"And Giovanni? Your time is up."
"And Giovanni? Your time is up."
"And Giovanni? Your time is up."
From within the dark confines of his office, lit only by a large screen, a man listened intently to Mr. Star's threat on end. This man paced back and forth in his room anxiously, tapping rewind on his remote to play that threat over and over. He wore fancy orange attire, a stylish red tie tucked neatly inside of his suit. Ordinarily, this individual was the epitome of calm and level-headed. The circumstance he found himself in was far from ordinary. This man was Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, and the world had just shown up at his doorstep yearning for blood.
"What the hell have you done, Lee?" Giovanni hissed to himself. "Why did you go through with the attack so early without notifying me? We weren't ready, and now the entire world knows where we are!"
He stopped his pacing and turned toward the entrance of his office when the front door suddenly opened. A woman in a black business suit entered. Wearing a set of glasses, she ran to him with a large stack of papers in hand. "Giovanni, sir!" She shouted, visibly disturbed.
"Yes, Matori? What is it?"
The panic on Matori's face told Giovanni that whatever news she had to deliver was far from good. However, even he could not anticipate what she was about to tell him. "The trainers!" Exclaimed Matori. "They are already here, and they're blocking the exits to the city. None of our troops can get in or out."
Giovanni's response to the news made him appear as if he had been struck, taking a step back and removing his hand from his pocket. "How can this be?" He asked, turning toward the screen he had just been watching. "The battle at New Goldenrod was just yesterday!"
Wincing, the boss's secretary replied, "Not all of the survivors were heavily injured, evidently. Some used Flying or Dragon-Types to carry themselves and others all the way here. Trainers from other nearby cities were evidently spurred on by Mr. Star's speech and are now on our doorstep."
A quiet curse nearly escaped Giovanni's mouth. "What of Lee himself?" He demanded, growing restless. Matori flinched at his sudden rise of voice. Her boss whipped around, glancing at the phone by his chair. "Lee hasn't called yet, only delivering a message telling me to stay put and that he would be arriving with the full force of the Nova Branch."
Matori's face curled down into a frown, a bead of sweat falling from her forehead. "Sir…I don't think the Nova Branch will be coming." It was then that she urged him to look at the papers in her hands.
Tentatively, he took one from the top of the stack. His eyes scanned each letter, growing wider and redder as his rage grew with every single imprint on the paper. With hands as steady as steel, Giovanni ripped up the paper and tossed its contents to the ground. Matori took this as a sign that she would no longer be needing the stack and placed it down.
To Matori's surprise, Giovanni's frown suddenly reversed into a confident smile. "Confiscated invitations from the Nova Branch to our own members. So that was your hand, Lee."
"Those invitations were sent out by the thousands according to our intel," Matori informed Giovanni, adjusting her glasses. "Some very high-ranking names have already sent in their resignations. Many more Grunts recruited recently sent in theirs as well. It's believed that they either joined the Nova Branch or were scared off by Mr. Star. There were even sightings of some Grunts throwing away their uniforms to join with the Star Foundation trainers."
Giovanni scoffed. "I should have expected Lee to make the first move in the end."
Looking at him oddly, a confused Matori asked, "Sir?"
"Team Rocket and the Nova Branch," He began, suddenly standing fully upright, "Have been working around one another's backs for years now. Especially recently, given how big of a head they've gotten." Suddenly, Giovanni turned toward his secretary and said, "Tell me, Matori; what is the goal of the Nova Branch?"
She replied, "The…destruction of all Pokemon, right?"
Giovanni nodded. "Exactly. Those fools were doomed from the start. I would have never considered a plan that is so clearly deranged." The boss suddenly clenched his hand into a fist with pride. "Pokemon are the key to conquering the world. If you conquer Pokemon, then the world is yours. But without Pokemon, there is no world. Even I can see that. It was only natural that one of us would strike the other eventually."
Allowing his hand to fall back into his pocket, the boss of Team Rocket raised his head with a proud grin on his face. "They may have struck first, but that only shows just how hasty the Nova Branch has become. After all, it was them who fortified this very city from top to bottom. They made the mistake of leaving their technology in our hands."
Giovanni shot a finger at Matori. "Have what troops remain in the city move underground and surround the trainers. Then, send up the decoy helicopter. Make sure it is well protected. It needs to be convincing." A wide, cruel grin upon the boss's face, Giovanni finally added, "And have Agent Pierce operate the defense system. With the helicopter as a distraction, we can end the trainers in one fell swoop."
Hall of Origin
With Mew at his side, Arceus stood upon his pedestal as usual. When he nodded to his partner, though hesitant, she returned the nod. And so, Arceus turned his attention to the empty hall ahead of them. With the tap of his foot upon his ivory throne, a golden pulse was sent out across the Hall of Origin, opening great golden rings upon the seats of the other members. One by one, those members emerged from the portals Arceus created. Some of them noticed that Mew had joined the meeting yet again and quickly averted their gaze from her. This did not go unnoticed by Mew, but she did not voice the grief it caused her.
What shocked Arceus and Mew the most was the sudden appearance of Giratina upon his pedestal. Arceus hadn't even called upon him, believing that he was uninterested in further Hall meetings. Even though Arceus had neglected to summon him, the renegade decided to appear. Arceus wondered why that was. He and his eldest son exchanged a brief stare as they attempted to size one another up. Ultimately, Arceus broke away first, deciding not to call attention to his appearance.
"Welcome." Arceus's voice boomed throughout the hall vibrantly, a testament to how much power he had accrued from the cosmos to replenish what he had lost, even if it was only a mere fraction. "Yesterday, Team Rocket finally made their move. There was an attack that nearly resulted in the end of the Star Foundation and unfortunately cost many lives, including a close associate of Mr. Star." Turning toward Xerneas, he added, "I was only made aware of this once the battle had already concluded thanks to Xerneas, who was luckily at the scene. It was thanks to the work of her, Ash, and the city's resident trainers that the worst case scenario was averted."
Turning back to face the rest of the Legends, Arceus said, "There is more good news. Evidently, the reason that New Goldenrod City was attacked stemmed from Mr. Star finding the location of Team Rocket's headquarters. Even after what he faced just yesterday, Ash is currently heading there along with other trainers Mr. Star managed to summon in order to finish them for good."
The hungry eyes of Lugia lit up hearing that. Leaning forward intently, he asked, "And the Legends will no doubt be involved, correct?"
"Yes," Answered Arceus. Lugia felt a sense of jubilation he hadn't felt since he struck down Christopher Lee on that island. That was, until Arceus promptly struck down his hopes by saying, "But not there. With how many trainers gathered there, we would likely be in the way. Viridian City is not terribly large. The collateral damage caused by our attacks would prove disastrous for both sides." Noting the bitter look on Lugia's face, Arceus continued. "However, I did say we would be involved. Along with Team Rocket's headquarters, Mr. Star has found and listed the exact locations of several other major bases belonging to them."
A low, thoughtful grumble from Giratina shook the pedestals of the Legends near him. "So, we are merely to support Ash?"
"Do you object?" Inquired Arceus.
Shaking his head, Giratina replied, "Not one bit. I was merely confirming." He chuckled, leaning his head back. "It is merely odd, is all. How often we seem to rely on him."
The answer satisfying Arceus, he responded, "I suppose so. In such a short time, he has more than earned his status as a Legend. Ultimately, he is every bit a Legend as we are, and so we must trust him to handle this burden."
Still, Lugia was unable to completely shake off his disappointment. This anger that continued to gnaw at him even after the deaths of Necrozma and Lee pointed him toward Giovanni. Only his head would suffice. He wanted to think clearly again. So desperately did Lugia yearn to return to how he was before all of this, where his mind was as clear as water and his judgement certain. Now, everything was murky. He wasn't himself anymore. Only destroying the foul defilers of the world could sate him. Would Ash doing it for him still yield the clarity of mind he sought?
"...As long as it is Ash who carries it out, then I am fine. I trust him."
Arceus nodded to him. "Then there is little more to be said. This meeting was meant to be quick and to the point. After all, Ash is already mobilizing as we speak. There is one last thing." He nodded down at Mew, then back to the rest of them. "We will be attacking these bases in teams. Mew and I will take a handful of them on our own."
A disbelieving Kyogre scoffed in irritation. "Why must we go in teams?" He asked irritably. "Do you doubt our power? Alone, we could destroy them more quickly."
"It is not that I doubt your power," Arceus replied calmly, "But neither do I doubt the power of our enemy. You have all shown tremendous strength and I applaud you for it, but you have seen firsthand what Team Rocket and the Nova Branch can do."
Arceus could not help but picture in his mind the scene of the raid on Nova Branch HQ. That island, littered with all sorts of technology for defense, managed to hold even a team of Legends at bay. Even the allied humans had technology that devastated that island.
"…Like it or not," Spoke Arceus, "The power humanity has displayed certainly rivals our own. For better, or for worse."
Of that, even the most prideful of the Legends found it difficult to deny. Reshiram in particular glowered to herself as she scratched the scar on her neck.
Raising a hoof, Keldeo asked, "May we at least choose our partners?"
"You may," Replied Arceus, "But remember that time is of the essence. Do you already have someone in mind?"
Keldeo nodded. "I do." As the young Legend turned his head about the hall, Arceus envisioned him choosing someone such as Zekrom or Reshiram. Natives of Unova such as himself and close to Kyurem whom he looked up to, they were a perfect fit.
So, it came to a shock to everyone when Keldeo's eyes landed upon a Legend from Sinnoh. "Giratina," He said with certainty and a smile. "I want Giratina to be my partner against Team Rocket."
There was an immediate clamoring from the shocked Legends. For just about everyone there, Giratina was perhaps the last Legend they expected anyone to ask for besides Arceus and Mew themself. Eyes raced back and forth between the renegade and Keldeo all throughout the hall. Giratina himself did not seem as surprised.
Arceus cleared his throat. "…May I…ask why?"
"After Kyurem was gone, I…didn't really have anyone," Keldeo admitted. "But Giratina…he reached out to me. He helped me when no one else did. There's no one I would want more to fight by my side!"
Taken aback by Keldeo's firm attitude on the matter, Arceus slowly shifted his gaze away from the young Legend back to Giratina. He scanned Giratina, distrustful of the idea that there was no ulterior motive behind his actions. Giratina met his stare equally. Evidently, his son had become a master at being impossible to see through, and it disturbed Arceus somewhat.
"…Very well," Replied Arceus at last. "I will allow it. I have faith no harm will come to you, right Giratina?"
With a light chuckle, Giratina replied, "Of course. I already made sure of that when Keldeo was in need of aid the most. Can you say the same?"
Arceus ignored that. "Choose your partners, and quickly," He spoke, his voice reverberating throughout the hall. "We must be ready to begin our assault the moment Ash begins his. This is where it ends. Once Team Rocket falls, our world will finally begin to recover."
Ash, Serena, and Latias occupying her borrowed human form peered down from the window of their helicopter. Beneath them, Viridian City was bustling with life. Furious trainers lined the streets, crowding around what was once looked upon as the city's resident Pokemon League Gym. None of them could see much else due to the other helicopters that escorted theirs. After the fiasco that had befallen the previous helicopter Ash's group had been in, Mr. Star wisely amped up their defense. No doubt that, without an escort, the Rockets would attempt to shoot Ash's helicopter down before he got there.
"I didn't think there were this many trainers here," Said an astounded Latias.
Scanning the crowd, Serena replied, "I guess there were plenty of trainers still outside the city."
"A lot of them are trainers summoned by Chairman Rose," The pilot informed them. "He ended up scrounging together some volunteers after you saved his secretary."
Near the front of the Gym, a circle of Star Foundation officers pushed the crowd back to make room for the approaching helicopters. When the central helicopter landed, Ash suddenly sensed several familiar Aura signatures and his face grew into a wide smile.
Throwing the door wide open, Ash hopped out of the helicopter and was met with the sight of familiar faces. The moment he stepped out, the trainers behind the Star Foundation officers roared with cheer. Misty, May, Alain, Dawn, and Gary waved to him upon seeing him. To Ash's shock, Brock was present as well.
"Guys!" Greeted Ash cheerfully. While Serena and Latias made their way out of the helicopter, Ash ran to meet with the rest of his friends. "It's so good to see you again! I guess Mr. Star called you back after yesterday, huh?"
Misty nodded and pumped her arms. "Of course. Even if he didn't call, there's no way we'd just let yesterday slip. Today's the day all of this comes to an end!"
A grin came to Ash's face seeing how energetic his old friend was. "You said it." He turned his sights up to the Gym. It towered over most of the surrounding buildings. Though its windows were blackened to hide what was inside, it could not hide its secrets from Ash.
Pressed up against the door were dozens of people with ill intent, just waiting to begin the battle. Countless more were peering down at him and his friends from the Gym's windows. They weren't limited to the Gym either. All around them, whether it be in the buildings, hiding in alleys, or even lying in wait right beneath their feet, there were hostiles. He wondered if any of them were Giovanni himself.
"We're surrounded," Ash spoke suddenly, making the faces of his friends fall. Immediately, they reached for their Pokeballs and shifted unsteady gazes around them, but Ash held up his hand and said, "Don't worry. For now, they're waiting for some reason. Maybe they want us to make the first move."
Still, Ash tapped the shoulder of the nearest Star Foundation official and whispered the news into his ear. "Are you sure?" The officer asked. When Ash nodded, he began fiddling with the Secretary Bot on his wrist. "Thank you for getting that to us. I'll make sure to send this information to everyone before we commence the raid." And with that, he walked off toward the circle of Star Foundation staff holding back the trainers.
As Ash watched him go, he felt his attention being dragged back toward the Gym. With his Aura, he could see everything inside. All the white and blue-hued figures. Yet their numbers were odd to him. It only made sense that the allied trainers' numbers were low after what occurred just yesterday, but for being in the very headquarters of Team Rocket, their numbers did not seem as high as he anticipated either. Why was that?
He gasped when Gary suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder and wrapped an arm around his neck. "Geez, Ash, you got all your friends gathered here and the first thing you do is go all quiet. What gives?"
A slightly embarrassed Ash laughed weakly. "Sorry, Gary. Guess this whole thing has me a little on edge."
His old childhood rival snickered at his expense. However, his amusement soon drew to a close as he and Ash stood back to their full heights. "Hey!" Gary exclaimed. He flattened his hand, putting it back and forth between his forehead and Ash's "When in the world did you get taller than me? It's only been two months since we last saw each other!"
Ash put a hand to his head, then hovered it just slightly over Gary's hair. "No way!" He shouted, followed by a laugh. "I really am taller! When did that happen?" This set a streak of laughter up from Ash and his friends. Even though it was at Gary's expense, he found himself joining in.
When it settled, Ash breathed out a long sigh for air. "Yeah," He said, looking at the sky in thought, "I guess a lot has happened since we last saw each other."
A smirking Gary laughed. "Hah! No kidding! The minute I go to check on Pallet Town, you go and launch an assault on the Nova Branch headquarters with a bunch of Legendary Pokemon!" He jabbed a thumb toward the Gym. "When I heard that, I knew I couldn't let ya take on Team Rocket HQ when we figured out where that was. Not without us at least."
Ash grinned from ear to ear as he looked over his friends. "Well, I'm glad to have you all with me." When his eyes landed upon Brock, his grin widened. "It's really great to see you too, Brock!" The two stepped closer, clapping their hands together in a firm handshake. "I don't suppose this means you've come out of retirement?"
Although he continued to wear a smile, Brock shook his head. "Nope," He answered immediately. "Unfortunately, it's only temporary. I still have my siblings to take care of. It's just that Viridian is only one city away from Pewter and I wasn't comfortable having Team Rocket so close to my home and family."
It was then that Brock noticed the second girl behind Ash. Ordinarily, he'd be about on his knees by now professing his love only to nearly have his ear pulled off by Misty. Yet this girl was different. She seemed so oddly familiar that his attention was more focused on trying to figure out who she was rather than anything else, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Keeping up his own smile, Ash couldn't help but to bow his head a bit and sigh between his teeth. "Well," He said, "It's good to see you either way."
Although now that Brock mentioned home, that reminded Ash of why exactly Gary had to depart from his group before. "Hey, Gary?" He asked. "Did you end up finding anything related to Team Rocket in Pallet Town?"
"Nope," Gary answered with a shrug. "When I went back, there were a bunch of Star Foundation guys around the place." He jabbed a thumb at the ring of officers behind him. "They were shady compared to these guys if you ask me. Still, they kept back Team Rocket. Gramps said he needed a hand with some things at the lab so I decided to stick around there a while longer."
Suddenly, Gary's expression turned into a wide, knowing smirk. "You know," He said to Ash, "You really oughta call your mom every once in a while. She practically went to the lab every day to ask about you."
Ash's complexion quickly became even paler than the color of his Aura. It had just struck him that he had neglected to call or even message his own mother for a long time. Realizing that he didn't even know how long that time had been, his blood ran cold. His eyes were slowly drawn down to the Secretary Bot on his wrist. Just how many missed calls would he find on it? Even as he stood in the shadow of the main base of Team Rocket, the organization responsible for strangling the world, that threat seemed tame in comparison to what his mother would have in store for him.
"Seriously?" Asked an incredulous Serena. "How long has it been since you last called your mom? I've been keeping in touch with mine pretty regularly."
Deciding to change the subject altogether, Ash turned to address Dawn. The last time he had seen her, the 'injury' of sorts she had faced in the battle against Necrozma had impaired her speech, and likely other neurological things. "So, Dawn, are you feeling any better?"
A bright smile upon her face, the bluenette nodded happily. "No need to worry! May and Alain helped out a lot while we were out on missions together."
"She's gotten a lot better," Explained May, "But Mr. Star's doctors still say there's some…uh, complications, but things are looking good all things considered."
"No thanks to Paul," Dawn added with a scoff. She crossed her arms indignantly. "I swear, the whole time he was here, he was nothing but moody."
From behind her, Alain asked, "Isn't he always like that?"
Dawn whipped around and exclaimed, "That's the problem! That guy doesn't know the first thing about manners! The entire time he was here, he was all like, "Quit messing around, we don't have time for breaks, get moving." Nothing but the mission in his head."
Chuckling, Ash said, "Yeah, that sounds like Paul alright." He glanced around, looking for the man in question. "Speaking of which, where is he? Shouldn't he be with you guys?"
May, Dawn and Alain exchanged an odd look with one another, then May replied, "We, uh…thought he was with you."
Giving them that same look, Ash asked, "What are you talking about? Why would he be with us?"
Alain responded, "He said he was going to head back to you guys after we found that Nova Branch base that was a dud. When did you last talk to him?"
Crossing his arms, Ash hummed in thought. "The last time I heard from him was on a call about…"
He was not given the luxury of thinking on the matter any longer before a surge of shouting began to arise from the crowd of trainers. Ash and the others turned to them just in time for a shadow to pass over their heads.
"You've gotta be kidding," Muttered Ash.
When they peered up at the thing that casted this shadow, their stomachs began to turn.
"Seriously?" Questioned Serena. "Why did they have to show up?"
This shadow set the crowd of trainers wild. They raved and shouted, wondering what in the world it was and why was it here. Was it an enemy? An ally? What was it doing here, in Viridian City, of all places? Why here? Why now? What was its purpose? And above all else, there was one question ringing through the minds of all who beheld this thing. Why in the world was it shaped like the head of a Meowth?
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
Rising up from the basket of the balloon, two figures emerged, revealing themselves to the sea of trainers below. One of them, a woman with long magenta-colored hair that stuck out like a spike and curled in on itself at its end. The other, a man with clean blue hair and a smirk that shined white like a star. In his hand, he carried a single rose. These two wore two white suits with bright red R's engraved onto their suits' fronts, an insignia that was quickly recognized.
One woman pointed up at them, crying, "They're from Team Rocket!"
Ash and his friends cringed. Oh, if only that woman knew the half of it.
The Rocket woman shot out her hand, pointing to the unending sky like a dagger. "To protect the world from devastation."
Taking a spot at her side, the woman's partner swung his arm out to the furious trainers below before clenching his hand into a fist. "To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love." Cried the woman, clasping her hands together as if crushing something.
Following her, the man put a foot onto the edge of the balloon's basket and jabbed his index finger toward the very heavens themselves and shouted, "To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie!" Announced the woman.
"James!" Exclaimed her partner.
Together, the two proudly stood in opposition to the very world in front of them, uncaring about the angry shouts from below as they exclaimed, "Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to-"
"You idiots!"
Their introduction was cut short by a booming, angry shout. The trainers gasped when they spotted its source. Atop one of the roofs of the surrounding buildings, Team Rocket Grunts had revealed themselves. One of them, carrying a megaphone in hand, was fuming at the duo in the balloon.
"What do you bozos think you're doing?!" They screamed. "You blew our cover! Now the ambush is ruined!"
Several doors around the city's outer rim suddenly slammed open. Garage doors rose, windows shattered, and the sounds of rapid footsteps filled the air once Team Rocket Grunts began to pour out into the streets around the allied trainers. Just as Ash feared, the Grunts outnumbered and surrounded them.
Ash and his friends, along with those near him, were forced to back up when the doors of the Gym burst open and flooded into the streets. Ropes flew from the Gym's windows, allowing for more to descend in order to block all sides of their HQ. The situation only became worse when the sound of whirring propellers filled the air.
Jet black helicopters with a crimson 'R' painted on them began soaring overhead. However, the trainers quickly noticed that the attention of their adversaries were not solely focused on them. As the Grunts released their Pokemon, some of them began to hurl insults up at the balloon.
"You screwed it up!" One shouted.
"Why didn't you follow the plan?!" Exclaimed another.
Not taking kindly to the insults from their peers, Jessie and James sneered down at them indignantly. With a huff, Jessie roared back at them. "Oh, sod off! You can't just interrupt our motto like that! You're a disgrace to Team Rocket!"
An equally irate James cried, "Yeah! Plans are meant to be changed, but the motto is sacred above all else in Team Rocket. Clearly they're not training you properly these days!"
Between the two, a certain Meowth hopped up onto the basket's edge. "And ya didn't even let me pop in! I only get one line, and ya didn't even give me that!"
Their complaints were silenced when a series of attacks began shooting up at them from the crowd. Letting out shrill shrieks, the trio frantically bobbed and weaved around the oncoming strikes. "Meowth!" Cried James. "Set the balloon to evasive maneuvers!"
"Aye aye, captain!" Meowth quickly responded.
He hopped over to the burner and set it alight, taking the balloon higher. Atop the roof of a nearby building, one man observed the fleeing trio. Twirling a knife between his fingers, this person stepped out from the shadows and spun the edge. A small beam of light reflected off the spinning blade.
The resulting glare caught James's attention, whose eyes wrinkled in response to the irritating light. "Ugh, what on earth is that coming from?"
Bringing his arm up, the man with the blade twisted his body sideways, then hurled it at the balloon. It sailed through the air, unimpeded by the wind as if it was slicing through even that. It pierced the balloon and shot straight through, leaving two holes in either end. When the trio occupying the balloon noticed the damage, it was too late.
A wide-eyed Jessie, watching as their plan was cut down, murmured, "And that looks like…"
"Our spotlight is over…" Whimpered James.
Air spewed out from the tear, sending the balloon and trio spiraling into the sky. They sailed past the smirking individual responsible for their early departure just before helplessly flying beyond sight. "We're blasting off again!" They wailed.
"Well, they're off early," Observed Serena as she watched them go. "Who got them?"
Chuckling to themselves in response to their handiwork, the one who sent the trio on their way emerged from the shadows. Adjusting the small microphone on their suit, they stepped toward the edge of the building and stared down at the crowd gathered below.
"Welcome," They spoke into the microphone, their voice reverberating throughout the city loudly, "To Viridian City, allies of the Star Foundation."
The heads of the trainers turned in all directions in an attempt to find the source of the voice. As Ash traced the area with his Aura to sense intent, he found one individual upon a roof. "There!" He cried, pointing up at him. The person's Aura felt familiar, but he couldn't place his thumb on exactly who.
Following Ash's finger, all eyes soon landed upon the person on the roof. It was a man with long, stark marine-colored hair that appeared as smooth as silk. Wreathed in a purple cloak, this man arrogantly stood over the city as if he were looking at nothing more than ants beneath his feet.
"Who is that?" Asked Brock. And the man above them was happy to answer.
Extending his arms out, the blue-haired man announced, "The name is Pierce. I am but a humble servant of our leader's will." He lowered his arms slightly, beckoning to the people below. "And you, enemies of Team Rocket, have walked straight into your own graves."
Pierce shot his arm out to his left and unveiled a remote in his hand. His cloak billowing in the wind, he pressed a button on the remote, causing the upper half of the entire building next to him to unfurl from the top. Screams rose up from the street as the entire skyscraper opened up on four sides.
Its corners bowed outwards, revealing that the building was no mere building at all. Rather, it was some kind of contraption. Massive hollow tubes coiled around the center of the building in sets of rings. What Ash thought was an ordinary needle on a building was actually the conduit for the machine that the building hid.
"This," Said a proud-looking Pierce, "Is a hyper-precise laser manufactured by the Nova Branch. Did you honestly believe we would leave the city without defense?" With a wide grin upon his face, he turned and looked up at the machine. "It's lasers are so precise that it could instantly wipe the lot of you out without so much as grazing a hair on our troops."
In disbelief, Ash could only mutter, "You've gotta be kidding…"
"Since when did we have that?" Exclaimed a Rocket Grunt, equally as shocked as the allied trainers. "If we had that, why are we even here?"
Beside him, an older Rocket member gave a gruff chuckle. It was an older, grey-haired man. "You greenhorns don't know this," He said, "But Giovanni didn't get as far as he did without being paranoid. You can never have enough."
Pierce's finger slid over a red button on his remote. "You all should have aligned with Team Rocket when you had the chance." His smirk widened when he saw some of the trainers attempting to run, only to be kept in their place by the wall of Grunts that surrounded them. "It's too late for an escape. Or for regrets. Now, pick a god and pray. While they're still a god at least. Arceus, Aura, it does not matter."
The agent raised his remote skyward and shouted, "Not that it matters! In time, they too will fall under the control of Team Rocket!"
And then, he pressed the button.
At first, there were screams as trainers frantically looked for cover or escape. Some began battling with the Grunts in a futile attempt to push through them. Others looked to their betters, but even Mr. Star's officers were at a loss. Ash summoned forth his Aura, preparing to make a barrier as large as he could manage when it fired.
All the while, Pierce looked down upon the city in chaos with anticipation. At any moment, the weapon gifted to them by the Nova Branch would wipe out their greatest enemy in one fell swoop. In mere seconds, the war would come to a swift and decisive end.
Any second now.
The chaos in the city slowly began dragging to a halt as they awaited the laser weapon's activation. Pierce's smirk began to wane the longer he waited. Only when the crowd quieted into murmurs did he glance over at the weapon, wondering why it hadn't fired.
He pressed the activation button again, expecting to see a grand red light arise from it. When that never came, he pressed it again. And again. Over and over, to no avail. "What in the world? Why won't it fire?" Rapidly, he jabbed the button, raising the remote to the laser system. "It was made by the Nova Branch. This should be the pinnacle of science! Why isn't it…?"
As Pierce glanced back at the ground, he found that, besides the trainers fighting at the edges of the group against the Grunts, all eyes were currently on him. Wisely, he turned and ducked into the shadows just as hundreds of attacks came hurtling up at him and the laser system he was so proud of.
While the laser was being dismantled, Ash's senses suddenly spiked up in response to several hostile intentions. He brought up his shield around himself and his friends just as the surrounding Team Rocket agents ordered their Pokemon to go on the attack. Fire, poison and lightning crashed against his barrier in waves.
This signified the other Grunts to begin ordering their Pokemon to fire into the crowd as well. A series of cries rang up from the crowd, soon turning to cries of anger rather than shock. More attacks began to fly, shooting every which way back and forth between the allied trainers and Team Rocket. The battle was on.
Her eyes lighting red, Latias raised her hands. Many of the surrounding Rocket Grunts and their Pokemon were lifted into the air by a bright red light before being flung off with the swipe of her arm. The jaws of Ash's friends who did not know of her dropped, almost in sync, upon witnessing this.
"Ash," Said Dawn, "You neglected to mention the um…Psychic friend you made."
Ash, however, was more focused on the approaching Grunts that took notice of their allies being sent flying. "Long story, let's save it for later."
Tossing down her Pokemon around her, Serena put her back against his. "I gotta agree, guys."
From atop the Viridian City Gym, two propellers began to whir loudly. One large helicopter gradually took off from an opening in the roof, its twin blades cleaving through the air in tandem. As it picked itself off of its pad, it began sailing for the edge of the city. Several smaller choppers belonging to Team Rocket turned course in order to surround it.
"Attention all members of Team Rocket," Came a loud voice from the sky. In one of the smaller helicopters, a woman cloaked in the typical Team Rocket attire spoke over the battlefield with a megaphone, hanging out from the vehicle's side. "Giovanni is escaping in Aerial Unit number 001. All aerial units protect him at all costs."
Ash scowled up at the gathering of escaping helicopters. "Giovanni's in one of those?"
"Probably the biggest one knowing these bad guy types," Suggested Gary.
Taking Noivern's Pokeball in hand, Ash thought about releasing him to chase after it. However, the number of helicopters made him think otherwise. He didn't doubt the abilities of his Pokemon, but every enemy in the city would be gunning for Noivern if Ash was careless. What he needed was someone faster. Someone more well-rounded that could handle multiple enemies more easily.
So, he turned to Latias. "Hey, Latias," He said. He nudged his head in the direction of the escaping helicopters. "You're the fastest flier we have. Think you can catch up to whatever helicopter they're talking about?"
Latias briefly appeared surprised to be called upon before nodding confidently. "I can catch it for sure, but…" She glanced around herself. On all sides, there were prying eyes. Transforming from a human to a Pokemon in a battlefield would attract all kinds of attention. "Are you alright with me changing here and now?"
Ash replied, "Only if you're alright with it. But if Giovanni is really up there, then I think it's worth the risk." His hand slipped up to the back of his head as he added, "After all, we already kinda dropped the ball on keeping your secret yesterday."
She let out a giggle when she realized Ash was right. "Oh yeah. I guess that secret's kind of out of the bag, huh?"
Those who couldn't help but to listen in on their conversation were more than confused to say the least. "Ash?" Asked May. "What are you talking about?"
Hopping up, Latias was suddenly veiled in a shining light as her form changed from the borrowed body of her old friend Bianca to that of her true form. Hands turned to claws. Arms shrank and grew at her back to become wings. And when the light faded, what was left was a Legend.
Misty and Brock immediately recognized her. "Latias?!" They shouted in shock.
"What the-?!" Exclaimed May amidst the sea of gasps from all who witnessed Latias's transformation. "Ash, what was that?!"
"Long story, let's save it for later!"
Wasting no time, Latias took off after the helicopters. However, she was quickly met with opposition. Elegantly, she twirled and flipped through the air as attacks from Team Rocket raced up at her from the ground. Some of the helicopters turned and opened their doors to reveal Pokemon that attempted to blast her out of the air. Yet these attacks, too, failed to meet their mark.
Still, they were slowing her down and preventing her from catching up to the large helicopter she spotted in the center of the rest. One of them flew into her view, putting her in the sights of a Houndoom that attempted to blast her with Flamethrower. Latias's eyes shined red, and the attack momentarily stopped in its tracks before being thrown back at its caster.
"Will she be alright alone?" A concerned Brock wondered aloud.
Ash nodded. "She'll be fine. Latias is strong. Besides, not all the Grunts can spare their attention to try to stop her. All our allies are making sure of that."
Just as Ash suspected, attacks from their side began flying up at some of the helicopters. Caught unaware, the one with the Houndoom was struck on its underside by a Stone Edge and it began to whirl out of control, allowing Latias to fly past it.
"See?" Asked Ash with a smirk. "She'll be fine. It's not like she's alone. None of us are. And that's exactly why we'll win." He turned around, turning his attention upon the Gym's entrance. "But the rest of us have our own job too. We gotta get inside."
Gary hummed, following his train of thought. "Think Giovanni might not be in the helicopter after all?"
"It's possible," Ash admitted, "But we can't ignore the possibility it's really him up there. Latias is the best of us in the air. She'd be more free in the sky than she would indoors."
Serena's gaze narrowed at the myriad of Grunts between them and the Gym's entrance. "So it's up to us to cover that front?"
Ash snapped his fingers. "Exactly. Now, get close to me and prepare to run."
Releasing their own Pokemon, the enemy Grunts pointed toward Ash and his friends, muttering orders to them. But Ash was faster. With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed up a Pokeball into the air. Charizard's proud roar filled the air, but that roar wasn't alone. Another Charizard took a spot at the side of Ash's. As they glanced at one another, the competitive nature of a Charizard set smirks upon their faces.
Similarly, Alain stepped up next to Ash and said, "Figured I would lend a hand."
Alain raised his Mega Stone. Remembering the one Mr. Star had gifted him, Ash did the same. "Well," Said Ash, flashing a grin, "I'm glad to have it."
The two touched two fingers upon the Mega Stones on their bracelets. From those stones came a grand cascade of color that covered the two Charizards. And when that light faded, two dragons of black and orange remained. With orange scales and powerful wings, Ash's Charizard let out a deafening bellow. And with jet black scales and potent blue flames, Alain's Charizard followed suit.
"Cut us a path with Flamethrower!" Ordered the two trainers.
Two jets of fire, one red and one blue, spiraled into the horde of Team Rocket Grunts between them and the Gym's entrance. There was nothing they could do. The combined attack sent everything in the way flying elsewhere, carving the way for Ash and his friends to punch through.
"C'mon!" Urged Ash, returning his Charizard. "Quickly, before the rest of 'em get in the way."
Ash and his friends hastily made a dash for the Gym's entrance. Behind them, Grunts began swarming after them. Some of them ordered their Pokemon to give chase. Serena could hear the sound of powerful footsteps chasing after her, but did not dare to turn around and see what Pokemon it belonged to.
As Gary ran after Ash and Serena, he heard the noise as well. The pounding of countless feet behind him. There was no telling how many Grunts they had attracted the attention of. If they had to face these numbers indoors, it would be ugly. He looked over to Dawn and May, then nodded. They returned the gesture. When he glanced over at Alain, Brock and Misty, they did the same.
By what felt like a hair, Ash and Serena made it, clearing into the door to find a dark hallway. They whipped around to find out if their friends had made it with them, finding them standing still at the doorway with their backs turned to them, facing the impending horde of Team Rocket Grunts.
"You guys!" Ash called.
Gary chucked, raising his hand to give a haphazard wave back at Ash. "Don't worry about us, Ash. We'll keep these chumps from getting back inside. You just focus on doing what you have to do."
"You've got this, Ash!" Brock added as he released his Crobat to defend against the approaching enemies. "Just make sure Giovanni doesn't get away!"
When Serena went to protest, Ash put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with concern, silently expecting some sort of answer. Raising his head, Ash called back to the others. "You got it, guys."
He turned around, facing what laid in wait at the end of the hall. There was a dim light, but Ash could sense two people inside. Two familiar people. His Aura gently flared to life around him, lighting up the dark hall. As Ash began walking toward the dim light, he murmured to himself.
"I swear, this ends today."
Author's Note
Pokextinction Fact of the Day: The Star Foundation has had many different names over the course of the story such as Star Enterprises and the Star Corporation. This was unintentional and was really just my bad to be perfectly honest. The real name is the Star Foundation. However, I could try to rationalize an explanation that works for the other names.
The Star Foundation is the 'head' operation itself which has the goal to free Pokemon from Team Rocket and stop them and everything associated with them, as well as restoring peace in wake of how the world changed after the war against Necrozma.
Star Enterprises is one of their branches which focuses on inventing new things and technology, such as the Secretary Bots and Holo-Alice AI that Ash and his friends have been using. It's gotten to the point that all trainers employed by Mr. Star have one of these.
The Star Corporation is probably just an umbrella term for all the business organizations Mr. Star has working for him, Star Enterprises included.
The Creator- One. Million. Words. As of this chapter, our story has one million words to its name. I don't even know what to say other than thank you all for following us for this long.
This chapter's a bit shorter than the last, but I felt like we all needed some breathing room and some levity before dropping back into the fire. Ash's friends seemed like a good solution I hope. Of course, there's also the Trio…
I wonder what's going on with the Nova Branch gear?
Hydra- Short chapter this time folks. I hope you all enjoyed seeing the Rocket trio again. We haven't seen them in over thirty chapters so it was a nice change of pace bringing them back.
SilverWolf1130- Even with this "victory" for Ash and co, it seems like Lee still has the last laugh.
Next chapter I'm assuming the Legendaries are gonna learn about Lee's survival. That'll cause quite an uproar.
I still think Gio is dead and Lee is simply using his name. We haven't seen Mr. Boss in awhile. Wonder why?
Go back to Kalos, Serena. Let Ash and Latias handle it all.
I'd say Mr. Goodshow's death could be a representation of Pokémon leagues dying. Because of everything that's going on, the Pokémon world will never be the same…
Honestly, it's hard to have even an ounce of sympathy for Ryder because he's such a bastard.
I know I keep bringing up Star Wars, but the Legendaries in this story and Lee really do remind me of the Jedi Order and Darth Sidious respectively. The former having several internal flaws in their own order and the latter just having all the cards over them and focusing on turning the public on them and ruining their credibility. All that's left is for Lee to capitalize on those flaws and make his move…
Can't wait for the next chapter!
The Creator- Very rarely in war do large victories feel like victories in battles as vicious as this. Lee was indeed repelled, but at no major cost to his own forces while the city he invaded lies in ruins. But I suppose it also shows just how small a step needs to be in order to secure victory on Ash's part.
As for Lee, seems the Legends don't yet know. Ash wasn't there to tell them and Mr. Star seems to have not told Arceus. I wonder why? Perhaps he was simply too busy with the repairs and helping muster forces for the attack on Viridian City. But what is Xerneas's excuse? Perhaps it's for the best right now. Otherwise, Lugia may be prone to simply leaving his duties to go hunting.
Poor Serena! She's trying to help. It's just that she's only been on the battling side of training for a few months now. She has a lot of catching up to do, that's all. I'd say she's doing pretty good for how recently her focus on battling started. Besides, even for the weak, there is something that anyone can do to change the situation around them. Something small, maybe, but meaningful nonetheless. What do you think that thing could be?
Yes, it seems the world will never truly go back to the way it was. There are so few people left alive that are willing and able to carry the torch Goodshow left behind.
Ryder is a bastard indeed. Where else would Genesect have gotten her new attitude from? Haha. Data coming from him of all people can't be good for your brain.
Hydra- As you saw Giovanni is still very much alive. He just likes to hide in the shadows and not get directly involved in his own dirty work all that much. The last time we saw him was in a video call all the way back in chapter 26 when he made a phone call to Tony and the hell hunters about capturing the Regis, obviously that plan failed because let's face it, no one can get in the Tree of Life let alone survive it.
G- Good chapter, good indeed, so as i was guessing, Lusamine was almost targeted by Lee as the next victim, well it has sense, as among the CEOs, Lusamine, together with Mr Goodshow, leads organizations that promotes the well being and the union between humans and pokemon, like the Pokemon League and Aether corporation, some prospects that the Nova Branch will obviously frown upon, unlike the other organizations like Silph corporation, Devon corp or Macros Cosmos, that are organizations of industries, technologies and energy sources, some aspects that could be useful for the plans of Nova Branch.
And as result of this, Mr Lee instead to considers takes Lusamine like the next victim, he took Oleana, to blackmails the Chairman Rose to tries forces him to step down from his position, and gives the Nova Branch the control of the Macros Cosmos, to get an important and valuable assets and resources for the Nova Branch, and if the Chairman Rose refuses to agrees with this proposition, Mr Lee would kills Oleana in front of the national TV and leaves the public image of Rose in the dirt, for allowed that one of his employees was executed in cold blood for challenged the Nova Branch, leaving him like a man that values the material goods than human life, if he don't agrees with this demands.
Well, at least they were lucky that Ash and Latias saved Oleana, preventing other tragic death, and even avoiding that Nova Branch end taking over the Macros Cosmos and get more resources for their evil plans.
Nevertheless, even if the Mr Lee failed in get the control of Macros Cosmos, the Nova Branch still won this round; as they managed to shaken the faith of some people for the pokemon with this rigged assault of the wild pokemon, making that now other people end sharing their negative perspective of the pokemon, like the boy that was throwing bottles to the wild pokemon as retaliation for the death of his sister, and i doubt that he will be the only person with this new mindset, meaning that now the Star Corporation could end dealing with some negative backlash for makes other projects for the pokemon, as perhaps some people begin to thinks that Mr Star is a pokemon lover that cares more them than the people affected, meaning more hard work for Ash and his friends to set everything in order.
Adding that don't help that Genesect showed be a violent, merciless and ruthless pokemon that don't had qualms in attacked or jeopardizes innocent people and pokemon during her rampage, leaving clear that she didn't mind to kills innocent people in cold blood. And to get worse, Ryder managed to recorded her cruel actions, like shoots her Techno Blast, with innocent bystanders in the way, an incident that could be used easily like propaganda for the Nova Branch to discredit the intentions of Star Corporation for support bonds human-pokemon, and makes that the people that are doubting from the pokemon after the assault of Goldenrod city, end even joining to the Nova Branch, or at least begin to supports them.
And talking about Genesect, was interesting to see that she managed to download not only information to upgraded herself, but also got some of the dirty secrets and origins of the Nova Branch, or as she also mentioned; Nova Corporation. Well, this leaves me thinking in something, Star Coporation and Nova Corporation, i thinks that exists some possible connection between both, after all, a supernova is a star exploding, leaving more obvious the connection, adding that as Lusamine mentioned, Mr Star knows something about them. Well, even if Mr Star isn't like Darth Sidious, i have a hunch that he hides some dark secret from the heroes, like a tragic past, related with Mr Lee or Nova Corporation.
To finishes, so now the heroes will plans some attack to the Team Rocket base, well i hope that this attack will be more succesful than the attack to the Island, that ended with some Legendary pokemon mauled like Reshiram, and failed in secure or kills Mr Lee. Though that for some reason, i suspect that this battle could end with a worse outcome than the other, i don't know, i simply have a bad feeling about this.
PS. Regarding to Mew, Hydra, to considers that Nova Branch has the support of Xuritree to advances their technology and gear, perhaps they could thinks in two possibles weapons to deals with Mew; Hard light force field shields, perhaps thanks to the advanced technology of Xuritree, the Nova Branch can get the capability to generates Hard light, that could allows them creates very powerful force fields, capable to withstand easily the attacks of Mew, after all, in Halo universe, the Hard light is so powerful that it can withstand easily nuclear explosions.
And as other weapon; Dark energy generators, as to remember that Mew is a psychic pokemon, she has a weakness or even kryptonite; Dark type, meaning that maybe the Nova Branch will makes some devices capable to generates concentrated Dark type energy in a zone, making this like the equivalent of Kryptonite of Mew, and even maybe this energy is calibrated in a way that it will still affects Mew even if she transform in other pokemon or changes her type, as her original type will be still psychic type, making that the Dark energy will always affects Mew and weakens her as result.
PSS. HAPPY NEW YEAR :)
Keep the good job.
As other point, regarding to Genesect, i guess that after the events of the siege of Goldenrod city, she end solifying her role as another antagonist in the story, because even if Genesect is after the Nova Branch, her actions to put in jeopardize innocent people and pokemon in cold blood, proved that Genesect is also a menace not only for Nova Branch, but also to Star Corporation, Ash, the mankind, the pokemon and even the other Legendaries, as Genesect basically hasn't qualms in kills anyone that crosses her path, regardless the affiliation.
Meaning that even if the heroes defeats to Nova Branch and Team Rocket, Genesect will be still a target for the heroes as well, as even if Ash hates admit, this pokemon is too dangerous for everyone right now, making necessary to stop Genesect before be too late, and i doubt that she can be reasonable like Zeraora, in fact, Genesect fell more deeper to the Dark side than Lugia, Reshiram or even Giratina, as Genesect is simply too blinded for her revenge, to the point of be only a killing machine, literally. So, Genesect must be stopped for any means necessaries, before she end becoming a Necrozma 2.0.
The Creator-Indeed. Lusamine was the next biggest target, but Oleana could have offered Lee so much more. Galar's basically been unhurt by the Necrozma invasion thanks to the efforts of Macro Cosmos and their self-reliance. This is the only real hit they've taken.
It's so odd how often the Nova Branch seems to lose or retreat, but what they achieve in their appearances make it impossible for their enemies to call the battle a victory with the exception of the decisive victory on the island thanks to Giratina. Speaking of achievements, you're so right about the footage Ryder recorded of Genesect. That won't go over well in the public's eye. Unless Ash can defeat Giovanni here and now, that is.
Hydra- If the legends discover that Lee still lives things could be much worse. With how unstable many of them are it could cause more divide ness and irrational decisions that it will ultimately crack them down the middle. While that is true that Mew is weak to dark types we also gotta remember that she is a literal god. Think of it kinda like the Nova Branch trying to take on Arceus. That would seem almost impossible even at his lower power level right now. Now imagine that but against Mew who is in her prime and has pretty much not been in any real fights throughout the whole story. I can't imagine what weakness there could possibly be that could be exploited right… I'm also curious, how are you liking Shaun? I know we haven't seen him in awhile but what do you think about what Mew did to him and his personality overall? P.S. Mew is my favorite hehe
The Creator- Next chapter, we will see exactly who those two familiar individuals at the end of the hall are. The fight, for Ash and Serena, will be taken to the interior of the Gym. Will Giovanni be there, or was he in the escape helicopter after all? Or perhaps…he has already gone? Find out next time, and see everything that Team Rocket has in store.
Hydra- Alrighty guys once again that's all for this chapter. Before we go can we all just appreciate the fact that we just reached ONE MILLION WORDS! WOOOOOOOO! YEEEEAAAA BAAABBBY THATS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Lol but anyway I know I've said it a thousand times but for all the readers that have actually made it this far and we're willing to literally read over a million words just to support us and see where the story goes I really do freaking appreciate it and I promise you won't be dissapointed by what's coming soon….. very soon.