Chapter 49: Fighting Our Way to the Top

Lillie stopped in her tracks, her face frozen in fear. Gladion was the first to notice, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Lillie, what's wrong?"

"Its Nebby. Something's wrong with Nebby."

"How can you tell?"

"I just know. We've got to go, now!"

"You're not going anywhere!"

From a doorway up ahead, Petrel and Ariana blocked their path. Ariana pointed a finger at Ash.

"You can go on ahead. The boss is just dying to meet you."

Ash nodded, stepping forward to go in, only for Lillie to grab his hand in an attempt to stop him.

"Ash, no! If anything were to happen to you..."

"Its alright, Lillie. I'll stop him and save Nebby."

Realizing his mind was made up, Lillie let him go, where he was escorted by a group of grunts. The two executives turned to their gathered prey, twisted smiles on their faces.

"Alright, you can either go back to your cells peacefully, or we can do this the hard way. Your choice."

Scowling, Hapu pulled out a Pokeball,as did Illima. Petrel's grin only widened.

"Oh good, I was hoping you'd choose the hard way. Go, Scizor!"

"Go, Milotic!"

The two's Pokemon emerged, an aura of hate and evil emanating from them.

"Go, Mudsdale!"

"Eevee, I choose you!"

Petrel and Ariana looked at their choice of Pokemon, then burst out laughing.

"Should've chosen your Pokemon better, brats! Scizor, use Bullet Punch on the Eevee!"

"Milotic, use Aqua Tail!"

Despite the speed of their Pokemon, Hapu and Ilima's Pokemon were faster, as they both jumped over the Aqua Tail with ease.

"Use Magnitude, Mudsdale"

"Eevee, use Swift!"

Once Stoutland landed, it sent a huge seismic wave towards its opponents, buffering them but they managed to keep upright. Eevee managed to stay a float and used its tail to swing stars at them. Scizor managed to punch through most of them, only taking a few, but Milotic took the attack full force.

"Keep up those Bullet Punches!"

"Dig, Eevee!"

As soon as Eevee landed, he began burrowing his way into the Earth, dodging Scizor's punch just in time to Petrel's annoyance.

"Keep an eye out, he's in there somewhere!"

Steadying itself, Scizor scanned the area, looking for its prey. Unfortunately, by focusing on one opponent, it left itself open to the other, so...

"Mudsdale, use High Horsepower!"

Scizor looked up just in time to get hit by Mudsdale's hind legs in the face, sending it flying into a wall.

"Get up, you weakling!"

Although weakly, Scizor struggled to its feet, more determined than ever. However...

"Now, Eevee!"

Before Scizor could react, Eeve leapt up and dealt it a quick Double Kick from behind, sending it crashing it into Milotic, who had been busy preparing a Hyper Beam.

"Watch it, Petrel!"

"Hey, its not my fault! Next time, don't get in the way!"

"Why, you... Milotic, use Hyper Beam on Scizor!"

"What?!"

To everyone's surprise, Milotic fired a firebeam at the dizzy Scizor, sending him slamming right back into his wall. Petrel could hardly control his anger.

"Alright, you asked for it! Scizor, use Flash Cannon!"

Opening his metal claw, Scizor let loose a blinding blast of light, sending Milotic flying. Seeing that the two would be preoccupied for a while, Hapu and Ilima returned their Pokemon.

"Come on, lets go."

Everyone nodded and made their way through, Petrel and Ariana were so preoccupied with trying to one up each other that they didn't even notice.

Ash and Co. made their way into the main laboratory, surprised by how big it was. Lillie and Gladion gasped. There, guarded by Archer, was a bloodied, barely alive Lusamine.

"Mother!"

Hearing an unwelcome noise, Giovanni turned his head towards them, his eyes landing on Ash.

"Well, well, well. We meet again."