It was 5:00 AM over Peach Creek. Nazz hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night. She was still worrying about the upcoming invasion. The girl rolled over to see Kenzie, who was snoozing on a bean bag chair. She hoped that everything would turn out all right. For her sake, as well as the others. Nazz got up from her bed, causing the Kirlia to stir.
The Psychic-Type woke up groggily. "Kirli?"
"It's okay, Kenzie. I'm just waking up. There's nothing wrong." Another pouting Kirlia face prompted her to sweatdrop. "Oh-kaaay. I'm nervous about what Jonny told us-!" Nazz groaned.
"Kirl." Kenzie added, raising her chin.
Nazz turned to the Poke Ball that Preston handed to her, which Jonny asked him to catch. She got an idea. "I know. Why don't we meet our new friend to take our minds off it?"
"Kirlia!~" Kenzie chimed, eyes sparkling as she retrieved the Repeat Ball from the nightstand and handed it to her. Her trainer pressed the button in the center to activate the Ball and let it hit the floor.
In a flash of yellow-orange light, a figure appeared before them in a spherical shape before manifesting in a rush of sparkles.
The blond raised an eyebrow at the sight of it. It was a large-bodied reptillianish creature, bearing blue hide, with a cream underbelly and a stocky tail. The being also had ears with pins on them, and a horn in the center of it's forhead.
What caught Nazz's eye the most, was that it seemed to have a white pattern on it's chest and lower abdomen, almost as if it were wearing a bikini.
The creature's eyes blinked a few times, eyes adjusting quickly to the dim light due to it being a natural burrower.
"N...Nido?" It vocalized in a high-pitched voice.
"Wow...you're...something?" Nazz began, unnerved by the Pokemon leaning in for a closer look. "H...Hi?" 'What did that guy give me?'
She jumped back as the creature came even closer, but it nuzzled her neck lightly.
"Queeen...Nidoni-!~"
"Y...You like me?"
"Nido-queen!~" The "Nidoqueen" lowed cutely.
"Well...My name's Nazz!" She said to the big blue Pokemon before holding her hand out to her little green friend. "And that's Kenzie!"
"Kir-kirlia!" Kenzie chimed as she did ballerina-like twists and twirls before them.
"Nidonidoni!" Their new acquaintance clapped her hands together, applauding Kenzie, who took a bow.
"Hmm...so...if you're going to be our new Pokemon friend, you need a name…" Nazz thought. "Hmm...How about…" She looked over the Nidoqueen's large frame and face, trying to come up with a moniker for her. "Bailey?"
"NIDO!~" She screamed happily, giving a jump into the air, unaware of the loud crash she made when she fell down on her rear.
"Aiyee!" Nazz leaped back, clinging onto a nearby tall lamp. "Don't do that-! My parents are still sleeping-!"
"Qu...queen…" "Bailey" whined as she rubbed her sore tail.
"Nazz? Who was that?" An older woman's voice called as the lights flicked on.
"Uh...Oh…" Nazz blushed, turning to face her mother who had entered the room.
0
Later that morning, the Eds were making a run to the nearest town for snacks, when suddenly a trainer from the other world stopped them after seeing Watt on Double D's head. This boy was a young man with blond hair, wearing a fancy blue suit.
Eddy had Pecky out, testing her out for a battle, while the suit-wearing boy used some sort of strange raccoon-like creature.
"Okay, Pecky, I'm ready to see what you can do!" Eddy began. "Let's show 'em!"
"Now, Ziggy, time to strut your stuff!" The Rich Boy began.
"Zig-zag!" The raccoon creature barked.
"Go, Eddy! You got this!" Ed cheered.
Eddy gave him the thumbs up before returning to the battle. "Pecky, use Wing Attack!" The Proto-bird Pokemon gave a squawk as she hopped over to Ziggy and slapped him with her colorful wings. Ziggy recoiled, but otherwise took little damage.
"Shake it off! You're better than that!" Eddy's opponent began. "Use Growl!"
"Za-goon!" Ziggy snarled, loosing visible sound waves, causing Pecky to cover her ears.
"Now use Tackle!" The Rich Boy began. His Pokemon took off sprinting on all fours and slammed it's side into Pecky, sending her flying back to Eddy. The bird shook her head.
"Arrch!" She spewed, staggering back into the fight.
"Now, Bite it!" Eddy commanded.
"Arch-en!" Pecky crowed, biting down on Ziggy's tail.
"Oh no!" The boy protested as he watched his Zigzagoon run around in circles, trying to shake her off. "Please, you have to get it off! I know! Use Tail Whip!"
Ziggy growled again, shaking his tail wildly and throwing the Archen off.
"And go in for the coup de gras! Take Down!" His raccoon-like Pokemon barked, taking off full speed, aiming to slam his head into Pecky.
"We ain't losing that quick, Winston!" Eddy sneered. "Dodge it!"
"Archen!" Pecky snarled, slapping the ground with her wings to send her gliding to the side, narrowly missing Ziggy.
"Pluck, now!" Her trainer added.
"Chen-chen-chen-chen-chen-CHEN!" Pecky wildly jabbed Ziggy with her toothed beak, before knocking him back on the ground next to Winston.
Ziggy groaned as his eyes swirled.
"And that's a match. Eddy and Pecky win!" Double D said, raising a pair of flags made from a couple of old blankets from the junkyard.
Winston took a much fancier spray bottle from his coat pocket, and spritzed it onto Ziggy. Immediately, all of his wounds vanished, without so much as a hint of stinging.
"Zig-zag-oon!~" The little beast chirped, affectionally as he rubbed against Winston's leg. The blond boy smiled, giving him a few pats.
"Good show, Eddy. You say you only just started training your Archen, and yet it seems the two of you are already quite well matched for each other."
"Well...any other time, I'd be swatting her away." Eddy picked Pecky up in his arms. "But maybe you birds ain't so bad!"
Pecky's mouth contorted into a frown.
"Umm...It's a dinosaur, Eddy." Ed reminded him.
"Oh. Sorry." Eddy said, only for Pecky to slap him with her wing and walk off with a huffing squawk. "Oww…" The boy rubbed his cheek.
"But your bond is paling in comparison to my bond with Ziggy here." Winston said, picking up his Zigzagoon, who panted much like a dog. "Where I'm from, we'd typically hand you prize money, but since no civilized town I've been to has accepted anything I gave them, I'll hand you these instead."
Eddy held his hand out, and was surprised to see the young man hand him three luminous spheres.
"What…are these? Some kinda pearls?"
"Precious stones from Sinnoh. My father collects them, and he allowed me to have a few. Just remember to take them to an appraiser before trying to make any big purchases."
"Well...gee...thanks!" Eddy began, pocketing them, obviously having never heard of a place called "Sinnoh," but not turning the gems down.
"You're most welcome." Winston smiled, putting Ziggy down. "Now if you'll excuse me, we'll have to be off. We have an appointment with a groomer that agreed to work on this one and a new friend of mine agreed to cover it. Come along now boy."
"Zag-zag!" Ziggy barked, trailing next to his owner.
Eddy grinned, clutching his fists. "Let's go find that appraiser, boys! I'm itching to pick up some appropriate new duds!"
"Just remember we still have to pick up some snack food for the flight, Eddy." Double D said.
"I want gravy cakes, Double D!" Ed said, following behind them as they walked into town.
"Well we're not making those, Ed, they're a health hazard!" The smarter lad denied, recalling the dripping pats of jellied gravy he'd lain out for Santa Claus the previous Christmas.
"Awww…"
As they walked into town, they noticed something unusual. Few people were on the streets. Additionally, no building they walked by had power on.
"Strange...Where is everyone?" Edd said.
A hissing and droning sound drew his attention. "Wha-wha-ha-ha-ha-haaa-!" The noise was emanating from their backpack. Edd unzipped the bag, and Roto-Z half-hazardly flew out, nearly hitting him in the face as he zipped about.
"Woah there, little zappy!" Eddy began, managing to grab him. He bit his lip as the flailing Rotom nearly took off again, almost taking him with it. "What's gotten into you?"
"Th-tha-the-the-tha-the ai-ai-air izzz-mag-mag-mag-" The Rotom Dex began, only for Ed to grab him and swaddle him in his jacket.
The face on the device's screen wobbled back and forth. He gave a sigh before speaking in a fluid tone. "There's a wild magnetic field in this town! I wouldn't be surprised if this city didn't have ANY power going through it!"
"What would cause a magnetic field?" Eddy asked.
A loud buzzing sound droned in the distance, becoming louder as it got closer. The Eds turned to view the city block behind them. What appeared to be a living cloud flew out briskly from behind a five-story building, headed in their direction.
"Are...those...birds?" Ed asked. He looked closer to see that each one was a small spherically-shaped object, with a pair of magnets on their sides, and three screws on their bodies, one on top, but two on the bottom, as if serving for feet. A single eye was embedded in the center. "A...Alien robot drones!"
"Those aren't drones...those are Magnemite! Lots of them too!" Roto-Z described.
"Magnemite?" Eddy asked.
One of the creatures was displayed on the Dex screen. "Magnemite. The Magnet Pokemon. An Electric and Steel-Type. It is born with the ability to defy gravity by dispelling magnetic waves. It becomes incapable to do so when it's internal electrical energy supply is depleted. The units at it's side are capable of drawing iron objects from over 300 feet away."
"Those are...really...Pokemon?" Double D asked.
"Pipipichu-!" Watt marvelled.
"MAG!" A signal Magnemite turned back to see the lot of them. "MAGNEMAGNEMITE!" It buzzed madly as it flew in at Watt.
"Chu!?" Watt squeaked as it approached. He closed his eyes and covered his face, bracing for impact until a shadow cast over him. "Pi?"
Eddy had sent Volty out, and with one quick Focus Punch, the Shiny Pikachu sent that particular Magnemite flying into the ground. "Pi-KA!" Volty growled.
"Pichu!" Watt yelled, hugging Volty's sides.
The Pikachu smiled contentedly, until the entire swarm of Magnemite diverged from their path, now swirling around and diving at the two electric mice.
"That was a good right hook, Volty, but I don't think you can punch 'em all!" Eddy said, he and the other two stood in the doorway to a nearby diner. "Come on! Hurry!"
Volty let Watt go first, the two of them on all fours as they made for the eatery, dodging the Magnet Pokemon diving in for them.
"Chu!" Volty cried, zapping a group of three of them with a Thunderbolt. He perked his ears up, hoping that this would deter them, but to his surprise, the three Magnemite glowed white as his electricity sparked between them. The trio in their shimmering aura stuck together and permanently conjoined.
"P...Pika!?" The Mouse Pokemon gasped at the sight of the merged Magnemite that hovered in toward him.
"MmmmMAGNETON…" It buzzed in an almost hungry tone of voice.
A ball of purple energy struck the triple Magnet Pokemon in the side, knocking it away. Volty looked back to the diner to see their Mimikyu friend had come to his aid.
"Hurry!" Double D shrieked.
"Chu!" Volty bolted for the diner door, which was already heavily boarded up. A swarm of Magnemite slammed into the barricade, but harmlessly ricoche'd off.
The Eds, twin Thunder Mice, and the Mimikyu all breathed a sigh of relief, until a voice called behind them, making them all jump out of their skins.
"Mean little buggers, ain't they?" A short, elderly man asked, behind a deterioriated desk. He had silver hair, and wore a brown cap.
"No kidding!" Eddy exclaimed. "Where in the heck did those things come from!?"
"Yesterday, we saw them all flying in from the direction of an old abandoned power plant to the north. They latched themselves onto everything electric they could. Power lines, circuit breakers, even knocked people over for their cell phones."
"How frightening!" Edd added.
"C...Chu-!" Watt agreed, until hearing several loud, repetitive thuds from outside, hitting the wall. "PI!" He squealed, leaping into Edd's arms.
"MAGMAGMAGNEMAGNEMITEMITEMITE!" The magnet creatures roared outside.
"Man, why won't they stop!" Eddy spat.
"They're hungry, Eddy!" Ed said.
"How could that be, Ed? They seem to be inorganic life forms." Double D questioned.
"It's the electricity!" Roto-Z hummed, drawing their attention. "They're attracted to Watt and Volty-!"
"Oh man!" Eddy picked his afforementioned Pikachu up. "You don't think they can sniff 'em out if they're in they're Poke Balls, do you?"
"They might not."
"'Might?'"
"Well it'zzz better than WILL!"
"Hey, alright! I get it, you floating PDA!" Eddy rolled his eyes, pulling Volty's Ball out. "Return."
"Pi-ka." Volty vocalized as he was sucked inside.
"In you go, Watt. You'll be safe inside." Double D said, holding out Watt's. The Pichu gave a reluctant cry of "Chu," but allowed himself to be sheltered within it.
"I'll put myzelf in low power mode for now." Roto-Z added. "That way I might be harder for them to detect." His screen darkened until the face could barely be seen.
Double D put the Rotom Dex back into his bag and shouldered it.
"You boys can hide out her until those magnet things clear out."
"Oh joy…" Eddy added.
Double D peered out through a hole in the boards. The Magnemite seemed to be swirling around the three-fold melding that had come to be when Volty struck them with his Thunderbolt.
"That...Magneton…" Double D pieced together from it's vocalizing. "It must be their impromptu leader…" He looked to see something else that made him gasp.
Several of the Magnemite were attacking a lone, small creature he could barely see. What he could make out was the Pokemon's greenish blue back and yellow underbelly. It had a narrow muzzle, and red spots on his back. The living magnets dove in, tackling at the small Mouse-like animal.
"Th...there's bullying it…"
"What do you see?" Ed asked.
"Ed, you have to send your Sneasel out. She and Polter are our fastest non-electric Type Pokemon."
"What about 'em?" Eddy asked.
"I want Jackie to go out there with Polter for backup. I want them to bring that blue and yellow Pokemon those mad Magnemite are attacking in here."
"T...that might not be the wisest decision. What did you call them? Hokeyman?" The elder asked.
"Pokemon." Eddy corrected him.
"Right. What if those magnet things attack yours?"
"Then we'll have to try more drastic measures…" Double D grimaced, opening the door for Polter, who slithered outside.
Ed loosed his Jackie from her ball. The Sneasel shook her head briskly. "Snini-sel?(What do you want, idiot?)" She asked, a claw to her hip.
"Go out there and save that mouse thing, girl!" Ed directed her with a wave of his hand.
"Sne-sel-snee-snee?(What if I don't wanna?)" Jackie waved her claws passively as she strolled away.
"Kyuuuuuu…" Polter leered over her shoulder. "(DEW IT.)"
Jackie froze(pun not intended due to her being Ice-Type) and proceeded to gulp. "Sneasel-snee-!(Oh...okay!)" She vocalized in a terrified tone.
The Mimikyu and Sneasel peeked through the doorway to see the Magnemite that weren't circling Magneton were diving in near their small target, zapping the ground around him with Thunder Wave.
"Mimi-mikyuku!" Polter called, catching their attention.
"Magne-TON!" Their leader buzzed loudly, causing all the Magnemite to see them, and immediately loose wild bursts of Thunder Shock upon the Eds' Pokemon.
"Snee-Snea-SEL!(That's not good!)" Jackie vocalized, leaping deftly to avoid a few zaps, but couldn't protect herself from five of them swooping down and paralyzing her with a rapid volley of Thunder Wave. "Snee-!" She cried in pain as she fell to the ground.
Polter moved to her defense, only for the Magnemite to glow silver, focusing their Steel-Type energy and this time shooting large bullets of light. The Mimikyu used her claw to grab Jackie and the two managed to leap out of the way of the attacks' path.
"Cyn...Cynda! Quil!" The mouse-like creature they were charged with rescuing backed away into a corner, until Polter swung Jackie and the Sneasel managed to swipe him. "Quill!" He shrieked in fright.
"Sne-snii-sel-sneeesel!" Jackie vocalized to the smaller Pokemon. "(Sit back, kid. We got you.)"
"Cynda…" It whined, still afraid, but clinging to the Ice/Dark-Type's chest. The Magnemite gave chase, but Jackie expelled cold, freezing air from her mouth, Icy Wind to stall them, until finally, they managed to get into the diner.
Eddy slammed the door(On a stray Magnemite) causing it to get stuck in the doorway. "Step off!" He demanded, giving the Magnet Pokemon a quick kick and sending it back outside before closing the door. "Good riddance! Huh? Agh!" He grunted as the Magnemite outside continued to smack into the door and wall. Ed and Jackie(who now was sufficiently disturbed) joined him in holding it shut.
"Roto-Z, can you tell us why this sudden outbreak is happening?" Double D asked.
"Perhaps they're in search of a more plentiful food source...Feeding off the residual energy from the plant could only sustain them for so long." The Rotom began in a lower tone of voice before displaying an image of Magneton. "Magneton. The Magnet Pokemon. And Magnemite's Evolved Form. Electric and Steel-Type. For some reason, large outbreaks of this Pokemon occur when sunspots flare up. Their magnetic waves can ruin some presicion devices."
When the slamming died down, Ed and Eddy sighed before taking seats, the former in that corner and the second in an old chair.
"So I guess we gotta sit in here until they go away." Eddy groaned. "Wonderful…"
The smaller Pokemon rescued from the swarm cowered in a corner. "Q-q-quil-!"
Double D walked over and sat next to him, making him squeak nervously. Double D held his hand out. "It's okay, little one…"
"Cyn?" The creature squeaked inquisitively.
"Don't worry. We're safe now. Roto-Z, what can you tell me about this one?"
Roto-Z's screen flipped to it's image, only it had blazing fire erupting from it's back. "Cyndaquil. The Fire Mouse Pokemon. It is known for it's timidity. If startled, it will ignite the heat spots on it's back."
"Intriguing...So...what were you doing there all by yourself?"
The "Cyndaquil" started to express itself in all manner of squeaks and squeals, evidently trying to answer him. The Rotom Dex started to interpret.
"It says it was living peacefully in the forest with it's parents and siblings, when suddenly one day, they were consumed in light and found themselves in the middle of a city.
"Their appearance spooked the people living there, and some men came and kept them in cages until one day, his father managed to break them all loose. A big fight ensued, leading to his mother and brother escaping with them. They fled, but a bunch of mean people wearing black outfits found them and captured the rest of them in Poke Balls."
"My word...perhaps the Rockets?" Edd interrupted.
"This Cyndaquil managed to get away, but it was lost, and alone. Then we saw him this morning being attacked by the Magnemite."
Double D frowned, looking at Cyndaquil, who was sobbing and sniffling. He could also hear the poor dear's stomach growling loudly. He removed the bag, and took out a few berries the group had picked the previous day(after verifying that they were safe). He also took Watt's food bowl out and poured the berries into it.
"Cyndaa?" The Fire Mouse looked up from the floor to see the gesture of Edd pushing the berry laden bowl to him lightly.
"All yours. Eat up. A growing Pokemon needs to keep up his strength." He said warmly.
Cyndaquil looked into his eyes. This human he'd never seen before offered him food? Even when many others hurt him and his family?
He looked down to the berry and took a bite from a blackberry. To him, the berry may well had been mana from heaven.
"Quil!" He said, hopping up and doing his best to hug Double D with it's stubby paws. The boy smiled, picking him up and presuming to hand feed the child.
"Wow...Double D musta lived in a Pokemon world in his past life or somethin'..." Eddy marvelled. "He's got a way with 'em…"
Edd giggled to himself as the Cyndaquil let out a small burp, not aware of the other's comment.
0
Nazz sighed as she set out the door. She didn't usually keep her Pokemon in their Poke Balls, but she intended to keep them safe, leaving them inside, unless the situation arose that she needed them.
Preston and Jonny, along with their Pokemon stood on the sidewalk, waiting for her. "My friends relayed to me that the Rockets seem to be amassing by the river outside town." The Gym Leader began, holding three Ultra Balls out. "If we reach 'em before they can cross into Peach Creek, there's a chance we can hold the line against their invasion."
"Let's just get this over with then." Nazz said with a gulp.
Preston nodded, giving the three black and yellow topped Poke Balls in his hand a throw. They each popped open in a rush of golden light, forcing Nazz and Jonny to shield their eyes. When they opened them, three new creatures stood before them.
The first, next to their Trainer was a large blue dragon-like creature which was on all fours, with large, red crescent-shaped wings. "Sala-!" It roared, flapping it's wings.
The second, next to Jonny was the unusual-sight of an ostrich-like Pokemon with brown feathers, and three heads with distinct expressions. "Do-dri-o!" It's heads squawked in turn.
The third, next to Nazz was a large, elegant bird with golden and red hair-like feathers running down it's back. "Pidgeo-!" It screeched majesticaly.
Preston turned to each of his Pokemon. "Mars." He said to the Salamence. "Trion." He said to the Dodrio. "Skye." He said to the Pidgeot. "We need you to carry us to the creek across town where we'll see a group of bad guys gathering up. Can you do that?"
The three creatures each gave their nods of approval, albeit one of the Dodrio's heads shivered in fright.
The Pidgeot, named Skye lowered her wings, letting Nazz mount her back. "I never thought I'd actually ride on a bird!" She said.
The Dodrio squatted, letting Jonny on board. "Neat-o!" Jonny mused. "I really hope I can find one of you guys!"
Mars the Salamence lowered his wings as well, letting his trainer onto his back. Hopz casually strode over one of his beloved crescent wings and sat in front of Preston. Mars let out an annoyed snort, but abided by it.
"Well then...off we go!"
"Salaaa!" Mars roared, taking to the air.
"Pidgeo-go!" Pidgeot screeched, ascending to follow.
"Umm...how are we gonna follow 'em? You don't have wings." Jonny raised the point to Trion. The bird's middle head smirked, before flapping his left and right necks like wings and much to Jonny's surprise, the bird took a slow and low, but steady flight. "Now I've seen everything!" The boy smiled.
0
True to Preston's word a large number of Team Rainbow Rocket members was gathered by the famous creek. And in front of them, there indeed stood Archie. A grizzled, well-tanned man, with a short beard and a bandana. He wore a dark blue suit, and a blue bandana with a stylized "A" symbol.
"All right, men." Archie began, as he stood next to a man with oddly shaped blue hair, wearing a grey and black uniform. He wore a steely expression and watched the Team Aqua leader as he began his speech. "This is what we're looking for." He held up a disk that seemed to open up and display the holographic image of a crystalline object resembling a jagged DNA helix. "Your leader has given me control over your squadron. Lieutenant Saturn here has a device that can detect this object, which is vital to Giovanni's plan. It's picked up on it's prescence somewhere in this town. We are to turn over every rock, every fence, every HOUSE until we find it, taking prisoner any who stand in our way!
"Are we ready?!"
The Grunts all let out their cries of agreement.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Archie screamed.
"WE HEAR YOU-!" The Grunts are roared explosively.
"Good. Now go, and waste no time!"
As the grunts turned to begin their march on the town, a few of them looked to the sky, and one held out his finger to the air. "Look!"
Archie and Saturn caught wind of what they were seeing, and watched the young man and the two children descend from the sky on the three flying Pokemon.
The first, the raven-haired fellow and his Lopunny rose up from their seat on the Salamence's back.
"Are we late to the pep-rally?" He smirked.
Nazz and Jonny leapt off of the Pidgeot and Dodrio respectively, with Preston recalling the three of them.
"Now just who are you?" Saturn demanded to know.
"Who me?" Preston asked, stabbing his thumb toward himself. "I'm Preston. Peach Creek's im promptu Gym Leader."
"I didn't think there could be Pokemon Gyms in this world." Archie began. "Those stuffy Professors really seem to like interfering in our affairs."
Jonny hopped out in front of Preston and his Lopunny, pointing to Archie. "You've reached the end of your rope, Mr. Seafoam! Surrender, fiends!" He said, striking the poses of Great Saiyaman. "For the one who challenges you now is the mighty defender of Peach Creek and all it's children! The great! The powerful! Captain Melonhead!" The boy continued, crossing his arms in front of his chest as the image of a bonsai tree superimposed behind him.
Archie scoffed. "You should save your superhero shtick for the conventions, kid." He turned to the crowd of Grunts. "You're all out of your depth! We can't allow for any interlopers! Attack!"
The Rocket Grunts each produced their Poke Balls. "Go!" They screamed in unison.
"Brace yourselves!" Preston demanded, scooting back on his feet, and throwing two more Ultra Balls. They popped open, and loosed a great canine, with red, black-striped fur and brilliant yellow mane, and a huge green serpent, with a raised collar-like structure around it's neck.
"Arrka!" The hound barked.
"Per-i-or!" The snake roared as the grunt's swarm of Koffing, Raticate, Muk, Zubat and Golbat manifested and charged on them.
"Corona! Kaiser!" Preston began, looking at each of the two Pokemon he sent out. "Use Fire Blast and Frenzy Plant!"
"Arrrka-NINE!" The hound howled, loosing the huge burst of flames from his maw.
"Serrr-peri-or!" The snake hissed, jabbing his tail into the groud, sending large roots shooting up from the ground.
Most of the Rocket Grunts flying Pokemon managed to dodge the flames, but the roots sent them crashing into each other as they found their route of attack cut off.
"Remind me not to make that guy mad!" Jonny said as he took a step back. He felt a tugging at his cape. "Huh?" He looked down to see Leanna's magenta eyes gazing into his. They carried a protective will to them. "Y...You wanna fight too?"
"Stee! Steenee!" She affirmed.
Jonny turned to his other Pokemon, Planter and Muffler, his Seedot and Butterfree. They both expressed eagerness to fight and protect him.
The boy looked and saw the group of Machoke, Ekans, Voltorb, Murkrow and Graveler approaching. He nodded. "Go and get 'em."
His teammates charged in, Leanna charging one Machoke and planting Double Slaps on it's face and sending him crashing to the ground. A Murkrow swooped in, but she swung him away using her hair-like sepals.
A Voltorb rolled up to Planter, but the acorn-like Pokemon used Rapid Spin to avoid it's Tackle. Then, when he got turned back around, Planter gathered his forces, a green glow pervading his form, and loosing a flash of pale orange light.
"That was Hidden Power…" Preston remarked.
"Good job, Planter!" Jonny encouraged the small Seedot, but noticed the Rocket grunts at his sides. They weren't aiming to grab his Pokemon, they were readying to attack HIM.
"Grab him!" One of the goons hollered. With mutual cries of aggression, they pounced at him. The boy gasped in fright, ready to hold his ground until his vision went black.
'Th...this again-!' He tought as he saw each of the Rocket grunts as numerous outlines of purple flame. Reality seemed to slow down. 'What is this!?'
Then, as if to hint him, a gruff voice called out. "Use your feelings. And you will find the path."
Jonny looked around in the void to try and find the source of the sound, but as he did, he could see swishes of color between the grunts as if someone waved their hand.
He saw no other choice. This was the path through their charge. Jonny threw his body and shifted four different times before his vision returned to normal. The grunts all fell to the ground, expecting him to be standing in the same spot. His sudden disappearance jarred them.
The Rockets rose to their feet. "How did you do that!?" A greenish-black haired man among them growled.
"I have no idea-!" Jonny replied, backing away.
"Well you won't get away from this! Golbat! Use Sludge Bomb!"
"Koo-Baat!" One of the blue, huge-mawed bats flew in and spat large bullets of some sort of icky slime at him.
Jonny braced himself with his staff, but the attack didn't make contact. Muffler flew in between them and flapped his wings powerfully, dispersing the sludge.
"Attaboy, powerfly!" His trainer boasted. "Now give it your best Tackle!"
"Sppreee! Sprreee!" Muffler chirped, flinging his body into the Golbat's side, sending it crashing back into the air. The Golbat was hurt but not out.
"Ko! Ko!" It screeched.
"Golbat! Use Wing Attack!" The grunt demanded as he dove at Jonny, aiming to strike him with his fist. However, Jonny's vision changed again, and he managed to throw his palm up to block the blow harmlessly.
Golbat swooped in, striking Muffler with it's wing.
"Sppree!" He wailed in pain.
"Muffler! You gotta power through it! Confusion!" Jonny yelled. Muffler's big red eyes focused on Golbat as he worked his magic. A warbling phenomenon spiralled out of his head. The Golbat shot back in reverse as he cringed in pain, his whole body wracked by an unseen force.
"Stee! Nee! Nee! Stee!" Leanna shouted, giving an Ekans a few Double Slaps, before leaping and twirling around, loosing a rush of glowing leaves at a Graveller, the boulder-like Pokemon grunting in pain from the quadrupled damage.
The Fruit Pokemon smiled as she caught Jonny's eye, but was soon sent flying in pain as a Murkrow dove it's beak into her torso. "Steenee!"
"Leanna!" Jonny shouted, dodging a forearm strike from a grunt, but being struck by a kick to the stomach.
Planter's wide eyes widened even further as he ran on his odd wooden feet toward her. The Murkrow swapped his attention from her to him. The Darkness Pokemon's beak grinned wickedly as he flew higher into the air. "Mur! Mur-krowkrowkro!(Ha! Can't get me)!" He taunted.
The Seedot leapt up, fuming with hate for the blackish blue-feathered bird as it remained far out of reach.
"Murkrow! Give that thing a good Night Shade!"
"Krow!" Murkrow's eyes lit up with a purple miasma that shot at Planter. Rather than strike the Acorn Pokemon, it hit the ground next to him, but the shockwave knocked him on his side.
Leanna rose up, still pained in her chest, but saw Planter in the state he was. "Steestee…" She cooed, saddened by the treatment of one of her hosts.
Planter looked and saw the Steenee watching him, his yellow eyes connecting with her magenta orbs.
And then his sight turned back to the Rocket's Murkrow, which continued to taunt him. The sight of that wretched crow Pokemon made him seethe in anger.
How dare it make him look like a bug-a plaything-in front of the one he wished to protect!?
Planter had had enough. His body started to shake violently as he glowed, almost as if he was about to use Explosion, but instead, his body took on a bluish-white shine.
Jonny saw this, despite being forced to once again almost magically dodge and parry the grunts' attacks.
"He's...changing!" He watched with joy in his heart.
Planter's body first morphed into a fluid shape, before sprouting up into a short, humanoid one with flatish feet, and stocky, round legs. Arms and basic hands sprouted from his sides. At the top of his head, his stem morphed into a twig with a single leaf growing from it.
When the light died down, it revealed his new form, with legs bearing the semblance of wood. The rest of his body was more fleshlike. He bore a pointed noise as well. His simple black eyes narrowed into points as he glared at the Murkrow that struck him down.
"Nuz-LEAF!" Planter bellowed with a single beat of his chest, obviously a challenge. Jonny marvelled at his Pokemon's evolution.
The Murkrow dove in again, but this time Planter's body bore a light red tint right before the Peck hit home into his crossed arms. He was pushed back, but remained on his feet. The red glow intensified.
"That looks like Bide!" Preston said.
Murkrow cawed to itself before flying around for a second strike, and it hit dead center on his arms. Planter was pushed back even further this time, but dug in his heels.
Now the glow had truly intensified, steam boiling from his head. "NUZ! NUZLEAF!" Planter yelled, charging forward as his form's red glow vanished for an intense white aura. He slammed his body into Murkrow, sending him flying into the dirt by the water.
"Kroooooo…" It squawked painfully before it's master recalled it to it's Ball.
"You're gonna get it, punk!" One of the other grunts barked as they charged Planter and Jonny.
Planter leaped out of the way, but Jonny felt compelled to jab his staff into the ground and swirl around with it, delivering a kick each of the cronies that tried to rush him.
Hopz took in the chaos, but rather than fight herself, she reclined against a boulder, opting to produce a carton of pulp-free orange juice from seemingly nowhere, and pour herself a glass, sipping it contentedly.
Saturn saw this and scowled. "I'm going to fight as well." He began, producing an Ultra Ball.
"Yeah, you do that." Archie said, taking a seat.
"Toxicroak! Go!" The blue-haired young man demanded as he threw the Ball. It popped open, and loosed a large, lightly humanoid frog, with a red mouth, greyish-blue skin, and twin claws at the top of it's fingered hands.
"Toxiii-cro-o-oak!" It called out, ready for the battle.
"Destroy that annoying Lopunny." Saturn said, pointing at Hopz, who glanced their way blankly. However, rather than react, she simply polished off the rest of her orange juice with a sigh, making the former Team Galactic commander grunt incredulously.
Toxicroak jumped into action, slugging Hopz in the jaw with a mean Sucker Punch, knocking her over and nearly sending her into the drink.
Hopz got up, glaring hatefully at the poisonous frog. She wiped the dirt from her cheek as she did so.
"Lop.(Meat.)" She said threateningly.
Toxicroak's eyes widened, expecting the dress-clad Lopunny to have taken more damage.
Preston shrugged his shoulders. "Well this won't last long."
Archie heard him and raised his eyebrow. "You! Boy!" He called.
Preston turned to him, looking mildly displeased at the Rainbow Rocket commander for addressing him. "What do you want?"
"What did you mean by 'this won't last long?'"
"Just what I said. Compared to you 'creatures'-" Preston spat in a disgusted fashion. "Hopz is invincible. Darn near is."
Saturn whipped his arm around. "No Pokemon is invincible before us! Toxicroak! Poison Jab!"
"Toxiii!" The frog-like Pokemon croaked, the claws above his hands glowing violet as he made a swing.
"Watch out!" Nazz, who had been keeping her distance called out.
Hopz saw the blow coming, and crouched ominously before she suddenly jumped forward. Toxicroak blanched as she flew past her, wind nearly blowing him down. He looked around to see her behind him, with her back turned to him.
Toxicroak's mouth bulged as he croaked again, re-aiming his Poison Jab, only for her to whirl around and grab his wrist. Then, Hopz clutched her paw-fingers into a fist, which became coated in flame, and slammed it into his stomach. "Croooa!" He gasped, being flung back into the boulder she had been reclined against.
"Toxicroak!" Saturn gasped.
"Toooooxxxx…" The Poison/Fighting-Type groaned, twitching and fading in and out of consciousness.
"H...how could something like that defeat Toxicroak!?" His trainer scowled, recalling him to his ball before gritting his teeth at the sphere in hand.
"Like I said. To you, Hopz is invincible." Preston repeated.
Archie rose up from his seat. "Oh-hoho-ho!" He chuckled. "Poor Saturn. How the mighty have fallen."
Saturn glared at him as he strolled up. "Now it's my turn." The former Team Aqua leader said. "My Pokemon are hardened by the cold, and mighty sea!" He pointed at Hopz while she wasn't looking at him. "You and that tea-party Pokemon are about to see how 'invincible' you are!"
The Lopunny froze at his statement as her ear jerked. An ominous breeze blew by.
Preston removed his glasses, handing them to his Serperior, Kaiser, who produced a vine from under his collar and held them. 'Oh, he shouldn't've said that…" The Regal Pokemon hissed mentally.
Archie chuckled again. "What? Delcatty got your tongue?"
Hopz slowly cocked her head to the side, her black-sclera'd pink eyes leering daggers into him. In spite of Archie's status as a hardened criminal, the glare alone was oppressive. Then, suddenly, her death glare turned into a disturbing smile, with eyes as wide as dinner plates and a smile reaching across both sides of her head. The former Team boss shrank back. This was even more frightening than the glare.
However, rather than attack him, the Lopunny glanced to the side to see a series of boulders poking their way out of the river.
To the surprise of all, she leapt over to the largest one, standing on top and reaching for the straps of her dress.
-Pokemon English Dub Intro Song-
-Unbeatable-
With one quick motion, she whipped the dress off, revealing that she was wearing an electric pink one-piece swimsuit that seemed tailor made for her. She threw the dress to Kaiser, who caught it with his tail.
"Ser-ser-serperior!" He hissed. "(What am I, a coat-rack!?)
"Why does your Pokemon wear clothes again?" Nazz asked.
"She considers herself a fashionista." Preston replied. "She wants to win in style."
Hopz glared at Archie again, reaffixing her treasured Lopunnite brooch, demanding that he bring out his first Pokemon. "What? Am I supposed to be intimidated!?" The gruff pirate-like villain asked, producing a Master Ball. "Go, Mightyena! Teach that little bunny a lesson she won't soon forget!"
He threw the purple-topped Poke Ball and it burst open, revealing a black and grey furred wolf-hyena hybrid-like Pokemon.
"Miiiigh!" It howled as it came into existence.
"Use Crunch!" Archie called.
The hound leapt for Hopz, as his jaws glowed and a tracing of them superimposed around his head.
Hopz swished around, ducking to the side and making the dog fall into the stream. He rose up and shook his head.
"Shake it off! Shadow Ball!" Archie commanded.
"Yee-na!" Mightyena barked, shooting a pulsing ball of darkness at Hopz. She threw her arms up, blocking the attack. It may have been intense, but it was by no means a threat.
"Lop!~" She mused, crushing the Shadow Ball into dispersed sparkles in her paws.
Archie scowled.
"Sky Uppercut." Preston called.
Hopz clutched her fist, which glowed white as she slugged Mightyena's chin, sending him skyward. The force from the blow sent him flying back to Archie. He struggled, but managed to get back up.
"Snarl!" It's master barked.
"Iiiiiight-!" Mightyena for lack of better phrasing, LITERALLY snarled, sending a wave of dark power at Hopz. The Lopunny staggered back, and fell to her knees.
She shivered and held her head in her paws. "Looooh-ho-hop-! Puun-puuuun!"
Then, Hopz rose up, smiling playfully. "Pun-punny!(Just kidding!~)"
The Mightyena bared his fangs, ready to pounce again. "Take Down!" It took on a light bluish aura and bounded for Hopz.
"Miiiiii-na!" It howled as it jumped, ready to slam into her.
Hopz smiled before falling with her back onto the stone as he flew through the air, surprised by her dodging. Then, she drew back her leg and shoved herself off the boulder, delivering a painful Jump Kick to his stomach.
"Yeeeena!" It gasped as it rolled in midair and landed painfully on his side.
Archie grunted, recalling his Mightyena to his Poke Ball. Then, Hopz turned her attention to him.
"Lop-lop? Lop-lop?(What's wrong? Too strong?)" She asked, beckoning and making a blank gaze.
"How dare you mock me!" He shouted, producing a blue Ball with four yellow pieces and a grid theme. "If my ordinary Pokemon couldn't hack it, then let's try a BEAST!"
Preston's eyes narrowed. The Union had told him of Ultra Beasts, but this would be his first time seeing one. "Hopz! Keep a sharp eye out."
She turned to her trainer and gave a cocky grin. "Punny!" She gave a thumbs up.
"Come forth, my mighty beast!" Archie said, giving the Ball a toss, and it opened. The light rushed into the water, and Hopz watched the churning surface, curious as to WHAT she would be facing.
Then it began to reveal itself.
-Pirates of the Carribean Kraken Theme-
Slowly, one by one, pale white tentacles wriggled out from the water. Hopz' jaw slacked in horror as the monster rose up from the creek. She started to shudder and pant in fright.
"What is that!?" Nazz retched.
"Something gross!" Jonny added.
Preston cursed under his breath. 'Just great...it had to be something with tentacles.'
After what seemed like an eternity, what seemed to essentially be a huge pale white and blue jellyfish lacking eyes or a mouth rose up hovering from the water.
"N-n-n-n-ni-ninihe-he-he-!" The strange noise it made was unnerving to all present.
"Loploplop! Lop-pun-punny-pun!(Call me back! It wants my soul!)" Hopz wailed trying to scramble off of the stone and back to shore, but the freakish Pokemon immediately wrapped it's legs around her left arm and leg. "NYYY!(NO!)"
"She's really scared now!" Archie cackled. "Where's that tough girl demeanor, huh!?"
"Tch...Hopz had a bad run in with a Tentacool as a Buneary and a Tentacruel later on, and she's been terrified of similar Pokemon ever since." Preston spat.
"I'd be terrified of them to if they're anything like that thing!" Nazz added.
"Now, Nihilego!" Their enemy began. "Do your thing!"
The jellyfish dragged Hopz closer and closer in spite of her kicking, screaming and thrashing.
"What is that thing doing to my partner!?" Preston shouted to Archie. "Answer me you thug!"
"Ha-ha...Just...taking a nice and powerful prisoner."
"Looooop! Pun-pun-lop-ny-lop!(Groooooss! Get this ugly thing off!)" Hopz pleaded as Nihilego wrapped more of it's tentacles around her body, crawling it's way on top of her. She felt her body being stung all over by some unseen force. "Loooop!" The Lopunny screamed as she felt herself being sucked inside Nihilego's transluscent form.
-Yu-Gi-Oh DM OST: God's Anger-
The jellyfish Pokemon reared up to display Hopz, who was now in the center of it's body, but her fur was stained white, turning the swimsuit a dull red. Her pink eyes went cold and empty.
"H...Hopz?!" Preston asked.
The Nihilego's tentacles slithered upward, and much to the Gym Leader's shock engorged themselves wildly, becoming muscular-looking trunks, ending in clawed fingers.
Archie smirked. "More useful than a Poke Ball!"
Nihilego-Hopz swung it's tentacle trunks, nearly hitting Preston, if not for his quick thinking. He took a brisk five paces backward, but the impact knocked him on his behind.
"Dude!" The blond at his side knelt to help him up, but he put a hand out.
"I'm fine. We have to help Hopz." He asserted. He took out his Pokedex, giving it a scan. It didn't produce any detailed data on the Pokemon, due to it being an unknown species, but it did tell him an important factor. "So...whatever this Nihilego is, it's got a Rock and Poison typing."
"What does that mean?" She asked.
The Nihilego-infected Lopunny reached out for them with it's arms, aiming to crush them. The young man and preteen gasped, as Hopz' expression twisted into one of sadistic pleasure.
However, a swarm of green, bullet-shaped bursts of energy smacked into the middle of the engorged tentacle, stinging it.
The parasitized Lopunny shot an angry glance at the costumed kid and his Nuzleaf, which had attacked her. The Nihilego part of the mashup worked it's attacking powers, and created four crystalline objects, which loosed beams of light at them. The beams struck, blasting Jonny and Planter back.
"Aggh!" The boy hollered.
"Nuz-nuz!" Planter screamed.
Preston turned to Nazz. "You have your Kirlia and the Pokemon I gave you, right?"
"Oh!" She dug into her pants pocket, pulling out the Poke Ball and the Repeat Ball. "Yeah, they're right here-"
"Duck!" Preston screamed, grabbing her and throwing themselves into a roll as Nihilego-Hopz made a grab for them.
He rose back to his feet. "Bring 'em out!"
The girl who was normally a bystander nodded, but in the hysteria, and her passive nature, she had thrown the Balls without enlarging them first.
The Gym Leader went stiffer than Plank when he saw this. "You didn't do it right!" He screamed as the two standby mode Poke Balls clacked harmlessly against the ground.
"Oh! I...I'm sorry!" Nazz stammered apologetically. "I'm not used to this-hey! Those are mine!" She snapped back into reality as the Nihilego snatched up the two balls. It's odd voice mused contentedly. These Pokemon could serve as more nutrition when it'd finished digesting the Lopunny.
It was about to draw them inside with Hopz, when they started to glow violet.
"What's happening?" One of the Rocket Grunts gasped.
The two Poke Balls seemed to magically enlarge themselves and burst open.
Nazz's Kirlia and Nidoqueen came into existence in a massive flash of light.
"Kirkir!" Kenzie piped up, fuming at nearly being swallowed by some jellyfish.
"Nido!" Bailey roared, angry that the Nihilego wanted to hurt her new friends.
"How did they do that!" Archie shrieked.
"When Pokemon sense friends they truly care about in danger, nothing is impossible! Give up your villainous ways and that's something you might learn!" Preston admonished.
The pirate-like gang-leader seethed in annoyance. "Enough of your preaching! Nihilego, crush them all!"
The Nihilego lunged, but found it unable to swing it's tentacles, as it was coated in a purple sheen emanating psionic energy. Kenzie held her at bay with her Psychic.
"Now!" Preston turned to Nazz. "Have Nidoqueen use Earth Power!"
Nazz was much more competent this time. "Bailey! Earth Power!"
The Poison/Ground-Type closed her eyes, concentrating her energies, before waving her arms and stomping twice with a roar of "QUEEEN!"
These stomps stirred something deep within the ground, which began to shake frighteningly. Much to Nazz's surprise, the ground broke apart in places, sending earth and volcanic heat up from below, sending Nihilego Hopz into a panic attack as the attack did it's toll on it's outer shell. Hopz took no damage at all though, but instead, twisted by the parasitic jellyfish, she grit her teeth and glared hatefully at Bailey until she heard a familiar voice.
"Hopz! Stop this!"
She shifted her attention to see Preston, who frowned dreadfully, making her blink as her reasoning tried to click back on.
"That's it Hopz...remember me...remember all we went through!" He begged.
The Nihilego could only struggle to try and force Hopz to attack, but Hopz' pause wouldn't let it.
In her blanked mind, a familiar image played in her mind.
-Hearthome City-
-Sinnoh Region-
On the streets of Sinnoh's popular tourist hub, a group of people walked through the streets. Some were headed to the Pokemon Contest Hall, others were headed to the Hearthome Gym to test their skills against Fantina. Others were simply caught up in their daily routine.
There was Hopz, however, she was just a little Buneary back then. She stood on the edge of an alley on a cardboard box, which looked like she had fashioned into a makeshift stage, smiling at the people going by.
Even then, she had a penchant for wearing tiny outfits made for her, albeit this one was a half-jacket made essentially of garbage. Hopz tried to woo the people walking past her, by doing cute hops, and playful Dizzy Punches at the air. Even a Bounce or two, but aside from the stray school girl giggling, nobody paid her any mind. There was even some boy with white hair that walked up and kicked her.
Hopz sat crying in the alleyway, with only her surrogate mother, a lone Gothitelle to console her. She bawled into her caretaker's dress, with the Astral Pokemon patting her back.
The Gothitelle frowned. She knew Hopz' goal in her cute routine was to find a Pokemon Trainer to travel with. Or at least a girl with a nice comfortable home she could be a house pet to.
She had been caretaker for her ever since her family was lost in a forest fire. For the last year, she had went around to all of Sinnoh's popular areas, trying to help her, but each time, the Buneary was denied.
It didn't help that a spoiled Purugly seemed to be chasing them.
Then, one day, her life changed.
A 12-year old boy near the ruins in Solaceon Town set eyes on her when they were passing through to Veilstone City. He had curly black hair, and wore some glasses with a damaged frame. He was also frighteningly pale, as if he was a shut in.
This boy turned out to be Preston. When they shrank away from him, and Gothitelle got between them in case his intention was malicious, he instead knelt down, offering the pair handfuls of fresh picked Pecha Berries.
Gothitelle was still wary of the boy, but wasn't going to deny her charge's hungry belly. She allowed Hopz to approach and take a bite, before being delighted by the pink berry's sweet taste.
Preston laughed as Hopz practically gorged herself on berry after berry. When the Buneary was full, she tried to give him a hug with her paws, but Gothitelle drew her back to her with Psychic, deciding it was time for them to be on their way. Hopz squeaked her gratitude in Pokemon language, and Preston stood there with a confused gaze. He would follow them, much to Gothitelle's chagrin.
Then came the Purugly.
The Tiger Cat Pokemon had apparently followed them from Hearthome City, aiming to make their lives miserable. She threw herself on top of Hopz with a Body Slam, after incapacitatng Gothitelle with a Night Slash. The aggressive cat nearly crushed Hopz with her much heavier body. Contented that she would not get up, the Purugly rose and helped herself to their food they'd managed to scrounge up.
Preston was forced to watch this, but he wasn't standing for it. He only had one Poke Ball on him, and decided to help the two. He sent his Eevee out, which would later become his Umbreon that he used during his battle with Grey.
The two of them scrapped, but Purugly dominated the battle, nearly giving the Eevee a serious injury. Preston returned him, and managed to scoop Hopz up in his arms. He took off running, but Purugly pounced in front of him, snarling angrily.
Gothitelle managed to get up, and used Hypnosis to put the fierce feline into a trance. She saw Preston off to the nearest Pokemon Center to heal his Eevee and the Buneary. He saw fit to stay the night in the center with Hopz to watch her recovery.
When she woke up the next morning, Hopz took in the reality that she was saved by this boy. No other human had shown her such kindness. Then, Preston revealed himself as having just started on a Pokemon journey with his Eevee, but was having a rough start.
As Preston had seen Hopz' medical care was complete, he prepared to leave, but she had followed him(after getting Gothitelle's blessing). He was elated to see that she wanted to follow him along, so he managed to catch her in a Poke Ball without a fight.
With that, they returned to his home region of Unova. Apparently he wanted to challenge Hoenn, but the two went on to train, and with all their practice, managed to beat the Striaton, Castelia, Nimbasa, and Humilau City Gyms.
Their bond strengthened even more after Hopz evolved into Lopunny, and they made for Hoenn with eagerness to take on their Elite Four.
First off, he challenged Norman, but the Petalburg Leader's Slaking was too strong for her, overpowering her with it's Focus Punch. He advised them to challenge a few other Gyms first, and they did so.
By the time they reached Slateport City after defeating Roxanne, Preston discovered that Hopz had an interest in Pokemon Contests as well, winning the Slateport Ribbon.
After beating Watson and Flannery, he circled back around to Dewford Town and challenged Brawly, and after a rough match, managed to win his badge as well.
The time had come for his rematch with Norman. The stoic Gym Leader challenged him with two Slakings and a Vigoroth.
Preston matched him with Hopz, Umbrei and Kaiser, who was a Servine at the time. The match was rough, but Hopz prevailed in the end, earning the Balance Badge. After heading out, he met with an old man named Briney, who offered him a ride to a tropical island region called Alola. Hopz clasped her paw-hands together, eyes sparkling and begged her trainer in Poke-speak to go. He smiled back, saying that it might be time for a vacation.
The month they spent in Alola was one of special training and relaxation, and did wonders for the rest of their Hoenn League challenge. Preston and Hopz managed to overcome Winona's aerial attacks, and matched wits with Tate and Liza's Solrock and Lunatone. Finally, they challenged Sootopolis Gym's Leader, a well dressed and handsome individual named Juan. However, rather than a traditional battle, they first took him on in a Pokemon Contest. They lost that, due to Juan's Milotic having a natural shine and glimmer to it's body, but when they challenged his Gym next, a few days later, she overcame Milotic after learning Solar Beam via TM.
Finally, they managed to claw their way through Victory Road, and to the Pokemon League(since the specific world they came from is loosely based on the Pokemon Games, there was no tournament. They could instantly challenge the Elite Four.
First up was the Ghost-Type Trainer Pheobe, who Preston managed to beat with Umbrei. Second was a woman with a Walrein named Glacia, who Hopz managed to overcome with a well placed Jump Kick. Third was an elderly man who looked more fit to be the captain of a cruise ship, but his battle with them was the fiercest by far. Preston and Drake's team were down to just one Pokemon apiece, and both happened to be Salamence.
Mars and Drake's Salamence fought savagely, until Preston tapped into the power of his Key Stone, which reacted with Mars' Salamencite. Mars was swathed in evolutionary light, becoming Mega Salamence and overpowering Drake's.
With a shout of pride and joy, Mars(after reverting back into an ordinary Salamence), Preston and Hopz moved onto the last Elite Four member.
Much to his surprise, it was a man with silver-grey hair named Steven. He voiced his confusion, as he had been the champion a month ago.
Steven informed him that another young trainer had defeated him while Preston and party were in Alola, thus resulting in him being pushed back into the Elite Four.
As he sent out his Metagross, and Preston sent Hopz into battle, an official called off the match. He walked up to Preston, and gave him a horrifying piece of news, resulting in his need to return to Unova.
-End of Flashback-
Hopz struggled inside Nihilego, having come back to herself. "Lop-lop-LOP!" She screeched. The Ultra Beast tried to keep her under control, stinging her with more nuerotoxin, but her Hyper Voice was too much for it. In an effort to make her stop, it regurgitated her, letting her fall into the creek.
"Hopz!" Preston and Nazz shouted in unison.
After a brief struggle against the current, she managed to climb back on top of her stony perch. "Lop-punn!" She roared, ready to literally try and KILL the Nihilego.
Nihilego on the other hand was still wracked in pain from the intense vibration of the Hyper Voice. Archie blew his top before calling it back.
"Don't get cocky! This fights far from over!"
Hopz smiled again in his direction after calming down from her rage.
-Unbeatable resumes, but at a higher pitch and faster pace-
The Lopunny started sprinting in place as she threw her paws up, boxing the air. She did it so fast that dust actually started to sprinkle off of the boulder she was on. She enjoyed toying with the bad guys.
After all. This was her playtime. That's what she thought of the whole endeavor with the Rocket Grunts. Play.
"Lop...Lop...Lop...Lop-! Lop! Lop!(Play...play...play...play-! Play! Play!)" Hopz repeated as if it were her own heartbeat. Archie could swear he saw flames erupt from her form.
He grit his teeth, until they probably should've cracked. "Why you-! Nobody disrespects the great Archie!" He ripped his way out of his jacket. "Nobody!"
Preston's eyes narrowed at the sight of the jewel-encrusted anchor wrapped held around his neck by a gold chain. The most catching feature was the Key Stone embedded in the center.
Archie produced three Master Balls. "Out here now!" He barked, throwing all of them into the air. They tore their way open as three streams of light shot into the water.
"He's using three Pokemon at once!?" Jonny exclaimed.
Preston looked over to Kaiser and Corona. The Serperior and Arcanine both approached, but he shook his head. "Don't worry.
"She'll be fine."
Three large fins cut the surface of the water as they circled around Hopz' boulder.
"P...Pokemon sharks!?" Nazz gasped as one of them leapt out of the water. On closer inspection, it's body was blue, with a grey underbelly. It had an almost torpedo-like shape, with blade-like fins on either side, and a fin on the bottom. It also had sharp, menacing teeth.
"Sharpedo…The gangster of the sea." Preston began.
Archie held out his Key Stone laden anchor. "More savage than a tsunami! More powerful than a hurricane!" He chanted as the stone glowed as did one of the Sharpedo. "Beyond evolution! Mega Evolve!"
The surface of the water lit up as this particular Brutal Pokemon began to change in an explosion of light.
It burst out of the water, revealing it's changed form, which now bore toothy protrusions on the top of it's longer jaw, as well as yellow stripes.
"Zhaaaar-peeeedooooo!" It snapped.
"Poison Fang!"
The shark's fangs glowed purple and elongated as it flew in to bite Hopz around the waist. "Punny!" She wailed. Memory had indeed served her correctly; Mega Sharpedo's biting moves were much stronger.
"Are you all right?" Preston asked. Hopz nodded to him through the pain. "Sky Uppercut!"
Her fist glowed again, and she slammed it down into Mega Sharpedo's side. "Zhar!" It growled in pain.
"Slash!" Archie motioned to the other two sharks.
"Shar!" One of the two regular Sharpedo barked, leaping out of the water, and slashing Hopz in the belly with her fin.
Aside from a small scratch wound, and a gash in her swimsuit, she was all right. The other Sharpedo flew in and did the same, effectively reducing Hopz' pink swimsuit into a sort of bikini.
"Lop! PunnypunpunLoppun!(Hey! This was my favorite one!)" She squeaked in an angry tone.
"Fire Punch!" Preston demanded.
Another Sharpedo lunged, only for Hopz to duck and punch it's stomach with her burning fist, ignoring the pain from it's Rough Skin ability.
"Crunch!" Archie commanded. The Mega Sharpedo flew out of the water again, a superimposed set of jaws around it's head.
Hopz leapt from the boulder, aiming to meet the shark head on, gracefully leaping like a ballerina, foot first toward the opponent.
"It's going to bite her in half!" Jonny observed.
"Stee-stee-nee!" Leanna added.
However, before the bite would make contact, Hopz thrusted her foot downward, effectively using the Sharpedo for a platform before sending him crashing down into the creek with a Jump Kick.
After the waves settled, the Mega-Evolved shark poked it's head out of the water. "Zhar-zhar-zhar-pe-do-do-do!(How dare you play games with us!)" It vocalized.
"Punnypun!(It's not hard!~)" Hopz teased, poking her tongue out.
"Hyper Voice!" Preston shouted.
Hopz took a deep breath, and gave another loud scream of "LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!", sound waves exploding around her. The humans and Pokemon surrounding her were forced to cover their ears, save for Kaiser the Serperior, whose lack of outer ears eased it.
The three sharks were forced to poke their heads under the water to muffle the noise, vibrations casting huge waves over them.
"A...And it isn't even Mega Evolved itself-!" Saturn noted.
Hopz cleared her throat as she ceased her attack. "PunnlopunnypunnyLopunny?(Do I need to repeat myself?)"
"Of course she's not even Mega Evolved." Preston began. "I've devoted my livelihood as a trainer to naturally increasing my Pokemon's powers through compassion and drive. Training together, resting together, grooming, meals supplemented with Protein, Iron, Carbos, Zinc, and the like. Learning from move tutors to memorize any move a Pokemon can learn and how to teach it! The bond we share? That's something thugs like you could never understand! You don't deserve the satisfaction of seeing us at our full power!"
"What do you know about thugs like me?" Archie snorted.
"Because thugs like you burned down my town!" He replied hatefully.
"W...what?"
"Ohhh yes...Ten years ago." Preston began. "When I was fighting the Elite Four of Hoenn In my world, in Aspertia City in the Unova Region. After Team Plasma was defeated the first time, they went through a resurgence. They sacked Aspertia on the hunt for something that could give them access to a new Legendary Pokemon...one with strength exceeding both Reshiram AND Zekrom. They didn't even find it...But still...they were ruthless monsters...they drove everyone out of town and burned the houses and apartments right to the ground! And those that didn't make it out..." He shook with rage, beating his chest with one fist.
Nazz felt something deep in her heart sink. "Oh...no…" 'To think he had to suffer through that…'
Preston clutched his fist. "I'll never forgive that swine, Ghetsis! But still...I vowed that hate won't rule my heart. I've risen above that day...And I'll seal that heartbreak forever when the Ghetsis with you, whichever incarnation he might be is brought to justice!
"It's time to finish this!" He held up his wrist showing the bracelet that held his Key Stone.
Archie took a step back. "But I thought you said-" He was stunned silent when he flipped the bracelet around, revealing a strange holding space, which held an orange crystal bearing a black fist inside. "...What is that?" He asked nervously.
"A Z-Crystal. You see, when I was in Alola for a month, Hopz and I did more than swim and work on our tans!"
Before Archie could question what a "Z-Crystal" was, Preston swung his arms, and Hopz did the same. The two both started flinging their fists forward, before the trainer stopped, with one fist pumped forward. He was coated in orange aura that flew into Hopz, giving her a power boost as an arrow symbol appeared briefly. Stylized words reading "ALL-OUT PUMMELING" magically drew out above her head.
"Get out of our sight/(Get out of our sight)!" Preston and Hopz called in human and Pokemon language, their mouths even synchronizing as they again punched at the air. However, as the Lopunny did so, she sent energy bursts in the exact shape of fists from her own.
The three Sharpedo all surfaced, finally having settled from the Hyper Voice, not knowing the barrage of punches was coming their way. They all shrieked in fear before they were assaulted from the attack, each fist burst slamming into their faces and sides. Then, with one tremendous leap forward, Hopz was coated in energy, striking all three of them at once with the field around her, and sending them flying back into Archie.
The one time Team Aqua boss bolted back as two of the three sharks landed in front of them, and the Mega Sharpedo landed right on top of him. "O...Ouch-!" He winced as it reverted into it's ordinary state in a flash of light.
Archie stood up, recalling his three Sharpedo. "Wh...what are you!?"
Preston frowned, before taking his glasses back from Kaiser as he and Hopz turned around, with their backs faced to them. "I'm a real Pokemon Trainer."
"Archie, sir…" One of the Rockets said at his side. "What can be done?"
"Grr…" Archie grumbled. "We retreat for now...but let me tell you this. While we've been here, another squadron's been wreaking havoc on the other side of town!" Preston turned back to him, with a glare that could pierce iron.
"What did you say!?"
The Rainbow Rocket commander laughed from deep in his belly. "That's right! By now, they've probably ransacked that one-horse town of Peach Creek and taken what we came here for!"
Saturn pulled out an unusual device that looked like a button trigger with a pair of antennae. He pressed the button, and the group erupted in a flash of light, forcing the children and Gym Leader to cover their eyes.
When the light died down, the lot of them had vanished, save for Preston, Nazz, Jonny, and their Pokemon.
"Wh...Where'd they go?" Jonny asked.
"They must've found some way to travel across time and space by creating miniature wormholes." Preston suggested.
"That's...reeeeeally scary." Nazz noted. "Wait...didn't he say that there were more of them across town!?"
0
As this had transpired, a group of Rockets had their own battle with another powerful trainer on the other side of Peach Creek. They too had vanished in much the same way, leaving this individual by himself.
He wore a blue and white hoodie, blue pants, and a red-and-white cap, bearing a green insignia on the face.
His Pikachu shook itself off after the fight, taking a seat at on his shoulder.
"Hmm...wonder what this was all about…" The boy said, straightening his cap.
"Pika…" The Mouse Pokemon added.
0
Eddy poked his head out through from a manhole. He looked around, seeing that the coast was clear. He motioned to the others beneath him. One by one, he, Double D with Cyndaquil, Ed and the old man all came up from the sewers, with Double D shivering from being so close to all the filth.
"I think we're good." Eddy began. "I don't see any of the magnet-heads."
Just as he finished his sentence, the shadow of a dark cloud cast over them. He looked up.
"I hate it when that happens!"
The triple-Magnemite swooped down. "MAGMAGMAGNENETON!"It buzzed angrily.
"I think it wants Watt and Volty!" Double D said.
"Oh yeah? Well it's about to get King-" Eddy began, but was interrupted by Ed.
"Go, Pluto!" Eddy face-vaulted as Ed threw out the Ball that loosed his Cubone.
"Cu? Cubone?" He asked, looking around nervously. The Magneton and it's Magnemite subordinates hovered down behind him. The diminutive Ground-Type slowly turned around. "Cubone!" He screamed, giving the Magneton a quick whack with his Bone Club and running back to Ed.
Ed knelt down and talked calmly to him. "Come on, Pluto! You can do this!"
"Bone?"
"The soap of oppression is not mightier than the bone of chicken's righteousness!" Ed said, taking hold of Pluto's weapon and showing it to him.
Pluto, still nervous but less so, nodded and turned back to face the Magneton.
"MMMAAGNETON!" It screeched, loosing a Thunder attack. Pluto wailed as the lightning hit him, but raised his head, feeling now pain.
"It's just like before!" Eddy noted.
"What are you talking about?" The elder asked, scratching his head.
"The little guy can't be hurt by electricity!"
"Ohhh...well, that's useful."
"Pluto! Use Tail Whip!" Ed commanded.
"Cubo-!" Pluto shouted, waggling his tail against Magneton. The Magnet Pokemon shrank away, despite its nature as an inoffensive attack.
"Now Bonemerang!" Ed added.
"CuuuuBONE!" Pluto hollered, throwing his Bone weapon at his opponent. It swirled in mid air, striking Magneton before swirling back into his hand. He threw it again, and it struck one of the other Magnemite in the cluster that didn't already take an attack. The force of quadrupled STAB damage was too much. Magneton fell to the ground.
Ed put on his usual goofy grin, taking one of the empty Poke Balls from his belt. "Go, monster catching ball!" He tossed it, and it struck the Magneton, opening up, converting the Electric/Steel type into red energy and drawing it inside.
Eddy, Edd and the elder watched cautiously as the Ball shook back and forth once. Twice. Three times.
Ed and Pluto stared at it as well, sweating.
Then came the click.
Ed's grin widened as he and his Cubone hopped into the air. "Ya-hoo!
He retrieved the Ball and held it aloft triumphantly. "I got a mutant robot!"
The Magnemite, seeing their leader captured, were sent into a panicking frenzy.
Eddy proceeded to stand as tall as he could and boast. "Haha! That's right! Run!"
Double D breathed a sigh of relief.
Roto-Z on the other hand burst out of the bag. He flailed his arms in a frightened manner. "WHY OH WHY DID HE HAVE TO CATCH IT!?
0
Gosh, I never thought I'd write a chapter with 10,000+ words.
Also, I may need to start leaving periodic status updates on all the characters parties.
Also, if you're wondering about Hopz and the Tentacool/Tentacruel, she was swimming with Preston on both occasions and they almost accidentally drowned her. That's it.
Next chapter: Professor's Test! Don't miss it!