DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. Pokémon is published and owned by Japanese video game company Nintendo, and was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996.
Jaros moaned pathetically as he looked up at the rather long stairwell leading up through Team Risen's HQ. Sure enough, according to information being fed to them through their phones, Mew was being held in a room somewhere in the higher floors. Unfortunately, most of their Pokémon, specifically those that could fly or levitate, were tired from the initial brawl outside and needed a chance to catch their breath, and all of the elevators were locked by key cards, meaning the only way up was the long way.
"...This is probably a bad time to mention I was an asthmatic as a child," Jaros muttered. "And I'm still kinda winded from Tetch trying to choke me out earlier."
"Sorry, but there's no other way up," Blanche declared, making her way to the stairs. "C'mon, let's get going."
Jaros groaned, but followed along nonetheless. Sure enough, it was a LONG climb, one that tested their overall fitness. By the time they were getting toward the top, everyone looked to be exhausted and red in the face.
"I think it's just a couple of floors up from here…!" Spark said between breaths, looking at his phone. "The scanning equipment in the helicopters are showing a huge amount of Psychic energy not far away...!"
"Remind me...to kick Trask...in the butt for this stairwell…!" Jaros huffed, sweat rolling down his face.
"And that's AFTER the one I give him…!" Thea added, who was likewise looking ready to drop.
"Here!" Candela declared, reaching a door with her phone. "Signal's just a few meters past this door!"
"Then let's end this!" Jaros yelled, manning up a bit and kicking the door hard...only for it to not budge much at all, and instead send pain rippling through his leg. "Gah...Son of a...WHY?!"
"...Uhh, because it says 'Pull to open'," Harmony explained, pointing to a sign on the door before doing just as it said, pulling it open.
Jaros groaned as he limped after the others through the door. "So does the TARDIS, and it can be pushed open…"
The others rolled their eyes as they continued along the hallway ahead of them. After a little while, they came to a large room with computers all around the walls and a holding pen in the center wired to some sort of satellite. Thea's eyes widened in concern as she saw Mew sitting inside, wires set to its temples and sending shocks through its body.
"MEW!" Thea cried, running ahead of the group to save her friend, only to be cut off by a beam of energy cutting into the floor in front of her.
Looking up, the group watched as the one who fired the beam floated down to meet them. It looked like some sort of robotic version of Mew, only silver, taller, leaner, and meaner. It eyed the team with deadly red eyes.
"Welcome!" a voice declared, everyone looking ahead and spotting Trask at a console. "I'd like to introduce Android Mewtwo, an early test of Mew's capabilities under my control!"
"Android...Mewtwo…?" Marie asked, baffled.
"Its brainwaves are designed to resemble that of a Pokémon, so it seemed like the optimal test subject," Trask explained. "And with Mew under my control, it now possesses all of Mew's powers. I felt it necessary to bring such powers online, since you seem adamant about stopping me."
"Trask!" Jaros yelled. "Three things: One, you're a psychopath! Two, you're a criminal! And three, that was an INSANE amount of stairs!"
Trask's eyes narrowed, unamused. "You obviously can't understand my vision for the future, same as that fool, Professor Willow."
"You'll understand if we don't buy any plan that includes kidnapping, assault, and attacking a little girl in her sleep as something that's part of the solution for this world!" Harmony challenged.
"Pokémon have been weakened and held back by humanity for too long!" Trask argued. "Weakling Trainers preventing them from being the powerful, savage, almighty forces they were meant to be! You run around, stuffing them in devices you don't deserve, and pamper them with things like 'love', teaching them fancy new moves when all they needed was raw power!"
"You're wrong!" Thea shouted suddenly, catching everyone off guard and causing Mew to weakly look up at her. "Pokémon aren't forced to do any of that! They could leave us and their Poké Balls at any time! They need people as much as we need them!"
"What would a child know about a Pokémon's needs?" Trask countered.
"More than you, it looks like!" Thea accused before looking into Mew's eyes. "...Mew, I know you're scared of Trainers, and I understand why! You want to be free, and you can be! But not being a Trainer so you could always feel safe around me...that was wrong."
Mew watched on as Thea's eyes started to water, all while continuing. "Instead of just telling you that you'd never have to worry about that with me, I made you think it was just because I wasn't a Trainer. And because I wasn't, I wasn't able to do anything to save you before. And I'm so sorry..."
"Ugh, all of this sentimental talk is making me want to vomit!" Trask groaned, hitting a control device on his wrist as both it and Android Mewtwo's eyes blinked red. "I'm removing you from my headquarters one way or another, and then I'm using Mew's power to return all of the world's Pokémon into the creatures they were meant to be!"
"No way!" Marie shouted as she and the others all drew balls from their belts, releasing Charizard, Paul E., Cucubo, Grimer, Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon in a line in front of them. "We won't let it end like this!"
Trask smirked evilly, tossing an Ultra Ball that brought out his own Pokémon: A shiny green Dragonite. "Then let's see which of us is right the old fashioned way: Through battle!"
Thea and the others' Pokémon immediately charged Trask's Dragonite and Android Mewtwo, unleashing Ember, Bubble, Mud Slap, Thunder Shock, and Water Gun attacks on the duo. However, Android Mewtwo managed to stop all the attacks aimed for it, while Dragonite simply powered through, shrugging the attacks off like they were nothing. Dragonite then beat her wings hard, smacking away Cucubo, Flareon, and Paul E., while Android Mewtwo telekinetically flung Vaporeon, Grimer, Jolteon, and Charizard across the room. However, Charizard managed to stretch his wings out, catching himself being sent tumbling to the ground and landing safely.
"Now, who needs another demonstration of my power?" Trask inquired, folding his arms confidently.
"I do!" Marie shouted, pulling a Poké Ball from her belt. "Venusaur, you're up!"
Hurling the Poké Ball, Marie unleashed her Venusaur, who gave a roar at her opponents. Charizard quickly joined her, the two giving each other a smile and a nod before looking back to their opponents, with Charizard squared off with Android Mewtwo while Venusaur stood face-to-face with Dragonite.
"Venusaur, Razor Leaf!" Marie ordered. "Charizard, Dragon Claw!"
"Dragonite, Steel Wing!" Trask roared. "Android Mewtwo, Thunder!"
The two sides immediately moved to attack each other. Venusaur launched several razor sharp leaves at Dragonite, cutting along her sides, but the Dragon/Flying-type merely powered through again as her wings glowed a shimmering metallic grey colour. Dragonite then slammed her wings into Venusaur's skull, causing her to back off a bit, but she held firm nonetheless. Meanwhile, Charizard slashed at Android Mewtwo with glowing green claws, who merely grabbed hold of Charizard by the neck and unleashed a massive blast of electricity that sent him tumbling to the ground.
"That robot's somehow able to use all of the most powerful moves Mew is capable of!" Spark observed from the sidelines.
"And that Dragonite is stronger than any other of her species that I've ever seen!" Blanche noted.
"Well, are we gonna sit here and watch all day, or are we gonna fight?!" Candela yelled at her fellow team leaders.
Spark smirked, the three drawing new Poké Balls from their belts. "Like you've gotta ask!"
Just as Android Mewtwo raised a hand, looking to unleash a mighty Blizzard attack on Charizard, the three team leaders sent out new Pokémon: A Raichu, a Nidoqueen, and a Ninetales. They intercepted the attack, with Ninetales and Raichu fizzling out the Blizzard with twin blasts of fire and electricity.
"Nidoqueen, back up Venusaur with a Poison Jab!" Blanche commanded, her Nidoqueen unleashing a glowing purple punch to Dragonite's chin as the latter was harassing Venusaur with close-range Steel Wings. The fully evolved Dragon Pokémon immediately backed off.
"Ninetales, Feint Attack!" Candela shouted. Her Fire-type Fox Pokémon leaped up into the air as she glowed with dark violet energy before landing behind Android Mewtwo, kicking it in the back with her hind legs.
"Raichu, Brick Break!" Spark ordered, to which Raichu ran at Android Mewtwo and swung his tail. The end of Raichu's tail glowed white as he slammed it down across Android Mewtwo's skull, managing to leave a tiny dent in it.
"Can't believe we've been reduced to just spectating," Jaros growled to Harmony and Thea as the others did battle.
"Maybe not," Harmony replied before pointing to Mew's cell. "With Trask busy, we might be able to break Mew free."
"Good idea!" Thea whispered, perking up. "C'mon!"
As such, the trio and their Pokémon quickly made their way around the battle going on. With Trask's attention off of them, they managed to sneak around to the holding pen, where Mew was having its power diverted to Android Mewtwo. Jaros immediately ran up and tried to pry it open with his bare hands, but received an electric shock for his troubles.
"Gah, WHY me?!" Jaros cried out.
"Okay, I'm ten, and even I know not to try stuff like that," Thea pointed out in a deadpan tone.
"Cucubo, you're immune to electric shocks, try using your Bone Club!" Harmony suggested. Her Cubone immediately ran in and smashed the side of the pen with his bone. It seemed to do a little damage, bending the bars of it slightly, but not enough to break them.
"Grimer, try using Acid on the bars!" Thea suggested, her Grimer spitting out violet, corrosive acid from his mouth onto the bars. Sure enough, they started to smolder a bit.
"What the-?!" Trask demanded, suddenly hearing the commotion behind him. "GET AWAY FROM THAT CAGE!"
Trask immediately hurled another Ultra Ball, releasing a Dragonair to attack to group, the Dragon Pokémon's tail filled with Water-type energy. Jaros and Harmony immediately circled around the pen to face him, Paul E. and Cucubo standing in front of them, just before Dragonair swung her tail at the two Pokémon, knocking them into their Trainers, who in turn crashed against the side of the cage, getting a harsh shock for their troubles before all four fell to the ground.
"Do you see now?!" Trask asked the group, his trio of Pokémon immediately turning their attention to their other opponents and blasting them with Thunder and twin Dragon Breath attacks. "Do you see the difference in power between those who allow their Pokémon to be the brutal beasts they were meant to be, and those who raise their Pokémon with ideals like love and cooperation?! If not, I'll demonstrate: The former is still standing, and the latter are weaklings who have fallen at their feet!"
Jaros, despite the pain he was in, chuckled a little as he started to stir. "...Fallen? Dude, I could do this all freaking day…"
"So would any real Trainer faced with some blabber-mouthed psycho like you…!" Harmony groaned as she and Cucubo started to get back up to their feet, followed by Jaros and Paul E.
"You're both absolutely pathetic, you know that?" Trask inquired, all while Charizard, Venusaur, Raichu, Nidoqueen, and Ninetales were tossed aside by Android Mewtwo's Psychic. "What can you both do to stop me where your peers have failed?"
"Heh...let's find out!" Jaros yelled, a smile on his face as Paul E. and Cucubo readied themselves for battle. Before they could attack, though, the two Pokémon started to glow bright white, the glowing enveloping their bodies as they began to expand in size.
"Their Pokémon…!" Blanche observed. "They're both evolving!"
Soon enough, the glowing subsided. Paul E. had gone from Poliwhirl to the much stronger Poliwrath, flexing his expanded muscles as he felt new power ripple through him. Cucubo, meanwhile, had evolved from Cubone into Marowak, spinning his much larger and thicker bone with both hands.
"Dragonair, finish them already!" Trask ordered, Dragonair's tail glowing with blue, water-like energy. "Aqua Tail!"
"Paul E., Ice Punch!" Jaros shouted, his Poliwrath charging at Dragonair with a fist filled with icy energy. The two attacks collided, Dragonair's tail getting encased in a block of ice while Paul E. was pushed back a few feet.
"Cucubo, Earthquake!" Harmony commanded, her Marowak leaping up and slamming the ground hard with his bone. The slam sent white shockwaves through the floor that hit Dragonair hard, shattering the ice and knocking him out.
Meanwhile, as all of this went on, Grimer kept spraying acid over the bars of the holding pen as Thea watched on. Eventually, the bars fell apart into small chucks of metal. Thea smiled at the success, reaching in to pull Mew free, only to be shocked by the wires connected to its temples.
"Eek!" Thea cried out in pain, though she still pulled on Mew, trying to free it desperately. "No! I won't...let go! MEW!"
Hearing its name called out by its friend, Mew's eyes opened wide as it could finally pierce through the pain that had been rippling through its body. Its eyes glowed bright blue as it forcibly removed the wires telekinetically, then proceeded to cave in the holding pen as it, Thea, and Grimer tumbled across the ground. Thea shook off the pain and looked down at Mew in relief as the small Psychic-type laid in her arms.
"Mew!" Thea exclaimed, getting a tiny lick from her friend. "Hee hee, you're okay!"
"NO!" Trask bellowed, watching as Mew was freed. "...Well, despite that, Android Mewtwo still managed to absorb enough of Mew's energy! If I can't have my Resurgence, I'll at least eliminate all of you!"
Thea got back to her feet as Android Mewtwo powered up to attack her and Mew with a Psychic attack. "Mew, I know how you feel about Trainers, but what do you say we take this thing down as a team?"
Mew thought it over quickly before giving a friendly nod, Thea smiling in return. "Okay! Mew, use Psychic!"
Mew chirped happily as its eyes glowed blue, sending out a Psychic blast as Android Mewtwo unleashed its own. The two attacks collided in mid-air, sending out shock waves that tore up the floor beneath them as they struggled against each other. However, Mew's Psychic power eventually powered through, smashing into the robot hard and encasing it in blue energy. To Trask's horror, Mew then telekinetically crushed Android Mewtwo's body until it was little more than a crumpled up metal ball that fell harmlessly to the floor.
"It...It can't be!" Trask shouted incredulously. "I won't let you have this victory!"
"Hey!" Marie called back as he turned to look at her as she, the other Trainers, and their Pokémon stood gathered up, facing Trask's Dragonite. "Forget about us?!"
Trask's teeth grit together so hard he could almost taste blood in his mouth. "Grrr, Dragonite, HYPER BEAM!"
"Venusaur, Solar Beam!" Marie ordered. The two Pokémon immediately unleashed massive beams of energy at one another, colliding hard enough to send a mass of smoke all around. As it started to clear, though, Dragonite found herself facing a number of very worn-down-yet-angry opponents. Raichu rammed into her gut, his body electrified, before Paul E. clobbered her with Bubbles. Nidoqueen then bit her in the wing, and then swung her into Charizard, who grabbed her by the tail and tossed her into Trask, the two crashing into a wall before falling to the ground, utterly defeated.
Trask groaned, slowly picking himself up as his enemies gathered around him. "...You know...it's entirely possible that we all got off on the wrong-"
Before he could finish, Trask was punched out by, of all people, Thea, leaving everyone with the image of the mighty leader of Team Risen being punched into unconsciousness by a ten-year-old girl. The group and their Pokémon all stood dumbstruck at her, who merely looked back at them, looking a little embarrassed.
"...What?" Thea asked, slouching a little. "It's been a REALLY long day…"
"Ugh, tell me about it," Jaros groaned, letting himself fall on his butt as the number of injuries mixed with fatigue finally set in. "Can we go home now...?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: ...So, embarrassingly true story, I actually WAS asthmatic as a kid, I can still get kinda raspy at times, I'm kinda out of shape, AND I'm afraid of heights, something I inherited from my mom. Soooo, yeah, climbing that many stairs would NOT have been fun for me, and I may have even died from a heart attack. lol
Regarding Trask's Pokémon. The Android Mewtwo kinda speaks for itself, as does the explanation I gave for it in-story. As for the green Dragonite, I am aware of the fact that, for the time being, there are no Shiny Pokémon in Go. So, yes, I fully admit I kinda screwed the rules of the world here, but it was mostly done to help make Trask's Dragonite visually special to match how powerful she was.
And yes, I'm aware of how silly it might be that the big bad of the story was finally taken out by a sucker punch from a 10-year-old girl...and I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the intention. I WAS gonna have either Jaros or Marie do it, but I ultimately opted to go with the sight that would induce the most laughter and ensure that less people forgot about it. lol
Anyway, technically, the last chapter was considered an epilogue for the story, but either way, come check out how the story ends next. Ja né!