Welcome back everyone! Last time we left off Ash managed to defeat Cross and move into the finals. But that's about it, let's get into the chapter.
Ch 28: A Gathering
"And that does it, the match is over and Ash Ketchum will be advancing into the final round!"
The voice died down among the cramped area, bouncing slightly off of the boxes as a boy shut his small pocket radio off. Removing his earbud, he stuffed the device into his pocket as a smile rested on his face. Maybe that kid was of interest after all.
"Don't be out in the open too long, Neo," a girl's voice rang out. The boy in question sat there regardless, his feet dangling off the edge of the cargo he rested lazily on. Nodding, he merely smirked at the girl before staring off at their third companion; the older man tinkering with some sort of invention like always.
"Cait, you're too scared sometimes; if you didn't want to be a part of this, then why come at all? We could have brought someone else along," Neo replied, his fingers picking at some wax before flicking it off into the black abyss. The plane jittered a bit, the boy watching as their sole light jiggled gently as it quietly embraced the darkness. Flashes of light flickered around until the light came to a rest. The whiteness it emitted shined on the trio for a moment as the boy stood onto his feet. His sneakers made a light thud as the noise echoed around the metallic plane.
"The world isn't out to get us at every turn you know. And besides, we've done a lot worse things than sneak upon a plane. Especially one we're gonna blow up."
"Correction. We'll be keeping those aboard the vessel preoccupied and possibly even commandeering it. In no way should we be looking to outright kill those onboard." The older man put his tinkering to a rest as his sentence finished. His glasses now slightly foggy as he wiped them clean with a handkerchief. Standing, he placed a hand atop the boy's shoulder prior to a laugh escaping from his mouth. "Though Caitlyn is correct. Our mission will be more successful if we stay hidden until we get closer to the destination. There is no need to engage with anyone prior to when it is a necessity."
"See, Neo! Even Titan sides with me and that's rare for him!" Caitlyn stood there, a pout on her face as she pointed two fingers towards Neo. The cared little, his hand rubbing against the old pocket radio he had housed in his pants. It was worn down but did the job for him, having become his one semblance of peace and constant in the world now.
"Now, I wouldn't say that. We just have...distinct views and opinions."
"Yeah. You're all science stuff and cold hard facts while I actually look at the world as the living thing it is." Neo rolled his eyes at his bickering comrades. Leaping onto a nearby box, he glanced around the room before a smirk crossed his face. A small patter could be heard as a squeaking noise fully alerted him.
He had a feeling for a while now, but he could smell it for certain now. Not to mention the latest noise that fully convinced him. Even if they had failed to realize it, their scent gave away their hiding. He couldn't count how many were there; not without the room being properly lit. But he had an idea that at least a few had joined the cargo hold.
"Shut it you two. We have some company."
The sound of footsteps brought Titan and Caitlyn to a silence, the latter getting behind the older man as Neo stood there bored. Rolling his shoulders, he waited for those around to finally step into their light. Closing his eyes, the boy listened carefully before jumping to his left. It was a good call, for the moment he opened his eyes a Raticate landed in the spot he previously stood. Its fangs sunk into the box he had previously stood atop of, slicing through the wooden crate with ease. A smirk grew on Neo's face, the boy twisting his earbuds around his left hand.
"Funny, you're using a rat against rats."
"Now isn't the time to joke, Neo!" Caitlyn cried out, the girl clutching at a pokeball as Titan looked alert. He was reaching for his own as Neo merely shook his head. They didn't need to get involved, he had it all under control. He held his own pokeball within his right hand, his smirk vanishing as his eyes narrowed towards the individuals before him.
"Looks like we have some unwanted guests. Whoever checked before takeoff didn't do a good job," a man said. He walked forward as his body shined in the small light. He was joined quickly by three other men and two females; each of them clutching a pokeball. Neo just shook his head at the words, his eyes glancing at the gathered group.
Pointing towards a corner, Neo prompted a member of the group to flash a light in the direction. Their discovery putting them at shock. For sitting there tied up and gagged were the two who inspected the cargo hold.
"But...how!?"
Titan adjusted his glasses at that, pulling a device from his bag before speaking into it. His voice sounding just as the passed-out man's. "Voice augmentation devices are rather simple to construct. The difficult part is making them speak long enough to acquire a good source file."
"So, how 'bout we get down to things then?" Neo asked, those across from him taking a step back. In the dimly lit room Neo could see their arms shake slightly, sweat running down their foreheads as one of the women wiped theirs clean. It told the boy all he needed to know; they were lower ranking members. Probably their first few days on the job if not that then they were still fresh in the organization.
"Though do enlighten me. Why work for a man who must hide his true identity from his underlings? To see the death and destruction his actions bring only to then masquerade as a man of justice? Does your consciousness not question all this?
"Meh...forget it. I'll try not to make it too painful."
With a slight flick of his wrist Neo tossed the capture device outwards, a flash of light brightening up the room for a moment before they were cascaded with shadows. A fluttering noise echoed softly, a Butterfree landing atop Neo's shoulder as he rubbed its head gently.
The small group of workers opposite him tossed their pokeballs outwards, a shower of light raining down as two Rattata, a Zubat and two Mankey joined ranks with Raticate. Neo said no words, merely pointing forward as Butterfree shot off.
"How do you always get your way?" Caitlyn complained with a slight huff. Neo chuckled as he rubbed under his nose, a smile on his face as he looked at his comrades. Butterfree didn't need a command to attack, instead ducking underneath a Karate Chop from a Mankey before unleashing a Psybeam.
The colorful beam of energy struck the ground where the group of Pokémon stood. It exploded with impact as dust swirled up around. Their already limited sight had been restrained even further as the dust swirled about. It quickly formed into a small twister as Neo noticed Zubat being sucked up into it. Thrown about, Zubat smashed into one of the crates as it shattered. The Poison and Flying-Type sat amongst shards of wood as it remained unmoving.
"Come on, at least make it worth my time," he complained. Running his free hand through his hair, Neo turned towards Titan. The older man was already tinkering with something while Caitlyn continued to stand behind the man. Neo rolled his eyes at the girl's demeanor. She had no need to be here if all she would do is cower.
"Titan, how are things going?"
"Slightly ahead of schedule, but otherwise we're on track. The stadium shouldn't be too far away now."
"Perfect," Neo chuckled out. With a snap of his fingers Butterfree circled around the cargo bin, its antenna glowing once more as Neo called for another Psybeam. The blast struck the ground, tearing a hole through the floor as it continued on its trek for their opponents.
One Mankey was struck by the blast, though the other was saved with quick thinking by its trainer. The two Rattata then took it as their shot to attack, both dashing forward with a Quick Attack as the two Normal-Types rammed their small bodies into Butterfree.
"Sleep Powder!" Neo commanded. Butterfree didn't respond, flapping its wings at the two Rattata instead. They bounced from Butterfree's body, slumping against the ground in their slumber.
A gust of wind shot through the area now, Neo watching as the water below them began to shift into grass and sand. They had reached their location finally. Neo was finally glad at this, though before he could say anything else the Raticate and its trainer launched forward.
"We're not gonna let you make a mockery of us!" the man shouted. Raticate clicked its teeth in agreement as its tail became metallic. Slamming it into Butterfree, the Bug and Flying-Type slammed against the ground as a few crates rocked around. Caitlyn's voice cried out over the noise as Neo called for Butterfree to get back up. "We're Team Rocket, know your place!"
"Please," Neo replied. Raticate went to dive back in at Butterfree, its body now wreathed in flames. However, a blue light quickly surrounded it as it became stationary. The fire died down much to the Team Rocket member's confusion, Butterfree floating back into the air with ease. Despite the direct attack from before, it was unharmed with nothing more than a little scratch mark running along its body.
"You call yourselves Team Rocket but all I see are children playing pretend. Six on one and you couldn't even damage my Butterfree. Kasai was correct when he mentioned you're just a joke of an organization. To think people like you could ever be the organization she created."
"Neo, we're all set. Kasai was correct they were bringing them all here."
"Did you do it?" Neo asked. He turned towards the back of the cargo hatch, Titan standing there with a small device in his hand. Caitlyn however looked away, her eyes trailing towards the ground.
"The genesplicing is complete. Though it'll only last for thirty minutes at most. Enough to send a message I'm certain."
"Let's go then," Neo stated. With a snap of his fingers Butterfree released the Psychic attack as Raticate fell to the ground. Its trainer was ready to continue but he quickly lost the will to fight once Neo gazed back at him. Without a word spoken, the Team Rocket member ran off, ditching his defeated comrades.
"But let's send a signal of our own first. Butterfree, Psybeam on the side of the plane."
Butterfree nodded, its antenna once more shinning as the blast rocketed into the side. An explosion rocked the entire vessel, a few crates falling over as a monstrous cry echoed around the cargo hold. Smoke billowed out of the plane as Neo commanded a second Psybeam to strike one of the engines. It followed through the command though a bit more hesitant before Neo recalled it into its pokeball. The sight of the approaching town brought a smile onto his face, the thought of these phonies being brought down was all he needed to see.
"Titan, get us back to base."
"As intended," the older man stated as he held his own pokeball. With a push of the center button it exploded outwards, a Xatu standing beside him as it looked out into the scenery before them. "Everyone hold onto Xatu. Teleport."
Doing as they were told, Neo and Caitlyn grabbed hold of the Mystic Pokémon before it began to glow. A strange sensation surged over their bodies, a bright flash occurring as their location changed. Before they knew what exactly had gone down, Neo found himself back within a familiar town.
No words were spoken as the boy placed his earbuds back into his ears, the radio now turned back on as he listened to the match currently going on.
"And it looks like we might be nearing the end now! Gary Oak is up three to one against Assunta as she sends out her Rhydon!"
The arena was silent as workers began to fix up the field below. Dirt was poured slowly into the cracks and craters that littered the area below. Blue sighed to himself silently as he watched from afar; his cloak blowing across his face as he forcefully moved it. While he agreed to come and watch his son in this tournament, he had other commitments that needed to be done. Especially since there was still no sight of Red despite the League searching all of Kanto for the missing man.
"I'd never imagine seeing you here," a familiar voice stated. Blue turned to his left, a figure approaching him as their dress shoes tapped against the ground. Giovanni appeared dressed for the occasion as he wore a fine suit that sold his importance. Blue rolled his eyes at the outfit, choosing to blend in rather than stick out in this crowd.
"My son's competing. I had to come and watch."
"Of course. You must be pleased with his performance," Giovanni stated as the man stood next to him. Blue eyed him carefully before leaning against the back wall. Despite being all the way in the back, he still had a perfect view of the field. Down below both Gary and his opponent made their way out onto the now patched up field, Blue's eyes locked onto his son as his first Pokémon was chosen. A Pidgeot emerged before him as Blue wondered how fast it could fly.
"He's been doing well. The old hag trained him well."
"Is that any way to speak about our former coworker?"
Blue shrugged at the question, his eyes still on the field as Pidgeot squared off with a Venomoth. Their attacks clashed as the former showcased a better control of the aerial battlefield as it quickly overpowered Venomoth. "She's not our coworker anymore. Or at least mine. Besides, I'm not a sentimental person."
It was now Giovanni's turn to shrug as the man placed his hands into his pockets. A breeze passed through the arena as Pidgeot took off in a race with Venomoth, the two flying right past them as Blue held tightly to his cloak. The last thing he needed was to blow his cover and attract unwanted attention. As it was the League had wanted him not to show up so that his appearance wouldn't take away from the students.
"But tell me, Giovanni, why would you be here? You've got nothing to gain from this."
Giovanni chuckled slightly from the question. He slowly raised one hand and waved it before Blue. The former Champion thought it was odd, but then again he always felt indifferent towards the former Gym Leader. "There's a few students I taught competing. Though most have been eliminated; I figured I could still come and cheer them on."
In the distance an explosion rocked the arena as Pidgeot collided into Venomoth, the latter falling in defeat as Gary immediately switched his Pokémon. An Arcanine emerged on the field only to be opposed by an Ivysaur. Blue thought it was interesting to purposefully go into such a disadvantage, but after the past few rounds he wouldn't be surprised by either outcome.
"Why aren't you in the spotlight then? Lance probably could have used a hand in running this."
"Truthfully I'd rather not draw attention away from these terrific students. It's their time to shine. Though I did have a hand in building the housing complex. A simple tax write off and all that," the man stated as he patted the inside of his pocket. Blue found himself rolling his eyes at the man's modest attempt to flaunt his money but said nothing.
"Any word from the search team?"
Giovanni shook his head at the question, Blue frowning at the answer as he tried to figure out just where in the world Red might have been. His disappearance had sent the League into a frenzy though they made it certain not to alert the general public to their situation.
Down below it appeared that Arcanine had been put to sleep, Gary replacing him on the field with his Blastoise of all choices. Blue found himself smirking at that. He had never thought he'd see his son throw type matchups away in a battle. Though it appeared to matter little as Blastoise immediately took control of the match as he soaked Ivysaur with a Hydro Pump.
"I don't like this, Giovanni."
"But the match seems to be going so well for your son."
"You know exactly what I meant."
Giovanni shrugged at those words, the businessman's cell phone going off as he ignored it for the time being. Blue looked in his direction, waiting for the man to answer only for him to send it to voice mail. "I'm certain Red is doing just fine. Remember when he spent that year training on Mt. Silver? We were all worried but he turned out fine."
"There's a big difference. He didn't just up and vanish back then," Blue countered as he heard an explosion down below. His eyes darted for the battlefield as Ivysaur tumbled about, Blastoise standing strong as the announcer made the call. While he wouldn't admit it out loud, Blue felt a bit of pride swell up inside him from how Gary was battling. Especially since he had shown little trouble in his match so far.
"True enough. I suppose my worries are just placed elsewhere for the time being. My construction sites are behind schedule and I want the newest hotels ready for the summer portion of the League Challenge."
As if on cue, Giovanni's cell phone began to ring once more. Blue noted the frustrated expression on the man's face as he answered the call. With an apologetic smile Giovanni walked away but not without Blue watching him flail one arm around in annoyance. With his only conversation now gone he slowly turned his attention back to the field as Blastoise was now locked in a showdown with a Rhydon.
"Don't fall for anything," Blue muttered. Arms crossed, he stared intently as Gary ordered for Blastoise to release his hold. The call surprised him as it was immediately followed up by Blastoise retreating into his shell. Rhydon smashed against the structure though Blastoise didn't budge. Instead water flew from the open slots as it soaked the Rock and Ground-Type.
"That's like Red's son. His Wartortle used Hydro Pump in a similar manner."
A thud could be heard to his side, his eyes catching Giovanni as he punched the wall beside him. His hand turned red as it appeared to bruise almost immediately. The man yelled out in annoyance though he was too far away for Blue to make it out over the roar of the crowd. Giovanni continued to converse with whomever was on the other end of his phone. His hand flailed around in the shape of a fist, Blue certain he would have punched his conversation mate if they were next to him.
"That's unacceptable! How could you allow that to take place on your watch?!" Giovanni shouted. The words caught Blue's attention as he arched an eyebrow. Though he struggled to pick out anymore of the conversation courtesy of Gary's Blastoise striking Rhydon rather powerfully.
Down on the field Rhydon fell to its knees though Gary wasn't finished. Blastoise continued the attack as another Hydro Pump soaked the Rock and Ground-Type. Rhydon tumbled about only to launch stones from the ground, each one striking Blastoise as Water-Type now left an opening to attack. Rhydon rushed forward, head lowered as its body crashed into Blastoise. The Shellfish Pokémon flailed for a moment only for him to spin his body around.
Gary appeared to smile at the action as he issued a Dragon Tail attack, Blue knowing the match was over now. Blastoise's tail glowed a shade of green before becoming elongated. Scales appeared all over it as the appendage swung down onto Rhydon and left it stunned for a second. Back on the ground, Blastoise prepared another round of Hydro Pump. Romeo got in position to make the call, but Rhydon forced itself back onto its feet.
"What's that," Blue muttered as something off in the distance caught his attention. It appeared to be a plane of sorts though it wasn't a League one. Especially since it appeared to be in rough shape. A few streaks of flames could be seen running along the side as black smoke billowed out from an engine. Fortunately, Blue knew that an ordinary spectator wouldn't be able to pick it out as he slowly made his way towards Giovanni. The businessman hung up his phone in a flash, the device being pocketed once more as a low growl emitted from his mouth.
"We've got trouble," Blue stated as he pointed his head in the direction of the plane. Giovanni followed the lead as his eyes widened at the plane. Blue noted the surprised expression that sat on his face, a few drops of sweat now forming as Giovanni dabbed them lightly.
"Blue, we must make sure not a single individual is pulled into this," Giovanni replied. The man kept his voice down as Blue looked back towards the field. Blastoise had just landed a Rapid Spin on Rhydon before following it up with another Dragon Tail. The final hit being the deciding factor as Rhydon fell for the final time. "I'll get the League to start evacuating everyone in a timely manner. We can spin this in some way. Gas leak perhaps. But we need to get them out of here."
"I know," Blue replied. He bit at his thumb for a second, an explosion sounding out now as the fans all around wondered what it was from. A few screams told Blue they had noted the now combusting vehicle, the sky covered in black smoke as the plane approached closer. "I'm going to alert Lance. Try to keep these folks organized!"
Blue dashed forward with that, his feet pounding against the stone steps as the worried cries echoed through his eardrums. Each cry played like a beat in his head, his feet moving in rhythm with them as Giovanni called out for him. Blue ignored the words however, his cloak falling behind him in his rush. The object landed atop the stairs behind him as a few spectators cheered for his appearance.
Down on the field he could see the confused looks stemming from both his own son and his now defeated opponent. Even Romeo tried to question what was going on as Blue hopped down the side of the wall that separated the field from the seating. His boots kicked up dirt on his impact with the ground as Romeo made his way over.
"This is an unexpected surprise," the lively announcer stated. Though any enthusiasm he had faked was completely dead once Blue flipped the microphone off. Romeo readjusted his sunglasses at that action and placed his microphone back onto his belt. "Something happened?"
"Don't look up," Blue began to say as he scratched at his nose. He made certain that his finger pointed in the direction of the air vessel, a few trails of smoke now present in his peripheral vision. "But we have a situation. Looks like an airplane is crashing towards the island. We've got to start to evacuate before it gets here but we don't have much time. I need you to tell everyone there's been a reported gas leak and to empty the premises. League officials will help guide them to a safe location."
"Does Lance know yet?"
"No. I need to find him."
"He should be in the 'Champions Box' or whatever it was Drake coined it as," Romeo explained as the duo diverted their eyes towards a closed in section. Glass panes rested in front of a luxury room, the likes of both Lance and Drake present there as the latter raved on and on much to the former's annoyance.
Blue didn't respond as he started off once more. He heard Gary call out to him, but he ignored his son's cry as he leapt over the wall once more. Bounding up the stairs he passed by fans who called out in hopes of a picture or autograph but he left each call unanswered. After what felt like forever, he finally reached the glass box as a door opened on the side of it.
This shocked Blue as there was no depiction that it had a door, though he figured this one only opened from the inside. Stepping into the lush room, Blue tracked dirt and mud onto the exotic carpet. Drake frowned slightly at that, the man motioning for one of his employees to clean it up.
"What's the meaning of this, Blue?" Lance asked. The young champion stood from his seat, Blue meeting him halfway as they then walked to the front of the luxury box. The former Champion quickly explained everything to his successor as they looked at the plane in the distance. Lance scowled at the sight of it, Blue already knowing why. Though neither said a word as they moved into action.
"Drake, stay here and help evacuate the arena. Blue and I will go towards the plane. But please try to keep things under control here."
Drake opened his mouth to reply but the duo were already heading out the side door. Though Blue could have sworn he heard him annoyed at being left behind. Once outside with the crowd again, Blue noted how Romeo already gathered up a few League officials and began the evacuation process. The likes of Surge and Green being able to move the crowds. Though he was surprised the latter was here, he figured she would have said something to him about showing up.
With one final glance he watched Red's boy argue something with Surge before being pushed along by the Gym Leader, a slight chuckle escaping from his mouth as Lance took off. He wasted no more time as he called on Charizard as the mighty beast emerged with a loud roar. A few spectators noticed the action though had little time to offer a question as they were escorted out of there by a trainer.
Blue was fortunate for that as he sat atop Charizard and gave a light pat, the Flame Pokémon taking off after Lance and his Dragonite. They closed the gap in a small amount of time as they pulled even with the Dragon and Flying-Type.
"Looks bad."
"Definitely a failed engine. Possibly two," Lance responded as they got closer. A whirring noise could be heard as one engine failed to move at all, the only thing emerging from it being black smoke that trailed the plane. Though upon closer inspection it didn't look to be a plane for passengers, but more like a cargo plane.
"First responsibility is to land the plane and see what's happening," Lance commanded as Dragonite flew around. The plane had now entered a downward descent as Blue swore he heard cries of help from within. As he passed by the cockpit he quickly noted how the pilot was passed out, his head leaning against the steering wheel of the plane. Bangs could be heard from within though Blue wasted no time as he motioned for Charizard to circle around and Lance.
"Pilot's out. We'll have to land it manually," Blue stated. Lance nodded at that, a command for a Dragon Dance escaping from his mouth. His Dragonite roared in agreement, a red aura flashing around his body as he reached for the underside of the plane. Dragonite's claws dug into the metal hull, denting it as Charizard followed suit. A crunching noise echoed outward as Charizard's claws dug in deeper. A slight huff of exhaustion followed suit as Charizard and Dragonite did their best to steer the plane towards the ground.
Turbulence rocked the duo around, Blue holding tightly while Lance called forth two more of his Dragonite. Both Dragon and Flying-Types emerged with a haughty roar before grabbing ahold of the vessel. Their assistance appeared to help out.
"Why would a cargo plane be on its way here?" Lance wondered as they felt the airplane shake slightly. Blue wondered the same question, the older man holding onto Charizard as a slight explosion rocked them around. Coughing, Blue opened his eyes to see smoke billowing out of the side of the plane. Flames joined forth as the former Champion blinked in confusion.
"Can you handle this for a moment? I want to go check things out," Blue stated. He completely ignored Lance's previous question and waited little for a response to his own. Patting Charizard, Blue commanded his faithful partner to release his grip. Chunks of metal fell beneath them until finally out of their sight.
Taking off, Charizard flew towards the hole in the airplane. A quick glance inside alerted Blue that they were in more danger than originally imagined, the man unable to warn Lance before being struck. Flames ravaged Charizard's body only to give way to bolts of electricity. The shocking attack sent Charizard sprawling around, Blue catching sight of the beast that attacked. A monstrous cry followed suit as a chimera shot after them, the creature being made up of different features between the Legendary Birds.
"Blue!" Lance's call of concern was barely audible as the screeching of the monster continued. Patting Charizard, he was fortunate his partner responded with a spread of his wings. Flying past the airplane, Blue and Charizard barely avoided what appeared to be an Ice Beam as the blast struck one of the blown-out engines.
"Just worry about that plane. We'll keep whatever this beast is away!"
Wind battered against Blue's face as Charizard navigated the skies around the island. Electricity surged past their escaping figure only for flames to cackle at their posterior. Blue took a glance as he quickly wondered just what torture this creature could have went through as the heads of Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres were attached to a single body.
Once far enough away, Blue landed headed for the ground as Zapmolcuno (as he had decided to start calling it) followed suit. A chill passed through the air, Charizard narrowly avoiding an Ice Beam as it struck the ground and spread outward. The ground quickly became a frozen wasteland, a patch being melted by Charizard's own Flamethrower. With a thud followed by a roll as Blue fell from Charizard's back, the duo landed on the now burnt land. Zapmolcuno landed opposite them, a cry emerging from the three heads.
Though to Blue it didn't sound angry. It almost sounded like it was in pain, forced into this situation against its will. The three heads appeared to fight with each other for a moment, Blue wondering if it exerted enough energy they would return to normal. Well, he at least hoped there was a way to put them back into their individual selves. Especially once he recognized the Zapdos component as the same one he had watched over for years.
"Was this what they wanted you for?" Blue asked no one in particular. The chimera screamed in anguish, their three respective attacks launching off as Charizard dove out of the way. The attacks exploded on contact, dirt and rocks shooting in every direction as they battered both Blue and Charizard. Blue brushed the rubble off, calling for a Flamethrower as the attack was swallowed whole.
Charizard grunted in frustration, firing off a second Flamethrower only for it to be blocked by a Flamethrower from their opponent. A Thunderbolt shot out at the same moment, the electricity frying Charizard as it fell to one knee. Blue grunted at that, the former Champion surprised at the might these three titans combined had. Especially when he had managed to hold his own against one of them not too long ago.
"Sorry, pal, guess we got too complacent," Blue muttered as he brushed his hair out of his face. A small smile formed as Zapmolcuno reared its three heads back. Each one glowed with a different form of energy as fire, electricity and ice raced forward. Blue and Charizard braced themselves for impact as the former hoped Lance and the others could at least evacuate the island before dealing with the creature.
That was when he heard it.
"Vee, Protect!"
Standing before Charizard was an Espeon. But it wasn't any Espeon as the Psychic-Type erected a shield. The barrier shot up within moments, bouncing the incoming triple attack with ease. Blue was speechless as fire, electricity and ice surged to the sides of the shield, all three attacks unable to even crack it. As the attack finished Espeon began to huff out in deep breaths, the shield breaking down as footsteps echoed across the icy remains from a previous attack. They crunched down onto the ice and snow until they became nearly silent as they trounced across the charred remain Blue stood on.
"What's with you? You look like you've seen a ghost," the man spoke as a smile sat upon his face. There was no mistaking it for Blue, the man that stood a few feet away had to be him. Despite the outward changes, the loss of an arm and the newly grown facial hair, there were too many similarities to be wrong. His juvenile laugh, the distinct squiggles that ran across his cheeks (a trait only shared with one other individual) and the red jacket that revealed itself once the individual's baggy cloak got blown away.
"Red..." Blue muttered as he stared at his long-lost rival. No. His friend. He wanted to ask so many questions, he wanted to know where the guy had been all this time. Why didn't he try to contact them? But he figured now wasn't the best situation to do so.
"Yep. That's me. Or so everyone keeps saying," Red spoke out, his finger rubbing beneath his nose. A chuckle bounded out of his mouth, Blue smiling softly as he remembered the same exact laugh being made before their last official match. "Amnesia is a hell of a thing. But Blaine's got me somewhat caught up.
"Still working on a lot of things but I know enough to help now."
"Amnesia?"
"Must have hit my head or something. Where are those two guys to explain things when you need them?" Red mused to himself. Blue only looked on in confusion, his friend and rival recalling his Espeon before tossing out a new pokeball. A Venusaur emerged next to Charizard, the two creatures sharing a short reunion before their attention turned back to their adversary.
"But it isn't like you to give up so easily, Blue. Let's show this creation and all of Team Rocket what happens when we get serious."
"Amnesia or not I'm glad you're on our side," Blue replied. Both adults raised their arms in front of their bodies, bracing as Zapmolcuno released a second round of attacks. Without Espeon however they weren't able to defend against it. Or at least not in the usual manner.
"Saur, lift the ground with your vines. Create a shield with the earth!"
The Venusaur didn't respond as two large vines rocketed outwards. Slamming into the ground they planted themselves into the only section that remained unfrozen as Blue felt the area shake. Falling onto his rear end he watched as the ground rose up before them and blocked the attacks. Though some still managed to burst around and scrape them slightly.
"You lead, Blue!"
"Right! Charizard, Dragon Claw!"
Charizard rushed forward, arms raised as his claws glowed a shade of green. Growing larger and sharper he slashed forward, one landing a blow against the abomination only for an Ice Beam to be launched right for him. There was no time for Charizard to move away, though Venusaur's vines quickly wrapped themselves around Charizard and pulled him away. The Ice Beam sailed forward before landing at the feet of the two adults. Blue quickly felt a rush of coldness fall over his body but he ignored it for the time being.
"He's fast and strong, Red, so stay alert!"
"I was about to say the same to you," Red joked as he punched forward. The Pallet Town native called for a Sludge Bomb as Venusaur's plant started to shake. Purple goop sprang from the seed, spraying out towards Zapmolcuno only for the monstrosity to take flight. Charizard gave chase, A flamethrower aimed straight at Zapmolcuno as it struck the beast directly.
Fire spewed across the beast's body as mostly Articuno's voice could be heard crying in discontent as a Thunderbolt shot out at Charizard. Blue quickly called for a Dragon Claw to block the attack but Charizard was still pushed back by the might of it. Slamming into the ground Charizard stood up weakly as Venusaur shot its vines outwards.
They quickly wrapped around Zapmolcuno as the chimera tried to break free. Venusaur slid around the desolated area as he struggled to hold his grip, Blue wondering just how they could keep it from overtaking Venusaur's hold.
"Man," Red began to say as he rubbed at the back of his head. A small smile formed as the man stared at Blue. "We always find ourselves in these situations. But usually you're the one coming to help me."
"Guess the roles reversed while you were gone," Blue replied as he threw a fist forward. Charizard shot off once more as his claws grew in size. A green tint covered them as they slashed against the chest of their opponent. It appeared to do little as the Moltres component fired off a Flamethrower. Charizard quickly met it with his own, the two streams of fire exploding on impact as it forced Venusaur to release his grip.
Now free, Zapmolcuno flew around the area as its body glowed with a golden hue. Divebombing straight for them, Zapmolcuno golden energy lit ablaze as Blue and Red braced themselves.
"Looks like a Sky Attack. Venusaur has no way to counter that," Red commented as he held a hand before his face. Blue could feel the wind batter his own face as his hair flew wildly. The pressure of the approaching monster made it difficult for him to think, Charizard trying to reach the duo in an attempt to evacuate the premises.
"See, this is what happens when I let you two have all the fun. Blasty, Hydro Cannon!"
The usually annoying voice was a welcomed one for Blue, the obnoxious woman running down the side of the hill as Blastoise was ahead of her. The Water-Type launched into the air as his body spun around. His two cannons pointed straight at the monster as he shot two high powered streams of water at it. The attack rocketed forward as it ripped apart the ground before slamming into Zapmolcuno.
While the actual attack proved to be little more than a nuisance, it managed to throw the chimera off its intended track. Zapmolcuno crashed into the ground just feet away from Blue and Red as dirt and ice shot into the air. Blue felt the chunks of frozen earth strike his body but he ignored it as Green made her way towards them.
"Red!" she shouted as a bubbly smile pressed against her face. She quickly wrapped her arms around the man though Blue wondered just how much Red actually remembered. "It's been so long, you had me worried."
"Do I know you?" Red chuckled out. Green released her grip on the man as the smile vanished.
"Really? I know it's been like six years but how could you forget this face?"
Red shrugged at the question, the man placing a hand under his chin as he tried to recognize Green. Blue wanted to say something, to let Green know about Red's current situation but there was no time. A screech erupted from Zapmolcuno as the chimera launched a combination of Thunderbolt, Flamethrower and Ice Beam at the three of them.
"Get down!" Blue commanded. He dropped low to the ground, a sensation covering his back as the attack sailed over. Red and Green followed the movement, their own backs feeling the attack pass right over them.
"We have to pay better attention. I've been facing this thing for a while," Blue continued on as he stood up. His childhood friends followed his action as they wiped clean their clothes. With a quick glance towards Charizard, Blue noticed the heavy panting as his partner was in worse shape than Venusaur and Blastoise. Especially when compared to the latter considering he hadn't battled at all.
"What's the plan?" Green asked as she tied her hair back. A breeze passed through the area as Zapmolcuno whipped its wings about. Even Venusaur was affected as the Grass and Poison-Type was pushed back from the created gust. "This thing does have a weakness, right?"
"More or less," Red replied. Blue watched the boy as his eyes were painted on Zapmolcuno, the beast looking tired itself despite not receiving much damage. "But what if its weakness is its own genetic structure?"
"Come again," Green asked dryly. The girl blinked in confusion as Blue shook his head at her reaction. "How would its genetic structure be a weakness?"
"It makes sense," Blue interjected. He pushed a hand through his hair as Charizard blocked a Flamethrower with his own. Despite their little chat, the battle clearly hadn't stopped as Blasty and Saur joined in. The former blocking an Ice Beam for the latter.
"This creature obviously isn't natural. So, there's only one case for why it exists. Someone genetically modified it. But what if it isn't stable? It's clearly tired despite our attacks doing little to no damage, what if we can just tire it out until this beast reverts to normal?"
"Sounds good to me," Red stated as he flashed a thumbs up. The boy didn't wait for a response, calling for Venusaur to fire off a Vine Whip as Zapmolcuno flew away to avoid it.
Blue quickly noted the now sluggish movements, its speed having dropped considerably as the three parts also seemed to be bickering more than before. The sight of the three heads attacking each other reminded Blue of a Dodrio more than a combination of three Legendary Pokémon.
"Charizard, get in close and use Dragon Claw!"
Charizard roared in agreement, his wings spread wide as he shot off towards the chimera. The man ignored his friends as Red called for a Sludge Bomb and Green issued an Ice Beam. Instead he stood there, hands clenched by his side as sweat pooled atop his forehead. Charizard was now before their target as his claws glowed the familiar green tint. With a swing of them he made contact as Zapmolcuno was unable to dodge. The three components having fought amongst themselves as to which direction to move in.
Saur and Blasty managed to land their attacks as well as the creature stumbled out of the air. Blue, seeing for what amounted to half a second, finally found out what would be their saving grace. His eyes lit up with excitement, hands now opened as he thrust his palm forward. The word "Flamethrower" lit the inside of his mouth with hope as Charizard's was lit with fire. The stream shot outwards as it struck Zapmolcuno directly, the same disturbance occurring once more.
"Alright, here's our answer," Blue stated. "Let's hit it hard. Its structure can't handle both a strong hit and maintain itself at the moment."
"Then let's give it a good beatdown," Red stated. He cracked his knuckles, Green staring in awe that he could do it with just one hand.
"You two better not mess this up somehow."
"Us? Weren't you always the one chasing after us?"
"That was then. This is now. Besides, I wasn't the one who needed saving twice," Green stated as she winked at Blue. The man had plenty of words for her, but he merely bit his tongue at the moment. He had a feeling someone had been watching them for a while, but to learn she could have stepped in sooner brought a slight annoyance to him.
"Hey, you guys know we probably only have one shot. Right?" Red asked. His single arm rested behind his head. Blue nodded at that question, as both Charizard and Saur were looking exhausted. Blasty however seemed more than able to continue but Blue wondered for how long it could last by itself.
"Then we'll make sure it counts! Blast Burn!"
"Who put you in charge? Hydro Cannon!"
"You two argue too much to be friends... Frenzy Plant!"
The three commands were issued in unison, Blue grimacing as he watched the monstrous beast also charge up. Its body was wreathed in a golden energy once more as flames extruded from it. Though unlike before the creature wasn't taking flight, but rather kicking at the ground. It took off in a jolt, its feet trampling the landscape as all three trainers fought to hold their balance.
Their three attacks were fired off however, Charizard slamming his fist into the ground as an eruption littered the area. Fire and rocks shot all over the place as Zapmolcuno ran straight through it. Cries of pain echoed out as the sound of three individual cries became more distinct. Blasty and Green didn't waste this chance as they fired off the Hydro Cannon. Jets of water struck the glowing body of Zapmolcuno, steam covering the area as the creature lost sight of them.
Blue likewise struggled to see anything, but the creature's voice allowed him to pinpoint its location. Or at least he could until the shadow of a Frenzy Plant engulfed the area. Vines erupted from the ground as they snaked around the surrounding area. Like with Vine Whip Venusaur appeared to control them as a forest sprang up through the ground, the tendrils wrapping tightly around the creature.
A scream echoed through the area, Blue finding himself taking a step forward as he tried to see clearer. That seemed to be a mistake as a vine nearly crashed against his body. The impact of it against the ground knocked him over as the steam continued to consume the area. Calls from Green and Red amounted to nothing as the screeching of Zapmolcuno drowned them out. The beast stepping forward as it now stood before him.
The three heads were all charging up their respective attacks, Blue wondering if this was it for him. He tried to call out to Charizard, to anyone really as he hoped for a miracle. But the words were drowning in his throat as fear started to consume him. That was when it just stopped.
Everything appeared to stop around him for what felt like forever, Zapmolcuno now stopping its attack as if it were listening to a voice. A sound played out around them as it reminded Blue of that one time on Shamouti Island. And yet it felt different. The sound appeared scared, almost worried of whatever had occurred.
A light shined through the steam now as a blast of white energy struck Zapmolcuno. The attack had surprised Blue, the man wondering just who might have shot it off. The blast exploded against Zapmolcuno, its body starting to shake as Blue noted the three creatures tried to pull apart. That was when it finally occurred. The chimera before him split into three pieces, the three Legendary birds now free as they appeared to calm down.
Each one flapped their wings, taking off before Blue could fully question what just went down. The steam followed them as the former Champion now saw his friends and partner laying on the ground. They were each knocked out, parts of the Frenzy Plant covering each one of them. He figured that the attack must have been thrown back onto them all.
Though something else quickly captured his attention as a silver light fell from the sky. Blue's eyes followed the light as his feet tried to keep up with it, but it appeared to be moving too fast for him. As he finally caught up to it, he reached out for the object only for the light to fade away. A small feather in his hand as it appeared completely normal to the Pallet Town native. Black in nature, the man looked it over before pocketing it. He figured there must have been a reason for it to have changed from silver to black.
Off in the distance he could have sworn he saw another silver light on one of the boats leaving. He wondered if the others had managed to evacuate the island, what little good it would do now that everything had settled down.
With a deep sigh Blue planted himself against the ground, the now thawed out earth placing mud against his rear end as his hands sank into the material. Sweat ran down his face as he stretched his legs out weakly. The former Champion figured he was going to need a vacation but that would be impossible between running the Viridian Gym and working with the League after this incident.
Footsteps crunched against a few remaining sections of ice, the noise quickly replaced with a plopping noise as shoes sunk into mud. Looking in the direction Blue met eyes with both Lance and Giovanni, the latter looking ready to murder someone as a vein throbbed on his forehead.
"Those despicable fools!" he spat out, hands clenched as Lance placed a hand on his shoulder. "To think they would try and pull a stunt like this here of all places. This new incarnation of Team Rocket knows no bounds."
"It's alright, Giovanni. Everyone is safe and there was little damage to the island," Lance stated as he folded his arms. His expression stiffened, eyes narrowed up towards the sky. Blue followed them, a small trace of silver lighting floating amongst the dusk sky. Blue felt it was strange but ignored it as Lance turned away from them. The man making his way towards the unconscious Green and Red.
"Fortunately, you noticed the ship before it could reach the stadium. The entire vessel was filled with Team Rocket members who we've placed in custody of the police at the moment."
"Though it seems we've also gained something from this," Giovanni mused as Blue nodded. The three men shared a small look as their eyes bounced from Red to each other. The man they had been searching for was finally back home.
"Tomorrow we'll hold an emergency meeting over a conference call. Those currently on the island will be with me while the others can call in from their current locations," Lance commanded. A breeze passed through as his cape billowed in it. Blue nodded slightly as he pushed himself off the ground.
Whatever had gone down today felt much more like the start of something than a final plan.
And we're done with another chapter. It's a bit different by having the second to last chapter not be from Ash's viewpoint so I hope it worked out. Though a lot still happened that will have lasting effects across the rest of the series. Namely Red's official reappearance and a Team Rocket failed attempt. Though that will be delved into later as to what actually happened with that.
Thank you to everyone who read the chapter and supports this story. Please leave a review letting me know what you enjoyed and how I can improve the story.