The Art of War

The forest floor seemed to explode at every step Rod took as he clambered clumsily through. With the afternoon sun disappearing into the mixture of dark smoke and ash, the world became harder to navigate and his arms were cut up from trees and branches. Starly was still flying above firing random Whirlwinds to ease breathing down below at ground level, but Rod could tell it was getting more tired at every move made. Trees and bushes seemed to merge into one dark shadow before the brightness of red and orange rocked his eyes with heat. Forrest ahead moved quickly, with much more panic and experience with Rod desperately trying to follow with curiosity and fear striking his body. To see a fire from the middle of Viridian Forest, and the amount of smoke that was created, Pewter City would to have been within an inferno. But what had caused this, and why was there nothing being done? The heat kept rising and the brightness of the burning city increased sporadically as the trees began to part.

Rod burst out of the edge of Viridian City as the greyed buildings of Pewter City appeared, a city he had visited when he was very young on a school trip, but now things had changed for the clear worst. His jaw dropped in shock as he fell backwards, the world completely in flames as people were screaming trying to avoid the inevitable. From the alight buildings, the broken windows and the explosions appearing in the background, it was as if war had broken out and they were in the thick of it. Forrest, who had stopped further up, took a Pokeball out of his pocket and released it high into the air as Starly landed on Rod's shoulder breathing heavily. The Pokeball exploded into life before dropping back down as Geodude appeared once again, the Rock Pokemon screeching in anger before releasing a powerful Sandstorm attack at the oncoming flames, dousing them immediately.

Forrest turned around, his face red with sweat and fury and cried: "Rod! You have to get to the Pokemon Centre!"

Rod yelled back, returning Starly safely to its Pokeball: "I'll find it now! Where are these flames coming from?"

"I think from the park!"

Forrest pointed towards the centre of the city as Rod squinted through the burning ash and smoke. He could make out a single large Pokemon, silhouetted in the dust, as fire poured out of what seemed its arms. It looked beyond powerful, but who was its trainer and why was Pewter City being destroyed out of everything else? His mind flashed back to the news he read about Celedon City Department Store, and the scenes here seemed exact. Never would he know that that situation would soon be his own, but Pokemon and people were in danger and he had to lend a hand. Gripping his fists, he nodded towards Forrest and dashed off down the main street avoiding the bursting fire wishing he had caught a Water Type to aid with the situation. Nobody else seemed to be moving on the streets but yet screaming came from all directions, and worst of all, the Pokemon Centre was nowhere in sight.

He picked up his pace, wiping sweat off his head, before jumping over a fallen lamppost as an explosion sent him flying forwards. Landing on his side, Rod rolled over in pain, the heated ground burning his skin instantly as he jumped back on his two feet attempting to balance. A large screech could be heard from above as he glanced upwards into the circulating dark clouds. Two blue fireballs appeared from out of nowhere, moving frighteningly quickly towards him as he dived aside, taking a Pokeball out of his pocket.

Throwing it in front of him, Rod yelled: "Shinx! Use Thunder Wave!"

Aiming his hand towards the sky, his Shinx appeared and sparked furiously before unleashing a trademark Thunder Wave in all directions before making direct contact with something large. The screech was louder this time as Rod took a step back glancing around at any hint of movement before a large shadow appeared. To his horror, a red bird Pokemon appeared in front of him sparking furiously from the Thunder Wave as it tried to shake it off unable to keep altitude. Its eyes were bloodshot completely as its wings were completely aflame above.

Rod took out his Pokedex from his back pocket, completely unaware of what this Pokemon was, as it flickered into life: "Talonflame, the final evolved form of Fletchling. This Pokemon is known to attack its prey with devastating kicks before roasting them with a shower of embers."

The Talonflame above looked much larger and scarier than the Pokedex entry, and Shinx prepared itself to battle it. It must have been one of the causes of the fire, and Rod knew he had to take it on to prevent any more damage. Rod cried: "Shinx! Get in close, and use Tackle!"

The Flash Pokemon charged in, avoiding the fire expertly as the paralyzed Talonflame dropped lower to ground level. Rod urged his Pokemon on as Shinx sped up making direct contact before its opponent burst into flames before their very eyes…

…

Forrest knew he had to move quickly as the fire began to rise around him, Geodude's powerful Sandstorm attacks nullifying it before they reappeared. Whatever Pokemon was causing this had incredible power and strength to engulf an entire city, but already there was hope. Wild Pokemon and Local Trainers had finally risen to the challenge, and Forrest ran past them all as he made his way towards the Central Park. The location where this had all started, and whoever was responsible would be taken out with no mercy. Pewter City had been his home for many years, and despite his family moving abroad, he had devoted a lot of time into the Gym and Museum, and those both could not be destroyed. The smoke and ashes began to disappear from the sky as fresh wind suddenly appeared, and Forrest slowed down as more trainers appeared along with other Pokemon-owning people.

They all turned to see their local Gym Leader jog past them as they called his name, urging him onwards as they covered the fire that had darkened the already greyed infrastructure. Turning his head to one side, the bright red light of the Pokemon Centre reappeared from the ashes and he hoped that Rod would be able to make it there in one piece. Despite his lack of experience, he had so much potential in battle and skill, but this was no time to ponder on future Gym Challengers with a city completely in decline. Helicopters could be heard from above as they tried to find somewhere safe to land, but the flames on ground level were still too hot and powerful. He continued to run, faster now as Geodude followed behind growling in anger as the park ahead appeared. The iron gates, beautifully kept greenery and trees were all gone and diminished to ash as Forrest arrived, fury now taking over completely.

Everything seemed to stop around him as he stood still, taking in the surroundings before the world around him truly turned to fire. Everything around him vanished in a powerful Blast Burn as he dived to the ground to avoid the sparks of ashes. Geodude roared in pain as it was charged down the move trying to protect its trainer, and despite its type advantage, it still couldn't handle the pure power of the attack. How can a Pokemon be this strong, and who was commanding it? Forrest looked up, completely coated in ash as his arms turned black in searing pain of burns as an individual approached, towering above.

Forrest's eyes opened as he recognized him and cried: "Blaine? Is that you? This can't be!"

Blaine laughed loudly as his Magmortar appeared behind, smoking drastically as its arm cannons dripped lava and ash. He replied, smacking his cane on the ground as Forrest tried to regain balance: "Did you expect anyone else, Forrest? No other trainer in the world can command Fire Types like I do!"

Spitting on the ground in front, Forrest retorted angrily: "I never would have thought that Team Rocket would have convinced you to join the cause, Blaine. With your experience, this is pathetic!"

The last word of his sentence seemed to send a shiver of anger down the former Cinnabar City Gym Leader as Magmortar flashed red once again sensing fury. Blaine wiped sweat off his brow before yelling back: "Pathetic? You call me pathetic? Half your city is in ruins, and you can't do a thing about it. You cannot defeat me, Forrest or Team Rocket. Join the cause, or watch the city burn!"

Forrest didn't even take a moment to think about the request, as Team Rocket would always remain an enemy in his eyes. Their past treachery and damage done to the world, torturing Pokemon and stealing them for monetary value and apparent domination. They may have come back even stronger than ever now, and with much less mercy, but they remained the weak and scared individuals they always were.

Forrest called: "Geodude! Rock Blast, let's go!"

The Rock Pokemon screeched in anger as it flashed white, heavy rocks appearing around it as they fired towards Blaine and Magmortar and made powerful and effective contact over and over again. Forrest was in no mood to play nicely now, after what had happened and those who were injured or even dead as a result. Geodude circled both the opposition Pokemon and trainer and landed powerful Rock Blast hits to no avail as the flame began to disappear from the Blast Pokemon within. Returning to its trainers side, Geodude prepared to finish off this duel within seconds of beginning, but the piled up rocks exploded into different directions. Forrest was forced to the ground again to avoid the projectiles as Blaine reappeared, his cane broken as bruises appeared on his body, matching his Magmortar.

Throwing his burnt straw hat to one side, to reveal a shining bald head, he roared: "Nice shot, Forrest! But you cannot win! Magmortar, Flamethrower!"

"Geodude, respond with Sandstorm go!"

The attacks collided as the tornado of sand created suddenly turned into an inferno of danger as both Pokemon fired their most trademark attacks at each other. Both trainers urged their Pokemon on as specs of flame and sand hit each other sending them spiraling backwards in different directions. Forrest landed hard on his back as he called back in pain with Geodude hitting the ground heavily a few metres to his left. Unable to move, he desperately looked up at the oncoming Magmortar as a sense of defeat entered his body. Reaching out desperately to his unconscious Geodude, Forrest called out loudly as he attempted to reach for a second Pokeball in his pocket.

Blaine was about to call for a final merciless attack before a familiar screech appeared from the skies above him. Looking up, he was forced to step aside as Magmortar was hit by a falling projectile as it cried in pain exploding into flames as its attack misfired. Blaine looked up, before his eyes widened in shock, as Talonflame appeared from the arching fire and burnt ground. Shivering in sparks and electricity, paralysis seemed to have damaged it, but from what?

Another voice was heard suddenly in the distance as Forrest recognized it instantly, it called: "Starly use Whirlwind, and Shinx use Tackle!"

Rod had appeared at the scene, a determined look on his sooty face, as he roared his Pokemon onwards. Forrest glanced as they rushed past, on ground and air as he smiled and returned Geodude safely to its Pokeball. Shinx and Starly made powerful contact, as Blaine was shoved to the ground and Magmortar and Talonflame were taken by surprise. The powerful Whirlwind pushed them aside before Shinx charged them down, sparking angrily with electricity. Rod ran past Forrest, holding his arms out to protect him completely as he Pokemon continued to attack nonstop to cause as much damage as possible. He knew they weren't very strong compared to these, but a surprise attack would have to do something.

Forrest cried, finally standing back up as he limped to one side: "BLAINE! You are going to pay for this!"

Just as he grabbed another Pokeball from his pocket, the now Team Rocket agent looked up from his position from the floor and shook his head. Magmortar and Talonflame were returned instantly to their Pokeballs, Shinx and Starly missing their attacks as a result, as he grabbed a small speaker phone from his pocket and began to whisper into it. Both Rod and Forrest ran ahead, with the aim of capturing this man and stopping the madness once and for all, but then the world began to shake as they fell once again to the dark ground. Large footsteps began to echo from around them all as a large fiery explosion appeared somewhere in the distance of Pewter City.

Blaine chuckled, laying back as he looked into the darkening sky caused by himself and called: "Forrest…you got so lucky today. Team Rocket want you, and they want all the Gym Leaders! Since you aren't going down easily, we will have to push the limit further. Meet us at Vermillion City with your final decision."

Forrest stood back up before being forced back onto his knees and replied angrily: "I don't know what you're playing at, but your days are done, Blaine!"

Rod turned around as his jaw dropped and eyes widened in shock, he screamed: "Forrest! W-we got a big problem!"

A large shadow had appeared over the three trainers and Rod's Pokemon as Forrest took a deep breath and turned around. Fear struck his heart and body as a skeletal Pokemon appeared, eyes burnt red and hard brown shell matched with two long boned scythes. Kabutops, the Fossil Pokemon, had been released from the Pewter City Museum, and it was now here looking confused and furious at everything that had happened. It screeched loudly, charging down with one arm as Rod rolled to one side and returned his Pokemon safely to prevent further harm.

Rod glanced at Forrest, unsure at all as to what was going on: "How on earth did this thing get here?"

Forrest shook his head and pointed at a burning building on the hill to the north: "Pewter Museum has been attacked, and Kabutops was recently retrieved from a fossil there. It's very hostile, and we have to stop it, Rod!"

Rod nodded, understanding the situation as they both ran backwards away from it to try and get a second to think. Blaine had vanished completely from the situation as the fires began to die down around Pewter City. But the evening had struck, and darkness began to appear from all corners with alarms and sirens going off in the distance. Forrest took a step forward, and chucked a second Pokeball into the air as it burst into life exploding into a white shine.

Forrest turned to Rod: "You saved me back there, and now it is time for me to save you and the city! Steelix, let's get going!"

The Iron Snake Pokemon appeared, at similar size to its opposition as Rod nodded and braced himself for inevitable impact…