Previously on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
Sally, Emma, Alicia, and Whitney journeyed to Saffron City in the Kanto Region for Ranger-Con, a convention for Poké Ranger fans. There, Sally participated in a special battle with Whitney, managing to defeat her and earning her third badge in the process. They also met Ginger-Al, a girl music duo who Emma was a massive fan of. When Mask of Ice sent the Chaos Beast Wigglytank to attack, Sally and Emma were forced to reveal themselves as Rangers, only to discover that their new friends Ginger, Allison, and Jessica were Rangers too. Together, the five of them managed to destroy Wigglytank and save the convention. Meanwhile, back in Johto, Clair received a report on the Remnants that she passed on to Karen, resulting in Koga being sent to arrest Richard as a member. After Victoria stepped in to try and save him, Richard knocked Koga out and the two fled, on their way to reunite with Phillip in Cianwood City...
CIanwood City, Johto...
"I'm heading for the Safari Zone!" The door to a house flew open as Chuck emerged from within. "I'll see you when I get back, my dear." Closing the door, he glanced around quickly before lifting a chocolate bar to his mouth and biting into it.
"CHUCK!" Jumping, he spun as his wife stuck her head out the window. "I see that! Give me it!" Reluctantly, Chuck held out the candy and his wife snatched it. "Stop sneaking sweets." She poked him in the gut. "Now you go work this off."
"Yes, ma'am." Chuck stood tall. "I'll make you proud!" Spinning, he marched away.
"Love you!" His wife called. Chuck offered a quick wave as he disappeared from sight. Once he was away, he let out a sigh.
"Can't a man have a sweet tooth?" He patted his stomach sadly. "I mean, belly or no, I'm still the best!" Indeed, most of his body was muscled to the limit. He wore jagged red pants tied with a rope for a belt and had grey bandages wrapped around his wrists. Throwing up his hands, he called to the sky. "If anybody doubts my strength or skill with Pokémon, let them come challenge me!"
For a moment, there was no answer. Then, sleet began to fall.
"Gah!" Chuck shooks his head as his short, spiky brown hair was soaked and water began to run down his face. Drops fell from his mustache as he spun. "Where did this come from?"
Around him, blue crystal walls rose up and formed a dome. Chuck charged and slammed a shoulder against it, but it proved unyielding against his strength. Turning, he found Suicune staring at him.
"Suicune...ah, I see." He grinned. "You heard the call and chose to challenge me as requested?" He held up a Pokéball, releasing his Poliwrath. "Well, I'll oblige ya!"
From Suicune's body, rain spread out around the dome, pouring down. Already soaked, Chuck laughed heartily.
"That won't help you against us!" He pointed. "Poliwrath, Mega Punch!"
"Wrath!" Leaping forward, Poliwrath pulled back a fist and struck Suicune, sending it flying back against the crystal wall. Shaking off the hit, Suicune launched a Hydro Pump forward. Poliwrath spread its arms, sucking the attack up with its Water Absorb.
"Now, make it submit!" Chuck called. Poliwrath lunged and wrapped his arms around Suicune, only for it to break into ice shards when he squeezed. "Ah...classic fake trick, huh? Mind Reader!" Poliwrath closed its eyes, focusing. "Now, Dynamic Punch!"
Spinning, Poliwrath leaped and drove an explosive punch right into the crystal wall. From outside, Suicune watched with amusement.
"Hiding from us?" Chuck narrowed his eyes. "Are you coming back in, or do we have to break out?" Suicune remained unmoving aside from a tilt of its head. "Break out it is! Brick Break!"
Poliwrath slammed a chop to the crystal wall, but it refused to crack, seeming to pulse and absorb the energy into it. Growling, Poliwrath repeatedly slammed blows into it, but he couldn't get through.
Suddenly, Suicune circled around and leaped back in through the other side.
"Watch out!" Chuck called. Tired from the effort of trying to break free, Poliwrath barely got turned before a Sheer Cold slammed into it, freezing it where it stood. Shaking its head sadly, Suicune turned and sped off, the crystal dome sinking away as it left. "Hmm...it seems we've been outplayed, Poliwrath." The frozen Pokémon naturally gave no response and Chuck sighed in disappointment. "Oh well...guess it's back to training for us!"
(Theme Song inspired by Power Rangers: Wild Force Opening)
*beat begins with a strange ethereal pulse (replace all roars with such) before quickly building into a rock beat* (The Eon Crystals awake and float into the air)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The original five Rangers enter the Vanishing Shrine...)
Eon Crystals are forever! (...and are bonded with their respective Eon Crystal.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (All seven Rangers' helmets appear to complete their morphing sequences)
We'll defend Johto together! (The seven pose together as an explosion bursts behind them.)
Eon Force! Eon Force! (The Rangers soar through the air on their Spirit Boards.)
Ancient powers have awakened; (Go!) (Richard tosses a basketball into a hoop, his Cyndaquil letting off a showy burst as it swishes. Turning to the camera, he flashes a thumbs up as the Red Ranger and Flare are shown.)
Eon Force gonna save them. (Eon Force!) (Sally steps off the bus into Azalea Town with her Mimikyu right behind. Noticing the camera, she waves as the Pink Ranger and Esper are shown.)
Our whole timeline in danger; (Go!) (Phillip reaches out and pulls a plastic bottle from a river, dropping it into a bag his Croconaw is carrying. Seeing the camera, he nods as the Blue Ranger and Vapor are shown.)
We will save (Emma is working on an explosive in a lab with her Voltorb on the table observing. She jumps back from a spark and grins at the camera as the Yellow Ranger and Jolt are shown.)
this world! (Matt looks over the Underwood Ranch as his Tyranitar walks up beside him. Petting her, he sees the camera and smiles as the Black Ranger and Umbre are shown.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (Sam and David laugh together with their Meganium and Swinub as the Green and White Rangers are shown with Leaf and Glace.)
Eon Crystals are forever! (Alicia raises a Pokéball and clicks it open/Victoria smiles beside her Arcanine/Professor Diggswell looks up from his notes)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Rangers summon their weapons.)
We'll defend Johto together! (The Rangers aim and fire the Eon Cannon.)
*guitar riff* (Celebi and Hypnotica are talking in the shrine, Xactowl and Ditgle bow to Mask of Ice in his lair/Walter puts on his Terror mask)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Eon Zords join together into the Eon Force Megazord...)
We'll defend Johto together! (...that is then shown using the Eon Spirit Charge.)
Eon...Force! Eon Force! (All seven Rangers pose together as the Eon Zords appear behind them, followed by the logo being shown (use your imagination, cuz I don't have the artistic skill to draw one))
Ranger-Con, Saffron City...
Once the Rangers had dealt with the interruption of Wigglytank, the Ranger fans of the convention had quickly regathered to cheer for them. They could almost see the news that the Kanto and Eon Force Rangers had worked together being splashed all over the fanpage by the thrilled conventiongoers.
Eventually, the five of them managed to slip away from the crowds and removed their helmets. They made their way back around and showed their stamps to the man out front, being quickly let inside.
"Come on!" Ginger waved. "Let's find Whitney and Alicia, and then, to Silph!"
Once they located their other friends, the three Kanto Rangers led them into the Silph building and up to a higher floor. Allison quickly exchanged words with a secretary before coming to tell them that Bill was in the middle of something and could not be disturbed for a bit.
"Well, we have time." Whitney said with a glance to her watch. "Let's wait."
And so, the group found a quiet spot tucked back where the secretary couldn't see them, pulling chairs up where they could all sit in a group.
"So..." Allison leaned back in her seat. "How did you guys become Rangers, anyway?"
"We just stumbled into it, really." Sally told them. "We happened upon Celebi's shrine one night and picked up these crystals..." Sally reached up and tapped her Morpher. "And they bonded to us. Celebi says that was destined to be."
"Celebi?" Ginger asked in interest.
"Yeah." Emma nodded. "Get this, apparently, he's an avatar for some goddess." Ginger grinned. "I know, crazy, right? I still barely believe it myself."
"Oh, I believe it." Ginger told them. Jessica and Allison glanced at each other with a knowing smile. "What if I told you I was ALSO the avatar of a goddess?" Sally and Emma stared at her in shock. "No, for real." She held up a Pokéball and opened it to release Mew into the room. "Avatar of Mew, at your service."
Floating forward, Mew looked at Sally's crystal and laughed.
'Esper, buddy.' Transforming into an Espeon, he landed on Sally's lap. 'Is that you?'
'Mew.' Esper's voice greeted. 'Been a long time.'
'I'll say.' Hopping over to Emma's lap, he transformed into a Jolteon. 'And Jolt! How have you been?'
'You know it unnerves me when you transform like that!' Jolt complained. 'But fine, yes. Good to see you again.'
"You guys know each other?" Emma asked.
'I told you, we were everywhere.' Jolt reminded her. 'Lutheran and us met Mew a loooong time ago.'
'But they weren't eternal spirits back then.' Mew laughed as he floated back, transforming into his usual self as he landed on Ginger's shoulder.
"I just found out I was an avatar last year." Ginger explained.
"That was a...surprising turn of events." Jessica said as she remembered. "But fortunate. I'd still be stuck as Hydrok if it wasn't for that."
"Do you know who the other Avatar of Celebi is?" Ginger asked. "The human one?" Sally shook her head.
"Celebi says they died a long time ago." she said. Ginger seemed briefly confused, but after a glance upward, she resumed a more cheerful expression.
"Well, whatever the case, it's nice to see more Rangers out there." Allison said. "Our world can always use more defenders."
'And I'm glad to see you guys finally found your wielders.' Mew said to Esper and Jolt. 'Where are the others? Are they also with you?'
'Most of them.' Esper agreed. Ginger looked upwards again before looking to Sally and Emma.
"Mew has a question." she told them. "She wants to know if you guys have unlocked secondary abilities yet?"
"Secondary abilities?" Sally asked. Ginger listened once more.
"Like, can you read minds, Sally?" she asked. Sally nodded. "And you, Emma? Do you have hyperspeed?"
"I most certainly do NOT! Since when am I supposed to have hyperspeed?" Emma reached up to touch her crystal. "Jolt, what the heck!?"
'Aheh...' Jolt said sheepishly. 'We're not actually supposed to talk about those abilities. Celebi says they'll unlock in their own time.'
'Some faster than others.' Esper agreed. 'Sally's telepathy and Matt's telepathic immunity came about pretty much right away. The rest seem to be taking their time.'
"Matt?" Jessica sat forward in surprise. "You wouldn't happen to be talking about Matt Underwood, would you?"
"That's him." Sally nodded. "He's our Black Ranger." Jessica grinned. "Do you know him?"
"Matt's an old friend." she said. Emma suddenly snapped her fingers.
"That's where I've seen you before!" she exclaimed. Jessica looked at her in confusion. "You were in the photo with Matt! You were the Rocket Admin."
"Oh...uh, yeah." Jessica winced. "That was me, for most of my life, actually. I eventually turned it around though."
"Don't worry. I've already been through the whole trust ordeal with Matt." Emma assured her. "I'm not going to judge you for it. Besides..." Emma shrugged. "My mom was a Rocket Admin too."
"She was?" Sally asked in surprise. "You never mentioned that."
"I haven't told a lot of people..." Emma admitted. "I told Matt about it, just so he understood why I reacted the way I did. Maybe it's time I stop being so secretive about it."
"Yeah..." Sally frowned. "Maybe..." Jessica was examining Emma closely.
"Yeah...I see it." She nodded. "That's what's so familiar about you...you do kinda look like Patricia." She frowned as if just processing what she was saying. "Patricia had a daughter!?"
"Yeah. She didn't exactly spread the information around." Emma told her.
"Don't blame her for that one." Jessica nodded. "Kids and Team Rocket...they just don't go together. I speak from experience."
Frowning, Ginger looked to the side towards the window.
"You guys hear that?" she asked. The others all shook their heads in confusion, but Allison closed her eyes for a moment.
"No, but I sense it." she nodded. "People are panicking down there, fleeing from something."
"Again?" Emma asked with a sigh. "Well...I guess we better go deal with it."
"You two stay here." Sally told Whitney and Alicia as the five Rangers rose. "We'll let you know what's going on."
"Alright." Alicia nodded. "Be careful out there."
"If Bill ever gets done, just tell him you're friends of ours!" Jessica called back. "He knows...you know, about what we are."
"Got it." Whitney agreed. "Good luck, guys."
Soon, the five of them ran outside, Sally and Emma quickly spotting some familiar faces among the crowd.
"Sam! David!" Sally called. The two of them looked over and grinned, running her way. LIke Sally and Emma, they were also morphed without their helmets. Behind them, Ms. North followed in her human illusion disguise alongside a younger girl of about thirteen, who had shoulder-length blue hair and was dressed in a blue skirt and black shirt.
"Hey, Salola. Emplosion." Sam greeted. "What are you two doing here?"
"I could ask the same of you." Sally told them. "I thought you were busy with the Professor?"
"We were." David nodded. "Got here late because of it. But c'mon, we couldn't miss Ranger-Con. We made the dang fanpage!"
"Helped. Helped make it." the girl spoke up. "Hey. I'm Tyra."
"Or the Tyrafying, as I like to call her." Sam grinned. Tyra sighed.
"I so regret telling you how I used to act." She shook her head. "And I can't believe you two never told me you knew Ms. North!"
"We just recently got to know her, really." Sam said defensively.
"I had to come to Ranger-Con, just for the chance to see my favorite former student again." Ms. North grinned and put a hand on Tyra's shoulder. Tyra smiled and caught sight of Ginger and Allison.
"Hey, Ginger! Allison!" She waved and ran forward, wrapping her arms around them one after the other. "Sorry I missed your show! I couldn't get out of the house in time."
"It's alright, kiddo." Ginger laughed. "It's good to see you again too."
"And you, Ms. North." Allison nodded. "Koga told me things were working out well for you, but it's good to see for myself."
"Uh, guys?" Emma said. "This is really heartwarming, but..." She pointed in the direction people had been running from and the group turned to see a figure stomping towards them.
"Run, fools." he snarled with a laugh. The creature had the appearance of a humanoid Ariados, with Galvantula arms and legs, several of them growing from his sides. The spike on his head was much longer than normal and he dripped poison from his fangs as he spoke. From his shoulders, two egglike growths extended upwards. Halting facing the group, he glared. "Out of my way."
"Uh, Tyra, maybe you should go hide somewhere." Ms. North.
"Upstairs." Jessica pointed to the Silph building. "You can find our friends Whitney and Alicia up there. They're gonna get to check out the upcoming Poké Rangers game sequel; you can see it too if you hurry."
"Um..." Tyra looked at the monster facing them in worry. "You guys sure you don't wanna come with?"
"Maybe they should." Sam glanced at Ginger, Allison, and Jessica. Ms. North shook her head.
"Oh no, you two. They should definitely stay." The three girls laughed at Sam's confused expression. "We'll come join you as soon as we can. We have to...figure out what this guy wants first." Tyra at last nodded and ran inside, giving one last worried glance back.
"Are you planning on moving?" The monster asked in annoyance.
"Nope." Emma shook her head. "Just who are you?"
"I am the Chaos Beast Arantula, and I am looking for Ditgle." he told them. "Master Cyrus has need of him, and he's been missing too long."
"Okay..." Jessica frowned. "Anybody have any clue what a Ditgle is?"
"None." Sally shook her head. The others agreed, except for Ms. North.
"None I can talk about." She said. "Celebi knowledge."
"Ah." Emma and Sally nodded in understanding.
"I know he was here." Arantula snarled. "Some of our old monitoring systems left in the region detected another Chaos Beast like myself in this area." He glared at the group. "You are clearly lying. You WILL tell me where he is, at once!"
"Like we would tell you even if we did." Emma told him.
"Oh, but you will." Arantula's horn started to glow. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."
"Let's get him." Jessica said, putting her helmet on and summoning her weapon. Ginger, Allison, Sally, and Emma followed suit, as did Sam and David when they realized the actual Kanto Rangers were here with them. Ms. North pulled off her ring to reveal her Hypnotica form, forming two psychic blades.
Before anyone could move, a flash of light expanded from Arantula's horn, engulfing the entire group in its glow.
Safari Zone construction, near Cianwood City...
Looker and Xana arrived at the Safari Zone's construction to find three people standing near the entrance, two of them seeming to be arguing while the third merely stood by and watched. One of the arguers looked to be the construction crew's foreman, who was pointing at some sort of blueprint in annoyance. The other was a teenage girl with chocolate brown eyes and long brown hair reaching her waist, tied into two pigtails with a set of orange beads. She wore a teal sundress with a bridal hem that reached her knees and a puffy orange bow on her chest, and over that a snow white coat that reached her waist. On her feet were white sandals with two teal decorations.
At last, the girl held up a Pokéball and released a Magneton.
"He should be able to help you move it into the proper place." she said. "Right, Magneton?"
"Magne!" Magneton agreed. The foreman thanked her and moved along with her Pokémon following. Meanwhile, the guy who was watching noticed Looker and Xana approaching. He had a deep tan, hazel eyes, and spiky black hair hidden under a black cap. He wore black jeans and a black t-shirt with a brown vest over it, the letters RSS emblazoned over his right breast. On seeing them, he stepped forward to meet them.
"Hello." He greeted. "Can I help you two?"
"I hope so." Looker said. "I'm trying to find Chuck."
"Well, that's nothing new." The girl walked up to join them. "He's late, as usual. Maybe I can help." She held out a hand. "I'm Jasmine. I run the gym in Olivine City, just across the water from here." She indicated the young man who had greeted them. "This is Rick Henderson. He's an Elite Four member in Kanto, heads up RSS."
"Well, I'll be." Looker laughed and held out a hand. "Rock Solid Security themselves. You boys have been getting quite a name for yourselves."
"We do our best." Rick smiled.
"I asked him to come look into a recent...incident." Jasmine told them. "Several worker Pokémon went missing."
"Ah..." Xana smiled. "We believe we may have information about that."
"I'm Looker." Looker introduced himself. "This is Madame Xana, a psychic who has been assisting me. She was the one who put me on the path towards this place."
"Looker, huh?" Rick folded his arms. "You're quite the detective legend." He looked to Xana. "You're a psychic?"
"Yep." She frowned. "Though your mind is protected." Rick held up a hand, showing off a silver ring with black Z's.
"I wear one of these. Had a friend get it for me when I started RSS, just in case we ever had to deal with, you know, psychic criminals." he explained.
"Top notch thinking. I might have to look into one of those..." Looker mused.
"Just who do you think is behind it?" Jasmine asked.
"His name is Walter Franklin." Looker explained. "You may have heard of his group, the Remnants. They've been involved in some trouble lately in the Eastern half of the region."
"I've heard about that." Jasmine nodded. "But what would he be doing here?"
"Not quite sure." Looker admitted. "But he stole his Pokémon back from Whitney and we believe he was involved in a strange incident at her family farm. Her sister Alicia confirmed the incident and provided some evidence, but we're not sure what his goal was there either."
"Sounds like you don't have a lot to go on." Rick noted.
"Not much more than instinct." Looker shrugged. "But I trust my instincts. They've served me well."
"They certainly have." Rick glanced to Xana. "And you? Anything coming to mind?"
"Not at the moment." Xana frowned. "Could I perhaps see the place where these Pokémon were working? Perhaps I can pick up some sort of psychic trace there."
"Certainly." Jasmine waved for them to follow. She led them to a series of shelves covered in construction helmets and held two out. "For safety concerns, I'll have to ask that you wear these." Looker and Xana took the offered pair and donned them as Jasmine and Rick put a set on themselves before leading them into the construction area.
At one point as they walked, Xana came to a halt. Looker stopped and turned to face her.
"What is it?" he asked. "Do you sense something?"
"Not to do with this...just other stuff." She looked off into the city. "Very curious other stuff, but it's not important." She looked to see Rick staring at her and felt nervous, like he was seeing right through her. "Let's move on."
Jasmine soon stopped and pointed to an unfinished area. As Xana walked up to it, she whirled to look at the city again.
"What is going on out there?" Looker asked.
"It's...nothing." She frowned deeper before reaching down and pressing her fingers to the ground. Closing her eyes, she seemed to focus a moment before opening them. "I think the Pokémon were taken off in that direction." She pointed towards the open wilderness that the Safari Zone was being constructed out of. "Not sure where they ended up yet, but that's the way they headed."
"Then that's the way we must go." Looker declared. "Come along." He moved in the direction she indicated, but Xana made no move to follow him. "You coming?"
"Uh, I'll catch up to you." She looked back at the main city. "There's something I want to check out first."
"Okay..." Looker nodded. "Don't take too long." He moved off with Jasmine following behind. After a moment, RIck went after them as well.
Once they were out of sight, Rick tapped Looker on the shoulder.
"I'm going to go follow Xana." he said. "Make sure she's okay, you know? You two go on." Quietly, he snuck his way around and picked up Xana's trail, pursuing her into Cianwood.
Meanwhile, in Cianwood proper...
Arcanine came to a halt and Richard groaned as he hopped off.
"You're gonna have to saddle this guy or something." He staggered his way to a bench and sat down. "Cuz that was rough."
"You get used to it." Victoria took a seat beside him as Arcanine lay down nearby. The two were silent for a moment as they contemplated the situation. "So...what are you going to do?"
"I don't know, Vicky." Richard sighed. "We'll figure something out. They have a picture of me in Remnants uniform though...this is tough."
"And now they know that I was in fact staying with you." Victoria sighed. "I should've thought it through more. And I'm the one who made you wear the uniform...this is all my damn fault."
"Please don't start saying that." Richard told her.
"I'm doing exactly what I said I wouldn't." Victoria leaned forward and put her face in her hands. "I'm causing you more pain."
"Hey, that's not true." Richard reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked at him skeptically. "Well, okay, yes, but you're not trying to. I don't blame you for it."
"Maybe you should." Victoria said.
"No, Walter is the one I should blame. You should too." Richard said firmly. "He's the one doing this and we both know it." His hand moved to grasp hers. "We WILL figure out how to stop him. The truth always shines through in the end." Victoria slowly smiled.
"Ahem." The two looked to find Phillip standing before them. Richard couldn't help but take note of the sad expression he wore. "Hey."
"Phil." Richard leaped up and hugged him. "Thanks goodness you're finally here."
"Yeah..." The Blue Ranger smiled briefly before he stepped back with a frown. "Quite the situation you're in, isn't it?"
"You've heard?" Victoria asked in surprise.
"Oh yes. Before I left, Emma's dad called, looking for you, Rich." Phillip frowned. "Apparently Will was at their house, saying that she and you were both part of the Remnants."
"What?" Richard stepped back in shock. "Why do they think Emma has anything to do with it?"
"They claim she was the one who supplied the bombs the Remnants planted around Azalea." Phillip said.
"That's ludicrious!" Richard glared.
"I know...to us, who know her." Phillip agreed. "But you have to admit, from an outside perspective, it doesn't seem unreasonable. Her room is full of materials for making them, after all. And..." Phillip sighed. "There's something else."
"What?" Phillip didn't respond. "Phil, what?"
"You know how her mom is never around?" Phillip asked. Richard nodded. "Well, as it turns out, she was a member of Team Rocket. An Admin, in fact. The Elite Four is VERY interested in that fact."
"You're kidding me?" Richard shook his head and moved aside, starting to pace. "This is ridiculous."
"Yeah." Phillip nodded. "They're bringing up some incident where she disappeared and ended up in Goldenrod when she was twelve. A Team Rocket base blew up under the city at the same time...they speculate that was some training accident or something, that her mom was initiating her at the time."
"Why didn't Emma ever tell us about this?" Richard wondered.
"Probably not something she likes to talk about." Phillip shrugged.
"Hold on..." Victoria frowned. "The only female admin at the time...that would make her mom Patricia." She looked up. "If I'm remembering right, she was there that night in Goldenrod...and so was Walter."
"He was?" Phillip asked. Victoria nodded.
"There was some kidnapping supposed to be going on. I didn't know the details, but Walter was the one who was supposed to carry it out." Victoria shrugged. "But the base blew up and killed everybody inside. Only Walter and Patricia made it out alive."
"Emma. That's who they were kidnapping, I bet." Richard nodded. "And that means Walter would definitely know about her mom."
"Exactly." Victoria nodded. Richard suddenly stood straighter in realization.
"Oh Arceus...they're going to go after Matt too." He looked to Phillip. "Aren't they? He was part of Team Rocket too."
"I haven't heard anything yet, but it wouldn't surprise me." he said. "Maybe Sally and Alicia as well, since they work with him. Heck, with Walter working for Professor Diggswell for that time, they could go after him, Sam, and David too. I just don't know how far this is going to extend."
"Damn it all!" Richard spun and swung a fist out, striking a streetsign and putting a dent in it. "We have to stop this!"
"Hey, it's okay." Phillip stepped up beside him. "I promise you, we'll deal with it. I'm not about to let you and all my other friends get locked up for something you didn't do. We'll find the answer." He sighed. "But you have to give Walter credit...he is one devious son of a bitch."
"C'mon..." Richard turned and stepped past him. "We better get that protest of yours."
"What?" Phillip looked to him. "Rich, forget that. We need to get you somewhere safe so we can figure out our next step."
"Yes, Rangers." Several green feathers landed in the ground next to them. "You'd better run."
"Watch it!" Richard grabbed Phillip and pulled him back as they exploded, sending them both falling backwards. Victoria leaped up and ran to help them to their feet as Xactowl stepped forward.
"I thought I detected you two in Cianwood." Xactowl laughed. "What are you doing here?"
"Not looking for you." Richard growled. "But since you're here..." He took a fighting stance. "We'll just have to kick you out!"
"Bold words, considering you're only two Rangers and a washed-up Remnant." Xactowl looked between the three of them and grinned. "Oh, I see. The plan is coming to fruition."
"Plan?" Phillip growled. "What are you on about?"
"Never you mind that." Xactowl shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can't have you in the area right now. I'm busy with something." He held out a wing. "Cryoclopes!" All around him, the frozen minions rose from the ground and summoned ice weaponry. "Get them!"
"Let's do it!" Richard said and Phillip nodded in agreement.
"Bring on the power of Eon!" The two pressed their Morphers' buttons and placed them against their chests, quickly Morphing into their Ranger forms. As the Cryoclopes charged forward, Richard and Phillip ran to meet them.
Ducking low, Richard sweeped out with his leg, striking several minions in the feet and taking them down. Rising with his Fire Blaster in hand, he aimed and sent a shot blasting through a Cryoclops pulling back an ice spear, sending it falling backwards. Two wielding ice swords charged at him from either side, the Red Ranger leaping back as they swung. With their blades striking against each other, Richard ignited his fist and punched out, melting through the weapons before leaping and spinning with his foot ablaze to take their wielders down.
Phillip summoned his Aqua Jetters and hurled one, striking a Cryoclopes in the face and sending it flipping back. Blocking a swinging ice sword with his other weapon, he held out a hand and the one he'd thrown came shooting back to him, smashing through the minion in the process. Whirling, he knocked another Cryoclops aside with a high kick before firing water from his weapons to propel himself upwards over a strike at his legs, flipping and coming back down to stab into the Cryoclops responsible's back.
As a few Crycolopes circled around and came at Victora, her Arcanine charged forward with Extreme Speed, smashing through several rapid-fiire. Biting down on one's wrist as it aimed an ice rifle, he twisted and forced its shots to miss, flinging it to its allies. Flames blazed around the Pokémon as he charged forward with a Flare Blitz, blowing them all apart.
Snarling in annoyance, Xactowl leaped forward, using his telekinesis to propel himself further through the air. Landing beside Richard, he swung his wing and smacked the Red Ranger back. Richard aimed his Fire Blaster, but with a wave of his wing Xactowl sent it flying from his hand, leaping to kick the Ranger off his feet.
"Back off!" Phillip leaped at Xactowl from behind and he spun, catching the Blue Ranger and flipping him to land beside Rich. As they both stood, Xactowl drew two green feathers.
"Take this!" He threw them towards the pair, but before they could land, somebody leaped past, snatching both. "Huh?"
Landing on his feet, Rick spun and threw the feathers back, hitting the pavement at Xactowl's feet. They glowed and exploded before he could defend, sending him staggering back.
"You!" Xactowl snapped in annoyance.
"I thought there was something suspicious about you, 'Xana'." Rick smiled. "Looker must be losing his edge...or you're screwing with his mind."
"Just mild suggestions of innocence." Xactowl shrugged. "But now that you know the truth, I'm afraid you can't go back!"
"You'd better run." Richard warned. Glancing back, Rick shook his head.
"Nah." Stepping forward, he raised a hand, showing off a black band with a Rock-type symbol on his wrist. "See, the thing is, RSS has a secret weapon working behind the scenes. I try to keep it out of even my own agents' eyes, but for you...I'll make an exception." Raising his other hand, he pressed the symbol. "Poké Power, unleash! Golem!"
Rock expanded from the Morpher until Rick's body was encased in a boulder. Throwing out his arms, it shattered away to reveal him in his Ranger Suit, a black outfit with white boots and gloves and a Rock-type symbol on the chest. A helmet with a Golem design formed around his head to complete the transformation.
"Poké Rangers Kanto, Black Ranger!" Rick called as he struck a pose. Richard and Phillip glanced to each other in amazement as Xactowl growled.
"ANOTHER Ranger? Cryoclopes!" More of the icy golems formed at his call. "Destroy him!"
"Golem Mace!" Summoning his Golem-designed weapon, Rick leaped and swung it down, smashing the Cryoclops at the front of the group. His shattered pieces flew into his allies behind him, taking several down. Spinning, Rick blocked an ice staff jabbing at him and kicked another Cryoclops' legs from under it before raising the weapon. "Earthquake!" Slamming the mace down, a shockwave spread out and took down the entire group of minions.
Xactowl held out a wing and Rick gripped his mace tighter as it tried to pull out of his hand, sliding him froward across the ground.
"Rollout!" The head of the mace disconnected and shot forward, slamming into Xactowl before he could stop it. As he stumbled, Rick ran forward and swung, but the Chaos Beast managed to recover and raise himself into the air before the blow landed.
Looking up at him, Rick sprang higher, stone covering his weapon.
"Smack Down!" Swinging, he slammed Xactowl on top of the head, causing him to plummet to the ground.
"Let's give him a hand" Richard suggested. He and Phillip leaped forward beside Rick as he landed on his feet, holding out their weapons. As Xactowl rose, he was pelted with water and fire shots that forced him back. Rick took advantage to spring and raise his weapon.
"Stone Edge!" Slamming it down, a rock spire burst from the ground and slammed into Xactowl, hurling him back through the air to land hard. Rising, he growled low to himself.
"You'll regret interfering, Kanto Ranger!" he snarled, ice spreading up his body until he vanished away.
"Heh." Rick rested his Golem Mace on his shoulder. "Looks like he was the one who ran." Turning to Richard and Phillip, he grinned. "Hey there."
"Uh, hi?" Richard and Phillip both reached up and removed their Morphers as Rick pressed his and powered down. "So you're one of the Kanto Rangers?"
"That's me." Rick held out his hand and Richard took it. "Rick Henderson, at your service."
"I'm Richard Franklin, and this is Phillip Vernon." The Blue Ranger nodded in greeting. "And that's our friend Victoria Jameson."
"Victoria..." Rick blinked and narrowed his eyes. "You were part of Team Rocket, yeah?" Victoria nodded.
"For a while, yes." she admitted. "How'd you know that?"
"Oh, I studied all about Team Rocket when I started the RSS." Rick said. "You never know when a former member is gonna pop up and cause trouble."
"She's not trying to do that." Richard told him. Rick shrugged.
"Not what I heard about her recent activities." he said. "But if you Rangers vouch for her, then I suppose I can ignore it."
"Thanks." Richard sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"Working." Rick folded his arms. "The better question is, what was that thing doing here?"
"I don't know." Phillip frowned thoughtfully. "But he mentioned a plan starting..." He looked to Richard. "You don't think he's the one behind what's happening to you?"
"I would've swore it was Walter." Richard shrugged. "But I guess it's possible."
"What's happening to you?" Rick asked.
"It's a long story." Richard smiled. "But to sum it up..." He did his best to quickly explain about how he was being framed.
"Mmm." Rick paced in thought. "Perhaps it's both Xactowl and Walter behind it. Your enemies may have united against you." Richard and Phillip glanced at each other concern in over the troubling idea. "We're going to have to figure out a way to stop this."
"How do we do that?" Phillip asked. Rick looked between the two Rangers and grinned.
"C'mon." He waved the group forward. "I've got to get back to the building site, but once I check it out...we'll need help." He grinned. "And your Ranger colors have given me a great idea on where we can get it."
Ranger-Con, Saffron City...
"What the...?" Emma blinked as she awoke, the last thing she remembered being a strange blast of light. As she sat up and found that she was no longer morphed, a shadow fell over her.
"Hello, tiny Ranger!" Arantula laughed as he loomed over her, his horn still shining brightly. Emma shielded her eyes and scrambled back, thinking he had grown giant, but as she looked around, she quickly realized that wasn't the case. He wasn't any bigger...she was just very small.
"What have you done to me?" she snapped. Arantula chuckled and knelt down.
"You and your friends are mine now." He waved a hand and Emma spotted a web holding the other Rangers and Hypnotica wthin it. The seven of them were struggling againt it, but the webbing crackled with electricity every time they moved, stunning them and keeping them immobile.
"Let them go!" Emma demanded.
"Not quite yet." Arantula grinned. On his shoulders, the eggs split down the middle and two Ariados-Galvantula hybrid creatures emerged, springing down and approaching the web, stopping a few feet away. "My hatchlings are quite hungry, and your friends would make a perfect meal for them. You can save them..." He narrowed his eyes. "IF you tell me where Ditgle is."
"I told you, I don't know!" Emma told him. "Let them out!"
"You do know." Arantula sighed. "And you're making me quite annoyed with your lies." He waved and his hatchlings started to slowly creep forward. The Rangers trapped in the web tried to struggle more, but the webbing quickly halted it. "Better change your mind fast."
"I don't even know who or what Ditgle is!" Emma snapped. "I'm not lying." Arantula said nothing, letting the monsters continue their advance.
Whirling, Emma ran towards the web, but Arantula quickly moved and slammed a foot down in her path, blocking their way.
"None of that." He smirked. "You'll just get caught in the web anyway. If you want to save them, you can tell me what I want to know. Or don't, and let my hatchlings eat." He shrugged. "I'm good either way."
"I keep telling you, I CAN'T tell, because I don't know!" Emma snapped, starting to cry. "Please, let my friends go, now!" Sighing, Arantula shook his head.
"For their sake, I hope that is not true." he said, stepping back. "You can stand there and watch until you change your mind or they're gone.
Emma looked to the web and her mind desperately raced. The monster bugs were already on the webbing now, starting to climb up it towards her friends. She doubted she could even make it TO the web in time to save them, let alone avoid getting stuck in it herself. Tears raced down her face as she saw no way out of it and started to try and think of a lie that would convince him. Somehow, she doubted he'd let them go anyway.
'Wait a sec...' Emma blinked. 'Hyperspeed...' Frowning, she looked down at herself. 'I'm supposed to have hyperspeed...how do I do it? Jolt?'
'...I'd tell you if I could.' Jolt snarled in annoyance. 'I'm literally trying to right now, and the words will not come out.'
'Figures.' Emma groaned. 'Damn you, Celebi. This is not the time for this.'
As the creatures loomed over her friends, Emma started to run forward.
'Hyperspeed, hyperspeed. I'm fast, I'm quick, I'm...doing nothing!' she growled as she realized she was still running normally. Arantula was making no moves to stop her, knowing she could do nothing. As she got closer, she could hear her friends screaming as they tried to get free, Sam's rising a bit higher than the others.
"NO!" Emma yelled as she saw one of the creatures start to lunge forward. As she held out a hand, lightning surged in her eyes and down her legs.
Emma looked around in awe on seeing that everything was borderline frozen, only the slightest bit of movement still going on.
"I...did it?" Emma laughed. "I actually did it!" Looking to her friends, her smiled faded. "Gotta get them out!"
Charging forward, she reached the web in moments and ran up its strands, moving too fast for the stickiness to take effect. Reaching Sally, she summoned her Discharger and used it to tear through the webbing holding her, lifting her up and running her out of the web. Setting Sally's unmoving form down, she turned and ran back up, grabbing Sam and pulling him free. One after the other, she pulled Ginger, Allison, David, Hypnotica, and Jessica free, setting each of them in a line outside the web. Turning and looking back up at it, she saw that the lunging creature had moved maybe a centimeter forward and laughed.
"Okay, now how do I turn it off...?" Emma focused until everything sped back up, the lightning fading in her eyes. Her friends around her screamed and recoiled in horror. "Guys, it's okay!" Realizing they were out of the web, they looked around in confusion. In the web, Arantula's hatchlings bit down on nothing, pulling back and squealing in anger.
"How did we...?" Allison started to ask.
"Never mind that. We'd better get away from those things." Jessica suggested. They turned and noticed Sam was already several feet away.
"You don't have to worry." Emma pulled out a remote from her pocket. "I left them a present in your place." Grinning, she flipped the cover open and pressed a button, causing the web to blow apart as the explosives she'd set detonated all at once. The hatchlings fell to the ground as little more than smoking remains.
"You...how dare you!" The group spun as Arantula glared at them. He had been stunned into silence by Emma and the others suddenly all appearing safe, but the destruction of the trap snapped him out of it. "I don't know how you did that, but there's more where they came from!" On his shoulders, the eggs began to swell and grow again.
"Hey, check the horn." Allison pointed to the still glowing appendage. "I bet if we destroy that thing, it would undo the shrink effect."
"Can confirm." Sally and Hypnotica both said at once. Looking to each other, they grinned. "Mind readers, remember?"
"Yeah, but how in Arceus's name do we get way up there?" David asked. Ginger and Jessica both grabbed for Pokéballs, but Emma held out a hand.
"Leave that to me." she grinned. "I got this."
'You sure?" Sally asked.
"It'd be no trouble." Jessica told her.
Rather than answer, Emma's eyes ignited with electrical energy once more. Turning, she ran to Arantula and straight up his body, moving up the vertical surface without issue. Turning to the side, she leaped on his shoulder and attached several explosives to the egg there before leaping to the other and doing the same.
Moving up onto his head, she stuck more to his horn before running down to the ground. Circling around his legs once, she laughed in joy before running back to her friends. Gasping for breath, she chuckled and cut off hyperspeed.
"Nah. I just did it." Emma shrugged, holding up the remote and pressing. Up on Arantula, three successive blasts blew apart his eggs and then his horn, the shattered spike losing its shine as it fell to the ground. The Rangers all glowed and grew, soon reappearing at their normal size.
"What the...?" David looked at Emma in awe. "How did you do that?"
"You've got it!" Ginger laughed in realization. "You've got hyperspeed!"
"You've got what!?" Sam gaped. "Since when?"
"I'll get you for that!" Arantula drew their attention as he felt his broken horn and yelled in outrage. Holding out his hands, they all pointed at the group. "Electroweb!"
"Watch it!" Emma called. The group dove aside as the webbing struck the ground where they had been standing. As the group rolled and came to their feet, she drew her Morpher. "Ready, guys?"
"Ready!" the others agreed.
"Bring on the power of Eon!" The four Eon Rangers called, pressing their Morphers to their chests. Glowing lines spread around their body as their Eon Spirits rose overhead and fired their elements down, forming their Ranger Suits before circling and transforming into helmets to complete the transformation.
"Poké Power, unleash!" the Kanto Rangers called, pressing their Morphers.
"Pikachu!"
"Venusaur!"
"Arbok!"
Spheres of their respective elements explanded from their Morphers, surrounding their bodies before dispersing to reveal their Ranger Suits, their helmets forming to complete the sequence.
Hypnotica formed two psychic blades and stepped up beside the group as they faced the Chaos Beast.
"Thunderbolt!" Arantula fired several electric blasts from his hands, but the Rangers dove forward and past them as they struck. Coming to her feet, Jessica leaped through the air, spinning her Arbok Staff around point-first.
"Poison Jab!" Toxin laced its tip as she stabbed out, sending Arantula stumbling back. Running up beside her, David aimed his Icicle Spear and fired an icy blast, freezing Arantula's feet in place.
"All yours, guys!" he called, holding out his arms. Ginger and Sam leaped and sprang off his shoulders, aiming their weapons and firing. Blasts from Sam's Seed Bomber and a Solarbeam from Ginger's Venusaur Whip struck him and broke him free, making him stagger back.
Holding out a hand, Sally telekinetically yanked Arantula forward through the air. Drawing back her Psycho Cutter, it glowed with psychic energy as Hypnotica pulled back her blades as well, the two slashing Arantula as he passed, sending him falling to the ground with a yell.
Rising, he spun and fired another Electroweb, but Allison leaped in front of the group and held up her Pikachu Striker, the webbing wrapping around it. Lightning channeled down it, but the Yellow Kanto Ranger shrugged it off.
"Go for it, Emma!" she called. Emma activated Hyperspeed and ran forward, throwing dozens of punches against Arantula's body as he stood unmoving. Turning, she raised her Discharger and tore through his webbing before running back beside Allison and turning it off.
Sparks flew as the impacts of her blows struck, Arantula yelling in pain as he was flung backwards.
"Let's finish him!" Emma suggested as Sam, David, and Sally joined her. Nodding, the four of them held up their hands and put their energies together, summoning a four-barreled version of the Eon Cannon. Emma took the primary spot usually held by Richard while Sally's place was at the weapon's back, Sam and David crouched along the sides.
Staggering up, Arantula weakly stumbled forward, holding out a hand.
"I'll get you..." he snarled. "My master will..."
"Fire!" Emma called. The barrels of the weapon glowed in the four's colors and fired beams out, swirling together into a rainbow sphere that struck Arantula. Lightning flew around him as he fell backwards with a groan, his body exploding in a fiery blast.
The Rangers cheered, the Kanto Rangers turning to high-five their Eon Ranger allies.
"That was amazing!" Ginger reached down to run a hand along the Eon Cannon. "This thing is sweet!"
"Yeah." Emma grinned. "It's..." As she turned, she stumbled dizzily and almost fell, Sally catching and holding her up.
"You okay?" the Pink Ranger asked in concern.
"Yeah." Emma nodded. "I'm fine. Just feeling a little..." She reached down to put a hand on her stomach as it growled insistently. "FAMISHED! Man, I guess hyperspeed really works up an appetite."
"I guess so." Jessica laughed. "C'mon. Let's go get you something to eat." She glanced at her watch and frowned. "Actually, uh, I'm supposed to be somewhere right now. Soon as the convention recovers from this second interruption, I've gotta be ready!" She turned and dashed off. "You guys go on without me!"
"Huh. What was that about?" Allison asked.
"I don't know." Sally grinned. "But I think I might just have an idea."
Safari Zone construction, near Cianwood...
Richard, Phillip, and Victoria followed Rick as he led them back towards the upcoming Safari Zone. As he walked, the Black Kanto Ranger had been talking into his Morpher, but as they neared he at last let up.
As they arrived, Looker and Jasmine were waiting for them.
"We couldn't find anything." Looker said with a frown. "Where's Xana?"
"Bad news about her, I'm afraid." Rick told him. "Turns out, she was a monster in disguise." Looker narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what his goal was, but I doubt it was to help you."
"Then he's probably been leading me in false directions." Looker cursed. "Why didn't I see through that?"
"He really did have psychic powers." Richard pointed out. "He was probably influencing you." Looker nodded.
"I suppose so." He smiled. "What are you doing here, Richard? I wasn't expecting to run into you this far from Azalea. Does your father know you're here?"
"Uh, not exactly." Richard laughed. "It's a long story."
"You know him?" Rick asked.
"Sure." Richard nodded. "My dad was the one who hired him to find Walter."
"Indeed." Looker agreed. "Ah, and these must be Phillip and Victoria." Stepping forward, Looker quickly shook each of their hands. "I've heard all about you two."
"You have...?" Victoria asked nervously.
"Yes, but I'm also a firm believer in second chances." he told her. "Do not worry."
"Excuse me?" Jasmine spoke up. "Does anyone want to explain to me exactly what is going on here, and why there is a known Remnants member that the Gym Leaders were given orders to arrest standing in front of me?"
Before anyone could explain to her, there was a rumbling and the group turned to find a sizable bulldozer moving towards them. Growling in annoyance, Jasmine pushed past them and ran out in front of it. As it stopped, the same foreman from before leaned off the side of the seat.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Jasmine snapped.
"My job." he told her. "We've gotta get the wall supports in somehow."
"You can't bring that thing in there!" Phillip walked up and pointed to the dense forest that he was heading towards. "You'll tear up the forest!"
"Exactly!" Jasmine smiled. "Thank you!" She glared at the foreman. "I told you my Magneton would help move them into place, didn't I?"
"Well, one's underwater." he told her. "And he can't go there, now can he? So unless you happen to have a Dive HM up your sleeves and a Pokémon that can use it, we can't get down there without damming the river."
"Damming...?" Phillip gaped. "What's the matter with you, man? Do you have no regard for the Pokémon that live there?"
"...we can knock it down later." he shrugged. "But there's no other way."
"There has to be." Jasmine snapped. "I won't allow this."
"You don't run this project." The foreman scoffed. "Chuck does, and I have a feeling he'd give me the go ahead."
"Yeah, because Chuck is a dunce who only cares about eating and fighting." Jasmine rolled her eyes. "That's why I'm here, to make sure things proceed smoothly and safely, for the people and the Pokémon alike."
"Just what do you need done?" Phillip asked. The foreman stared at him like he had just realized he had never seen this guy before.
"Who are you?" he asked. Phillip gave his name and the foreman stared before at last answering. "I need to dig a hole and get the support set up in it, at the bottom of the riverbed."
"I can do it." Phillip told him. "I'll go down and dig the damn thing myself." The foreman outright laughed.
"It would take way too long." he said. "Unless you've got some stunning lung capacity, you'd have to keep coming up for air and..."
"You'd be surprised what I can do." He looked to Jasmine. "Can't hurt to let me try, can it?"
"I suppose not..." she frowned. "Are you sure you're up to that?"
"Look, I came here to protest the kinda crap this guy is proposing." The foreman glared in annoyance as Phillip shrugged. "Now that I see you are in fact trying to keep it in line...the least I can do is make sure you're able to."
"Okay." Jasmine at last smiled. "Go ahead. Show him the spot."
"Alright." The foreman powered the machine down and jumped off. "But it'll never work. I bet you give up in...ten minutes, tops."
"We'll see." Phillip couldn't resist a smirk. He looked back to Rick, Richard, and Victoria. "You guys okay to wait?"
"Sure." Richard nodded.
"My friends will be a bit." Rick told him. "Go ahead." Nodding, Phillip grabbed a shovel and followed Jasmine and the foreman as they led him towards the river.
Ranger-Con, Saffron City...
'Welcome to our final Pokémon battle of the day!' Sabrina telepathically projected to the crowd. 'And once again, I would like to apologize to everyone for the multiple delays we've suffered today. It's fortunate the Poké Rangers were able to stop those creatures.'
From the crowd, the Rangers and most of their friends were watching eagerly. Emma had a sizable haul from the concessions, to the point that Sally nervously asked her she'd fallen under another spell like Flabboil's. Emma had laughed as she promised her she was fine; just super-hungry from burning so many calories.
"I can't belive you two are Rangers." Tyra grumbled, her arms folded as she stared ahead. The group had reunited with her, Whitney, and Alicia after defeating Arantula, the three of them bringing several copies of Bill's next unfinished game, enough to pass around to everyone so they could all check it out and offer feedback.
"We are not!" Sam told her. "Seriously Tyrafying, I don't know where you get that idea."
"Just how dumb do you think I am?" she asked. "Why else would you guys all stay to face that thing, and then next thing you know the Rangers are there destroying it?"
"They just showed up!" Sam tried to tell her. "if they hadn't, we would've..." Tyra stared at him in disbelief.
"I think she's got us, Sam." David smiled. Sam sighed in annoyance.
"Yeah...yeah, okay. Fine." He frowned. "Don't tell anybody, okay? We're already bad enough at keeping a secret identity as is."
"Clearly." Tyra grinned. "You two couldn't keep a secret if your lives depended on it."
"He is right though, Tyra." Ms. North spoke up. "There are reasons the Rangers don't just go around telling everyone who they are."
"I know, I know." Tyra nodded. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna spread it around."
"Thank you for that." Sally glanced at her and smiled. "And especially don't tell my brother, okay? He's not...the most subtle person around."
"Oh, for sure." Tyra smirked. "But wouldn't he just lose his mind if he found out his sister was a Ranger. What I'd give to see the look on his face." She looked past Sally, to where Ginger and Allison were standing. "And you two!"
"Us?" Ginger laughed. "What about us?"
"You guys were the Green and Yellow Rangers all along?" She shook her head. "That's unbelievable. Could you get any cooler?"
"Oh, we surely could." Ginger grinned. Her mind flashed to her connection with Mew. "Just cuz you know about us being Rangers doesn't mean I don't have secrets you're not aware of."
As Tyra looked at her curiously, Emma glanced around and mumbled something unintelligable, her mouth full of hot dog.
"What was that?" Sally laughed. Emma swallowed and repeated the question.
"Where'd Alicia get off to?" she asked. The group looked back to Whitney, who merely grinned.
'...and I hope you're exited, because this is going to be a very special three-on-three match.' Sabrina announced. 'We have two contenders who are at the absolute top of their Pokémon game, facing off in a clash that you'll probably never get the chance to see again.' She pointed off to one side. 'Kanto's own current co-champion, Jessica Freeman!' Jessica walked out and waved as the crowd cheered, her Arbok slithering behind her. 'And Johto's current champion, Alicia Milton!' Alicia likewise emerged from other side of the battleground, smiling and waving as well as her Houndoom followed her out.
Sally watched Jessica in shock, turning to look at Ginger, who was similarly staring at Alicia. The Green Kanto Ranger turned to her.
"She's the Champion?" they both asked simultaneously, earning laughs from the group around them.
"Well, well." Jessica grinned. "This is interesting."
"Did you know?" Alicia asked as she drew a Pokéball. "When you ran into me?" Jessica laughed.
"Yep." She nodded. "But I'd been asked not to say anything. They told me it was supposed to be a surprise to you."
"It sure is." As Jessica drew a ball of her own, Alicia smiled. "I hope you're as good as your title suggests."
"Let's find out." Jessica pulled back her arm. "Umbreon, go!" In a flash, her Umbreon appeared in front of her.
"Doc, you're up!" Alicia sent out her Slowking and he held his hands behind him as he examined his opponent.
"Calm Mind!" Jessica called. Umbreon briefly closed its eyes as it upped its special stats. Doc glanced back at Alicia and sent a telepathic question, his trainer quickly nodding in agreement. Turning back, he opened his mouth and breathed a Flamethrower, the fire washing over Umbreon.
As burns appeared on Umbreon's body, its yellow circles glowed and similar burns appeared on Doc's body.
"Gotta watch out for that Synchronize." Jessica chided. "Dark Pulse!" Waves of shadow spread from Umbreon's body, forcing Doc back. The Slowking came to a stop beside Alicia, staggering slightly from the force.
"Oh, he knows." Alicia assured. "He just thought it was worth it. Brine!" Doc fired a stream of seawater from his mouth, Umbreon recoiling as the salty water washed over it and splashed in its wounds. "Doc, return!" Alicia recalled him before Umbreon could retaliate and held up another ball. "Whitney, it's your turn!" In a flash, a Clefable appeared before her, twirling happily.
"She named her Pokémon after you?" Sally asked.
"Yeah..." Whitney chuckled in embarrassment. "We caught Clefairy together as kids. In her own words, 'She's the cutest Pokémon. She deserves to be named after the cutest person in the world."
"Aww..." Allison smiled. "That's sweet of her."
"Iron Tail, Umbreon!" Jessica called. Dashing forward, Umbreon spun as its tail glowed silver.
"Minimize!" At Alicia's command, Whitney the Clefable shrank and avoided the blow, ducking between Umbreon's legs. "Moonblast!" An orb of pink energy formed in the Clefable's hands, creating the image of a tiny moon she flung it up to burst against Umbreon's underside and fling it away.
As Umbreon fell defeated at Jessica's feet, she recalled it.
"Not bad." she admitted. "But try this! Arbok, you're up!" From behind, her Arbok slid forward, hissing at Clefable.
After a quick moment of consideration, Alicia held out Clefable's ball.
"Come back, Whitney!" Recalling her, she held another ball out. "Doc, let's get back in this!"
As the Slowking reappared, he was still burned, but much of the other damage dealt to him had been undone by his Regenerator ability. Before Alicia could command an attack, Jessica held up another Pokéball.
"Arbok, return!" The snakelike Pokémon slithered back. "Pinsir, you're up!" In a flash, the Bug Pokémon appeared and its horns snapped threateningly. "Swords Dance!" Performing a quick dance, Pinsir's claws and horns glowed white.
"Flamethrower!" Alicia called. Doc fired another fiery blast.
"Dodge it!" Pinsir leaped aside as the fire stream sailed past, charging forward as he landed. "X Scissor!" Leaping, Pinsir slashed out with both clawed hands at opposite angles, catching the Slowking in the cross. Doc fell backwards, overwhelmed by the ferocity of the attack.
"That's okay, Doc." Alicia recalled him. "Whitney, get back in this! Mimimize!"
"Quickly, Quick Attack!" Jessica called as the Clefable reappeared. Pinsir shot forward and smacked it back before it could shrink, throwing it off its feet. "Now, Guillotine it!" Pinsir lowered its head and its horns grasped Clefable and squeezed, throwing the defeated Pokémon at Alicia's feat once it was through. Alicia looked to Jessica in shock.
"You just wanted to scare it out so the Minimize would be gone." she realized. "That's the only reason you sent out Arbok, isn't it?"
"Right on the money." Jessica grinned. "What now?" Alicia recalled Whitney and raised a last ball.
"It's up to you, Mantis." Holding it forward, her Scizor appeared. "Swords Dance!" Dancing as well, Scizor's claws glowed as white as Pinsir's.
"Brick Break!" Jessica called. Pinsir leaped forward, raising an arm and swinging a chop down.
"Agility!" Dashing aside, Scizor avoided the blow as it circled Pinsir at high speed. Pinsir spun around, trying to keep track of it. "Aerial Ace!"
"Endure!" As Mantis slashed past Pinsir with an air-laced slash, Pinsir crossed his arms and managed to withstand the hit. "Quick Attack!" Spinning, it dashed forward, striking Mantis and shoving her back.
"Iron Head!" Alicia called. Mantis pulled back and drove her head forward, slamming against Pinsir and knocking him out. As Jessica recalled him, Alicia smiled. "It was a clever trick, scaring me into switching with Arbok. But now you're stuck with just him..." She looked at Mantis. "Against somebody his type can't touch."
"There's nobody I'd rather be stuck with." Jessica glanced at Arbok as he slid forward. "We've still got tricks up our sleeves, right Arbok?"
"Bok!" Arbok nodded in agreement.
"Coil!" Jessica called. Arbok quickly coiled in place and upped its stats.
"Iron Head!" Alicia commanded. Scizor flew forward and slammed into Arbok.
"Glare, now!" Jessica ordered. Arbok hissed and spread its hood, Mantis finding herself paralyzed in place. "Now, Wrap and Bite!" Sliding forward, Arbok coiled around Mantis and squeezed before staring to Bite her.
"That's one of Jess and Arbok's favorite tactics." Ginger told the group from Johto. "It's a tough one to fight, but with enough willpower..."
"C'mon, Mantis!" Alicia called. "You can do it! Break free of him!"
With a lot of struggle, Mantis managed to overcome her paralysis and force Arbok's coils open enough to leap free. Landing in front of Alicia, she spun to face Arbok as she gasped for breath. "Aerial Ace!"
"Stockpile!" As Mantis leaped forward forward and slashed out, Arbok gathered energy, upping its defenses and taking the hit. Arbok snapped at her and Mantis leaped back. "Keep it up!"
"Careful!" Alicia warned. "Keep your distance; you can't get caught by him again." As she was ordering such, Arbok continued to Stockpile power. Jessica grinned.
"Perfect. Swallow!" Alicia's eyes widened.
"Bullet Punch!" She called quickly. Mantis shot forward and her closed claw slammed against Arbok's face.
After a moment of tense silence, Arbok slid to the side, falling over, knocked out before it could heal.
'Arbok is unable to battle.' Sabrina's voice rang out over the crowd. 'The winner of this battle is Alicia Milton!'
Alicia visibly sighed and stepped up beside her Scizor as the crowd clapped and cheered for her.
"Nice work, Mantis." she congratulated, holding out a clenched hand. Mantis grinned proudly and raised a claw, bumping it against her trainer's fist. Meanwhile, Jessica walked to Arbok and leaned over him.
"That's okay, Arbok. You did good out there." Holding out his ball, she recalled him and stood.
"That was some battle." Alicia grinned. "If you'd gotten that last move off, I would've stood no chance." Jessica smiled and shrugged. "I haven't had a battle that close in quite a while."
"You've got some pretty incredible skill yourself." Jessica told her. "And in hindsight...yeah, locking myself with Arbok was a big gamble. But it almost worked out."
"That it did." Alicia laughed. "Sometimes you just gotta take the chance."
As they were talking and the crowd starting to disperse, Sally's Morpher beeped. The others looked at her as she raised it up.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Sally? It's Matt. You guys had better get back to the Shrine soon." he told her. "We've got big problems going on right now."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Too hard to explain. Just hurry." he told her.
"Okay. Oh, you'll never believe this. We met some of the Kanto Rangers!" She grinned at Allison and Ginger, who were watching her. "Ginger, Allison, and Jessica? They say they know you."
"...that's great!" Sally could almost hear Matt grinning through the Morpher. "Bring them too! Maybe they can help."
"Sure thing. See you soon." Looking up at the Kanto Rangers as Jessica joined them, she smiled. "Hey, you guys up for a trip?"
To be continued...
Next Time on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
Rick: C'mon. You're gonna want to meet these guys.
Mask of Ice: Have you heard what's happening to the Rangers?
Xactowl: There's nothing we can do about it.
Celebi: There are pressing concerns we need to focus on.
?: Out of my way, humans. I have things to destroy!
Celebi: Why would he unleash something like this? It's not like him.
Mask of Ice: I was hoping we could have the chance to talk.
Chapter 20: Ranger-Con Part 3: A Perfect Storm