Giovanni swirled his hands around in the air in an intricate pattern. Black light formed images too brief to ascertain their shape, and first a sword appeared in one of the Evil One's hands. Next, a shield appeared in the other hand. The shield gleamed, a sinister ghostly face emblazoned on it.
It's too early! Mew exclaimed, after sparing a glance at Giovanni. The Defenders aren't ready! She dodged another Beedrill's Pin Missile attack.
Dodging attacks of his own, Lugia replied, Too early? I don't think so, my friend. Look at our number.
Briefly, Mew glanced down at the ground beneath her, and that one glance was enough.
Moltres had been grounded and was spitting right and left Fire Blasts, most of which never scored. She was in a lot of pain, which put her in a frenzy.
She wasn't the only frenzied or downed one.
The Lord of Lightning had been grounded as well. He had succumbed to an Umbreon's Confuse Ray and was walking around spitting sporadic Thunders.
Bulbasaur was greatly weakened, Raikou was limping, and Delibird was being chased by a Magcargo. The situation looked hopeless.
Now, Mewtwo said simply. He closed his eyes and reached out his paws.
Confused, Brock and Ashura exchanged a glance, then followed Mewtwo's example, touching their hands to his.
Colored light from Mewtwo spread into Brock and Ashura, and they suddenly found themselves holding items. Brock was holding a shield, and Ashura was holding a sword.
The Sword of Justice and the Shield of Truth, Mewtwo explained. They counter the Chosen One's Bane and the Shield of Deceit. Hurry, get them to the Chosen One. I am spent. And indeed he was; he sank down onto the floor, closing his purple eyes.
Brock and Shura ran to Ash, the former tapping him on the shoulder. The boy turned in confusion, then the fog in his eyes cleared, and he accepted the two items. He held his head up in confidence; the knowledge of how to use the shield and the sword was now in his mind.
He walked over and met Giovanni in the middle of the battlefield. They bowed to each other without words, and then their duel began.
Giovanni had strength, but Ash had youth. The Pokémon knew not who this battle would favor.
"Whoa, lookit that," Meowth whispered. He and Jessie and James were peeking into a large chamber where a massive battle was taking place.
"That looks like the boss!" observed James.
"Since when'd he get a great place like dis?" Meowth wondered. Then he did a double take. "Hey! But da boss's s'posed ta be dead!"
"He doesn't look dead to me," snorted Jessie.
"I didn't know da boss wuz good wit' swords," the feline mused, watching the duel. "Is dat da twerp?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
Jessie and James looked. "It is!" they cried.
"What's goin' on?" Meowth wondered, looking around at all of the battling Pokémon.
Jessie's eyes gleamed. "Look at all those Legendary Pokémon..."
"Meowth don't like what's happenin' heah. Look at da boss's Pokémon."
The two humans did as they were told. James frowned, "You're right, Meowth. There's something strange going on..."
"Da boss's Pokémon are all black...And look at da boss! Dere's sometin' weird wit' him, too."
"Pika!" Pikachu cried as he was flung across the room by a Dark Heracross. He landed at Meowth's feet.
"Look! It's da twerp's Electric rat!" Meowth exclaimed. Jessie and James did a jolly jig.
"Pika," the small Pokémon said weakly. He was breathing hard and looked beat up.
"What's goin' on heah, Pikachu?" Meowth inquired.
Trembling, Pikachu began explaining everything.
"You say that the boss's evil and da world's doomed if he ain't destroyed?" Meowth said incredulously.
"Pika," the Electric mouse nodded.
Jessie laughed. "Like we would believe that."
Pikachu gained a little fire in his eyes. "Pikachu!"
Meowth listened to him again. "He's got a good point. Why else would all da Legendaries be heah? Seems to Meowth that something big's goin' on."
The Electric-Type talked to Meowth some more.
"Da boss really did die? And he came back ta life?" Meowth's eyes were wide.
"How can we believe Pikachu?" James asked. "He just wants to avoid being caught."
"Pikaaa. Pikachu!"
"He says you can ask anybody," Meowth said. "All right, get dat Moltres over here."
Pikachu looked at Meowth calculatingly for a moment, then limped away. He managed to distract Moltres' assailants, and the bird finally made her way over to the three Team Rocket members.
Moltres quickly chirped out a bunch about the situation, not bothering with Psychic talk, and Meowth translated it. Then Moltres went back to the battlefield, where she was sure to get beaten even more badly.
Meowth's eyes shimmered. "I really tink dey're not lyin'. Da fate of da world is at stake heah. Look at da twerp." They did. "Dere's no way he could know how to use dat sword. Da same wit' da boss. Dere's sometin' funny goin' on." He looked at Jessie and James. "And dat prophecy Moltres told us about. What if we're da Three? We could save da world, and finally get our break..."
"But, Meowth, what can we do?" James asked. He felt a fire in his soul. He wanted to help. This could be an act of repentance for his crimes. He wanted to do it, wanted it so bad it surprised himself. At that moment in time, his Pikachu-stealing plans were set aside. The fate of the world was at stake.
Meowth looked out on the raging battle. "We gotta help da twerp."