Episode 80: Digging your own Cave

Cosmo strolls with determination through a cave. Several Planetary Grunts approach him and salute. One reports, "Sir, Commander Cygnus is waiting for you in the next room."

Cosmo nods. "I'm on my way there now." He dismisses the grunts and continues on his way. He comes to stop right before entering the next chamber. He takes a deep breath and mentally prepares himself for what's ahead. He says under his breath, "Here we go…" He steps in.

Almost immeadiatly, an exasperated and annoyed voice complains, "Look who finally decided to join us. The prodigal son himself." The speaker is Cygnus, the Team Planetary Commander in charge of public relations.

Despite his mental preparation, Cosmo can't help but cringe with annoyance. He then responds, "I came as soon as I could. There was work to be done back at HQ before I could depart."

Cygnus rolls her eyes. "Whatever, kid."

Cosmo shows annoyance at being called kid. He puts aside his annoyance and asks, "So what is your report? Have you located the chamber?"

Cygnus asks, "Would I have called you here if we hadn't located the chamber yet?"

Now Cosmo rolls his eyes. "Just show it to me so we can start this operation."

"Don't forget kid, you're only here to as a set of eyes and ears. I'm still in command, and I give the orders."

Cosmo doesn't even try to retort, knowing it will only make things worse. Cygnus then turns and leads Cosmo away.

Once they reach a wall that seems to be the focus of intense study, she says, "This is it. This wall is merely an illusion, and beyond it lies the Legendary Pokémon Showakusei, the second Cosmic Guardian."

On the other side of the wall, a Pokémon floats serenely. It is small and impish in nature with a large head, and looks as if it were roughly hewn from silvery rock. There is an eerie purple glow that emanates from cracks in its body. Perhaps more curiously, two rings of rocks orbit around its body.

Suddenly sensing danger, the Pokémon opens its eyes and calls out urgently, "Showaaaaaaa!"

Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Braydon run up to the entrance of the Crater Gate cavern. Before stepping in, Ash asks, "This is it? You saw Team Planetary entering through here?"

Braydon affirms, "Yeah, they were carrying a lot of equipment with them, too."

Ash nods. "Alright, let's check it out."

Only moments after Ash earned his ET Badge from Allen, the Crater Town Gym, our heroes' friend Braydon has appeared with warning of suspicious Team Planetary activity in the Crater Gate. What could possibly be going on?

The group enters the cave. Braydon points down a tunnel and urges, "This way, I saw them over here."

Brenda asks, "Where did you see them, specifically?"

Braydon explains, "I was deeper in the cave, exploring a new tunnel that was discovered after the recent rockslides. That's where I saw them, going deeper into that new tunnel. As soon as I saw how many of them there were, and how much equipment they had, I knew something was up. I'm glad I was able to find you guys."

Behind them, something moves and pair of eyes can be seen in the shadows. A voice says quietly, "Rai…"

Ash quickly looks behind him, but the eyes have already retreated back into the shadows. "Huh?"

Brenda asks, "What is it, Ash?"

"I thought I heard something back there. I guess I was wrong."

Back on topic, Brock asks Braydon, "So what makes you suspicious of Team Planetary? We've never met anyone else who knows they're evil."

Brenda laughs. "You don't know Braydon. Back at Launch Town, he was known as the town's conspiracy theorist. He was always spouting these crazy stories about how Team Planetary had a hidden side to them. I never even suspected how right he could be. I thought he was crazy."

Braydon objects, "Hey, I'm standing right here!"

Brenda emphasizes, "I did say that in the past tense."

"Whatever, but it should be me asking you why you guys believe me. I thought for sure I was going to have to convince you."

Ash explains, "We've had several run-ins with Team Planetary, none of them good. Once we ran into them at the Starstreak Mountains, where they poached the Legendary Pokémon Ryusei and stole its Grand Meteoric Shard." Ash fists clench angrily as he recalls that day. "We couldn't stop them."

Braydon's eyes widen in surprise. "That's awful. I knew they were after Meteoric Shards, but they've got one of the Grand Meteoric Shards? That's a whole different story!"

Ash then swears, "I'll do anything I can to stop something like that from ever happening again."

The moment he declares this, a purple aura envelops the group. They're all surprised. Pikachu questions, "Pika?" Moments later, they've disappeared.

They reappear in the chamber containing the floating Pokémon from before. The first thing Ash notices is the Pokémon. "Whoa, what Pokémon is that? Did it bring us here?"

He takes out his Pokédex and checks the Pokémon, but the Pokédex declares, "Data unavailable." This confuses Ash.

Brock instantly makes a connection. "Ash, remember what Professor Oak told you when you tried to use your Pokédex on Ryusei? You have to check the Myths and Legends Database."

Ash's eyes widen as he realizes what Brock is suggestion. He taps an option on his Pokédex and then tries again. An artist's rendering of the Pokémon appears and the Pokédex says, "Showakusei, the Asteroid Pokémon and a Rock and Psychic Combo-Type. According to myth, this Pokémon was originally a piece of rock in the asteroid belt that was given life by the Cosmic Architect. Now it serves the Architect by watching over the solar system. Does not Evolve."

Braydon asks with disbelief, "You're telling me that's one of the Cosmic Guardians?"

Ash asks the Pokémon, "Showakusei, did you bring us here?"

The Pokémon nods. "Shoooow!" Its voice conveys a sense of urgency.

Ash questions, "Something sounds wrong, is that it? Do you need our help?"

Showakusei nods, and then points to a large rock that's colored a brilliant silver and almost seems to glow.

Brenda realizes, "That's a Grand Meteoric Shard!"

Braydon points out, "That's why Team Planetary is here! They must want it and Showakusei like they wanted Ryusei and its shard!"

Ash looks to Showakusei and asks it, "What is it you want us to do?"

Before it can answer, it suddenly looks up to the wall behind Ash and the others, as if it were sensing something. It urges, "Showa, showa!" and points to the Meteoric Shard.

Not knowing what to do, Ash walks over to the one foot diameter rock and picks it up. He looks up and realizes that there are people quite literally walking right through the wall, as if it were not there. He quickly takes action and ushers everyone into a hiding spot behind some rocks.

They all take a peek to see who came in. It's Cosmo and Cygnus, followed by several Planetary Grunts. Showakusei stares them down defiantly. Seeing them, Ash tenses up and nearly leaps out at them, but Brock restrains him.

Cygnus, almost sounding impressed, states, "Well, you really are here."

Showakusei shouts, "Showa!"

Cygnus groans. "But of course you're not going to make this easy. Why can't anything ever be easy?"

Cosmo pulls out a Pokéball and declares, "Where's your Grand Meteoric Shard? Things can go much easier for you if you tell us where it is. If you don't, we'll be taking it anyways."

Showakusei gathers a large amount of energy around it, and then releases it in a Cosmic Blast attack. "Showaaaakusei!"

This takes Team Planetary by surprises and knocks them all off their feet. Cygnus groans as she gets up. "You're a stupid one, it would seem." She then orders, "Do it."

All the grunts in the room throw Pokéballs and send out Lunatone, Solrock, and Elgyem. They all command their Pokémon at once, "Psychic!"

Ash whispers, "That's the same strategy they used to immobilize Ryusei! They're trying to kidnap Showakusei too!"

Before Showakusei is restrained, the rocks orbiting around it are hurled in all directions, slamming into the grunts' Pokémon, stopping them before they can restrain it.

Cygnus sighs. "Must I do everything myself?" She pulls out a Pokéball and sends out a Beheeyem. "Restrain that pain in my neck, Beheeyem."

Beheeyem also uses Psychic in an attempt to restrain Showakusei. Showakusei retrieves its rocks and then hurls them at Beheeyem, but Beheeyem first catches them with its Psychic, and then catches Showakusei itself. Showakusei struggles and attempts to fight back.

Cosmo orders, "Now, while it's distracted!"

The grunts all order their Pokémon to use Psychic again. This time Showakusei doesn't have enough mobility to fight back. It is now constrained by the combine force of the various Planetary Pokémon.

Several grunts then move in. They carry with them the same Meteoric Shard-powered capsule that was used to capture Ryusei. They prepare it for Showakusei.

Ash can't help himself any longer. He leaps up from hiding and shouts, "Showakusei!"

Cosmo angrily shouts, "Must you always show up at the worst times!?" He then complains under his breath, "Could this day get any worse?" the answer to that question comes when he realizes that Ash is holding the Grand Meteoric Shard. "He has the Grand Meteoric Shard! Do not let him leave this chamber!"

The grunts immeadiatly move to intercept him. Ash looks ready to fight, as well as Brock, Brenda, and Braydon, but Showakusei seems to have different plans. Just as it's about to be sealed away in the capsule, it shouts, "Showaaaaaaakuuu!" Ash and the others are teleported away.

Cosmo takes a moment to realize what just happened. With anger in his voice, he shouts, "Send word to all grunts! Spread out and search the caves! I want guards at every exit! Those kids are not to leave this cave with that Grand Meteoric Shard! Am I understood!?" The grunts all instantly leap into action. Cosmo clenches his fist and marches towards the exit of the chamber angrily.

Cygnus asks, "And where are you going?"

Sounding fed-up, he declares, "I'm going to find those kids and stop them myself if I can. They've been a pain for far too long." He marches out through the phantom wall.

On the other side of the wall, hidden from sight, but listening to everything transpiring in the chamber, is Team Rocket. Meowth asks, "Are you guys hearing what I'm hearing?"

James nods. "Yeah, it would seem that the twerps stole something pretty valuable from Team Unoriginal."

Jessie suggests, "And since there's not an original bone in their bodies, if it's valuable to them, it's got to be valuable to us."

Meowth declares, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go show those fakers what real thievery looks like. It's time to hunt down some twerps."

Who's that Pokémon!?

It is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away.

Ash and the others reappear somewhere else in the cave. They're all in shock, not having expected the teleportation. Braydon asks, "What just happened?"

Brock suggests, "Showakusei must have teleported us out of there, just like it brought us in."

Ash says angrily, "But now Team Planetary has Showakusei! We can't stop them!"

Brock turns to Ash, "I know you wanted to protect Showakusei, but I think that it brought us to it purely for the sake of protecting the Grand Meteoric Shard. Protecting that rock was more important to it than protecting itself. We have to honor that wish."

Ash's fists begin to shake rapidly as he tries to contain his anger. "I won't let Team Planetary win, not again. Never."

Braydon encourages, "Then let's not let them get that Grand Meteoric Shard. Showakusei is already lost, but Team Planetary hasn't won without that."

Ash nods. "You're right. Let's get out of this cave and find somewhere safe for this thing." He slips it into his backpack.

Some pebbles tumble off from a nearby cliff. Ash looks up just in time to see something flee from sight atop the cliff.

He points up towards it. "Hey, look up there! What's that?"

Brenda asks, "What's what? I don't see anything."

"It's gone now."

Braydon looks around and observes, "I'm pretty sure we're in the same part of the cave that we were before Showakusei brought us to it. The Crater Town exit should be this way. Let's go before Team Planetary catches up with us."

Ash agrees, "Yeah, good idea." They turn to head towards the exit.

After traveling some way, they all suddenly come to a stop as fear crosses their faces. Guarding the exit is large group of Planetary Grunts and their Pokémon.

Brock whispers, "They must have expected that we'd come this way. We have to find a different exit."

Ash begins to step forward. "There's no way I'm running. Pikachu and I will fight our way out."

Pikachu adds, "Chu."

Brock shakes his head. "No Ash, that Grand Meteoric Shard is too valuable. We can't risk it. We have to find a different exit. Crater Gate has several of them."

Ash reluctantly acquiesces. "Fine."

However, before they can quietly sneak away, one of the grunts shouts, "Over there! It's the kids! Get them!" The grunts and their Pokémon run up towards them to attack.

Brenda shouts, "Run!"

They all break off running, but it seems that the grunts are gaining on them. Before they can though, Heala leaps in front of them and attacks all of the opposing Pokémon with Venoshock. It then shouts with challenge, "Heala!"

Ash looks back with surprise, "Heala!?" But he doesn't stop. Everyone keeps on running as Heala holds off the grunts. They turn a corner and leave sight.

However, once the first Lunatone launches an attack at Heala, all of its courage suddenly vanishes and it runs away in fear. "Healaaaa!"

The grunts pick up their chase.

It's Haunter!

After running quite some way, Ash and the others are forced to stop to catch their breath when they make it to fork in the cave. Ash says, "If that's the same Heala as before, then I doubt it did much to hold back those grunts. We have to keep on moving."

Brock suggests, "I think we should split up."

Brenda asks, "Why? We don't stand nearly as much of a chance in a fight if we split up."

"True, but hopefully splitting up will decrease the chance of the one carrying the shard to even have to get in a fight in the first place." He looks around, and then picks up three large rocks, about the size of the Grand Meteoric Shards. "If we each put one of these in our bags, it'll look like we're each carrying the Grand Meteoric Shard. Team Planetary won't know who to chase."

Ash nods. "That's a good idea, Brock. Let's do it."

Brock distributes a rock to Brenda and Braydon. All three of them place the rock in their bags and zip them up. A noticeable bulge is apparent on their bags from the rocks.

Brenda suddenly looks to the tunnel behind them. "Guys, I hear people coming. We have to get moving."

Ash, Brock, and Brenda each move to a different path. Braydon remains standing where he was. Ash urges, "Come on Braydon, we have to keep on moving."

Braydon pulls out a Pokéball. "No, you three keep on moving. I'll buy you as much time as I can." Ash seems hesitant, but Braydon urges, "Go, move!"

Ash nods. "Good luck." They all run off, leaving Braydon alone.

The group of Planetary Grunts run into sight. Braydon grins. "It took you guys long enough. I, for one, have had enough running." He beckons to the rock-bulge in his backpack. "If you want this, you're going to have to battle me for it, and there's no way I'm losing to some nameless grunts." He throws his Pokéball. "Go, Kappaquarius!"

"Kappapapaaaaa!"

The grunts take the bait. One with a Solrock orders, "Solar Beam, now!"

Another with a Lunatone commands, "And you use Lunar Beam!"

Then one with an Elgyem shouts, "Psybeam!"

Braydon declares, "Hydromancy!" Kappaquarius uses its psychic powers to raise a wall of water in front of it, which blocks all three beam attacks. He gives a cocky grin. "You're going to have to do better than that if you want this rock."

Ash and Pikachu are now running down their chosen path alone. Ash says to Pikachu, "Alright, it's up to you and me now, Pikachu. We've got to get this rock out of these caves." He looks back behind him as he runs. "I think that Braydon's plan to hold off the grunts must have worked. I can't hear them behind us anymore."

His attention is called back ahead of them when Pikachu points out, "Pika pik!"

Ash looks ahead just in time to see the yellow tail of a Pokémon round a corner. "Was that a Pokémon? Maybe we should follow it."

Pikachu looks up to him without an answer.

Ash shrugs. "What the heck, let's do it." He and Pikachu round the corner as well. After several more moments of running, they arrive in a large and open chamber. In its center is a large statue of a distorted Pokémon of some sort. It seems to have been purposefully built to not resemble any specific Pokémon. At its base is sigil that resembles a piece of DNA. Ash looks around, but can't see the Pokémon they followed anywhere. He then stares up at the statue with wonder. "What kind of Pokémon do you think that is, Pikachu?"

Pikachu also looks over it. It shakes its head. "Pika."

Before they can decide what to do next, Cosmo steps into the chamber from another tunnel.

Ash shouts angrily, "You!"

Cosmo states, "I suppose I should commend you on your strategy to split up. It was quite clever, at least in theory. There was one flaw in it though."

Ash scowls. "What?"

"After all these encounters we've had, I know you well enough to know that it would be you carrying the real Grand Meteoric Shard. I'm sure you trust your friends, but you take your fight against us so personally that there's no way you'd let anyone but yourself carry it. Once I learned that you had split up, I knew I could ignore your friends."

Ash's fists tighten.

"Now, why don't you just hand over the Grand Meteoric Shard, and then we can both go home."

Ash demands, "And what about Showakusei!? I doubt it gets to go home!"

"Showakusei will do its part to protect the world. That is the job of the Cosmic Guardians after all, isn't it?"

Ash asserts, "Showakusei sacrificed itself to make sure I could keep the Grand Meteoric Shard from you, there's no way I'll ever allow its sacrifice to be in vain!"

Cosmo sighs. "Unfortunately I also know you well enough to know that would be your response. Why can't you just understand that you're on the wrong side of this?"

Ash begins to laugh at the sheer absurdity of Cosmo's statement.

Cosmo demands, "What!? What are you laughing at?"

"You! You really do believe your own propaganda, don't you?"

"I assure you, it is not propaganda, it's the truth. Everything that Team Planetary does is done for the greater good of not only the Tenno Region, but the world. How could you possibly oppose us?"

"Listen to yourself, think about what you're saying! Every time I've encountered you and Team Planetary, you've done nothing but steal, extort, and manipulate! How can you do things like that with good intentions?"

Ash's words are beginning to have an impact on Cosmo. He says under his breath, "You don't understand…"

"No, Cosmo! You don't understand! You're being tricked just as much as any other citizen of Tenno!" Ash stops and thinks for a moment. "What about the Sol Monolith, huh? Remember that? A priceless artifact of Tenno's ancient history, and Team Planetary wrecked it, all to collect a sample! How can you justify that!?"

Cosmo is staring down at the ground; his body is tensed up and trembling with anger. He says, as if to convince himself, "It was a shame, but a necessary evil."

"No, there's no such thing as a necessary evil! Acts of evil intention lead to nothing but evil ends!"

Cosmo suddenly looks up to Ash and shouts with rage and denial, "You're wrong! Team Planetary is a force for good! You're the one who is committing acts of evil by trying to stop us!" He pulls out a Pokéball. "Now hand over the Grand Meteoric Shard, or else!"

Pikachu takes several steps forward and assumes a fighting stance. Sparks fly from its cheeks. Ash declares, "We'll fight you, and beat you!"

Cosmo, having figured as much, demands with annoyance, "What is your problem!?" He throws his Pokéball, releasing Ferntress.

Ash declares, "Iron Tail, let's go!"

Pikachu leaps up and readies its attack, "Chu, pika!"

Cosmo counters, "Foliage Fortress!" Ferntress wraps a barrier of ferns around its front side, completely halting Pikachu's attack.

Ash was expecting this move, though. He grins. "I knew you'd do that! Now Pikachu, Quick Attack, and then another Iron Tail!" Pikachu uses Qucik Attack to rapidly ran around Ferntress to its backside, and then attacks with another Iron Tail. Ferntress is sent skidding forward by the force of the attack. "You always rely on that move to stop our attacks. You're too predictable."

Cosmo declares, "How's this for predictable!? Leaf Storm, backwards!" Without even turning, Ferntress causes a furious storm of leaves to blow backwards from its body. Pikachu has no chance to avoid the attack, and is flung backwards, caught in the storm and pelted by a barrage of leaves.

"Pikaaa!"

Somehow, at the same time from three different tunnels, Brock, Brenda, and Braydon all come running into the chamber. The surprise of seeing Ash and Cosmo battling causes them to stop in their tracks. They all shout, "Ash!" This gets each other's attention, as they realize they're all there.

Ash notices them, but is too focused on the battle to pay them any attention. He shouts, "Pikachu, use the momentum of Volt Tackle to get out of that!"

Pikachu understands Ash's suggestion, and prepares for its Volt Tackle. "Pika, pika, pika, pika, pika, pika, pika…" As electricity begins to generate around it and Pikachu begins to build up momentum, it manages to run right through the Leaf Storm, destroying the leaves as it charges through them. "…pika, pika, pika, pika, chu!" Pikachu rams into Ferntress. Its Ground typing may protect it from the damage inflicted by the electricity of the attack, but the blunt force of Pikachu ramming into it at high speeds causes Ferntress to be knocked off its feet and stops the Leaf Storm attack.

Before either side can declare another attack, Jessie orders, "Stop what you're doing and hand over the Meteoric Shard!"

Ash and Cosmo both look towards the source of the voice, and see that Team Rocket has emerged from yet another tunnel. They begin the motto.

"Prepare for trouble, within this cave!"

"Make it double, you're not so brave!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket spelunks this cave at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or you're in for an underground fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime mime!"

Ash shouts, "Team Rocket, stay out of this!"

Cosmo demands, "Do you fools show up everywhere these kids do!?"

James, somehow taking this as a complement, nods proudly and answers, "Why yes, we do. We go anywhere those twerps go."

Meowth adds, "You could say it's what we were made to do." He then threatens, "Now, you'd better hand over that space rock, if you know what's good for you."

Ash isn't in the mood for this. He shouts, "Pikachu, get rid of them! Thunderbolt!"

Cosmo seems to want to get rid of them as soon as possible too. He orders, "Leaf Storm!" Both attacks are sent flying right at Team Rocket.

Jessie grabs Wobbuffet, who's standing behind her, forcibly by the shoulders, and pushes it in front of her. "Make yourself useful, you useless blob!"

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet cloaks itself in rainbow energy. Both the Thunderbolt and Leaf Storm impact Wobbuffet's Mirror Coat and are sent right back at Pikachu and Ferntress."

James declares, "You can label that one return to sender!"

Ash and Cosmo both shout, "Dodge!" They do so, and the reflected attacks both hit the ground where they stood. This causes the ground to crumble. The crumbling quickly increases, and within moments the ground beneath Ash, Cosmo, Pikachu, and Ferntress completely collapses. They all fall down into the newly opened hole.

Brock, Brenda, and Braydon all shout, "Ash!"

From behind the statue, something that was hiding dashes out, and jumps down the hole after Ash and Cosmo. It moves too fast to see anything more than an orange-yellow blur. Once it's through, rocks falling from the edges of the hole lodge themselves in its center, sealing it completely.

Everyone is left entirely stunned by this sudden event.

What just happened!? Will Ash and Pikachu be alright!? Will Team Planetary succeed in stealing the Grand Meteoric Shard!? There are many questions, but for the answers, you'll have to stay tuned!

To Be Continued…