Chapter 8: Team Neo Aqua/Magma & Stolen Neo Pets
(A/N: Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition came out this week so I'm going to release this story before I dive deep into one of my favorite JRPG series)
General
With only the natural light of the outdoors filtering in through the single set of glass doors on the Mossdeep pokemart, the large pokemart was eerily dark from the sudden power outage.
Suddenly, on the center countertop, normally reserved for general pokemon goods like pokeballs and potions, a pair of color un-coordinated grunts were illuminated by a large spotlight reminisce of the old Team Rocket. For Red and the gals, this would have been a comedic scene if it weren't for the fact that two teams that were supposedly polar opposites were seemingly working together on a heist.
Sapphire piped up, "Aren't you guys supposed to be disbanded by now? Maxie and Archie are gone, and why are you even together in the first place?"
Red sweatdropped a bit and thought to himself [as straightforward as ever Sapphire, but I appreciate that you were saying what was on all of our minds].
The Aqua grunt who was still standing on the counter casually glanced over in the direction of Sapphire's voice… before freezing up in fear.
"Y-You, what are you doing here? You're the little brat who ruined all of Archie's plans all those years ago" the Aqua grunt was then punched in the shoulder by the Magma grunt next to him and he said "hey water freak, that fashion obsessed boy isn't with her this time, we can handle just her easily especially now that you sea lovers have the power of Neo Team Magma behind you"
"Hey, it's Neo Team Aqua that will be the ones to make the difference this time around, don't get it twisted you land lubber" With that comment it would seem that the "Neo" Aqua grunt got his cocky attitude back and he glanced back at Sapphire. "On second thought, she's not a "little" brat anymore huh, I think we should capture her and have some fun before presenting her to our leaders." The grunt uttered out in the most unpleasant tone possible.
Sapphire
What is this grunt talking about? The old team Aqua and Magma were solely focused on bettering pokemon's lives through misguided reasons. This guy just sounds like a thug with a stupid uniform on.
Something was clearly different about these guys, but it isn't my forté to think about things like this, I immediately reached for Chic's pokeball so she could put the beating down on these idiots.
That's when two bolts of lightning flew by from behind me and knocked both grunts off of the counter onto the unforgiving hard tiled floor.
I turned to see Pika and ChuChu looking extra irritated, with their trainers also looking irked on my behalf.
While I was happy to see Yellow be the supportive senpai that she usually is, I felt a strange feeling in my heart when I saw Red get that upset for me and consider my feelings so deeply for once… but I still have Ruby, even if he is an idiot and all… sigh I can't get distracted right now. There are tons of other grunts here we have to take care of.
With that, I steeled myself for the battle to come.
General
It was clear by the confused looks on their faces that Platina and Mei weren't as familiar with the criminal organizations that had invaded the pokemart. So after Red and Yellow made their attacks, Red quickly explained that they were the orgs responsible for the near disasters involving the weather trio in Hoenn in the past.
Those near disasters were certainly things that the two girls had heard about and thus made gravity of the situation a lot more serious.
Everyone had their pokeballs at the ready for a fight… when they heard another oddly familiar screech from behind the counter.
The disgruntled Neo Aqua grunt had raised himself back from behind the counter and he muttered in disbelief "There are more of these damn pokedex holders here? Why? This was just supposed to be a resupplying trip as we went to meet with the other teams at Slateport…"
With that comment, another loud WHACK was heard as the Neo Magma grunt next to him punched him on the head this time. "You idiot, that isn't something you're supposed to let everyone and their Poochyena know. Next you're gonna let it slip that we also captured people's pets here to help rebuild our Neo pokemon arsenals."
With that bombshell of new information being directly fed to Red and co… they were left with the dilemma of a bunch of new foreboding information, and also whether or not they should take these clowns seriously.
The two grunts, who were apparently the leaders of this attack, yelled out to the other grunts in the building that it was time to tactically retreat. Suddenly the whole mart was filled with smoke and by the time it had finally cleared thanks to the efforts of the dexholder's flying pokemon, the grunts were nowhere in sight.
Seriously, what was that all about Red exclaimed aloud after everything had settled down. He then collected himself and his teammates let him know that they were going to help the public settle down and clean up the pokemart with the help of their pokemon partners.
"You guys really saved us there, what are your names? I'll be sure to honor you guys for saving our store" The harried store manager came over to shake Red and co.'s hands.
Red was about to introduce his group when Professor's Oak's echoed in his head… "There's a time and place for introductions… but probably not with this group".
Red then said "sorry for certain reasons we'd like to remain anonymous but we'll always be happy to lend a hand if you need it".
This prompted a look of admiration from the store manager and her staff. If one listened closely they could hear mutters of "if only today's youths were as upstanding as this group". Sapphire was able to catch wind of what the store staff was saying due to her acute senses which made her blush a crimson hue out of embarrassment.
Clearly the other members of her new team didn't know what she was blushing about but Red definitely took notice of how cute her embarrassed expression was and felt a mysterious desire to protect that face.
After shaking that notion aside Red decided to refocus by contacting Professor Oak again to update him on what had just occurred and what to do next.
Oak answered with a strangely toned "hello?", probably denoting that he was confused that Red was checking in this early. Red then reported on how a supposed Neo Team Aqua and Magma had shown up and tried to rob the pokemart which was thwarted by the dexholder's efforts. However, they weren't there in time to stop the theft and transporting of many Mossdeep citizen's pokemon pets to Slateport City.
Upon hearing Slateport City, Oak visibly grunted on the other end of the call. With a voice filled with panic, he quickly informed Red "You really need to get over there quickly, I originally sent over a dexholder to investigate some rumors about nefarious deeds being performed over there, and then eventually meet up with your group. With this new information, they could be in immediate danger if they clash with two large groups solo!"
With that remark, Red decided to end the call there and update the group once again. Before he could even say anything though, Blue came up to him and got up close and personal with him. "Reddd, what did the Professor say?"
Under the guise of showing concern, she got extra physical with Red by leaning into him with her right cheek gently leaning against his left shoulder.
She made sure to give the other girls a look of "remember your place" and proceeded to nonchalantly ignore Red's slightly embarrassed expression as she nearly begged him for an update.
Red choked out a report to everyone and Blue suddenly stiffened up and got into a more serious mode at the notion that a fellow dexholder was in danger.
This was no longer just a minor scuffle in a pokemart, pokemon and people's lives were at risk.
Red adjourned a makeshift strategy meeting and everyone took turns making suggestions.
Sapphire said she'd contact Ruby (albeit begrudgingly) and arrange for a safe plane to get to Slateport ASAP.
Yellow would be in charge of reading the feelings of the nearby pokemon when they arrived to scout out where trouble could possibly be.
Blue and Mei volunteered to handle any infiltration if any information was needed before a potential rescue mission. Red understood right away that Blue was well suited for an intelligence based mission such as this one. But he was slightly concerned with sending someone as dainty and vulnerable looking as Mei into the midst of multiple criminal organizations.
Mei assured him that she would be more than suited for the situation based on her… past experiences and left it at that. Red decided for the sake of the mission he would trust her.
That left Platina who expressed the desire to oversee the strategy of the main rescue mission. She showed her accolade of having earned six gym badges in 25 days. This surprised Sapphire who had only had three badges at that point but she decided to not bring it up right now and only silently raised her appraisal of Platina as a battler.
Red was even more surprised because god knows how long it took for him to finish his gym challenge… with that in mind everyone awaited her instructions.
"We'll need everyone to head to the pokemon center and come up with a team of not only their stronger pokemon, but also pokemon that can get you out of a pinch if you have to face multiple opponents at once. Let's just assume that the weakling teams of the past that would only underestimate us as kids aren't going to be above playing a bit dirty this time. Especially after seeing how those thugs treated Sapphire back at the pokemart. We will have to be ready to hold back a lot of cannon fodder so I would suggest pokemon with multiple target moves like surf and discharge. Make sure to bring your own smoke balls in case of emergency and a psychic pokemon to help sense your way out of tricky scenarios. Finally, we need to have a SOS signal app at the ready on our phones in case things get hairy and we need to bail each other out."
After laying out her strategy along with some other additional tips and things to look out for, the rest of the girls put aside their cold war over Red's affection for a moment, to admire Platina's impressive foresight.
Red heard all of this with his jaw slightly ajar, and he realized that with how capable his teammates were… what was there left for him to do. "Um… so I'll… I'll… uhhh" He was at a loss, when Mei suddenly came up to him, this time… taking revenge on Blue by appealing to him from the front as she laid her back into his chest and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and leaving his arms to be dangerously wedged above her cleavage.
"W-wha?!" Red sputtered out in shock as he was already shook from the tactics of Platina, he was certainly not ready for even more cunning "tactics" from Mei. "Red you'll be in charge of protecting us during the mission like you protected me on the S.S. Anne!" Mei exclaimed out, while oddly refusing to meet his eyes.
Mei had made the move as a chance to show her appreciation to Red with some service, but she was inherently not this aggressive of a girl and she found herself awkwardly being embarrassed too late in the game. If there weren't so many other rivals here, she would definitely have preferred a traditional romance with Red.
The other girls couldn't really disagree with the role Red was being assigned, even if they strongly disagreed with the position Red was in right now. Before they could say anything, Mei freed(?) herself from Red's arms and went back to her original position but facing away from Red still.
With that little service, a flustered Red just scratched his head and said "well that's probably what I'm best at, so let's do it team!" Thus, they began the last preparations before the plane Sapphire had called for would arrive.
End of Chapter 8
(A/N: This was a one go writing, I just wrote and wrote so if there were minor issues with the grammar and stuff I'll potentially look back on it later on. Hope y'all enjoy, and please stay safe during these trying times!)