Spark, flash.

A sudden glow, and then a terrible noise.

Bedecked in strength-enhancing machinery, the two Pokémon were carrying out their battle to the fullest. They didn't even need instructions from their "trainer" below.

They already knew what to do.

Devon rammed into his opponent, but was effortlessly thrown back. He was then hit with a barrage of stars, but he pulled up a sudden Barrier and they were thrown back to their source, who blocked them effectively.

Tail lashing with fury, he whipped it across the other battler's partially covered face, and was then struck back with an even more powerful tail.

This served only to fuel Devon's anger, and unleashing a battle cry that could chill a Houndoom's blood, he let loose a powerful Blizzard that caused his opponent to falter. But it didn't stop the other for long, and soon enough Devon's adversary retaliated with a powerful Mega Punch that made the Mew see stars.

"Stop!" Giovanni's voice boomed across their battlefield, and reverberated back and forth a few times. A sinister expression was on his face, "Very good. Devon, you need to learn to take advantage of any second of hesitation you can get." He pointed to Devon's opponent, "And you need to learn not to be intimidated by loud noises."

Cold purple eyes lifted themselves to his face, and fists clenched at the Pokémon's sides. It was by strength of will alone that it managed not to explode in the Team Rocket Leader's face.

Devon's blue eyes met the other's purple, and he passed a warning through them that clearly said, Hurt him, and you shall be the one to die...And it will be a long and painful death.

Crossing his arms, the larger Psychic Pokémon stuck out his chin defiantly at Devon. His eyes spoke, Don't tell me what to do, or you shall beg me to give you mercy...But I won't give it to you.

Giovanni was unaware of this exchange, and turned to one of his aides. "Bring that herd of wild Tauros in here." Turning to his two prize Pokémon, he grinned evilly. "No Special Attacks allowed. You may only give them physical blows."

The two Psychic-types met his gaze, and returned strong ones of their own.

They weren't going to be intimidated by a bunch of angry bulls.

~*~*~

"It's okay, Mewsie," Meowth tried to calm down the sobbing cat. But his words of reassurance meant nothing to the hysterical Mew.

"Mew meewww," Mewsie cried pitifully.

"What's wrong lil' ting?" Meowth rocked it back and forth, looking down with concern. "Do you miss ya mama?"

That got Mewsie to quiet down, and he looked up at the much larger cat and nodded with big blue, teary eyes. "Mwaa. Mwaa."

Meowth's eyes widened, "My wittle baby said his first real words!" His eyes teared in admiration, "Is youze gonna learns ta speak like Meowth?"

Straining, Mewsie managed, "Mowth."

"You know momsie's name!" Meowth exclaimed, cradling the Mew.

Mewsie nodded, but tears again started filling his big baby-blue eyes.

"Do youze miss ya brudders and sistuhs too?"

An affirmative nod. Meowth sighed. He didn't want his "baby" to be unhappy. "Well, I s'pose I can take ya to see one of yur siblin's. But ya have to promise to stay close to Meowth and not let them take you away from me, kay?"

Smiling, Mewsie agreed. "Mowth."

"I'm gonna regret dis," Meowth muttered as he started walking, Mewsie in his paws, towards Pallet Town.

~*~*~

Zapdos and Moltres.

She had to find one of them.

Preferably Moltres; the Fire-type was more closely knit with the other Legendaries. Zapdos didn't like to have anything to do with anyone, plain and simple.

Articuno pumped more speed into her slightly aching wings, and zipped through the air towards Moltres' island, which was where she found Moltres. The Fire-type was flying in a random pattern and sending out small blasts of fire that disintegrated little bits of cloud here and there.

"Coo!" Articuno cawed, panting heavily. [Moltres!]

"Molt?" the big bird of flames turned inquisitively, looking surprised and a bit suspicious. They hardly ever talked. [Yes?]

Articuno spoke frantically. [Can you feel it? Something is going to happen! The last two adult Mews are dead! And their children are nowhere to be found! Celebi wasn't at the forest shrine, and I don't know where anyone else is!]

Thinking quickly, Moltres came closer to the Ice-type, making the frigid Pokémon a little uneasy at the sudden heat. [I'll try to scan around and see if I can find the Mews or any other Legendaries, as well as inform Zapdos of the situation. Yes, I felt something too, but I thought it was just becoming a little more moist around here...You know how much I hate water...Do you know what it is?]

Articuno shook her head, [No. I just know that we need to take action quickly, or we could all be destroyed or even captured.]

[The last time I heard from Lugia was deep inside the Orange Island cave. If he's felt anything I'm sure he will be near the entrance, waiting for someone to contact him. Go tell him what you felt, and ask if he knows where any of the other Legendaries are. I'm off!] And with that, Moltres took off through the air, towards Zapdos' island.

Taking in a large gulp of air, Articuno headed towards the Orange Islands. She was already fatigued from her swift flights, so it took much longer than it should have. Right when she was about to go inside the cave she felt a large surge of emotion that felt like anger sweep through her. Crying out, partially in pain and partially in shock, she plunged to the ground, hitting it hard.

For a few moments she just lied there, the world outside her coming in and out of focus. Her side heaved as she struggled to intake air, and there was a splitting pain in her wing.

Articuno! she heard in her mind.

Wincing, she managed to raise her head. A large white and royal blue bird stood on the ground before her. "Arrr," she groaned.

Lugia came closer to her, You felt it too?

Articuno gasped, [Yes, but not as strongly as you felt it, I suspect. What was it?]

Evil Psychic-types, I think...And getting worse by the second. They need to be stopped. Lugia rested a wing on Articuno; suddenly she was no longer in pain. There, that should do it. The Psychic bird scanned the sky, I cannot stay out here much longer. An Evil Man is searching for me, and will not stop until he has me. The other Legendaries are safe from him, until he catches me. So it as much for your sake as it is mine that I must hide. He thinks that I am in the sea right now. A tired sigh.

[The Two Mews are dead,] said the Ice bird quietly.

Yes, I thought I felt their death. It happened rather suddenly though, so I wasn't one hundred percent positive...

[Their babies are gone,] Articuno said bluntly.

Gone? Lugia's eyes widened. I thought you or Ho-oh had gotten them.

Articuno shook her head, [I think humans must have taken them.]

Humans? Lugia exclaimed. We must get them back! ...But you aren't used to flying so swiftly. We have to get one of the Dogs to search for them...

[I couldn't find Celebi either,] Articuno informed him.

Heaven sakes. What has that imp gotten up to now?

The Ice avian shrugged, [Beats me. Do you know where the Dogs are?]

Lugia thought for a moment, Suicune's probably at that little pond in Johto that she likes so much. I believe you know the one?

[Yes, I believe so.] Articuno sighed, and spoke wryly, [Off I go again.]

Yes...Good luck.

~*~*~

Hop, skip, jump.

Suicune lightly pranced over the various rocks that stuck out along the side of the pond that she thought of simply as "Hers."

Glancing at the middle of it, she thought she saw a bubble come up and pop, and so she pounced on its source.

A surprised Remoraid squealed in astonishment, not expecting a four hundred pound Water-type to jump upon it. Suicune smirked, and threw it up with her teeth in the air, jaw down and ready to catch the fish when a sudden flutter of wings made her look around in shock, and miss the Remoraid. Happy to have escaped, it plopped into the water and swam to the bottom of the pond, where it stayed, glaring up at the Dog.

You made me lose my lunch, Suicune sighed.

[Sorry, but we have a problem.]

Suicune looked at Articuno, all ears. Articuno explained about the evil forces that seemed to be gathering, not being able to find Celebi, the Two Mews being dead, the Two Mews' babies being taken by humans, and what the Legendaries she had managed to get word to were going to do.

The Water-type listened quietly through the whole thing, and only when the bird was over did she speak. She wasn't one to waste time. Celebi flew by a few days ago, and said something about having to be in Pallet Town to "help" someone. I thought she was just going off on some hide and seek adventure with Sudowoodo again, so I didn't pay her any heed. If I were you, I would check Pallet. I'll zip around and see if I can find any of the Mews, or anyone who knows where they might be. See you soon.

And with that, Suicune was gone.

Articuno grumbled under her breath, [Why does no one take into account that maybe, just maybe, I am tired.]

~*~*~

Circling around Pallet, Articuno sighed. She didn't see hide no hair of Celebi. She landed near a rather large house, and scanned the surrounding area. If the Psychic- and Grass-type was hiding, she sure was doing a dang good job of it!

"Articuno!" a choked and surprised male voice exclaimed. The man was instantly by her side. "Why, in all my years I never thought I would actually be able to be this close to--"

Articuno turned to the old man and gave him a hard stare. "Erm yes. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Professor Samuel Oak...And I assume you're here for a reason?"

Sensing that he wasn't likely to harm her, Articuno fought down her initial urge to turn tail and fly. She nodded.

"Cuno," she cooed. She knew that he wasn't likely to understand her, but she could try.

"Hmm, interesting..." He muttered under his breath. "Dialect is like a cross of a Pidgey and a Seel..." Oak straightened. "No, I haven't seen a Psychic- and Grass-type. At least, not to my knowledge."

Articuno's eyes widened. He understood her?

"However, I know who might." Avian eyes turned towards him. "My grandson, Gary Oak, or a young boy, Ash Ketchum. Gary has spiky brown hair, and travels with a bunch of cheerleaders and his Evee. Ash wears a cap, and always travels with his Pikachu. Perhaps they can help you. They shouldn't betoo far from here."