0O0
Slowly objects manifested from the shadows. The long and slender arms of a chandelier illuminated the area. Torn wallpaper, dusty chairs, worn carpet, and an old reception desk appeared. This derelict place was filled with decay, this place was somewhat depressing.
Danny murmured as he looked around, " Where's the theater?"
Her jaw tightened in a grimace as she realized he had followed them. The kid probably had good intentions, but he wasn't something she wanted to deal with. Her fingers danced across the vortex manipulator. In one swift action, she grabbed hold of the group.
They traveled fast, vivid shades of red meshed with subtle indigo hues. In an instant, they arrived where they started.
In a fit of rage, Missy shouted, " Bloody time scoop!"
Ninetails winced, she lay limp on the floor. Mistress- she wined.
Giovanni reached for his forehead as he took a step back. " That's what brought us here?"
Missy began to breathe deeply. Rage wouldn't fix this. Slowly her senses came back to her.
" That's what got us into this mess," Missy spat when she answered.
It was useless, her attempted escape had only brought sickness to the party. She took a deep breath, they were in a bad spot. Instinctively, she drew her screwdriver and began a search in the area.
Danny reached for the floor before he lay down. He coughed, then began to stammer, "What hell just happened?"
Disgruntled, she stared off in a vain attempt to hide her displeasure. " Apparently we've been forced on a horrible holiday."
Giovanni growled in response. "That's putting it lightly."
"Putting it lightly," Danny half sarcastically repeated.
Giovanni sighed as he took his phone from his pocket, he hurriedly put the phone away. "There's no single here."
Missy shook her head in disbelief, then muttered, "There's a first time for everything."
Her face grew long, as her screwdriver informed her of its conclusion, they had been transferred to a Limnal dimension. Devoid of people and time, this place was neither past nor present.
" Well this is just great," she muttered as she put her screwdriver away. " We've arrived in a Liminal Dimension, there's only one way in and one way out."
Giovanni slowly looked over the lobby, then said, " Liminal, the space that exists in the past, but is stagnant in the present."
To say he understood would have been an overstatement. Giovanni's knowledge of the subject brought about a grin. "You're getting good at this."
"Good at this?" Danny blurted out. " What the heck happened to the theater? Where are we?"
She pondered over the question, she was stuck, quite literally, in between a lie and a difficult situation. It wasn't the worst scenario, it wasn't ideal. With everything in consideration, she needed to take a different approach.
" It's a shame my gig had to end so soon," Missy hesitantly began. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news Danny, but my hands are tied." She took the psychic paper from her purse and glanced at it. She hid her aggravation and hoped the paper would work a second time. Slowly she presented the paper. "My partner and I really work for the Time Agency."
Danny took the paper, his eyes were riddled with disbelief. " No way," he uttered.
Giovanni's face twisted as he grimaced. "Unfortunately, it's the truth."
Danny's eye's narrowed as he examined the paper. " Missy Gomez and Elite Agent Sakaki, Agent's of Time." He gazed at them in awe. " You're time travelers?"
" That's us," Missy immediately replied in an attempt to soothe him.
Giovanni smiled in satisfaction, before he smoothly added, "We're one hell a team."
" No way," Danny repeated as he continued to stare at the paper.
Missy shrugged, before she carried on, "That's what everybody says."
Danny read the paper over once more before he handed it back to Missy. "That's some crazy I.D.'s you got there. That last one you showed me was so realistic."
Missy nodded as she placed her wallet back into her bag. "Some of the best forgeries in the world, can't get by without them," she lazily explained.
The boy raised a brow. "So you never were a celebrity?"
Missy rolled her eyes in turn. "Of course not." She playfully looked at him. " But you fell for it."
Danny gazed ahead, he was seemingly lost for words. He took his time with his response, "I just can't say no to a movie star, but I've got to admit this is way cooler. So what's your mission?"
Missy and Giovanni looked at each other. They had looked to one another for advice, but neither of them had a good answer.
A smile crept up on Giovanni's lips, he looked back at their company. " It seems farfetched, when I received the mission I didn't believe it myself."
Missy picked up on what Giovanni had started, then added, "It's out there, are you sure you really want to know?"
Danny simply raised a brow, he seemed bemused. "Well, yeah, how else are we going to get out of this?"
Missy slapped her hands together with glee, then answered his question, " We're fighting a nefarious organization of time-traveling vampires."
Giovanni nodded. " Their hell-bent on destroying the world."
The young man's jaw dropped. He gazed off, clearly bewildered he mumbled over the information.
Ninetails slowly began to regain her footing. The fox stared up at her, wide-eyed and amazed. Mistress, perhaps you shouldn't have been so upfront.
Danny shook his head, he struggled with the idea. " Your fighting vampires?"
Giovanni crossed his arms. " I told you."
Danny's eyes widened while he gawked. "That's beyond farfetched, it's crazy."
" Oh, you wouldn't believe the things your lot doesn't notice," Missy started, she kept her tone cool, in a vain attempt to avoid sarcasm. " The farce at the Time-Space Tower, that was no accident. Lumiose City, that unexpected military training event in 1947-" she stopped herself there, she had gotten what she needed, Danny's full attention.
" Wait, 1947, was that an alien invasion?" Danny asked, he tried to hide his excitement, but Missy saw right through it.
" That was a failed attempt," Giovanni dryly explained.
Danny's eyes widened, he looked at both of them with intense fascination. " You stopped an alien invasion?"
Ninetails had become disgruntled, the fox was quick to call her out, Robots, Mistress.
Cybermen, Missy corrected.
Missy nodded, then said, " Yes, only this time we get to keep humanity off the menu."
The boy gawked as he processed this information. " Wait a minute so those girls-" his eyes widened in horror "- Mr. Flure!"
" No, just the girls," Missy promptly explained.
" They would have loved to have taken a bite out of you," Giovanni added.
Danny grew pale the boy shook his head in disgust. " Yuck!"
" You got lucky, you're with us," Missy suggested. " If you hadn't followed us, those girls would have taken you out for dinner."
Danny grew stiff with fright, his sense of terror was temporary, he soon shook it off. " Yeah, I would have been in a real jam." The boy smiled, his confidence seemed to grow as he was reassured. He looked at them then asked, " Alright, so what's the plan?"
Missy snatched her screwdriver. "It's simple really," she explained before she began to scan the area. " All we have to do is find the time scoop and send ourselves back to our previous location."
The screwdriver hummed as it informed her where the time scoop was located. " It's in the courtyard."
" Whoa, wait that device just told ya that?" Danny asked.
" Yes," she simply replied.
" What is it?" Danny pried.
"If we told you that-" Giovanni began, he stopped short.
" Then we-" Missy started, she paused, amused by the kid's conflicted reaction of fear and confusion.
You two are having way too much fun with this, Mistress, Ninetails quietly said out of annoyance.
Before anything more could be said a tune burst through the room. The base was powerful the building throbbed with the music. It was a heavy but vibrant sound.
Missy was driven to the door, she opened it and stared into the darkened corridor. Lights of every color glimmered from the exit.
Giovanni took her side and peered in. " There's a monstrosity."
Missy slammed the door and looked up at the balcony above. There were separate wings on either side of them. The group gasped in dismay as the lights went out. With a flick of her screwdriver, she remedied this.
She looked at the doors. Someone or something had etched the words JOIN US, into the wood.
" No," Missy dryly declined.
Her answer brought chaos. The lights began to flicker rapidly, the doors in the room opened and shut violently. They were nothing more than inanimate objects, driven by an unseen force. Missy kept her cool as she watched the fixtures move.
Ninetails squatted down along with persian, simple, animalistic fear. Giovanni's eyes narrowed, he seemed to be more annoyed than bothered. Danny, on the other hand, had lost himself to the terror of the moment. He trembled as witnessed a pen and paper fly off the desk. It hovered ahead of them and began to write.
JOIN US
" They're not much for pleasantries," Giovanni remarked.
" They want us to die," Danny stammered, he froze as the spooky activity ceased.
Missy let out a sigh as she watched the paper fall to the floor. Her screwdriver lit up as she scanned the area for pokemon.
She frowned at the results. " Four Hundred and forty-six pokemon reside here, not a single one isn't a ghost type."
She found herself walking to the main doorway, she stopped short of opening it. Giovanni took her side, then asked, "Are you sure about this?"
Missy glanced over and winked. " When am I ever sure?"
He sighed then confidently looked ahead. "Twelve hundred years-"
Missy stopped him there, " Oh common Special Agent Sakaki, we have a mission to complete."
" I'm aware," he shortly replied.
" Just think about it, the time scoop is just beyond all of this nonsense," Missy said in a vain attempt to reassure him.
Giovanni gazed ahead, she could tell he had bought into the notion. His uncertainty lingered. She wouldn't allow for it.
Missy took a step forward, assured by her abilities and confidence. "We've gotten out of worse. Besides, it could be fun."
It might be a bit of a thriller Mistress, Ninetails sarcastically added.
Missy glanced back at Danny. He stood still and stared at them. His eyes had softened slightly, he had gotten the better of his senses. He said nothing but nodded in agreement.
It had been settled. Her screwdriver hummed as the crystal tip brightened. The newly formed shadows, shifted eerily when she stepped further into the hallway.
" Fun," Giovanni muttered.
Persian took her side, the cat forced his way next to his master. Ninetails relented, the fox stayed between them. Her red eyes gazed ahead, ready for anything that might provoke them.
His persian's being rude again, Mistress, Ninetails shortly said.
Missy kept her focus ahead, then replied, He's just ready for trouble.
Ninetails was quick to quip back, I'll make it double Mistress.
The fox almost made her smile. What lies ahead was worrisome. The hallway was littered with ripped carpet, half-open doors, and countless broken fixtures.
The ambient light came from fixtures that had been shattered long ago. The dust in the carpet shifted like snow, it marked their trail. Ahead, a shadow play teased unseen figures. Ghost, they were a real nuisance.
The music boomed the base pounded the floor. A door swung shut ahead of them. Specters had their limits, as did she. With a twirl of her screwdriver, she reduced the noise to a faint tune.
Whoever or whatever was in the room ahead wasn't having it. The volume increased, the walls started to clatter. Undeterred, Missy worked her magic once more. The screwdriver screeched as she destroyed the stereo auto tuner.
The group halted as a flamboyant male voice swore loudly. The lights ahead, strobed to a silent melody. As the stereo crashed past the door, it shattered as it bounced, then finally crashed into a nearby wall.
A figure walked past the doorway. He moved quickly, she hoped he hadn't noticed them. Unfortunately, he re-emerged, a black shadow surrounded by colorful and blinding lights.
He stared at the group before he hummed, "Mmmmm, Tasty."
Missy rolled her eyes, unswayed by the threat. She took notice of her human company, they seemed deeply troubled.
" Bryony, Celosia," he called out. "We've got company!"
In a blink of an eye, he vanished. Danny stammered in fright, instinctively Missy put her finger up. She smirked, her tactic, and charm managed to calm him.
Danny slowly crept to her side then whispered, "What do we do now?"
She looked over at him then to the room ahead. "I say we waltz on in there and have ourselves a little chat."
Danny scoffed, he was wide-eyed and fearful. " You're going to talk them outta killing us?"
Missy frowned, displeased with the boy's assumption. "I want to play their game."
You can't just do that Mistress, Ninetails protested.
Missy ignored the fox and looked her companions in the eyes. Danny looked at her in shock. Giovanni on the other had gazed at her. She could tell he was curious, his attempt to hide that fact were some of the weakest she'd ever seen from him.
" Like it or not we're all players," she said before she turned and watched the lights dance. " It's best not to play alone."
" That's twisted," Danny spat, but he took her lead. " Then again, it's also a good point, like a horror show, when the group splits up everybody dies."
" Horrorshow," Missy repeated the phrase, the concept was fresh. " Stick with that, I like it."
" It's not far from the truth," Giovanni muttered.
The group exited the hallway and stepped onto a marble dance floor. The ballroom was a ghost of its former self. The dance floor had cracked in many places. Tattered wallpaper torn in every direction adorned the room. Someone's final act of desperation, she wondered. Elegant pillars had been ruined by bulky sound equipment and gaudy lights.
She focused on a stairway ahead. She stopped, then looked up the steps of a grand staircase. Her curiosity grew as she stared at three separate pairs of footwear. Black sneakers, and two sets of gaudy red boots. She leered at their young carelessly optimistic wearers.
A girl with short lavender hair and a polar complexion smirked at her. She could have done better for herself if she hadn't chosen to wear a VR set for sunglasses, or a swimsuit-like outfit with shoulder pads for attire.
The man next to her sparkled in the light, he wore a black disco suit and jacket. Clearly, he spent too much time with a gem gun. His chocolate complexion, black sunglasses, startlingly white afro glistened in the light.
The girl next to him wore a similar outfit to her counterpart. Her hair was short and flared green hair, with ridiculously large wrap-around sunglasses to match. Knee-high boots, and bare legs. The girl had a pale complexion and slender figure. She could have been a fashion icon, but she wore too many shades of red.
" It seems we've finally found the staff." Missy placed her hand on her hip. " I was starting to wonder if we were going to get any service around here."
The green-haired girl nudged her partner. "She thinks we're hospitality."
He shook his head in disapproval before he looked at Missy. " I am a paid performer. My name is Stefan, but you can call me DJ Darkwave. How am I supposed to put on a show with a broken stereo?"
" With background noise," Giovanni muttered.
His quip hardly went unnoticed, Stefan's jaw dropped. His lavender-haired companion spoke before he could rebuttal.
" The Professor told us all you'd be headling our Big Event," she said.
" Big Event, sounds like a party to me," Missy butted in.
Stefan raised a brow, then replied, " You know it." He looked over to his left. " See that, this girl knows what she's talking about."
She scoffed in protest. " She's a party crasher."
The green-haired girl smiled at the news. " Just like I told you Celosia, she knows how to have a good time."
" The Professor told me she's a party crasher," Celosia added.
Both women stared at one another, Stefan placed his hands on their shoulders. "Ladies, this isn't a good time for this."
" The Professor seems to know me well," Missy suggested. "I'm sure she's aware that this little plan of hers is going to come crashing down."
The green-haired girl, Bryony, she presumed, grew flush, before she could utter a word, Stefan interjected, "Remember the plan."
Bryony scoffed in annoyance. " Right."
" Okay, then we'll set it aside, besides she can't be too much of a riot, not if she and her companions came here to chat," Stefan smoothly said.
Danny took Missy's side, the kid confidently looked at their adversaries. " You're the ones who brought us here, I want to know why?"
Stefan pointed at Danny, then replied, " You, you're just a snack, those other two have something we want."
Missy huffed out of agitation. " The Lustrous Crown, sheesh, all of this over a piece of costume jewelry."
Bryony crossed her arms in defiance. " We both know it's more than that."
" What-" Danny began.
Giovanni was quick to interject, " You're fools to think that we would ever surrender it."
Staffan put his thumb to his chin. " I never said that you would. I'm just glad that you decided to stop in to see our little show."
A little show, this was a rouse, to keep them away from the performance? She looked over at Giovanni, his cold glare gave it away, he shared a similar idea.
Celosia peered at the group. " They're starting to figure it out. I think it would be a good idea to get things started."
Missy agreed with her on that. She aimed at Stefan's forehead, then fired. Her shot merely passed through him, a hologram.
Stefan released his companions, his brows narrowed as he focused on her. " Party crasher indeed, I can't wait to see how this plays out."
Danny broke away from the group, frustrated, he muttered, " I'm not gonna let us be dinner and a show."
Celosia crossed her arms. " We'll be waiting."
After those words, the holograms disappeared like apparitions in the night. Flustered, Missy let out a sigh of relief, at least it wasn't a direct attack.
Giovanni growled as he looked ahead. "They're playing games with us."
Danny's jaw dropped. " They're playing games? They were ghosts too?"
Giovanni sighed before he answered, "Holograms."
" Projections of the self," Missy explained.
"Three-dimensional projections," Danny mused. "Aint that something."
" It's a distraction at best," Giovanni cautiously replied as he looked over the room.
The group watched the shadows dance in the light. They crept side to side as they started to manifest.
In her peripheral vision, she caught glimpses of faces and figures. They loomed behind doorways and in the halls. Ahead of them, the shadow arose from the floor. As the apparitions grew more corporeal they started to reflect the dancing beams of light.
Ninetails stepped ahead of her, the fox was ready for a fight. As the pokemon looked on she seemed troubled. Persian growled as he took the fox's side.
Danny stammered before he spoke, " No, it's just like the movies, their gonna wear us out."
Giovanni nodded in agreement, with a snap of his finger he called the cat off.
Missy looked around as the figures darkened. She twirled around and looked up the stairway. From what she could tell, it wasn't as active.
" Ninetails," Missy softly said, the fox returned to her side.
Giovanni stepped next to her. "Let's move."
He needn't say anymore, the shadows had grown in number. The trio bolted up the stairs before they hastily stopped at a landing.
Missy turned and looked down the hallway to her left. To the group's horror, the door to the passage shut.
Instinctively Missy turned right at the passage. "Common," she commanded at the start of a sprint.
The group took her lead and entered the darkened hallway. Her screwdriver brightened in her hand as she held it ahead.
Mistress, we can't just outrun them, ghost types don't have similar boundaries, Ninetails explained.
Obviously, that's not what I'm doing, Missy shot back.
She slowed her pace, then searched for an open room. She spotted a cracked door, then lead the group inside. As they crowded in she quietly shut the door and latched it. She grinned with triumph as she looked at a map on the other side.
Giovanni smirked as he gazed at the information. "Good thinking."
She disagreed and held her screwdriver ahead. "No, it's a flawed idea- " With a quick thought in calculation she amplified the tardis shields " - But, force fields are a girl's best friend."
The group was somewhat relieved as they began their new agenda. Together they looked over the map and discovered they were at The Hotel Dendemille. They were located on the second floor of a vast two-story hotel.
The floor plan was simple to memorize after the lobby and grand ballroom. Long hallways, many rooms, and stairwells at each corner of the building.
The north wing was a wall, on the first floor there was an exit to the garden courtyard and hedge maze. She felt the most interesting part of the hotel was the many balconies that encased the arena.
" If it weren't so many ghosts leaving might be simple," Missy quietly mused.
Giovanni nodded in agreement. " We can just battle our way through."
Her attention diverted from the map as Danny began to drone in confusion. The television had turned on, the program was an old comedy. Intrigued, she went deeper into the room.
I'm surprised they get T.V. reception here, Mistress, Ninetails quietly said.
Giovanni followed closely behind her. Casually, he turned off the television. He looked past the pair before he scoffed loudly. " Cheap tricks."
A loud burst of static rattled the room. The lights flickered momentarily before they permanently dimmed. The ambiance was broken as the television turned on once more. The group immediately turned to it.
Missy shook her head in annoyance. "Right, lets'-"
She was promptly interrupted by a voice from the T.V. " And now a word from our sponsors."
Danny gawked, in confusion, he gestured at the television. "They get T.V. reception here!"
On the screen, an image of a colorfully dressed man appeared. He looked sharp, when he spoke, his tone was delightfully assertive.
" If you find yourself on a Melancholy Trail, The Hotel Dendemille will always-"
Giovanni dismissed the advertisement and began to head for the door. Missy agreed with him, she was fast to take his lead.
Mistress, maybe he has something to tell us, Ninetails suggested as she looked at the screen.
He, what are you going on about? Missy cautiously inquired.
Her answer came soon enough. They both halted when the announcer began to nag at them.
" I haven't finished folks," he sternly said with an electric lisp. "It's the A.D.s, nobody ever wants to see them."
Missy glanced back, as she embraced the moment. " I'm a tough customer."
Giovanni grunted then said, " You just bought into it."
Danny continued to gaze on, bamboozled by what had just occurred. "You're talking to the television."
" I'm not any old television," the announcer protested.
Missy walked closer to the device. With a wave of her screwdriver, she learned that the television had been possessed by the electric, ghost-type pokemon rotom.
She placed her screwdriver back into her jacket, then playfully said, " Your vintage."
Rotom scoffed and looked away. He wined, before he carried on, " This model of me is a bit outdated."
Mistress, I think he wants to help us, Ninetails explained as she walked to the screen.
The fox yelped a few words before she nudged the glass. In a flash of bright light, the boy on the screen turned into an orange fluorescent ghost. Rotom hummed as he gleefully returned ninetails affection.
" I like your inventive spirit," she said with praise.
Rotom picked up on the pun. He joyfully darted around the screen. Giovanni stepped next to her and attempted to hide his amusement. They pokemon twirled while he calmed himself.
" Why have you come to us?" Giovanni asked as he skeptically watched the television.
Rotom looked him in the eyes, the ghost was ready to get to business.
" I overheard your conversation with that vampire, it seems you have a different problem than the last Four Hundred and forty-six people that came before you," he explained.
Danny swallowed in fear, then asked, " You're kidding?"
" Nope," Rotom promptly answered, he looked at Missy and Giovanni. " That's where you two come in, the vamps never talk to people like that, the red gang is never here when company arrives. Nobody from the Time Agency has ever been here before, so I'd say this is a special occasion."
Missy pressed her lips together, then looked up. She did the best she could to hide her hysterical amusement. She recanted the emotion, then plainly said, " That's us."
Rotom's electric eyes narrowed at the group. The pokemon seemed bothered when he asked, " Why has it taken your organization so long to respond to this?"
Giovanni thoughtfully looked at the pokemon, then gave a response, " We're still in the process of discovering information."
Missy found herself cross about the question, with unhindered emotions she asked, " You clearly have the ability to take over the time scoop, why not take it and wreak havoc?"
Rotom backed away from the glass. " That's a fair point. If Stefan didn't have a porygon2 on him I would have sent them back a long time ago."
Danny started to stammer before he asked, "How long have the vampires been doing this?"
Rotom frowned, the pokemon drifted in and then out of the screen. After the prolonged silence the pokemon gave his answer, "Too long, time here is bound to an endless ever repeating night. I've seen all types, victorian snobs, everyday ideots, people of the stone age-"
Ninetails yelped in protest, Missy put an end to it. "Stop."
Rotom smugly smiled as he replied, "If I didn't have a sense of humor, I'd be really purugly about it."
The door to the room clattered from the outside. The sound was followed by something heavy thrown a few rooms over.
Missy found herself annoyed, she shrugged off the emotion the asked, " How do you intend to help us?"
Rotom's eyes widened in excitement. "I followed you, I noticed Special Agent Sakaki's really weird device, that's when I got an idea."
Giovanni took his phone from his pocket. "This?"
The pokemon nodded, his smile deepened. "Yes, I can possess it, then take over the hologram projectors. I overheard your plan, I can distract them while you get out of the building."
Giovanni skeptically looked at the pokemon. " I don't understand why you would need my phone to do that."
" I don't understand that force field thing," Rotom snarkily shot back.
Missy's eyes narrowed at the pokemon, her tone grew cold, "Enough."
Rotom nodded then he gave a counter explanation, " Okay, you're right normally I would just use the building's wiring, the problem is most of it's been destroyed. Sure I can bounce off the wires, but that makes me a target- " the pokemon paused as something slammed against the wall. " Most of those guys aren't happy, they're irrational, they'll be that way until they can return to our regular dimension."
Missy and Giovanni looked at one another. She could tell he wasn't fully on board with the idea.
She gestured to the television, and asked, " You got any better ideas?"
His hand tightened around his phone. " He'll be able to access my personal information."
She could understand that. She took her screwdriver from her jacket once more and presented it. "We can't have that, I suppose it's time to upgrade."
Giovanni smirked as he offered her his phone. Missy readily took it. With her screwdriver, she made adjustments to the I.O.S. The phone could now house the pokemon without overloading its mechanical components or allowing a data breach.
" That should do the trick," Missy said as she offered Giovanni his phone back.
He readily took it, slowly he presented it to the pokemon. Rotom grinned before he lept from the television. The pokemon resembled a bolt of lightning as he traveled from one place to another.
Rotom buzzed with delight. "Oh, wow, this is swanky."
" Don't get used to it," Giovanni dryly replied.
" Wasn't planning on it," Rotom snarkily rebutted.
With those words, the group convened. Missy readily ripped the map off the wall and began to go over the details. Their goal was simple, get to the courtyard. She deduced that Team Flare would be waiting for them there. Giovanni agreed with her suspicion.
Rotom informed them that all of the exits and windows on the first floor had been sealed or blocked, with the exception of the hotel lobby and arena exit to the courtyard. Despite all the challenges, and fear of the ideas exchanged, the group formulated a plan.
Danny's eyes loomed over the map riddled with hope and fear. He looked up at the group and said, " I think the idea's crazy enough that it might work."
Giovanni nodded in agreement. "I'd say we have our bases covered."
Missy set the map aside. " Alright, then let's knock them out of the park."
Rotom buzzed with confidence and delight. While the pokemon prepared, Missy set the force field to allow Rotom to move freely.
" Batter up," with those words the pokemon departed in a flash of brilliant white light.
Ninetails lept onto the bed. Mistress, this really has turned out like a game.
As Missy waited for Rotom's cue, she did her best to conceal her satisfaction. A thousand years of experience has never lead me wrong. Tell me Ninetails, do you enjoy playing these games?
Joyfully, Ninetails replied, It's a lot less stressful this way Mistress.
Good, Missy shortly said.
Persian jumped onto the mattress and gracefully took Ninetails side. The group hardly took notice of the pokemon's strategic position. An echo, far down the hallway, was followed by clatter the footsteps and an uneasy breeze.
In a burst of white light, Rotom returned. " We're on!"
Just as they got their start, Missy disengaged the force field. The group bolted for the door. It squeaked as it flung open. In coordination with the plan, they turned right and sprinted towards the stairs.
As they bolted down the decrepit hallway, Rotom took the opportunity to turn on the televisions in the rooms ahead. Every station had a different broadcast, the confliction of voices, music, and advertisements were dreadful.
The pokemon had achieved its first objective, create a distraction. The group entered the stairwell, then arrived on the first floor. Ahead of them was a blocked entrance to the ballroom, to their left would take them to the lobby. Missy followed the plan and turned right.
The party took her lead. Ahead of them, beyond the derelict rooms at the very end of the hallway, were broken observation windows. They showcased the dimly lit, and questionably empty pokemon arena.
Giovanni looked ahead then uttered, " Don't be overly sure about this, we'll get you the time you need."
" Don't let yourself become a trope either," Danny panted as he paced behind.
Missy huffed in defiance, then muttered, " I don't like to trope around."
You're so much more than that Mistress, you're a star, Ninetails reassured her.
Missy hid her sinister glee with praise, Ninetails, we're gonna shine brighter than a supernova.
Slowly Missy began to steady her pace. Her stride became slower as they approached the turn in the hall. All it took was a simple flick of the wrist to turn out the lights. In the cover of darkness, she swiftly entered a nearby room.
Rotom took the opportunity to project a perfect replica of her. As her double manifested, Missy snatched her black controller from her bag. In a second swift motion, her screwdriver and remote connected to Giovanni's phone.
The party continued while she remained obfuscated by a blanket of shadows. Thankfully the spirits hadn't tested her patients, in the arena hoards of ghost pokemon began to assemble.
" Power gem," Giovanni commanded, as he initiated a battle.
Persian lept at a large group of ghosts. The cat shrieked as he released a powerful stream of earthly energy.
" Emboar, let's round 'em up, fire spin," Danny ordered.
The pokemon was bulky and ablaze. Its orange and black body resembled a pig taken off a spit.
The boar snorted as it stepped forward. Flames jetted from the pokemon as they became a whirlwind of flames.
It was the perfect time to engage the fire alarm. It shrilled through every hallway and every room. The blaring sound was awful, but not terrible enough. She set her discomfort aside, then amplified it.
Danny and Giovanni, did their best to hide their own discomfort. Their pokemon bent their ears back in displeasure. The ghost pokemon that remained swirled as they began to attack the source of the sound.
Missy tapped a button on the controller, she proceeded to give a verbal command through her projected counterpart, " Let's get the hell out of here!"
She smiled, Rotom had managed to portray her with great prowess. She couldn't enjoy the moment for long. She watched as they reached the exit. Just as they planned, the party turned and faced the chaotic hoards.
Danny glared at his foes before he took action, " Emboar, incinerate!"
The boar raised its snot into the air then snarled. The flames around its body grew in luster and intensity. The pokemon screamed while the arena filled with fire. The attack was a sight to behold even though its magnificence was brief.
She frowned as the group left the arena. The discourse that ensued was what she relied on.
Fearlessly, Missy bolted out of the room. She ran faster than she had in many of her lives combined. She blitzed past the lobby and charged through the door.
It wasn't long before she reached the east wing of the hotel. It was covered in bramble, she bit her lip and carried on.
Missy slowed her pace, as she trudged her way through a garden. She clenched her fist, she'd be out of this mess soon enough.
Ahead of her were tall hedges, the courtyard maze was a few yards ahead. She stopped as riffraff came from her controller. Undoubtedly, that would give her position away. With this in mind, she teleported an earpiece and connected it.
Missy stuck to the wall and crouched, she wanted to see what the boys were up to. With a press of a button, she got her answer.
They had stopped at the entrance to the hedge maze. Missy peered at the pair, Danny was so curious while Giovanni did his best to stay neutral. It was fascinating to watch, to spite their differences they continued to work together.
The remote buzzed, she opened the text and discovered a map. Briefly, she looked it over, as she observed the group runoff. The moment they were out of sight, she took her path.
Rather than being exposed by the direct path, she made her way around the perimeter of the maze. Her pace hastened, her hearts began to race as she approached her destination.
She stopped, her hearts pounded, her breath was hot, and for the first time in a long time, Missy discovered her own excitement. She paused as unregulated thrills surged through her.
Stefan's cool voice forced her to regain control. Her eyes narrowed at the wall, the vampire had unknowingly made a fatal mistake. Rash decisions wouldn't get her to where she wanted to go. Instead, she planned her schemes, as she eavesdropped.
Stefan let out a grunt, then said, " Finally." The grass shifted as he moved. " I wonder what took them so long."
A device beeped before Celosia hummed. " According to our data they-" she paused.
" They what?" Bryony curiously asked.
Stefan quickly became excited. " Damn!"
" One hundred and twenty-seven knockouts," Celosia dryly informed them.
Bryony scoffed loudly in response. "That doesn't come close to our highest record."
" It's not a fact we should take lightly," Celosia cautiously replied.
" Ladies, we won't," Stefan said in a bid of confidence. " That doesn't mean we can't have a flare-filled finale."
Stefan's companions expressed themselves with delight, the arrogance they clung onto was ego. A simple trick of the mind, one she knew all too well. Wisdom brought simper, which was smarter than words, it was the knowledge that came from experience.
Once more she set her emotions aside, there was work that needed to be done. Soon enough the grass rustled as they moved. She looked at her remote, Rotom had just informed her that they had visual confirmation.
Now all she needed now was an opportunity. Missy knew precisely how to make one. Her fingers darted as she composed her reply to Rotom. It was quick work, she was curious to see the outcome.
Her holo-casted doppelganger rolled her eyes as the party halted at the arena. Team Flare stood on the opposite end, they were cocky and confident.
Rotom's version of herself leered at them then sarcastically engaged them, "Oi, it's the cast and crew. The music was terrible, the show had no plot, and the settings falling apart. I expected so much more from you."
Stefan crossed his arms. " We're just getting started."
Giovanni almost seemed disinterested as followed up, " This is the start of a pathetic ending."
Rotom laughed at the insult. The pokemon did a fantastic job of taunting their opponents as he did so. Their rivals glared back, muscles flexed. The trio had become ridged and serious at the moment.
Celosia symbolically reached out to her enemies, then said, " That's the beauty of the show, it was never meant to be good."
Bryony smirked, before she added, " This is kind of the matinee, we call it to destruct and disrupt, and the ending is explosive."
Danny's face grew flush with anger, his attempt to hide it was miraculous. Calmly, he placed his hands in his pockets and replied, " It's not going to be your typical blockbuster because today the Time Agency's going to end to your evil ways!"
Oh Danny boy, his ignorant statement was followed by silence and many unexpressed emotions. Missy buried her face into her hands, as she allowed her feelings to settle.
Stefan reached into his jacket and produced a pokeball. " I'd like to see that."
Danny held his pokeball ready in hand, he waited to start. As did Missy, taking the time scoop would be a quick affair. The hardest part of the plan was sneaking past the trio.
Steadily, she began to send Rotom instructions. Her Rotom counterpart glanced at ninetails, the fox returned the look.
Celosia took a pokeball from her belt, then cooly said, " We're scientists, not showrunners. Manectric let's go."
A large, and somewhat intimidating blue wolf manifested on the field. The golden tips of its fur sparked as the pokemon howled.
Bryony snatched a ball from her pocket, then tossed it. " Liepard, let's show them the beauty of power."
Missy watched as persian's eyes narrow while the large cat appeared on the ground. The pokemon rembled a leopard. Its purple hair and yellow spots were unsightly.
Giovanni withdrew a pokeball from his jacket. " It's a shame you both had to be on the losing end. Rhydon!"
Stefan smiled revealing his fangs, his ego beamed when he threw the ball. " Synthesizer!"
Admittedly, the porygon2 had a fitting nickname. A small, hypnotically round, pink and blue duck of many dimensions manifested. The pokemon's cry reminded her of a computer, the origin of this mysterious pokemon.
Missy frowned, this was a triple battle. She needed to stay focused to keep her enemy engaged. Rotom had his instructions, all she needed to do was let the pokemon take over.
" Ninetails," Rotom called out.
The fox lept onto the feild. Her silver fur glimmered when she entered the battle. The pokemon was positioned to the right of rhydon. This would limit her attacks, her targets were liepard and porygon2.
Danny held his pokeball to his heart. The symbolic gesture revealed a bracelet and keystone.
He threw the ball with tremendous confidence. " Lucario!"
Lucario, the pokemon was a hybrid of a dog and wolf. The black and blue fur of the pokemon was elegant for a fighting and steel type. The strangest peculiarity was its ability to stand on two feet.
Danny wasted no time, he brought the keystone to his heart once more, then touched it. " Let's show them a Hollywood ending, lucario, mega evolve!"
In turn, Celosia glared at Danny, before she revealed her keystone bracelet. " Manectric ascend to your greatest form."
The pokemon began to glow before an eruption of light consumed the battlefield. After a moment, the energy dissipated. Perplexed, she looked over their new forms.
Lucario had gained steel spikes on his paws and feet, they were red and seemed blood-soaked. Its fur was more prominent, its tail had gotten longer. The pokemon stared down its opponents with great determination.
Manectric on the other hand had gained nothing but fur. Its mane had melded with its other patches of fur. The pokemon resembled a living lighting bolt. It was beyond a natural appearance, it was a disgrace.
Giovanni was clearly envious of his rivals. He regained his focus and initiated the first move. "Megahorn!"
Rhydon roared as its horn began to glow. The pokemon snorted as it charged at the liepard.
Bryony swiftly countered, " Sucker punch!"
The cat leaped into the air, its paw radiated dark energy. The pokemon struck rhydon in the belly before it dashed ahead.
Danny confidently followed Giovanni's lead, " Lucario, extreme speed!"
The priority move gave him a slight advantage. Lucario charged forward with exceptional speed. Manectric attempted to dodge, its attempt was useless. Swiftly, the hybrid delt multiple blows to the wolf.
Celosia remained calm and cooly countered, " Thunder fang."
Sparks of electricity burst from her pokemon as it bit into lucario's fist. The hybrid clenched its teeth and dealt a final blow on the wolf's jaw. Manectric growled in agony as it released its foe.
Stefan seemed bored, he looked on. "Synthizior, let's shake it up, tri attack."
A tri attack of fire, thunder, and ice formed ahead of the porygon2. The duck had a sinister look in its eyes as it prepared to attack rhydon.
" Horndrill," Giovanni confidently countered.
Ryhdons horn began to spin. The pokemon stepped back as it braced itself.
Missy could see Bryony was ready to counter, she wasn't having it. Promptly, she sent her orders to rotom.
" Ninetails get that liepard out of the way, confuse ray," Rotom cautiously commanded.
Colorful orbs launched themselves from both sides of the fox. Liepard lost its focus and sense of direction as they twisted around it.
Bryony growled, then demanded, " Liepard break out of it, sucker punch."
Her attempt at an attack only confused the cat. The pokemon hurt itself, instead of following the command.
Porygon2 leaned forward as it unleashed a stream of lightning, fire, and ice. Rhydon grimaced as its horn split the attack. Giovanni's tactic had worked, the attack had dealt no damage.
Celosia sighed as she watched. "Manectric, electric terrain."
The wolf howled as sparks jetted from its body. The battle had become electric, quite literally. This strategy negated liepard's confusion and eliminated the possibility of any pokemon inflicting a status condition.
Danny brought his attention to porygon2. " Cross chop!"
Lucario jumped into the air. The pokemon raised its maw with precision as it prepared to strike.
Stefan shook his head in disagreement. "Protect."
Celosia smirked as she engaged the opportunity, "Discharge."
Manectric unleased a surge of lightning. Porygon2 was protected, rhydon had been unaffected, but lucario was launched backward from the attack. The hybrid grunted as it crashed onto the ground. The pokemon quickly recovered but had taken considerable damage.
Rotom hadn't been impressed in the slightest, he remained focused. "Nasty plot."
A purple aura enveloped the fox. The move raised ninetails special attack by one stage.
" Hone claws," Bryony commanded.
Liepard shrieked as a dark aura appeared around it. The move raised the pokemon's attack by one stage.
At last, the battle had gotten intense. Its participants had been consumed by the conflict. It was time to make her move.
She frowned as she looked over the device. The time scoop was an older model, forged from steel and cylindrical in shape. It was tall enough for a man to fit inside and bulky enough to provide her the cover she needed.
Rhydon roared as it charged at porygon2. When the pokemon collided, Missy wrangled with the bushes. She did her best to be quiet, her efforts paid off. As blinding bolts of electricity surged on the arena, she found the door.
Swiftly she got inside, gently closed the door behind her. Missy found herself transfixed by the device, instinctively, she wanted to check its records. She bit into her lip, she'd have to wait until she got the time.
Her fingers danced on the controls as she entered the coordinates, she had already decided what would happen next. After a final calculation, she pressed the transfer button.
Shrieks of confusion followed her course. The world around them grew dark before it turned into a black and white contrast. The effect was short-lived, rays of sunlight ended the effect as the arena illuminated.
Bryony threw her arms open in confusion as she turned to Celosia. "What the hell just happened?"
Stefan fell over in agony, as his body began to smolder he stammered, " The time-"
Celosia's breathing grew heavy, her face flushed in malice as she recalled manectric. Her counterparts shared a similar sentiment, reluctantly they took her lead.
Danny jumped up in victory, lucario joined him as it devolved. Giovanni coldly gazed at his opponents as Stefan revealed a vortex manipulator. In a brilliant flash of light, Team Flare retreated.
Missy stepped out of the time scoop then huffed in victory. " That was simple."
Disenchanted, the fox looked at her. Far from it, Mistress.
Missy kept her reaction neutral as she approached the party. More simple than what it took to get this far.
Ninetails enthusiastically yelped in agreement as she dashed to her. I know, I just wish that could have been shorter Mistress.
Giovanni seemed disappointed, his emotions became more apparent the closer she got. Rotom rolled his eyes before he sparked out of the phone.
" It's good to be outta there," Rotom cheerfully buzzed.
Danny hadn't taken notice, he took Giovanni's side in glee. "That's another victory for the good guys."
Missy quickly got ahead of the kid. " Right, but our mission is far from complete."
Persian nudged his master, reluctantly Giovanni assumed his role. " I think we should get back to the show."
Danny's jaw dropped with his realization. " The show, I can't believe I forgot about it."
Missy warmly smiled at him. That smile turned into a smirk, playfully she said, "You were about to become dinner."
The kid forced a laugh, then replied, "Yeah, that'll do it."
Rotom was bemused, he seemed disappointed when he asked, " Wait, you guys are leaving so soon?"
Giovanni had regained his cool before he spied the pokemon. " We need to get going, you're welcome to join us."
Rotom's eyes drooped down before he turned and looked at the ruined hotel. " I can't do that, too many trapped souls here. This is a lost hotel, but those trapped aren't a lost cause. The least I can do is help them find a way out."
Danny somberly nodded. " Good luck to you."
Rotom spun around and smirked confidently. " Same to all of you, farewell."
The pokemon transformed into a spark of electricity, as he re-entered the hotel.
He's so noble, I know he'll be able to do it Mistress, Ninetails blurted out in awe.
Missy approved with a nod. She disregarded the sentiment as punched in the coordinates for the show. The vortex manipulator refused to set any closer than two hours after their forced departure. After a few calculations, she understood why.
" I've got some bad news for ya," Missy said in annoyance.
Giovanni took a breath, his frustration was becoming more apparent by the moment. "What's that?"
" We can get close, but we can't go back. There's a two-hour delay between our abduction and return to the time stream, some sort of safety protocol," Missy explained.
" Then we'll have to find another way," Giovanni slowly replied.
He was already working on their next move. That was smart, she supposed they needed to drop off Danny first. With swift fingers and simple words, she brought the party together.
In the press of a button, the golden dawn melded into the blue sky. Vivid shades of purple and red turned into fields before they shifted to black. A single light cast onto them as they arrived on the vacant stage.
Danny jumped back in fright before he quickly came to his senses. " Oh, right, ghost light."
Giovanni carefully examined the auditorium. " We've dealt with enough ghosts for one night."
Missy's gaze loomed on Danny, she didn't need this information going global. As she pondered a way to correct this course of action, her thoughts were interrupted.
Danny's eyes gazed back into hers, sincerely, he asked" You're worried that I'm going to tell the world?"
Missy was taken aback by the question. " Something like that."
The kid shook his head no. "I'm not going to, a story like that would get me locked up, can't start my acting career that way."
" I see, well then, the Time Agency thanks you for your help," Missy gracefully said.
Danny's lips curled upwards, he smiled. "You wouldn't happen to know how that pans out for me?"
Giovanni looked at the kid he was being careful. Missy took note of his consideration.
" I know how it pans out, but if we told you that-" he playfully paused.
" Then we-" she stopped herself there and frowned. " Well, you know how it goes."
Danny gawked with surprise before he let out a laugh. " I'll just take it day by day. I should get going, and you two have gotta save the world. Good luck to you, and thank's for the adventure."
Missy smugly replied, "So long."
They waited for him to walk off the stage, and listened as a door closed in the distance. Giovanni decided to occupy himself with his phone. When the kid's departure was certain, Missy broke the silence.
" Got any ideas?" she asked.
Giovanni put his phone back into his pocket. Calmly he said, " In our absence, we've been sent a message. Let's head to Goldenrod Radio Tower floor seven."
She smirked, intrigued by this information." A message that's weird, a message from whom?"
" Team Flare," Giovanni shortly said.
" Oh my gosh," Missy said in surprise. "Did they decide to surrender?"
" The Team won't read a message addressed to us, there's only one way to find out," he cooly replied.
He needn't say anything more. The coordinates were set, they took their place. There were no lights, no cameras, and the only action was a press of a button. The lights sparkled and dazzled as they departed from the stage.