Flinky: Hey guys, slightly more serious intro than normal. First off, I'm sorry I haven't updated in 2 months. Life has been hell for me, and I just didn't have much time. I also wanted to have the next (and final chapter) done by now so I could release the two at the same time, but that just didn't work out.
Flinky: Other thing is that this chapter is just bad. And I'm sorry. I know what the faults are, but can't seem to fix them. So I leave you with a not-as-good portion. Honestly, my enthusiasm to write this has almost completely faded out, but I'm not going to leave it unfinished. That's the one promise for this story I will actually keep.
Red's Pokemon (on hand):
Ignite (Charizard)
Moves: Flamethrower, Wing Attack, Dig, Blast Burn
Storm (Pigeot)
Moves: Wing Attack, Hurricane, Steel Wing, Quick Attack
Rift (Lucario)
Moves: Aura Beam, Thunder Punch, Close Combat, Dragon Pulse
Spark (Pikachu)
Moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Discharge, Nuzzle
Shadow (Zoroark)
Moves: Night Daze, Night Slash, Fury Swipes, Foul Play
Mewtwo (no nickname)
Moves: Psychic, Psycho Cut, Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Gravity, Psystrike, Giga Impact, Future Sight
I stepped outside and into a makeshift stage. Today's the day. I looked out onto the entirety of Poké Underground.
"Good morning," I began. "In less than an hour, Pokémon from here will join others from around the world. And we will be launching the largest anti-Rocket attack in this history of rebels. Rebels. That word should have a new meaning for us today. We can't be consumed by other's different views, or our feuds between each other. We will be united to destroy Team Rocket. Perhaps it is fate that it's been exactly ten years since Team Rocket took full control of Kanto."
I had to have Professor Krane look that up for me.
"We will be fighting for both our freedom, and the freedom of our Pokémon. We will fight for our right to coexist. To live together. To live free. And should we win, today won't be celebrated as the birth of Team Rocket, but the start of true freedom. The day we all cried: WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT! WE WILL NOT VANISH WITHOUT A FIGHT! WE'RE GOING TO LIVE ON! WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE! Today, we celebrate the bond between us and our Pokémon. WE! WILL! WIN!"
That got my team yelling.
"Alright, alright," I said, calming them down. "I got that off of some old movie about Deoxys coming down to Earth. Anyways, the other teams are going to come in soon. Now is about time to talk about strategy."
I paused.
"There is none. We're winging it."
Some cringed, others laughed, and a few just stared at me, confused.
"Odds are, Team Rocket has some way of listening to us right now. So wherever you are, fuck you. We're not going by a plan."
?'s POV
A man sitting at a desk in Indigo Plateau punched his wall in frustration.
Red's POV
"So yea. We're going by the traditional Poké Underground style of figuring it out as we go. Oh, here comes the first wave."
The Unovan Strike Team and Friends of Kalos teleported in.
I jumped off the stage to greet them. The rest of my team followed suit.
"Hey guys. You ready for today?"
"Of course! Why else would we be fighting Team Rocket," Caleb said.
"I've been waiting for it since I was 7," Hilbert said.
"By the way Red, I was meaning to ask you. Does your team have key stones yet?" Caleb asked.
"Nope. I only got mine through my dad. And I don't even have any mega stones. The one I used at the tournament was a loan from Omni."
"Well, I suppose I can help with that," a new voice said.
I turned around and saw N.
"We found several key and mega stones on one of our latest expeditions, but unfortunately, our cause prohibits us from using them to their full potential. If it ensures less Pokémon get hurt, then your team may feel free to use them."
"Uh, thanks."
"No problem. It can be a wondrous thing to see a mega-evolved Pokémon standing with a trainer for the right reasons."
A Plasma heli touched down, and several grunts carried a large sack of stones.
"Feel free to take what you please."
I examined the load. There were 10 keystones, a lot more mega stones (with labels) and one blank stone.
"What's the blank one?"
"Honestly, I am not sure. Zekrom informed me that it has a power relating to mega evolution, but we have not found what Pokémon it correlates to."
I took it anyways, along with a couple stones I can use (Pidgeotite and Lucarionite; there was no Charizardite or Mewtwonite)
"Okay, we got ten key stones, and 20-ish members. Gold! Catch!"
I tossed him one. He caught it and attached it to his oversized jacket zipper.
"Okay, anyone here before I joined gets one."
Silver, Lyra, Brendan, May, Wes, Michael, Leaf, and Wally stepped up.
"That leaves two. Blue, you get one."
He took one.
"Who should get the last one… I got an idea. I'll save it for the final member."
"Kris?" Ethan asked.
"The other one. The one the readers care about."
"Ohhh, him."
Everyone took a the mega stones that they can use.
"We're almost set," I said. "Just waiting on-"
"Here we are," my dad said, dropping off of a Pidgeot with his Lucario.
The rest of the aura defenders followed.
"Sorry we're late. We don't have helicopters or Pokémon with Teleport."
"That is of no problem," N said. "I believe that's everyone?"
"What about Team Aqua?" Caleb asked.
"They'll meet us there. They're coming in by boat," I said.
"Then we're set," Dad stated.
I gotta admit, it was pretty awesome. This is the largest attack we've ever done. Far over the 20-ish people in Poké Underground. We now have hundreds of people to back us up.
Before we set off, Michael handed out earpieces for Poké Underground.
"Okay then! Let's go!"
One Hour Later
We were moving under the cover of Viridian forest. No doubt they're patrolling the area, but even with everyone's unnecessarily colorful outfits (honestly, why have we never even changed into something less conspicuous?), they won't be able to see us through the bushes.
"We're at the exit guys," I said, seeing a window of light. "No more cover. It's time to fight. Pokémon out!"
I sent out Storm so when it's time, I can ride him.
Before I charged out, I looked outside. There was a huge, flat, concrete plain, with several guard towers. Each of these towers had a grunt with a mounted gun. The city wasn't for several more miles, so running past as quick as possible isn't a choice (for most of the group).
"What are we going to do?" Gold asked.
"We can't take the city with all these towers up," I said. "So we're going to destroy them.
I took a look at Storm, who seemed ready to go.
"FOR NARNIA!" I yelled, bursting through the forest.
Right off the bat, I heard 3 different machine guns. I made a shield of aura to deflect the bullets so Storm could focus on attacking.
"Use Steel Wing on the first tower!"
Storm managed to get close enough to slash one of the tower's supports, tipping it over.
"Red, I think you can drop the shield. I got this," Storm said. I forgot I had my translator gloves on.
"Alright. If I drop dead, it's on you."
"And not the entire government you pissed off?"
"Fair point."
I stopped shielding, and didn't get shot. Yet.
I looked back and saw Plasma walking on the ground, under the cover of the Aura Defender's shields. Poké Underground is fairly scattered, but we're pretty much all flying. Friends of Kalos are nowhere to be seen (which is probably a good thing) and Unovan Strike Team was in the air.
"Okay, everything looks about right."
I turned on my earpiece.
"Rollcall," I said.
"Johto is fine," Silver reported.
"Hoenn hasn't been shot down yet," May stated.
"Sinnoh is fine. By the way, Barry is in the third closest tower. Don't shoot it," Dawn warned.
"Including or excluding the one I already destroyed?"
"Including."
"Okay…" I switched channels. "Is the Kanto team fine?"
"I'm good," Michael said.
"Articuno is freezing the bullets before they hit us, so we're fine," Leaf confirmed.
"I got a jet on my tail," Blue admitted.
"Have another Pokémon shoot it down," I suggested.
"Got it."
I saw a black jet explode a minute later.
"Yellow, tell the other teams that they're sending in fighter jets."
"On it."
Yellow touched down near the Plasma/Aura Defenders group and started talking to them.
Time to get back to the battle.
"Storm, I need to go by ground. Return!"
I called Storm back while 400 feet in the air. Don't worry, I'm not that dumb.
I threw an explosive aura ball to the ground, falling at the same rate I was. It exploded before I hit the ground, and the force of the explosion slowed me down enough to land without too much difficulty.
"Okay, where to next… Shadow, give me some cover!"
I sent out Shadow.
"What do you want me for?"
"Just make some illusion or something so they stop shooting at us."
"Alright, fine."
I don't know if Shadow did it or not, but the bullets started hitting considerably to the left of us.
"Thanks Shadow."
We started running toward a guard tower with several RPG's.
I found the ladder up and started climbing. No one noticed until I was inside.
"Hello fellas," I said.
The four grunts in the tower slowly turned around.
I made another aura explosion, knocking the four grunts to the ground and destroying the top half of the tower.
"Well, that went well- SHIT!"
I jumped off the tower as a missile struck it. I was still hit by some knockback, but I was fine.
"Well, let's pick it up. Thanks Shadow, return."
I was contemplating my next course of action when a large black jet started shooting bullets at me.
"Wow, rude."
I shielded the first attack. As I expected, it did a barrel roll for a second attack.
"Alright, who can do this… Go, Ignite!"
I sent out my Charizard as the jet started shooting again.
"Use Blast Burn on the jet!"
Ignite waited a while, then fired up toward the jet. The attack burned straight through the metal, causing the jet to catch on fire. Soon, two figures popped out and were parachuting down.
"Guys, I knocked out one of their jets," I said into my earpiece.
"Of course you took it out by yourself," Leaf said. "What else?"
Several Hours Later
There aren't many more outposts left. Then we have access to the city.
Storm and I were distracting the grunts while Leaf would climb up and knock out the grunts. Then we would move to the next one. It worked until they started figuring it out, and kept a gun aimed at the entrance at all times. So we moved to either: Melting it, freezing it, exploding it, or evaporating it.
Eventually, we took control of the last tower, giving unrestricted access from Pallet to Viridian (provided that they can move through all the rubble).
Since the Aura Defenders and Team Plasma were on foot, it took them a lot longer to reach the border.
I looked out onto Viridian. It's getting late, so the whole "big city" feel is there. There's plenty of skyscrapers, flashing lights, huge highways. This is probably the largest city, at least in Kanto.
I turned around and looked at the damage we've caused. There were broken lookout towers, crashed planes, helicopters with several major components missing (usually a tail), lava pools, and cracked asphalt. If we did all that, then who's to say that we can't take Viridian? Not to mention Team Aqua is still coming.
"Viva Las Viridian," Michael said.
"So, what now?" Hilbert asked.
"I was thinking we just go right into destroying the main government buildings," I suggested. "We can worry about converting the citizens later."
"Where are those government buildings though?" dad asked. "I don't see anything that looks more rocket-like than anything else."
"I can sense a lot of pokémon in pain in that city. I am certain we will find something," N said.
"Okay, I know this isn't the time, but what are and how did you get your abilities N?" I asked.
"There's nothing supernatural about it," he responded. "I was born and raised around Pokémon, so I can tell what they're saying, and if they're in trouble. Any reason you ask now of all times?"
"Just wondered."
"Red has ADD," Leaf answered.
"Ahh."
We looked out at the city for a couple more minutes.
"Well, I'm bored. Let's go," I said.
"Hold it," N said, putting his arm in front of me. "I understand your lack of an attention span, but look to the eastern part of the city."
I could faintly see a few helicopters.
"What about those? I've taken down like, five now. Are we at five Michael?"
"Since you joined, you took down four which were trying to kill us and ten unmanned ones on the ground," he responded.
"Yea, it shouldn't be that hard."
"Those aren't Team Rocket," dad said.
I tried to look closer, but a few new things caught my attention. They were moving pretty fast and left a trail- shit they're firing missiles.
"Pidgeot, Storm, try and stop the missiles from detonating!" I yelled, sending them out. They immediately took off in that general direction. Spark stopped most of them, but a few got through, making a pretty big explosion. It was aimed at a tower with the word "Trump" on it. I have a feeling that it was okay that we couldn't stop that one.
"Gentlemen," Riley said. "The battle of Viridian has begun."
There were alarms blaring from the city. Looks like they've been expecting this.
"Okay, Poké Underground. I want Yellow, Zach, Wally, Ethan, Ruby, and Sapphire to escort civilians out of any war zones. Gold, Silver, May, and Brendan, you guys will defeat any hostile trainers. I have a feeling that the other teams will have just as much firepower. Everyone else will focus on destroying Rocket buildings. Leave the civilian ones alone, but I can look the other way if you destroy the remnants of Trump Tower. Break!"
We all set off to different parts of the city. I was riding on Storm when I saw a large ship in Viridian harbor. Team Aqua just joined the battle.
Team Rocket began their counter-attack. There were jets (what happened to to the helis I've grown so fond of destroying?), missiles, and several turrets. Viridian just turned into a war zone.
As Storm and I were flying through the city, we heard a buzzing noise. I turned around and saw a large blue beam heading toward us.
"Pull up! Quick!"
Storm flew up sharply (if it wasn't for aura I wouldn't be still holding on) causing the beam to miss us.
I looked to the ground to see if I could find where we were attacked from. It was from the roof of a building. We flew over to it, dodging the occasional beam of energy. I started to make out grunts with colors that were not Team Rocket. They had grey suits and green hair.
As we got closer, they began to fire faster and more rapidly.
"Quick Attack!" I ordered. Storm closed in the distance within a matter of milliseconds, and sent one grunt flying.
Once Storm touched down, I looked at the other grunt.
"What team," I asked, with red-aura coming out of my eyes.
"Uh, Team- Team Galactic," he responded, shaking.
"Did you guys bomb the town?"
"No… That was Team Magma…"
Figures. I threw him off the building, jumped down, caught him before he landed, hit him over the head.
"Well, that's done."
I looked around for anything that looked destruction-worthy. Unfortunately, there wasn't much. Usually, I would focus on one building, but there wasn't any good targets.
As I was thinking, a grey jet started coming up on the street I was standing in. It began dropping bombs. Is… Is Team Galactic really carpet bombing the city?
Two more planes came in on the street I'm on.
Nope, they're only targeting me. Good for the civilians, I suppose.
I began sprinting down away from the jets. I could hear explosions from behind me, and they were catching up. Even with red aura, I can't compete with a jet.
"Huh. New plan. Go, Spark!"
I sent out my Pikachu.
"Shoot the bombs before they hit us!"
Spark managed to detonate them before we were in explosion radius. Eventually, the jets passed us, so we ducked inside a building.
I returned Spark then started walking up the building. It was completely abandoned (probably because of the war).
I looked around. It had these weird tiles that would send me spinning off in one direction. I stumbled around, looking for a staircase, when I heard a noise.
I saw someone tied to a chair. As I got closer… no way. Giovanni?
I removed the duct tape from his mouth. He seemed almost relieved.
"Well… This was not how I expected to go," he said.
"What happened, why are you tied up to a chair, who is running Team Rocket, and will I have to battle you to get answers?"
"I can only answer a few of those questions. And as for the battle, all of my Pokémon were stolen."
"Good for me. First, are you the real Giovanni?"
"Yep."
"Proof?"
"You caught your Charmander in the Pallet facility a bit more than a year ago. I knew because there was only one reported case of a missing Poké Ball, and you made the Charmander vanish."
"Alrighty. So you are the real deal. Who did this?"
"I don't know anything, but have a feeling that this was the work of Team Neo-Rocket. I believe you encountered a small number of them at the Seafoam Islands."
"So, are they trying to overthrow you."
"Not trying. Did. In case you didn't notice, I am currently tied up to a chair in an empty building."
"Yea, that would make sense."
Giovanni kept the same expression during my entire interrogation. It was somewhat unsettling.
"So, Team Rocket is against you now and is being run by a shadow leader who we have no idea the name of."
"That is about right."
I heard footsteps coming in.
"Mr. Ketchum," Giovanni said. "I would advise you hide before whoever that is finds me."
I ducked behind a desk and waited. There was someone who resembled a Team Rocket admin, but had a white suit instead of black.
"So, here is the great Giovanni, all confined to a small chair. Quite the ironic end, for a man who once controlled the world."
Giovanni just stared at him.
"No need to be so cold. I'm not going to kill you. That comes later. I'm here to ask about one thing my boss needs to know."
"And what may that be?"
"We caught word of you travelling back in time to deliver a message to yourself, and our boss would like to know. So…" He sent out a Zoroark. "Start talking."
"Do you really think you can intimidate me with a rodent like that?"
I felt Shadow's Pokéball shaking a bit.
"Well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to."
His Zoroark's eyes glowed, as a aura surrounded Giovanni. He started breathing heavily, which I suppose is his way of freaking out.
"Are you ready to talk now?"
"Ugh… Fine…"
"Great. Pyrce will be very happy. Now-"
"Red, that's all the information you'll need," Giovanni interrupted. "Come out now."
"Who else is there?" the admin asked, with a gun pointed at Giovanni's head.
"Didn't I already say his name? Fire Red Ketchum."
"You're an assole," I said, rising from my hiding spot.
"One more step and I'll shoot him," the admin warned.
"What reason would Red have for wanting me alive?" Giovanni asked. "I'm more useful to you than to him."
"I retract my statement about your being of an asshole."
The grunt looked torn, before taking off and sprinting.
"That ended well," Giovanni said. "Now, are you going to untie me or leave me here?"
"Swear that you won't harm my team, their allies, or the general population and I will."
"Would you really trust my vow?"
"Would you really cross me?" I responded, flaring aura through my body.
"I suppose you make a point. I swear to not harm you, your allies, or the general population."
"Great." I began untying him. "So, what are you going to do?"
"I don't intend to involve myself on the political field any longer. I'm going into hiding."
"So, after all these years, I don't even get to at least fight you? Bummer."
"Well, that's not exactly true. We have fought at least 20 different times, but those duels were erased from history." He sighed. "I suppose that's what I get. Goodbye Fire Red. This will be the last time you see me. I hope your struggles prove to be worth the pain." He walked out the door, and with that, ended Team Rocket. This would be a much better victory if Team Neo-Rocket wasn't a threat.
When that was over, I started looking for a staircase to the roof.
Once I was on the top, I looked around the city. It got worse. Parts of it were completely leveled, constant gunfire, civilians running around, scared.
I heard a voice echo in my mind. "Is this what you wanted? Complete and utter chaos?"
I sat on top of the building for a while. I'd hate to say it, but we haven't done much. We don't have the numbers or resources the other teams have. We don't have a point…
"FUCK YOU DARKRAI!" I screamed. I never get that depressed. Ever.
A shadow emerged from the ground, forming into Darkrai.
"So, you figured it out."
"Hell yea I did."
"Well, time for plan B."
He shot a black void at me. Point blank. I started feeling really tired.
"I'll be returning you to Team Rocket now."
I reached for one of my Pokéballs, but Darkrai removed it. "None of that now."
I prayed for the (fairly common) miracle that saves me in these situations.
Well, I have to say, I'm dating Leaf for a reason.
She came in and froze Darkrai using Articuno.
"Red! You okay?"
"Articuno, use Ice Beam on... me…"
Articuno froze the bottom half of me, jolting me back awake.
"Thanks for that. Now for you," I said, looking at Darkrai.
"Do not even try to capture me. I am a tier 1 legend-"
I threw the Master Ball I found back in chapter 19. It wobbled three times, then clicked.
"Well, that's that," Leaf said, as it vanished into my PC box.
In Red's Box 1
"And as such, you should- wait, where am I?"
Darkrai looked around the room he was in. There was a Butterfree and Sandslash playing pokér in one corner.
"Huh. Red caught another legendary," the Butterfree said.
Red's POV
Darkrai shouldn't be a problem for a while now.
I'd hate to admit it, but he did have a point. We are out of place.
I saw one more jet without a logo. It was flying a lot higher than the others, and a much sleeker design than the normal fighters I've seen.
It dropped just one bomb. It was much larger than the others though.
"Red! Can you hear me!" I heard dad yell in my earpiece.
"Yea, why?"
"That bomb that was just dropped is leaking radiation. It's nuclear. We have to pull out now!"
Shit.
"All civilians are evacuated," Gold reported. "Also, the bomb that's coming down looks a bit more dangerous than normal."
"It's nuclear. All units of Poké Underground, get out of the city!"
I never got to say "all units" before. It's kinda fun.
Flinky: Well, there it is. Next chapter will be the finale. I am positive it will be better than this one.
