And as the Wind Blows: Epidemic in Hoenn

by Ike Redlark

Horror. Darkness slowly covers the face of Hoenn. It stared with a few Linoone dying from a vicious disease, then it moved on to other species. The acclaimed Dr. Juniper stands firm against the fight to find a cure, will he be too late? Or is there more?

5. Chapter 4: A Flickering Hope

-1Chapter 4: A Flickering Hope

Ash, Brock, and May were the only trainers but one on the ferry wanting to land on Hoenn. The ship was nearly empty, except for the crew that was about to escort as many people they could out of Hoenn. The original group of hopeful trainers that wanted to save the people of Hoenn lost their gut when the radio fuzzed in the uneasy report of creatures possibly worse than zombies. Rumors spread fast and the news reporters had to work with nearly nothing.

There was one quiet trainer that didn't join the bandwagon of trainers that lost their confidence. She was near the railing of the ferry looking over the water in the wind. Brock sat enchanted by her looks. There she stands, Brock thought. Long black hair flowing in the wind. The lonely look in her deep green eyes searching for something more. She needs me. I need her. We need love. Love that will always--

"Hey Brock! You gotta' try their applesauce on this ferry! It's to die for!" Ash blurted smiling with a large jar of applesauce.

"Huh?" Brock's gaze towards the lone trainer broke and he stared blankly at Ash. "That's a lot of applesauce."

"Well, a couple more minutes till we reach the Slateport docks. I think we're about to be hit with rain again--I don't know typhoon storm weather that well. Hey, Brock. You ready for this? If it's as bad as they say it is. We stick together no matter what, okay? We're a team!"

"Yeah, sure." Brock glanced back at the lone girl trainer. "Do you know who that trainer is?"

"No."

"Even when it drizzled, she didn't move from that spot. She had a Sandslash with her, but put it back into it's ball when the rain got too heavy."

"And...?"

"Uh," Brock blushed and looked around. "Yeah. She seems tough. Maybe she can help us find Misty."

"Good thinking, Brock." Ash smiled, took a scoop of applesauce, and put a big plump of the junk in his mouth. "I mean like, this applesauce is the best applesauce I've ever had in my life. The cook on board the ship has a bunch of jars full of it! You should talk her and see what her problem is."

Brock smiled, "Problem? I'm sure there's no problem. She's probably nice, funny, kind, the kind of girl you want to be with at a nice restaurant. Perfection, beauty, everything--"

"Yeah," Ash interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Talk to her, I'll be back in the cafeteria."

The girl looked at her watch, turned around facing a love-struck grinning Brock. "Hi," she said looking Brock up and down uneasily. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Brock. I'm with my friends Ash and May. I used to be the Gym Leader of Pewter City, but here I am, so you may of heard of me."

"Ash? Ash who?" the girl asked recollecting her memory of a trainer she might of heard of on the news.

"Ash Ketchum."

"Really?" she was astonished. "Champion of Kanto and Jhoto. The undisputed enemy of Team Rocket. Hmm... Then you must of met Giovanni."

"Yeah," Brock replied uneasily. "I've met him."

"Well, I'm very glad to meet you Brock. My name is Laura. I'm a trainer of the sorts. I do a lot of random stuff around Jhoto primarily, but I go to Kanto every so often. Sometimes even in Sinnoh."

Brock looked around if Ash was still next to him, but he was already back in the cabins of the boat.

"Oh, sorry. No, I'm not part of Team Rocket. I just wanted to know if you were who you said you were. I'm impressed with Ash's work against Team Rocket. I've been after Giovanni for years now."

"Oh," Brock replied. "You're not just saying that, are you?"

"No. You have my word, Brock. Do you know the Blue Phoenix?"

The blue trench coat, Brock thought. "No way," His face lit up. "You're the Blue Phoenix? The greatest bounty hunter in Jhoto!"

"Thanks, but I'm not the best, though."

"What are you doing here? Is Team Magma and Aqua your next target?"

"No. I'm not here for bounty," Laura said with a small frown. "It's personal." Laura paused for a second and glanced at the water. "If not, I'll see if I can help a few people on the way. Why are you here?"

"We're looking for a friend. Misty, she used to be the Gym Leader at Cruelean's Water Gym."

"I see."

"I can't believe you're the Blue Pheonix. In person!"

"Yeah," Laura said blushing a little.

"Umm...," Brock paused rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey. Do you want to join us? We could probably help each other out."

"Sure, I'll join. I don't see any reason not to-- we'd definitely have strength in numbers as it is."

"Alright!"

"Where are you guys headed?"

"Rustburo, first. After that, I'm not sure. You?"

"I'm not sure, I just needed to come to Hoenn."

"Hey look, come on inside, it's cold out here. You need to meet Ash, May, and Pikachu."

Laura looked back at the water again and sighed. Brock walked into the cabin happy to introduce the new friend. But Laura stared into the water deep in thought, she knew was getting closer to her goal. The one person she had been searching for her whole life.

Luke fell to the ground sinking into thick mud that sucked his knees into the long grass. Under that big umbrella tree, his sullen crying was very lonely. The wind whipped the limbs of the tree like the hair of a pretty girl underwater at the pool. It swayed to one side, then back. Swaying, then back. The rain sounded like the whispering of a crowd as Luke's hearing dimmed the harder he cried for his fallen best friend.

Luke's Ponyta, Penny, stopped her Flamethrower to Naomi's body and kneeled to the ground closing her eyes. The fire consuming Naomi hushed deeply with small bursts. Her hair sparked like a bunch of small sparklers as they turned to ash.

"I said, don't stop, Penny..."

The Ponyta got back on it's feet and began blazing a beam of fire from it's mouth to Naomi's body once more. The blow of the Ponyta's torch was immense and hushed Luke's crying to a small sob.

Beth stood against the trunk of the large tree staring at the flames of the cremation. Her black hoody sweater soaked. Black jeans soaked and tight against her legs. She could barely see without her glasses, but the blurring of the flames was like looking into an impressionist painting. The flames danced side to side like the primal dances of early man. The archaic question of Death loomed in her eyes as she watched the once beautiful young girl char away to nothing but bone and ash.

Beth sighed wondering where she could go. She had to find Professor Birch and Professor Juniper; but she also had to survive. She barely understood what was going on. How could the epidemic reach such levels so quickly, it wasn't natural. The storm didn't feel natural. Something else was going on, and she had to figure it out.

Luke looked up to Beth with a pathetic stare and stood up. He closed his eyes and tightened his mouth holding his breath. He quietly hummed his meditation. Letting out a heavy breath, he eyed Beth once more. She was soaked, tired looking, but something about her screamed, smart. Important. In a frank tone, Luke asked pessimistically, "So what's your story?"

"Are you part of Team Rocket? Your clothes and jumpsuit give it away."

"Yeah," Luke said. "We we're scouts and traders. Probably the best in the area, too. Well... I'm the only scout in the area now. I was doing some business with Team Magma. My name's Luke." He felt a little bit better telling her the truth.

"My name's Beth. I'm originally from the Kanto region, I'm a researcher. I work with Professor Birch "

"Me too. Well, I mean I'm from Kanto, too," Luke replied. "I never would of guessed you to be a researcher. You don't look the part... Do you know what's going on?"

Beth looked down and got up off from the tree trunk. Her soaked blonde hair stuck to the side of her face and she wiped her bangs out from her eyes and behind her ears. She wasn't sure how to feel, so many things were going on so quickly that her thoughts were now lost in the deep reaches of her mind. She shook her head. "I've got an idea, but to be honest. It's not making any sense."

Luke looked back at Naomi's body burning and dropped his head into his chest. "Is this what Hoenn's becoming? What if the epidemic escapes the mainland? Is this what the world's going to become?"

Beth looked deep into the flames of the cremation. The red and orange reflection sparkled against her sapphire blue eyes. She began to space off as her mind cleared. Then she thought she had a vision of what would happen if the virus reached Kanto, then Jhoto, the Orange Islands, Sinnoh... Victory Road laying in ruins. The empty ports of Vermillion. "No," she said firmly. Looking up to Luke, her gemlike eyes seemed to radiate against the flames of the fire. Without her thick glasses, she was stunning in the light of the fire. "No, I wont let it."

Luke looked into Beth's determined stare and smiled. She seemed to make him feel stronger. A flickering hope of the whole catastrophe ending happily. Then he sighed, realizing the reality. "What are you going to do? You can't stop a major epidemic without a cure."

"I'll find a way," Beth replied. "We need to go to Fortree."

A heavy bolt of lightening struck another power line and crashed into the street bringing up the ruble of asphalt with it. The rain seemed to become lighter, but the wind seemed to pick up in bursts that shook the running balance of the survivors and undead in the streets of Rustburo.

Cesar, Leader of the Green Shadows, looked around standing in the parking lot of the Supermarket. Down the street, the warehouse was in flames and a dark mob slowly moved towards him. To his side, the street market, all tents had blown down or tore down. The mob of dark beings paced between the wrecked crates, broken pots, and rubble of the stands. Behind him his team and the survivors were gathered in front of the rock tombed Supermarket checking each other's health status; he could see Tammy trying to give Rachael antidotes and awakenings.

Cesar's Murkrow gave his owner an uneasy glance from his feet below.

The wind howled it's dead hollow bellow above.

The rain felt like tiny shots of sand across the face.

Shadows were forming at the sides of the Supermarket, now aware of the survivors of Rustburo. They'd been circling the Supermarket for hours.

Cesar cursed quietly in his breath and strode quickly towards his team and crowd. "Alright, time is short. Follow me. Watt, watch the left side. Jean to the right. Mike and Chris, to the back. The rest of you, in center with the survivors."

The crowd of survivors and Cesar's gang followed Cesar away from the Supermarket, followed by the marching dead far behind. Pulling out a Pokeball, Cesar let out his Golduck. The rest of the Green Shadows followed their leader's command and brought their Pokemon out. Cesar knew they were being slowly surrounded. Chances for survival were slim, but they had to fight or die.

The mob from the market seemed to collectively begin to move towards the Green Shadows and growl in sight of their presence. Then a few howls in the dark gave Cesar a distaste of annoyance thinking of the oncoming bloody situation. "Green Shadows!" he yelled strongly. "One of the packs are back, stay on guard."

Cesar broke into a jog and the rest followed. They were running down the street. Then the undead began to come slowly and individually before them.

Cesar's Golduck slashed smoothly like a samurai in the middle of the street at the faces and bodies of straggler dead. A clean uppercut to the right, spinning downward with another Slash. The growl of a pale man showed his hungry teeth jumping at the Golduck covered in foamy maroon blood from citizens who weren't so lucky. It was like the dance of a leaf in the wind. Each slash so smooth, claws like razor blades in the wind.

The Golduck swiped his claws at the man's face and gave a quick shot of water from his mouth, throwing the zombie through the window of a side shop. Then a blast of bubbles towards a woman who was slowly progressing to his backside. The Goldock twirled in an acrobatic spin in the air landing on his back feet with claws out. Working with Cesar as a master was a liberating experience. The Golduck was free to ad lib and do what it had to do to win the fight. Even on a one on one trainer battle, the extent of Cesar's commands were mostly general, but the desired outcome of each attack was more precise than one could imagine.

Cesar gave a sharp whistle to his Murkrow who was now flying above the street. Screeching loudly, the Murkrow charged into the growing crowd in front with a violent attack of wings and talons. The attempt to Astonish seemed to have little effect. But with another whistle, the Murkrow gathered dark energy around itself and cleared the street with the powerful dark hazy explosion of fog.

The zombies following the survivors was growing as the mob from the market joined with the mob from the warehouse. The mob from the Supermarket joined as well and a large army was now slowly being created.

The frizzy haired grunt named Alan came out from the survivors to his leader. "Captain," he said. "They're getting big back there. The whole town's after us. The more we run, the more they follow. It just doesn't want to end."

Progression through Rustburo towards Devon Corp. halted and Cesar looked around. It seemed hopeless. The storm didn't want to stop. They were all hungry and tired. If they all stayed together as a group, death seemed unstoppable. If they scattered, they'd lose any chance for survival. One of them had to stay behind so the rest could run.

"Boss," Alan's voiced cracked. "What's next? Devon Corp.?"

Cesar sighed shaking his head in frustration. "What's the status report."

"My Spearow's fainted. Rachael's waking up, but she seems really weak. I think Jean's Espeon is paralyzed. Mike and Chris in the back are getting overwhelmed. I think Watt's Flaffy is really weak too, I saw him bring it back to it's Pokeball. Some of these bastards are really fast. If the rest of them catch up to us, we're toast."

Alan stopped talking and a everybody in the group of survivors looked at each other scared when the howling came back even louder. The packs of rabid Poochyena and Mightyena were winding their way through the streets and alley ways. Trash cans crashed in the distance. The howling grew louder. The snarling of beasts could be felt on their necks.

"Green Shadows!" Cesar yelled. "All Pokemon out! We're being surrounded.

In brilliant flashes all around, the members of Cesar's gang brought out all of their Pokemon ready for the assault.

As a team, the Green Shadows were infamous. And now each member, a strong fighting history of their own stood fortifying the survivors like knights.

Then in a rush, a snarling battalion of Poochyena and Mightyena had the entire gang surrounded. They all paced around the survivors like vultures on a dying animal.

Pulling out his knife, Cesar eyed down a charging Poochyena; as quickly as it came, he sliced his blade into it's neck and stabbed the wolf into it's back. His Golduck taking over with a Seismic Toss threw the beast into another Poochyena that the Murkrow was now thrusting Wing Attacks at.

The Marowak charged forward throwing out a powerful Boomerang attack which flew through the streets hitting a couple undead square in the side of the head, knocking them to the ground and dislocating their necks. But this didn't stop them as they rigidly came back up.

In the rear, Chris' Hitmonlee spun in the air and landed a kick in the side of a Mightyena's head. The wolf slid across the ground and slowly got back up to it's feet. But with a Hammer Kick, the Hitmonlee drove the beast into the ground with deadly force. The cracking of bones crunched inside the rabid zombie.

Jean's Hypno went in and out creating bursts of Psychic energy, throwing back the rabid wolves as Tammy's Sandslash Slashed and Swiped by it's side.

A giant Dodrio roared out in a fast charge, windmilling it's head's giving a deadly Fury Attack of Pecking towards a couple Poochyenas. Mike screamed orders to his birds as a Pidgey followed the Dodrio's behind Gusting off a sickly looking Skitty who was slowly following the three headed bird. His Farfetch'd followed close behind, blade drawn. While his Xatu sat in the back gathering energy for a Psychic Blast.

On the far right side, bolts of lightning flashed in all directions and a small electrical storm blasted forward from Watt's Pokemon, frying anything it's path.

Cesar had now pulled out all four of his Pokemon and cleared a path forward, but the rabid Poochyena and Mightyena had moved completely toward one side.

"Follow Me!" Cesar yelled, and everyone followed, except for Jean, who finally saw what was coming.

In a panicky scream, Jean called out to her teammates. "Guys! I need some help over here!!"

When the first person put their foot toward Cesar, the wolves attacked.

The Green Shadow's Pokemon were in the way of their food. The pack of rabid wolf Pokemon snarled teeth dripping with blood as they leaped through the air. Jean's Hypno could only hold back a couple, while her Blastoise could only pick off a few Poochyena as they ran in full sprint. The rest of her Pokemon were dazzled and intimidated from the leaping hoard. Jean dodged out of the way from a Poochyena who had broken through her line, then punched the jaw of another Poochyena who was trying to tackle her.

Watt on the complete other side kept his ground, holding off a few zombies, but turned around to see the unprotected survivors being helplessly ripped in a carnage of clothes, flesh, and blood. Everybody was screaming and Watt stood paralyzed with fear as tears began to run down his cheeks. A large Mightyena growled at it's pack and was soon followed by one of the Poochyena, the two rabid wolf Pokemon charged at Watt who was stumbling backwards choked with emotion.

A vivid memory brushed across Watt's vision and the flashbacks of when he was a kid came to him. His first Pokemon and the first step in his path towards being a criminal. A camping trip with his mother, father, uncle, and little baby sister. The campground was surrounded by a hungry pack of Poochyena and Mightyena. He was reliving his nightmares and emotion flooded his lungs. He couldn't do anything when they attacked. His father's Pikachu didn't have a chance. Running into the woods, he left his family to die and his father's Pikachu followed by the order from his trainer to protect his son.

The same Pikachu, now a Raichu, Zap Cannoned the Mightyena back into the screaming panicky survivors. Turning around, Watt burst into a sprint down the street away from the crowd into the darkness. Tears ran down his eyes and he couldn't deal with his internal fear once more. He believed he was never as strong as he really was and needed to run. The Poochyena was catching up to him and leaped onto his back clamping down on his neck.

Watt's scream was muted out by the crack of lightning from the sky. It struck Watt straight though his head down his spine, blasting radiant sparks through his shoes. It came down so quickly that neither the Poochyena or Watt could of helped it. The two burst into charred flames. The remains of the Poochyena lay in the street next to Watt.

The electric master was dead.

Watt's Pokemon saw what happened and fell into a rage. The Raichu Screeched to the heavens as a giant ball of electricity began sparkling around it. Watt's Lanturn jumped through the air to her trainer's side and nudged his face gently, looked around noticing the zombies slowly move towards her trainer's body and growled quietly. Spark's flew from the Lanturn and streams of Thunderbolts hit in every direction.

A mad look came from Watt's Jolteon as it charged through the crowd snarling his teeth ripping his jaws into the rabid Poochyena and Mightyena. A Pin Missile attack that went in all directions without thought of anyone except for his fallen master speared into everyone near. Jean rolled to the ground, only to be hit in the arm with the sharp shard from the Jolteon's mane. The people screamed as they pulled pins from their bodies, and the zombies only grew angrier.

Mike near the rear of the crowd shielded himself with his arms and ordered his birds to Whirlwind the Jolteon away from the crowd. His Fearow dashed forward screeching blowing a strong gust towards the crowd, only to bring up a couple of the warehouse survivors up with the Jolteon through the air and far down the street, where their faint screams could be heard under the moaning and juicy crunching of the undead.

The gravel began to shake loose from the asphalt as Watt's Electrode sent Sonic Booms and Shock Waves in all directions. Rolling quickly into the center of the crowd, surrounded by the wolf Pokemon, he began to glow angrily not caring that his self sacrifice couldn't save his trainer as it did many times.

Alan noticed the oncoming attack and screamed, "Get Down!!"

Tammy forced Rachael to the ground, who was still weak from the Stun Spore before, and turned around to see Watt's Electrode getting ready to blow.

The Electrode Exploded in a fiery ball, throwing back everyone and everything near it. Ruble from the street felt like blunt shrapnel as it bruised and scratched the skin. Tammy, a few of the survivors, and many of the wolf Pokemon were thrown through the air, hitting the street with road rash against all sides.

Near Watt's corpse, his two unopened Pokeballs began to shake a little. Then with a burst of light, the Electrabuzz and Flaffy came out looking at each other, then to their fallen master. The Lanturn was still striking the enemies left and right as the Electrabuzz slumped towards Watt's corpse. Behind him, the Flaffy followed, stumbling to stay up.

The Electrabuzz looked into the sky praying for mercy. Rain hit his face as the wind blew above. The Flaffy bent his head over, a deep sleepiness was coming over him and he lay down next to his dead master once more. The Electrabuzz followed with a heavy thump on top Watt's corpse.

Alan was in a panic, he couldn't believe his eyes. Watt was his role model. One of the toughest trainers he'd met. Gone, so fast. It was chaos, Alan's three remaining Pokemon knew their trainer was freezing up mentally and couldn't think straight. His Ledian barked orders to a Quilva and Zubat. The Ledian Grabbed Alan and pulled him into the air, just missing a Crunch attack from one of the Poochyena. The Quilva burst a small Ember flame and the Poochyena spun around growling. The Zubat came down with Wings ready, and in one strong slam, the Poochyena was thrust to the side into the panicky fighting and Exploded survivors.

Cesar looked back to the chaos, he had finally run out of plans. "RUN!!!" Cesar and the rest of the followers followed. Cesar had never felt true fear until now. He didn't know what to do. He was lost. Everybody relied on him. The lives of Rustburo depended on him. His Team relied on him. Watt just died. He had never been so overwhelmed in his life.

Then out of all the sound that surrounded the storm and carnage, he heard a small yelp.

"Cesar... don't leave me behind..."

He turned around looking desperately for the voice. Jean ran past him pulling on his arm to hurry, he pushed her aside frustrated. Searching deep in the darkness of the night, he saw a charging Mightyena and just in front of the slow moving horde of bloody, decapitated, undead beings he saw Rachael on the ground passed out with her wet brown hair in the street. Tammy was by her side on the ground charred from the Electrode's Explosion looking Cesar right in the eyes. Their Pokemon fighting to protect their trainers.

He began to run to them, then he saw Alan by himself fighting for his life with his last remaining team. His Zubat was suddenly grabbed by one of the zombies and eaten alive, neck first. He could hear the choking sounds from the Bat Pokemon and the scream from Alan. In the far back, both Chris and Mike now being slowly overtaken. The dark shadows and pale white figures covered in large gashes, dripped their organs onto the street with a thick fluid every time they tried to step.

"JEAN!!!!" Cesar yelled out. Jean looked back, the remaining survivors who they found in the warehouse were long gone down the road and headed towards Devon Corp. She looked down the road where the group was headed and saw the Poochyena-Mightyena Pack chasing close behind them.

"I've got to help them out!!! The pack's after them!!!"

And that's when Cesar knew, it was now or never. Sacrifices had to be made... "WE STICK TOGETHER!!! THAT'S AN ORDER!!!" He screamed almost losing his mind. Frustrated tears welled in his eyes.

Jean knew the gravity of the situation; if they didn't stick as a team, their chances of anything went down dramatically. The helpless people from the warehouse were pretty much dead if she didn't protect them. Looking to her Flareon, the only Pokemon she didn't return to her balls for the retreat. Looking up into the sky she could see the rain drops fall towards her face and the occasional flash of lightning. If it was any other rainy night, she would be in heaven. She used to love a good storm. Small droplets of water everywhere, like hundreds of little prisms gleaming in the night. The howling of the wind could of been soothing, but it wasn't. Looking at Cesar, then to her Flareon, she sighed heavy and ran towards her desperate teammates.

Cesar was now giving it his all, he gritted his teeth and grasped his dagger tightly in his fist. An ear piercing whistle that was close to a dog whistle came from his mouth and his Murkrow came down Dive Bombing in front of him. Calling to his Houndoom, Cesar jumped onto it's back and began to ride towards Rachael and Tammy. His Marowak flanked his left side, while his Golduck trailed in the back.

Alan was now side by side with Tammy holding her up while their Pokemon surrounded them creating a small fortification with Rachael still laying on the street.

Alan's Quilva growled desperately throwing out shots of fire next to Tammy's Geodude, who threw punches and tackled a few zombies at a time. Tammy's Granbull was panting heavily and with one strong slap from a ratty looking Whismur, the bulldog Pokemon fell to the ground moaning in pain. Then in a flash, back into his ball. Tammy's Sandslash roared showing his large claws and jumped into a large crowd of undead Rustburo citizens and spun in a deadly Thrash attack.

Jumping off his Houndoom, Cesar yelled to Tammy to take out Rachael's Persian, and have it carry Rachael on it's back. Then Rachael began to move.

Something was strange about Rachael, Cesar couldn't figure it out. Perhaps it was the movement of her arms as she tried hard to get up.

Alan let go of Tammy to help Rachael up, but as he laid his hand on her shoulder, her skin was cold and pale. Skin that was once warm and soft, clammy. Her head snapped to the side and she tackled Alan to the ground snarling. Tammy jolted up screaming.

"Alan!!" Cesar yelled helplessly.

Alan screamed in pain as Rachael started to crunch her jaws into his hand. He could feel his fingers dislocate and his skin rip off his muscle. Alan punched constantly with his other hand at Rachael muttering whines and attempts to scream. His Ledian rushed towards Rachael with his claws ready, and with a strong driving punch, he knocked Rachael to the ground from the side of her body. Rachael curled in and grabbed one of the Ledian's arms and then his antenna and ripped straight into the Bug Pokemon's neck. A greenish juice ran down her mouth. The Ledian choked a gasp and his head fell limp as his body wiggled hard to stay alive.

Alan pushed himself across the wet street stumbling on his butt while holding his bloody hand. "She bit me!! She bit me!!!" he whined in horror.

Rachael spun around looking at Alan, hungry for more.

Tammy rushed behind Alan to help him up as Cesar jumped off his Houndoom and ran charging with his dagger in hand.

Rachael sprang forward to Alan and Tammy knocking them, on their backs. Tammy was well injured and now her ankle was sprained. She tried hard to crawl away with tears welling up in her eyes. It was so easy to give up, but Tammy forced herself to crawl across the street away from Rachael. Rachael jumped back on top of Alan who was now dazed and in his own nightmare of never seeing his friends back at the university, never seeing his girlfriend back in Goldenrod, and grew calm remembering the time when he received his first Gym Badge from Falkner. A great calm fell over him as he tried to escape the harsh reality of his current situation.

Finally, Alan woke up after his second of shock--his vision was blurry. He thought he could see Rachael above him digging into his stomach pulling out some sort of dark red organ and eating away with his own blood splattering into his face. Then the image of Cesar in a vengeful rage with his dagger cutting away at Rachael then to several other beings around him. Shadows surrounded him snarling and digging downwards towards his stomach. Whatever splashed into his mouth, tasted sour.

"They're here," Winona said.

Professor Oak slammed his hand on the break room table. "Don't Panic! Norman, ready your best Pokemon. Birch, get as much food as you can from the cabinets. Winona."

Winona's face was bleach white and her signature helmet was gone. She was biting her bottom lip and her every limb was shaking. Just in the past two hours, she had seen so much carnage, it made her feel sick. She had seen her best apprentice eaten alive and ripped to shreds. A pussy looking Barboach had come up from under the ground and bit him on his leg, then several more Barboach came from underground and began feasting their fangs into his flesh. Clothes ripped off and blood pouring down his face as one of them cracked into his skull. The screams. The hysteria. People climbing up the many tree houses to escape the army coming up from the ground and surrounding swamps. "Yeah," she replied to Oak.

"Stay calm. We'll be okay."

Winona nodded her head and looked back into the hallway. People were running down the halls and the two trainers that had followed their Gym Leader into the break room peeped their heads into the hallway. "Jack and Melissa are holding them off pretty good, but they wont last any longer if we stay here too long, Winona."

"Winona," Oak said. "Help back up Norman. We all need to evacuate Fortree. I think the best place for us now is the Weather Institute."

Norman threw out a Pokeball, and in a flash appeared his Vigorath, it growled and wildly looking around.

Birch was rummaging through the cabinets and pulled whatever he could into his backpack and followed Oak and the others out the door and into the hallway. Looking back he saw two of Winona's Gym trainers battling away at several Lotads and Barboach, but mostly one large Lombre that seemed unshakened by every aerial attack from the birds.

The Lombre was a sickly dark green with bluish patches all over it's body and top head leaf. A large oozy sore hugged it's leg and bled some thick brown liquid. Bloodshot eyes stared down the two trainers taking one step at a time towards them.

Birch slowed down and looked down another hall, Dr. Juniper was limping his way into the quarantine where he was doing the bulk of his research. "Juniper! Come with us!! We've got to get out of here!"

Dr. Juniper glanced at Birch. Determination filled his soul. The old man's skin was red with sores and his body ached like scissors tearing away at his muscles and ligaments. He was holding all his weight on a wobbly cane and glanced back towards the quarantine. Scowling at Birch with a deadly glare he limped his way towards the locked doors of the quarantine and opened them. Shutting the heavy door behind him, the sounds of bolts cranked.

Birch looked back towards the two trainers holding off the Lombre. The beast had jumped his way onto one of the trainers and was now biting down on his neck. Blood sprayed on the walls of the Poke Center like drippy paint and his screams echoed like a cave. The other trainer screamed as her Machop grabbed the Lombre off the other trainer's neck and into the crowd of slow moving Barboach and Lotad.

Up ahead, Norman's Vigorath stormed in front clearing an easy path towards the exit of the Poke Center. The backdoor lay ahead. Behind him, Norman and Winona followed. Behind them, the other two trainers from Winona's Gym. Oak marched behind and looked back at Birch who was far down the hall stepping backwards mesmerized from the bloody attack of the undead Lombre.

"Birch!" Oak yelled.

Professor Birch looked around like a deer in headlights and ran towards Oak, "Did you see that!" he yelled.

"Break the door down, Vigorath!" Norman ordered sternly.

The backdoor flew open with a powerful kick and the chaos of Fortree was hot in motion. The rain fell hard and the wind was howling above the treetops. The tree house community was never ready for such an attack. People ran across the flimsy bridges to neighbor's houses. To the far right, a small child screamed as he slipped on a walkway high above the ground, falling through the branches, hitting each limb with a crack, and finally disappearing in the bush below. A trainer from the Gym jumped off a tree hanging on to his Swellow to fly to higher limbs. On the ground, Barboach slowly climbed their way up tree trunks followed by Lotads and Lombre. A few Oddish wandered trying to spore trainers who were still on the ground. A villager was climbing higher and higher in the trees as blood hungry Barboach climbed up the trunk. The wind got fiercer the higher the villager climbed and with one wicked snap, the top limb snapped and the villager fell to their death.

Norman looked towards Winona who was in shock to what was happening to her hometown. She looked around with her mouth open and her eyes began to well with tears. She gritted her teeth and growled loudly. Grabbing all her Pokeballs, she threw each one out, one by one.

"Pelliper! Taillow! Swellow! Wingull! Skarmory! Tropius!" Winona screamed maniacally. "Razorwind! Whirlwind! Gust! Iron Wing! Give it all you got!!!"

"Winona!" Norman screamed, trying to hold back the raging gym leader.

Winona ran out with all her Pokemon by her side flying. The Tropius gave a giant gust and lifted high into the air and began to spin, leaves shot out like darts, stabbing several of the Barboach climbing the trunks of the eucalyptus trees. The Skarmory spun headfirst with it's wings out cutting away through the long grass and Slashing a couple pussy Oddish in half. Undead brown chlorophyll spat into the air like a water balloon. The Taillow and Swellow began gusting small Whirlwinds into the grass, uplifting a few of undead swamp Pokemon into the trunks of trees with heavy slams. The Pelliper and Wingull stayed by their trainer's side thrusting Wing Attacks and Water Guns to any foes edging close to their master wailing orders to help save her city.

The ground below the tree houses was mostly fine cut grass, surrounded by the long grass of the swamp. A few dirt trails and a couple cement sidewalks weaved through the water ponds and tall trees. The chaos that consumed the park like atmosphere only seemed to heighten every second. On the boardwalks that went over the swamps, Barboach and Lotads crawled back and forth with red flesh hungry eyes. Behind the Poke Center, the courtyard of the Town Center was littered with several trainers ordering their bird Pokemon complex arieal attacks to thrwart off the slow army surrounding them.

The Barboach seemed to come from nowhere. They crawled out of the muddy ground and out of the grass, where they slithered well hidden and protected under the storm.

Professor Oak looked around, watching as the battle for Fortree seemed to fail as each second passed.

Norman had now taken out his Linoone and Kecleon by the side of his Vigorath, he stood in the center of the town center courtyard with Professor Oak and Professor Birch at his side. His pokemon standing ready for any attack.

Slowly they came, surrounding the courtyard out of the long grass and onto the fine cut grass of the park. Winona snapped her head in every direction seeing the flood of greenish toned Barboach covered in bloody sores slosh out of the mud and grass. They slithered slowly across the ground drooling what looked like a mix of mud and blood.

Then out from behind the trees of the eucalyptus swamp, a giant beast slowly sloshed it's feet with each heavy step. Mud splattered under it's weight as it slowly marched towards the clearing of the courtyard. It's eyes seemed to glow a radioactive green, but under the flickering lights of the city lamps, it reflected a red tone of satanic darkness. The beast moaned quietly coughing with heavy wheezing. The sounds of the coughs sounded like thick balls of phlegm fighting their way out of the beast's lungs. The choking gurgle of the beast brought it to a halt. It stood in the water reed and tall grass staring at the survivors of Fortree within the courtyard blankly. Then after a second of stillness, it marched onward again. It had pale blue skin and dark purple patches; thick dead blood seemed to slowly ooze out of it's pores and nostrils. It stood well over four feet, almost five. Then it growled, and jumped onto the nice cut grass of the courtyard followed by streams of dark green mucus and phlegm stuck to it's body like boas and streamers.

"That Quagsire looks as if it's been dead for well over a day," Oak said staring the beast down.

Birch literally trembled staring at the beast as it roared the death cry that made lions seem insignificant. "We're not going to make it, are we Oak?" Birch said, gulping a big choking ball in his throat. He felt like he was going to hyperventilate and his chest felt like it was being squeezed tightly with several belts.

Norman looked at Oak for support, "We'll make it out of here alive. I'm not going to go down like this! Never!" Norman spat into the grass below him and strode boldly next to Winona who now was ordering her bird Pokemon closer to her so the Barboach couldn't attack her.

Ordering numerous Quick Attacks to his Linoone, Norman had struck several Barboach to the ground. But they slowly came back up to their crawl as if nothing had hurt them. The Kecleon disappeared into it's cloak and began to sneak between Barboach camouflaged, only to Seismic Toss them back into the swamps. But Norman's Vigorath stood eyeing the large Quagsire down snarling, ready for it's attack.

Oak looked around and quickly thought were they had to go. The only place that could of been safe now. The only place where they could grab hold to some idea of what was really going on with the epidemic. He looked to Birch silently, and Birch knew what the wise Professor was thinking.

"We have to go," Oak said to Birch.

Birch shook his head, "You can't be serious... It's just too far, and I don't think we can make it in time..."

The Quagsire stepped forward followed by slow moving Barboach. It seemed like it was grinning at Winona and Norman. It's red bloodshot eyes, an endless void of darkness that thrived off fear.

"We have no other choice," Oak said firmly.

Luke brought his Ponyta back into it's ball and turned his head from the cremation he began for his best friend. He loved her. They thought of growing old together and having a good time as seniors. Watching each other grow in their careers to heights they never thought they could achieve. But now those thoughts were dead. Dry and nearly forgotten. Withering away as Luke's feelings began to feel dry. The death of his best friend was the end of his emotion. The near death of his soul.

Without Naomi, Luke knew there had to be no one else in the world that truly cared for him like she did. Loneliness crept in and the fight to save Hoenn seemed pointless. Even if he escaped alive, he'd still be outcasted from society for being a Rocket. If he died, he'd be with his best friend again in the possibility of the afterlife. If he died, he wouldn't have to live in fear from the darkness of the unknown anymore. The plague that shrouded Hoenn. If he sacrificed himself against the undead plague, he wouldn't have to live alone anymore. His pointless life would come to a halt, and the responsibilities of dealing with death would be over. Suicide was not dark, but the light that gave him happiness once more.

Beth looked at Luke and vaguely remembered her memory of when her best friend died years ago. She gave Luke a hug.

Luke was astonished. He never saw the gesture coming. Since he didn't know Beth at all, he didn't expect anything but the coldness that the rest of the world had given him his whole life. The rejection and the cycle of the outcast. That was why he was a Rocket. He had no other choice. Nobody wanted him around. Nobody cared what he did with his life. Nobody cared if he got caught and went to prison for life. And nobody cared if he died. Naomi did, but she was dead now. And that one hug from Beth was all he needed to live another day. The hopelessness of Hoenn, and the suicidal feelings of loneliness were lifted with that hug. Beth's hug

Beth's hug wasn't loose or tight. It was warm. It was genuine.

Luke hugged her and closed his eyes, and quietly said, "Thanks."

Beth let go and smiled at Luke, she had made him feel better. "Follow me," she said. She let out her Ariados, and it hissed quietly looking at her signaling forward.

Luke followed looking around in the darkness of the Safari Zone. The entire park seemed dead except for the bonfire behind them. It was eerie looking for life under the green glow of the clouds.

Beth stopped in her tracks and looked back towards Luke. "Do you think your Pigeot can fly us both through the storm long enough? I don't think our luck will hold up for very long on foot."

Luke shrugged. Brought out Naomi's old Pigeot, and the bird Pokemon noticed the flames rising up in the distance and with his sharp vision noticed Naomi burn away. He jolted his head to Luke in shock. Luke patted the large bird on the neck, "I need you to be strong, Lightfoot. We can't let all of Hoenn become like this."

Beth brought her Ariados back into it's ball and looked into the greenish clouds of the unearthly storm. She thought she could she a shadow creep towards Naomi's cremation. "We have to take off now," she said coolly. "We've attracted too much attention to ourselves."

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," a boy with brown spiked hair said greeting his conference table of famous trainers and local Pokemon celebrities. "I'm sure most of you know me already, but for the few that don't. My name is Gary Oak. My Uncle is the famous Professor Oak from Kanto. I'm also the Gym Leader of the Veridian City Gym. You may of heard in the news that Hoenn is currently undergoing a deadly epidemic which is jumping species and causing panic among the local government." Pulling a map from the board behind him down, it showed Hoenn and it's surrounding islands. "You may also know from the news that a large typhoon has consumed most of the island state coincidentally with the epidemic. A, 'Storm of the Century,' as the media labels it seems to be hitting hard where the epidemic seems worst; here, here, and here. My sister Daisy, and my uncle Professor Oak have both lost contact with me since the storm began, and from what I heard from Daisy about the epidemic, I'm very worried about their safety and the safety of everybody else in Hoenn."

"Get to the point, kid," a noticeably buff man with military dog tags around his neck said. He was wearing army gear and a camo tank top under his green over shirt. This was Lt. Surge.

"Sorry," Gary said. "What I want to do is create an elite team of the best search and rescue personnel mixed with the best Pokemon trainers to help me find my uncle and sister, bring them back to Kanto, and help whoever we can along the way. I know most of you are very busy, so I don't expect all of you to comply. This may be a very dangerous mission."

"I'm busy. But I'm curious. What are you up against?" a timid looking girl with long brown hair said quietly.

"I don't know, Jasmine. Supposedly the virus is causing it's victims to come back to life after they die, stronger than ever."

"I really don't like the sound of that," a Gym Leader by the name of Bugsy said out loud.

"C'mon, you wuss," Lt. Surge said harshly. "I don't know what the rest of you are gonna' do, but I'm in. I've seen war, I've seen my friends die in my arms, and I've seen people break under pressure. This type of operation is right up my alley. I'll support you one-hundred and ten percent, Gary."

"Thanks, Lt." Gary smiled.

"What do say, Master Koga?" Lt. Surge said to a dark man sitting in the corner of the room. He was wearing a dark suit and black tie. He was tapping the tips of his finger tips together and finally held both of his hands in one fist and thought deeply.

"I don't like the sound of it either," Koga said. "I've heard rumors and claims on the news and it doesn't sound like anything I've seen. But--"

Interrupting Koga, a man with aviator sunglasses on smiled and said. "You got me at search and rescue, Gary. I don't care what's ahead. They need us in Hoenn. I'm in."

"Thank you, Wings. I knew I could count on you." Gary looked around the long table filled with trainers and scientists.

A dirty looking man in a trenchcoat laughed lightly and smiled, "Coming back from the dead. You got to be kidding me. I'm totally in, captain."

"Thank you, Morty. Anybody else?"

"I'm in," a young man with long blue hair and a brown leather jacket said. This was Falkner.

"Me too," a very pretty young girl with short black hair said. This was Erica.

"I'm ready," another tough looking man with a very strong build said. This was Blackbelt Buck.

A girl with long red hair smiled coyly at Gary, "Count me in." This was Ninja Master Maria.

"Fine," a mysterious looking woman with elegant features said coldly looking at Gary straight in the eyes without any sign of emotion. This was Sabrina.

The room lay silent, there were still a lot of people in the room and they all looked at each other expectantly.

"Is that it?" Gary said suddenly disappointed. "It'll do I guess."

A few of the members of the board nodded.

Finally, Koga slapped his hand on the table and looked at Gary, glanced at Lt. Surge who was laughing under his breath at him. "I'm in, I guess."

"That settles it then," Gary said. "The rest of you are dismissed. For the current team, gather up as many Pokemon you can, and your best. I don't want anybody falling behind or becoming a burden to the team. I've got a private jet that leaves here in the next five hours. Don't be late."

The meeting was soon closed and the best of the best began planning their route though Hoenn.

Gary, Lt. Surge, Koga, Sabrina, Buck, Maria, Erica, Wings, Morty, and Falkner all climbed aboard the small jet parked in a field near the Viridian Gym. The plane slowly roared as it revved it's engines and slowly moved forward. The Kanto-Jhoto Team was formed.