"What's up? Do you sense something?" Leaf asked her Pokémon. They had been walking outside of Pastoria City when Knuckles suddenly began to hone his aura. When he opened his eyes again, he did not look happy, to say the least.
"You say it's Team Galactic?" Leaf clarified after he told her what he sensed.
"Just great… How many of them are there?" she asked. Judging by the look on Knuckles' face, there were a lot of them.
"What are we supposed to do?" Leaf cried. In response, Knuckles immediately darted behind a thick cluster of trees. Leaf followed, hoping that hiding like this would work.
Shortly afterward, several Team Galactic members trudged through the pathway before them. They didn't look too excited to be there.
"Man… this totally sucks… How are we supposed to find a tiny Pokémon like Azelf in the wilderness anyway?" one of the grunts complained loudly.
"Chill out, we got Golbat scoping out the entire area. It won't be long before we find it. And when we do, we'll be rewarded," another answered with a smirk.
As the group trudged along, Leaf took notice of a Golbat hovering around nearby. It was unbelievably close to her and Lucario. Leaf could only hope that it wouldn't see them…
But unfortunately, it did see them. And it shrieked loudly.
"Hey! What was that?" a grunt asked, and the whole lot of them turned in Leaf and Knuckles' direction.
Knuckles seized Leaf's hand and the two of them ran away, only to be cut off by more Team Galactic members.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a grunt grinned, "Too bad for you, but this isn't the place for puny trainers to be wanderin' around alone. But, we're feeling generous today… Just hand over that Lucario, and we'll let you pass."
"Heh heh, a Lucario would sure come in handy in trackin' down Azelf, it sure would…" another chuckled happily.
The first grunt smacked him on the head, "Shut up! We ain't supposed to tell anybody that!"
"Sorry…" the second one frowned and rubbed his sore head.
"Well, too bad for you guys, but I don't hand over my Pokémon to anybody, much less creeps like you!" Leaf sneered as she reached for her pokéballs while Knuckles got ready to use Bone Rush.
"You might want to make an exception today," a voice from behind declared ominously.
Leaf turned around to see the group of grunts from earlier with all their Golbat beside them, ready for battle.
"Just give up now; it'll make things easier on yourself," one of them threatened.
"I NEVER give up!" Leaf declared and released all of her Pokémon except for Azelf.
"So you want to battle, huh? How pointless… You're completely outnumbered you know…" a grunt sneered.
"Now hold on!" someone ordered from a distance.
Leaf flinched. More of them! This was getting out of hand. Her Pokémon were strong, but even they couldn't take on this many enemies all at once.
"Who you've come across there is no ordinary trainer…" the voice drawled somewhat robotically.
"Master Saturn!" all of the grunts bowed somewhat respectfully.
"You are the Pokémon Researcher are you not?" the owner of the voice was clear now. He looked to be in command of these grunts, and he certainly didn't look friendly. He had an exceptionally weird haircut, and an evil sneer to match.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Leaf demanded to know. The fighting wasn't about to start yet, and she wanted to prolong the peace as long as possible. Maybe she could trick this guy into a one on one battle. Somehow, he didn't really look like the type to give a fair fight, but she had to try for it…
"You don't seem to understand the situation here," Saturn said with displeasure in his voice, "I am the one who asks the questions here. And you are the one who answers them. There will be no deviation."
Leaf's eye narrowed slightly. Obviously someone had control issues. Maybe she could play off of that…
"Now I'll ask you one more time. Who ARE you?" Saturn asked impatiently.
"My name is… Anne… and I'm a Pokémon trainer. No need to get all bent out of shape…"
"Somehow, I don't believe you," Saturn's eyes narrowed, "Because you look to me remarkably like that researcher that the crazy professor hired to track down the legendary Lake Pokémon for him… now doesn't that sound familiar to you…?"
"No… not really… I mean, I'm totally not smart enough to be a Pokémon Researcher… that's just so…"
"Enough! I've heard enough of your lies! If you aren't willing to tell me what I want, then you and your Pokémon are useless to me! Men! Destroy those pathetic Pokémon! We'll see what she has to say for us once her Pokémon are lying at our feet!"
There were plenty of Golbat to contend with to begin with, but the new grunts alongside Saturn sent out even more… This wasn't going to be easy…
Leaf watched the ensuing battle with worry. Her Pokémon were doing their best, but there were just too many of them…
"What's wrong? Don't like what you see?" Saturn smirked. Leaf scowled.
"You have the power to end this you know…" Saturn continued, "Just hand over Azelf, and it will all be over!"
Leaf's eyes widened. How did he know…?
Saturn laughed at her surprise, "Did you really think you could fool me? Why else would a trainer come to this filthy mud hole but to find the legendary Azelf? That's the only reason I'm here!"
Leaf clenched her fists, "There are plenty of other reasons to come to Pastoria City!"
"Yes, of course, and that must explain why you only have five Pokémon battling my Golbat right now! Now remind me, doesn't every trainer carry six Pokémon with them? Hmm… now where might your sixth Pokémon be?"
"Shut up!" Leaf cried. She had lost her level headed resolve. Saturn had everything figured out; she was cornered and outnumbered… It was only a matter of time…
No! Leaf shook her head wildly to clear those thoughts. She wouldn't let Team Galactic have their way with her! She was Azelf's only hope right now! She wouldn't let him down! Not now, not ever!
"Hand over Azelf! Do it now, and no one will have to get hurt…!" Saturn goaded.
"No!" Leaf said resolutely.
"Come out, Toxicroak!" Saturn let out a giant toad freak Pokémon. It looked poisonous, ugly, and dangerous to say the least.
Leaf looked around for her Pokémon; they were fighting hard, obviously preoccupied at the moment. What would she do if Saturn decided to have his Pokémon attack her like those creeps on Iron Island…?
"I'll say it one more time…! Give Azelf to me now!" Saturn ordered.
Leaf shook her head. She wouldn't. She couldn't…
"Well then. Perhaps you need some persuasion… Toxicroak! Use your Poison Jab!"
Leaf covered her head with her hands and squeezed her eyes shut. She'd rather be pulverized herself than give Azelf away to these crooks. And it looked like she'd have to do just that…
Leaf braced herself for a hard hit, but it never came…
"WHAT!" Saturn shrieked.
Leaf opened her eyes and gasped. There was a protective blue shield around her, and it looked to be made of… Aura…
"Shame on you. Attacking a Trainer while her Pokémon are otherwise distracted… That's just disgusting…"
Leaf was at a loss for words, "…Riley…?" she just barely managed to say. He was crouched to the ground before her, holding out his arms in a defensive manner. Had he somehow made this shield? How could he do that…?
Riley stood and turned to her, "Sorry I'm late. By the looks of things, I should have come sooner."
"No, you're fine…" Leaf replied softly, still stunned by the entire situation. She looked around to see that Riley's Pokémon had also stepped in to join the fight alongside her Pokémon against the Golbat to help even the odds. She didn't recognize most of them since she had never seen any of his Pokémon before aside from Lucario.
"I've had enough of this! I came here to get Azelf, and that is what I shall do!" Saturn declared.
"You'll have to get through me first," Riley told him calmly.
"Toxicroak! Destroy that pathetic shield with Rock Smash!" Saturn ordered.
Toxicroak smashed Riley's shield powerfully. Riley looked to be struggling to maintain the shield.
"Another one! Make certain to hit the exact same place!" Saturn commanded his Pokémon.
Toxicroak smashed the shield again, and this time… Riley's shield shattered, unable to take such a direct and focused attack.
"There! You can't possibly stand up to my Pokémon's power! Just give up now!" Saturn told Riley.
"I'm not down for the count just yet," Riley smirked slightly. Leaf just blinked. What was up with Riley anyway…?
Leaf gasped when she saw a small, focused ball of energy gather in Riley's hands. What was he doing? How was he doing what he was doing?
"Taste the power of my Aura!" Riley cried and hurled his 'Aura Sphere' at Toxicroak.
Saturn shouted some choice words while Leaf just stood there stunned. Was Riley half Lucario or something? How was this even possible?
"It doesn't matter what you do!" Saturn cried once he had controlled himself a little, "You will be crushed by the might of my Toxicroak!"
"The Aura is with me!" Riley said dramatically. He began to charge more aura energy.
However, Toxicroak was faster. He used his Poison Jab attack, which hit Riley painfully in the side. Riley's stored aura fizzled out as he stopped to clutch the wound.
"Riley!" Leaf screamed and tried to rush over to him, but Toxicroak swatted at her, and she instinctively backed off.
"I'm alright," Riley drew himself to his full height again and held his side with one hand.
"Poison Sting," Saturn smirked.
Toxicroak opened his mouth and shot an array of tiny poisonous needles at Riley. It was a direct hit, and Riley collapsed to the ground in pain.
"Stop!" Leaf shrieked. She couldn't watch this. Riley wasn't a Pokémon; he wouldn't be able to defend himself from one forever.
"Again," Saturn's smirk widened.
Toxicroak hopped over to the weakened Riley and attacked him again while he was lying there on the ground. Riley's cry of pain seemed to slice through Leaf's ears. She couldn't take this!
"No, Riley!" Leaf cried, tears beginning to stream down her face. She ran over to his side and tried to help him. He was battered and broken, and there was nothing she could do. Riley was groaning and shuddering in pain, and he wouldn't let go of his side. She didn't know what she could do to help him.
"You did this to him," Saturn told her, "If you had just given me Azelf like I asked, this never would have happened," he said methodically, like a robot.
"You're a monster!" Leaf shrieked at him, "I'd NEVER give Azelf to you!"
"Very well, then. You give me no choice. I will have to take it by force," Saturn said smoothly as if he were just deciding what to have for breakfast in the morning.
"Use Rock Smash, Toxicroak."
Leaf watched Toxicroak in horror. It was headed right for her, ready to attack. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself. This was really it…
When nothing happened, Leaf opened her eyes again to find Knuckles inches from her, holding Toxicroak back. It obviously was no small feat for him as Knuckles cried out loudly from the effort it took to shove the larger Pokémon away.
"My God… Knuckles, thank you," Leaf breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Hey! Stop what you're doing! Hands in the air now!" the familiar voice of Officer Jenny shouted out.
Saturn glanced at the approaching policemen, "Men! Retreat at once!"
The grunts immediately commanded their Golbat to use SmokeScreen.
Amidst the growing smoke and smog, Saturn glared at Leaf, "You haven't seen the last of us, Leaf. Mark my words, Team Galactic will receive Azelf from you…" he informed her before disappeared from sight.
Leaf held onto Riley's arm and tried to breathe. She knew Knuckles was nearby, but she couldn't see him. She quietly prayed that Riley and all of their Pokémon would be safe…