I do apologize for the long interval time between updates. Hopefully, that's done for now; I don't make promises on things I can be sure of.

Anyway, what I am sure of is that it's time for another chapter of the sweetness. I know I said I'll put in two chapters per update, so the next will be up later today. And I also know I've used Interlude as a chap title before, but interlude has more than one definition... ; ) You'll find out soon enough.


Chapter 54: Crimson Disruption, Part 5: Interlude Two

At first Sky thought only Hizou joining the fight was the bad news. It only got worse once he noticed the Pokemon left remaining. Tough ones. Some he recognized and quickly pointed out as Dophan, Milktank, Nidorino, Koffing, Ekans, and Grimer. Spike, Sora, Blaze, Shade, Swirl and Brute stood to oppose them.

Though one struck Sky's interest in particular: a bluish snail Pokemon, with wild yellow eyes, an X over it's mouth, and a large, spiny shell. There was something about the Pokemon, but he just couldn't remember what... He only knew that Pokemon shouldn't be here.

However, Hizou didn't give him much more time to broad over it. He cynically smiled and raised his hand. "My lackeys," Some of the grunts grumbled. "it's time we show our guest to the prison room. Take 'em!"

The grunts all shouted, the Pokemon charged with their own battle cries, and the battle began again.

Sky spotted the Nidorino and strange slug Pokemon charging towards Sora and Spike. Sky clenched his teeth once he saw the familiar purple Pokemon. "Geez, what do they do? Live on raising Nidoran?!"

Again, the other Pokemon grabbed his attention. He pulled out his Pokedex and quickly aimed it.

"Omastar, the Spiral Pokemon.

Omastar uses its tentacles to capture its prey. It is believed to have become extinct because its shell grew to large and heavy, causing its movements to become slow and ponderous."

Sky's eyes grew wide while it talked. "That's right... this Pokemon became extinct two million years ago!"

The ancient slug attacked. It withdrew into it's shell, at the command or a grunt standing nearby, and began rapidly rolling towards Spike.

Sky quickly snapped the PokeDex shut. "Spike, Double Team! Sora, Steel Wing it!"

Spike flashed quickly, and four copies appeared, standing in a line as the Pokemon zoomed past and made road-kill of a clone. Somehow it must've known it had missed for the shell began losing momentum, slowly turning around in an arc. Taking advantage of its slowed movement, Sora quickly flew after it, her wings glowing, and smashed them onto the Pokemon's shell. That was a mistake. The moment she made impact a shiver that chattered her beak ran up her body and forced her to recoil, and the Spiral Pokemon rammed past her and took aim on Spike once more.

"That's... tough defense..." Sky muttered. Glancing over he saw Sora was okay and had taken flight to narrowly avoid Nidorino's Horn Attack, but the Omastar was approaching Spike even faster than before. "Spike! Water Gun!"

Spike narrowed his eyes and boldly stood his ground in the Omastar's path. He launched the stream of water at the spinning Pokemon. It took a direct hit, but the Pokmeon's rotation repelled most of the attack.

Spike yelped as he just managed to stumbled away as the Spiral Pokemon grazed his side. It got mad. The slug bounced in mid-air, revved in place, and shot forward.

Sky knitted his eyebrows. "All right, tough defense and special moves won't work while it's spinning..." the trainer's mind raced for ideas, and by some merciful stroke of luck he remembered Spike's Water Pulse. "Spike, use Water Pulse!"

Spike caught what Sky was thinking and nodded. Knowing waiting would get him shredded by the shell, Spike leapt to his side on the ground once Omastar turned and blasted off the a spurt of water from now glowing arms, a ring rippling around it. Omastar zoomed closer, and just before passing by, the water pulse rammed it's side.

Omastar shot onwards, but soon after, swerved. Sky cheered. "Yes!" He noticed the Nidorino threatening Sora. Omastar heading closer to them. Sky smirked excitedly. 'Let's hope this works...' "Sora! Push Nidorino towards Omastar! Gust!"

Sora briefly noted the ingenious of the plan. She nodded and quickly and began flapping her wings in mild, strong flaps. Nidorino attempted steading himself as the wind pressed against him, but he was soon inched backwards slowly.

Sora stopped, smirked and waved bye-bye.

Nidorino cocked his head, but before he knew it Omastar had smashed into him. The Nidorino was knocked many feet away, rolled to the side, and was out like a light; yet the bump and high speed movement caused Omastar to go airborne. Feeling no ground passing beneath it, Omastar came out of it's shell just in time to see itself heading for a ceiling light. It's eyes widened. "No... No, no, no, NO—!!"

Glass shattered; sparks flew; Omastar's tentacles flailed wildly about at the electrocution and buzzing.

"YAAAAHHHHHHHGGGGGHHHH!!!!"

And at this, everyone had stopped to watch. More buzzing and a loud gurgling sound soon came from Omastar. Only the Pokemon were sure it was screaming, but it wasn't very hard for humans to guess.

Sky could only watch. That wasn't part of his plan, but if it didn't work...

When the buzzing ended, the light went out completely, and Omastar fell to the floor in a smoldering, lifeless heap.

Sora stared in horror. Spike's paws shot into the air. "Yeah!!"

"Whoa.." Sky managed to get out. "Didn't see that coming..."

"Oh fu–!!! My Omastar!!" the grunt ran to his Pokemon, almost ignoring Nidoking on the ground, before he noticed he too was KO'd. "Son of a—!"

Meanwhile, the disturbed party of trainers and grunts returned to the battle once Kyle ordered a Flame Wheel and Faint Attack, compliments of Blaze and Fang, while the enemy's guard was down. The double hits KO'd Koffing.

A grunt's mouth dropped in disbelief, and his eyes smoldered with anger. "Oh!! You little sneak! You cheated!"

"Tough," Kyle truly could really care less. "Blaze, Quick Attack the snake."

As ordered, and before the grunt could react, Blaze zipped towards the off-guard snake Pokemon, and rammed it against the wall. It let out a painful sounding hiss before failing limp; having the living crap smashed out of it.

The grunt's face turned red. Shade smiled widely. "Hey, watch out! He's going to bust an artery any moment now!"

"THAT'S IT!!" He pointed at Kyle. "I'm through playing around with you!! Rip him to shreds!"

The grunt tossed out another Pokeball, and out flashed a black hound like Pokemon, sporting an orange underbelly and a skull emblem on its forehead.

Kyle would've stayed unfazed, if he hadn't noticed what the Pokemon. His eyes widened and his lip twitched. "You've got to be kidding me."

The grunt smiled confidently. "Ha! Not so tough now—"

"WHAT THE HELL'S A WORTHLESS IDIOT LIKE YOU DOING WITH A HOUNDOUR?!!" Kyle screeched, sounding as furious as ever when it came to a fire Pokemon not being in his ownership.

The grunt's expression dampened. That wasn't the reaction he had imagined. "Worthless...?"

Kyle let out a frustrated shout. Then he calmed down and looked dead serious. "...You're relinquishing ownership as of today. Blaze! Attack with Cut! Shade, Wing Attack!"

"Defend yourself with Bite, my dear!!" the grunt called, feverishly zealous.

As Blaze closed in, The growling Houndour tried to bite his throat, but Blaze quickly snaked out of the way, and countered by tossing a slashing claw upwards and across the Houndour's muzzle, making it yelp. Shade finished the combo by flooring the injured Pokemon with his wings in a strong slam.

As Shade landed he noticed Blaze was sweating fiercely and panting hard and was immediately alarmed. "Hey buddy, you all right?!" he rushed over.

"I'm... fine..." Blaze replied, his fierce expression and eyes stayed the same as he panted for air.

"How long have you been like this?" Shade questioned, looking over the Quilava. "Aw dangit, Blaze! Why do I have to keep telling you? Stop working yourself to death all the time!"

"I said I'm fine!" Blaze insisted, though he still looked beat.

Kyle had also noticed, staring intently. 'Blaze is exhausted... we have to end this soon...'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Pokemon swarm had dropped significantly. Only a few more Pokemon surrounded them, but Spike dropped into sitting and Sora's shoulders drooped, both panting. Neither had the strength to go on.

"Sora! Spike!" Came Sky's worried call. It was insane to make them battle any longer, the only Pokemon capable of battling now were Scruf and Tank. Sky had drawn their Pokeballs when suddenly a rolling grey and black wheel with tusk shot their way past Mako and Brute. Swirl had fainted at the hands of Hizou's Magneton.

"Sky, look out!" Mako tried to warn.

But Sky was too slow recalling his Pokemon. One more second and the blindly spinning Dophan would smash them both.

Then what looked like a sweep of wind and brown feathers moving at the speed of sound sent Dophan twenty feet backwards and landed in a collision with Hizou's Magneton. Both Pokemon were KO'd.

The turbulence from the attack blew Sky back. He, Sora, and Spike all were stunned. They swore they'd never forget that attack; or the Pokemon which used it like that.

Sure enough Storm landed behind the two flabbergasted Pokemon as the wind died down. Feathers floated down all around him as he turned his head around slightly and cast a scornful glare at the two. "Never though I'd see you two weaklings again... or that I'd actually have to save your cheating butts."

It was clear he hadn't forgotten the Gym battle. Sora simply sighed in relief, and Spike chuckled. "Whaddya know? It's ol' feathers-for brains!"

Storm's beak moved in what looked like a silent growl, but he simply turned away. "You're welcome."

Sky was still baffled. "Storm...? That means...."

"Hiya!"

Sky glanced up. Handing upside down from the air vent was none other than the Meritina Town Gym leader/dancer, Katrina. She went back into the vent and a second later, hopped down and landed smoothly on her feet. She was dressed differently than before, wearing what looked like a spy-theme sky blue-jumpsuit.

"Stayed for the festival, did you?" She asked, turning around to Sky, smiling extremely brightly, despite the situation of the Team Crimson attack of course. Then she chuckled. "I swear, the party routine changes every year..."

"This isn't part of a party!!" Kyle shouted, wondering just how she could joke around at a time like this, especially when they were losing.

"Relax, relax..." Katrina quelled. Then she looked up, a tad more serious. "Help has arrived. Hey, Bluu! We need the baddie-lullaby!"

A second later after her call, Bluu flew down from the air vent she had been in, carrying a rope and flashlight in her talons, but then dropped them both with a look of excitement. "Excellent!"

Katrina turned to Storm. "Storm, you run distraction." The Fearow nodded then took off, ramming Pokemon and TC trainers alike with Arial Ace. Next she pulled out a Pokeball, and called out Breeze. Spike froze. Sora growled.

"Breeze, you get our friends' Pokemon out of there. Use Follow Me."

"Understood." The Togetic grinned and scampered off, Bluu following her.

Breeze skidded to a stop next to Blaze and Shade. Blaze was ramming the heck out of Milktank using Quick Attack, ignoring Breeze, but Shade stopped his Wing attack the moment he noticed the Togetic. His eyes went wide with happiness. "Doll face!! I knew you'd come back for me!"

Blaze landed after his last attack and sighed, "She defeated you in battle with trickery, don't you remember?"

"She was just joking, weren't you, my feathery—"

"That was strictly business." Breeze answered curly, annoyed, and with the air of a business woman.

Shade made a surprised sound and put a wing to his chest. "That hurt. Right here."

Breeze rolled her eyes. She held a finger above her very dramatically, and somehow, Blaze and Shade watched her intently. Blaze tried to look away, but couldn't. "What's... she doing...?"

"Follow Me if you want to live!" She ran off away from where Bluu was preparing her concert.

"I strangely feel like following her, even if she did break my heart..." Shade announced and flew off after her.

Blaze was grunting with extreme effort, be he noticed his paws were following her. "Aggrrr...!! Crap!! Why... can't I stop...?!"

Mako spun around when Kyle began running and noticed Katrina. He glanced back towards the grunts and saw Bluu. Lastly he turned to Brute. "Time to go!"

Brute nodded and scurried after his trainer.

Bluu noticed everyone was out of the way. No grunts or Pokemon had noticed her. "Great! And now for my opening and ending song... Night Night, Baddies!" She cleared her throat, and took a deep breath. "Lullaby, and good night... go to sleep, you id-i-ots... go to bed, rest your head, lulalalalalala..."

The grunts froze at the strange, melodic chirping, and glanced up. When they saw Bluu using Sing, a few ran off screaming like ninnies. Slowly, the remaining Pokemon and trainers began dozing off to sleep.

Electrode's eyes lowered. He let off a tired smile. "At long last... the insomnia... it can... it can end.... Thank... you..." Within a moment he was out cold.

Hizou turned to the fleeing grunts. "Get back here you bastards!" he stifled a yawn. "It's just... one stupid bird!" He pointed up, but his arm sagged. Then slung back to his side completely. A peaceful, sleepy expression ran across his face, and he looked happy. "Crap... alrighty then... maybe I do need a nap..." He feel backwards and started snoring.

Bluu was still singing. "Lullaby.... and g'night...lulalalalalala...." All the grunts and grunt Pokemon were snoring. Her work here was done. "Thank you—you're all to kind! I'm here till Thursday! See ya and sweet dreams!"


Interlude: (noun) an instrumental passage or a piece of music rendered between the parts of a song, church service, drama, etc.

...What? I told you you'd find out what it means soon enough! ^^ Reviews make the second chapter come faster! (Hint hint, nudge nuge, laugh laugh, thumbs-up x2.... you get the idea.)