This is the last reserve chappie—after posting this, I've actually posted all the chapters that I have written already (although chapter 20 will probably be done soon and posted on SPPf sometime this week). Also, I've done a few more updates. Chapter 4 had a little scene added to further explain the way Pokéspeech works and also contribute to Jade's fluency at it in following chapters; and in Chapter 5, I added a little scene that could best be descibed as slight comic releif, although I had a number of other reasons for adding it.
This chapter is like Chapter 18—I would have liked it more if not for the fact that it goes from one scene to the next with very shoddy, unrealistic transition. That, and it has the ongoing problem of characters discussing things while flying at high speed, which really wouldn't work too well.
Chapter 19: Legendary Revenge
Everyone spun around suddenly. Sure enough, there at the edge of the treeline stood Ajia with her Pichu sitting atop her shoulder. I felt both relieved and surprised to see her here—now of all times. Starr grinned slyly.
"Ajia…how—?" I started to ask, but then Stalker cut me off.
"This is a new one, Starr. When you figured out that Jade was a few steps away from joining my side of the Resistance, you made sure you'd have backup before coming here. What, afraid to face me alone?"
Starr's smirk immediately changed into a scowl. Ajia walked forward to stand alongside us, her overall expression somehow very unlike her.
"It's been awhile…" Stalker said. "Judging by the fact that Jade didn't know anything about what happened before the revolt, you didn't tell her about the situation with the Resistance, did you?"
"Maybe not, but from the looks of things, you tried to make her think that you were working against Team Rocket," Ajia replied simply.
"Right…and the fact that you hid things from her means nothing…" he said sarcastically.
I glanced back and forth between the two of them, wondering why it was so important to each of them that I not side with the other. The entire concept of the Resistance was beginning to make no sense. I had thought that they both were members of it, but that was obviously not the case.
"Regardless, we're gonna have to make this quick. You'd probably be interested to know what's happening at the Viridian base," Ajia said.
I turned toward her in surprise. What was happening?
Ignoring her last statement, Stalker continued, "I suppose you'd like to explain the Resistance, or should I?"
Ajia sighed, apparently wondering where to begin. "Jade, you already know that the Resistance just started out as a loose group of Rockets dissatisfied with the way Team Rocket was run."
I nodded.
"But after awhile, it got to be a full organization…a team within the team, I guess. That was what caused problems. Most of the members wanted to remain loyal to Team Rocket so that when the time was right, they could use their position to take control of the team. That was Stalker's plan. But the rest of us wanted to oppose the team outright. The Resistance split up right before the revolt."
"And let's not forget the Legendaries," Stalker added, grinning slightly.
"I didn't. You see Jade, the Inside Resistance wants to use Legendaries to accomplish their goals, while the outer Resistance is working toward protecting them," Ajia explained.
I nodded slightly in understanding, but couldn't help wondering more about Stalker's willingness to capture Legends. If someone else were to use them against Team Rocket…
"Only true allies are worth defending…" Stalker replied. "And anyways, you're not exactly one to talk about not using Legendaries."
I glanced from Ajia to Stalker, wondering what he meant. Ajia's face showed a sliver of concern for a moment, but then she looked to be focusing on something else.
Stalker continued, "Right, I don't suppose you told them that, either. Jade, Starr…do either of you know exactly how you guys escaped from the Viridian base?"
"Are you saying that you do know?" Starr asked, raising an eyebrow. "You weren't exactly there."
"Jade and Ajia made absolutely sure that the cameras were only on in the Transportation Division," he stated. "I watched the security footage. And in the report on the events, it said that the TLD shield controls were sabotaged."
Ajia didn't seem so much worried as she was surprised that he was putting this together.
"That light that attacked Mewtwo and Giovanni? Obviously a Psychic-type Pokémon teleporting into the base, which was why you needed to take out the defense shield. And it wasn't that big either, but strong enough to stun Mewtwo." He smirked slightly. "There aren't many possibilities. Either you've broken your Legendary beliefs or you're Mew's Chosen."
Everything fell silent all of a sudden. I immediately turned to Ajia to see what her reaction would be, but she didn't have any discernible expression. Starr, on the other hand, looked unimpressed.
"What the hell is up with this whole 'chosen' thing that you and Jade keep talking about?!" Starr demanded. She then turned toward Ajia. "And was that really Mew that broke Mewtwo's Master Ball? Why didn't you tell us?!"
"I already told you guys that I couldn't tell you, remember?" Ajia said exasperatedly. "The Chosen aren't supposed reveal their position to anyone. That's why I had to Night Shade before I could use Mew."
"That still doesn't explain what it is," Starr said flatly.
Before Ajia could answer, however, I found myself explaining it. I wasn't sure why—I hardly even knew what it meant myself.
"It means that she's been picked to side with Mew," I said slowly. "And…I'm guessing that it means she can call Mew whenever she wants…" I turned toward Ajia expectantly, wondering if I was right. She nodded.
"Legendary secrets…" Starr scoffed. "Obviously not so secret anymore." She rolled her eyes. "Can we get back to Team Rocket matters?"
"This is a Team Rocket matter," Stalker muttered. He then grinned and turned toward Ajia. "Up for a Legendary battle? We could finally see who's really stronger." I widened my eyes. So the Pokémon that he used before was a Legendary. Which one? It seemed unlikely that he wouldn't have told his fellow Johto Rockets what it was.
I gasped as I suddenly remembered his message to Giovanni. That was it!
"Always need to battle?" Ajia asked with a false tone of surprise. "There are more important things going on."
"Right, the Viridian base…I suppose for once you'll have to enlighten me," Stalker answered dully.
"I had a feeling this would happen if Mewtwo was freed, and I was right. As both a captured legend and an experiment, he's the link the Legendaries needed. Up till now they've held out, but earlier today I was told that the Legendaries plan to strike back against Team Rocket tonight. That can't happen—everything will have been for nothing. Even your plans," Ajia explained.
Stalker clenched his teeth, trying not to show his alarm. "So I expect you want to save both them and the Kanto Force, is that it now?" he responded coolly.
"Whichever needs it."
"Exploiting Legendary knowledge to mess with fate… I hope you realize it's inevitable." He narrowed his eyes. "And anyways, what makes you think you can leave when you obviously don't have Mew here, whereas I do have my legend?"
I was the one who answered. "We might as well be doing your bidding like always, so you can call off Latios and just let us leave."
Ajia shot a glance at me. Stalker looked amused. "Alright…it isn't much use battling now, anyway. Might as well put it off for the next time the Resistances collide. And to think I hoped you wouldn't join that side."
A Poké Ball was opened, and a flash of light took the familiar form of an orange dragon. He mounted his Charizard and whispered something in its ear. Nodding understandingly, it flapped its immense wings and took off to the south.
Ajia turned to me once he had gone. "I didn't know he had Latios—how'd you find out?"
"Everyone on Team Rocket knows," Starr muttered impatiently.
Almost disdainfully, I replied, "I'm not a Rocket."
Starr shrugged. "Might as well be."
"Come on, we can't stay here, we have to go now—who knows how much time we have left!" Ajia exclaimed, releasing her Aerodactyl.
"Right," I agreed, immediately pulling out Aros's Poké ball.
Starr scoffed and said, "I don't see why it's such a problem. We should just let the stupid Legendaries clobber the Kanto Force. You know, I should go undercover on the Johto Force. At least then I could join the Inside Resistance if things got bad."
"Right, and then when Team Rocket's gone, we can be enemies just like the good ol' days," Ajia said sarcastically, throwing her arms in the air.
"It was just an idea," she muttered disdainfully. "Now who am I riding with?"
"I thought you weren't coming," I countered.
"Well I can't just stay here. I don't have a Flying Pokémon, remember?"
"Oh…alright, you can ride with me and Aros then," I offered. Then I suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Wait a minute! So Ajia had to fly you here. You knew she was there the whole time."
Starr rolled her eyes. "Duh."
"We decided that I'd hang back and that Starr would deal with trying to convince you not to go with Stalker. But after you guys started talking about the revolt, I just had to tell you about the Resistances," Ajia explained.
I nodded distantly, trying to focus on anything other than the matter at hand. It still felt like my mind was spinning from everything that I had just heard, and I still wasn't entirely sure which parts had been the most convincing.
Nonetheless, I opened Aros's Poké Ball to let the streamlined green dragon materialize alongside Ajia's Aerodactyl. The Flygon took one look at all of us and said, "Well this can't be good." No one responded.
"Come on," I said to Starr, climbing onto Aros's back. She glanced uneasily at him for a few seconds before mounting behind me. I groaned slightly upon remembering my argument with Aros—I still hadn't been able to convince him that she was on our side, and now I wasn't sure after the previous situation.
"Aros, I swear, don't try to pull anything," I whispered into his ear. "We've got to fly to Viridian for an emergency and I don't want you trying to settle some past grudge you seem to have."
He nodded slightly, refusing to look me in the eye before taking off into the air, soon followed by Ajia on her Aerodactyl.
With the rushing of the wind through the night sky as the only sound, the true stakes of the situation finally sank in as we flew over the Johto landscape. The thing that hung in my mind the most, however, was what Stalker had said: "only true allies are worth defending." He didn't mind using Legendaries for his cause… I was still confused and unsure of what to think about the whole thing.
A thought suddenly struck me and I asked Ajia, "How did you become Mew's Chosen?"
She grinned slightly, as if she knew I would ask eventually. "You already know how. All of that past saga with Team Rocket…being a part of the revolt, helping create the Inside Resistance, and breaking off from it. All of the legends are tied around Team Rocket now, and I got in so deep that…I guess Mew felt I was worthy."
"But then…if she told you about the Legendaries' counterattack, then she's not for it?" I added, slightly confused about what was going on.
Ajia sighed. "Not all the Legendaries agree on how to handle this. Only a few have the same view that the Resistance does, and as for the others…they've been waiting for a chance like this since forever. Mewtwo's attack hurt the Rockets. The Legendaries want to deliver the finishing blow. But it's not as simple as that."
She had even told Stalker that we'd be helping whoever needed our help. Was Team Rocket really that close to the final attack that any strike would push them over the edge?
Starr mumbled something that sounded like, "If it were that simple, I wouldn't have stuck with the Kanto Force," but I didn't bother replying.
The two winged Pokémon soared on underneath a veil of clouds concealing the stars. Anxiety hung in the air, and I dreaded what awaited us. I had thought I was done…free of Team Rocket and the Legendaries and everything else. And now we were rushing into what would probably be a situation similar to the Legendary Bird mission, only five times worse. It was easy for Ajia to be determined—she had a slew of powerful Pokémon and Mew for protection.
Smoke filled the air on the horizon, and my fears were confirmed.
The entire northeastern section of Viridian City was in complete and utter chaos, torn apart under the Legendaries' assault. The air was dominated by two enormous creatures—one white and one orange.
The first one was a massive phoenix with brushfire feathers tipped with green at the wingtips. Gray-blue talons sported steely claws, and its tail was like an explosion of shimmering rays of sunlight. It shook the golden plumes atop its head and opened its crooked beak to let loose a searing blast of flames that illuminated the night sky and caused its wings to shine with the colors of the rainbow.
Alongside it flew a fantastically bizarre creature like some mix between a dragon and a bird. Its neck was long and serpentine, ending in a sleek avian head tipped with violet crests over a pair of intense eyes. The creature spread its immense, snowy-white wings and dove down to soar low above the city, stirring fierce gales with merely a swish of its spiked tail.
An unearthly howl echoing in the wind made me turn suddenly to the left, where a flash of blue rushed by on the ground. Fierce gales slashed outward from the beast as it sprinted at impossible speeds, its silky violet mane whipping about.
Suicune… And the two birds were Lugia and Ho-oh.
The Viridian gym had been completely destroyed, allowing us to see directly underground into the Team Rocket base, which hadn't been touched for some reason. Pulsing rays of energy shot up from the forest, and when we flew closer, it was apparent that L.A.R.s had been set up.
We were going to save Team Rocket—this was definitely the weirdest mission ever.
"How come the base isn't ruined yet?" I asked.
"That's the TLD shield," Ajia explained. "It keeps Pokémon from teleporting into the base or wrecking it from the outside. Most of the time it runs on low power only, but when it gets hit by anything, it's like an L.A.R. that only reflects energy. I'm sure the Legendaries could break it if they really tried, but that's not their biggest problem right now…" She trailed off slightly, and I turned to see two more Legendaries enter the scene.
A dazzling phoenix soared up from below the treeline, her wings scattering plumes of fire as she confronted the enraged Legends. Soon afterward, Articuno's cry filled the air, and the cobalt falcon flew upward to join Moltres. They would have lost easily if not for the fact that the Rockets had the L.A.R.s on their side.
But wait—the L.A.R.s couldn't make power, only channel it. How was the offense mode working if they hadn't ever absorbed power in defense mode?
The truth hit me almost immediately. The L.A.R.s under the trees must have been set up in defense. The Rockets had used the power of their own Legendary Pokémon to charge the machines. Now the Legendaries had to face a double threat, and all the trucks filled with supplies and members could escape unnoticed while they were busy fighting.
The Rockets were all set up. The Legendaries would never leave without making some sort of major blow, and how long would it be until Master Balls were brought out?
"How the hell do you expect to do anything about this?!" Starr exclaimed, saying almost exactly what I was thinking. "I mean, if crazed Legendaries aren't enough, Team Rocket's got everything on L.A.R. lockdown, and those things aren't going down easy. By the time the Legendaries get through, they'll have everything evacuated, and then what?"
"Then we have to make sure that none of them get captured right now. If the Rockets have to escape, then that's the price we're gonna have to pay," Ajia explained, looking concerned. "You see all the damage the Legendaries are causing. It'll be like that everywhere if the Rockets launch their final attack now."
Starr looked a little offended by her words and said, "You don't need to tell me that. I'd think I'd understand better than either of you."
Ajia turned suddenly to the left, and I followed her gaze to see a small white figure soaring through the air at high speed. It was the form of a petite feline, its long, thin tail trailing out behind it.
"Mew," I gasped.
The cat-like Pokémon turned towards us slightly, but then suddenly sped off towards the raging Legendaries, as though trying to stay away from us.
"Mew! It's alright for them to see you with me—they already know!" Ajia called out.
At those words, the creature turned back to face us, and then suddenly disappeared from view only to reappear next to us instantly.
(You told them?) Mew questioned, looking panicked.
"Of course not—Stalker told them," Ajia explained. "He watched what happened in the base and put it all together."
Mew sighed deeply, looking very troubled by this news. (They know…I guess it can't be helped now. Latias and I tried to put a stop to this, but nothing is helping. From what you've told me, it seems unwise to destroy the escaping trucks, but there is no way to convince Lugia and Suicune otherwise, and now they've gone and dragged Ho-oh into it as well.)
"Latias is here?" I asked curiously. I didn't know much about the Hoenn Legendaries, and had only caught a quick glimpse of Latios back with Stalker.
(She was the only one that would help,) Mew stated sadly. (Not even Zapdos would…)
A beautiful cry like the chiming of bells resounded in the background, and a creature that oddly resembled a fighter jet zoomed into view. Only when it slowed down over the makeshift battlefield could I identify it as a crimson dragon, with narrow, pointed wings, a snowy white-feathered head and neck, and spiky fins jutting out from the base of its stubby tail.
"Latias…?" I whispered under my breath.
(Latias! Over here!) Mew exclaimed.
The scarlet dragon folded back her forelegs, streaking forward to us instantly.
"The other two humans…?" she asked cautiously, blinking her large, golden eyes.
(Don't worry about them,) Mew replied. (I've got a plan to stop Lugia, Ho-oh, and Suicune.)
Latias sighed. "So it's true…we must save the Rockets? How do you know that giving the humans more time to penetrate it from within will be any better?"
(We both know there's nothing to be gained from all-out war. And what about Raikou? And Entei? And…Latios…? More of us will get added to the list if we strike back.)
Latias nodded solemnly, as though she had been trying to make herself forget that fact.
Mew's statement made me realize how crucial the timing was, though. If we struck too soon, we'd risk a war that we couldn't handle. But what if the Legendaries had struck much earlier, before the Rockets had captured Entei? I was sure that they probably hadn't known the team was a threat back then, but it still seemed ironic.
(If we defeat Moltres and Articuno, the Rockets may retreat, giving us time to stop the other three,) Mew continued.
"If you two are dealing with the Legendaries, then we can take on the scattered Rockets on the ground," Ajia added. "We wouldn't be able to deal major damage, and we could at least keep them from fighting back."
Mew nodded before taking off with Latias.
"We? What's with the we?" Starr demanded all of a sudden.
"Alright, we could let you off before we went to fight them," Ajia suggested.
"And what am I supposed to do, just sit there until you guys are done?" Starr pressed, still annoyed.
"You have Pokémon," I pointed out flatly. "Don't you always ride everywhere on your Arcanine?"
"Yeah, but…" she started, unsure of what to say. It seemed obvious that while Starr wanted nothing to do with the fight against Team Rocket, she still wanted to know how today would work out. Finally she grumbled, "Oh, come on, let's just do this already."
I shot a glance at Ajia, but she just shrugged and motioned to her Aerodactyl to dive downward into the darkness under the trees. Aros followed after her and soon we were racing low along the ground, searching for where the Rockets had set up their resistance. The Assault Rays were positioned near the clearing where the runway exit of the base was. About five of them were set to defense mode, while the others continued to fire offensive rays at the raging Legendaries from the backs of the semi trucks. Every so often, the defensive L.A.R.s would deactivate long enough to allow transportation through, carrying countless Rockets and pieces of equipment.
Both of the flying Pokémon touched down and Starr dismounted, immediately releasing her Arcanine. Ajia pulled out a Poké Ball as well to let out her Pichu, which promptly hopped onto her shoulder. Following her example, I grabbed Chibi's Poké Ball and opened it with a flash of light.
"I thought you were just meeting with Stalker," he said, raising an eyebrow.
I didn't get a chance to respond because at that moment a huge gust of wind nearly swept us off our Pokémon. Suicune sprinted past us, stopping just at the edge of the clearing and tensing up, ready to leap forward at the Rockets.
"Suicune, wait!" I found myself yelling.
The cobalt cheetah quickly spun her head toward me and looked almost ready to attack, but then she stopped in surprise. "You! Human, why are you here—your intervention is unneeded!"
"You'll never be able to attack without attracting too much attention!" I shouted. Ajia looked surprised that Suicune had recognized me.
"If we did not want their attention, we wouldn't be here today!" the beast spat, rushing forward at once. Winds howled as she raced past the Rockets, heading for the L.A.R. on the end. Dodging beams fired from the machines, Suicune blasted out a pulsing torrent of bubbles, striking her target. Just seconds into the attack, however, she was hit by an L.A.R. The beast was sent reeling backward, her body glowing blue from the energy. She leapt to her feet quickly and shook her head, trying to regain herself before being hit a second time.
"Aerodactyl, use Razor Wind!" Ajia commanded, pointing. With a roar, the gray-scaled pterodactyl flapped its wings extremely quickly, sending a rushing gale forward that knocked the Rockets controlling the L.A.R.s off their feet. Seizing the chance, Suicune jumped to her feet and once again fired a Bubblebeam at the furthest Assault Ray.
"Aren't those things too tough to be affected by attacks?" Ajia asked.
"Not in offense mode—they're not invincible," I replied. "Come on, Suicune's got the right idea so long as we keep the Rockets off guard!"
I motioned to Aros and we zoomed forward toward the L.A.R. in the middle while Ajia's Aerodactyl continued its Razor Wind attacks. I heard a sudden explosion and turned to see that the Assault Ray on the end had collapsed from Suicune's Bubblebeam. Aros opened his mouth and breathed out a misty lick of green and blue flames, aimed at the central wires of the machine. Although he had to stop to catch his breath once, eventually the attack took its toll and the weapon began to falter and give off sparks.
I caught a glimpse of a Flamethrower to the side, and turned to see Starr following our example and having her Arcanine attack the adjacent Assault Ray.
"Starr?" I asked, surprised.
"Don't expect my help a second time because I'm not gonna play rebel like you and Ajia," she said.
The sound of another explosion filled the air, but this time it came from above us. I looked upward into the night sky to see a helicopter engulfed in flame and spiraling out of control. Was it one of Team Rocket's? I immediately realized that it couldn't have been—the only vehicles to escape from the runway were all trucks. It had to have been an innocent news chopper trying to film the battle.
It was only then that I spotted the main area where the Rockets that weren't escaping had gathered. On the northwestern edge of the defensive L.A.R. barrier, several supply trucks had been set up, around which the Rockets had gathered. Wondering what they were up to, I had Aros flew swiftly and silently in that direction.
"What about the Assault Rays?" Chibi asked, glancing back behind us.
"Ajia, Starr, and Suicune can handle 'em, and I wanna see what's going on over here," I answered, although at first glance it seemed like the Rockets were just standing around staring upward. I looked in that direction to see the Legendary battle continuing above us, although Moltres and Articuno were definitely looking worn, as they didn't have the L.A.R.s on their side anymore. Occasionally Mew or Latias would darn in between the conflict putting up Psychic shields.
And then suddenly a Master Ball shot through the air in a straight, fast line heading for Mew, who only barely evaded it at the last second.
"Who threw that…?" I muttered to myself. No one could possibly throw a ball that high and fast.
Another Master Ball flew into the air, this time only barely missing Ho-oh's wing. It just came out of nowhere so fast, almost as if it were a bullet.
My eyes widened suddenly. No. No, there was no way; the Rockets couldn't have…could they? And yet the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like such an obvious and easy technology…
All of the Rockets had sleek, metallic devices strapped to an arm. I watched as the man nearest to me pushed a button on his, waited for it to light up, and then pulled back forcefully on a handle. All at once, an explosion of energy shot out a Master Ball.
In the past, the Rockets had always fixed their biggest flaw by the next mission, and it seemed like this was no exception.
"There's no way—at least one of them will be…Aros use Sandstorm!!!"
The verdant dragon's wings buzzed faster than I could see, whipping up the dirt on the ground into a whirlwind of sand that swept up some of the Rockets and kept the others from getting a clear view of the Legendaries. Suddenly, one of the Rockets turned his cannon on us and fired.
"What the—?!" I yelled as Aros was struck in the face with the ball. I struggled to hold on as his flight faltered and he crashed awkwardly into the ground.
"Are you okay?!" I asked frantically while he struggled to stand up. I could see a trickle of blood leaking from his left eye lens.
He mumbled something in response and then quickly put a hand over his eye.
"Sorry," Chibi muttered, still clinging to my shoulder. "It was too sudden, I couldn't block it."
After having probably seen our attempt, Suicune came in from behind us, no doubt trying to destroy the cluster of Rocket supply trucks. Once the Master Balls flew, however, she was forced to retreat or else risk capture.
"There's no point in destroying those trucks, but I bet they're filled with all kinds of gear and weapons, so we should start with trashing that," I said.
"What about the Rockets?" Chibi asked.
"They're all focused on the Legendaries, and you can always use Reflect," I answered. But then my eyes fell on the other end of the L.A.R. barrier—another set of trucks, but without any Rockets near it, most likely because there wasn't a good view of the battle from way over there.
"Hey you guys, I've got a plan: Aros and I will head over there and wreck the supplies. You stay here with Stygian, that way the both of you can get it done quicker, and you'll have her speed in case something goes wrong and you have to get back to where Starr and Ajia are."
Chibi nodded understandingly and jumped down to the ground. I pulled out Stygian's Poké and released the catlike Pokémon, telling Chibi, "Let her know what's going on."
Aros and I took off for the far corner of the clearing, soaring along the edge of the Assault ray barrier before slowing down to hover over the three semi trucks that had been set up. The Flygon swooped low over the first one, touching down on the grass right in front of the back end. The cover was down, and probably locked as well.
"Alright, try a Dragon Claw on the latch," I suggested. Right after I said that, Aros drew back a forearm and slashed along the bottom of the door with flaming claws. He then grabbed the edge and thrust the cover open.
"Perfect," I said, jumping inside. The large space was filled with various crates, most likely unloaded from the storage area of the base. The one nearest me was filled to the brim with Master Ball cannons.
"Jade!" I heard Aros yell, followed by a high-pitched sound like a beam being fired.
I spun around immediately, but he wasn't standing at the opening. "Aros?!" I asked, running to the back of the truck and looking down to see him collapsed on the ground, his body coated in crystals of ice.
"An Ice Beam?" I wondered aloud, knowing that Aros was very vulnerable to ice. "But where from?"
"Hold it right there!" a Rocket yelled, running up from the left and gripping a Poké ball. I groaned under my breath—he must have seen us flying here and decided to follow. I was really tired of having to deal with Rockets at times when I least wanted and last expected.
A blue, long-eared, foxlike creature ran up to stand its ground in front of the Team Rocket member. It leaned forward and pawed the ground as though ready to fight, shaking the sapphire crystals hanging from the sides of its face. I realized that it must have been the Pokémon that attacked Aros. Thinking fast, I jumped out of the truck and recalled Aros only to release Firestorm and Swift right afterwards.
"Hurry Glaceon, stop them!" the Rocket yelled.
"Firestorm, Flamethrower; Swift, Wing Attack!" I instructed.
The Ice-type evolution of Eevee leaped forward at his command, dodging the spurts of flame that Firestorm breathed out. Swift took flight and flew in a tight circle before diving forward, his wings glowing. At the last second, however, Glaceon lunged out of the way, only barely evading the attack. Still trying to land a hit, Firestorm followed the fox's every move, slashing several times, but unable to keep up with his opponent's quick turns.
"Glaceon, Ice Beam!" the Rocket commanded.
The cerulean fox opened its mouth and fired out a shimmering blast of frigid blue energy. Flying in a spiral, Swift managed to dodge the attack before looping down and smacking the Glaceon with his wings. It flew back several feet before regaining itself just in time to avoid another of Firestorm's Flamethrowers.
"Firestorm, try Fire Punch!" I yelled. It seemed like the two of my Pokémon had finally been trained enough to stand a chance in battle.
Growling in frustration from being unable to land a blow, Firestorm blew a fireball onto his claws and lunged forward, ducking out of the way of an Ice Beam and finally striking Glaceon's leg. Crying out in pain, the ice fox kicked the Charmeleon away and sent freezing rays of energy everywhere. This time Swift's wing was caught in the blast. Unable to fly well, the Pidgeotto fell to the ground.
"Hurry, get it while it's down!" the Rocket yelled.
Following its trainer's order, Glaceon charged another Ice Beam in its mouth, but at the last second, Firestorm leaped in the way. Seizing the opportunity, Swift stood to his feet and struggled to flap his wings, but then suddenly his entire body was engulfed in a white light. While Firestorm took the attack, Swift nearly tripled in height and grew long, trailing feathers on his head.
"He's a Pidgeot," I gasped, amazed.
"Glaceon!" the Rocket shouted, "get the Charmeleon out of the way and attack the Pidgeot!"
The fox jumped backward only to rush forward immediately afterward and headbutt the flame reptile in the gut. Before Swift could dodge, Glaceon fired another Ice Beam, again hitting the bird's wing, and this time encasing it in ice crystals. But while it was distracted, Firestorm blasted out a blaze of star-shaped flame, striking his opponent perfectly.
"What in the world is going on here?" someone demanded. I turned to see another, likely higher-ranking Rocket running up behind the first.
"Sir!" the Rocket replied, recalling his Glaceon. "She was trying to sabotage the supply of Master Ball cannons!"
"Then what are you just standing around for?" his superior demanded. "How is a Pokémon battle supposed to settle anything?!" He quickly pulled a gun out from its holster and leveled it at me, and I could almost feel myself immediately go numb.
I heard the bang, I saw what happened, and yet I still wasn't entirely able to make sense of it. Firestorm suddenly leaped forward at the Executive, who turned his gun on the Charmeleon at the last second, hitting him in the leg. The flame reptile managed to bite down as hard as he could onto the man's arm, the ember on his tail blazing with rage. Blood poured from wounds, and claws slashed about in a frenzy. The other Rocket, now completely panicked, fired constantly at the Charmeleon with his stun ray, and yet Firestorm still kept at it.
"Firestorm!" I yelled, horrified at my inability to do anything.
And then his entire body began to glow. His form doubled in height, an immense pair of wings suddenly sprouted; his neck and jaws both elongated. With a huge roar of pain and rage, the Charizard easily overtook the man and threw him to the ground.
"Firestorm, what are you doing?!" I shouted, my eyes wide.
Still hopelessly reaching for the gun with his now useless arm, the Rocket gave one last frantic cry of, "Get this thing off of me!!" before Firestorm breathed out a savage lick of flames.
"Not again…" the dragon muttered, oblivious to the man's shouting. "Not again!!!" He expelled another vicious blast of heat. The other Rocket had run off after his superior was mauled, leaving Firestorm alone next to the man's charred remains
"I—you…you saved my life, but…you didn't have to go to that extreme," I stuttered, still stunned by what I had just seen. I had never thought he would do anything like that.
"First with Zack…then with you on that ship …I was always too weak to do anything about it, but not again!!!" the Charizard shouted with a scary look in his eyes.
I stepped backward slightly and Swift tensed up, ready for anything he might do. Pulling out Firestorm's Poke ball, I slowly said, "Okay, okay, not again…whatever that means. I'll just, y'know, recall you now…"
"No! You can fly on me out of here! Finally I can do it!" he exclaimed with a crazed expression. Ignoring his rants, I recalled him in a beam of red light. I stared at the ball for some time before turning to Swift with a lost expression.
"I didn't realize that you both were ready to evolve," I managed to say.
"He couldn't handle the evolution," the Pidgeot observed. "And it seems like there is much about himself that he hasn't told you."
I was about to ask he what he meant, but then suddenly heard a noise nearby. I recalled Swift and ducked inside the nearest truck, hiding behind a crate of Master Ball cannons. I could hear the sound of an engine revving and something driving away, and guessed that a Rocket had driven off in one of the semis that had been set up. Figuring that I didn't have much time left, I glanced outside the back of the truck. The first thing I noticed was the continuing Legendary battle overhead, with occasional Master Balls flying within the fray. I saw a ball strike one of Articuno's talons, obviously having no effect since the bird had already been captured.
And then it hit me. An idea entered my head, and I almost wished I could drive it out and forget it, but it was too late. You can't catch a Pokémon that's already been captured. What if the side opposing Team Rocket had Legendaries as well?
Ideas and memories came rushing into my head. Ajia had said that the Resistance wanted to protect the Legends, but they'd be doomed if they sat around and did nothing. The Legendaries wanted to strike now and ask questions later. But the Inside Resistance—they had Legendaries. They weren't trying to fight against Team Rocket directly, yet they could easily destroy it. They had the knowledge and the power, but the Resistance…did it really have any advantage? I knew that I wasn't aware of the whole story, but…if it was for sake of defeating Team Rocket, could Legends be captured so that Team Rocket couldn't get them? It would be possible to beat them at their own game and keep them from getting any stronger, and then there wouldn't have to be a war.
I wasn't sure what to think anymore. Ajia had said— But then Stalker had—it made more sense. But would it be doing the same thing as the Rockets? Only the intentions mattered, right?
I had no idea what I was doing—my mind was too jumbled to make the connection that I had grabbed the nearest Master Ball cannon and was now strapping it over my right arm. I pulled the bands tight and leapt out of the truck only to see Team Rocket still trying to escape in the last few supply trucks. Members in the back carried cannons to ward off the attacking Legends, and Moltres and Articuno followed limply. I figured that the few remaining Rockets would probably be coming for the rest of the second set of supply trucks that had been outside the L.A.R. barrier, so I quickly ran off into the trees.
Once I was a good distance away, I glanced up into the sky once more. The Master Ball barrage had died down; the Psychic Legendaries dropped their barriers. What was I doing? I knew Mew and Latias were out, but Lugia…or Ho-oh? Would it work? Would it help?
I could see Ho-oh soaring off, and Mew and Latias darted in another direction. Lugia hovered almost motionlessly overhead—a powerful and majestic Legendary of the sea. To wield that power against Team Rocket…
I pulled back on the handle.
An explosion of energy propelled the Master Ball forward towards its target. I didn't see the collision; all I saw was Lugia's body suddenly transform into blood-red energy as it was inescapably drawn into the ball despite its horrified screeching. In the end, the purple sphere fell to the ground like an iron lead, vibrating furiously.
It was caught. No single fact mattered more than that. Not the escaping Rockets, not the other Legendaries. I had done it? Had I meant to? Shaking slightly, I walked over and gingerly picked up the ball, as if it would lash out at me any second. What was I supposed to do with it now?
"Jade…?" a voice gasped in Pokéspeech
I spun around, unsure of how to respond when I saw Chibi standing just twenty feet from me, his eyes wide and mouth agape.
"Chibi, I…I can explain, at least, I think I ca—I didn't mean to, I—" I stuttered, dumbstruck.
But he just continued to stare at me with a look of complete disbelief. Finally he shook his head and seemed to regain himself. "What the fuck did you do that for??!!" he shouted.
"I thought that—I didn't…" I suddenly glanced down at the ball in my hand and held it away from me. Had I really meant to? My mind was so mixed up with thoughts and fears and memories that I hardly knew why I had done it.
Why? What now? What was I supposed to do now? How could I—?
Too confused and regretful to even think, I hurled the Master Ball as far away as I possibly could.
" No, don't!!!" Chibi shouted, absolutely horrorstruck.
The ball hit the ground and burst open, unleashing a surge of light far brighter than any ever released from a Poké ball. The energy immediately regained its form as light became flesh and the legendary dragon-bird materialized in front of me. I recoiled backward and tripped over my own feet—it was too late, but what else could I have done?
Lugia shrieked in surprise and rage, flapping its wings to stay aloft while glancing around rapidly. The avian dragon glimpsed the Rockets in the distance and then whirled around to face me, its eyes blazing with unparalleled fury. I could almost feel my heart stop and my entire body freeze up as I saw it charging a ball of energy in its mouth. I couldn't move—I couldn't breathe—I could only stare in paralyzed terror at the deadly beam of energy rushing toward me.
I flinched right when it was about to hit and waited for the end to come. Only…seconds passed and I still didn't feel anything. Slowly I opened my eyes, stunned to see myself surrounded by a shimmering field of lightning that quickly sputtered and died. I glanced over my shoulder to see Chibi sparking and out of breath. Then I understood—Chibi had been at near full power, and had drained all of his energy into a single Light Screen powerful enough to deflect the Hyper Beam.
"Please don't! " he pleaded with Lugia in between gasps for breath. "She's not on Team Rocket, she's fighting against them! That capture was just stupid and impulsive—she didn't mean to do it, so please…don't!"
The massive snowy-white bird paused slightly, heavily considering Chibi's words. From the expression on its face, however, it seemed as though all Chibi had managed to do was buy me an extra thirty seconds to live. Finally a telepathic voice filled the air—a chillingly bitter and domineering female voice that echoed within my mind.
(The half-Legend speaks on your behalf, human. But it does not matter whether or not you are against the ones who seek to overthrow the Legends. Alliances mean nothing; ambitions run awry no matter the side. It is all the same to me.)
She flicked a single wing feather.
Pain! Nothing but pain! I was lifted into the air psychically and then the attack struck. Indescribable… Unbearable… Every single inch of my body instantly filled with stabbing pain far worse than any electric shock. I clenched my teeth and dug my fingernails into my palms before being unable to keep from crying out in agony. I couldn't hear, I could barely see—God, why wouldn't it stop?! Endless pain everywhere, nothing else but that. Seconds at first, then minutes. I tried to keep track of how long, but my very thoughts were becoming obscured.
Nothing to do…no way to stop it…just kill me now, Lugia!
Everything dark—was I still in Viridian? Too long…couldn't handle…I didn't want to, I hadn't meant to…no way to change it… Flooding pain from nowhere and nothing else.
It had to end. I had to end. No more! Anything but this. Lugia!
Fading… Numbness building, but still nothing.
Claimer: I own the Master Ball Cannons. Plain and simple…it is not so generic that anyone could think of it—it is my invention and no one can use it. And both Resistances are mine, and the TLD shield is mine. And unlike the MTC program (Chapter 11), I actually know what TLD stands for xD