"This is worse than before," Alex murmured as we stared out the helicopter window. Smoke still rose from Lumiose City, tell-tale signs that some fires had yet to be put out. Blinking red and blue lights flashed from various streets as the sirens wailed. Compared to the attack the Cult had enacted on the city before, this had brought about more destruction and death. Unmoving vines still lay across roads and through buildings, slowly being cut down by Pokemon to attempt to remove them.
I rested a hand on her shoulder. "But it can be rebuilt. Kalos will move on. Team Flare is done for."
"Hopefully," Robert muttered and I shot him a quick glance. He grimaced. "There may be at least one person out there still not caught."
Now he had both of our attentions. Robert cleared his throat. "When Clemont and I fought to take back Prism Tower, I was attacked by a woman in some sort of suit with a helmet with a digital screen. On it was an E. She fell out of the building, and believe me when I tell you I'm pretty sure she has superhuman strength, so I think she's still out there. Then there's the matter of Xerosic. Clemont said he escaped, so unless he got caught..."
"Dang't," I looked back at Lumiose, half-destroyed and burning. "So we have some loose ends to tie up after all."
"At least it should be easier tha-" Alex's voice was cut off as the radio in the front of the helicopter burst with static.
"Hold on, I got it," James reached over and flicked a switch. He held a hand to his headphones, listening. Then he turned back to us. "Some guy names Looker of the International Police wants you guys to meet him at the base of Prism Tower."
I exchanged a glance with both of my friends. Looked like our job was far from over.
...
Jessie, James, and Meowth waved us goodbye as the helicopter lifted back off into the sky. They were still going to do their job as reporters to cover Lumiose news. As we stood on the cracked cobblestone street, Looker was making his way over to us, hopping over a vine that lay across the path.
"Glad you three could make it," he smiled, straightening his brown trench. He had cut his hair since the last time we had seen him, no longer sticking up. "I saw what went down outside of Anistar City. I don't believe I'm the only one who owes you all my thanks."
I waved my hand. "Enough. You called us here for a reason, right?"
Looker made a grim smile. "Right to the point, like always. Yeah, a good one. Follow me." He turned and led us across the plaza, towards where several IP vans were waiting. The back was open for one and a familiar face was sitting on the edge, a small blanket around his shoulders. He was staring down into what had probably been a steaming cup of coffee, but now had turned cold.
"Preston," I hurried forwards and he looked up, a glazed look over his eyes. He looked worse for wear, his clothes ripped and various bruises and cuts along the skin that was showing. "What happened to you!?"
He blinked, then he seemed to focus in on me. "Zeno?" He hurriedly set the cup down to his side and sprang to his feet, knocking the cup over where it shattered on the cobblestones. He gripped my shoulders tightly, looking absolutely frightened. "I couldn't-! I-! I tried! But I-!"
"Preston, Preston," I forced him to sit again. "Calm down. It's alright now." He was trembling so bad he couldn't even speak.
"What happened to him?" I heard Alex ask Looker.
Looker shook his head. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. But he said Zeno's name, so I figured the only way to get anything out of him was to get you three here."
One look at Preston told me the man was in shock, likely going to be unable to tell me anything for a while. There was only one option now. I took a step back and snapped my fingers as loud as possible. "Preston!" My authoritative tone made him jerk and he stared at me with wide-eyes. this was a tone I hand't used since I was a part of Team Rocket, something I knew would get through to Preston. "I don't want excuses, I want information! Failure will not be tolerated!"
Preston's trembling eased as he took in huge gulps of air. Then, "Thanks, Zeno."
"Anytime," I squeezed his shoulder. "Now, what happened? And where's Clara? Was she with you?"
Preston took a moment to answer as he shivered. "Yes. Clara was with me. We had escaped the stadium when the vines attacked, but then..."
...
"C'mon," Clara tugged Preston free of the seat that had fallen on top of him.
"Thanks," he gasped, looking back at the stadium. The large vines were still punching holes in the walls and the arena below was covered in smoke and there was no sign of Zeno.
"Hurry up," Clara ordered, already stomping away with Scizor at her side. "We can't hang around here."
Preston scrambled to his feet, hurrying after her. They made their way further into the stadium, careful to avoid the vines. There were no other people as they already left.
"Thanks," Preston told her. "For staying behind to help me."
Clara didn't even spare him a glance. "Right now we have to meet up with the others. Whoever is attacked here might be attacking the city itself. And I for one would like to have a word with whoever is orchestrating this."
Preston couldn't help but admire her confidence and ability to stay calm in a situation like this. Her Scizor ran forwards, slashing through a vine covering the entrance, leading them out into daylight. The sight that lay before them was a city undergoing its destruction. Vines smashed through buildings and streets, the screams of people and Pokemon filling the air.
Clara pointed at Prism Tower in the distance where a red creature stood atop it. "There. We'll meet up with the others at the base I'm sure." She made to run towards the stairs that led down to the streets below, then stopped.
"What is it?" Preston asked, but Clara wouldn't answer and only stared down the steps. He followed her gaze to see her tracking a crowd of people and Pokemon that were running down a street. No, she was looking at one person in particular. Preston caught sight of a purple robe before it moved down an alley.
"Not this time," Clara growled as she hared down the steps.
"Wait!" Preston stumbled after her, having to catch himself before he fell. "Wasn't that a-!"
Clara whipped around, already near the bottom. "You should know as well as I that Cultists cannot be allowed to be here! I'm going to stop whatever they're up to! You can either come along or help at Prism Tower!" She whirled back around and leaped down the rest of the stairs.
Preston ran a hand through his hair, glancing around nervously, then made up his mind. If everyone else was heading to Prism Tower, they would have each other. But Clara would only have herself and her Pokemon. By the time he made it down the stairs, Clara had already crossed the street and disappeared into the alley where the Cultist had gone. Cursing under his breath, Preston ran, jumping to avoid a vine that broke through the street and ran blindly into the dark passage.
The sound of screaming and sirens seemed to have become a distant wailing as Preston hurried past sodden brick walls. Water dripped down into a large puddle that he had to splash through before he got to an open area. He gazed around, nervously eyeing every shadow. Not seeing anyone, he noticed another alley that led back towards the street.
A large vine broke through the building overhead, sending debris raining down. Preston immediately wrapped his arms around his head, squeezing his eyes shut as he prepared to be crushed. The sound of a pokeball opening made him reopen them. Something leaped above him, swinging its naked tail against the chunks of bricks, sending them into a nearby wall and they crashed to the ground.
"Raticate," Preston exclaimed and his Pokemon lumbered towards him, nuzzling him. "Thank you." He glanced up towards where he could see the street. "Come on, we need to hurry."
As soon as he put a foot out of the alley, a Shadow Ball whizzed past and slammed into the concrete sidewalk, carving out a large chunk. Preston whirled around to see Clara with her back to him, standing ten feet from the battle she was engaged in. Her opponent was one of the cultists, his Chandelure spinning forwards, trailing fire. Scizor ducked, his wings creating a gust of wind that blew the Ghost type upwards. He leaped into the air, spinning as he slammed a glowing claw into the enemy Pokemon, sending it crashing into the street, creating a small crater.
Something caught his eye and Preston swiveled his gaze to see something streak towards Clara. His eyes widened as he yelled, "Raticate!" The Normal type leaped forwards, pushing Clara forwards as it took the Shadow Ball head-on. Clara's eyes widened when she saw Preston, then nodded her thanks, turning to see another cultist emerge from the shadows of a different alley, her Chandelure floating above her.
"Glad you showed up," Clara grinned. "Wouldn't be any fun if I took them down all by myself."
Preston gulped, nodding. He knew that these cultists wouldn't just battle you; they would kill you if given the chance. As Preston summon up the nerves to issue further commands to Raticate to attack, more cultists seemed to appear out of thin air. In a matter of seconds, they were surrounded. The city around them burned and crumbled as the vines continued to grow, but right now, it seemed as if this group was in their own separate universe. There were a dozen, no, more than that closing in on them, too many Chandelures burning their blue flames.
Preston felt a hand on his shoulder. Clara squeezed it. "When I attack, run."
"What?" Preston wanted to ask, but his mouth wouldn't work. Then Clara yelled something that he didn't hear over the noise of fear in his head and Scizor slammed a fist into the ground, blowing up a sharp wind, creating a hole in the line of cultists. He felt a hand push him forwards and then Raticate grabbed the back of his shirt, lifting him up as he ran, bowling past the line of cultists. Flames scorched the back of the Normal type, but he didn't let go of his trainer as he lumbered down the street. Preston managed to glanced back just in time to see the line of cultists once more surround Clara, vanishing her from view.
...
Preston shook his head sadly, eyelids threatening to close. Looker nodded at us and had some of his officers help Preston lay down in the back of his truck.
"It seems it's just one thing after another," Looker remarked. "Don't worry, we'll find your friend. I'll have any available unit out looking for Clara or cultists."
"Thanks," I nodded, exhaustion suddenly sweeping over me. Having fought in the final battle of the Kalos League yesterday as well as having spent the entire night saving the world, I was doing better than I thought. But the news of Clara was enough to dampen the joyful mood we could have been in.
Looker took a look at us, gaze softening. "Why don't you guys come back to my office with me? I have a couple couches you all can sleep on. And we'll bring Preston as well."
"Sounds like a plan," Alex said, nodding. She tried to look alert, but I could see the signs of fatigue. We all wanted to find Clara, but at the moment, we would be no help to anyone. By the time we arrived at Looker's dark office, we all found a couch to crash on. As darkness swept over me, I found myself thinking of Clara. My friend was either dead or in the clutches of the Cult, I was sure of it.
"Thank you for being my rival, Zeno. No, thank you for being my friend."
"Clara," I thought, feeling one final burst of determination before I let sleep take me. "I will save you."
As the region begins to recover from the brutal attack caused by Lysandre and Team Flare, an old threat reemerges from the shadows. With Clara either missing or dead, the Cult of Chaos is finally making its move. Till next chapter. Toodles
