Pokémon Journey: XYZ
Hey guys Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 92 and Chapter 9 of XYZ. Now we face another encounter with Team Flare and the group will attempt find out more about their plans. I did mention this would be a two part as after the battle the next chapter would be a race to against time as more blanks get filled and more questions pop up. Let's jump right in.
"The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man."-Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Chapter 92: Terminus
The group moved down a hill and on to a grassy slope just off Route 18 where they oversee an abandoned work site. "So this is it." Ash said. "Yep, the entrance to Terminus Cave is beyond those tracks." Rene answered. "I'm surprised all the equipment is left." Drake said as he saw several cranes, iron bars, beams and some porta potties laying around. "Yea I've read that around sixty years ago, a major mining implosion seriously disrupted the progress of mining minerals inside the mine. Several casualties were reported, followed by a stream of red tape that hammered out the mining company." Rene explained.
"So the accident was their doing?" Serena asked. "According to the reports, the implosion was the result of poor mining practice. The company went into bankruptcy, and all this stuff was left behind." Rene said. "No one bothered to clean the mess?" Drake asked. "Nope, nowadays Pokémon treat this like their own personal playground." Rene finished. "Remind me how you know this stuff?" Ash asked. "I'm an avid reader and anyone can look up anything online." Said Rene.
"So the entrance is that cave." Drake pointed. "Yep, we just trek cross the tracks." Rene said. "They still look study luckily." Bonnie said. "I wouldn't say that. Some pieces are missing." Clemont said. "Clemont it'll be fine, it's just two small hops over." Said Drake. "Hear that Squishy, you're finally home." Said Bonnie as Squishy peaks over to finally be back in Terminus Cave.
After hopping over the tracks and walking into the cave for a few minutes, the group was surprised by the rocks lit by green rocks of sort. "What were they mining here again?" Drake asked. "Mostly gemstones of sorts from emeralds to sapphires even diamonds." Rene said. "So this was a diamond mine?" Clemont asked. "They expected to find diamonds here. They just weren't counting on finding a variety of sorts." Rene said.
"It's a little dark in here." Bonnie said. "I think I could fix that. Delphox come on out." Serena said as she released the Fox Pokémon. "Could you light the way with your branch?" Serena asked as Delphox nodded and use her branch and lit it on fire to light the way. "I could help as well. Helio Lamp on." Clemont pushed a button on his backpack strap that opened up a head lamp shaped of a Heliolisk that lit up some of the cave. "That helps a lot." Ash said.
"So, do we actually know where we're going because so far we been going straight." Drake said. "So we go straight until we find another pathway." Ash said. "How deep does this cave go again?" Drake asked. "No one knows Drake." Rene answered. The gang continues down the straight path until they hit a dead end and where the only way is a narrow left pathway that appears to be a dead end. "No way this can't be it." Ash said. "Not exactly." Drake said as he saw an opening under the wall. "I guess we're crawling until we reach the other side." Drake pointed out. "Are you sure?" Serena asked. "There ain't no other way." Said Drake. "Clemont you should lead the way." Ash suggested.
"Hey move your foot." Bonnie complained. "That's not mine." Drake said. "Ash your hand." Rene said. "Sorry." Ash apologize. It was a tight fit as the group crawled ahead with Clemont and Delphox in lead. Eventually Clemont saw an opening up ahead. "We're almost through." He called out. Finally the group crawled out of the wall and walked to an edge where down below the path continues. "Now we're climbing?! Come on!" Serena yelled out. "Serena it'll be okay." Ash calmed her nerves. "Well the sooner we get down there, the sooner we can continue." Rene said.
The group succeeded down the wall and headed off. Following down a path and taking a right turn, the group faced a three way fork beyond them along with a blackout ravine ahead of them. "Well that's just great. Now we have to pick a way to go." Rene said. Squishy knew the cave system well and knew down in the ravine was the resting chamber where the lake lies. Feeling impatient to finally be back home, Squishy hops out of Bonnie's bag, looks at the crew and jumps into the ravine.
"Squishy!" Bonnie cried. "Bonnie no we can't. It's too dangerous." Clemont held her back. "But we must go after Squishy!" Bonnie argues. "Clemont's right Bonnie. We can't climb down into that ravine, it's too risky." Ash said. "We'll have to find another way and without a guide, we're gonna have to find out where Squishy headed." Drake said as he released Lucario. "I assume you need my assistance." Lucario asked. "We need a guide through the cave.
"I know how to find out too. Noibat come on out." Ash released the Sound Wave Pokémon to help. "Could you use your ultrasonic find out which route leads down to the ranvine? We need to catch up to Squishy." Ash asked as Noibat emitted out loud sound waves from his ears to analyze each fork. "Lucario give Noibat a hand." Drake said. "Right away Master." Lucario salutes as Drake grunted annoyingly when Lucario calls him Master.
Both Pokémon examined each fork to the best of their abilities. Lucario follows Aura signatures while Noibat detects sounds. Both looked and nodded at each other at the middle fork. "I'm picking up a strong vibe from the middle fork and the little guy says he hears water dripping." Lucario explains. "That could be it. There are rumors saying that there's a hidden lake deep underground. A lake with mystical properties." Rene said. "That could sound like Squishy's home." Bonnie said. "Well, on to the middle fork." Ash said as the group got moving.
Squishy finally reach the lake underground and immediately dove in. At last, it was finally at home and let the lake's special properties energize it. Feeling securely safe, Squishy emitted a pulse hoping to reach the other. In a faraway land, another Squishy with a blue core inside of red felt a message coming through. "Are you well?" Squishy spoke on its own broadcast. "I am well. Are you secure?" Z-2 asked. "I am." Squishy spoke plainly.
Near Terminus Cave, a Team Flare detachment inside an armored APC picked up the enegry broadcast Squishy emitted. "Sir we are picking up a pulse signal from Z-1." A grunt told Xerosic as they sent over coordinates of Squishy's location. Then another ping on radar came up several miles away. "We now have Z-2's location as well Sir." They examined.
"Sir Z-1 is located back in its chamber in Terminus Cave. Z-2 is located miles away in the Grasslands." Xerosic told Lysandre. "Very well, Aliana, Mable you head off Z-2 and contain. Celosia, Bryony I'm giving you the order to engage, capture Z-1 and bring it here." Lysandre orders. "And what if those Guardian Knights are there too?" Bryony asked. "Defend yourselves if you must, but your primary objective is Z-1's capture." Lysandre said. "At once Sir, we're on it." Bryony bowed then disconnected. "You're taking an awfully big risk aren't you." Malva asked. "A moment of opportunity is more accurate." Lysandre said. "It'll also be a moment of opportunity for the Ketchums you know. They're still investigating us." Malva warned. "I'm aware but this is our only chance to capture Z-1." Lysandre Said then walked away from Malva's cynical nature.
"You must run, quickly. There are those that are hunting us down to exploit us." Squishy said. "I am aware but I am more concern for your safety." Z-2 said. "Don't be alarm for I have protectors that guard my well being." Squishy said. "They are human are they not? Mankind can't be trusted. They destroy the every ecosystem that we have swore at duty to maintain." Z-2 said. "I don't disagree with you. I am aware of our oath but these human in my eye have proved to be true. They are aware of the growing threat on the horizon and manybe the only ones to stop it." Squishy said.
"That is not our purpose, for if it's Kalos's destiny to be destroy in the near future, it'll be our duty to restore the balance afterwards." Z-2 said. "I don't agree, this world isn't beyond saving. In darkest days there will always shine a beacon of hope. My only hope is when it's time to fight, we won't stand by." Squishy said then it heard the group calling for it. "I must go. My caretakers call for me. For now stay safe, for I fear our enemy is on the move." Squishy said then disconnected.
The group went into the chamber to see the hidden lake in front of them. The water was more green with minerals then it was blue. "Squishy." Bonnie called out. Squishy came out of the water and approached them while Bonnie pick it up. "Squishy, you shouldn't run off like that." Bonnie said worriedly. "I'm sure Squishy was just anxious to come back here." Serena said.
"So this is the Hidden Lake correct?" Ash asked. "Yep, but don't ask me about it because information on this place is scarce." Rene said. Drake looked around the chamber in context. His instincts were ringing in alert, something was wrong and he knew it. "Drake, are you alright?" Rene asked. "We shouldn't linger." Drake spoke plainly. "We brought Squishy home. It should be safe here right?" Ash asked. "I don't know what to believe. Something is not right here." Drake said. "You're probably just paranoid." Ash talked. "My instincts are never wrong. There something amuck here." Drake said.
"Like what?" Clemont asked. "I don't know. I feel like." Suddenly an explosion near their feet cut Drake off. The group steady themselves as they heard evil chuckling echo in the chamber.
"Like we're being watched." Drake snarled out as they looked to their left to see none other then Team Flare with an armed escort. "Well, well, well, we meet again." Celosia and her Drapion stood with a pair of Team Flare Grunts. Bryony and her Bisharp stood a ledge above them along with the Grunts who were carrying some sort of guns.
"If you know what's good for any of you. You'll hand over Z-1 now!" Bryony answered. "So that eventually soon we lose our lives? Not a chance in hell." Ash spat. "Its actual name is Z-1? What do you know about it?!" Drake yelled. "Oh ho ho, wouldn't you like to know." Celosia mocked. "Enough of these games! Hand over the blob and maybe you all won't be hurt..much." Bryony demanded. "What does Squishy have to do with your plans. How are you gonna use it!" Drake demanded back which merely angered Bryony more.
"YOU'RE SO ANNOYING. SOMETIMES I WONDER WHY THE BOSS IS SO INTERESTED IN YOU!" Bryony screamed until she suddenly covered her mouth as she knew what she just did. The group was shocked at what they just heard, for Arceus how long Team Flare were hunting them. "Interesting in us!? You guys have been hunting us!?" Rene yelled out.
"Bryony you fool! You compromise this mission!" Lysandre yelled. "You and Celosia pull out of there immediately." Bryony heard Lysandre through her ear piece. "No, we can still complete the objective Sir." Bryony said. "Bryony what's the deal?" Celosia asked despite hearing everything.
"What's going on?" Rene whispered. "I don't know, somehow I got the feel that piece of information was suspose to be confidential." Drake said. "No kidding. Perhaps we could use this to our advantage." Ash said. "Perhaps." Drake merely said.
"You jeopardize this. I order you back here." Lysandre said. "No I swore we would capture Z-1. You have my word." Bryony vowed then turned off her ear piece. "*groan* total bitch! Her pride will ruin us." Malva said as Lysandre said nothing but stare at the video screens of the situation.
"They didn't plan on this which means they're desperate to get Squishy." Drake spoke through Aura Link. "So what's the play. Turn tail and run?" Asked Ash. "That didn't work last time. We chase them away from here." Rene suggested. "While we're at that, this is our chance to learn more about them. I'll engage while you guys cover me." Drake said as they nodded.
"Last chance, hand over Z-1." Bryony yelled. "Or what." Drake dares. Bryony responded by grabbing one of the guns a Grunt had and pulled the trigger. Right then an orange bolt ran out of the barrel, raced across the chamber and struck Drake in the shoulder. "Drake!" Ash cried as Drake clutched his shoulder in pain. "Are you alright?" Serena asked. "I'm good. It just stings like a bitch." Drake said as he stood up.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Drake snarled as he took out his Uchigatana. "Careful, these bolt stingers can be lethal and not in a hot way." Celosia said. "So what's it gonna be?" Bryony asked. "I'd say I'm through being diplomatic." Drake said as he saw the Grunts release several Houndour and Skorupi. "Yea same here." Bryony said then gave a signal. Right then the Houndour and Skorupi shot out Flamethrowers and Poison Stings at the group.
"Take cover!" Rene yelled as the group took refuge behind a set of rocks. "I'm going up! Cover me." Drake said. "Got it, Greninja come on out." Ash released. "Arrow come on out." "Delphox help us out." "You too Luxray." The other release their Pokémon. Drake immediately ran ahead towards Team Flare.
"Is he insane? He's got get blown to bits." Malva said. "No, this man wouldn't commit to such acts unless necessary. Bryony they plan on finding out more about us, I want you all back now!" Lysandre ordered. "No sir, we can take them. Concentrate your fire on the approaching target." Bryony ordered as several Grunts took aim and fired Stinger Bolts at Drake.
Charging in with only a razor sharp sword, Drake swung his Uchigatana in hand to deflect incoming Stingers that were in his path. Meanwhile the other Team Flare Grunts And their Pokémon fired on the group's position. Squishy was startle and jumped out of Bonnie's arms and made a break for the lake. "Squishy!" Bonnie cried.
"Target is moving!" A Grunt said. "Move in to contain now!" Bryony said as a male and female head to the lake. "Ma'am, enemy is engaging." Another Grunt calls as Celosia and Bryony saw Drake coming in hot. "Stop him, Celosia you help." Bryony orders. "We'll need reinforcements for backup." Celosia said. "I'm on it, this is Delta Green, I'm calling in reinforcements for support. Do you copy?" Bryony said. "Roger, ETA to location is fifteen minutes." A Grunt said. "Make that fast dammit." Bryony ordered.
"Use Mystical Fire." "Use Thunderbolt." "Use Dragon Pulse." All three Pokémon fired their own attacks as the Grunts retaliated with attacks of their own canceling every attack incoming. Rene looked at the lake to see two Grunts shooting at Squishy. Squishy did it's best swimming in the lake to avoid each shot but one stray shot ended up hitting its back head on.
"Ash Squishy's in trouble." Rene called Ash looked at the lake to see two Grunts rapidly approaching Squishy's location. "I'm on it! Cover me. Greninja with me." Ash said as he and Greninja ran off and jumped into the lake. Serena looked over and worried over Ash jumping into the hellfire of battle. "Target is contain." The male Grunt said as he took out an energy cage. "Too easy." The female Grunt said under she heard water splashing over.
"Target incoming!" The male Grunt called as Ash went in fast and did a dropkick on the male Grunt, knocking him into the water. Squishy broke free and went to Ash. "Greninja get him back." Ash orders as Greninja took Squishy and ran back. "You'll pay for that kid!" The female Grunt threatens. "No you will." Ash said as he did a heavy kick to the woman's stomach. He looked over his shoulder to see male back up, grabbed Ash and tossed him into the water.
Drake jumped high while Stingers still ran at him. Landing in the middle, Drake engaged the first hostiles with sword in hand and sliced off the body of the guns on each one, rendering them useless. Scrabbling his sword and taking out his Staff and breaking it in two for non lethal purposes. Drake moves ahead while going through muitple Grunts coming in. "Surrender now!" Drake yelled as the Grunts took no heed from him. Drake's only thought was he would have to swing harder at this point.
Ash took a dip as the male Grunt held him underwater. Air comsuming, Ash quickly punched him in the shades, breaking the right lens and pushing him off. Ash quickly got up coughing up water and steadying himself in the water. The female Grunt engaged with a high punch but Ash caught it while the male took advantage of Ash's back flank. Not falling for the same trick, Ash tighten his grip on the female's wrist, bruising it while he blocked a punch with his left arm. Ash quickly threw a kick each of their guts and did a split kick to their faces, knocking them into the water.
Celosia fired several Stingers at Drake who was a few feet from her handling off one of her men. The Grunt didn't stand a chance when he was knocked down at Drake' hands, now he redirected his focus on Celosia herself. Drake struck high but Celosia used the rifle's body to block the blow. A quick blow to his leg caused Drake to stagger and Celosia right away jumped at his shoulders and use her thighs to compress each side of Drake' face. It was a submissive move that could cause anyone to loss conciseness in seconds and Celosia's personal spin on it is that she could achieve an orgasm out of it while her victim suffers. Drake tried to break her hold but her thighs wouldn't budge and he was getting more light-headed by the second. Changing tactics, Drake decided to use momentum in his favor, and tried a flip backwards but instead landed on his back but Celosia herself cushioned his fall and released her grip, it wasn't the plan he went with but still got the same result.
"Awww, I was so close to climax kid." Celosia whined as she got up. "You really need help." Drake said disgusted. "You sure you don't want to top me off? I'll make it worth your while." Celosia asked but Drake only felt more grossed out then before. He merely decided to finish this and went with a quick staff strike which Celosia blocked once again. "You hitting on me?" Celosia asked sexually. Not falling for any more of her tricks, Drake quick fired an Aura Sphere that knocked Celosia against a wall unconscious. "More like beating bitch." Drake spat until he heard screaming.
Bryony charged in arm swing which Drake had no problem dodging. In the struggle, Drake powered the electrical generators on his Staff pieces and struck Bryony on her side, causing her to stagger and sparks to fly off. With his opponent at his mercy, Drake went with a low axe kick that knocked Bryony on her stomach. "You should've listen to you boss sweetheart. Now spill everything." Drake held her by her throat. "*choking* With each movement you take, we'll remember it. Each action you take, we'll know of. Soon kid, it'll be you who would be at our mercy." Bryony spoke.
"She's just giving him more info about us!" Malva cried. "This whole operation is down the drain Sir." Xerosic said. Lysandre could only watch on screen and stare at Drake' face.
"Maybe so but you don't know me all. You see I want to follow, I want you close, real close. Each intervention you give me, I learn more about. You all are nothing but cowards looking to dictate Kalos's freedom. I'm hear to tell you, you will not succeed. Not now, not ever." Drake dared.
Suddenly a Stinger rang past him and Drake saw more Flare Grunts pouring into the entrance. "You better starting running." Bryony smirked. "Who said anything about running?" Drake said as he took a Staff piece and shot out an Aura Wave that struck three Grunts but more of them kept pouring in. He then felt stuck from his position and had no choice but to retreat back to the group. "Ughhh, get him! Get them all!" Bryony yelled out. Right away twenty Grunts took aim and fired at Drake running away back and at the group's location.
"We're getting hammered here!" Rene said. "We really must've pissed them off." Ash said still soaked from his swim in the lake. Drake finally made it back to the group and took cover. "They're really peeve off." Drake said. "No kidding." Ash commented. "What happened to you?" Drake asked when he saw Ash all wet. "Took a swim in the lake." Said Ash.
"Move in, move in." Bryony ordered as they closed in on the group. "I don't see a way out of this." Serena said. "I don't suspose you have any tricks Squishy." Bonnie asked. Squishy knew they were in danger and were looking to it for a way out. Instead Squishy knew the time to fight is now and emitted a pulse that caught everyone's eyes including Team Flare. "Guys up there." Clemont pointed to the ceiling where hundreds of flat blobs that almost resembled Squishy were visual. "What are those things?" Ash wondered. The next second, in a blazing light they all raced and merge with Squishy who grew brighter and brighter until going through metamorphosis.
When the light dimmed, Squishy was now the dog creature from before. "Contain!" Celosia said as everyone fired Stingers at Squishy. Squishy dodged every shot until charging a shockwave from its snout then releasing it into the earth, causing the ground to explode and trap everyone behind or under rock. Squishy looked at the carnage and saw no one in sight. Pondering in thought, Squishy considered running away to protect everyone. Team Flare we're primarily there for it not them. Finally reaching a decision, Squishy decided to make for the exit.
The group coughed and staggered around in the dirt until they heard someone else coughing. Through the dust, they saw Bryony and Celosia who in turn saw them. "You...kids..are annoying pricks." Bryony said. "We could say the same about you." Ash called. "This is one lesson you all will never forget." Bryony said as she and Celosia release a Liepard and a Manectric. "Bryony, you've cause enough damage and compromised more intelligence then ever. Retreat now!" Lysandre ordered. "We'll retreat when the mission is complete."
"Guys where Squishy?" Bonnie asked as Rene, Ash, and Drake tried tracking Squishy Aura signature. "I can't detect Squishy's Aura here. It must've fled the chamber. Ash said. "Shame, after we're done with you all, we'll hunt Z-1 down and nothing will ever stop us." Bryony said. "Let's find out." Ash said as he felt another Synergy bust harmonize with Greninja and Ash felt the merge taking hold, causing Greninja to morph into the altered form covered by a water veil.
Everyone was spook since this happened once more. "That's new." Celosia commented. "Night Slash on Manectric." Greninja formed two Kunai knives in each hand, and at blind speed struck Manectric before it could react. "Shadow Claw fast." Liepard pounce on and struck fast on Greninja's right shoulder. Greninja felt the pain but Ash also felt the same feeling and clutched his shoulder. "Agh!" Ash cried. "Are you okay?" Serena asked. "Yea, What's the hell?" Ash wondered what just happened. "Manectric Use Thunderbolt." Manectric charged and fired a bolt of lightning at Greninja. "Charizard come out and use Flamethrower." Drake release the Flame Pokémon who fired a stream of fire to cancel the Thunderbolt.
"Thanks for cover. Greninja strike again." Greninja went in the middle and struck Manectric with Night Slash once again. "Shadow Claw again." Liepard went in with another opportunity to strike. Ash felt another sense come down on him and felt time go slow and once again felt he was battling in Greninja's place and saw Liepard leaping at him. "Not again, Greninja Aerial Ace." Greninja swiftly dodged Liepard's Shadow Claw and in the panic did an flip kick to Liepard's chin and another to its face that knocked Liepard into Bryony.
"That's enough! How much more suffering will it take for you both realize you have lost!?" Drake asked. Bryony and Celosia looked to find the odds against them but with Z-1 out there and out of the safety of these punks, they may have a chance to capture it. "You may won this battle but the war is far from over." Bryony said as Manectric use Flash to blind the group and cover their escape.
When the group came to, they noticed they were alone. "They're long gone." Drake said. "Man that was on the edge of our chins." Ash said. "Not exactly. Squishy ran away after that Land's Wrath shook everyone." Rene said. "Wouldn't that mean Team Flare would be out there looking for it?" Serena asked. "Yep, which means we have to find Squishy first." Drake said, knowing this day is far from over.
Near Terminus Cave Squishy reverted back to its Core form and staggered to the ground exhausted. It knew its caretakers would come looking for it which meant it should stay nearby but on the other hand it's would be captors would be hunting it down. All the more reason to reunite with its protectors immediately. This would be a long battle.
Part 1 is done. So tell me what you guys think about this. It took a bit of time and thought to come up with juicy details to add to some parts of the chapter in order to make it very action oriented but otherwise here's Chapter 92. Next Chapter will pick up where we left off as it's a race to find Squishy. Stay tune.
Really guys, Comment and tell me what you guys think. It would mean alot to me. Thanks for reading. This is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.
