Chapter 24: The Meeting

Roku's P.O.V.

National Park

I woke up to a sleeping Luna on my stomach. No wonder I couldn't breathe well last night, I said to myself. I lightly slid Luna off of my stomach and onto the bench I was sleeping on. Shortly after I had packed up my things, she woke up with a loud yawn.

"Fwaaaaaah! Morning," she said, jumping off the bench and stretching out her body.

"Morning," I said, putting my belt on. "Ready to head out?"

"Yeah, I guess," she replied. "Hey, did anyone tell you that you're really warm?"

I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "You're the first one to tell me that."

Luna grinned sheepishly. Just then, I saw something glint out of the corner of my eye. I looked over at the bushes near the fountain to see a faint glimmer of something. I walked over to the bushes, Luna following close behind. The both of us were on guard; neither one of us knew when a threat could appear.

Taking a closer look, I dug around in the grass and felt some sort of a smooth stone. I parted the thick grass and pulled out what looked like a small marble, white in color with a red and lavender wave pattern in the center.

"What is that?" Luna asked, looking at the strange stone.

"No clue," I answered. "But it looks important…and I can feel some sort of strange energy emanating from it. I think I'll keep it."

I pocketed the stone and walked back to the benches, where Reia and the others were waking up and getting ready for the long road to Ecruteak City.

"Hey, Zuki," I asked, pulling out the stone. "Have you seen anything like this before?"

Zuki took one look at it and jumped back, a surprised look on her face.

"Wh-where did you find that?!" Zuki said.

"I found it over in the tall grass next to the fountain," I explained. "Why, is it important?"

"Do you have any idea what this is?!" Zuki exclaimed. "This is a Mega Stone!"

"Say WHAT?!" I shouted.

"And it's a very rare one at that," Calem said, taking a look at it. "I've never seen one like this."

"Well, in any case, we need to find out what Pokémon it reacts with," Zuki said. "All the more reason to hit the road! I know someone who can identify this Mega Stone. He happens to love rocks."

I nodded and started walking towards the exit of the park. The others followed, and before we knew it, we were at the strange tree that had stopped us before.

"Sooooo…who wants to see what it'll do if we pour water on it?" I asked.

"Oh, come on, sissy!" Luna scoffed. "Just do it already!"

"I don't know what this thing's capable of!" I shouted back. "For all we know, it could be some extremely powerful Pokémon!"

"Then give me the water!" Reia said, rooting around in my bag for the Squirtbottle. She pulled it out and doused the tree with everything it had in it.

Suddenly, the tree screamed violently and shook vigorously, revealing eyes and a mouth. The branches and leaves were actually its arms and fingers, and it danced around, trying to dry itself off.

"Man, I HATE it when people do that!" it said. The tree seemed to be a female.

"Wha…it's a Sudowoodo!" Calem shouted, annoyed. "We got stopped by THIS?"

"Now that's just rude!" the Sudowoodo sassed, placing its leaf-like hands on its hips. "You wanna say that to my face?!"

"Don't try me," Calem said, going for one of his Poke Balls.

"Calem, cool your stuff and let me take care of this," Reia said nonchalantly, pulling Calem back and throwing out her Scyther, whom she affectionately named "Reaper".

"So you send me out against this?" Reaper scoffed, putting his blades out. "Let's chop this tree down!"

"I think it is YOU who's gonna be cut down!" the Sudowoodo said.

"Reaper, hit it with Vacuum Wave!" Reia ordered.

Reaper flew forward at impressive speed, slamming Sudowoodo with multiple scythe attacks. Sudowoodo stumbled and hit the ground, giving Reia ample time to lob a Poke Ball at it.

Once…twice…

The Poke Ball exploded, the now enraged Sudowoodo making its escape.

"You're not getting me that easy!" Sudowoodo said, swinging her arm and tossing a large rock at Reaper, who dodged easily and advanced on her again, this time with an Aerial Ace attack. Sudowoodo hit the ground again, and Reia threw another Poke Ball at her.

Once…twice…thrice…

The ball exploded again, the Sudowoodo coming out again. I could see the rage in Reia's eyes; it looked like she would snap at any moment.

"One more time! Vacuum Wave!" she shouted violently.

Reaper flew in and struck Sudowoodo again with multiple attacks, sending her to the ground again. Reia threw the Poke Ball one last time, desperate for a successful capture.

Once…twice…thrice…

Finally, the ball clicked, and Reia sighed with relief. She walked up and picked the ball up, compressing it and strapping it to her belt.

"OK, now we can go!" she huffed.


Cedric's P.O.V.

Legend Keeper HQ

Cedric smiled as he looked at his screens. The young recruit Roku was finally on his way to Ecruteak. Soon he would be able to test him and see if he is as powerful as his mother and father used to be.

Heh…what am I thinking? He thought to himself, smiling. They're both still incredible Trainers.

Cedric decided he's also tell Latias the good news. She had been waiting for her friend for quite a while now. She'd even started going into her human camouflage and waiting near the edge of Ecruteak so she could meet him early.

With some protection, of course.

Cedric smiled again. He couldn't help but respect the Pokémon's resolve. If Roku managed to pass his initiation test, then she would make a fine partner for him. Of course, it would probably make Lance mad, but he'd just have to tell the dragon master to deal with it.

Guess I'd better go and tell her now, he said to himself.

"Tell me what?"

As if right on cue, Latias strolled through the door, looking at Cedric attentively.

"Roku's moving through Route 37 as we speak," Cedric said. This made Latias' eyes light up.

"You mean he's…"

"That's right," Cedric said with a smile. "He's nearly here."

Latias screamed with delight and bolted back out the door, probably headed to the gate again.

"Heh…she doesn't stop for even a second," Cedric said to himself. He looked out the window and saw that the sun was already setting.

"As long as she doesn't stay out too late, I'll be fine," Cedric said. At that remark, he facepalmed.

Good Arceus, I'm starting to sound like her father, he thought.


Roku's P.O.V.

Ecruteak City

After two days of harsh walking, we finally made it to the oldest city in the Johto Region, and the location of my new career. I already couldn't wait to see my friend again. However, a rest at the Pokémon Center was necessary. If we didn't, I'd never hear the end of it.

After a few hours' rest, I made my way to the Ecruteak Dance Theater. I looked at it, wondering if this was actually the right path.

No…I can't doubt myself now, I said to myself. Not when I'm so close.

I took a deep breath and was about to walk in when a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who?" said an all-too-familiar voice.

I smiled and said, "Hmm…maybe a friend who plays this game a little too much?"

I whirled around to find the first Pokémon I ever knew hovering in front of me. I couldn't resist the urge to dash in and wrap my arms around the source of my worry for the past few days.

"I can't believe you're finally here," she said, the happiness too evident in her voice.

"No more worries," I said, looking Latias straight in the eye. "I'm here."

"Hey, I don't mean to crash the reunion, but we should head in and talk to Cedric about your initiation," Reia said, pointing at the door.

"Oh, right!" I said, facing the building. I nodded and stepped into the theater.

"Huh?"

Once I stepped in, all I saw was a bunch of elderly people sitting cross-legged on cushions, watching the remaining Kimono Girls perform a dance.

"What's going on?" Reia said. "The Kimono Girls never do a dance without all five members."

"Something's not right…" Zuki said cautiously. She walked up to her sisters and waved her hand right through them. Reia nearly gagged.

"It's a hologram!" Calem said.

"We need to hurry. Cedric could have his hands full," Zuki said sternly.

As if right on cue, Reia's P*DA rang with a call from Cedric.

"Hello?" Reia answered. A hologram of Cedric showed up.

"Reia! Where are you now?" he shouted frantically.

"We're getting ready to head into the HQ," Reia replied. "Why, is something wrong?"

Just then, a loud explosion rang out from underneath our feet.

"Team Prime managed to get into our HQ somehow!" Cedric said. "We're in serious need of assistance right now! Hurry up and head down the elevator!"

"We're on our way!" I shouted.

"Roku!" Cedric said. "I don't need you getting into any hairy situations! Stay up there and let us take care of it, OK?"

"No! I can help!" I shouted defiantly. "Like it or not, I'm going in!"

There was a short pause. Then, "Manectric, Thunderbolt!"

Another explosion rang out. Then, Cedric said, "OK. Strength in numbers. Just stay out of danger!"

"You've got nothing to worry about," Latias said. "I'll protect him."

"Very well, now hurry!"

The line was cut. Latias and I looked at each other and nodded.

"Time to kick some ass!" I shouted, following the other Legend Keepers to the elevator.

While we were going down, Reia looked at me and said, "Here. You're gonna need this."

I looked at her hand to see her Mega Ring unsnapped and off her wrist.

"Are you sure?" I said. "From what I've gathered from the Pokedex, Scyther's evolution has a potential Mega Evolution."

"Nah, I'm sure you could use it right now," she said, handing it to me.

I hesitated for a bit, then nodded and took it, strapping it to my free wrist. The stone that was attached to the ring glowed slightly.

"It has recognized you," Reia said. "That's because you've used the same Mega Ring before."

Soon, a glow started emanating from my pocket. I took out the Mega Stone I found at the National Park to find it glowing brightly.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I think that the Mega Stone is reacting to a Pokémon nearby," Zuki said, looking around.

"Is that…" Latias said, looking at the stone. "It IS! My personal treasure!"

"So it's yours?" I asked. "I found it at the National Park. How'd you lose it?"

"Must've slipped out of my grasp when I was escaping from those Team Prime goons," she said. "I wondered where it had gone."

I nodded, then pulled a piece of string from my pocket, tying it around the stone, then tying the ends together and putting it around Latias' neck.

"We'll find a mount for it later," Reia said to her. "That'll have to do for now."

The elevator lurched to a stop, and the doors opened to a scene of pure carnage.

Legend Keepers were all over the lobby, trying their best to hold back the Team Prime grunts trying to force their way in. The battles were fierce, and there were already many scorch marks and gashes in the tiled floor.

"C'mon, let's give 'em a hand!" I shouted, throwing a Poke Ball and releasing my Braixen. I guess he immediately knew what he was doing, because he flew in with a Flame Charge without any hesitation. Reia had already sent out Reaper, Zuki had released her Umbreon, and Calem's Charizard was frying the opposition in more ways than one, since Calem had Mega Evolved him into Mega Charizard Y.

"Glad you guys could finally get here!" said a trainer wearing a red hoodie. "We're getting slaughtered out here, and the admins are already inside, taking on the League Champions!"

"Don't worry, Ethan!" Reia said. "We're not letting them get past!"

After about 20 minutes, the grunts dropped back, seemingly retreating. I breathed a sigh of relief, until I saw a massive blue dragon fly in behind us that could only belong to one trainer.

"Aria!"

The red-headed admin walked in, eyes ablaze with fury.

"I send you to do a simple job and you worthless grunts can't even pull it off?!" she shouted. "Pathetic! Salamence, show them how it's done! Dragon Pulse!"

The purple beam of energy erupted from the dragon's mouth and straight at my Braixen. He barely managed to dodge to the side as the beam went searing past him. I moved out of the way as well, not wanting to be vaporized by its sheer power.
"Looks like we'll have to do this early!" I said, pulling my wrist up and tapping my Key Stone.

"Oh, shit! He's got a Mega Ring!" Aria said, stepping back.

I smirked for a few seconds before I'd noticed. Nothing was happening.

"Uh…heh heh…" I laughed sheepishly, giving the Key Stone another tap. Nothing happened again.

Why isn't this working?! I shouted inside my head. Latias should be Mega Evolving by now!

"Hahaha! Oh, this is rich!" Aria cackled. "You possess a Key Stone, but you don't have the capability to Mega Evolve!"

Gah…think, Roku! What can you do right now?! I asked myself. Then a light bulb went off inside my head.

She isn't gonna like this, but I have to. Sorry, Latias.

I whirled around and threw one of my empty Poke Balls at the unsuspecting Dragon-type Pokémon. She gasped as the Poke Ball made contact with her body and sucked her into the virtual area. The ball hit the ground and started wiggling.

Once…twice…thrice…


Author's note: YES! My first update in Arceus knows how long! This chapter may seem rushed, but it took me at least a month to finish this one. I'm so happy!

Anyway, for those of you out there who read my work, I have a new story up called "Megaman Battle Network: Rise of a Champion". You should give it a look. I'll be updating it soon!

Strato Abyss signing out.