Toa Solaric: Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome back to another chapter of my Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey.
Pokemon Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey
Ch23: Return of Neo Flare
It was another day of class in the Pokemon school as Professor Kukui giving a lecture with a projector showing images of Pokemon from the Kalos Region in their studied course.
"Vivillon has about 18 different distinct patterns that depend on where they're born in what geographic climates that are from…" Professor Kukui said, showing the various pictures of the scale pokemon Vivillon.
Although Michael is participated in jolting down notes about the different Kalos Pokemon, though he can't help feels a little dull about today's class. It's not like he finds the class is boring since Professor Kukui was lecturing over pokemon from the same place where Mega Evolution was original.
(Michael.) His partner and brother muttered in his mind.
'I know… I can't help much since there aren't a lot of challenges going on the island,' Michael thought, stares at the pictures of Kalos pokemon. Even though all of this new knowledge about the Kalos region giving him a lot more to learn about this world, he can't ignore a part that was being a trainer.
(At least you don't have the adults going after you yet.) Espeon said as he can hear Michael mentally sigh.
Don't remind me… Michael thought.
(Hypothetically speaking… what happens if you end up telling them about your past if they caught you doing something out of the norm?) Espeon asked. If there is a chance of something happen, what kind, of course, will be followed next for his brother and everyone else here.
'They would probably think that I'm more insane before trying to throw me into an asylum or something… That is what it all going to be.' Michael thought dull.
(Don't you think it might upset Lillie and Mizuki?) Espeon asked. Out of all others, both Lillie and Mizuki seem to be close to his brother. He was especially pleased they still treated him the same as they always did.
'Not really. Their parents might tell them that wanted nothing to do with me.' Michael thought, unaware of Espeon placed his paw on his face at his lack of concerns for the girls close to him.
Deep within the ocean, there was some kind of carrier that been seen making way to the Alola region.
"Sir, we're getting close to Melemele Island." Said one of the individuals that working on the computers that operate the large carrier.
"Good. We will make land far from society when it is dark enough. Then we will retrieve what belongs to us." The one who appeared to be in charge respond.
(The next day)
Michael and Mizuki are currently in a deep part of the woods with their Pokemon.
"Even though Porygon2 might be my triumph card against the Totem Pokemon, I should still raise others' speed to keep up?" Mizuki inquired.
"That's pretty much this exercise for," Michael replied. "Rockruff may have type advantage and Rowlet can fly. However, you will still need a way for your Pokemon to be able to reach the Totem Pokemon without slowing down." It's too bad he still doesn't have any of his flier pokemon with him, but this is enough to stimulation what Mizuki's pokemon needed.
"I see." Mizuki turned to look at their pokemon training with each other.
Espeon is currently working with Rockruff, Litten, and Magus on speed in playing the game of tag. Velvet and Ninetales are working with both Porygon2 and Rowlet upon avoiding attacks while they are standing on top of a large cliff.
"I have to admit that this useful, but it would've been better if we have flying type to give practice," RotomDex commented, taking observing of their training.
"But I think that this will do fine." Mizuki then looks back at the pokemon working together in training. "Besides this does give me some ideas for new pictures." She has a smile formed upon her face.
In a certain restaurant, a certain forest haired girl let out a depressed sigh when looking at the people who are there.
"Is there something wrong, Mao?" Mao turned around and looks at Suiren.
"O-Oh, it's nothing…" Mao said, slightly hesitant.
But Suiren knows that Mao is lying with how she expressed. She knows that Mao's opinion about Michael had been changed after the incident with the Beedrill. However, it doesn't apply the same to the redhead. "Let me guess. It's about Michael." She replied.
"I-It's not like that, Suiren…." Mao replied defensive.
"I don't blame you for thinking that he come here even though he had a part-time job in Snorlax Pancake and he also helps Mizuki becoming a better trainer," Suiren said. She also didn't mention that Mizuki could cook since it might make her friend more depressed when it comes to cooking.
Mao can't help but puffed up her cheek. "Just for once, I wished that he would come here…" she said with a sigh.
"It's not like you could make your cooking any better," Mamane said, making his friends flinched at his response.
"Mamane!" Suiren exclaimed in shock.
"Mamane, you shouldn't say that!" Kiawe scolded his friend, knowing that Mao will take offense something like that offensive!
"W-What did you say…?" Mao said with her eyebrow twitching and a very sweet tone.
Mamane soon let out a gulp nervous at the sight of Mao appeared like that.
Off the coast of Melemele Island was a large aircraft that was in the sky. The appearance of the aircraft seems to be a large cargo ship. That seems to be carried supplies and stuff.
Soon the back door of the aircraft opened itself.
Looking down at the island of Melemele, he had let out a sigh of nostalgia after seeing this place for who knows how long. His appearance was that of a disheveled homeless man who appeared to be tall. He has very long white hair, tanned skin, and black eyes. He dressed in dusty old blue jeans, dirty brown boots, and a red mitten hat. The rest of his outfit resembled a hiker with a large backpack. But he also wears a strange necklace with an odd key.
It's have been a long ride from the aircraft but he was patient. There is no doubt that this was the place after looking into the lead about the whereabouts of someone important to him. Though someone like him would just wait until the cargo plane makes way to the island, he doesn't want to waste any more time. But there is no time to waste before they return and attempt something terrible to this region.
The old man soon makes a small run before jumping off the cargo plane as he throws out a Pokeball into the air. It wasn't long until a large shadow of a pokemon appeared and carried him to the woods of the island itself.
"I'm coming…" The old man muttered, starting making his way through straight to civilization.
After they finished with the morning training, the two young trainers and RotomDex decided on heading to Snorlax's Pancake to get some lunch until they heard an explosion not far from where they are.
"What in the world is that?" Mizuki wondered in shock.
"It looks like the explosion was from over there!" RotomDex pointed to the explosion from afar.
"If something is going on, we should be careful and keep ourselves from getting out of trouble," Michael stated. "But it better not is those Skull grunts."
The only thing that those goons are good for being an annoyance, though he does rip them of their allowance every once and while from stomping them.
It wasn't that long until they find the source of the problem as Mizuki saw a familiar pokemon that she once encountered.
"ette…" Not far from where they are was the Floette with a unique shade of the red flower that was on the ground with bruises.
"Floette!" Mizuki recognized as her eyes spotted the mystical Floette. The young girl makes her way and picks up the Floette with her arms.
"WHOA! There is a Floette, bzzt!?" RotomDex gasp in shock.
'No way…' Michael can't help but drop his jaws in shock. "T-That is the Floette you were talking about!?" he exclaimed, a little bit shock and fascinating at this variation of the Floette.
"I'm not surprised that we will eventually find unwanted guests." A male voice stated as Michael turned his emerald green eyes and widened in shock.
Standing far from the two trainers and RotomDex were people in red uniforms and orange glasses. Not to mention that they also have a mixed group of pokemon consist of Krokorok and Lampent.
"I-Impossible…!" The redhead exclaimed with disbelief written over his eyes. What in the world are they doing here!?
"Neo Flare!?" Mizuki gasp in shock. "But how?"
They were certainly that Team Neo Flare was arrested for trying to attack the Melemele Island before Michael and Clemont. Neither Michael nor Mizuki would expect to hear from them once again.
"We got better." Replied Neo Flare Grunt.
"What are you doing with the Floette!?" Mizuki demands loudly. Though she may not know Floette that long, she can't help but feel sympathies with the loss of the pokemon who was cursed with immortality.
"That is none of your business. If you think of calling your Pokemon, we have ours on you before you even could do anything…" Replied the Neo Flare Grunt as their pokemon growl menacing at the two children.
This is bad… Michael thought, gritting his teeth at the situation. One thing he hates is a situation like this since it will mean either Mizuki or himself would get hurt before their pokemon being able to do anything to stop it.
Suddenly Floette regain her sense and began to glow brightly immediately as it results in grass growing at incredible height and out of control.
"What in the world!?" The Neo Flare Grunts exclaimed in surprise at the sudden grass that ground out from beneath their feet.
"Floette is using Grassy Terrain, bzzt!" RotomDex exclaimed in shock.
Due to the brightness of the mystical Floette, the single bloom pokemon managed to get out of Mizuki's arms and fleed immediately.
"Floette!" Mizuki cried out.
"Oh no, you don't!" The Neo Flare grunts shout, "Bulldoze!"
"Kro!" The Desert Cro pokemon that are presently used the same move to destroyed the area where Floette could be.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump them!" Michael shouts, throwing out the Pokeball.
After materialized from her Pokeball, the Slender Pokemon released a powerful gush of torrent water to knocked away the Krokorok while the Lampent dodged from the water attack.
"Lampent, Confuse Ray!" One of the Neo Flare Grunts shout.
"Milotic, Safeguard!"
The Lamp Pokemon's eyes glow blue and red but Milotic already puts up a barrier to protect herself from the Confused Ray.
"Hydro Pump again!" the redhead shouts.
Soon Milotic fired a powerful gush of water at the Lampents that are present even those who barely get away from the water attack.
"That is certainly close one…." Mizuki wondered in relief. But she knows that they still aren't out of danger yet considered these are Neo Flare members.
"We aren't done yet!" A male Neo Flare member snapped, taking out a Pokeball. "Torkoal, Bulldoze!"
A female Neo Flare member taking out a Pokeball, "Noivern, Boomburst!" she shouted in aiding her fellow Neo Flare member.
Soon materialized from their pokeballs are orange turtle-like pokemon with a black shell and a wyvern hybrid bat-like pokemon before they unleashed their attacks on Milotic, creating an explosion in the process.
It wasn't long until Noivern noticed there was a red glowing beam spotted on its stomach.
"Raaa?"
"Noivern, Boomburst quick!" The female Neo Flare shouts as she recognized that was the move Lock-On and only means one thing.
But it was too late before a powerful lighting blast shots straight through the smoke and struck Noivern without any miss.
Out of the smoke revealed a slight glowing Milotic and Porygon2 who seem to be dancing around the place randomly.
"Torkoal used Inferno!" The male Neo Flare member shouts.
"Counter it!" Michael shouts as Milotic fired off another Hydro Pump to countered the Inferno attack that caused an explosion in the middle of the field.
"Porygon2 used Psybeam!" Mizuki shouts as the virtual Pokemon soon zooms in front of Torkoal and a multicolored beam fired from its eyes.
This sends the coal pokemon backward in the process before Porygon2 let out a giggle as a result. This makes Mizuki slight urge to facepalm.
The male Neo Flare grunt returned his pokemon to the Pokeball before took out a grey colored poke ball that Michael recognized as a Heavy Ball.
"ARGGGOON!" Roared of the grey and silver giant beast as this makes Michael raises an eyebrow in confusion.
'Doesn't he get that Milotic could just soak it?' Michael thought before he noticed the male member holding a familiar device.
"Now Aggron, it's time to Mega Wave!" The Neo Flare member shouts before pressing on the device to caused purple glowing light to flash onto Aggron.
After the light faded away, Aggron changed rapidly as it is bulkier and more heavily plated than its previous state. The horns on its forehead are now shorter, and it has a third, wider horn on its nose. Using its horns, it is said to be able to destroy a steel tank. A spike projects downward from both its upper and lower jaw. The protrusions on its shoulders are longer and curve toward its head, and new spikes thrust from holes in its armbands. Its tail is thicker with two bands around it.
"AGGGRRR!" Mega Aggron roared menacingly at the two students and their Pokemon.
"T-That is unreal! A real Mega Aggron, bzzt!" RotomDex exclaimed, gathering data at the same time. "It's very dangerous! The special ability is Filter that reduced all type advantage by 25%!"
"Sigma! You take others and go after our target! I will catch up with you lots later!" The male Neo Flare member said to the female who nodded.
"Let's move!" After returning their Pokémon, they followed Sigma straight through the woods.
"Wait-" Mizuki tries to follow, but she was stopped by Michael who takes her hand. "Michael?" she responds with a confused expression.
"It's too dangerous, Mizuki!" Michael answered with a serious expression that silently commands her to stopped engaging the other Neo Flare members.
"Thunderbolt!" The Neo Flare member snapped as Mega Aggron soon slammed their fists to the ground and released powerful electricity at them.
Milotic saw this and used Protect to make sure that the attack won't hit her trainer and Mizuki. Although Porygon2 got struck by the powerful thunderbolt due to being outside of the place.
"Porygon!" Mizuki shouts, catching her virtual pokemon in her arms after seeing it got struck by the blow in the process. She soon returns her tired pokemon to its Pokeball and keeps it safe.
Michael soon returned Milotic to her Pokeball before going for another one. Even though Milotic might have an advantage against the rock type part of Mega Aggron, but he knows how powerful Aggron is and knows moves that can efficiently counter against pokemon like Milotic.
"Espeon!" Espeon materialized out of his Pokeball and stand defiantly against Mega Aggron. (Hoho… Another a Mega, huh?) he remarked.
'Iron Tail!' Michael mentally commands as Espeon jumps forward and attack.
"Block it!" Mega Aggron brought forearms to protect itself from the blow. "Now used Flash Cannon!"
Used Quick Attack to dodged and then close up with Hyper Beam! Michael mentally commands. Espeon leap out of the way when Flash Cannon occurs and charging orange energy in his jaws.
"Quick, used—" But the Neo Flare member wasn't able to command when Espeon got close enough and fired point-blank range Hyper Beam that sends Mega Aggron skidding few feet back.
The male Neo Flare member managed to move away, or he will be crushed near Mega Aggron's immense weight in the process. Eventually, Mega Aggron got back up and looking more aggressive than before due to the influence of the Mega Wave device.
"It is still moving!" RotomDex exclaimed, huddling behind Mizuki's hat.
Espeon was catching his breathing after using Hyper Beam.
"GGGGRR!" Mega Aggron roared furiously.
"Aggron, Steel Beam!" The male Neo Flare member shouts as Mega Aggron opens it's jaw and charges silver energy.
'Stop it with Psychic!' Michael mentally shouts to his partner whose eyes glow and channeling psychic energy from the red gem.
But Mega Aggron's attack comes out first before Espeon's attack as their powerful attacks collided with each other and currently at a stand-still.
"Their attacks are stand against each other!?" Mizuki and RotomDex look bewildered at the sheer power that both pokemon hold against each other.
It wasn't long until the energy building up from both attacks grow before an explosion that knocked both pokemon aside and their trainer in the process.
"Michael! Michael?" The redhead let out a groan before his eyes stirring up and saw Mizuki and RotomDex in front of him.
"W-What happened?" Michael asked, confused, and slightly tired.
"Attack from both Espeon and Mega Aggron knocked you and Espeon out," RotomDex stated bluntly. Though he and Mizuki didn't get hit hard by the blast as they were behind Michael at the time.
"For how long?" the redhead asked before getting up and looks around.
"For a few minutes. Here is Espeon." Mizuki said, returning his partner's Pokeball to him.
Michael takes the Pokeball and is equipped to his belt before noticing a large hole not far from where they are. He got up and approached the large hole not far from where they are.
"I see. So he decided to escape through the underground." Michael replied, knowing that Aggron could make a hole this big.
"What do we do, Michael?" Mizuki asked with a worried expression.
"For now, I think we should see Professor Kukui, and find out what is going on here." The redhead said finality. After that, he might help with the chase after those Neo Flare grunts.
Unknown to them, something was watching them from the top of a tree before flew off in the process.
(Pokemon School)
Michael and Mizuki make their way to the Pokemon School where they know that Professor Kukui was still in the classroom.
"I was afraid of this…" Professor Kukui said with a frown after hearing from both of his students' accounts and RotomDex's recording. "It seems that they make their comeback after that breakout."
"So they break out of prison?" Michael asked grimaced. Professor Kukui nodded.
"Especially there are not much of the news with Kalos authority. I believed that they're trying to keep it from causing widespread panic." He hypothesized. It would likely make sense after their previous leader has done to Kalos under their nose.
"Why do you think that they're after Floette?" Mizuki asked with a worried expression.
Professor Kukui wasn't even sure how to answer this question. Luckily, that answer lies with someone willing to bring an answer for them.
"That is something I might be able to shed some light on…" An old male voice said, drawing their attention and they saw the old man in a dishevel hiking outfit and backpack leaning nearby the balcony of the classroom.
"Who in the world are you?" Professor Kukui asked sharply. Not to mention how did this stranger get into the school!
Mizuki and RotomDex soon went behind Michael who gazed at the mysterious old man. The redhead is a little suspicious of him since no one sensed him coming into the classroom.
"Those Neo flares… are after Floette to accomplished what they weren't able to do in Kalos with their leader Lysandre." The old man replied.
"Lysandre? But with Floette?" Michael inquired with narrow eyebrows. "How is that even possible? Floette is not a Legendary Pokemon!"
This made the old man smiled melodramatic, "True, but Floette was invoked with the machine that I device to take away all life…" he said.
"Take away… Y-You can't be!" Professor Kukui soon has a revelation as his eyes popped wide. "So the rumors were true! You are still alive!" he exclaimed with surprise and disbelief expression.
Mizuki can't help but also look rather shocked as well. "Professor, are you saying that he is… Floette's friend?" she asked, couldn't believe that this man is the same one from the story.
Michael is the opposite of both Mizuki and Professor Kukui as he kept his calm composition look on his face. He is used to a revelation like this before but is curious about what the old man wanted.
"T-The same person… that ended the Kalos war!?" RotomDex stammered in disbelief.
"I'm not sure if I ever call myself that after what I've done." The old man replied.
Michael crossing his arms against his chest. "I won't be too sure. If you didn't come here to tell us, then you won't care much about Floette." He said. At least, this shows that even after living for many years, this old man still reaches out to his old pokemon who left him.
"What do you want from us anyway?" he asked as that was on those in presence's mind.
The old man soon looks serious at the redhead who asks the question. "What I want is finding Floette before Neo Flare. But you should be aware of someone who already fights them." He said, "They somehow managed to recover the machine that I used to end the war in Kalos many years ago."
"Y-You aren't joking, right? The very same machine you made is still around?" Professor Kukui asked grimace. The old man nodded.
"That is what I learned from interrogated one of their grunts in Kalos who transport her and other stolen pokemon. With how remote apart this region from other regions, they're going to put it in one place that no one can reach in time." He spoked, making them look shocked.
"So that is how Floette ends up here… she was one of the held captive aboard Neo Flare's ship at that time, and somehow managed to hide on the island," Michael concluded about that fight that he and Clemont. "And Team Neo Flare needs her to activated the machine… that take away all life." He said with a hint of venom. He did think Neo Flare would give up, but they're more stubborn than Clemont might account for.
The old man nodded.
"So you want our help to find Floette?" Mizuki asked.
The old man shrugged. "That's up to you. It won't be right to burden you with this; you should be aware that if you want to leave the island before they tried to accomplish their plan." He replied before turning and leaving through the door.
"Do you think that you'll be able to take on Neo Flare alone?" Michael asked, stoically. The fact that they can own Mega wave technologies, it will make the fight much more difficult than expected.
"I doubt that I might stop them. But I have to save Floette. That is my only wish here." The old man answered before leaving them alone.
"What do you make of this, Professor?" Mizuki asked.
"I got a feeling that he might be telling the truth, whether we might get involved with what Neo Flare possibility doing." Professor Kukui answered after the old man left the room. But the news about Team Neo Flare managed to obtain the same weapon that was used to end the Kalos war is concerning for the Regional Professor/Teacher of Alola.
"That old man is going to try to reach his friend no matter how far he goes," Michael said with a slight quiet tone. Like him, he has friends that he needs to reunite with eventually. No matter how long it will take for them to reunite.
"What are we going to do now?" Mizuki asked with a worried tone.
"I think that you two should get some rest after a near experience with Team Neo Flare. I'm going to informed Officer Jenny about this." Professor Kukui said as he hoped to limit the dangers that Team Neo Flare might possess to his student and everyone else on the island.
"I think that might be the best solution for now." Michael agreed with his suggestion. Even if he want to go out and had a rematch with that guy who had Mega Aggron, they don't have much of a lead where they are.
"Okay…" Mizuki said.
(Elsewhere)
"I'm pleased to know that I didn't make a mistake of choosing you as one of the admins, Nero." A male voice through the communicator.
"It's my honor, sir." The same Neo Flare member from before replied. "As of status of others, they're currently resting after getting away from the redhead trainer you warned about."
"That's acceptable. It will take some time for the rest of us to join." The voice said, "Make certain to find the Floette for it is the key to Neo Flare's mission."
"Understand."
To be continued…
AN: That is the end of this. I apologized for being absent for lately with my writing due to personal life. Sorry if I make this chapter short, but I felt this will be all I need to write for this chapter that began the new event before Michael and others ever going to other islands of the Alola region. Though I'm not sure how I do on AZ's characteristic because the anime version of XY didn't include him in so I have to do my own best interpretation of him here.
Anyway, be sure to review or message me with any questions, comments, or concerns. And don't be afraid to look at my other stories.