At Team Rocket's base...
Gengron lay in bed, tossing and turning. The ghostly flames around his head flickered and brightened as he grimaced in his sleep.
As with most nights lately, Gengron was lost in a nightmare. He found himself alone in a misty landscape, walking along through the darkness. Whispers of voices called out to him as he moved.
"Hello?" Gengron called. The voices replied, but he couldn't make out what was said. He tried to chase after the direction they seemed to be coming from. "Hello?" Skidding to a halt, he turned. They seemed to be coming from behind him now.
Gengron knew it was futile to try and find the voices. He tried it almost every night and not once had he gotten close to them. But he was determined to keep it up, because the little he could hear sounded identical to the voices of Machanine and Kabhora.
"Is that you guys?" Gengron called. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Another wave of whispers washed over him. He could make out words here and there, but none of it made any sense.
"...influence...turn to...side..." they whispered. "Not working..."
"What do you mean? What influence?" he called again. "Whose turning who to their side? What isn't working?"
"...create...mutant..." Gengron listened as hard as he could. "Try...over..."
"You want me to make a mutant?" he asked. "You know I'm not allowed to do that, right?"
Gengron stood waiting for more advice, but the voices offered nothing. He was still waiting when he woke up in the morning.
"What...?" Gengron sat up in bed, sweat sizzling on his skin under the flames of his head. He reached up and wiped his forehead as he thought about it.
'Create a monster...' Gengron frowned. 'Maybe they were trying to tell me what kind to use. Something that can influence and turn to our side...' Standing, he exited his room and headed for Mewtwovanni's as ideas began to form in his head.
"Boss?" Gengron knocked on the door. "Are you awake?" The door slid open and Mewtwovanni stood before him.
"Morning, Gengron." Mewtwovanni greeted. "What is it?"
"I had an idea." Gengron told him. "We've been trying to get rid of the Rangers, so we can take over Kanto...but what if we did it in reverse? What if we took over Kanto more subtly under their noses, and then worry about getting rid of them?"
"Hmm." Mewtwovanni scratched his chin. "It's an interesting thought. How would you go about this?"
"Allow me to make a mutant, boss." Gengron requested. "If you'll give me the chance, I believe I know how to pull it off." After a moment of thought, Mewtwovanni nodded.
"Alright. Nobody else has had any luck." he said. "You might as well try.'
"Thank you, boss." Gengron said. "I won't let you down." Turning, he headed for the Fusion Room, contemplating just what kind of creature he would need.
(Theme song inspired by Power Rangers Zeo Opening)
Kanto, go! (Kanto!) (All 6 Rangers show off their Morphers)
Rockets at the door, (Go, Kanto!) (Ryan stands in a Pokémon arena as the Red Ranger & Charizard Zord are shown)
Stronger than before! (Go, Kanto!) (Brent is training with his Pokémon in Pallet Town as the Blue Ranger & Blastoise Zord are shown)
Powered up for war, (Ginger is playing guitar as the Green Ranger & Venusaur Zord are shown)
Kanto, Poké Rangers! (Go, Kanto!) (Allison is healing her Pokémon in the forest as the Yellow Ranger & Pikachu Zord are shown)
Higher they can soar, (Go, Kanto!) (Rick turns to walk away from Pewter Gym as the Black Ranger & Golem Zord are shown)
Even up the score! (Go, Kanto!) (Jessica stands with her arms folded in the lab as the Violet Ranger & Arbok Zord are shown)
Go go, Poké Rangers! (Mewtwovanni, Rhynix, Persia, and Gengron shown)
Go go, Poké Rangers! (Rangers fight off a collection of G-Spliced before firing Poké Blaster)
Go go, Poké Rangers! (Pokémon Megazord and Onix Venomzord stand together, Legend Megazord descends to join them)
Kanto Poké Rangers! (All 6 Rangers pose in front of explosion)
Later that day, at Viridian Gym...
"Thunderbolt!" Dragonair drew back and fired a blast of electricity, striking Red's Gyarados and knocking it back. The giant sea snake hit the floor in defeat.
"Gyarados, return." Red called Gyarados back and looked at his other Pokéballs, considering his options. This was a two Pokémon battle, so he only had one more to pick.
He glanced over at the Gym Leader. Red couldn't make out much of anything about this guy. He kept his Gym dark and stayed in the shadows, wrapped in a cloak that hid his features. And even though the guy out front had said the trainers of this Gym used Ground-types, he had opened with Dragonair, which was certainly not.
The one thing that stood out about him was his voice. It was like two people were speaking at once, their voices overlapping, and one of them sounded...inhuman. Red didn't want to say anything about it and be rude, but it was majorly unnerving.
"Aerodactyl, go!" Red sent out the most recent addition to his team. He'd been planning on using Venusaur as his second before the battle, but it wouldn't do much of anything to a Dragon-type. He'd have to switch it up. "Dragon Claw!"
Aerodactyl's claws glowed with draconic energy as it swooped forward and slashed out, striking Dragonair and making it reel back.
"Thunder Wave!" The Gym Leader called.
"Bite, then get some distance!" Red commanded. Aerodactyl clamped its jaws down on Dragonair and made it flinch before swooping back. "Now, Rock Slide!"
"Dodge it!" Dragonair slithered aside as the stones crashed down where it had been. "Thunderbolt!"
"Watch out!" Aerodactyl twisted aside and narrowly avoided the attack as it streaked past. "Keep away and hit it with another Rock Slide!"
As Aerodactyl hurled stones down on Dragonair, it began to glow. Red watched as its body sprouted wings and it rose into the air, the glow fading to reveal a Dragonite.
"Excellent." the Gym Leader chuckled. "Now, fly up and strike it with a Surf!"
Aerodactly was unable to get away quick enough as Dragonite soared up and created a wall of water around itself, bringing it crashing down on the fossil Pokémon. Red sighed as Aerodactyl washed to his feet, defeated.
"Guess I need to get stronger." Red said as he recalled it. "Good battle, though."
"Indeed." the Gym Leader said. "You put up a solid fight. I hope to see you again one day."
"Oh, you will." Red grinned. "I'm going to train up some more, and then I'll be back!" Turning, he walked towards the front of the Gym.
As Red left, Mewtwovanni lowered his cloak and stepped forward out of the shadows to stand beside Dragonite. Looking at his newly evolved Pokémon, he grinned.
"I knew keeping ahold of this position was a good idea." Mewtwovanni laughed to himself as he recalled it back. "Now that you've reached your final stage, I can really use you."
Reaching out, he pressed a button that signaled the Gym was going to close up for the rest of the day. After the trainers in it vacated the premises, he telekinetically locked the door and teleported away.
Shortly, at the R&R Café...
"Ryan?" The Red Ranger looked over from where he was serving customers as Dr. Fuji came walking in the door. "Can I speak to you, Brent, and Jessica for a moment?"
"Yeah. Give me a sec." Ryan finished setting down the table's order and waved for Jessica and Brent to join him as they walked over to Fuji's booth and took a seat.
"What's up?" Brent asked. "I didn't expect to see you out of the lab until the old Zords were up and running again."
"They're nearly there." Fuji told them. "But I have a different project as well. I'm going to need your Morphers and the legendary birds, if you don't mind."
"Of course not." Ryan pulled off his Morpher. "But what if Team Rocket attacks?"
"I guess the other three will have to hold them off as best they can." Fuji said. "But this shouldn't take long. I should have them back to you later today." Brent and Jessica handed over theirs and Fuji stood up, putting them in his bag. The three pulled out their Pokéballs containing Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres and handed them over as well.
"Any hint as to what you're working on?" Jessica asked.
"You'll see." Fuji grinned. "Trust me, it'll come in handy." As he turned and left, a familiar face entered.
"Hey, Red!" Ryan waved and the trainer turned to face them. Grinning, he ran over and took a seat.
"Hey." Red sat his bag down on the floor. "Been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yeah." Brent nodded. "How goes the journey?"
"Seven badges down." Red said proudly. "Just Viridian to go. He beat me once, but I'll get strong enough to take him soon enough."
"That was a tough one." Ryan nodded. "It was the last one I got too."
"Same." Brent agreed. "You didn't happen to see what the Gym Leader looked like, did you?"
"Nope." Red shook his head. "He was hidden in the shadows the whole time. Has he always done that?"
"Yeah." Jessica nodded. "He was like that when I was there. Never said a word either."
"He said some stuff to me." Ryan said. Brent nodded in agreement. "But yeah, he does keep himself out of sight even when he's fighting."
"And his Gym is closed far more often than any of the others." Brent added. "I've always wondered just who he is and why he keeps himself so hidden."
"And that voice." Red shook his head. "Creepy, isn't it?"
"Voice?" Ryan frowned. "What about his voice? It seemed pretty normal when I faced him."
"It's got this...I don't really know how to describe it." Red said. "It's like he has two voices talking at once. One of them far deeper and way creepier than the other."
"Two voices?" Jessica paled. "You're sure?"
"Yeah." Red nodded. "Why?"
"Nothing." Jessica stood up. "I should get back to work before Joe starts freaking out on us again." As she left, Red looked after her.
"What's up with her?" he asked. Ryan and Brent glanced at each other.
"it's nothing." Ryan said. "My sister just has a lot on her mind."
"You have a sister?" Red blinked. "I didn't realize."
"Oh yeah." Ryan grinned. "From what I hear, she might be as good at battling as me."
"Maybe." Brent shrugged. "She's certainly as hard for me to beat as you, that's for sure."
"You haven't battled her?" Red asked Ryan. Ryan shook his head.
"Nope. She's saving it for the tournament." he explained. "Hey, if you get your last badge in time, maybe we'll be seeing you there too."
"Oh, you can bet on that." Red grinned. "I'm improving fast. I'll get that last badge and be there, you wait and see." He stood up. "As a matter of fact, I need to get back to training. I just stopped in to grab some food for the road."
"You bet." Ryan stood up as well. "Just tell me what you're looking for."
As the two walked away, Jessica passed by the table and leaned in.
"We need to have a team meeting later." She told Brent. "It's very important."
"I'm presuming it has to do with the Viridian Gym Leader?" he asked.
"Yeah." Jessica nodded. "I'll explain then. But it's not good news."
Later, just off of Route 1...
As Red was traveling through the woods, looking for a good place to train, something caught his eye. Looking over, he found a strange flower growing out of the ground. It had seven petals, each a different color, forming a complete rainbow around it.
"Huh?" Red walked over and knelt beside it. "Strange. Never seen something like that before."
He found himself strangely transfixed by the flower. It was almost mesmerizing to examine the colors and follow them on their path. He couldn't bring himself to stand up and leave it.
"Well, I guess I'll have to take it with me." he decided. Reaching out, he plucked it and attached it to his hat. As he stood and resumed his search, the flower's center was replaced by a mini Exeggutor head.
From behind a nearby tree, a face peeked out. The mutant's head was shaped like a single Exeggutor egg, but it had the coloration of a Vileplume's body. Its body was a more humanoid Exeggutor's, with small Vileplume like flowers growing all over it. Its right hand had several tiny Exeggutor eggs growing on it while its left held a Vileplume flower-shaped shield.
"Perfect." the mutant chuckled to himself. "More and more people are finding my little creations. Soon, they will all be ours." Turning, he plucked an egg off his hand and hurled it into the air, where it burst open. Tiny spores flew out and were caught on the wind, being scattered for miles around. Wherever one touched down, a similar rainbow flower started to grow.
Laughing, he turned and teleported, reappearing in Team Rocket's base.
"Gengron, I'm back to report." He found himself standing near Persia, who turned to stare at him. "Oh, sorry. You're not him."
"Who are you?" Persia demanded.
"I am Vilebloom." He bowed. "I was created by Gengron to help conquer the region."
"Gengron is not allowed to make monsters." Persia growled.
"That's where you're wrong." Gengron walked in on them. "I was given special permission by the boss to make this one."
"Indeed." Mewtwovanni appeared to join the group. "And what exactly does he do?"
"Vilebloom is spreading his flowers across the region." Gengron explained. "Each psychically compels the first person who sees it to pick and wear it, and once they do it will begin influencing their mind, bringing out those darker, dishonest thoughts they've never paid much mind to." He grinned. "Slowly but surely, they will all come to our cause."
"Excellent work, Gengron." Mewtwovanni turned to Vilebloom. "Continue with your mission. I want every last person in Kanto to be wearing one of your flowers."
"As you command." Vilebloom turned and vanished away to spread more spores. Mewtwovanni turned to Gengron with a smile.
"You've done well for your first attempt." Gengron nodded in appreciation. "Well enough, in fact, that I think I shall promote you to Admin."
"What!?" Persia gaped. "But he's so...new to the team. We have so many others who have much more..." Mewtwovanni glared at her.
"Are you questioning my choices, Persia?" he asked.
"...of course not, boss." Persia muttered. "Whatever you say."
"Thank you, boss." Gengron nodded. "It's my honor to take up this position."
"Yes." Mewtwovanni glanced at Persia before holding up a Pokéball. "Now, I have research to do and plans to make. You monitor Vilebloom's quest and make sure he is successful."
"I'm on it." Gengron smirked at Persia as she snarled at him. "I will not fail you."
Soon, in Viridian...
Brent approached the Gym with a sense of unease. Jessica had seemed majorly shaken by whatever she had realized about the leader here, and he could only assume it was something Team Rocket related. Since she and Ryan would be working for a while, he figured he might as well do a little investigating of his own.
Reaching out, he found the door to be locked. After a quick glance around, he pulled a Pokéball and released his Ditto.
"Think you can get me in?" he asked. Ditto nodded and oozed into the keyhole, feeling out its shape before pulling out and transforming into a key. Brent used it to unlock the door and Ditto returned to normal, sliding up onto his shoulder.
Brent quietly closed the door behind him before making his way to the back. He remembered the layout of the place from his own visit here and quickly found himself at the door to the Gym's back office. Opening it, he entered and glanced around.
The place was much more barren than he expected. It looked almost unused. There were a couple filing cabinets and a desk, but no personalization, no pictures or anything of the sort. He slid open a file cabinet and found it empty.
'Huh." Brent frowned. 'Guess the guy doesn't do much paperwork.'
Walking over to the desk, he sat down and slid open a draw. All that he found inside was a collection of Earth Badges. Closing it, he opened another and blinked.
'Hello?' He pulled out a picture and examined it. It showed a man in a business suit with a young girl sitting on his lap. Brent narrowed his eyes. The girl looked an awful lot like a much younger Jessica. 'This can't be good.'
The room rumbled and Brent glanced up in surprise. After a moment, the shaking stopped and the sound of charging energy picked up outside. Brent frowned and stood up, sticking the picture in his bag as part of the wall was blown away. He caught a glimpse of a Gyarados head backing up.
As Brent watched, Red came marching into the room. He stopped in surprise.
"Brent? What are you doing in here?" Red demanded.
"I could ask the same." Brent told him. "You just came busting in through the wall out of nowhere."
"I came to collect what's mine." Red stomped over to the desk and yanked its drawers open, looking through them until he found the one with the badges. Pulling an Earth Badge out, he added it to his case.
"Are you...stealing that?" Brent asked.
"I was cheated." Red told him. "He did not use the Pokémon I was told he would. I would've beat him if I had known what was coming."
"Even if that was true, it doesn't make what you're doing okay." Brent told him. Red said nothing and turned to leave. "Hey, I can't just let you leave with that!"
As Brent reached for Red's arm, he whirled and held up a Pokéball, releasing his Venusaur into the room.
"Sleep Powder!" As green dust blew from Venusaur's flower, Brent's Ditto leaped from his shoulder, transforming into a gas mask as he fitted over his face. Red recalled Venusaur and leaped out through the hole in the wall, Brent pursuing and catching his Ditto as it fell asleep and dropped off of him.
"Raichu, Thunder Wave!" Brent sent out another Pokémon as Red released Aerodactly and hopped onto its back.
"Get us up!" Red ordered. Aerodactly took to the air, dodging away from the electric attack as it rose.
"Red, this isn't the way!" Brent yelled up at him. Red grinned down.
"Course it is." he said. "It's worked out fine. See you at the tournament!" Aerodactyl spun and started to fly away. As it did, Brent caught a brief glimpse of a tiny face on the side of Red's hat smirking down at him.
"What the...?" Brent recalled Raichu and sent out Rapidash. "We've gotta get after him!" he said.
Before he could hop on the Pokémon's back, Gengron and Rhynix appeared nearby.
"Blue Ranger!" Gengron called. Brent growled.
"What do you guys want?" he demanded. "I'm kinda busy right now."
"Oh, nothing much." Gengron laughed, drawing a ball of flame from his head. "We just came to destroy you!" He hurled the blast and Brent rolled aside, glancing at Red quickly vanishing into the distance.
"Rapidash, Fire Spin!" he called. Rapidash fired a blaze of flames from its body, forming a tornado of fire around the group. Rhynix came charging out, heading straight for him.
Brent dodged aside as Rhynix punched out at him before leaping aside as the Admin turned and smashed his fist down, narrowly avoiding getting crushed. Before he could do anything more, Rhynix drew back and struck him with his other hand, sending him rolling across the ground. Rapidash leaped at Rhynix from behind and he grabbed ahold of it and hurled it over near its owner.
As Rhynix marched forward, a whip wrapped around him.
Ginger pulled as she leaped forward, slamming a kick into Rhynix as she passed and flipping to land on her feet. He stumbled back slightly as she landed beside Brent.
"Ow." the Green Ranger rubbed her leg. "That guy is like kicking a brick wall, I swear." The Black and Yellow Rangers joined them.
"You gonna morph and help?" Rick asked as he drew his Golem Mace. Gengron joined Rhynix as they faced the team.
"Can't." Brent told them. "Fuji's working on something with my Morpher. Ryan and Jess's too."
"Then you better get to safety." Allison told him.
"Yeah." Ginger nodded. "We'll take care of them."
"Thanks." Brent stepped back and jumped up onto Rapidash. "Be careful."
"Sure." Ginger nodded. Brent looked in the direction Red had been heading and couldn't see anything. He was gone.
As Brent left, he thought back to the Red he had met. He didn't seem like the type to give up and resort to thievery. He always seemed to be looking forward to his next battle, even when he lost. He recalled the...whatever it was he had seen on Red when he left.
"Something is off here." Brent growled. "And I'm going to find out what."
Soon, at the R&R Café...
"Ryan, Jess!" Brent threw open the door and called to his two friends. "I need you guys' help."
"What's going on?" Ryan and his sister came running over.
"I'll explain on the way." Brent told them. "Right now, we need to..."
"Hold on a moment." Joe stepped towards them. "You guys can't just run off on me again."
"Sorry, Joe." Ryan cringed. "We'll make it up to you, I swear." Joe sighed.
"Fine. I'll hold down the fort alone, as usual." he grumbled.
"Thanks, Joe. We're lucky to have you." Ryan nodded in thanks as the two followed Brent out the door. "Now, what's the emergency?"
"Red just stole a Badge from Viridian Gym." Brent told them. "But I don't think he's fully in control of himself."
"Team Rocket?" Ryan asked.
"Probably." Brent shrugged. "They did show up right as he was leaving. But we need to get to the Pokémon League right away, before he can get there and certify that he has all the badges."
"Right." Ryan released his Charizard and climbed on its back. "Then let's get moving." Jessica climbed on behind him and Brent sent out his Ditto, which transformed into a second Charizard. The two Pokémon took off into the air, flying for their destination as fast as possible.
Meanwhile, back in Viridian...
Rick swung his Golem Mace against Rhynix's back, but he shrugged off the blow, spinning and smacking the Black Ranger away. Catching Ginger's whip as she snapped it at him, he twisted and hurled her aside as well.
Meanwhile, Gengron went intangible as Allison swung an Iron Tail at him, phasing through both her weapon and her. Forming a ball of flame, he blasted the Yellow Ranger from behind, sending her stumbling forward.
"Double Team!" As she turned, Allison multiplied into three, all of them aiming her Pikachu Striker. "Thunder Wave!" Gengron was struck and frozen in place by the attack.
"Rock Blast!" Rhynix formed his cannon and fired, blasting the Black and Green Rangers back. Both of them groaned as they hit the ground and tried to pull themselves back up.
"This guy is really getting on my nerves." Rick growled.
"He's tough." Ginger admitted. "But we have to stop him."
As the two stood, they joined their weapons together, Ginger's whip wrapping around his mace.
"Dual Growth: Fertilizer!" they called. Rick slammed his mace down and a wave of energy coursed out from it, darkening the ground under Rhynix's feet. From the enhanced soil, vines sprouted rapid-fire, binding and engulfing him as he struggled to get free.
"Growth!" Separating their weapons, Ginger extended her whip. "Power Whip!" As it glowed with power, she lashed out, striking the bound Rhynix and making him roar in pain as he was flung back.
"Thunder!" Allison held up her weapon and fired a bolt of lightning into the air to come down on Gengron's head, blasting him back to land beside Rhynix.
"We must retreat, for now." Rhynix said as he helped Gengron to his feet. "But your victory is only temporary, Rangers!" Turning, the two of them teleported away.
"Well, that was tiring." Ginger gasped as the three of them gathered. Their Morphers beeped and they held them up.
"Rangers, we've got a problem." Fuji told them.
"Let me guess." Rick sighed. "They were just a distraction?"
"It would seem so." Fuji agreed. "People all over the region are going mad, robbing and assaulting each other. It's like everyone's lost their sense of self-control." He clicked a few keys. "I've picked up another strand of mutated DNA in Fuschia City. It could be the source of all this. You guys had better check it out."
"Will do." Allison nodded. "Any chance the others can join us?"
"Soon." Fuji said. "I'm just about finished with a little upgrade for them. They should be right behind you."
"Right." Hanging up, the three Rangers teleported to Fuschia and the signature Fuji detected. As they appeared, they found Vilebloom drawing back to hurl one of his eggs into the air.
"Hey!" Allison called. Vilebloom spun around to face them. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Ah, Rangers." Vilebloom casually discarded the egg and raised his shield. "I wondered if you'd show up at some point. You won't stop me from subjugating this region in the name of Team Rocket!"
"We'll see about that." Rick raised his mace. "Rock Slide!"
"Spore Shield!" Vilebloom's shield expanded to larger than his body, blocking the attack. Shrinking back, its center began to glow. "Energy Ball!" A glowing sphere of green energy fired out, blasting the Black Ranger and sending him flying to the ground, demorphing.
"Thunder Wave!" Allison aimed her weapon and fired, but Vilebloom blocked the attack. Leaping forward, he swung his shield out and smacked the Yellow Ranger aside.
"Razor Leaf!" Vilebloom dodged aside as Ginger snapped her whip, sending a flurry of sharpened leaves past his head.
"Psychic!" As he thrust out his shield, a pulse of psychic power sent the Green Ranger flying back. Allison leaped over beside her.
"Dual Destruction: Lightning Rod!" The two held their weapons together and fired their combination attack, but Vilebloom swung his shield and smacked the beams back at them. The green struck the ground at their feet and the two found themselves trapped in a tree trunk.
"Sludge Bomb!" Vileboom's shield fired a blast of explosive slime, striking the two trapped Rangers and blasting them free. Both demorphed as they hit the ground. "I did it!" Vilebloom laughed as the three Rangers struggled to their feet. "I defeated the Rangers!" He held out his shield as it began charged up another Energy Ball, firing as the Rangers dove to the side.
Elsewhere, at the Pokémon League...
Red stood outside, ready to enter. He looked down at his badge case and the eight badges within.
"At last." Red sighed. "I've finally made it here."
Before he could walk forward, one of his Pokéballs shook. Red frowned and started to ignore it, but it wobbled at his waist insistently. Sighing, he pulled it off and released the Pokémon within.
"What is it, Poliwrath?" he asked. Poliwrath crossed its arms and pointed at his badge case.
"Poli." It's voice carried an accusatory tone in it.
"Hey, we would've won it fair and square." Red told him. "If it wasn't for the Dragonair and then Dragonite out of nowhere..."
"Wrath!" Poliwrath shook its head and pointed past him. "Poli!"
"You want me to return it?" Poliwrath nodded confirmation. Red looked down at his badge case and considered. "Maybe..." His eyes narrowed. "No. We've come this far. It's too late for second thoughts now."
Poliwrath sighed and sat down on the ground, keeping its arms folded and glaring as it blocked the path forward.
"C'mon, Poliwrath, we gotta go." Red insisted. Poliwrath sat firm. Red raised his Pokéball and Poliwrath swung his arm, smacking it out of Red's hand. "Hey!" Red glared. "What's wrong with you? I've never seen you like this."
"He can tell that something is off about you." Red turned as two Charizard descened from the sky and Ryan, Brent, and Jessica hopped off of them. One shrank down into a Ditto as the group stepped forward.
"What are you guys doing here?" Red asked.
"Coming to see you." Ryan said. "Hopefully to talk you out of making a major mistake."
Brent examined the flower attached to Red. The Exeggutor face on it glanced at him sideways and grinned.
"You see?" Brent whispered to Jessica.
"I see it." she nodded. "That's definitely not natural."
"Look, Ryan, I won this badge." Red insisted. "Or at least, I would've..."
"You think being caught off guard somehow renders your loss unfair?" Ryan demanded. "Come on, Red. I'm sure you've been surprised by your opponents' abilities before today. Did you blame your losses on them all the time?"
"Well..." Red started.
"Yeah." Brent put in. "Like when we fought, you were completely unprepared for my power. But you didn't beat yourself up about it then. You accepted it and moved on, determined to get stronger."
"This is different!" Red insisted.
"No, it isn't." Brent shook his head. "The only thing different right now is you."
"Trust me Red, you don't want to go down this road." Jessica told him. "You've heard of Team Rocket, right?"
"Of course I have." Red said. "What does that have to do with...?"
"Well, this is the kind of thing they would do." she said. "And I know that better than anyone, because I used to be part of them."
"What?" Red blinked at her.
"It's true." Ryan nodded. "She was with them for years."
"I saw the error of my ways." Jessica said. "But I kept pushing it aside, ignoring the consequences of what I was doing. I was just lucky to find the right people to pull me out of it eventually, make me not only see the light, but pay attention to it."
"This isn't you, Red." Brent said. "I don't know everything about you, but one thing I do know from every interaction we've had is that you don't give up and look to take the easy way out."
"I..." Red clutched his head as if it was in pain. "I can't deal with this right now. I've gotta go." As he turned, Red waved and his Charizard flew over, landing behind Red's Poliwrath and further blocking the way.
"I don't think so." Ryan shook his head. "If you want a shot at me and my title, you're going to do it the right way. I refuse to let a thief even be an option for Champion."
"Right." Brent and Jessica released their Blastoise and Arbok and they too moved to stand in his way. "None of us want that. We want the real you to be in the tournament, not whatever you are now."
"Poliwrath, get them out of the way." Red said, continuing to clutch at his head. "I need to get through, NOW!"
"Poli." Poliwrath shook its head and stood beside the others.
"Come on, Poliwrath!" Red said. "We've been together for years. You can't do this to me now!"
"He's doing what's best for you." Ryan said. "We all are."
"He won't obey you." Jessica said. "Because he knows it's not you giving him this order. Your other Pokémon may not recognize the difference fully, but he does."
"Poli." Poliwrath stepped forward and put a hand on Red's shoulder, looking at him and pleading with its eyes.
"If you won't turn back for us, do it for somebody who's known you far longer." Brent said. "Poliwrath doesn't want you to walk this trail anymore than we do."
Yelling, Red fell to his knees. The flower on his hat opened its mouth and let out an even louder wail as it turned grey and dissolved into ash.
"Red?" Brent asked tentatively. Poliwrath leaned down to look closer.
"You're right. You're all right." Red stood, looking horrified at himself. "What have I been thinking? Why did I even think this made sense?" He looked down at his full badge case in disgust. "I was supposed to be training today, not...I gotta get this back right away." He looked at the trio in shame. "Sorry, guys."
"Hey, it's alright." Jessica smiled. "We understand."
"It's not an easy journey." Ryan nodded. "But you've realized what you need to do. You're good to go."
"Yeah." Brent agreed. "You've returned to your true self. And we know in time you'll come out on top, the right way."
"Thanks." Red nodded sadly as Poliwrath hugged him. "C'mon Poliwrath, let's return this badge and get back to training."
As Red left on his way back to Viridian, the three sighed.
"Well, that was a close call." Ryan said. "We almost lost a great trainer to Team Rocket's schemes."
"Yeah..." Brent glanced at Jessica. "And speaking of great trainers and Team Rocket..."
"Hey, guys!" The group looked up to find Bill descending on a Pidgeot. Landing nearby, he hopped off and ran over towards them. "Where have you guys been? I've been looking all over!"
"We had some business to take care of." Brent told him. "What's going on?"
"You need these." He held out their Morphers. "The others need your help in Fuschia right now!"
"We're on it." Ryan nodded. He looked closer at his Morpher. "What is this?" Attached to the top of the type symbol was a small blue chip. Brent and Jessica looked at their Morphers and found they had a red and yellow version, respectively.
"Fuji's upgrade." Bill grinned. "It'll let you call on more powerful weapons. But seriously, get to Fuschia, NOW!"
"Right." Brent slapped his Morpher on and the others did the same. "Let's do this!"
Soon, in Fuschia City...
Vilebloom dodged aside as Ginger swung a kick at him, using his shield to knock her back. As Allison and Rick struck at him from behind, he leaped up and above the group, holding his shield down.
"Stun Spore!" A cloud of yellow dust fired from his shield, covering the three Rangers and paralyzing them in place. Landing, Vilebloom laughed. "You Rangers have certainly put up a valiant fight, but it's over now."
As Vilebloom started to raise his shield and prepare an attack, the sound of new arrivals caught his attention. Turning, his shield expanded in time to block a Sludge, Flamethrower, and Water Pulse flying at him.
"Looks like we made it just in time." Ryan said as he and the others held their weapons ready.
"You're the one who's been corrupting people, aren't you?" Brent asked. "We can't let that slide." Vilebloom laughed.
"You think you can stop me?" He held up his shield as a Sludge Bomb formed. "I've beaten three Rangers once today and I'll do it again!" The trio narrowly dodged away from the explosion as he fired at them.
"Careful, guys." Rick called from where he was stuck. "He's a tough one."
"In that case, we better break out the new gear." Ryan nodded at Jessica's suggestion and the three held up their hands as their old weapons vanished and three new ones appeared.
"Articuno Fan!" Ryan held up a handheld fan with an Articuno wing design, a small swirl of snow blowing around it.
"Zapdos Drill!" Jessica had a handheld drill with a Zapdos head design, lightning sparking around it as spun.
"Moltres Axe!" Brent twirled a long-handled double-headed axe, its head shaped like Moltres's body and wings and leaving a trail of fire behind it.
"Bring it!" Vilebloom held out his shield. "Stun Spore!"
"Gust!" Swinging his Articuno Fan, Ryan sent a swirl of wind to blow the attack away before it could hit them. Leaping forward, he drew back again. "Blizzard!" Another swing sent a blast of snow and freezing air to blow around Vilebloom, knocking him back.
Jessica leaped forward and stabbed out with her Zapdos Drill, Vilebloom standing and blocking with his shield.
"Discharge!" Electricity flared from the Zapdos Drill, passing around the shield and striking Vilebloom's body. As he staggered, Brent's axe ignited in flames and he charged at him.
"Fire Spin!" Spinning, Brent circled around Vilebloom, slashing him from multiple angles. Letting up, he drew back his axe as it started to glow. "Sky Attack!"
"Drill Peck!" Together, Brent and Jessica struck Vilebloom and sent him flying with a yell of pain. As he crashed to the ground, Ryan joined them.
"Let's put em together." he suggested.
The head of Brent's Moltres Axe extended outward, turning the whole thing into an enormous bow. A shaft extended from the back of Jessica's Zapdos Drill and Ryan connected his Articuno Fan to the end, turning it into an oversized arrow that they loaded onto the Moltres Axe.
"Legend Bow!" The three Rangers aimed it at Vilebloom as he staggered to his feet. "Fire!"
Vilebloom raised and expanded his shield as they launched the arrow at him, but its head spun and it drilled through, striking him before before flying back to the Rangers. As sparks flew from his body, Vilebloom dropped his shield and fell to the ground before exploding.
Back at Team Rocket Base...
"It seems your plan has failed." Mewtwovanni noted to Gengron. All across the region, Vilebloom's flowers were crumbling away, leaving confused people to return to their senses.
"I'm sorry, boss." Gengron frowned. "It wasn't supposed to go like that."
"Hmm. Do you want to know a secret?" Mewtwovanni looked at him. "I play the long game. I only expect one of our plans to work: the last one. All the others are primarily to keep the Rangers busy while I prepare."
"Seriously?" Gengron blinked. "Then what's your real plan?"
"You'll see, in time." Mewtwovanni assured him. "But for now...GROW!"
Back in Fuschia...
A Growth Ball arrived to reform Vilebloom, the mutant cackling as he looked down at the Rangers below.
"Looks like it's not over." Ryan glanced at the other three Rangers as they came running over, freed from paralysis. "You guys have done enough for today. Take a break. We've got this."
"If you say so." Rick said. "Go get him." Ryan nodded.
"Legend Zords!" The Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres Zords flew to the city and the three leaped into them. "Legend Megazord!" Coming together, the Megazord formed and hovered nearby Vilebloom.
"Flamethrower!" Brent had the Moltres head blast a stream of fire, but Vilebloom expanded his shield and blocked it.
"Stun Spore!" A cloud of dust flew out and settled over the Megazord.
"Our joints are starting to lock up." Jessica pointed out. "We've gotta get out of this."
"I got it. Hurricane!" Ryan called. Spinning, the Legend Megazord sent the paralyzing dust flying away. The swirl of wind caught ahold of Vilebloom's shield, yanking it from his hands and tossing it away.
"Hey!" Vilebloom looked after his lost weapon before turning back to the Megazord in fear. "Oh no..."
"Ice Beam!" Brent called. The Articuno head fired and froze Vilebloom's legs to the ground.
"I can't..." Vilebloom reached down and tugged at his legs. "Move..."
"Now, let's take him out." Ryan ordered. All three birds' heads opened and charged up.
"Full Power! Tri Attack!" As Vilebloom struggled to break free, he found himself blast by fire, ice, and lightning all at once. Going limp, he toppled forward and fell facefirst to the ground, exploding once more.
Later, at Fuji's Lab...
"Well done, Rangers." Fuji congratulated the team. "That's another of Team Rocket's plans shut down."
"Yeah." Ryan grinned. "Thanks for the new weapons. They're awesome!"
"You're welcome." Fuji laughed. "And I've just got the old Zords back online. We're stronger than ever."
"While we're all here..." Brent said. "Jess, you had something you wanted to tell us?"
"Yeah..." She sighed. "So, when Red described the voice of the Virdian Gym Leader...his description perfectly matches Mewtwovanni's voice."
"Hold on..." Rick frowned. "You're saying Mewtwovanni has taken over the Gym?"
"I don't think it's so simple." Brent said, reaching into his bag and drawing out the picture he had found. "I checked out the Gym myself, and I found this." He held it up to show them.
"That's me..." Jessica stared. "And Giovanni." She gasped. "Of course, that's why he was silent when I challenged his Gym. He didn't want me to realize it was him."
"And he stays out of sight because he's also running the biggest criminal organization in the region." Ryan nodded. "That makes a lot of sense."
"So, what do we do about it?" Allison asked.
"We've got to get him replaced." Rick said. "We can't just let him him continue on."
"Or..." Fuji spoke up. "Maybe this is the opportunity we've been waiting for to take the fight to him. We may not know where Team Rocket is based out of these days...but we sure know where the Gym is."
Elsewhere, in Viridian City...
As Red was approaching Viridian Gym, a Nidoking appeared and landed in front of him. Red leaped back and his Poliwrath jumped in front of him.
"So, you're the kid who stole one of my badges?" Red glanced over the find Mewtwovanni, hidden under his cloak. He could only recognize him as the Gym Leader because of his voice.
"Yeah...look, it was a big mistake." Red pulled the Earth Badge from his case and held it out. "I was coming to return it and say I would challenge you another time." Mewtwovanni stared at him.
"No." he sighed. "I thought you might be a posssible recruit, but clearly not."
"What?" Red frowned.
"Nothing." Mewtwovanni waved him away. "Keep the badge. I'm done as Gym Leader."
"What? But..." Red shook his head. Mewtwovanni laughed.
"Kid, if I had been using my normal Gym Pokémon, you would've thrashed them." he said. "I used a personal one because I was trying to train it up. Believe me, you're good enough to own the Earth Badge."
"If you say so..." Red looked at it. "I don't feel like I am though..."
"You'll find out soon enough." Mewtwovanni turned away.
"Why are you leaving?" Red called. "Who's running the Gym if you're gone?"
"I don't care." Mewtwovanni laughed. "I have what I needed from it. Let them figure that out. I just came back to offer you a warning..." His Nidoking stomped forward and glared at Red. "Destroy that picture, forget you ever saw it."
"What picture?" Red blinked. Mewtwovanni glanced back at him before smirking.
"Good. You don't know. Then it was the other one..." He whistled and Nidoking moved to his side. Reaching out, Mewtwovanni took ahold of him and both teleported away.
"What the..." Red stared at the place they had been standing. "Who WAS that guy?"
Next Time: Mewtwovanni bring his newest monster to play and the Rangers receive some unexpected assistance. Next time, meet "The Dragon Knight"
(A/N: Been a while since Red showed up, hasn't it? Anyway, I was a day late this week because my family had a Memorial Day celebration and I was busy with that the entire day. I might also be moving my schedule to Tuesday in the future anyway, but we'll see. That's all for me today. Look forward to seeing what you guys think in the Reviews and I'll see you all next time. Mewtwo, out!