Gupta- Swampert level 44, Swellow level 45, Camerupt level 44, Umbreon level 42, Flygon level 45, Hippowdon level 43
And now we reach the final battle with Team Magma. They'll be showing up in the future, but not as battling trainers.
Gupta had been told before to return to the Space Centre after battling the Gym, so he braved the sunlight once again and hurried over to the building. Once he arrived, the first thing he noticed was the errie silence that filled the space.
Something was wrong.
"Hello?" Gupta asked, looking around the empty reception.
"Um… You're that kid from before… Right?" The receptionist asked, peering out from under the reception desk.
"What happened?" Gupta questioned her, getting straight to the point.
"Some weird group came around… They headed upstairs. We've been working for years on this equipment. We can't just lose it all now!" The woman tried to explain.
"Where are the others?" Gupta added. There didn't seem to be any other staff members around…
"Everyone else was rounded up and marched up the stairs… I think they're holding them in the operations room." The receptionist answered.
"Okay." Gupta looked towards the stairs. "Wait here. I'll see what I can do."
"Please don't do anything reckless. I've called the police, they'll be here before long." The receptionist called after him.
Gupta made his way to the back of the ground floor, and started climbing the stairs. After only three steps up, a voice rang out.
"Stop right there! …Oh wait, it's you." Emma pouted, running up to meet Gupta.
"Team Magma." Gupta recognised. "…What have you done?"
"This fight's no longer about changing the world. We're fighting for ourselves now, and our team." Lars added, appearing at the other side of the stairs.
"Fighting for yourselves…" Gupta echoed. "How does the Space Centre come into it?"
"Did you know about the letter we sent earlier?" Emma prompted. "That's how we guarantee the safety for our team. Whether we have to steal something important or take hostages… We'll make sure the others get away."
"Wait… You'd take hostages to 'guarantee' your team's safety? Do you mean you're trying to blackmail the police into letting you get away with your crimes? …Because I don't think that works." Gupta answered.
"It's not about us. We know we've done too much. But the grunts under us… Were just following orders. And this is the only way to get the police's attention." Emma insisted. Gupta regarded her with scepticism.
"You don't have to agree with us." Lars pointed out. "And I already know you're planning to stop us. We've lost to you enough, so we don't see the point in fighting you again. Just go up there."
"…You're right." Gupta deadpanned. "I don't think you're making sense. But if you insist… I'll go." He turned away from the siblings and continued up the stairs.
The tables and chairs of the upstairs room had been arranged in a corner in an apparent attempt at building a barrier between the far side and the stairs. Behind the desks, Yong Soo stood his ground while Eduard and the other scientists took cover. Francis and Camille were advancing on the makeshift fort. As Gupta stepped forwards, Yong Soo noticed him.
"Guppie!" Yong Soo recognised, eyes lighting up. "You'll help us out, right? Two on one isn't fair!"
"Gupta. You're here. Of course." Francis breathed.
"I thought you were going to track Groudon." Gupta pointed out.
"We did." Camille chipped in. "It's going to Sootopolis City. That's where the energy for Primal Reversion is located."
"And you need to steal rocket parts… To deal with it? I find that hard to believe." Gupta continued.
"Of course not. We want our Team's freedom." Francis responded.
"And you want to get that by stealing? How does that make any sense?" Yong Soo cut in.
"We'll be taking whatever parts we can and whatever scientists we can kidnap." Francis explained. "The freedom of our grunts is the ransom. I already know it's too late for me."
"We aren't just going to let you get away with this." Gupta stated.
"I'd expect nothing less. Fine then. I see how it is." Francis turned towards Gupta. "We'll fight."
Gupta and Yong Soo stood at opposite ends of the arena, with Francis and Camille between them. A few beats passed before the battle began.
"Alright, let's get down to it. Roserade, let's go." Francis declared, sending out his first Pokémon.
"Flareon, do it." Camille started, sending out her Pokémon in response.
"Alright Umbreon, take them on." Gupta decided.
"Gardevoir, come on out!" Yong Soo decided.
"Roserade, Magical Leaf on Umbreon." Francis began.
"Flareon, Fire Fang on Gardevoir." Camille backed up.
"Umbreon, Swift." Gupta chose.
"Gardevoir, Psychic on Roserade." Yong Soo decided.
Roserade sent out a barrage of leaves that stuck Umbreon, who responded by throwing a star shaped ray towards both opponents. Flareon attacked Gardevoir with firey fangs and Gardevoir responded by striking Roserade with strong psychic power.
"Roserade, now Venoshock on Gardevoir." Francis continued.
"Flareon, Fire Fang on Umbreon." Camille added.
Umbreon, Swift." Gupta repeated.
"Gardevoir, Draining Kiss on Flareon." Yong Soo attempted.
Roserade attacked Gardevoir with a barrage of poison, causing major damage. Umbreon leapt forwards and attacked both opponents with a second ray of stars, knocking Roserade out. Flareon collided with Umbreon, biting him with fangs of fire. Gardevoir attacked Flareon and stole its energy, restoring itself and knocking the opponent out.
"Flareon, return. Magcargo, take over." Camille spoke.
"Come back Roserade. Torkoal, your turn." Francis decided.
"Magcargo, Flame Burst on Umbreon." Camille ordered.
"Torkoal, Flame Thrower on Gardevoir." Francis commanded.
"Gardevoir, Magical Leaf on Magcargo." Yong Soo suggested.
"Umbreon, Take Down on Torkoal." Gupta stated.
Umbreon charged at Torkoal, knocking it backwards while Gardevoir sent a flurry of strange leaves to strike Magcargo. Torkoal launched an arc of flames towards Gardevoir, and Magcargo followed up with a ball of fire which hit Umbreon and split into pieces, striking Gardevoir as well.
"Torkoal, Body Slam on Umbreon." Francis continued.
"Magcargo, Shell Smash." Camille changed move.
"Umbreon, Take Down on Torkoal." Gupta repeated.
"Gardevoir, Heal Pulse on Umbreon." Yong Soo decided.
Umbreon charged Torkoal for a second time, appearing exhausted after the recoil took effect. Gardevoir threw out a pulse of energy that seemed to restore Umbreon's energy. Torkoal slammed into Umbreon but appeared to also be running out of energy, and Magcargo cracked its own shell, lava leaking out of the gaps.
"Magcargo, Ancient Power on Gardevoir." Camille moved on.
"Torkoal, Lava Plume." Francis commanded.
"Gardevoir, Magical Leaf on Magcargo." Yong Soo tried.
"Umbreon, Swift." Gupta stated.
Umbreon threw out a ray of stars to attack both opponents, knocking Torkoal out, and Gardevoir followed up with another slew of leaves which left Magcargo barely hanging on. The opposing Pokémon threw rocks glowing with a mystical power at Gardevoir, knocking the Pokémon out and evening up the battlefield.
"Torkoal, that's enough. Cacturne, go on." Francis spoke, switching Pokémon.
"Don't worry Gardevoir. Okay Slaking, you're up!" Yong Soo declared.
"Magcargo, Ancient Power on Slaking." Camille switched target.
"Umbreon, Swift." Gupta repeated.
"Slaking, Chip Away on Cacturne." Yong Soo chose.
"Cacturne, Pin Missile on Umbreon." Francis ordered.
Umbreon sent out another ray of stars which took Magcargo down. Cacturne fired a string of needles that caused massive damage to Umbreon. Slaking reached over and slapped Cacturne hard, then settled down to rest.
"Magcargo, return. Nidoqueen, come on now." Camille decided.
"Fine then. Umbreon, Swift." Gupta repeated.
"Cacturne, Pin Missile on Umbreon." Francis followed.
"Nidoqueen, Double Kick on Slaking." Camille decided.
Umbreon threw out a wave of stars to strike both opponents. Cacturne responded with another flurry of spikes which knocked Umbreon down, while Nidoqueen launched two powerful kicks at Slaking. Slaking didn't react.
"That's alright Umbreon. Camerupt, take over." Gupta chose, switching his Pokémon.
"Right Slaking, Flail!" Yong Soo declared.
"Camerupt, Lava Plume." Gupta attempted.
"Nidoqueen, Double Kick on Slaking." Camille commanded again.
"Cacturne, Sucker Punch on Camerupt." Francis changed move.
Cacturne swung at Camerupt with its spiky arms, while Nidoqueen kicked Slaking yet again. Camerupt retaliated by releasing a cascade of lava which damaged all the other Pokémon in battle, knocking out Cacturne but also damaging Slaking badly. Slaking got back up regardless and hit Nidoqueen with a powerful struggling flail, knocking it out.
"Return Nidoqueen. Go Whiscash." Camille spoke.
"Come back Cacturne. Mightyena, your turn." Francis added.
"Camerupt, Rock Slide." Gupta switched moves.
"Mightyena, Assurance on Slaking." Francis moved.
"Whiscash, Mud Bomb on Camerupt." Camille started.
Mightyena attacked first, striking Slaking and knocking it out. Whiscash moved second, launching a glob of mud at Camerupt, who responded by sending rocks cascading down on both opponents.
"Alright Slaking, tag out. Shelgon, you're next." Yong Soo continued, changing Pokémon.
"Camerupt, Rock Slide." Gupta settled on.
"Mightyena, Take Down on Shelgon." Francis decided.
"Whiscash, Mud Bomb on Camerupt." Camille seconded.
"Shelgon, Headbutt on Whiscash." Yong Soo chose.
Mightyena charged in, tackling Shelgon with force and taking a large amount of damage. Shelgon leapt in to headbutt Whiscash, who launched another ball of mud at Camerupt. She seemed to be getting tired, but was able to take Mightyena down in a second barrage of rocks.
"Enough Mightyena. Go on now Flygon." Francis carried on, switching out his Pokémon.
"Shelgon, Dragon Claw on Flygon." Yong Soo started.
"Whiscash, Mud Bomb on Shelgon." Camille commanded.
"Camerupt, Rock Slide." Gupta repeated again.
"Flygon, Dragon Breath on Shelgon." Francis ordered.
Flygon took to the air and breathed a sparkling breath down on Shelgon, damaging it massively. Shelgon turned and attacked Flygon with sharp claws, causing severe damage to the opponent in turn. Whiscash followed up with a glob of mud that knocked Shelgon out. Camerupt brought down another cascade of rocks which knocked Whiscash out in turn.
"Alright, it's come down to this. Delphox, let's go." Camille spoke, sending out her last Pokémon.
"It's wrapping up now." Yong Soo commented. "Go on Charizard!"
Charizard was a large bipedal dragon with large wings and a sweeping tail with fire at the end, who was almost entirely orange. Gupta looked towards Yong Soo and noticed that he had folded the edge of his sleeve over to reveal a Key Stone hidden on the inside, accompanied with a Mega Stone fitted to a ring around Charizard's tail.
"You'e going to Mega Evolve that, aren't you?" Gupta asked.
"Of course! Now Charizard, Mega Evolve and use Slash on Flygon!" Yong Soo decided.
"Camerupt, Rock Slide." Gupta tried.
"Delphox, Psybeam on Camerupt." Camille started again.
"Flygon, Dragon Breath on Camerupt." Francis followed up.
Charizard grew horns on the back of its head and its wings and tail grew as it assumed a sleeker form which seemed well suited to flying. It took off towards the ceiling and dove onto Flygon from above, slashing at it harshly. Flygon responded with a powerful burst of breath aimed at Camerupt, and Delphox assisted with a strange coloured beam which took Camerupt down.
"Don't worry Camerupt." Gupta spoke to his Pokémon. "You've done enough. Come on now Flygon."
"Hey, your Vibrava finally evolved! Now would be the time to use that Mega Stone I gave you before." Yong Soo explained.
"The Mega Stone… Oh. I remember." Gupta nodded. Yong Soo had given him something called Flygonite before. That had to be what he was talking about. When he looked at the item itself, he noticed that the gemstone was mounted to a ring.
"Yeah, that! Give it to your Flygon. You can Mega Evolve it then." Yong Soo continued.
"Okay…" Gupta stepped forwards, slipping the ring around Flygon's tail. "Flygon… Mega Evolve."
"Flygon!" Flygon roared, starting to Mega Evolve.
Flygon's antennae fused together, and a red crest formed between her eyes. The stripes that had previously only covered her tail spread over the whole of her body, and her hind legs turned entirely dark green. Two extra wings formed on her tail, making a kite shape.
"Cool, isn't it? It's not a Mega Evolution you see very much." Yong Soo commented.
"That may be… But I won't be phased." Francis scoffed. "Flygon, Dragon Breath on Flygon."
"Flygon, Dragon Breath on Flygon." Gupta echoed.
"Delphox, Psybeam on Charizard." Camille repeated.
"Slash on Delphox Charizard." Yong Soo decided.
Charizard turned its attention to Delphox, slashing it harshly with an attack that caused more damage than usual. Both of the battling Flygons shot heavily damaging attacks at each other, while Delphox assaulted Charizard with a strange colourful beam of power.
"Alright Charizard, Dragon Rage on the opposing Flygon." Yong Soo continued.
"Flygon, Dragon Breath on Flygon." Francis commanded again.
"Flygon, Dragon Breath on Flygon." Gupta echoed again.
"Delphox, Psyshock on Flygon." Camille ordered.
Charizard launched a ball of power towards Flygon, and Gupta's Flygon managed to get the jump on Francis's Pokémon, knocking it out before it could attack. Delphox countered with an attack on Flygon which she easily resisted.
"Get back Flygon." Francis spoke. "Camerupt. Down to you. Mega Evolve and use Rock Slide."
"Earthquake Flygon." Gupta decided.
"Use Slash on Delphox Charizard." Yong Soo defaulted.
"Delphox, use Psyshock on Charizard." Camille attempted.
Camerupt Mega Evolved into its larger, more powerful form, and stared its opponents down.
Charizard started off with another slash attack at Delphox. Flygon let off a shockwave shortly afterwards, which Charizard avoided through flight, but which damaged both opposing Pokémon severely, knocking Delphox out entirely. Camerupt responded with a barrage of rocks which caused major damage to Charizard.
"Again…" Camille seethed. "Even when everything's on the line, I still can't win against you…!"
"Run Camille." Francis commanded his sister.
"But… I can't just leave you alone!" Camille tried to argue.
"Big brother will take all the responsibility." Francis continued. "I don't want the police to catch you dear. Now run, while you can!"
"Ugh…" Camille considered his words before turning to Gupta. "I've already done all I can… There's nothing else to be done. I'm sorry our actions caused such consequences but…" She shook her head, returned her Pokémon to its Pokeball, and fled the scene.
"…Do you really think she can just run now and escape all consequences?" Gupta deadpanned.
"I already said. I'm fighting for everyone else. And I'm not finished yet." Francis stated. "Camerupt, Rock Slide."
"Charizard, Slash on Camerupt." Yong Soo decided.
"Flygon, Earthquake." Gupta repeated.
Charizard struck Camerupt first, with Flygon following up with a second powerful shockwave, which almost took Camerupt down. The opponent launched another barrage of rocks which left Charizard barely hanging on.
"Rock Slide again Camerupt!" Francis tried again.
"Dragon Rage Charizard, let's end this!" Yong Soo declared.
"Earthquake Flygon." Gupta defaulted.
Charizard moved first as always, managing to take Camerupt down before anyone else could move with a stream of energy. Francis looked almost entirely undeterred.
"It's over." Gupta reminded him. "This is the part where you give up."
"No. Do you really think I would stop just because I'm out of Pokémon?" Francis scoffed. "When has that ever stopped me before?"
"You know, you already lost." Yong Soo pointed out. "And our Pokémon are still ready to fight. So they'll be able to prevent you from actually stealing anything."
"Set them on me then." Francis demanded. "Because that's what it's going to take. I'll take what I came here for, or I'll fall trying."
Gupta stepped backwards, considering the Magma Leader's words. Turn his Pokémon on a human? Could he really do that?
"Francis! Francis, please stop this!" A voice rang out in plea, and Gupta looked towards the stairs to see the Mossdeep Gym leaders hurrying towards them. Matthew had spoken, and regarded the Magma Leader again.
"Francis… You're better than this. Please. Stop. Just stop."
Francis turned towards the pair, eyes filling with tears.
"Matthieu…"
"Francis Bonnefoy." Amelia started, walking forwards. "You have been defeated. Now come with us… And we can talk about how your team can make up for the things they've done."
"We don't want to see you or anyone in Team Magma rot in jail Francis." Matthew continued. "But you can't all simply walk away."
"Well… If that's the case, we'll leave it to you." Yong Soo declared. "Guppie, thanks for the help. You mind staying here a moment? We can help you move forwards from here."
"Okay." Gupta nodded.
"…Wait." Francis requested, turning back towards Gupta from where he had begun to be led away by the Gym Leaders. "You're going after Groudon, correct?"
"I guess. I mean, it looks that way right now." Gupta stated.
"You need this then." Francis decided, holding out a gemstone which Gupta accepted.
"A Mega Stone?" Gupta queried.
"Cameruptite." Francis explained. "When I was still a boy, I had expected my sisters would follow in my footsteps… Of course, neither of them ended up training the same Pokémon as I did."
"But you kept the Mega Stone anyway?" Gupta assumed.
"I had hoped to give it to Michelle if she ever returned." Francis sighed. "But I think it's time to accept… She has her own life. I wouldn't want to force it on her if she came back now."
"If you're sure…" Gupta spoke.
"Okay! If that's all you needed to say, then let's get going." Amelia confirmed, leaving along with Francis and Matthew.
"Alright." Yong Soo huffed, starting to put the tables of the room back into place. "That's over. Now we can talk about the wider crisis."
"Can I join? I want to help…" Herakles asked, appearing at the top of the stairs.
"Well sure! The more the better, right?" Yong Soo smiled, encouraging Herakles over.
"Gupta. I beat the Gym… And then the Gym Leaders had to leave suddenly… I thought it was suspicious, so I came over. Was that… The leader of Team Magma I just saw?" Herakles questioned Gupta as he walked up to his side.
"It was. Amelia and Matthew seem to want to use him to help during this crisis." Gupta filled in.
"That would be good. Restorative justice…" Herakles considered.
"Never mind that for now. We need to focus on what we can do." Yong Soo pointed out.
"Right. We said so before, but Sadik has already followed Team Aqua to the Seafloor Cavern. We could follow him… But perhaps it's more important to head to Sootopolis City." Eduard added, returning to the middle of the room.
"That's where Groudon is heading." Gupta agreed. "We don't just need to stop Kyogre being released. We need to stop Groudon achieving Primal Reversion."
"In which case, you'll need these! The HM for Dive, and some scuba gear. The main way into Sootopolis is underwater." Yong Soo continued.
"That… Doesn't make a lot of sense." Gupta deadpanned, accepting the items.
"Sootopolis City is built inside a flooded crater. It's hardly a usual city." Eduard explained.
"Alright Gupta, we're counting on you now! I still have to finish some business along with my brothers before we can join you. I think some of Kiku's coworkers are heading towards Sootopolis though; they should be able to help."
"Got it." Gupta nodded. "I'll head out then. Thank you everyone."
"Good luck!" Yong Soo waved, smiling widely.
"Gupta… Stay safe. I'll see you soon." Herakles added, watching the other teenager head back down the stairs and out of sight.
"I wish… There was more I could do to help. Gupta's taken so much on himself…" Herakles sighed.
"You know?" Yong Soo began, a look of deep thought passing over his face. "There just might be something…"
When Gupta reached the beach of Mossdeep City, his Pokémon fully healed and ready for the journey, he noticed Matthew standing on the sand, staring out to sea.
"Do you know how to stop Groudon yet?" He asked before Gupta could even speak to him.
"We've not got all the details." Gupta admitted. "We know we need to go to Sootopolis to stop it achieving Primal Reversion… As for how we stop it for good…"
"I think you might need the power of the Blue Orb…" Matthew revealed. "Legends say that it can resist the power the Red Orb gives Groudon… But of course, Team Aqua stole it to awaken Kyogre."
"Maybe Sadik can get it back." Gupta suggested.
"Maybe…" Matthew considered. There was silence for a moment before he spoke again. "We all knew each other. As kids I mean."
"You knew Team Aqua?" Gupta questioned.
"And Team Magma." Matthew added. "Arthur, his older brothers, and his cousins… Francis, Michelle and Camille… And Amelia and me. We all grew up in the same small town. We'd all been ambitious… But Arthur and Francis never let go of their ideals, and they were clearly willing to go to any lengths. And then it all turned into this…"
"They both acted as though they were sure this was the best thing they could do." Gupta commented.
"I think Francis started out trying to stop Arthur. But along the way, he became convinced he was helping people." Matthew tried to explain. "Arthur… Never could let go of the idea that we'd ruined the sea with our actions. But I don't think he ever thought about what raising the sea would really do. And if Groudon and Kyogre both end up being released… What then?"
"That's why we need to stop them." Gupta pointed out.
"Of course. I'll handle Francis from now. Your friend is going after Arthur. So go to Sootopolis and try to stop Groudon before it's too late." Matthew summarised.
"Well I have no choice…" Gupta sighed. "I know what I have to do."
"Then good luck." Matthew finished, watching as Gupta sent out Swampert and took off into the sea.
