Chapter 20
Final Goodbyes
It's finally over, thank you SO much for reading through and sticking with me through the good and bad times. i know this is kind of lacking in the middle, end and hell even the beginning. its not the best Pokemon fan fiction and it means the world to me that you would read it it's 103 pages because you wanted to. thank you so much.
We all took a deep breath with no easy way to do this and we charged into the room, ordering attacks. It took less than a split second to be met with attacks just as powerful. I can't even begin to explain the insanity that proceeded; it was a battlefield of Pokémon battles. Fire over here, water over there, one wrong step and you would be roasted with electricity. It didn't matter that we were human, team Magma attacked us though I tried to keep only on the Pokémon. When everything finally seemed to start making sense it was when we broke through the array of goons and Maxie came out to play.
He strutted through the array of attacks and elements as if it was nothing. I glared at him, bracing myself but he ignored me. To him I was far too insignificant. The battling stopped and I saw Ruby, still on Ponyta, grasping her neck as if she was tired and weary of falling off.
My father stepped forward to meet Maxie, their jaws set, as their eyes bore into the others.
"Welcome." Maxie said with a smirk at his own sarcasm. "I knew you would come."
"That was uncalled for." My father growled. "I am your enemy not my daughters."
"It got you here though didn't it?" Maxie said with a smile.
"And you might not be happy it did." My father said. His Golem and Persian stepping forward to stand beside him, Golem stomping his feet, making the ground shake under his weight a low growl escaped Persian's throat. Maxie threw both his hands back lazily, two soldiers's placed poke balls in his hands and he looked at us, fingering the poke balls waiting for my father to begin.
"You dare to choose your Pokémon at random?" My dad asked. Maxie just shrugged.
"These are Pokémon we stole from passing trainers. I don't know what they are yet, but I am willing to place them against yours they are no doubt powerful after out training them." Dad growled.
"Persian: scratch. Golem: rampage." He ordered anger flaring in his eyes. Both of his Pokémon charged forward and Maxie threw his pokeballs, revealing a mightyena and houndoom. They growled visiously before the mightyena attacked Persian and Golem slammed into houndoom. His small rock body curled into a tight little ball…it had to hurt. They exchanged a few blows. Dad seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the battle until Maxie pulled a trick only the lowest of the low would.
"houndoom use hyper beam." He demanded pointing with his finger, houndoom's mouth opened, instantly bright light began to gather and harden into a solid beam of pure energy.
"NO!" I screamed dashing forward in front of houndoom's attack, arms outstretched. The attack was aimed right at Ruby. Everyone's faces lit with shock as the hyper beam shot at me, colliding directly with my chest sending me flying backwards through the air. The blow knocked the breath out of me and my eyes went wide as my feet left the ground. I landed on my back, sliding across the floor from the force until I came to a stop beside Ponyta. I reached up and held my head in my hand. It hurt, my whole body hurt. It felt as if electric energy was pouring through my bones. Zapping them into numbness.
"Claire!" Ruby dismounted with a cry, kneeling down beside me resting my head in her lap. "Sister are you ok?" she asked worried. Lance rushed across the battle field to me, his black cape fluttering behind him as he slid to his knees his hands moving over my head and chest checking for injury. My head was blurry and I couldn't focus for a moment. When I finally raised my head dad was staring at me. His jaw open, oblivious to how mightyena and houndoom were charging to attack.
"Dad pay attention!" I screamed. His head swiveled around, his features set with anger. Maxie was smiling. It wasn't how he had planned it but it worked just as well. Vulpix and Evee rushed to my aid.
"Yes, pay attention Giovanni." Maxie said with a sly smile. "Or are you to preoccupied with your daughters? Would you like to withdraw now or later?" dad's hands were wrapped into fists an were shaking at his sides. His eye blazing with anger.
"You are going to regret that Maxie." He said, raising his hand and pointing. "Now Persian, faint attack, Golem rollout." Dad called out with renewed ambition. Both Pokémon dashed forward, dodging mightyena and houndoom's counters and hitting them with their own attack sending the two wolf Pokémon flying. They both regained their balance but by the time they looked up they were being rammed with Golem and Persian's quick attacks. "You should NEVER have messed with my daughters." After that it only took a few minutes for dad to end the fight. Maxie stared in disbelief at dad taking a step back. I smiled, the pain in my bones beginning to wear off, my head however hurt as much as ever, however the fog that covered my thoughts was clearing.
Maxie turned to run away as his soldiers scrambled for escape, and dad would have no choice but to let him, but Lance shot to his feet. Rushing to Maxie's side and grabbing his shoulder. Maxie turned to push Lance off but Lance sucker punched him right in the face before whipping out a pair of hand cuffs and slapping them onto Maxie's wrists. Maxie scowled knowing struggling was useless. Dad ran over to me as Ruby helped me to my feet.
"Are you alright!" dad asked I just shook my head and he pulled me into a hug.
"She doesn't have any head trauma." Lance said, leading Maxie towards us. Lance and dad exchanged unsure glances as if unsure whether to hate each other, quickly they both looked away, their gazes returning to me.
"I am fine." I told them. They both nodded and we made our way out finding Ash, Misty and Brock at the door, all of them including Pikachu seemed ecstatic to see us. a few Magma goons rushed around but we ignored them, we had more important things to take care of. Lance was talking rapidly with Brock, barely paying attention as a goon rushed up behind him pulling Maxie free from his grip, both of the members stumbling back and beginning to run. Lance took a step forward to chase but the two bordered a hovercraft and Lance knew it would be useless to follow.
"I will get him later." He muttered under his breath. we explained to Ash, Misty and Brock what happened before we all headed back into the sunset towards home. This time for good. When we got there we knew some of us were going to say good bye. And none of us were sure how, so we did what should have been done and procrastionaited. Ash, Misty, Lance and Brock rented rooms in the Pokémon center while Ruby, dad and I spent the night at home. And the next day we all met outside, early in the morning. Every single one of us had mentally rehearsed what we were going to say one million times, yet it all still came out improvised. We all stared at each other. Ash, Misty and Brock were the first to announce their departure.
"Alright." I told them with a nod. "Have fun, best of luck." I told them, with a smile, Ash giving me an awkward sibling hug, trying to make up for all the time as twins we had missed out on. Then he turned and looked at dad who seemed tongue tied.
"Good luck…if you ever need any help just give me a call." Dad said. Ash nodded still unsure of what to do. I turned to face dad, Lance by my side.
"I am leaving too." I said, though I knew I wouldn't be traveling with Ash. Dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if to relax. He nodded. "It's nothing against you but there is so much out there I want to see it. I am going to continue to collect badges and become a Pokémon master…this time without distractions." I added. "And once I am done, we all know this is where I will end up for my final badge." Dad nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. All of this made it hard to forget who he was when I wasn't looking. But I can't hold it against him. There is no way. One day, I will inherit team Rocket, and I might destroy it. But it had power, and if I were to alter their goals, I am sure that power could be used for good. But for now it was best to leave things alone.
"Be careful." He told me. Looking past me to Lance, after a moment of silence Lance said.
"I think it is best if we forget this ever happened." Dad agreed, a look of understanding passing between the two of them. I walked over and hugged Ruby.
"I am going to be back soon." I told her and she smiled.
"Just hurry this time, you take forever." She said.
"I'll try." I said with a smile as I walked back to Lance. Our three groups exchanging looks before giving our final goodbyes, and we went our separate ways. Knowing we would all meet again one day.
THE END