wheezing coughs doubled him over. As Oakley firmly supported him once more, Lawrence III choked out with shock, "…the drugs…wore off…so soon?…"
"Oh, dear," Giovanni called out sweetly, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Lawrence's Army whirled as one at the sound. In the distance, the sound of the village's few emergency vehicles roared reinforcements ever closer. All around the plaza, the clan of Machu Picchu surrounded them; staring furiously. Giovanni, blood in his eye despite his mocking tone, was rolling his ready Pokéball in his hands. Rudy matched his father's hard stare; fully recovered and decidedly dangerous. Jessie and James looked on with grim-faced fatalism matching Jane's complete lack of care in what sort of nasty fate awaited Lawrence's Army. Ash and Misty stood side-by-side, mirroring each other's pose of bloodthirsty battle-readiness.
But not one other person or Pokémon present had anything on the molten maternal fury evident across Delia's face and form as she stalked steadily, ominously forward.
Lawrence III's terror gave him the strength to cry, "Rayquaza, get us out of here!" Just one of the huge Pokémon's arms was all that was required to scoop up the remnants of Lawrence's Army. Pressing them firmly against his flanks, Rayquaza turned off into the night even as a barrage of Thunderbolts and Thundershocks cascaded across his scales. The assault transmitted itself through his touch to shock every human in his grip, although Rayquaza took the brunt of the blows. The sky dragon ignored the pain to race away into the skies, mindful of staying low and slow (for him) in the atmosphere so his wounded charges could breathe.
Ash ran to the edge of the cliff face behind the Intihuatana. He pulled a Pokéball from his belt, "Heracross, I choo-no…" Ash was forced to let his voice and arm drop helplessly. Heracross, although capable of flight under his own steam, was a short-range aerialist. Even by himself, Heracross could never catch up with Rayquaza. Carrying Ash along too? No, not even Pidgeot or Swellow could do better if they were here. Rayquaza was just too fast.
As Misty neared, Ash muttered toward his unopened Pokéball, "It's okay, Heracross. There's been enough sacrifice tonight. I won't ask that of you." Replacing the ball at his belt, Ash raised his face and voice anew to howl, "Lugia! Where are you?"
The only answer was from Misty's soft arms winding around his shoulders, pulling Ash away from the cliff edge. She kept repeating, "Don't worry, don't worry. We'll get Pikachu back, Ash, we'll get them all back." Ash wished with all his heart he had his hat on to cover his eyes. He settled for putting his forehead against Misty's, their mutual tears mixing as their cheeks met in their fierce side-by-side embrace.
As Delia stepped forward to comfort her son, the corner of her eye caught her errant husband. Giovanni was standing next to that nice young red-headed man; both were staring into the sky wistfully where Rayquaza had disappeared. Giovanni even had his hand on the youth's shoulder.
Which really made Delia steam. She stalked over and reminded Giovanni in a low voice, "Can't you see our boy is suffering? Can't you be a comforting father to your son, just for once in his life?"
Giovanni turned a sad gaze to her. Even she was brought up short at the sight of the empty loneliness haunting Giovanni's eyes. Shaking his head slowly, more to himself than her, Giovanni admitted quietly, "I am, Delia. Sad to say, I am…" Rudy, embarrassed by this public display, took a few steps forward and out of Giovanni's grip. His eyes never left the empty skies; although his lips twitched he refused to cry.
Delia's hand flew to her mouth as she realized. She gathered herself and stepped forward, lightly touching Rudy's elbow. "Excuse me…dear…" Delia ventured softly.
He turned; a professional mask of calm clamped over his features. "Yes, Mrs. Ketchum, correct? Pleasure to meet you. Agent Rudolph Silver, Interpol," he replied briskly, taking her hand and shaking it politely. Delia refused to be distracted, continuing just as quietly, "Did…did he leave…your mother too?"
It took all of Rudy's self-control to maintain his mask at her words. He didn't quite do it; his lips started trembling anew. Rudy was caught totally by surprise as Delia stepped into his grip and hugged him warmly to her. At least the shock of her contact drove his sorrow away. It took a couple of seconds for him to recover and put his arms around her too.
Delia whispered, "We'll get your Feraligatr back, dear. I swear we will."
The youth did not trust himself to reply. Instead he patted her back awkwardly and wished she would let go; yet wished she would never let go.
Especially since he could see over her shoulder that Giovanni had disappeared. As always.
The police and emergency reinforcements finally pulled into Machu Picchu. Standing atop the hood of the lead jeep was Meowth. He stared wide-eyed at the sea of stunned faces staring back at him, "Hey, why all da long faces? I brought da cavalry like Lugia said, didn't I?"
Neither Jessie nor James bothered to correct him. They were too busy talking to Jane. Jessie's face was particularly crestfallen as she said, "You still don't remember me; even with Rayquaza gone?" Jane shook her head sadly. Any tears Jessie might've come up with, though, were cast aside as Jane continued, "But I would like to get to know you. If you will let me."
It was James who started bawling as mother and daughter shared an embrace.
Raichu appeared around Jane's ankles. "Rai? Raichu?" he quizzed the human caretaker of Machu Picchu. She let go of Jessie to kneel and address her old friend as an equal. "Yes, Raichu. I shall have to leave this place. Don't fear; you will always be a part of my family too; so long as I live."
The kangaroo mouse wasn't quite willing to settle for that. He frowned sharply and called out to some of his clan compatriots; a ring of Pichus formed around the Morgan family. Jessie said it for all three of them, "Oh? What's happening?"
Raichu called a Pikachu forward from the crowd, through the ring. A few more barked commands from Raichu and something small and glittery was being passed from Pichu to Pichu through the crowd. Jane, now standing, joined her family in staring in wonder. She explained softly, "It is a ceremony of ascension. I haven't seen this in ten years; since Raichu became the clan leader." Jessie and James' mouths hung open briefly before they closed up, observing the rest of the ceremony with proper respect. Meowth made it through the line of Pichu to stand beside his family as well.
The Pichu, not able to evolve from it, were as safe to touch the Thunder Stone as Raichu. Gently scooping the Thunder Stone from his younger clan members, Raichu turned to the Pikachu standing proudly before them. "Rai! Rai~chu, rai rai?" the clan leader offered.
"Pi. Pikachu!" the applicant confirmed his oath of office. With that, Raichu gently laid the Thunder Stone in the Pikachu's paws. Instantly the stone's energy began to be absorbed by the Electric-Type holding it. Even as the glittering stone grew dull, losing its charge forever, the Pikachu shone brightly. Within the glare sharp-eyed viewers could just discern the Pokémon's shape changing, growing, evolving…
When the light left, the new Raichu leader of Machu Picchu turned to his clan. His first command? That the entire clan join him in bowing a long, deep, bittersweet goodbye to Raichu and Jane alike.
Jane, trying fiercely not to cry, was forced to ask her daughter, "Do you have an empty Pokéball I can use, uh…?" She turned to Jessie, confusion replacing her sorrow, "I…I don't even know what to call you."
"We'll figure something out," Jessie assured her warmly.
Text, original characters, and events Copyright © 2011 Keith E. Kimball. This is a fan work and not for profit.
All other characters, events, and trademarks Copyright © their respective holders including but not limited to Nintendo Company Ltd., Tatsunoko Productions, GameFreak, The Pokémon Company, Shogakukan Production Inc., 4Kids Entertainment, etc.