Pokemon Adventures: Hunt of the Plates
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon Adventures/Special.
Ah, now I'm starting to see the end of this arc...
Began writing on May 28th, 2012. Currently drafting Chapter 19 of Arc 3.
Chapter 28. Vs. Virizion: Falling Back (?)
- Victory Road -
Silver had spent about half of his life on the streets, running and fighting and cheating and doing whatever he could do to survive. But during all those times he had never been pushed so far as he was now, facing Virizion in the large cavern that he'd escaped into.
Thanks to the Grassland Pokemon's masterful swordsmanship he was spared from any injuries to his body, but his clothes were nearing tattered and he was virtually bruised from head to toe by the deity's merciless hooves. Virizion was just too strong for his Pokemon to take on evenly even as a group, and too often the Exchanger found himself leaping away from him just to save his skin.
In spite of the dire situation, though, a small flick of hope was finally beginning to glow on Silver -
In the form of two other Silvers surrounding Virizion together with him.
"Impressive... is disguise a part of your shinobi textbook?" Smirked Koga in pretense of the Dex Holder - at least, he was pretty sure it was Koga -, smoothly commanding Janine's Crobat to deliver an Air Slash to Virizion (which he dodged).
"Of course it is - illusion's the flower of our family technique," Silver replied, playing along and pretending to be Janine. Koga's Muk responded well to his signs, and with an inward grimance the Exchanger realized that the three of them happened to be using the same sign language - his father's. That would explain why his own Honchkrow was following Janine's order without question - though to his credit, the Pokemon probably knew the feint was neccesary.
And it was working; Virizion was as powerful as ever and the three Trainers were still being pushed back, but at least they weren't being pulverized anymore. Now there was less certainty in the deity's strokes as he randomly lashed out at one of the three Silvers, and more often than not he got the wrong one. To screw him up even further, Koga would occasionally blast a Smokescreen or Haze with his hidden Weezing, buying them a few seconds to shuffle and swap roles.
Silver could see frustration building up in Virizion's face, and also a certain sense of desperation - as if every stroke would be the last. Perhaps there would be a time limit to this hunt?
It turned out to be so.
Suddenly a loud whinny cut through the air, stopping the Grassland Pokemon in his tracks. Taken aback by his reaction Silver cut off his attacking command, shortly followed by Koga and Janine. He'd heard that sound from somewhere, not too long ago...
"Keldeo...!" He remembered just as the little Colt Pokemon burst into the cavern, panting as if he'd ran here all the way from Cape Brink. Almost instictively Janine's Ariados moved in to stop him, but as light as feather Keldeo leaped over it as if it was a pebble on the ground.
What interested Silver more was the way Virizion greeted his comrade; somehow the Grassland Pokemon was managing to look disappointed, irritated and relieved all at once, and Silver was quite ready to ask why.
Of course, there was no way he'd get the answer from Virizion, who broke through the three Silvers' circle and raced straight towards the nearest exit with Keldeo at his side.
"After him!" Silver snapped, leaping up and latching onto Honchkrow and flying after the fleeing deities with Weavile and Crobat. Behind him he could hear Koga and Janine following, though he could pretty much guess that they were puzzled; why seek to continue a battle already 'won'? "At least they owe me some information after attacking us like that!"
So on they chased the deities through the tunnels, managing to keep up with their impossibly fast speed thanks to the traps he and Koga had placed all over the place for training; most of them involved triggering a barrage of Poison Stings or opening up a pool of acid, which Virizion and Keldeo certainly did NOT enjoy.
To Silver's frustration, however, the obstacle race was short-lived. The exit to the Pokemon League was slowly rising up ahead, and if the Rangers made it out to the plateau there whereabouts would go up in the blue.
Just a little more...
"Searing Shot!"
CRASH!
A large side of the cave wall exploded just behind Keldeo, causing him and Virizion to turn around in surprise and Honchkrow to screech to a halt. Silver's eyes widened as a burst of flame and smoke escaped the newly-created hole, followed by a small fairylike shape that was most obviously a Faerie -
"Gotcha, you - ! Blasty, let's pump it!"
With a great blast a massive shell shot itself out of the melted-off wall, propelled forward by the twin jets of water fired from two cannons protruding from its back. With the force of a Skull Bash attack the Blastoise slammed into the new deity, causing the two Pokemon to bounce away from each other and touch down onto the opposite sides of the walls.
"Blue-nee!" Silver exclaimed in shock as he saw his (sworn) sister leap out after Blasty, tailed by - to some extra surprise - Will and Karen. All three of them looked in a terrible shape, scroched black here and there and panting their lungs out. Will in particular was hobbling with a twisted knee, keeping his balance with his and his Pokemons' psychic powers. "You - what are you doing here? Are you all right?"
"Silver! Thank goodness you're safe," breathed Blue in obvious relief, but then her eyes darkened as she observed his tattered state. But neither sibling had time to savor the happy reunion, not with three deities that just tried to abduct them standing in front - and they both had reasons to hate abductions.
"... Virizion, please stop," sighed the Faerie after a short moment of tension; Virizion had been glaring at Blue and Silver, brandishing horns again warily. "The fight's over, we ran out of time. We're done. It's out of our hands now."
"And what's that supposed to mean, Victini?" Demanded Blue in a tone that surprised Silver. "Tell us! I thought we were supposed to be allies, not enemies!"
"As long as you wanna save the world, you still are," replied Victini, now looking somewhat crestfallen. "That's all we can tell you... but you'll find out soon enough. You can... count on it."
With that, all three deities vanished with a flash. (#1)
"Damnit," Silver couldn't help but curse, tempted to strike the wall with his fist. "What a waste. We don't even know what that fight was for!"
"True," mused Karen, nodding slowly with a frown. "The only thing we do know is that the two of you are the target, but what did he mean we'll find out? Maybe the battle isn't over yet..."
"Wait," Koga suddenly raised a hand for silence, the other hand pressed upon his ear as if adjusting a tiny headset. A contact, Silver realized with a jolt. From...
"Master," said Koga quietly, confirming his thoughts. "Yes, we're near the Plateau. The young Master's with us. Blue, Will and Karen's with us. The attacking deities have fallen back... I see. Yes, right away. I'll send Janine for you."
"Your renowned Boss, eh?" Will spoke with a gleam of his visored eye as his fellow Elite Four severed the connection. "Well, what did he say?"
"Young Master, it seems that your father's just escaped from Entei with your friend Gold," said Koga as he looked at Silver's surprised expression. "He's on his way now, and he told us to wait for him on the Plateau. Janine, go meet him at the entrance. There are things left to be settled."
- Saffron Gym -
Crash!
"Kirly, no!" Yellow cried in horror as a brush from Terrakion sent the fragile Emotion Pokemon flying into her arms, knocking both of them to the ground. Dody, Kitty and Omny quickly crowded around their Trainer, but the Cavern Pokemon spared them no heed as he kicked the ravaged floor, ready to charge again.
"Yellow, catch!" Sabrina's labored gasp turned her head sideways, to the part of a wall where the Gym Leader was leaning and cradling a cracked rib. In her hand was a small shining object, which she sent shooting toward the Healer with telekinesis. Yellow instinctively reached out to catch it, but to her surprise it slipped past her fingers straight at Kirly - and as it touched down on the Kirlia's forehead she recognized its identity.
"A Dawn Stone!" She gasped as a bright flash illuminated the Gym, causing a startled Terrakion to launch himself forward. Daring to open her eyes Yellow saw Grawy boldly throwing himself against the deity, and was about to scream STOP when Terrakion abruptly halted, a loud clang echoing as the light faded.
Two thin, green blades had lashed out of nowhere, parrying the Cavern Pokemon's mighty horn.
"Kirly, you...!" Gasped Yellow as she stared in awe at her savior, a lean humanoid Pokemon in green and white. His head was protected by a green helm, while the two spikes jutting out of his elbows served as blades to stop the Ranger's advance. "You evolved... into a Gallade!"
You won't stop me from doing my duty, evolved or no! Bellowed Terrakion, swinging his horns forward again. Kirly managed to beat back a few blows with Psycho Cut before being driven back by the deity's superior bulk, but he bought enough time for his moralized teammates to fling themselves at the deity again. You dare - ! So be it. I SHALL -
"Poli, use Vacumn Wave!"
A blast of compressed air burst through the celing, striking Terrakion squarely on the back and momentarily flattening him to the ground.
"Red-san!" Yellow exclaimed in shock as she saw Aero dropping down from the hole made in the celing, bearing atop Red, Pika and Poli. The Fighter didn't look in a good shape, but his crimson eyes still brightened with relief as they spotted Yellow safe (sort of).
"Glad to see I'm not too late," puffed Red as he leaped down beside her, sparing a daring glance at Terrakion as he unleashed Saur, Gyara and Vee as well. "I came to take you back, but looks like the battle isn't over here yet... stand down, Terrakion. We don't have to fight each other like this."
That's what you'd like to believe, growled Terrakion, pawing the ground aggressively to emphasize his point. We have every reason to fight, and you must be the ones to fall! Sacred -
ENOUGH!
The snapping command came with an authorative howl that caught everyones' attention, focusing their gazes to the Gym entrance. A lone figure was striding into the devastated building, his stern amber eyes fixed on his surprised fellow Ranger.
"Cobalion!" Exclaimed Red as the Iron Will Pokemon walked up to them, nodding acknowledgingly at the Fighter before turning back to Terrakion.
We've been called to retreat, stated the leader of the Rangers, causing Yellow to blink in surprise. So they'd been commanded to fight... but by who? We've done enough. They've proved themselves good enough to be taken by a higher power.
Terrakion looked disgruntled by his comrade's words, but Yellow was too busy puzzling over the term 'higher power'. Could that mean -
Fine, grumbled Terrakion grudgingly, backing off from the two Dex Holders. But considering what's coming for them... I don't envy them.
Never will, agreed Cobalion grimly, sparing a sympathetic look with at Yellow. Then, as quickly as they had arrived, the two Rangers stormed through the Gym entrance and raced out of sight.
"Thought they'd do that," muttered Red with a hint of sadness in his voice, but his eyes sharpened focus again as he turned to Yellow and spoke: "Well, we gotta be off now. Sapphire's hurt - Regirock punched her. Only you can save her, Yellow."
"Why didn't you say so?" Exclaimed Yellow as she leaped up, all her weariness forgotten in concern for her junior. No matter how terrible the situation turned out to be, it was comforting to know that there was still some things she could do to help.
"One moment, Red..." Sabrina's voice had Yellow turn to the side, to see the former Rocket Executive walking gingerly up to them.
"You're hurt?" Red asked, apparantly noting how she had her arm around her waist.
"Nothing I can't handle," Sabrina replied nonchalantly, and Yellow realized that she was using her own psychic powers to keep her rib intact. "But I don't think it's me you should be worried about... we've got company."
As if on cue patches of the celing began to crack and fall down in earnest, some of which Red had Vee move away from them. Pretty soon the dark sky was visible through the roof of the Gym, and lining the top of the walls were a horde of horrible familiar uniforms -
"Team Rocket...?" Gasped Yellow as the black-suited people leaped down to surround them, their Pokemon looking mean and violent. But what concerned the Healer more was their expressions - all of them had that uniform void looks in their faces, and there was a certain aura around them that just couldn't be explained by hypnosis or brainwashing.
"You wouldn't happen to be behind this, right?" Despite the words Red didn't sound suspicious, just comfimatory. Yellow knew he knew better than to distrust his comrades - whether they deserved his trust or not.
"Are you kidding? These aren't my subordinates," snorted Sabrina as she joined the two Dex Holders in a defensive circle. "They can't belong to Giovanni or any of his executives, so I assume their leader must be a rogue. An ignorant rogue, at that, thinking that this pathetic ambush might work."
"Oh, no, no, not an ambush," a strange age-confusing voice responded mockingly to the Gym Leader. Whirling around in surprise, Yellow's eyes focused on a spot where the Team Rocket grunts were parting ways, allowing a very short man with a strange childlike face to walk into view.
"If I wanted to lay an ambush you'd be dead already. No, I wanted these two to see what was coming for them," hissed the man gleefully, narrowing his angry eyes in particular at a thunderstruck Red. "Didn't think you'd ever see me, eh? So did I, after my own subordinates overthrew me, screaming for the Boss that won't come back! I'd have been gone like that, if these men hadn't presented themselves to me so that I can take back what's mine! And I'll begin with you, comrades of that wretched redhaired boy who ruined my ambitions!"
"So that's what happened..." muttered Red, his surprised tone settling down into that of cold anger that sent a chill through Yellow's spine. "No wonder you really lost it. But then again, you were always a piece of greedy scum, Carr. Silver would love to beat the crap outta you himself, but he'll have to settle for me and Yellow. Bring it on, and learn why Giovanni's twice a man as you!"
Didn't see that one coming, eh? Carr... oh, what I won't give to kick his ass.
#1. Victini's work, of course.
Myrna Maeve: 1. Well... it depends on how you view it. 2. Ten to one Mew doesn't even know what's going on; she's always absent at gatherings. 3. Not a vampire, more like a wild Pokemon. 4. Um, I dunno. 5. She didn't commit suicide, just knock herself out. 6. NO. If a deity dies, the entire universe goes haywire. 7. Well, that would be a spoiler! XD 8. Not really. More like... 9. Yes... more! Your questions feed me! 10. I hope it is! XD
firstinclass, I try my hardest not to leave anyone out, no matter how late they may appear. That's all I'll say for now! :)
Gur40goku, though I'm not sure what the question means, I suppose it's a mixture of those four, depending on the situation.
Wow, this must be the shortest chapter I've written in a pretty long while...
Points to take notice of in this chapter:
1. Virizion and Victini retreat together with Keldeo, bringing Silver, Koga and Janine with Blue, Will and Karen.
2. Giovanni is almost there at the Victory Road, but will he get there before someone else arrives first?
3. Yellow's Kirlia evolves into a Gallade.
4. Red arrives at Saffron, and Terrakion retreats at Cobalion's order. However Carr attacks them...
On Chapter 29, the second wave prepares to strike... in the form of Mother Nature! Until then (which will be probably be at late June), R&R!
Writing completed on May 29th, 2012. Happy early birthday, Emerald (May 31st) and Blue (June 1st)! This is Yowl of Time, out.
