Hey folks. Time for another update on this end. Got a fairly long one out this time as well, so hopefully you all enjoy the action. I will also add that I should do a little correction on what I said last chapter since I implied Bianca and Latias were both the same person. I was wrong on that much, you can tell I've seen the movie can't you? Only other bit of a note I can give is this: It is going to get harder before getting to the inevitable ending. So I hope you're ready to see the journey that leads to that point.

Chapter 24: Battle Royale

Just as soon as Mew finished the teleportation, Ash and his friends appeared inside a massive building. Ash looked around and told his friends, "Well we definitely aren't in the center of Team Rocket attention."

Brock asked, "Where did Mew bring us though?"

Sabrina answered, "We're probably looking at the aftermath of Team Rocket's hold. This place isn't supposed to be empty."

Will agreed, "She's right. This place was meant to hold much more than simply pedestals."

Looking to his left, Ash saw the name of the building he was in. "The Alto Mare Museum." He observed.

As soon as he made the observation, he heard someone ask, "Who's there? You've already taken everything!"

Ash turned around to find an old man making his way towards him from behind a nearby pillar. He raised his hands when he told him, "We only came here for safety. We aren't trying to do anything else."

The old man's temper was immediately calmed when he observed in astonishment who he was speaking to. Two members of the Johto Elite Four, the League Champion of Kanto, and the very Mew that accompanied him. The old man apologized, "You'll have to forgive me. Team Rocket gave me a hard time and robbed this whole place."

Karen asked, "You were important enough to be knocked out by Team Rocket I take it?"

The old man greeted, "I certainly am. I am Lorenzo Lamas, caretaker of the Alto Mare Museum. At least what remains of this place. Team Rocket came in very swiftly and stole everything that was in here."

Misty told him, "I think everyone was surprised by what happened. I was just hoping to enjoy my time out here."

Lorenzo asked, "I know all of you have your reasons, but I have to beg of you now to help me."

Ash agreed, "If it involves Team Rocket, I had plans to deal with them as it is."

Lorenzo nodded, "There are two things in here that Team Rocket will return to claim." Lorenzo guided Ash and his friends to a nearby room.

The first room he introduced them to contained a machine in a corner while a girl Ash's age asked, "Did Team Rocket come back Grandpa?"

Lorenzo shook his head when he told her, "We have a bit more luck on our side than we thought dear. I don't know how much, but we should be safe for now."

The girl made her way up to Ash and his friends when she greeted, "I'm Bianca. You're the actual Ash Ketchum right?"

Ash confirmed, "Yeah. We got caught off guard a little but we still managed."

Clair asked, "Is the machine in here one of the few things Team Rocket hasn't taken?"

Bianca confirmed, "It was too built into the ground for them to move by hand. It doesn't matter that we have it though, considering how they took the entire fossil collection."

Brock asked, "So this is the thing that's supposed to revive fossil Pokémon?"

Lorenzo confirmed, "I would have thought they would have tried to revive the fossils from here to build their army. It does not seem to be their plan however. I'm concerned they may be basing their strategy off one of the legends of this place."

Misty asked, "And it's from one of the main attractions of this place isn't it?"

Lorenzo confirmed, "It is the most reasonable scenario." He walked across to a nearby double door and unlocked it as he opened one of the doors and showed a complex room inside. There was a multitude of gears and a pedestal in the center with a plaque of its introduction in the center.

Karen was astonished when she realized, "They actually have a reason to think they can use this city to their advantage."

Sabrina asked, "This room is supposed to help them take over the world?"

Bianca revealed, "This is the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare. My family's duty for many generations has been to maintain and study it. All we know is that should it be reactivated, a terrible cataclysm may change the world as we know it."

Will nodded, "This won't be the first time we faced such a scenario. We may be up against a far more numerous threat however."

Misty agreed, "Even if we were all able to take on 100 of them in a row, they would still have someone ready to stop us."

Ash tried to offer a solution, "Maybe we don't take them all on at once. If we can find their leader and capture him, we can cut them off from their goal and try to get them to leave."

Sabrina agreed, "That would give us something to work for."

Clair agreed, "It's better than staying on the defensive. We will however want to make sure they can't get in."

Will suggested, "Perhaps we can drive off the initial forces around here with scare tactics."

Ash took out two of his Poké balls when he agreed, "Pidgeot and Charizard should be able to pull off a decent amount of damage. Do you think you guys might be able to pull some weight?"

Brock confirmed, "I have Onix. I can't say I have anyone else though."

Mew entered the conversation when she told him, "You do have a Pokémon that can scare everyone away with just him alone. You'll only have to awaken him."

Ash recognized the fossil that Mew was referring to when he told her, "This fossil only has a Tyrunt. Can a little guy like him pull that much off?"

Mew corrected, "With my help he will be a very formidable foe. This will be one area where I can intervene."

Ash realized what Mew was implying about her help. Her power would supposedly be enough that his new Tyrunt would be able to skip the training needed to evolve. If he remembered what Tyrunt was supposed to become, Mew's suggestion would be right. "Okay," He told Mew, "I'm a believer."

Ash took out his fossil he found in the Dragon's Den and asked Lorenzo, "I know this sounds like a shaky idea, but can I use your machine real quick?"

Lorenzo took a brief look at the fossil when he answered, "I suppose what little help you can offer is better than none at all. Bianca, help this young man out will you?"

Bianca agreed, "Just like the last few demonstrations."

Ash made his way up to the tall glass cylinder as he placed the fossil into the center and backed away. He signaled, "Ready to start."

Bianca confirmed, "All primary power is now routed." The fossil machine began to light up so bright that it shined outside the nearby windows.

Just as the power began to concentrate within the machine, Mew began to glow a light blue aura and flew in circles around the fossil machine. Lorenzo voiced his concern, "What is that Mew up to?"

Ash answered, "Nothing that will damage the machine."

A few seconds passed before a flash of light came and flooded the room with its presence. Ash shielded his eyes from the flash before bringing his hand back down and saw the results of his contribution. Within the center of the cylinder was a much larger creature than anyone expected from a Tyrunt.

Ash opened the double glass doors when he asked, "Hey big guy. How does it feel to be awake again?"

The massive Tyrannosaurus Pokémon lifted its head when he answered, "Rrrrgh... Me Tyrantrum have splitting headache..."

Brock stood in shock at the sight when he asked, "What sort of Pokémon has Ash bean searching for?"

Sabrina answered, "Ones that he knows will allow him to give him the best results."

Ash reached out his hand and let Tyrantrum on the nose when he welcomed, "Welcome to the modern world. I can help you get adjusted if you stick with me."

Tyrantrum opened his eyes to process the new world he was living in before seeing his first trainer beneath him. "Me Tyrantrum talking to funny biped?" He asked himself. "Me Tyrantrum having a really weird dream me think."

Hearing the dialect of his Pokémon, it was clear to Ash that this particular fossil Pokémon would have a lot of adjusting to do. "Armaldo and Aerodactyl must have had a chance to hear some modern speech. I hope I'm still getting through to this guy." He stepped back as he allowed Tyrantrum to spring his legs up and told him, "Tell me something. What's something you really like to do?"

Tyrantrum looked down to Ash when he answered, "Me Tyrantrum have really achy legs right now. Me Tytantrum want out of tiny spot so me Tyrantrum can run and stomp like crazy."

Ash offered, "Tell you what. If you come with me, I'll give you more chances to run around than you could ask for."

Tyrantrum paused before answering, "Me Tytantrum like promise from funny biped. Me Tyrantrum want to see promise kept."

Ash held out a Poké ball when he agreed, "I'll do everything and more for you Tyrantrum. Welcome to the team." The ray from the Poké ball changed Tytantrum into a sphere of red light before he was brought inside the ball.

Ash stepped out of the machine as he told everyone, "It looks like we have just what we need to get started guys."

"I certainly hope so. I don't know how many of those things I can allow to be brought back without me being responsible for putting this city in danger." Lorenzo pointed out.

Clair responded, "If Team Rocket keeps its hold, that will be the least of our concerns."

Will asked, "So I assume we are ready to remind Team Rocket what we are capable of?"

Ash confirmed, "That's right. Me, Clair, and Brock will head out there and get all of the grunts outside driven out." He turned to Lorenzo and Bianca when he asked, "Is this door the only way to the Defense Mechanism?"

Bianca answered, "It is. I imagine they won't try to damage it getting in."

Ash turned to the remainder of his friends when he told them, "You guys get ready to head outside once we've got Team Rocket in a panic. Once this is over we do everything to keep Team Rocket from activating that room."

Bianca added, "If they somehow manage to get the Soul Dew it will be important to get it back. Me and Grandpa can see if we can make contact with the Pokémon Rangers. They should be able to round up Team Rocket once they arrive."

Clair took hold of one of her Poké balls when she agreed, "I believe we have properly planned everything. The time for action should be now."

Karen agreed, "I'm anxious to see some action as well. The sooner the better I'd imagine."

Brock agreed, "Just like old times. Probably the biggest one we've had yet."

Sabrina added, "I would imagine if anyone could do this, it would have to be you along with all of us."

Ash smiled when he encouraged, "Okay. If we all agree on this, let's get out there and show Team Rocket what we're made of."

The occupation of the city was all but an established fact as the army of grunts patrolled near the museum. The hold of the area was overseen by William Namba with Domino at his side while overseeing the loading of the museum artifacts into one of the nearby air carriers. "Alamos has been anxious to claim their share. A shame that we could not deal with them as efficiently as some of our weaker members."

William brushed off the disappointment when he reminded, "We were able to claim the entire collection of fossil Pokémon if the reports are correct. They can have all the wealth and riches they desire. We will play the long term and our army will be able to force everyone into submission. Now that reminds me..." William took out his megaphone and ordered, "Prepare the fossils to be laid out! The Defense Mechanism will be ready to activate!"

Butch, Cassidy, and their Raticate were quick at work as they unloaded the fossils from their truck as it slowly traversed down the empty streets alongside the 10 grunts matching their unloading. The work was a sign that no one was expecting any form of last minute resistance. An error that would cost them dearly.

Ash looked outside from behind one of the museum columns when he whispered, "They're getting ready for something. Looks like we better act quick."

Brock told him, "Let's try and not damage the fossils."

Clair prepared her Poké ball as she told them, "The sooner we move, the less of them that are out at risk."

Ash took out three of his Poké balls when he signaled, "Let's hit them with everything we have." He threw the three balls as he called out, "Charizard! Pidgeot! Tyrantrum! Charge!"

Brock threw his own when he ordered, "Help them out Onix!"

Clair followed, "Spare no one Dragonair!"

Five red lights flashed in front of the three trainers as Ash ordered, "Tyrantrum! Rampage! Charizard! Fire Spin! Pidgeot! Whirlwind!"

The large bird Pokémon flapped his wings and summoned a strong gust of wind that swept up the nearest Team Rocket grunts. Charizard opened his mouth as a spiral of flame shot towards the gathered grunts. At the same time, Tyrantrum charged ahead as he proclaimed, "Me Tyrantrum ready to squish little black bipeds!"

Ash saw Tyrantrum charging without any concern for anyone and noticed how much danger the fossils were in. He ran down the steps as he gave his focus to the fossils that were laid out on the streets. He drew out his psychic powers and took hold of every stone that lay in Tyrantrum's path. Each one rose up in the air before Ash softly tossed the to the sidewalks.

Up ahead, Ash saw the truck carrying the remainder of the fossils. He drew on his powers again as he summoned a pillar of ground beneath the truck and toppled it onto its left side. He called to his newest Pokémon, "Okay Tyrantrum! Turn around and cut off their escape!"

Tyrantrum heard the order and spun around as he charged while proclaiming, "Me Tyrantrum want little black squishies to stand still!" Tyrantrum charged the way he came as the panicking Team Rocket grunts turned heel trying to find a way to handle their newest threat.

To cut off the escaping numbers, Clair ordered her Pokémon, "Dragonair! Mealladh!" On Clair's command, Dragonair's eyes glowed red while his body was outlined in a red aura. Dragonair then went on a rampage as he charged towards the grunts unfortunate to be next to him.

Brock in the meantime ordered, "Onix! Stone Edge!"

Onix heard the order and slammed into the ground, causing multiple jagged light blue spiked stones come out of the ground. They then turned to gray before exploding and knocking out the multitude of Team Rocket grunts.

One of the grunts lifted himself up when he pointed out, "These guys are not going to give us any breathing room!"

Another one agreed, "We stay here any longer and we won't have a chance to put them in their place!"

The knowledge of the Pokémon still rushing them caused a majority of the crowd of Team Rocket grunts to gather themselves and run away from the area. The sight became an unfortunate one for William as he ordered into his megaphone, "Pull yourselves together you cowards! We're supposed to have this city under our complete control!" There were only a few grunts left as they ran for cover hoping to find an opportune moment to challenge the rampaging Pokémon. William tossed the megaphone aside when he cursed, "If I want this done proper..."

"Leave it to the most capable." Domino said as she finished his sentence.

William grinned when he agreed, "At least there are some I can count on."

Domino kicked a rope down as both she and William slid their way down with their Poké balls at the ready. William brought his focus to the Pidgeot flying above him when he threw his Poké ball and ordered, "That bird is your target Aggron!"

Domino followed, "Dominate that Charizard Golem!"

Both Pokémon formed from the red lights of their Poké balls while Ash kept his focus on the emptying street. William took advantage of the situation as he ordered, "Aggron! Rock Throw!"

Domino ordered immediately after him, "Golem! Body Slam!" Sutton lifted a chunk of the street above his head as he took aim and threw it at the Pidgeot making a dive. Golem followed by leaping high into the air and tucking his limbs inside his body before positioning above Charizard and making a mighty drop.

Ash recognized the danger just on time as he called to both of his Pokémon, "Watch out Pidgeot! Charizard! Tail Whip!"

Pidgeot made a bank to his right just in time to avoid being hit by the chunk of the ground. He then made a sweep around as he prepared for his own attack on the summoned Aggron.

Charizard in the meantime spun in mid-air to prepare a mighty attack with his tail before the Golem was able to land on him with his body. Golem was slammed to the ground by Charizard's tail but propped himself out of the small crater as he prepared for another attack. Domino took advantage of the situation when she ordered, "Golem! Rock Blast!"

William followed, "Aggron! Metal Claw!" Aggron's claws glowed white as Pidgeot flew towards him and made a mighty towards his opponent. Next to him, Golem summoned three light blue rings to appear and spin around his body. The rings then glowed white and turned into glowing white rocks that spin around Golem's body as well. All of thus happened in a few seconds before Golem fired the glowing white rocks at the Charizard coming towards him.

Ash was distracted as he saw Tyrantrum holding his own against the few remaining Team Rocket grunts as they sent out their Pokémon to deal with him. The brief second was all it took however as Ash saw Aggron slam his Metal Claw into Pidgeot and Charizard was pelted with a series of rocks to his head. "Oh no!" He said as he saw both of his fliers go down. Golem pounded Charizard's head with both of his fists before kneeing him in the jaw while Aggron made a slam with its body in top of Pidgeot.

Brock saw the danger his friend's Charizard was in before he ordered, "Onix! Wrap that Golem!"
Clair followed as she ordered, "Dragonair! Eireaball dragan!"

Onix soared over Charizard's body before wrestling the Golem away from Ash's downed Pokémon. Dragonair, on the other side, made her tail glow light blue before hitting Aggron in the back with it. Charizard struggled to stand up from the recent beating while Pidgeot was knocked down for the count from the very hard attack Aggron gave him. With the window of opportunity, Ash ran ahead to bring Pidgeot back to his Poké ball and was left to focus on Charizard's struggle.

Dragonair had knocked Aggron to the ground with a heavy beating but was still robust to jump onto Dragonair with all its might. Ash saw the Golem was still occupied with Brock's Onix to allow for his Charizard to have a window of attack. He used his telepathy to communicate with Clair's mind, "Try knocking Aggron back again. I can get him with the right attack."

Clair realized what sort of phenomena happened when she heard Ash's strategy in her mind. She also saw the sense in allowing Charizard to make the attack. With both factors in mind, Clair nodded as she ordered, "Dragonair! Dragan Rush!" The orb on Dragonair's neck glowed as she sent a swirling cyclone towards the Aggron. Aggron took the full blunt of the attack again and was sent sliding back even further than before.

With the opportunity presented, Ash ordered, "Charizard! Fire Blast!"

"Cloyster! Hydro Pump!"

"Sableye! Power Gem!"

Just before Charizard could release his Fire Blast, a powerful stream of water hit him in the face, extinguished what flames he mustered, and forced him back into the nearby wall of a building. The attack took Ash by surprise as he ran over to check on Charizard's status and saw t he danger of the situation escalate when he saw a small ghost Pokémon attack Dragonair.

Sableye appeared in front of Aggron while small bits of dark pink light come from behind his back and into the gemstone on its stomach. The gemstone started to glow white with a pink outline before Sableye shot a pale pink beam from the gemstone into Dragonair's head. William turned to notice another two grunts had joined in on the battle when he asked, "What kept you two?"

Cassidy answered, "We only waited for the right opportunity to attack."

Butch added, "This battle is only between the strongest now isn't it?"

Domino told him, "It will be once we've done away with the nuisances. Start with the soon to be worthless martyr."

Cassidy grinned when she agreed, "I'd love the honor." She pointed towards Ash when she ordered, "Sableye! Shadow Ball!"

Just as Ash was returning Charizard to his Poké ball, he noticed the attack towards him too late to do anything. At least without the help of someone else.

"Alakazam! Barrier!" A blue barrier surrounded Ash as the Shadow Ball attack made contact with him. The contact caused a dispersal of dark energy to wave over Ash before turning to see who joined in the fray. Sabrina stood next to her Alakazam while Mew flew up to Ash.

Mew pointed out, "We sensed that you might have needed some help."

Ash confirmed, "Things were getting hard to keep up with out here."

Pikachu agreed, "This place is getting too crazy for an average battlefield."

Sabrina told Ash, "We've gone up against a bigger threat. This will just be evening out the participants."

Mew flew up to his side when he agreed, "Let's all take on our assigned opponents then. Mew! Cloyster is your target!"

Sabrina followed, "Alakazam! Engage the Sableye!"

Ash then told Clair, "You should be clear to take on Aggron."

Clair thanked, "The rest of this will be easy."

Brock added, "I'm good on my end. This should be over soon." He turned his attention back to Onix when he ordered, "Onix! Smack Down!" Onix opened his mouth and a metallic gold orb of energy surrounded in orange appeared in front of it. As Onix fired the orb at his opponent, it wrapped the Golem in a mighty explosion.

Golem was brought down to one knee as he struggled to stay defiant towards his opponent. Domino stood firm when she ordered, "Golem! Steamroller!" Golem withdrew his head, legs and arms within his shell before jumping into the air and spinning his body rapidly. Outlines glowed white as he threw himself towards Onix's head.

Brock took advantage to return with, "Onix! Iron Tail!" Onix's tail glowed white as he twirled in place and hit Golem with his attack. Golem came crashing to the ground like a comet and left a small crater right in front of Domino.

Clair continued her battle with William as she ordered to her Pokémon, "Dragonair! Hyper Beam!"
"Aggron! Iron Defense!" Aggron's whole body glowed white as he blocked the attack and caused a cloud of smoke to mask his area. Just on contact, William ordered, "Now hit it with Heavy Slam!" Aggron took advantage of the smoke as he jumped into the air with his arms crossed and then unfolds them as a silver aura surrounded his body. It ascended above the smoke as he slammed his body towards his Dragonair opponent.

"Above you Dragonair! Tonn na Toirneach!" Dragonair slid underneath Aggron as she released a blue stream of electricity from her horn that wrapped around her opponent and caused him to freeze in mid-air. Unable to execute the attack, Aggron fell to the ground with a crash before Dragonair slid out of the way.

Sabrina sensed the field around her as she prepared to continue her fuel with Cassidy's Sableye. The small ghost Pokémon had taken to the shadows and was preparing for the next opportunity to take her Pokémon by surprise.

Sabrina knew she would have to prepare for the her current type disadvantage though when she ordered, "Alakazam! Miracle Eye!" Both of Alakazam's eyes glowed blue and Sabrina could sense Alakazam becoming stronger. It was all the incentive she needed to lure Cassidy to make her next move quickly.

She heard Cassidy order, "Land a Sneak Attack!"

As soon as Sabrina heard the order she countered, "Alakazam! Psycho Cut the ground!"

Alakazam formed a pair of pink slices from his hands before taking aim at the ground beneath him and striking Sableye as soon as he popped out of the ground. Sableye flew backwards as he endured the attack before picking himself up and waiting for the next attack.

Sabrina was able to read Cassidy's mind in time however as she ordered, "Alakazam! Confusion!"

Alakazam's eyes glowed red as he shot black waves of psychic energy towards the Sableye. As soon as Sableye was hit, he shook with the struggle to even move while remaining under the influence of his opponent's power.

Cassidy showed how impatient she became when she ordered, "Get your act together Sableye! Use Foul Play!" Sableye spread both of his legs when he prepared for the attack but found his attack turning to behind him. Alakazam caused Sableye to leap towards Cassidy and grab her legs. Cassidy cursed, "Not me you stupid midget!" It was all she could say before throwing Cassidy around and tossing her up into the air before sending her crashing face first to the ground.

Sableye collapsed from exhaustion next to his trainer while Sabrina smirked, "Nothing personal. That's what you get for trying to hurt my boyfriend."

Ash in the meantime was not having anywhere near as climactic of a match however even when Butch ordered, "Cloyster! Ice Beam!"

Just as his Pokémon prepared for the ice attack, Ash ordered, "Mew! Psychic!" Mew clapped her hands together as her eyes glowed blue and surrounded her opponent. Just as soon as Cloyster had his Ice Beam prepared, he became frantic as he felt his shells close in on themselves. Cloyster fired his Ice Beam within his enclosed shell causing a thick layer of ice to build around the edges and leave him stuck within his usually safe confines.

Cloyster fell to the ground and Butch became desperate to win when he ordered, "Raticate! Get to work on that ice will ya?!"

Raticate ran into the field before Ash ordered, "Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Pikachu summoned yellow sparks around his tail and cheeks before releasing a powerful bolt of yellow electricity from its body towards Raticate.

The large rodent Pokémon fell over As soon as the attack landed and Butch was in shock by what loss he had just endured. Butch returned his Cloyster when he cursed, "Must be real good having an easy way out isn't it?"

Ash countered, "I only have to use her because you guys are always on about winning no matter what. If it's what you really want then you'll have to earn it for real."

Just as soon as he said that, the sound of a giant machine made itself very evident. Ash turned around to see the giant spider mech that had entered during the invasion standing right behind him. The mech lowered its main body to level with the trainers to reveal the Iron Masked Marauder with his two passengers prepared for a true spectacle.

Inside the cockpit, the Marauder welcomed, "Sorry guys..." The lower body of the mech opened the Gatling guns beneath when he told his targets, "My turn." The guns fired at a rapid rate towards the four target Pokémon.

Onix was hit with one barrage of bullets after another before being knocked over on his back. Dragonair didn't fair any better as she took many hits to her back before being forced to the ground. Mew and Alakazam turned their attention to the bullets as they suspended every projectile that came their way.

Ash and his friends remained strong as they ducked underneath the barrage of bullets, but were too distracted to see the red and blue containment machines flying up behind them. The red one fired its beam from behind Mew as it forced her to the ground. Ash recognized the danger when he ran up to her proclaiming, "Mew!" Before Alakazam could help her, the blue machine fired behind him and sent him flying across the ground. Ash fell back from the attack while his friends came to his side.

Brock shouted, "Stop this!"

Annie heard the plea for a stop to the attack as she told the Marauder, "Hey, we really don't need to deal any more damage."

The spider mech stopped firing just as Giovanni told her, "I do hope it's because you are anxious to have your own battle with some of these lesser weaklings."

Annie looked into Giovanni's eyes when she answered, "Uh no sir... I'm just anxious to get that Defense Mechanism ready."

The blue containment machine flew to the other side of its red counterpart and brought its own beam into contact with the other. Mew was stuck within a light blue sphere of light while everyone returned their heavily injured Pokémon. Giovanni smiled as he saw the sight and determined, "At this point they are of little concern." He turned his attention to William and his exhausted executives, "We will now begin the advance towards the Defense Mechanism. Keep watch over these fools and don't let them even try to stop us."

William agreed, "I'm certain they do not have much more to counter us with now."

Clair countered, "One loss will not shape how all of us will continue to resist."

The Marauder warned, "Maybe a more severe loss will make you think otherwise." He moved a dual on his panel to cause the blue sphere containing Mew to intensify in light. Ash could sense the pain coming from her as she struggled to hold on to what strength she had left. The Marauder warned, "Any more signs of resistance and your favorite legendary won't even have a chance to try getting its revenge."

Clair groaned as soon as she saw Mew trapped between the two beams of light. Even someone as powerful as Mew could be brought under the heel of Team Rocket's ambition. Everyone around her now felt the weight of failure looming over them even with their options not being completely worn out.

Everyone was reminded of this as Will, Misty, and Karen ran outside the Museum with their Poké balls in hand. Giovanni ordered, "Take care of the final pieces of rabble. I want no interference."

The Marauder agreed, "Just like any other. Metagross! Tyranitar! Take them down!" Metagross and Tyranitar formed from the dark Poké balls and immediately fired a pair of Hyper Beams towards the three of them. Will, Misty, and Togepi all flew back as Giovanni stepped down from the mech and nonchalantly made his way up the steps and told the Marauder, "Remain here with Ms. Hollingshead and ensure that they don't disturb me."

Annie asked, "Won't you need at least one of us to test the stability of the Soul Dew sir?"

Giovanni denied, "Only I have the will to control Alto Mare! There are none who shall be permitted to even share in my grand conquest!"

Giovanni walked ahead with the Soul Dew in hand while the Marauder stood across from Karen with his two Pokémon by his side. Will stood up as he told Giovanni, "I'm afraid you forget who you face." Will called in his powers to begin toppling the spider mech in front of him.

The Marauder corrected, "Oh I know." As he used a remote to call for the mech's main cannon to aim where Will stood. Just as soon as Will recognized the cannon align, a shell fired out of the main cannon. Will refocused his efforts to the shell when he stopped it right in front of his face. Just as soon as he caught the bullet, the Marauder's Metagross made its way over to Will and pinned him to the steps. Two of them kept his arms half while one of them placed itself on top of Wills head.

As Giovanni continued his walk past the ongoing battle, Will had every reason to read that the worst was about to come as he felt the metallic claw enclose around his head. The fear was quickly dispersed however when he felt the claw fly off him and turned to see a beam of purple circles force Metagross away from the museum. He turned around to see Karen next to her Spiritomb when she told the Marauder, "How about we keep things a little more even huh big guy?"

The Marauder accepted, "I'll have all of you crushed before this is over!"

Misty held on to Togepi when she decided, "That must leave me with that other girl." She left Will and Karen to deal with the Marauder's Pokémon as she looked for Annie. As she looked around however, she noticed that Annie was nowhere to be seen even in the cockpit. "Where did she go?"

As Misty continued her search for Annie, Giovanni now had only two people standing in front of him to prevent his advance. Neither of whom had any threat to stop him claiming his ultimate goal. Lorenzo stood in front of Giovanni when he cursed, "Your position of power is only to manipulate others and offer them wealth they wish they could earn honestly. It is truly despicable that you believe that forcing your desires on others will earn you the position of authority you believe you are entitled to."

Bianca added, "We've sent a message to the Pokémon Rangers about all of this. Enjoy your hold on this city while you can."

Giovanni laughed, "By the time they arrive it will be too late for them to do anything. Very soon, only a world of where the strongest prevail shall become a reality. Just as this world was always meant to be."

Lorenzo walked up to Giovanni as he told him, "If it's strength you believe in, perhaps you ought to demonstrate how honor what you uphold."

Giovanni reached for his Poké ball when he agreed, "I intend to. Deal with him Rhyperior!" From Giovanni's Poké ball, a brownish-gray Pokémon towered over Lorenzo. Rhyperior grabbed Lorenzo from behind as he brought him into a hard embrace.

"Grandpa!" Bianca said as she made her way up to him.

Giovanni brought up his free hand when he warned, "Try to overpower my Pokémon even a little and your grandfather will require more than a new spine."

Bianca shook at the warning and allowed Giovanni to pass as she told him, "You're a terrible man. How do you love with yourself doing something like this?"

Giovanni was undeterred when he answered, "It is how one becomes something of actual value in the world. Those who chose to take advantage of the tools around them are the only ones who earn the privilege to have their hearts desires." He walked past her as he entered the Defense Mechanism room where the control panel lay. Taking out the Soul Dew, Giovanni lay the sphere into the pedestal and felt a sensation unlike anything he had ever felt.

A course of what the human body could call "power" brought its way through Giovanni's veins. He could feel the sphere in his hand threaten to disperse, but the determination of his mind and his grip were everything he needed to keep the artifact in fact. With the power source of the mechanism coursing through the room, for the first time in a countless number of years, the gears of the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare had begun to turn.

Outside of the Museum, the Marauder continued his battle with Karen, Will, and Misty. Even being at a type disadvantage, his Metagross and Tyranitar were still standing firm against the Spiritomb, Golduck, and Slowbro. Tyranitar even had Misty's Golduck by the throat as the ground beneath them began to shake. Many of the battling trainers fell back as they felt their feet give way to a great shift that was occurring. Brock asked, "What's that? What's going on here?"

Cassidy laughed when she told him, "The sign that the boss has achieved everything we set out to do. And now is only the beginning of Team Rocket claiming its place as the rulers of this world."

From outside the city, the landscape of Alto Mare was becoming very different. Unconnected from the bridge to the mainland, there was a circle shining from the water as it dispersed from where it was. This water was drained from the city of Alto Mare as a chunk of land ascended from the sea. The land shifted until the land encompassing Alto Mare rose until it resembled a city on a cliff. Alto Mare was no longer a beautiful city of water but now the isolated top of a pillar rising from the Earth. It continued to rise up slowly and establish its new purpose as the new headquarters of Team Rocket.

As Ash and his friends continued their struggle to overcome the power of Team Rocket, Annie had found her way out of the fray when she found sign of someone nearby. She made her way inside a Poké Mart when she checked around for anyone who might have seen her. She looked down a Repel section when she realized that someone very dear to her was inside. "Oakley?"

Oakley turned to see Annie when she asked, "Annie? You were out here?"

Annie nodded when she confirmed, "You must have felt that ground shaking right? The others... We've pulled off what we set out to do. And it doesn't seem like we're going to achieve a big promotion like we thought."

Oakley frowned when she agreed, "The good doctor and his hussy decided that they wanted to prove themselves better than me. The worst thing is they proved they were right." She held out her bandaged hand to indicate the injury she took from Domino's rose. "If it wasn't for Ariados helping me at the last second I wouldn't be here."

Annie was surprised by the revelation when she reminded her, "We're both top tier executives. Even if this is just a free for all, we're supposed to be working together as a team."

Oakley looked down at the floor when she agreed, "When Giovanni said that he would only allow the best among us to rise he didn't even care about how close we got to him."

Annie added, "He doesn't even care about what happens to the Pokémon out there. Even just seeing the little water Pokémon in danger made me squeamish. We're actually in a field where people are probably going to die."

Oakley nodded when she confessed, "I thought we would be ready for this. And I have no idea what's in store for us if they find us now."

There was a short pause between the two sisters as they contemplated their fate. Neither sister had the desire to become less than what they had achieved, yet their achievements today didn't offer a compelling case for them being the renowned members of Team Rocket they were known for being.

Annie felt the hopelessness of the situation weigh on her. Even if it was nowhere nearly as heavy as what Ash and his friends were enduring, she knew neither she nor her sister had a bright future ahead of them.
An idea came over Annie however as she considered what the future would probably bring. She couldn't tell where it came from or what possessed her to think of it, but it was probably the only way she could find a way out of the dire fate that both she and her sister were headed for.

Annie finally managed the courage to ask, "Sis... What if we just chose not to stick with these guys?"

Enough action for one day folks? Hope so. Writing the battles is a bit of an exercise in order to make sure of the type advantages and disadvantages and what strategies different Pokémon can have all work within the rules of the franchise. Luckily being snowed-in my apartment and having little else to do but write and binge Supernatural, I got my fair share of work done.

So with that in mind it is possible for electric moves to affect steel types. I've always been a bit unsure about how that works since I had this idea that electric moves would be as effective on steel as they were on rock ever since steel was introduced, but I don't make the type advantage decisions. Also, Alakazam's Miracle Eye allowed him to damage Sableye with psychic moves.

All of that taken care of, Ash and his friends are now in what appears to be their biggest pickle yet. Mew is pinned down, Ash and his friends are barely able to handle their own, Giovanni is close to turning Alto Mare into a mountain city. How will this scenario resolve itself? Come back in next time for what will surely be a world-shattering event.

Until then, I look forward to seeing you all next time.