Episode 252: Attack On the Weather Institute
Just about a day had passed since Sora had caught a Shuppet and the journey to Foretree City continues. Along the way, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel saw something come floating above them. It was a Pokémon looked like a gray cloud with a single wisp extending from the top of its head. It had what looks like white mask over its eyes.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Sora asked.
"You think it's a Pokémon?" Kairi asked.
"Only one way to find out," Sora said, taking out his Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon. The Pokémon's image appears on the Pokédex. One form, resembles the sun. The head is read and has orange orbs on its head and its eye mask is yellow. One form, resembles a raindrop. And the third form its form resembles a snow cloud. Its head is violet, its eye markings become a lighter violet and its head is enclosed in a complex emerald-colored structure.
Castform, the Weather Pokémon
Type: Normal
Castorm is an artificial Pokémon that has the ability to transform its appearance depending on the weather. Castform also gains the power of the weather conditions. Its Sunny Form is a Fire Type, its Rainy form is a Water Type, and its Snowy Form is an Ice Type.
"A Pokémon that changes appearance depending on the weather? So cool," Sora said, putting his Pokédex away. "No pun intended on the Snowy Form."
"Didn't your Pokédex just say Castform is an artificial Pokémon?" Kairi pointed out.
"You're right to point it out, Kairi. The Pokédex did say that," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"But you were right to say that it was cool. At the same time, it's pretty cute," Kairi said. "And seeing that little cutie just makes me want one." Sora chuckled a bit.
"Go for it!" Sora said. Kairi smiled, knowing she has her boyfriend's support. She turned to Angel.
"Okay, Angel. I'm going with you," Kairi said.
"Eevee!" Angel said. She stood in front of Kairi, waiting for instructions. "Angel! Swift!" Angel fires Swift and it struck the weather Pokémon, making it turn to its attacker. Castform causes a brght sunlight to appear out of the blue and transforms into its Sunny Form. Castform creates a red orb of fire and sends it at the female Eevee. "Dodge it!" Angel avoids the attack using her speed.
"What was that?!" Sora said, taking out his Pokédex again and using it to see what attacks Castform knows. "Weather Ball?"
"Angel! Quick Attack!" Kairi ordered. Angel uses her speed attack and rammed into Castform. "Now use Headbutt!" Angel headbutts Castform. Castform then manipulates the weather and causes it to rain. Castform transforms into its Rainy Form. Castform fires another Weather Ball and it comes out as an orb of water and fires it at Angel. "Dodge and by using Quick Attack!" Angel avoids Castform's attack again. Castform manipulates the weather again and hail started to fall. Castform transforms into its Snowy Form while Angel gets pelted by the falling ice.
"First Sunny Day and then Rain Dance, but now Hail. Castform doesn't just change its shape, but Weather changes along with it. Weather Ball is going to come out an Ice Type attack," Sora said. And just as Sora said, Castform hurls Weather Ball and comes out as a snowball.
"Dodge and use Swift!" Kairi ordered. Angel fires Swift and it homes in on her target. Castform took the hit and fell to the ground weakened. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it right at Castform, making it flow inside the Pokéball. The Pokéball wobbles around and around for a moment before stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora hands her his Pokédex as it starts buzzing asking her if she wants to keep Castform with her. She chose to send Castform over to Professor Oak's lab.
"Good catch, Kairi," Sora said. Kairi smiled as he have her a kiss on the cheek. Pikachu did the same for Angel.
"Thank you, Sora," Kairi said.
Sudeenly whole bunch more Castform appear before them and they circle around them.
"More Castform?" Sora asked.
"Do they all live here?" Kairi asked.
"They do," a new male voice spoke. The voice came from a man with blue hair and green eyes. He wore a lab coat and he had a Castform with him. "This is where Castform all orginate."
"Castform originate here?" Sora asked.
"Yes. Come with me to the institution e can talk there," the scientist said. Sora and Kairi had no idea there was a building in the area. "And here we are. Welcome to the Weather Institution."
"Is this where Castform came from?" Kairi asked.
"It is. More answers will come once we're inside," the scientist said. Once they got inside, the scientist sat down with them offering them some snacks. "I hope you're making yourselves comfy, kids."
"Very," Sora said.
"You said this is where Castform came from, is that right?" Kairi asked.
"It is. This is the Weather Insititution where the Castform were born. The purpose of the Castform is help us with our weather research," the scientist explained. "Anyway, my name is William and I'm the leading authority of the research project."
"My name is Sora and this is my girfriend Kairi and my Pikachu," Sora introduced.
"Nice to meet you," Kairi said. "This little Eevee is Angel."
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
"Good to meet you," William said.
"You mentioned before Castform helps you with the weather. Does that have anything to do with how they change?" Sora asked.
"Yes it does. The Castform transformation sequence has a lot to do with the weather conditions, so we have been experimenting with how it affects them and so fourth. The Castform kept on amazing us, so we kept tabs on them, but what we didn't expect is that how many began to multiply like crazy, so we let most of them out just as they can populate the wild; it didn't take long for them to adapt to their current enviroment and for trainers to come and catch some for themselves. So, the Castform you caught and the others you saw where wild Pokémon," William explained.
"That's good to know, because I was worried about being thrown some charges," Kairi said.
"Don't worry about it. What brings you two out here?" William asked.
"Kairi and I were on our way to Fortree CIty, so we were coming by here to get there. I'm on my way there for a Gym battle," Sora said.
"I see. How fortuante you are because you're almost there," William said. "But if you're in no hurry, I would like to give you a personal tour of the facility if you like."
"Sure. We would like to see what you have in store," Sora said.
William took them all throught the insitution.
"The computers here conatain weather data that's collected from every corner of the planet. At the moment, we're concentrating on natural disasters around the world," William explained.
"That sounds pretty cool," Sora said.
"It really is," William said. "Come I have more to show you." He led the guests further in the insitution and shown them the central computer room. "And this is the central computer room."
"Wow, it's huge," Sora said.
"I never seen so many computers in one place before," Kairi said. "It looks very state-of-the-art."
"Sure is," William agreed. "What we are trying to do is find ways of preventing natural disators. Just imagine how many lives we can save."
"Very useful," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
Sora turned and he looked at the monitor.
"What the?" Sora asked. Kairi turned to her boyfriend.
"What's up, Sora?" Kairi asked.
"Look at the screen. I think it's a helicopter coming," Sora said. Kairi turned to see the helicopter on the screen.
"I see it. I think it's hovering above the building," Kairi said. William was starting to worry.
"Wait a minute. That isn't right," William said.
Above in the sky, the helicopter belongs to Team Aqua and hovers above the Weather Institution.
"We have reached the targted area," one of the grunts said.
"Good. Let phase one of our mission begin," Shelly ordered. Hatches opens at the bottom of the helicopter and several Team Aqua grunts came down.
"Who are you?!" One of the researchers demanded. The grunts fired rings around them. Shelly and Matt joins in. They threw Pokéballs, letting out Crawdaunt. Several Crawdaunt all came out by various grunts.
"I suggest that you cooperate with us or we will have to use force," Shelly said.
Inside the central computer room, Sora and Kairi recognized them right away.
"Sora! It's Team Aqua!" Kairi exclaimed.
"What the hell are they doing here?!" Sora also exclaimed. William turned to the couple.
"You know them?" William asked.
"We meet them a few times. Them and Team Magma. The last time we saw them was on Mount Chimney when they tried to steal a meteorite," Sora said.
"What could they want here?" Kairi asked.
"I don't know, but whatever it is can't be good," William said.
Back outside, several more researchers were tied up.
"You won't get away with this!" One of the researchers yelled.
"Which one of you is the leading authority of this the Weather Institution?" Shelly asked. None of the researchers responded.
"I ask again. Who is the leading authority of the Weather Institution?"
"That'll be William and he's inside on business," one of the researchers finally answered.
"So, he's inside. I thought it'll be too wasy just to have him in my grasp," Shelly said.
"I'll go in and fetch him out," Matt offered.
"No. I'll do it. You and half our squad stay here and keep an eye on them. The rest of you are with me. Move it!" Shelly ordered. She and half the squad went inside to find him.
"They're coming inside the Institution," William said.
"We can handle them, right Kairi?" Sora asked.
"We can," Kairi said.
"Are you sure?" William asked.
"Like I told you, we dealt with them before. Now hurry and get to safety. And don't come out until you're sure it's safe," Sora said. William went off running, not needing a second opinion. Sora and Kairi each took out some Pokéballs and threw them. "Go! Vikavolt! Manectric!"
"Plusle! Minun! Go!" Kairi called out. The Electric Type Pokémon came out and they were redy for anything coming their way.
Inside the institution, Shelly and her squad ran down the halls to search for William.
"We'll split up in three groups. You three go that way," Shelly said, pointing to her left. "You three go that way." Shelly pointed to her right. "The rest are with me." They took off to seach for him.
Sora and Kairi had ran through the halls and they came across the approaching grunts.
"Not one step more, Team Aqua!" Sora told them.
"Get out of the way, kids, and you won't get hurt!" One of the grunts countered.
"You're the ones who are gonna get hurt," Sora said. The grunts took out some Pokéballs and threw them and out came Crawdaunt. "Crawdaunt! Bubble Beam!"
"Vikavolt! Electro Web!" Sora ordered. Vikavolt fired Electro Web and it bloicked Bubble Beam. It resulted in an explosion.
"Why you!" The first grunt barked.
"Plusle! Minun! Thunderbolt!" Kairi ordered. Plusle and Minun fired Thunderbolt and shocked the Crawdaunt.
"Manectric! Shock Wave!" Sora ordered. Manectric and gave the Crawdaunt shock and they ran off. "Retreat!" Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and the other Pokémon ran off. The first grunt made contact with Shelly.
"Squad A to Shelly. We were encountered by two young trainers and they attacked. They're somewhere in the facility!" The first grunt said.
"Roger that," Shelly said. She made contact with the second squad. "Squad B, be on the look out for two young Pokémon trainers. Eliminate them when you come in contact with them!"
"Roger," grunts on Squad B said. They spotted Sora, Kairi, and their Pokémon.
"Stop right there!" The Squad leader called out. She and the grunts took out several Pokéballs and threw them. "Walrein! Go!" The Pokéballs opens and Walrein all appear before them. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned them.
Walrein, the Ice Break Pokémon
The evolved form of Sealeo
Type: Ice/Water
Walrein swims all over in frigid seawater while crushing icebergs with its grand, imposing tusks. Its thick layer of blubber makes enemy attacks bounce off harmlessly.
Sora puts his Pokédex away.
"Tell us where the leading researcher is!" The female grunt demanded.
"Somewhere in the building! And if you want him, you'll have to get pass us to reach him," Sora said.
"We plan to! Walrein! Ice Beam!" The female grunt ordered. The Walrein fired Ice Beam rght them.
"Block with Thunderbolt!" Sora and Kairi ordered. Pikachu, Plusle, Minun, and Vikavolt blocks Ice Beam with their Thunderbolt.
"Angel! Swift!" Kairi ordered.
"Manectric! Shock Wave!" Sora ordered.
Angel and Manectric fired their attacks and they combined and they struck the walrus-like Pokémon. An explosion occured, making Sora and Kairi retreat and covered their tracks. The grunts saw that they were gone once the smoke cleared.
"Where did they go?" One of the other grunts asked.
"Find them! And we'll bring them to Shelly!" The female grunt ordered.
"Right," the other grunts said.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and the other Pokémon made their way to the central computer room, knwoing they hadn't gotten to this point yet.
"Man, those guys are persistant," Sora said.
"I know. They won't give up until they find what they're looking for," Kairi said.
"The question is, what are they looking for? What could be here that is valuable to them?" Sora asked. Pikachu and Angel's ears perked up when they heard something.
"Pi," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," ANgel said.
"Sora, someone is coming," Kairi said.
"We should hide," Sora said, calling back Manectric and Vikavolt, not risking them being seen while Kairi kept Plusle and Minun out. They hid under one of the desks, not making a sound. Shelly and her squad had entered.
"The leading researcher should be here somewhere," Shelly said.
"Why does he matter to you all that much, Shelly?" One of the grunts asked.
"He is the only one who has access on the data we need on the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre and their connection to the weather," Shelly answered.
"Groudon? Kyogre?" Sora asked in his mind.
"And we need him to meet those objections," Shelly said.
"Right," another grunt said.
"Search the area. Leave to stone unturned," Shelly ordered. The grunts proceeded to search for him as Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Plusle, and Minun moved quietly. THey moved as quietly as they could possibly go. Sora, accidentally moved a chair. The sound is heard and Sora ducks down before Shelly could see him.
"Too close," Sora said in his thoughts. They snuck out quickly before they were spotted and exited the area.
"I thought for certain they were going to see us," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Plus. Plus," Plusle said.
"Min, Minun," Minun added.
"So did I. Now that we know what they're after, we should find William before Team Aqua does," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"You're right. He should know about this data on Groudon and Kyogre," Kairi said.
They went to find William before it was too late. As they kept going, they couldn't help but wonder and worry about how Groudon and Kyogre and how they control the weather. Sora and Kairi both knew that kind power cannot fall into the hands of evil.
They went further up the stairs and so far they haven't ran into any Team Aqua grunts, yet.
"William has to be somewhere up here," Sora said.
"Where could he be?" Kairi asked, growing concerned.
"We could just knock on one of these doors and let him know it's only us," Sora suggested. William came out of one room.
"Don't bother, because I can hear you. Get in here, quick!" William said. The couple and their Pokémon ran inside and it turns out to be William's office. "I know you said you could handle them, but I couldn't help but worry. Anything going on?"
"Here's what we know. Those guys are after you," Sora said.
"Me? Whatever for?" William asked.
"The thing is, they want you because you have access to data on the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre and their role in the weather," Kairi said.
"What?" William asked in shock.
"It's true. Any idea on why that's so important, William?" Sora asked.
"I don't I'm afraid. The leading researcher of this facility was my father until he retired four years ago. He never shared any secrets outside of here, not even with his family. And judging by Team Aqua being here, I can understand why he kept quiet about it. Just before I took over, he told me there are mounds of data in the Weather Institution that is classified and the only way is to get it is by using his password. The problem is, he's the only one in the world who knows it and he moved to Anville Town shortly after he retired just so he can be close to my sister's kids," William said.
"So, the good news is your dad is the only one who has access to the data they want, while the bad news is, they don't know it," Sora said.
"You could just tell them that you don't know what it is," Kairi said.
"I don't think they'll believe him. They'll just find ways to force him to tell," Sora told his girlfriend.
"He's right. Nothing I say will matter, because they don't intend to leave here until they get what they want," William said. He thought of something. "Unless we delete it."
"How? Your dad is the only one who has the password," Sora pointed out. "And we could end up running into a firewall."
"We'll have to try. I'm sure dad will forgive me when we do this," William said. "The top secret stuff is in the basement," William said. Sora goraned.
"The basement? You mean we have to go down there to get it?" Sora asked.
"It's our only chance. Dad's access card should be in there, but everything else will be up to us," William said.
"Then, we have no choice," Sora said. William joins the couple and their Pokémon to gain access to William's father's access card, hoping that they wouldn't find it. THe grunts kept looking for William while Shelly had spotted them. Seeing no point of alerting the other Grunts, she decided to take this solo and follow them. She folllowed them down into the basement and she grinned.
"The basement. That's where the most iportant stuff are located. When they reached the vault, William cracked the combination on the vault and got his father's access card.
"Got it!" Wiliam said.
"Good! Let's go and try to-" Sora's sentence was cut when Shelly and a couple of Crawdaunt were standing in front of them. "Uh-oh."
"Thank you for making it easy for us. Now, if you would be so kind and hand it over," Shely said, holding out her hand. "I'm not asking."
"Come over here and take it yourself!" Kairi hissed.
"Gladly," Shelly said. "Crawdaunt! Bubble Beam!" Crawdaunt fires Bubble Beam and immoblizes them beofre they could act. She makes contact with the grunts inside the building. "Attention all squads, I have located the leading researcher and I have the means of accessing it. All units meet in the lobby."
They all regained consciousness and they were tied up by Team Aqua. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Plusle, and Minun were among the other researchers of the facility.
"Man, this is not good," Sora said.
"No it's not," Kairi agreed.
"Now that we have the card we need, it's up to you to gain us access to the data we need," Shelly said.
"I have no inetention of helping you," William stated.
"I don't think you have a choice. Cooperate with willingly or else we'll use your research facility to see if lightning can strike at the same place twice," Shelly threatened. She turned her attentions of Sora and Kairi. "Starting with the kids."
"You wouldn't!" William gasped.
"We would," Shelly said. Matt wanted to have payback on Kairi for beating her, but with SHelly in charge, it'll have to wait. "Well?" William knew she wasn't joking, so he had no choice but to cave in.
"I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt them," William said.
"That depends on you. Now move," Shelly told him. William willingly led her to the main computer. She turned to some the others. "Bring those kids with us, we might need them. And keep the others, quiet." The Team Aqua grunts all followed orders, keeping the researchers from doing anything.
Outside, two people were outsie, cathing the action. One is a woman with short hair and a slender built.She wore an undershirt, some short-sleeved white pants and a pair of heeled ballet shoes. The other is a young man, holding a camera on his shoulder. He has black hair and is wearing a cap backwards. He wore a white T-shirt and black shoes.
"You cathing the action, Ty?" The woman asked.
"Every last bit, Gabby," Ty answered.
"Good. Team Aqua strikes again. Not only that, among the hostages is the Pokémon League Champion of the Kanto and Johto Leagues and his girlfriend. This will be worth the ratings," Gabby said. "Move in closer."
"Closer? Are you out of your mind? What if we get caught?!" Ty asked. A Crawdaunt shows up behind them and fired Bubble Beam on them. Gabby regains consciousness and she's she's tied up with Ty and the researchers. "Welcome back."
"What happened?" Gabby asked.
"A Crawdaunt jumped us and I dropped my camera down the cliff. And now we're their hostages," Ty explained.
"Damn, I was so close to a story," Gabby groaned.
Shelly and the hostages made it to the main computer where they hoped to gain access to the data on Groudon and Kyogre. They used William's father's access card to enter.
"Now, do your magic," Shelly told him. William started by activating the computer. The screen reads "welcome" and it opens to the username and password.
"Here we are," William said, typing in his father's username.
"Now the password," Shelly told him.
"I don't know what it is," William said, but Shelly wasn't buying it.
"I'm not playing around!" Shelly threatened. "The password! Now!" William tried to figure out what his password is.
"Man, why did dad have to be so secretive? All that secret keeping is just going to end up getting those kids killed. Seriously dad, why keep those kinds of secrets from your own family?" William asked in his mind when he realized something. He realized what his father's password is without knowing it. He typed in the word family and he was granted access. He spoke out, "Here's what you want!" Shelly pushes him out of the way and she got to the file marked under GROUKY. She clicked on the folder and the data popped up. It was indeed Groudon along with a large Pokémon that resembles a dark blue orca. It has two large fins or "wings", each ending with four square-shaped "claws." It has a deep blue body and a white chin area with two spikes protruding under it. Above each eye are two white spots. It has markings on its wings which sort of resemble the letter A with a circle on the top. It also has two small dorsal fins on its back with two stripes running horizontally below the fins. The tail seems tattered with four trails, the inner smaller than the outer. It also has a mouth full of rarely seen sharp triangular teeth.
"Kyogre," Shelly said in a whisper.
Sora and Kairi were amazed by the image they were seeing. It was the two legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre they were seeing and they were fighting each other. Shelly clicked further and sees Kyogre is is more than twice its usual size and has a deeper blue body, as well as having a partially translucent body with a golden light glowing from within it, essentially emitting bioluminescence. It has light blue stripes on its body, instead of the usual red. The four tips on both of its large fins remain pure white. The usually opaque middle parts of its large fins become transparent, with red marks on the closer two tips of both its fins that resembles the letter H. The two outer red marks on each of its fins, along with the large circular marks in the center of the fins, turn blue and fuse together to become Alpha symbols. Its four white oval spots, and the part of the top center of its head have a circular marking, where the lines are linked to upper end of the larger oval spots, now also transparent, and they stop at the end of its tattered tail, where the middle of the four trailing parts have the same color as the glow on the majority of its body.
"Whoa," Sora could only say, seeing Kyogre's appearence different from the first image, the same as Groudon.
"Primal Kyogre, with your power, we can wash away the land and make an eternal ocean," Shelly said.
"Eternal ocean?!" Sora exclaimed.
Shelly smiled as she read the file and then her smile faded when she saw what she did expect to read. She saw that the world that Team Aqua planned to create isn't the same as the one Primal Kyogre will make.
"No, this isn't it," Shelly said in her thoughts. She was horrified by what she was seeing. "This isn't the world we're out to create." The toher grunts were confused by her expression.
"Shelly. Can we download it?" One of the grunts asked.
"Right. I was just lost in thought," Shelly said. They downloaded the data.
"Now to dispose of them," one the grunts said, and they chuckled evilly.
"Shuppet! Now! Psychic!" Sora ordered. Shuppet appears and uses Psychic on the grunts, sending them back. Shuppet uses Psychic to let out Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and the other hostages. Sora had let out Shuppet in advance and told the puppet Pokémon to wait until he gave the word.
"Good idea on having Shuppet out," Kairi said.
"Why you!" Matt growled. Shelly grabbed by the shoulder.
"Let it go, Matt. We have what we need. Our mission is complete," Shelly said. "Everyone take off!" All of the grunts followed orders and took off in their helicopter. Team Aqua had taken off. Sora and Kairi knew the information they now had was going to be dangerous.
The sun sets as Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel were taking their leave.
"Sorry that you were caught in all this mess," William apologized.
"Don't worry about it, William. It's not your fault," Kairi said.
"Stuff like that tends to happen. Just know Team Aqua will be in trouble when we see them again. Same goes for Team Magma," Sora said.
"Well, I don't doubt you can handle them. But be careful all the same. And good luck in your Gym battle, Sora," William said.
"Thanks," Sora said.
They said their goodbyes to William and his staff. With the information on Groudon and Kyogre in the hands of Team Aqua, they knew how dangrous it was going to get from there. As they went further to Fortree City, Sora accessed his Pokédex to see what it has to say about the two legendary Pokémon.
Groudon, the Continent Pokémon
Type: Ground
Groudon has long been described in mythology as the Pokémon that raised lands and expanded continents. This Pokémon took to sleep after a cataclysmic battle with Kyogre.
Kyogre, the Sea Basin Pokémon
Type: Water
Kyogre has the power to create massive rain clouds that cover the entire sky and bring about torrential downpours. This Pokémon saved people who were suffering from droughts.
"Groudon and Kyogre. How do Team Magma and Team Aqua plan to get them to wake up?" Sora asked in his thoughts. Kairi caught on to what was bothering him.
"Sora," Kairi simply said. Sora turned to look at her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Sora lied. Kairi caught on quickly.
"Liar, what's wrong?" Kairi asked. Sora knew he couldn't hide anthing from her so easily, so he caved in.
"I've been thinking about what I sauid about Team Magma and Team Aqua being in trouble when we see them. What if we end up in way over our heads when we face them again. What if we end up dead?" Sora asked.
"We won't end up dead, Sora. We handled Team Rocket before and saved the Slowpoke and stopped their plan in Mahogany Town and I know we can stop Team Magma and Team Aqua. We had each other against Team Rocket and we have each other against them too," Kairi said. Sora smiled, knowing how she was able to pick the right thing to say.
"Thanks Kairi. I don't know what I'd do without you," Sora said, lovingly.
"Always happy to help," Kairi said. Sora and Kairi kisses each other with Pikachu and Angel watching the sweet scene.
Now that they are close to Fortree City, the upcoming Gym battle was getting closer and closer. Can Sora hope to win it or lose before he knew what was coming? Just wait and see.