As Eddy and the others followed their tracks to find their way to the Rocket Lab, Edd, his Quilava and Pichu faced off against a mind-controlled Lusamine. The deranged blond and her Clefable gave the boy disturbing glances as they forced him to ponder his next move.

'I could send Watt in to battle it with Cinder…But I'm certain that she would only compensate by sending out another Pokemon. Cinder himself doesn't seem to want to withdraw...despite the damage he's suffered from the last move.'

As the former Sockhead pulled down on the bill of his cap in frustration, his Rotom Dex hovered to his side.

"Feel free to uzzze my assistance, Roto-D. We're all in thizzz together!" Roto-Z stated with a buzz of ZRRT!

"Thank you, Roto-Z." Double D said aloud. "For now, what can you tell me about that Clefable and it's move?"

"The move that Clefable used was a rare one called Metronome. It's a peculiar choice that allows the user to suddenly use ANY attack! But the chance of a useful one is a long shot."

"That wind burst it used seemed more than useful." He noted. "Cinder! Best be on the alert! Use Swift!"

Cinder lowered his back. "(Eat this!)" He growled, shooting stars from his fire spots. Clefable was struck, covering his face as the glimmering attack hit it's mark.

"Cle-faaay…" He scowled at Cinder.

"That wasn't very nice." Lusamine smiled wickedly. "Clefable, show that mangy thing what we think of him and his stars! Use Light Screen!"

Clefable waved his arms and flapped the wings behind his back, conjuring a light yellow barrier that cut itself and it's owner away from their enemies.

"Light Screen?" Edd asked.

"It's a move that cuts the effectiveness of ranged attacks for two to five exchanges."

"Good to know. We'll stick to physical! Cinder, use Rollout!" Cinder curled up and flung himself at Lusamine's servant, knocking him back, but not by much.

"Moonblast!" Lusamine commanded.

"Fa-bull!" Clefable shouted, cupping his hands and thrusting out what looked like a pink Hadoken. The fairy-type energy ball struck Cinder, and knocked him back. Thankfully, the Fire-Type's natural resistance to Fairy-type moves reduced the damage.

"Good." Edd sighed. "He's still able to continue…"

"But for how long, I wonder? Heeheeheehee!" Lusamine giggled, a finger to her chin. Her Pokemon mimmicked her gesture until Cinder used Rollout and smacked into him again. Annoyed, Clefable fired off another Moonblast, but it failed to hit it's mark, blindsiding him again. Before he was potentially hit a third time, the pixie managed to dodge, breaking the Quilava's Rolloout chain.

Double D rose to full height. "Why would you align yourself with such a repugnant organization as these Rainbow Rocket scoundrels? You're nothing more than a pawn in their schemes and they'll dispose of you when they feel you've served your purpose! There's no logic to such an alliance."

The woman chuckled some more. "Oh-ho-ho-ho! Maybe I like being a pawn."

Roto-Z hovered up and scanned Lusamine, particularly her head area. "Bzzrt? Roto-D! I'm picking up intense Psychic phenomenoa! It's likely her mind is being controlled by a Pokemon!"

Edd's memory drifted to the video of the strange Pokemon's destruction, which seemed to destroy everything around it with an unseen psionic force. "Perhaps...it was that one!"

Cinder growled at Edd's side. "(Everyone just wants to keep chattering on...But not me-! I've got a job to do!)" He closed his eyes and thought of his mother, and older brother,-another Typhlosion and Cyndaquil. Then, he felt a warm feeling surge through his limbs, and culminate on his back. His eyes shot open. "(So Just SHUT UP AND LET'S FIGHT)!"

Double D was overcome by an intense burst of heat from nearby, turning to see Cinder, who was surrounded by a bursting red aura.

He recalled the data Roto-Z told him on the day he'd found him as a Cyndaquil during the Magnemite invasion. "That's...That's Blaze!"

"Oh no! Now it's fire attacks will be stronger!" Lusamine wailed with dismay. She shook her fist. "Clefable, how could you be so careless!?"

The Fairy Pokemon shrank back, waving his hands about. "Cle-cle-fay!?"

"Cinder! Use Flamethrower! Finish it off!" Edd commanded.

"QuiiiiiiiLAVA!" Cinder screamed, shooting an enhanced Flamethrower from his mouth. The flames blazed through the hall, swallowing Clefable!

"Cle-faaa!" The alien screamed as he fell on his back and fainted.

"Impressive." Lusamine noted, recalling Clefable without a second thought. "My Clefable is top-percentage. I'm surprised it only took one shot!"

Double D scowled. "Your Pokemon just took extreme damage, and you're not even going to tend to it's wounds? Or even apologize for letting it get hurt?"

The blond shrugged. "It's it's own fault it failed. And it deserves to be punished later on."

"This isn't really you talking…" Double D sighed before looking down at Cinder. He looked angrier than ever, with his back flames being more pronounced. "Cinder...There's no need to continue in your current state. Yes, Blaze is a boost to your power, but you must remember, it only works when you have very little health. You're in the red zone now, so it'd be best to retreat-" Cinder turned to glance at him, with a wounded look in his eye.

"(Are you crazy!? She's with them! And they've got my mama! I ain't about to pull away when I'm about to put them on the run!)" The Quilava spat back in Pokespeak.

"(Cinder!)" Watt frowned. "(You can't let the hate take over! I know what that feels like!)" He cringed at recalling his bursts of rage that let out that evil glow. He looked down at his stomach, and laid a paw on it. The blue gear-like sigil appeared for a brief moment.

The albino Pichu and the Quilava stared at each other for a moment, until the sound of a Poke Ball opening caught their attention.

A beautiful serpentine figure slithered about on the ground. It's body was covered in a mix of multi-colored scales and eggshell-white skin. It's face had barbells resembling eyelashes, and what seemed to be fins in the shape of red hair, almost resembling that of a human.

"Let's see you fight this one." Lusamine boasted with her fists on her hips.

"Roto-Z?" Edd asked.

A picture of the Pokemon appeared on the Pokedex's screen. "Milotic. The Tender Pokemon. A Water-Type. Believed to be the most beautiful of all Pokemon, it appears in times of conflict to calm the hearts of the people. It is sometimes seen at odds with Gyarados."

"Water-Type...Cinder, please!" The Quilava snorted, and loosed a quick Blaze-boosted Flamethrower. The sea serpent covered her eyes and face with her hair fins, blocking the attack. The fire crackled against Light Screen, dulling it's damage.

"Aqua Tail!" Lusamine commanded.

"Millo!" Milotic droned, swooping at the Fire-Type Starter with her tail, which was swathed in a small whirlpool. Cinder tried to dodge, but was struck full force in the belly, exhausting his remaining battle power.

Double D rushed in to catch Cinder before he would've been slammed into the wall, and Watt managed to get behind him and push against his back. Thankfully due to his enhanced strength, the Pichu managed to block him from hitting the wall.

"(Double D…)" Cinder coughed. "(Y-you were right. I'm-)" The Quilava was cut off as he fainted.

"Rest assured Cinder. You'll see your mother again. I'll make sure of it." Double D promised as he returned him to his Poke Ball and returned it to his belt.

"Well-well now. That 'mother' wouldn't happen to be the Typloshion we have locked away in the stables, would it?" Lusamine asked in a cheeky manner as her Clefable's Light Screen vanished.

Edd immediately rose to his feet. "You know about this!?"

The older woman smirked and turned her head to the side. "Lady Arianna has been testing some new chemicals on it. For the sake of our Pokemon army."

"You mean this...Giovanni's army?" Edd recalled. "Is he the supreme leader of the Rockets?"

"Yes. And as of about a week-and-a-half ago, the ruler of your entire world!"

The boy froze. "What!? Impossible! Earth's governments would never succumb to the rule of a gangster!"

"You've seen it, haven't you? The Beta…The Ultimate Pokemon." Lusamine licked her lips. "It's Psychic Powers are unlike another...No force can stand against it!"

Double D cringed. "No one...should rule the world...especially not by force!"

"Pi-chu!" Watt piped up, hopping out to face Milotic.

"Watt...that's a big Pokemon...do you think you can take it?" Double D asked, concerned for his partner. The blue tip-earred Pichu looked back and smiled. It didn't do anything to ease the tension however.

"How cute. That's got to be the spunkiest Pichu I've ever seen!" The former Aether Foundation President smiled, before frowning. "I hate spunk! Milotic, use Hydro Pump, full power!"

"Milooooo!" Milotic drew her head back, before shooting a stream of furious water from her mouth, stronger than a Water Gun.

Watt took a hand stand on both paws, and twirled out of the way, the water gushing into the computer room, ruining what was likely several tens of thousands of dollars worth of tech.

Lusamine immediately blanched and gripped her hair. "Whaaaa-!? You brat! Lady Arianna's gonna be so mad at me!"

"That was quite good, Watt!" Double D applauded. "I'd never seen you do that!" Watt smiled back to his partner before turning back to face Milotic, before several illusory copies of himself appeared, instantaneously trading places with each other.

"Double Team!" Roto-Z declared. "You know, come to think of it, Watt seems to have a quite a bit of a handle on his battle senses...Ordinarily a Pokemon wouldn't think of using such evasive moves on instinct…"

"I suppose that chip in his brain really is a blessing for situations such as this. Being able to autonomously learn, forget and use more than four moves at any given time is quite useful. All right, Watt! Nasty Plot!"

The Pichu and his body doubles took on a malicious shine as he cooked up a scheme.

"Grr! Milotic, Hydro Pump!" Lusamine yelled in a tone like an angry child. The sea serpent sent another stream of water Watt's way, but it struck a clone, evaporating it.

"Nasty Plot again!"

The aura around Watt and his doubles intensified. Lusamine stomped one of her metal heels on the floor. "Aqua Tail!"

Milotic lashed out with her tail again, but alas, it failed as well.

"One last time! Nasty Plot!" Double D exclaimed.

"Piiichuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" Watt let out a sustained shout, not unlike that of a Dragon Ball character when they would power up as the Nasty Plot aura developed a red outline. His cheeks, loaded with electricity sparkled brilliantly.

"Enough! Milotic, use Flail and mash that little runt!" Lusamine screamed. Milotic slithered in close, and actually landed a slamming attack on Watt. The Pichu was knocked back and battered by her tail. He smirked.

"(Got you.)" He said, grabbing the Tender Pokemon's tail.

"What!?" Lusamine gasped.

Watt let loose with an empowered Thunderbolt, zapping Milotic painfully. The serpent wailed, before the powerful Pichu let her go, and propelled her backward. Lusamine tried to evade her Pokemon, but she was hit, and electrified by Watt's attack, the back of her head hitting the wall.

Watt ceased his attack, the air still charged with electricity. "(Uh oh...was that...too much?)" He asked, before he felt a burning sensation in his cheeks. He rubbed them, seething. "(Ow-ow-oww! Is that what it feels like for other Pichu!?)"

Double D briskly walked past him to investigate the unconscious Milotic, as well as Lusamine. "Oh dear! Ma'am, are you all right?"

The blond lady groaned, before opening her eyes. They were a different color, and looked more natural. She blinked, staring up into Double D's own eyes.

"W...Who are you?" She asked, as if she wasn't just fighting him. Lusamine picked herself up, before looking herself over, and seeing herself in a skin-tight bodysuit. "What...WHAT AM I WEARING!?"

"You were under mind control." Double D said as Watt and Roto-Z approached. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"No, it's okay." She said, before looking down at Milotic. "MY BABY!" The woman fell on her knees, putting her arms around the aquatic creature and looking up at Double D with a distraught gaze. "My baby!? What happened!?"

"I came here with two other young men. A Blue and a Gladion. We were here to storm the Rocket's Base and do what we could. I had to fight you. Once again, I'm sorry." Edd replied with a guilty frown.

"Gladion...Gladion…" Lusamine uttered before rising up to her feet. "Gladion's here!?" She recalled her conversation with him before the battle.

"Yes! You know him?"

"He's my son! Where is he? He's in danger!" She took him by the shoulders.

"We split up, but I'll help you find him!" The two of them took off.

0

Blue walked through the halls of the base, looking around for someone that looked important. He found himself in a dark room that soon lit up, revealing itself to look like a large arena of sorts. The light burned his eyes.

"Hello...Young Blue Oak." A voice called behind him. The Gym Leader turned to see a familiar man with blue hair, wearing a Rocket Executive's uniform.

"Ohh, I know you. You're Giovanni's lap-Houndour. Archer." Blue folded his arms. "If I recall, you were a Grunt back when Team Rocket was making it's first campaign in Kanto. I messed you up pretty good at the Silph Company."

"I remember that day well. That scum Red showed not too long and sent us on our way too. I've been waiting for this day for ages." Archer grinned.

"Now that you say that, where are you dolts holding Red? I haven't seen him in here anywhere."

"We have him in a more secure prison-base. When you have the strongest Pokemon Trainer in existence locked up, you do your best to keep him that way.

"Now...Let's settle the score with you!" Archer produced a Master Ball and threw it.

Blue took a step back as soon as he saw the Pokemon manifest. "It can't be...A Moltres!?"

Indeed, it was the legendary bird. It's head, back, and wings lit ablaze by crimson flame. It looked down at Blue, and made an approximation of a scowl. "FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAA!" It screeched elegantly.

"Impressed?" Archer asked.

Blue snorted. "I have one myself. So does Red. But it wouldn't be fun if we won EVERY match without at least one Pokemon fainting. I'm just surprised one let itself be caught by you goons."

"Then this fight should be quite entertaining for me." Archer smirked.

Blue sent out his Cloyster. The huge clam Pokemon opened up, eyeing it's powerful opponent. The veteran trainer pulled out a bottle of something and poured it over the Bivalve Pokemon. "A little X Sp. Defense should help."

"Not by much." Archer shrugged. "Are you ready?"

"I am. Cloyster, use Ice Beam!" Blue commanded. The Bivalve opened it's shell and loosed the freezing beam of light at Moltres. It struck a wing, encasing it in ice, but it quickly thawed out.

"Fiiiii…" Moltres crowed angrily.

Archer snapped his fingers. "Ancient Power."

The phoenix was coated in white energy that focused into an orb before it's chest, before shooting it out at Cloyster. The overgrown spiked clam was knocked on it's side, but managed to rise up with a quick burst of water.

"Cloyster…" Blue grimaced. "Use Hydro Pump!"

"Cloooyy!" The bivalve exclaimed, loosing it's own Hydro Pump at even greater intensity than Lusamine's Milotic. Moltres was hit by the gushing water, but managed to break through, soaring around the ceiling, and leaving embers in it's wake.

"Moltres, use Hurricane!" Archer demanded. The firebird flapped it's wings, whipping up an enormous spiralling windstorm. Cloyster was mercilessly blown around, unable to fight back. Blue had to grip onto a handle on the wall to avoid being sucked into the storm. When it died down, Cloyster hit the floor, exhausted.

"Come back, Cloyster!" Blue shouted, drawing him back into his Poke Ball before pulling another one. "Get 'em, Jolteon!"

A vulpine, or canine creature with yellow fur ending in spiky needles, with a jagged tuft of white fur around it's neck appeared. The odd thing about it was that it was wearing a pair of fancy yellow-orange glasses with spiral patterned lenses.

"Jolt! Jolt!" Jolteon barked, ready to battle any opponent. Moltres landed, it's mighty talons making a clinking sound.

"Fiiiia…" Moltres crowed warily.

"Molres, use Overheat!" Archer commanded. The firebird's body glowed dark red, before loosing an intense burst of flame from it's beak at Jolteon.

Ever the speedster, the electric fox managed to evade, dashing around the room and leaving sparks in it's wake.

"Good work, Jolteon! Blue exclaimed. "Now use Thunder!"

"Joooool-teon!" Jolteon cried, firing a burst of lightning from it's entire body, and zapping Moltres. The attack hit home, and dealing intense damage, sparkling with remaining electricity.

"Those are...Choice Specs!" Archer grimaced.

"That's right." Blue said, clutching a fist. "And as long as Jolteon's wearin' 'em, his special attacks are boosted! The downside is, now Thunder is the only move he can use."

"Impressive strategy. But strategy will only get you so far in this fight. Moltres, Overheat once again!"

Moltres leaned forward, shooting another stream of flame. This time it struck Jolteon, sending him back toward Blue. The attack left light burnt patches in his fur, but he managed to shake it off, panting heavily.

"Jolteon, can you still manage?" Blue asked.

"Jolt!" Jolteon barked, getting back into an attack stance.

"Okay then." The former Kanto Champ smirked. "Thunder!"

"Joooool-teeeeoooonn!" Jolteon screamed, lashing out with another rush of lightning from his fur-spikes.

Moltres' eyes widened as the attack came closer, managing to barely swoop out of the way.

"Overheat!" Archer called.

"FIIII!" Moltres shrieked, breathing another fire burst at the Lightning Pokemon. Jolteon tried to dodge, but was struck again.

The Electric-type rose up, weary but not beaten.

"How is it still able to get up!?" Archer gasped.

Blue facepalmed and started to chuckle. "Wait...no...don't tell me...You don't know about Overheat?"

"What about it!? Tell me!" The executive demanded.

"I'll tell ya. The move Overheat uses so much Fire-Type energy that it lowers the user's Special Attack powers each time it's used! How could one of Giovanni's top men make such a newbie mistake! Ha-ha."

Archer scowled. 'How could I be so...careless!?'

"Now let's end this. Jolteon! Finish it off with Thunder!"

"Joooolt!" Jolteon howled, loosing a big a Thunder as it could, electrocuting Moltres. The phoenix was struck down and fell to the floor, fainting.

"I'll make sure not to make such a mistake next time." Archer noted. "Moltres, come back." The blue-haired man recalled the bird to it's Master Ball.

"Ain't gonna be a next time, Archer. I'm bringing you in. But first, I wanna know something besides what you lot did with Red." He frowned and crossed his arms. "Just where's my Gramps!? He went missing not long before you took over our world, and now since you came to this one, nobody's heard from him!"

Archer put the sphere back into his pocket. "Heh. Nobody's seen, nor heard from Professor Oak since we began our conquest. He's on our most wanted list…"

"Well, I'll be sure to find him." Blue said, approaching with a pair of handcuffs from his pocket that Gladion leant him.

The Rocket Executive smirked before breaking out into laughter. "Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Not likely." He pulled some form of remote from his pocket and pressed a button pointing behind himself.

The remote shot a ray of light that widened, and produced cracks in the empty space between Archer and the wall, producing a white hole in timespace with cracks around it, and a grid pattern.

"An Ultra Wormhole!?" Blue asked.

"That's right, little boy Blue." Archer smirked, pocketing the laser remote, and turning around to face him. "It pains me to say that I must take my leave. But should you consider further action against Team Rainbow Rocket, a miserable end awaits you.

"We CANNOT be defeated!" The executive walked backward into the portal and left. His means of escape closed behind him, forcing Blue to grit his teeth. Jolteon snarled at his side, but winced at his burns. Blue picked him up.

"It's okay, Jolteon. I'm proud of you." He ruffled the Eeveelution's spiky fur. Jolteon almost purred like a cat before being returned to his Poke Ball. "All right. I'll fix you up when we get back to the other professors...Right now we gotta regroup with Double D and Gladion." He left back into the hallway, eager to seek the others out.

0

Gladion's battle with Arianna was heating up. Silvally was struggling to hold his own. Though the Arbok was larger than the standard of it's species, it was still quite agile. Everytime the bio-engineered Pokemon would dodge a blow, Arbok would snap and use Crunch on it. It didn't help that he was using the Psychic Memory to try and bolster an advantage.

Seeing the obvious trouble his Pokemon was in, Gladion reached into his pocket for memory disk, but Arbok lunged at him, making him shrink back. Silvally saw the attack, and snorted, giving Arbok a powerful Multi Attack. The huge snake was plowed into the floor.

"Get up, Arbok!" Arianna demanded. The redhead grit her teeth, angry that her enhanced Pokemon was being pummeled.

"You should just give up." Gladion warned her. "You should know that I came here with backup."

Arianna smirked. "You think it matters to me? They'll be contained regardless. Lusamine was a powerful trainer on her own, and we've manipulated her mind for enhanced cruelty. Not to mention Archer is in possession of one of the Legendary Birds."

"Oh, I had a little fun battling Archer already." A snarky voice added. Arianna's eyes bulged as she saw Blue rounding a corner with Double D, and a familiar blond woman. "Moltres gave me a little trouble, but when you've caught one before, they're putty in your hands."

"Gladion, are you all right?" Lusamine asked, going up to her son. The boy looked at her confusedly. Somehow one of them had managed to snap her out of mind control.

"Yes, mother, I'm fine." Gladion replied, giving a soft smile before turning back to Arianna with a scowl. "I'm just taking out the garbage."

"Hmph. Like your mother did to you?" The redhead replied.

This comment made both the mother and son cringe and look down at the floor, the former in shame.

"I may have been cruel to my children in the past...because of the power my foundation held, and my obsession with control and the Ultra Beasts...But I've changed." Lusamine said. "I'm not that cruel witch I was. And Gladion knows it!"

Though Double D wasn't much of a fighter, he knew in his heart, he would not have to fight his mother. And this was essentially what Team Rainbow Rocket was trying to instigate.

Gladion's face gained a shadow. He put his hand over his face. "Arianna... I will NEVER forgive you! Silvally, use Tri-Attack!"

The strange Pokémon reared its head back before discharging three elemental beams from it's head frill, eyes and mouth. Arbok was struck, and burned from the attack.

"Why you!? How dare you strike my poor baby!" Arianna growled. "Arbok, use Sludge Bomb!"

"Chaa!" The enormous cobra spat a volley of sludge bullets from it's maw. Silvally was hit, but not poisoned, managing to shake it off.

"Go for the finish! Multi Attack!"

"Vallii!" Silvally droned, channeling the psychic powers from it's Memory disk and pouncing for Arbok.

"Dodge it!" Arianna demanded. Arbok attempted to slither away, but it's sheer bulk kept it from moving fast enough. Silvally slammed into Arbok, knocking it down and rendering it unconscious.

"All right!" Blue smirked.

Lusamine gave her son a hug. "That's my little man! Good show, Gladion."

"Mom... you're embarrassing me." The young man groaned.

Arianna stood shell shocked. Here she was, defeated by a brat! Her, one of Giovanni's highest ranking Executives, even higher up than the other evil team bosses!

She would not stand for this. "To heck with all of you!" She reached into her coat, putting them all on guard.

"Hey! You can't just shoot us!" Edd began.

"'Shoot?'" Arianna chuckled. Immediately, she drew what she was hiding-a small tube containing a purple substance. She removed the plug from it, and waved it about, letting lose an insidious purple gas!

Lusamine's eyes widened. "Pokémon! Balls! Now!" She gasped amidst her coughing.

"Hack-hack-koff! W-What? Why?" Edd asked. The moment the gas cleared the air, Silvally's eyes whited out, save for glowing violet pupils.

"Sill! Silva!" The chimera hissed angrily as it turned around to face the four of them.

"S...Silvally?" Gladion said warily. "What's wrong?"

"Silval!" Silvally bounded for him, jaws gaping. The teen leapt back in fright before a white and blue blur knocked into Silvally.

"Watt?" Double D gasped. "what are you doing?"

Watt had also inhaled the gas, but seemed unaffected. Arianna's eyes narrowed. "What?" The Pichu got between Silvally and sparked his cheeks. "Impossible...The R substance should affect all Pokémon!"

"R substance?" Blue asked.

"It's a drug. A neural agent that they developed following the research of a company called Clifford Industries." Lusamine elaborated. "It drives Pokémon into a crazed and uninhibited state. They'll even attack their trainers!"

"Why would they produce something like that?" Double D asked.

"Their founder was driven mad by his condition. He had a degenerative disease, and saw fit to use the chemical to manipulate Pokémon for his own purposes."

"Vallii!" Silvally shrieked, going for Watt, but before it made contact, Gladion dove in the way.

"Gladion!" His mother shrieked, Silvally latching it's jaws around Gladion's arm.

He paused with a grunt. "Silvally. Remember. Remember when we first met. You were all alone, and I freed you from a future of being frozen."

Silvally loosened his grip a bit, seemingly heeding his words.

"Return for now." Gladion returned him to his Ball.

"That was very reckless." Double D noted.

"Right. But Silvally is my best friend." He countered. "I would do anything to help it."

Arianna was about to take off, but Blue saw his chance and grabbed her by the arms and hefted them up. "Unhand me!"

"Not a chance." The former champion scowled. "Now tell us the password to let the Foundation employees out."

She bit her lip. There was no way out. "Raticatetail."

Gladion entered the password and the door made an affirmative dinging sound. It was drawn into the wall, opening and Faba flew out, immediately falling to his knees. "Thank you! Thank you my boy! It's been so long since I last saw daylight!"

"You need a shower too." Gladion groaned.

"Madame President, please-" Before he could make his case, the scantily dressed blond folded her arms and huffed, turning her head.

"We will discuss your punishment when we leave this place. Intern Faba." Lusamine said coldly. "Right now, we need to evacuate. And I need to find a proper change of clothes."

Double D spoke up. "Actually, I have other business here, ma'am. My Quilava's parents may be held here."

Lusamine's eyes widened before turning to Arianna. "And what do you know about that?" She asked venomously.

"I suppose you want to be lead to them as well." Arianna frowned.

"You're quite right we do!" She stomped one of her sharp boots onto the cold floor.

"Very well. I'm not exactly in any position to refuse." As Arianne, restrained by Blue led them forward, Gladion saw fit to ask Faba a question.

"Their plan was to engineer an army of perfect Type:Full specimens. Were any produced?"

"No. We worked for them, but only managed to create one such as yours." Faba replied before turning to one of the white uniformed men behind him. "Give it to him."

The Aether employee handed Gladion a single red and white Poké Ball. His eyes widened.

0

As these events transpired, Ed, Eddy, Rain, Kevin, and Rolf had finally found the lab, and were at the front gates, somehow missing the Typhlosion and the Pidgeot guarding him. Two Grunts stood out to meet them.

The first held his hand out in protest. "Stop! This is a restricted area!"

"Yeah? Don't care!" Kevin spat. "You wanna get in our way, then get ready to wear some bruises!"

"Hey, Mac, this kid's on the blacklist!" The second Grunt noted.

"You're right, Bill, I recognize all of them! Heh. Maybe if we bring 'em in, we'll get a promotion!"

"No way you're bringin' us in!" Eddy smirked, tossing a Ball. "Pinchy, I choose you!" The sphere burst open, and released light that coalesced into his new Wimpod.

"Wh-whi-whim!" The Wimpod wheezed warily, backing away as he saw the two Rocket Grunts.

"Looks like the little bug doesn't want to fight. Lemme send in a real Pokemon!" Kevin shouted. "Go, Grabbler!"

He threw his own Poke Ball, and his new Corphish appeared, waving his pincers.

"('Ey, shrimp! Look alive if you wanna fight by my side!)" Grabbler hissed.

"(R...Right…)"

Bill and Mac let out a black dog-like Pokemon, with white bone-like protrusions growing out of it's back, almost like an external pair of ribs, and a black crow-like Pokemon with a head plume greatly resembling a witch's hat.

"Houu!" The canine barked.

"Murr! Murrkrow!" The avian cawed, unfurling it's wings widely in an aggresive manner.

Kevin pulled out his classic Hoenn Pokedex, while Eddy pulled out his second era one.

"Houndour. The Dark Pokemon." Kevin's Dex began. "Houndour communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokemon's remarkable teamwork is unparalleled."

"Murkrow, the Darkness Pokemon." Eddy's Dex chimed in. "Murkrow and Meowth are known to have a rivalry, as both have a taste for shiny things. It will even try to take rings from women."

"Oh wow. Looks like something you would catch, dork!" Kevin smirked.

"Hey! I'm past all that!" Eddy barked. "Let's just get past these mooks and find Double D!"

"Wait for us, friend!" Ed called.

"Murkrow! Use Wing Attack!" Mac commanded. His Murkrow flew in, wings shining. She intended to strike Pinchy with them, but instead, they hit Grabbler, who blocked with his pincers.

"Grabbler, give 'em a Double Hit!" Kevin shouted.

"(Go on and get, sky rat!)" The oversized crawfish spat, slapping Murkrow into the ground with his claws.

"(You hit like a Wurmple!)" The dark bird remarked.

"(Oh yeah? Just wait 'til I REALLY get goin'!)"

"Pinchy, you get in there too!" Eddy began, checking his moves with his Dex's Summary function. "Use…

"Struggle Bug?"

Pinchy glowed green before lunging and flailing a bit against Houndour. The Dark and Fire-Type snorted in response.

"(You're pathetic!)" Houndour barked, making the bug recoil and scuttle back.

"Ember attack!" Phil exclaimed. The black dog rared it's head back, and spat a flurry of embers at Pinchy, making him wriggle in pain.

"Stay strong, Pinchy!"

"Get that bug outta here!" Kevin demanded. "Grabbler, use Crabhammer!"

"(Eat pincers, you mutt!)" His Corphish snarled, striking Houndour with his claw, which bore the strength of a literal hammer, making his foe whine and growl at him.

"Good...Good…" Rain muttered to herself. "We're going to get through them…"

Eddy looked over Pinchy's moves again. "Okay...use Aqua Jet!" His Wimpod looked back at him, before back to Houndour fearfully, but he managed to force himself forward, body being covered in water, as he rocketed into at the enemy. The firedog was slammed into, and knocked back toward his trainer.

"Houndour, get it together, you lousy mutt!" The Grunt spat. "Use Smog!"

Houndour groaned, but complied anyway, loosing a cloud of poisonous gas from his maw. Pinchy inhaled, and his body immediately started tingling.

"What the-!?" Eddy blurted out as his Pokemon converted himself into light, and retreated back into the Poke Ball on his Belt. He removed it, and yelled at it. "Hey! You can't just run away like that!"

"Heh-heh! Looks like the shrimp's little shrimp's too scared to fight!" Mac snorted.

"Send in another one, Eddy!" Rain called.

"Fine. Go, Boss!" Eddy tossed out his next Ball, and the Alolan Meowth rose up. He immediately locked eyes with Murkrow.

"(Oh no, not one'a yous'!)" Boss hissed, bringing his claws out, remembering a time where a Murkrow had stolen his favorite necklace he'd found.

"(Got a problem, furball?)" Murkrow asked tauntingly. "(Tell it to my talons!)"

"Boss, it's a flying type! Hit it with your Thunderbolt!" Eddy demanded.

"(Hyaaa!)" Boss stuck his paws out and discharged electricity from his claws. Murkrow was zapped, hitting the ground and flailing about.

"Darn bird." One of the Rocket Grunts said, calling it back. "Houndour, get serious and finish em!"

"Hou!" The firedog barked.

"Pursuit!"

Houndour gained a pink aura as he bounded toward Grabbler. The Corphish however wasn't having any of it. He twirled out of the way with elegance not expected of a giant crayfish.

"Now finish it up with another Crabhammer!" Kevin added.

"Cor!" Grabbler hissed, striking Houndour for the knockout.

Mac and Bill both scowled and gave expressions of disappointment as Houndour was called back. "You know what? What are we even doing here? I don't agree with Team Rainbow Rocket!"

"Neither did I! I just wanted to see what all this "other worlds" stuff was all about!"

The two matched eyes before turning to the kids. "We quit!"

"Hey, short stuff!" Bill said, prompting Eddy to scowl at him. "This ™ doesnt really suit my Pokémon. You want it?"

"Uh...well, I mean...if your givin' stuff away." Eddy replied, a little surprised.

The two now ex-Rockets walked past their group, passing the case containing a pale blue disk on to him.

Eddy examined the disk, reading the number, and attack name. He grinned. "Yeah... this'll do nicely!"

"Hurry up, friendos!" Ed called, having already run through the lab's entrance. "We gotta save Double D!"

"We are right behind you, Ed boy!" Rolf added, dashing in after him.

0

After Gladion bested Arianna, and confirmed that Cinder's mother was being held there, Blue held her restrained while she lead them to the containment area.

Cinder trotted alongside Edd, glaring at the red headed scientist the whole way.

Eventually, Arianna lead them to a red door marked test subject zone.

"She and the young Cyndaquil are in here."

"(Mom...and my brother…)" The Quilava vocalized quietly.

"Tell us the entry code." Blue demanded. "No way I'm gonna let you try anything else funny."

The scientist closed her eyes and huffed. "The code is YellowAsh."

Double D advanced and cautiously punched in the code. The door slowly opened up, a scent of straw catching his attention. Cinder slowly crawled in and sniffed about.

Before any of them could do a thing, they heard some rattling from inside the enclosure, and to their delight, a shaky-looking Typhlosion raised her head.

Cinder teared up. "(Mommy!)" He dashed up on all fours to her. The Typhlosion was quiet, but her eyes widened as he approached. Externally, he was unrecognizable, but she could both detect his familiar scent, and feel in her heart that this Quilava was her offspring.

"(Cin...Cinder?)" She vocalized with concern.

"(Uh huh!)" Cinder said as he got close and rubbed his head against her. "(I met nice people and they helped me evolve, mama! We came to save you!)"

Double D approached. "If you are Cinder's mother, and can understand me, your mate is outside. He came to try and save you, but gave in to fatigue. Please, come with us."

Scarlett(Cinder's Mother) nodded knowingly. "(Ashes! Wake up!)"

"(No! The bad people are just gonna take you away again.)" A smaller Pokémon's voice called.

"(Ashes is in there too!? Wait until he sees me!)" Cinder called.

"(Is that-?)" A Cyndaquil poked it's head out of the enclosure. "(Cinder!?)"

Cinder smirked at his sibling. "(Who's the big brother now?)"

"(These humans came to help us.)" Scarlett continued. "(Come on. Papa's waiting for us.)"

Ashes hopped outside, with his mother holding him tightly.

"Let's get out of here then." Gladion said. "The Professor's Union will be glad to have such a high ranking Rocket put away."

Blue led the way to the hallway, with Arianna in tow. Before they got far the hallway was filled with a distant laughter.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Ha-HAHAHAHA!"

"(Is that someone laughing?)" Watt asked on Edd's shoulder.

"Do you guys hear that?" Blue added.

"Does it sound like it's getting closer?" Double D asked as the hallway started rumbling.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha-hahaHA!" The laughter intensified as much to the shock of the entire group, a wave of gushing water rushed through the hall, capped by a large spherical whale being rode by a familiar face.

"Ed!?" Edd screamed as he, Watt, and Cinder recoiled.

"Duck!" Lusamine called as she stepped out in front of her employees. Faba clung cowardly to her waist, only for her to smack him away.

Before Ed and his Wailmer's Surf wave could impact, the water vanished as if by magic as the Ball Whale Pokémon came to a screeching halt.

"Good work, Ahab! We found Double D!" Ed patted his Wailmer in gratitude, and received a happy groan of "Waiii."

"That's some entrance there." Blue noted with a nervous chuckle.

"Why thank you, my fellow trainer buddy!" Ed smiled dumbly.

"Yes, well try to make a bit less of a splash next time, Ed." Double D said as he heard the others approach, led by Rain.

"Double D! Are you all right?" She asked immediately on setting her eyes on him.

"I am, Rain. I followed Blue and Gladion on their mission because of a battle with an enemy. If I hadn't gone with them, she was liable to find you all with a strike force."

Rain sighed. "Well, it's good to know you're okay."

"Let's get outside." Gladion began. "I need to make a call."

The group began to leave, but before they reached the exit, Gladion put a hand on Edd's shoulder.

"Hmm?" The ex-sockhead asked, before the bleached blond boy placed a Poké Ball in his hands. "What is this?"

A shadow draped across Gladion's face before he donned a soft smile. "A new friend. Be sure to treat it with love and it'll burst right out of that shell." He passed by, leaving him in confusion as Watt looked at the Ball with interest.

0

After about twenty minutes of waiting after the rookie police agent made his call, three large helicopters landed in the clearing. Lusamine and half the Aether Foundation employees boarded the first, while Faba and the other half got on the second. Looker arrived with a pair of nearly identical blue haired women in police suits. "Good work, Knight."

"Gladion." The young man corrected him, unapproving of his codename still.

"Regardless, there might be a promotion for you." Looker said, giving him a pat on the back as the Officer Jennys carried Arianna away. "We'll take her back to the Union's headquarters for holding. As well as any other Rainbow Rockets we find."

Gladion boarded the helicopter with his mother and gave Edd a wave before it lifted off.

"Hey! Don't think I haven't forgot about that scrap back in Peach Creek!" Eddy hollered, with his voice actually drowning out the choppers blades. "You owe me a rematch!"

Gladion gave him a thumbs up as the helicopter flew into the air and on it's way.

"You battled him?" Kevin asked. "Who was he?"

"Some rookie Pokémon cop that dissed me. He actually had his own Buck!"

"You mean a Charizard, Eddy. Zzrt!" Roto-Z noted, much to the short Ed's chagrin.

"Uggh."

"Well... I wouldn't mind tryin' my luck with him someday. Buck deserves a nice challenge!" Kevin smirked.

Amidst the noise of the choppers, and the conversing of his friends, Double D saw Cinder with his family. They looked like they were finally happy to be back together again, with Scorch, the father Typhlosion, Scarlett the mother, and Ashes embracing, but the one that looked the happiest was obviously Cinder.

Sure, Scarlett was made a test subject for the R chemical, but at least she and Ashes were kept together. Scorch had been starving and was exhausted from the long journey to try and find them.

But Cinder had been alone, a child Cyndaquil that could barely defend himself, a youngling that didn't know their world. He thought of what would've have happened had they not saved him from the crazed swarm Magnemite and he shook his head with a shiver.

Cinder raised his head as Double D approached. "Qui?"

The boy patted the Fire-Type's head. "You're all finally back together. I'm happy for you, Cinder." Double D said fondly. "And with that, I bid you farewell."

The Quilava's eyes widened. The first human he'd met with any kindness was saying goodbye to him?

"I'll hold on to your Poké Ball so that no one can take you away from your family."

"(But...Double D?)" Cinder began. "(We're friends, aren't we?)" He looked from Edd's sadly smiling face to Watt, who sniffled to himself. He enjoyed Cinder's company. Cinder teared up.

Edd gave the little guy a hug. "Don't cry, Cinder." He felt tears welling up himself. "Please don't cry. Our world isn't home, but I'm sure you'll get along just fine. If you're ever alone and afraid, just remember the short time we spent together, and how strong you've become."

Ed started sobbing once he noticed. "Bye bye, Cinder…"

"Think not of it as goodbye." Rolf spoke up. "Think of it merely as until we meet again." He walked up and took Double D by the shoulder. "And if we should never meet again, then may this parting be well made!"

Cinder looked back and forth from Ed, to Eddy, Rain, Rolf, Kevin, and finally Edd and Watt.

"See you later, Cinder!" The group chimed in unison.

Cinder's eyes overflowed before looking up to his father. The Typhlosion looked to him knowingly as the seven of them took their leave. Then he looked at his mother, and his smaller but older brother.

They were all he knew of his own world. But they couldn't properly lead him in this strange one. This the two parent Typhlosion knew.

"(Take care, son.)" Scorch growled, taking his child in a hug that was joined by his mother and brother.

"(Remember, mommy and daddy love you.)" Scarlett said. "(You'll always have a home with us.)"

"(Bye, brother. I hope we can see each other again.)" Ashes added. "(And hopefully I evolve before then!)"

Cinder didn't know what to say. He had been all alone and afraid, as he stumbled about in the Ed's world, wanting nothing more than to be with his family. Now he finds himself torn between staying with them, or his new friends.

"(Go, son. And may our family's flame be your strength.)" Scorch said as he reared back and ignited the heat spots on his back. "TYPHLO!" The humans immediately turned around at the sound of the Johto Starter's roar to see him shooting a Flamethrower into the air.

"Cinder? What's going on?" Edd asked. Roto-Z hovered in to investigate.

"I think ZZZinder wants to come with us!" The Rotom possessed Pokédex declared.

"Quil!" Cinder barked, hopping over to Double D.

"..." Double D paused, observing his Quilava with awe and intrigue. "If you come with us...it's highly likely that we'll have to fight more of those criminals. And you may hardly see your family if ever."

"Qui-quil-la-qui-laavaa!" Cinder barked about.

"He says that he wants to stay with you, and Watt, Double D. He wants to help you take down the bad guys that took his family away from him, and made you leave yours!"

"Well...if you're really sure." Edd said, smiling again. "Then welcome aboard, once more, Cinder!"

"Quilava!" Cinder cried, leaping into his arms.

"Pi-pichu!" Watt chirped, laying a paw on his back.

Finally got this chapter done. And boy, this one was kinda stressful to write with how long it took, and the fact that I'm juggling multiple stories as well as art and a shell of a personal life all at once lol.

I think we all know about what Pokémon Edd received from Gladion. Also, Lusamine knows of the events of Detective Pikachu because the Aether Foundation's files record every major happening in their world. Though we aren't sure which universe the film takes place in, the game version makes a passing reference to the anime where a Pikachu suggested to be Ash Ketchum's has a cameo. The film version seems a bit more derivitive of the game universe because a character resembling Red makes a small appearance, but moreover it seems more like a mashup universe. The password YellowAsh is also derived from the fact that Pokémon Yellow is an anime inspired upgraded version of Red and Green/Blue, as well as a minor reference to the Master of Mirage Pokémon special, where Professor Oak's password was RedGreen. Ed's Wailmer forgot Brine to learn Surf.

The next chapter or two will be focused moreover on the Kankers Sisters and the kids still in the Cul-De-Sac. Until next time everyone.