The police station secured after a lot of undead were incapacitated and put into an icy prison by Glaceon, Greninja and Umbreon having fought more sat on a cop car for rest. Looking around the damage to the vehicles and stalactites encasing the masked creatures the police were once again gathering their weapons and assessing the damage. Greninja still kept both eyes open as the police went to him and Umbreon. A woman with red hair and freckles on her face wearing glasses went up to them after having collected her gear.
"You're going to try and arrest us now?" The search and arrest warrant still out on them the frog got ready to leap up and disarm just before she can pull her weapon out.
"We should, but not anymore." She knew better than to chase them down now. They weren't scared for arrests willing to risk it just to safe them. If there was any doubt among the officers if they were taking matters into their own hands or were actually trying to help with all the stupid stuff going on, that argument was put to rest.
"I want to warn you about another person."
"Who?" Umbreon perked up as well thinking they missed one.
"There was someone with a golden mask with pouty lips, red baggy pants. He seemed to be the leader of those things." The officer told them.
"And he could make weapons like you only they were black." Looking at Greninja he tilted his head. He has not heard of black aura before from Riley and only blue and green existed so far to make the distinction between living and dead aura.
"Another Spiritomb? But it's black. Those things make green aura so we're up against something else." Umbreon's spirit repeating Ash's thoughts they had a new foe.
A few stories up the board where usually the phone operators were on lit up like a Christmas tree. The staff on that spot going back to the board got in touch with every call overwhelming her. One call after another stormed in the operators juggling between emergencies. Pressing the button so the entire station heard the messages over the intercom.
"Attention everyone! There have been multiple reports of officers being attacked by masked men and then pulled out of their cars to be transported to the old sawmill."
"Then that's our next destination." Glaceon getting ready for the long trip the operator continued to speak up.
"The mill was set on fire by them but according to reports a green haired person led them away before the wolf came in and beat the one that set the place on fire."
"A wolf and green person? Lucario and Leafeon!"
"The wolf defeated the fire breather and then somehow the one in green took on the fire powers and then put out the flames making sure everyone got out."
"Nice job you two! " Even if they weren't here May already gave her appreciation. She needed to give Riley and Zoey a big hug after it is over. She turned back to the officers again.
"Do any of the vehicles here still work?" Norman answering her question shook no.
"We're in no condition to send out more units. They almost totaled all the cars in the parking lot. We can't reach everywhere where we need to be. I hate to ask but will you lend us your powers? We…the city needs you. If you're truly on the side of the law and not misusing your powers then please. We beg you."
Having acted out his case to May quite convincingly none of his colleagues suspected he was talking to the little girl Norman used to bring on take your daughter to work day. Greninja hearing his demand spoke up before she did taking charge.
"Leave it to us. Fortify the station and then send out what men you can spare. We'll clear paths for you where you need us." Greninja told them already combining aura to dash away. A first open public request he was going to make it count and enhance the reputation of Greninja to new heights and only make people who are on the wrong side fear him. He jumped off the car easy and stood straight.
"One of us should stay to keep this police station safe. Just in case that pouty lip thing in red returns." Greninja not wanting a repeat of what just happened if the building got even more assaults from the dead.
"Me. I'll stay." Glaceon offered up cause she knew it better than her partners. She had a good layout of the building in her head and with her dad here to organize the force it couldn't be in safer hands now. The frog had his doubts about leaving May alone.
"Remember to keep your cool. Don't repeat what you did."
"I'll keep her in line." The spirit in May's earring taking Ash's advice to not show potential lethal force the frog turned to the one in black that still sat on the hood.
"Umbreon. You and I will help the cars and police that are attacked. Lets go!" Greninja and Umbreon moved in a quick pace running to the garage door opening back into the city. Seeing her friends leave Glaceon was spoken to by another cop.
"Thanks by the way."
"Don't mention it." Planning to shut every broken window and opening with a thick sheet of ice so nobody can get back in without her permission.
"Not that." He referred to an older case.
"That giant robot in the docks. You saved one of our colleagues that day. He got a broken leg but it could've been worse. So thank you on his behalf."
"Thank us again when the night is over. I'll seal the windows and get any kind of coat you can find cause it's about to get chilly!"
Somewhere in Veilstone City hidden away in darkness someone was having front row seats to everything going on. The controller of the undead had placed a map of the city on a large table and had black pawns placed on them to keep track of their location. Two other pieces of his were painted orange and one red.
"So not only have their numbers grown, they've grown stronger themselves."
He tipped the orange one over at a location on the map just out of town. Back when he first released the undead onto the so called heroes they could not handle a group of them. Since then multiple fights and incidents later they got a better handle on how to neutralize them it seemed much to his displeasure. Equipping a corpse with a magical earring that can control fire he lost that one too before he can make more use of it.
With that one immune to fire he wanted it to burn down the old sawmill and take out a bunch of cops as well damaging the police force beyond repair for a quick invasion and takeover when he'd resurrect even more of them. The connection of him being the previous owner of the sawmill will be made but he had planned in anticipation for being a wanted man now and top of the wanted list and moved into hiding.
"Seems I'll be meeting them soon enough. I wanted them dead before they found out but seems I underestimated them."
So much confidence he had in his control over his undead army he did not expect this to play out as long as it did. He still had quite the trump card left in a fearsome foursome that were more up to the task of killing those heroes. Having used his weaker subjects for scouting and doing multiple acts of kidnapping it was research on what he has to contend with before he released the strongest ones he has.
Now he can create a plan to divide and conquer the five so when they next time met, he'd unleash his strongest creatures, making the end result will be permanent and they can end their game so that he alone will have free play to do what he wants to Veilstone City as its ruler.
Much to their chagrin they couldn't find the one in red with pouty lips. Ash and Dawn had broken a lot of legs of masked figures they came across leaving them prone for pickup by police cars that did work. Exhausted from the long night they still were up as morning broke. Having met Lucario and Leafeon they helped a lot of police back to the station as Glaceon was functioning as its protector.
The police trying to salvage what they could for the force a lot of thugs hearing about the news of the cops having a rough night and were understaffed, were in the mood for some 'easy shopping'. Riots broke out which then were easily put down and subdued out by the five guardians. With the amount they were spotted they became household names and a fanclub began to sprout after more and more of their exploits were being broadcasted on the news or social media.
Ash being home slept it off in his costume. Not even bothering to get changed he and the others will go to Heaven to handle the earring of Flareon that Riley and Zoey found. Getting up he tossed a shirt over his torso and went downstairs. His mom away for work there was cold breakfast at the table. Heating it up he skipped school thanks to his mom calling him in sick.
Turning on the TV to watch the news he ate his heated up pancakes. Even at late in the afternoon there's only one topic going on.
"The five people who were spotted multiple times before this, were sighted together and stopped the outbreak and took them on. Scrambled footage shows that unnatural powers creating weapons from nothing, shadow manipulation and more were used in the skirmish. And no dear viewers, you heard it right."
Having his mind on Dawn he reached for his phone. Texting her he wondered how she was doing cause for her this was her first major event and being awake for multiple days. He felt a hint of pride though. Her focus matched his and she wasn't distracted by other things only focused on helping others. She came quite a long way and for once he could say her phrase and mean it when it came to her performance in the field.
"No need to worry."
Dawn not replying to his message he continued to watch TV and wait to leave until it was time for them all to meet up in Heaven. Closing and locking the door to his house he looked for a quick and hidden spot to get changed into his full Greninja outfit so he can make some pace towards his appointment for the day in Heaven.
Johanna in her house went up to her daughters bed room which is a surprise as she even got less sleep than her daughter over the weekend worrying sick. Peeking through the door of the bedroom Dawn was still softly snoring. Johanna chuckled and snuck into the room when she then tore the curtains open the sunlight invading Dawn's bedroom.
Dawn finally started to stir and seeing the light pulled her blanket over her head.
"Five minutes mom."
Unaware of the time Johanna pulled off the bedsheets. Dawn still sprawled out the mother sat down.
"Get up dear. You're not done yet."
"She's right. I want to hear my sister again so get up."
Umbreon forcing Dawn to get up she did reluctantly. Stretching her arms she got up and went to change to grab a quick bite before heading out. Sitting at the table Johanna joined Dawn and had a large smile of pride on her face.
"I'm proud of you." Dawn stopped eating for a second as her mom continued.
"For the short time you have Umbreon you already did more than I ever did. They can't shut up about you and your friends on the news." Dawn hearing the compliment stayed humble. Doing what she does is not a reason for an ego stroke.
"I'm not doing this for fame. First I did it to help Ash but having Umbreon is a responsibility I now want even without him. Besides, I now want to make Flareon reunite with her family as Umbreon still complains from time to time about you sticking her in a jewel box."
"Smart girl." Johanna held back a tear of joy at the leap in maturity her little girl made. Dawn was born and destined to carry on the line.
"Just be careful."
"Yeah yeah. First we're gonna talk to Flareon and then we'll go looking for the pouty lip guy. Don't expect me to come home soon." Dawn telling her mom what her schedule is the last thing came out wrong.
"I mean…"
"I know what you mean." Johanna understood that it wasn't about Dawn not coming home anymore. Dawn's phone started to ring and looking at the screen jumped up.
"It's Ash! I really got to go! Bye mom!" Giving Johanna a kiss on the cheek Dawn crammed a piece of toast into her mouth as she had to go to Lyla's office to help Flareon and discuss their next move. The former model seeing her daughter race upstairs so she can get out of the house smiled even of Dawn left her with a bunch of dishes.
"Seems there's no need to worry."
Dawn raced to the meeting point that she and Ash agreed on. They wanted a little time to themselves before joining the rest of the team. Ash waited for her out of view for anyone pretty high on a roof as he heard a thud signifying Dawn had arrived.
"Good afternoon. Slept well?" Ash asked her as Dawn smiled in return heading to him.
"Like a rock."
She leaned in and kissed him with him tipping his mask a tiny bit to return the favor. Enjoying the kiss they both wished they could do this more often. Separating from each other they exchanged a quick hug happy to share the contact between them.
"We got to get out more. And not like this."
"I know. I can't wait to bring you to that restaurant."
Ash smiling under mask wondered if she was ready.
"Ready to meet another aunt?" He joked about the earring that granted fire powers.
"You bet!" Excited to meet a sibling of Umbreon the two headed to Heaven and to see how they can help Flareon return to her host family and if she knew something about the necromancer that stuck her on a corpse to misuse her powers.
On to the Diamond/Pearl remake.
See you around.