The Battle at the Tree of Beginning: The People of the Pokemon World
Standing in the hanger bay to the Battle Pyramid, Ash stood atop a raised platform restocking his Pokeballs, while looking down at all the Gym Leaders moving about preparing for the battle ahead. On his belt were six Pokeballs; his Team for his fight with Giovanni. At his side was the Pyramid King Brandon, wearing a tactical vest that he began clipping five Ultra Balls to. Retrieving a second vest which had been hanging on the wall, the Frontier Brain tossed the accessory over to Ash so that he may carry even more Pokemon than the standard six, all for when they reentered the oncoming battle. Clasping six more balls onto the vest, Ash threw his Blue Aura Guardian robes over his head, allowing it to fall to the ground. Now dressed in his robes, the Electric Mouse Pokemon leapt from the ground back onto his shoulder for the time being.
Entering the opened hanger door on the floor of the metallic room was Blue on his Charizard, followed by Alexa and Alex on Swellow and Corviknight, respectively. Walking down the railed staircase from the platform, Ash made his way across the hanger floor towards his sister and friends.
"That's quite the concert you put on out there. Good shit, Peters," Ash said clasping his friend's hand once again, now that they had been reunited in the Battle Pyramid. "If you guys wanna follow me, you can restock your Teams before going back down there if you need to."
Walking with the members of Team Alex back over to Brandon, Ash discussed his strategy for entering the Tree with who he considered to be his right-hand man. As the group of Aura Guardians crossed the floor, they bumped into many familiar faces along the way.
On their right were Gym Leaders Elesa, Brycen and Valerie, handing out sets of dark blue robes for Ash's Warriors to wear. Taking a set and putting them on, Lieutenant Surge and Factory Head Noland stood face to face with one another, noticing their sets were a little small for their larger frames.
"I gotta say," The Kanto Gym Leader uttered, adjusting the black sunglasses on his face. "These threads aren't like anything I used to wear back in the war."
"Oh hey Ash!" Noland said, lowering his hood to the Aura Guardian. "Articuno been treating you well?"
"It's sure bringing the fight to those Rockets down there!" Ash said with a grin. Glancing over to the left as he continued his walk back, he saw Gym Leaders Falkner, Winona, Skyla handing the Pokeballs of flying type Pokemon out to the likes of Brock, Wulfric, Flannery, Whitney and Kabu.
"Ash, how are ya!" The tan-skinned, Water Type Leader Marlon asked, clasping the Guardian's hand as they crossed paths.
"Long time, no see Ash," Said the Twin Leaders Tate and Liza each taking a hand and shaking it, having grown considerably taller in the 11 years since last seeing them.
"Congrats on your win in the Indigo League!" Korrina said, roller skating on up to Ash, bumping fists with him. "That Aura Storm you and your Lucario put on was awesome!"
"Hey, thanks!" Ash said, making his way towards the stairs again. "Couldn't have done it without Lucario!"
Climbing back up to his platform with his group of Aura Guardians, Ash stood at Brandon's side while Alex went to collect three more of his Pokemon being held on the Pyramid.
Over the chatter of everyone in the hanger, the Pyramid King's booming voice got the attention of all that were present. "Listen up! The Rockets now have Dynamax Pokemon and more ground reinforcements down on the field. Not only that, but the Arceus Eclipse will be in full effect in 15 minutes, and will cease in about one hour after it has begun. That means Phase 3 is about to go underway. If you haven't gotten a set of robes and a Flying type to get you down there yet, I suggest you do it now! Remember: you all are volunteering to act as the bait here. We keep the Rockets away from Ash, so him and Team Alex can get into the Tree," Brandon said, crossing his arms. "And one final thing! I need to make sure that everyone stands clear of the Kukui's Ultra Wormhole. We're gonna have some more reinforcements flooding out real soon. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir!" The crowd of robed trainers exclaimed.
"Then that's it everyone! Prepare for the drop!" Brandon exclaimed.
"Oh- one more thing!" Ash called out, looking at the crowd of Trainers before him. Scanning over the crowd, seeing the likes of Gary, Brock, Clair, Blaine, Raihan, (etc., etc., and so on and so forth) Ash had a large smile plastered on his face. "I need to thank you all for agreeing to help me get into the Tree of Beginning! And I promise that my team and I will do whatever it takes to defeat Giovanni!"
The crowd of people all let out a roar, raising their Pokeballs up to the sky in unity with each other. As they did, an orange light began to flash, along with the high pitched, repeating blare of a siren. "THAT'S SHOWTIME PEOPLE!" Brandon exclaimed as the hanger doors on the floor of the Pyramid began to open. Tossing out various Flying types from within the Pyramid (consisting of Pidgeots, Swellows, Staraptors and Swannas,) every robed Gym Leader raised up their hoods, ready to fly down to the field below. Making his way towards the open hanger door, Ash found himself positioned next to his old friend Brock, with his blue robes over his head.
Placing one hand one Brock's shoulder, Ash handed over his Aerodactyl's Pokeball to the Rock-Type Gym Leader. Additionally, leaping off of Ash's shoulder, and onto Brock's was Pikachu. "We'll see you all down there," Ash said, before turning to the larger crowd of trainers. "And make sure you all take nice care of my Teammates for me." Tossing out Ash's Aerodactyl over the opened door, and leaping out onto its back, Brock with Pikachu began to lead the charge of at least 70 cloaked Gym Leaders/Elite 4/Frontier Brains, who followed the Pewter City Gym Leader by raising their hoods, tossing out their flying types and riding downwards into battle.
'What do ya know?' Ash thought to himself. 'Ages ago Giovanni tried taking my Pokemon from me. And now I'm lending them all out to friends to take on his Army.'
With the hanger now cleared out a considerable amount, Brandon stepped forwards to the remaining people in the Battle Pyramid: Ash, Team Alex, the Elite 4 of Sinnoh, along with their Champion Cynthia, with Garchomp at her side. Observing a 3-D schematic of the Tree of Beginning before her, Cynthia turned towards Ash to discuss her role for Phase 3. "My Elite 4 will be positioned along the very top of the ridge here; split up with Flint and Lucian, and Bertha and Aaron on either side of Zygarde. If you can keep their attention up there," Cynthia said, tying her long, blonde hair back into a ponytail. "Garchomp, my Team and I will try to secure the entrance from behind the crowd of Rockets. Let's move!" Having their orders, Cynthia leapt out of the Battle Pyramid on the back of her Garchomp, followed by Flint on a Talonflame, Aaron on his Yanmega, Lucian enveloped in his Bronzong's Psychic bubble, and the elderly Bertha riding out on the back of a large Gliscor with nicks in its wings signifying its veteran status.
"Well I can't let you have all the fun!" Brandon exclaimed soon after, breaking into a sprint following Team Cynthia. Removing two Ultra Balls from his tactical vest, he tossed them forwards. "Regieleki! Regidrago!" The Pyramid King exclaimed, throwing out the Regi Pokemon of the Crown Tundra. The black and magenta Regi lowered its body down so that Brandon may board its head. Meanwhile, the yellow Regi Pokemon shot out through the floor first, using its immense speed to neutralize any targets that were too close to the Pyramid. Brandon followed his Pokemon soon after.
With Brandon gone, the four Aura Guardians were the only ones who remained within the hanger. Raising their hoods up, and reactivating their goggles in union, Blue, Alex, Ash and Alexa made their leave through the floor of the Battle Pyramid.
Hundreds of meters down on the field below, Rocket Admins Cliff, Arlo and Sierra were all attempting to gang up on Oak and Paul with a combined team of a Steelix, Crobat and an Armaldo. While Armaldo swung a clawed hand downwards in an attempt to strike an open Paul, his Weavile appeared by his feet, interlocking its claws to protect its trainer. Additionally, having charged a Blizzard in its mouth, the Fossil of the Hoenn Region was soon incapacitated by the frosty attack. Meanwhile, Oak's Dragonite soared through the sky evading not only the speedy Crobat on its tail, but the large Iron Snake of Johto on the ground. Every once in a while, the large serpent would swing a Dragon Tail up into the air in means of striking its enemy. However, too skilled in its aerial maneuvering, Dragonite found itself more preoccupied with Sierra's speedy Crobat.
"Aura Sphere, Dragonite!" Professor Oak exclaimed, observing his Dragon Pokemon circling overhead. Spinning around as it flew, with a blue sphere charged between its thick hands, Dragonite launched the attack forwards at the purple Bat Pokemon. Tilting its head back, so that it was belly up to the sky, Oak's Dragonite then blew an intense Flamethrower onto the tail of the Steelix that was swinging upwards towards it. This maneuver caused the Steelix to pull back in pain, as Dragonite continued on overhead.
"Entei, use Overheat!" Paul exclaimed, as Ash's Legendary Dog of the Johto Region bounded forwards across the field. Leaping forwards, Entei put its large frame between Paul and the opposing Armaldo (who had since thawed out), raising its front claws up, before slamming them back to the ground. As it did, it charged a white-hot ball of fire in its fanged mouth, which soon decimated Arlo's Fossil Pokemon. "Now use Fire Spin!" Once again, Entei obeyed, dashing under the raised head of the enemy Steelix. Driving its front paws into the ground again, a rising Inferno made its way higher and higher until it caught Steelix under the jaw. Right after the large serpent hit the ground, the sound of a blaring siren could be heard high above the Battle, emanating from the Battle Pyramid.
"That's the signal!" The Female Masked Royal roared, as her female Incineroar was forcing a Machoke into an ankle lock.
"FABA WE'RE READY!" Kukui exclaimed into his commlink.
Taking a few steps forwards, using a hand to cover the sun's rays off her eyes, the Rocket Admin Sierra began to utter "What the f-" Before her eyes widened, seeing the fleet of robed Trainers exiting through the very bottom of the Pyramid. "No! NO!" The Admin screamed, unable to make out a face on any of the hooded trainers. "Argh! We've lost sight of Ketchum!"
As the hooded trainers began hitting the ground, each began throwing out a Team of Six, their Gym Pokemon with the addition of one of Ash's (since he would be unable to bring them all down on his own.) As Ash's forces began to accumulate even more outside the Tree of Beginning, you could begin to see the Rocket's Leadership falling apart at the seams.
"All Rockets, target- wahhhh!" The Admin Cliff said, before getting picked up in between the slender fingers of Alex's G-Max Grimmsnarl. Staring into the (tiny) man's eyes with its piercing red ones, the towering Goblin-like Pokemon let out a low, intimidating laugh.
"I've gotcha Cliff!" Arlo shouted, before a Shiny Nidoking slammed the weight of its body into the Admin. Baring its teeth and running its tongue over them, it locked eyes with an enemy Golem on the Battlefield not far off.
"Killmonger, Megahorn!" Ross exclaimed, with five other Shiny Pokemon at his side (his Dragonite, Arcanine, Rhydon, Charizard, and Alolan Marowak.) All breaking apart from their trainer to fight enemies of their own, Ross looked behind himself, seeing the large white wormhole on the field. "That's- one of those things that brought me here…" For once, the prisoner who was trapped within this world felt hopeful that he might return to his someday after all. But first, he would have a mission to fulfill on the battlefield. Suddenly, the wormhole began to quiver, as Kukui's new wave of help was now arriving.
"Ross, head up!" Paul exclaimed, rushing towards the teen and tackling him to the ground. As the two laid on their stomachs, they witnessed even more (bizarre-looking) battlers take the field to engage the enemy Pokemon, all soaring through the air to fight the Grunt Pokemon on the battlefield below.
"Ahaha! I love to see the UB Squad at work!" The Masked Royal said with a roar. "Straight from Aether Island's Ultra Beast Sanctuary." An assortment of Nihiligos, Buzzwoles, Pheremosas, Kartanas, Celesteelas, Blacephalons and Stakatakas all took the field, instinctively fighting against the Rocket's Pokemon. After all, if Giovanni were to succeed, it was only a matter of time before their home worlds would be in peril too.
"I've never seen any of these guys before," Ross said, marveling all the odd creatures moving about the field, knocking out Grunts and Pokemon with ease. "Are they- Pokemon?"
In order to accommodate for the new airborne opponents, members of the Rocket Army threw out three more Gigantamax Garbodors. While the combined forces of the Ultra Guardians and Ultra Beasts kept two at bay, the third enormous mound of garbage grew to its immense size right before Ross, Paul and the Ultra Wormhole.
"Look out!" The blonde teen shouted, giving Paul a shove out of the way. The G-Max Pokemon wrapped its large fingers around the boy, squeezing the air out of his body, before raising him back high into the sky. On top of that, the boy was forced to hold his breath due to the powerful stench of the Pokemon.
"Ross!" Paul said, witnessing the boy suffocating up there.
Rocketing down from the Tree of Beginning was the duo of Latios and Latias, who both blew a Dual Dragon Pulse in an attempt to help their trapped ally. Raising its other hand to deflect both attacks Garboder refused to let go.
"Professors!" Paul said, yelling to the three people he was defending the portal with, looking for a way to help.
Before anyone could make a move for the boy's rescue, a second tear in space-time opened above the head of the Dynamaxed Pokemon. "What the-?" Professor Burnett said, gazing up at the portal. "I don't think that's one of ours!"
With a new white portal on the field, a loud man-like scream, could be heard through the other side. Squeezing its massive frame through the portal was the largest of the Ultra Beasts: Guzzlord. However, the coloration on this one was unlike the typical black coloring, as this mighty beast was white and orange, with golden stars shimmering around it upon its arrival. Rocketing downwards, the Dark/Dragon Ultra Beast took a bite out of the G-Max enemy holding Ross, severing through its arm at the elbow.
Now released, Ross quickly caught a gasp of air, before falling back to the ground below. 20 feet up, however, the Contest Coordinator Dawn came rocketing in on her Togekiss to make the save. Landing on the back of the Jubilee Pokemon torso first, Ross let out a grunt.
"Thanks Dawn-" The boy said in a soft voice.
"Don't mention it!" Dawn said, touching down on the ground by Paul, as Ross was helped off her Pokemon and back to his feet. Looking up, he witnessed the 20 foot Ultra Beast driving its body into the base of the G-Max Garbodor. With its enormous mouth, and claws on either side, the Ultra Beast began shoveling mounds of garbage off the Rocket Pokemon and into its bottomless stomach.
"That's UB-05 Glutton!" Professor Oak exclaimed, appearing next to the teen. "Also known as Guzzlord! It's a Junkivore with an appetite bigger than a Snorlax! I've yet to study one up close for... obvious reasons!"
"A Guzz- Lord?" Ross said, watching the Ultra Beast breach through the G-Max Pokemon's body, devouring the trash as it went along. 'That's one giant Pokemon… I woulda been a goner without it.'
"IT'S KETCHUM!" A Grunt on the ground exclaimed, pointing up in the sky. As the hooded trainer flew by, the Pikachu aboard his shoulder fired off a Thunderbolt, wiping out the whole fleet of 15 Golbats on their tail. "He's got the Pikachu and Aerodactyl!"
"How can you be sure?" Another grunt said with panic in his voice, frantically throwing out an Alolan Persian to take on Ash's Hawlucha (who was taking commands from a hooded Korrina just a few yards away.) "There are these hooded freaks all over the field, how can you te-" Before the Grunt could finish his remark, the full weight of his Persian was thrown into him.
"Keith!" The remaining Grunt exclaimed. Before he could make any moves, a herd of 30 Tauros running through the battle picked up him, and a number of Grunts and Pokemon on their horns. The herd carried the Rockets and their Pokemon a great distance before skidding to a stop, to send them all flying into the lake.
"Great shot Pikachu!" The hooded Brock said to the Electric Mouse Pokemon.
"Pika pika," The Yellow Mouse said, sending a few sparks out of its cheeks.
"We just gotta keep acting as bait until Cynthia can secure the entrance. Then Aerodactyl and I will swoop in there and get you with Ash," The Pewter City Gym Leader said.
"Pika!" The Pokemon exclaimed, pointing out an oncoming Beedrill, with an active Poison Sting. Driving it's purple spear-like appendage forwards, the Pokemon was soon trapped in a cage-like structure made of electricity, singing the Bug Pokemon in the process. As the scorched Beedrill dropped down to the ground below, Branden and his Regi-duo continued their descent onto the battlefield.
With both Regidrago and Regieleki hovering a few feet over the field, Brandon hopped off the head of the Dragon Regi, as each of the Crown Tundra Pokemon took their place around their trainer. After doing so, a squad of 10 Grunts began rushing in at all sides with Pokeballs in hand.
'Regï-lehk. Regï-lehk,' The Electric type Pokemon said.
'Dün dün dün dün dün,' The Dragon type counterpart stated.
"Ten you say?" The Pyramid King said with crossed arms and closed eyes. "I like our odds!"
When Brandon opened his eyes, the Electron Pokemon nimbly flipped backwards, and took a position above its trainer, as Regidrago entered its Dragon-head from to the front. Just as each member of the squad sent out a Mightyena, giving the orders to lunge at Brandon, Regieleki brought a Thunder Cage down around its own trainer. As all 10 of the Bite Pokemon hit Brandon's cage, each was hit with an immense surge of electricity, sending them all crumpling to the ground in a heap. Letting down its cage, Regieleki and Regidrago worked in tandem, slamming the weight of their bodies into their human attackers.
Touching down next to the Pyramid King on the back of her Garchomp was Cynthia, who hopped off the back of her Dragon/Ground Type and walked over to Brandon. "Some kinda strategy that was. I'm surprised you didn't get yourself electrocuted in there." The current Champion of Sinnoh said with a smile.
"I always keep myself well-insulated," Brandon said, tapping his rubber combat-boots on the ground while giving his green suit a tug. "I take it busting through our opening isn't gonna be as easy as we thought."
"We took out plenty of Grunts at the mouth of the entrance, but soon after a couple of cowards barricaded themselves in there with some Gravelers. On top of that, they got a line of Pokemon behind them using Psychic to keep them lodged in the opening," Taking a brief pause, Cynthia called out 'Fire Blast' upon seeing an oncoming Skarmory. Her Garchomp did as commanded, leaping into the air and blowing a flaming kanji from its maw, taking out the Johto Pokemon. "I recommend that we contact Ash and let him know that we need a Plan B."
"Right," Branden said, pulling out a comlink of his own and dialing up the Aura Guardian. "Ash it's me."
'Long time no see,' The voice of Ash said on the other end, in an attempt to be comedic. 'Let me guess. The door's blocked.'
"Well actually yeah," The Pyramid King said. "But how did you know?"
'We're up here on the ridge with Zygarde and can see it from here!'
Turning their attention to the large ridge over the field, Cynthia and Brandon saw the large Kalos Legendary centered on the ridge, Brandon could see a hooded figure waving at the man. With four trainers on either side of it, the sheer distance away made the specific features of the trainers hard to make out. What Brandon and Cynthia could tell was that four of the Trainers wore blue Guardian robes, while the other four were Cynthia's Elite.
"So what's your guys' plan for getting in?" Brandon said through his device.
"Well, I thought they might try plugging up the hole at some point," Ash said with his Pokegear pinned between his shoulder and his ear, and Alex's binoculars fixated on the Tree's enterance. "So I had one of my 'Mons sneak in there before they could seal it off. Right when we were negotiating. As soon as I give him the signal, that door will be as good as open!"
'Ash-' Brandon said on the other end. 'How's he gonna get your signal if he can't see you?'
"He won't have to," Ash said, now kneeling on the ground at Zygarde's side. Placing his hand on one of the blue crystals on the ground, Ash sent a quick message to his ally through the mineral using his Aura. 'Lucario, you're on!'
"What the hell were you thinking!" The voice of an angered man said within the darkness of the Tree. "We had one rule from the Boss and one rule only! We keep the Tree open so only Ketchum can get in! Without Ketchum, the Boss can't-"
"You think I care at a time like this!" A panicked voice said in response. "They brought way more of a fight than the Boss said he would! And, the Boss has got this Uber-Tier Power Pokemon, and it's just sitting at his side at the end of this tunnel instead of helping us out here! You wanna go out there and get drowned by that big water monster?! Cuz that's what'll happen if we try and be heroes!"
"You shit head!" The Grunt said, moving to the wall of Gravelars and placing a hand on them to make them budge. "Who cares what they do to us out there! If Giovanni gets his hands on us because we cost him his meeting with God, we're screwed!"
"Hey, it's all right! As long as our Drowzee can keep this wall up, we're set!" The Grunt said, bending down on his knees, placing his arms around two Drowzees, whose eyes were glowing purple as they stuck their arms outwards to fortify the entrance with their powers. "And once this battle is all over we split with these dudes and just hide for the rest of our lives!"
'Tell me-' A growling voice said from within the darkness of the cavern. 'What would possess you to do such a thing as this? Are you really that cowardly?'
"GAH!" The two Grunts exclaimed going back to back with each other. Then, turning down into the expansive tunnel, all they could see was darkness, and the purple glow of their Drowzee's Psychic reflecting off of the blue and green crystals that lined the Cavern Walls.
"H-hey! Who you calling cowards!" The Grunt on the left stammered out. "We're a lot braver than you think! That's why we're fighting for the winning side here! Serving justice!"
'No. I have lived for many centuries and one fact remains true. Deep down you mortalsare cowards. There is nothing just about you,' The voice said echoing through the cavern walls. 'I can sense it on you. You both reek of its stench. Time and time again, humans like yourselves fail to make strength for yourselves… so you leech off of others and pray that one day you may know it for yourselves.'
"Are you gonna show yourself or what!" The second Grunt said with fear in his voice. "We'll show you what courage is!"
"Are you crazy!?" His companion said. "We can't face this guy!"
'No. You cannot. For I am more powerful than you could ever imagine,' From the end of the dark tunnel, a set of glowing blue eyes made itself known to the Rockets. 'For I know what true strength is.'
"Drowzee!" The Grunt to the left said grabbing the Pokemon and making focus down the length of the tunnel. But before he could call forth an attack, the set of glowing eyes had disappeared.
"Shit! We gotta get out!"
"NO! I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THAT THING BEFORE GOING OUT THERE!"
"YOU IDIOT!"
As the two trainers argued with each other, yelling into the darkness of the tunnel, they failed to notice Ash's Lucario lowering itself down from the ceiling behind the grunts head first, eyes glowing blue, using its feet to hang onto a crystal stalactite. Bringing its arms down slowly, it formed two clubs of blue Aura. With its presence now known, Lucario released its feet and dropped to the floor, bashing the Grunts on the heads with each staff knocking them out. Then, spinning around in place, Lucario used its two staffs to take out the pair of Drowzees. With the inside opening now cleared, the only thing blocking the doorway was a wall of grey boulder-like Pokemon. Placing its hand on a blue crystal within the cave, Lucario began speaking through the Aura once more. 'Ash. The men inside have been taken care of. I shall await your arrival.'
'Awesome work Lucario!' Its Trainer said in return. 'Now you might wanna stand back a bit! We're gonna have Zygarde blow down the door!'