POKESPEECH/THOUGHTS:
"Normal"
'Pokemon Telepathy/Pokemon Thoughts'
'Normal Telepathy/Normal Thoughts'
'Subconscious'
"POKESPEECH/Abilities
DISCLAIMERS: I DON'T OWN POKEMON EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT A FEW OF THE GAMES.
-RUBY CIEL GARNET IS PROPERTY OF "CR0553"
-MICHAEL KRAMER ('Half-breed' "Shiny" Gallade from my Pokemon Platinum game) IS MINE
-JESSICA KRAMER ("Shiny" Gardevoir from my Pokemon Sapphire game) IS MINE
WARNINGS: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND ADULT SITUATIONS
"You three are going to train Michael?! Ha! I almost forgot to laugh. Seriously what kind of idiot do you take me for anyway? The chances of you three actually being tasked with something outside of cleaning the base's lavatories are slim-to-none! No, they are exactly zero! Not only have you two failed to complete even one B-rank mission, you have also squandered more of our organizations' personal funds than every other member combined! Even Dawn, our newest Shadow, hasn't spent as much on her hair as you three have with grade-school level disguises, fancy entrances and pyrotechnics! Need I also remind you of your stupid fucking motto? Oh, speaking of disguises..."
Ruby trailed off while looking at Jessie and James, more specifically their wardrobe.
"...YOU'RE STILL WEARING YOUR TEAM ROCKET UNIFORMS! Are you two so stupid that you don't understand the mixed messages you are sending to the new recruits!? We take down criminal syndicates yet, under our own roof, we house two UNIFORMED members of Team Rocket! Please explain to me what is going on inside those lumps of chewed bread you call 'minds' but make it quick...I have to give a certain someone the rundown..."
Ruby finally took a moment to collect herself before tossing Michael a knowing smirk.
Michael couldn't help but feel a swell of pride rise from within his chest upon hearing Ruby's words. It was true, ever since his mega-evolution had ended, Michael had begunfeeling more primal emotions take root inside of his heart. Such thoughts as rage, darkness and anger had always taken a backseat to the more relaxed mannerisms his human side was accustomed to. The only thing he could assume was that, without his humanity keeping his Pokemon-self in check, the combative, naturally possessive nature of a Gallade was taking over.
Interestingly enough, though, Michael rather enjoyed his new reputation for being a hot-headed bad ass.
"Sheesh, still as much of a twoip as the day we foist met! For reals, you talk so much it's a miracle those pretty lips ain't fell off! Hahaha!"
Michael was amazed at hearing a Pokemon speak clear and precise English. Not nearly as much as how shocking it was to hear just how snarky this Meowth was to his superior. Those thoughts took a backseat to what came out of James' mouth, however.
"Meowth's right, you know, even we have our standards for how much we talk! We do our grand entrance, say a few words and then initiate our plan. What have YOU done to better Team Evisceration, twerp?"
Michael couldn't help but notice the extra emphasis being put on 'twerp.' Needless to say that was yet another strike for the terrible trio and Ruby was fuming!
"What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
Michael slowly stepped away from the homicidal signature practically screaming out from the girl's body. What was about to happen was going to happen, and even Michael wasn't foolhardy enough to try and stop Ruby now.
He could only wait for the proverbial excrement to start hitting the fan...
"First off, blue boy-bitches pet, I do NOT appreciate being categorized under the same alias as that goody two-shoes kid, Ash Ketchum!" She then whipped her face towards the aforementioned "blue bitch-boy" and continued. I am Ruby. Ciel. Garnet! THE ALPHA SHADOW OF OUR ORGANIZATION! What I say goes! I answer to nobody except Master Oak! All of the Shadows and Blades are MY responsibility! I am tasked in eliminating any criminal syndicates while Master Oak is busy defending our base of operations during the night, or while he is running the Gym during the day and keeping the media clueless in regards to our vera existence! I am charged with maintaining the integrity and strength of our Shadows as well as new recruits. I have to ensure that they have the intestinal fortitude to handle driving a dagger into a man's back without hesitation in life-or-death situations."
Ruby stopped to catch her breath before turning her attention to Jessie, who had a bulging vein along her forehead from the frustration she was experiencing during the absolute drilling her superior was putting them through.
"On top of all this I still have my own missions to take part in. These are S-class missions, the most dangerous around these parts! You want to know why I am the Alpha Shadow of our organization? It isn't through my looks, nor is it because I "slept" my way to this position, Miss red bitch!" Michael could tell there was a hidden meaning in the way Ruby worded the phrase "slept" and "Miss red bitch." He could only assume Jessie had started a rumor involving Ruby and the pieces started falling into place.
It was at this moment that Michael could feel his psychic energy pulse and throb throughout his core, attempting to break free and manifest itself with the intent of assisting Ruby. The half-breed Gallade didn't want to interfere with matters that clearly did not involve him but, at the same time, couldn't help but feel bad for the girl in front of him. It created a twisting vortex of conflicting emotions within him, which was only further strengthened after hearing what came out of Ruby's mouth next.
"Don't even get me started on you three abandoning one of our, at the time, promotion-bound recruits on that scouting mission two years ago! Do you three realize how hard it was for me to relinquish partnership In that mission, to let Dawns' best friend be partnered with you?! It was supposed to be a simple scouting mission, barely worthy of being classified as B-Rank, yet you three, thanks to your pomp and grandeur method of thinking, GOT THE BOY KILLED! HE WAS SIXTEEN FUCKING YEARS OLD! He had his whole life ahead of him and, because of your stupidity, he was captured, tortured and then beheaded! That isn't the worst part, though..."
Michael could see tears forming in Ruby's visible silver eye and ran through her emotions to find, at the very forefront...heartbreak...
"The worst part was when I had to explain to Dawn...explain to her how her childhood friend had died...the boy, who had been a breath of fresh air with his abundance of energy and enthusiasm, was showing such promise! He had been the first recruit to successfully predict my method of attacking and successfully counter on the first try...I was going to refer him to Paul about making Kenny a full-fledged Shadow! He would have been working alongside Dawn...like he surely had been when they were younger..."
Ruby was openly shedding tears, not even trying to fight her outflow of emotions. It was not something she wanted to do- reveal her own weakness, and Michael could sense it.
A tense silence soon followed before Ruby made one last remark that started an avalanche.
"...I had to tell Dawn that I was the one who chose to allow Kenny to partner with you three rather than with her. Do you know how it feels seeing another friends' soul being crushed into tiny pieces? that was the look Dawn gave me after i told her everything! To this day I have been unable to ask for her forgiveness, how can I when I haven't even been able to forgive myself! You three didn't have the guts to protect one of our own, instead letting him rot in the Team Rocket holding cells, letting him be starved to the point of death! Even now you, after what you did and doing the time for your egregious error, still wear those fucking Team Rocket uniforms! He suffered! Kenny suffered! Dawn suffered! WE ALL SUFFERED! ALL BECAUSE YOU THREE DIDN'T HAVE THE GUTS OR THE BALLS TO DO YOUR FUCKING JOB!"
Michael suddenly felt an incredibly hostile set of emotions coming from Jessie, the look on her face said it all and the half-breed began funneling vast amounts of psychic energy into the air around him. At the same time the off-color Gallade directed a powerful Psychic blast directly at what would be the source of the trouble.
"Stupid twerp! I'll show you guts, when I make yours splatter all over the fucking ground!" Jessie shrieked as she unlocked the safety feature on the rifle and began unloading a barrage of bullets at Ruby and Michael, with the intent to cause lethal damage. It would have been incredibly effective...
...had a certain Gallade not jammed the bullet chamber with psychic energy. The bullets that had already escaped the barrel of the gun were frozen in the air and the off-color Pokemon casually walked up to them, grabbed them with his psychic energy and then handed them to Ruby slowly. Michael couldn't help but notice the deep flush of crimson form along the girls' cheeks. Michael simply smirked before gazing at the confused faces of Jessie, James and Meowth.
'You three are more despicable than any human I've ever known or met! Ruby poured out her soul before you three and the only thing you take from it is her calling you gutless cowards, which you most certainly are! Not only do you have the gall to insult her intelligence, you then have the nerve to take her life!' Michael voiced telepathically to the three irate figures in front of him. It was at that moment the half-breed felt several signatures nearby in the trees, his role had officially ended in this. Before backing away however, Michael looked at the Meowth with rage in his emerald green eyes. "Be grateful your superiors have arrived or you would all be less a head..."
Just then a rustle was heard in one of the nearby trees. Within seconds of the sound there were five more people entering the fray. All of them had dark grey cloaks with a strange metallic sheen on each of them. Michael could hazard a guess that these were the Shadows which Gary mentioned earlier.
"That was perhaps the worst decision you could have made under these circumstances. Not only did you attempt to take the life of my comrade, you also foolishly used a device that completely goes against our organizations standards! We are not a flashy light show! We use stealth and subterfuge to get the better of our enemies, that is why we have been able to undermine criminal syndicates like Team Rocket!" a woman with light purple hair and a fair complexion practically screamed at Jessie, who was busy trying to figure out what went wrong with her gun.
"I'm amazed that Master Oak even found a reason to put you two in the organization after a display like this. Just be thankful this Gallade prevented you from committing murder on a colleague!" A tall blonde-haired woman scolded James just as harshly, the guilty party in question punching the barrel of the gun to no avail.
"Glacia, you give these three fools too much credit. Even if they somehow managed to deal any damage I doubt it would deter our Alpha Shadow." A much colder voice rang out, the figure owning the feminine voice keeping her identity hidden from behind a gray hood. A strand of Violet hair fell in front of her face and Michael could practically feel her psychic signature wrapping around his neck, and that was just coming from the strand of hair. Whoever it was was in possession of such an otherworldly psychic power ranked incredibly high within the organization.
"Glacia is right, you know, attempting to murder one of our own is grounds for execution. I have to agree with Omega Shadow Sabrina on account that you two wouldn't have even put a dent in Ruby, even with her eyes blindfolded and both hands tied behind her back." An older gentleman gruffly stated, his balding head not covered by a hood. Though he spoke with the youth and energy, there was deep wisdom in his eyes. Michael couldn't help but laugh inwardly upon seeing how well balanced this team of Shadows were.
"Even so..." the final voice trailed off, a pair of brown pigtails sticking up from the back of their hood and revealing a red bandana. "...Master Oak was correct in having us follow you, Michael. Seeing first-hand what you are capable of in a dangerous situation I have no doubts you will be able to pass our initiation ritual. Before we can begin, however, there is a matter of business which must be taken care of..." The brunette trailed her voice with a sinister chill permeating the air around her. It was then that Michael saw intense azure blue eyes burn brightly from inside the girl's hood. The four other Shadows also began burning with the same intensity, seemingly focused on preparing a massive Teleport spell using the violet-haired woman's psychic signature as the primary outlet.
"Hahaha! You twoips just don't get it, do you? We're wearing our psychic jamming gear and, thanks to these beauties, all yous is doin' is wasting your time and energy!" Meowth yelled out with an annoying cackle, and was soon followed by Jessie and James. Michael could see the offending equipment, a pair of silver-tinted wristbands on each arm, and realized that its reach must be limited to psychic interactions that directly impact the wearer. That was why he had been able to jam the rifle but still had a few bullets escape.
Before anything could be done directly, those annoying wristbands needed to go...
"Now, get out of our way while we take the main twoip for some training!"
Michael had seen and heard enough out of these three and, as Ruby mentioned, his ire was something to regret provoking.
Focusing his energy into both of his arms and legs Michael began his approach, curving his body down and towards the ground. Seconds later the half-breed's right arm was extended out with knuckles facing James while the other arm was pulled back, blade fully extended and ready to rend flesh. All the while those piercing emerald green eyes were focusing on the potential threat level the three possessed. With complete and utter focus the off color Gallade tightened his muscles and expanded his mind, causing time to slow to a crawl around him.
What happened in the next few moments of real time solidified Michael's place as a 'hot-headed bad ass' to all who were witness.
It started with a quick burst of Agility from Michael's right leg, the left kicking up dust and dirt as it followed with one of its own. In less than two seconds Michael was up close and personal with the three figures. Knowing what he had to do first, Michael slashed aenergy wristbands connected to Jessie and James. Metal met metal but the Gallade's was in a class all it's own. The wristbands fell to the ground in pieces and Michael's true power came alive.
The effects of the stored psychic energy inside of him was unleashed all at once into the air, causing the same distortion present in his mind to be made manifest in the visual spectrum. Those with a weaker constitution would only see Michael's stationary body, along with the three figures in front of him. To the Shadows though, every single action performed by the half-breed was captured in frighteningly detailed motion. It was yet another Michael Kramer specialty- Psychic Distortion.
Michael's right arm was swung in a vertical arc as fist met chin, the off-color Gallade connecting with a vicious Sky Uppercut on James' chin. The sheer force of the impact shattered the mans jaw, as well as causing several teeth to forcibly exit his mouth. During the upward motion that carried Michael, after his successful attack, he performed a perfectly executed Mega Kick with his right leg. The bone-shattering impact sent the still-airborne James flying into the distant tree line, and left him coughing up blood with lacerations on his skull from hitting the trees.
Michael then turned his attention to Jessie, who was starting to overcome the distortion his psychic energy had created. She was lifting her assault rifle in an attempt to smash the deceptively heavy piece of equipment into the side of the Gallade's head. All she met was empty air however, courtesy of another burst of Agility. Michael had to disable the weapon now before the distortion completely wore off. Even though he was unfamiliar with the lethal power of bullets he knew that, in bulk, they were a threat. With an incredible display of power and accuracy Michael swung his left arm in a cross-shaped pattern, the lethal blade slicing through the weapon as if it were made of paper.
At that moment the effects of Michael's Psychic Distortion had worn off, leaving a mentally exhausted Gallade with his hands on his knees. He had fulfilled his duty however, having disabled the jamming equipment as well as Jessie's rifle. An intense pain suddenly shot up from the spike in Michael's chest and, at that moment, he could have sworn he felt a pair of hands rub and knead over his shoulders before everything went black.
Michael's POV
'Pain...'
"Ba-dump~..."
'Arceus...this...pain...'
"He used it for how long?!"
'Voices?'
"Ba-Dum!"
"Where is my beloved?! I need to see him!"
'J-Jessi?!'
"BA-DUM~..."
'ARCEUS...Make...it...stop...!'
"Get him to intensive care right now! The spike is breaking apart!"
"BA-DUM!~...BA-DUM!~..."
'Its...like I'm...being...crushed...!'
"Michael! MICHAEL! DON'T LEAVE ME! FOR THE LOVE OF ARCEUS STAY WITH ME~"
"BA-DUM!~...BA-DUM!~..."
'Jessi...! Guh-!'
"Catastrophic heart failure eminent! We need...to~...get~...Celeb-...~"
"Ba-dum~...Ba-dump..."
'Warmth...'
"No-...ify-...~...Oak~...fading...fas-...~"
"Ba-Buh~...Ba-buh...
'Feel...so...warm...'
"Pul-...~...flat-...~...ining...~"
"...Ba-Buh..."
'Jessi...'
Normal POV
The scene was one of mass panic as Jessica was scamming at the top of her lungs, seeing her beloved flat-line in front of her was simply too great for her mind to handle. She was clutching her chest spike and attempting to draw out a massive power from within her very core, it took Gary's Umbreon using a Bite attack to nullify the influx of energy long enough for her to be dragged out of the room by a frantic Dawn and Ruby.
Gary was desperately trying to revive the motionless Gallade without causing extra pressure on his chest spike. Michael was in a very bad way right now and everyone in the room understood what the implications of the chest spike rupturing entailed. Through a miracle only Arceus could have produced Michael's spike was still intact, though it was teetering critically close to the point of no return.
If his chest spike ruptured his life was over and no power of Arceus would save him.
All the while Jessica was screaming at the top of her lungs in an attempt to break free and use her own power to save her beloved a life, even though doing so would end her life. Gary and the other Shadows understood this and were trying desperately to save Michael's life through another method.
"NO! LET ME SEE HIM! I HAVE TO SAVE HIM! LET ME SAVE HIM YOU BASTARDS!" Jessica cried out in desperation, watching the Viridian City Pokemon Centers' emergency hospital room slam its doors shut, blocking any form of contact with her beloved. "NO! MICHAEL! MICHAEL! MICHAEL! DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE~! PLEASE STAY WITH ME!"
The scene was heart wrenching for Dawn and Ruby, who were both trying desperately to find Celebi's psychic signature. As if on que the time-traveling legendary Pokemon appeared in a ball of green and white light. Seconds later the energy ball burst into dazzling light of the same two colors, a Pokemon with an onion-shaped head and lithe lower body floated about casually. Celebi was completely unaware of the situation until Ruby filled her in.
The door to the intensive care room was opened with great urgency as Celebi, Ruby, Dawn and Jessica entered the room.
"Get her out of here, Dawn! We can't have that Gardevoir do anything rash-"
"It's...it's ok, Master Oak! I...I...Just bring him back!" Jessica said with an audible whimper, her emotional outburst, coupled with her attempts at using her own energy to revive Michael, left her in a drained state.
Celebi glanced over at Ruby and then Gary before floating over top of Michael's quivering spike.
'He is in so much pain...what could cause pain of this magnitude to be made manifest in a Gallade?' Celebi thought to herself as she placed both of her small green hands over the chest spike and closed her eyes.
All eyes were on the Celebi floating above the motionless form of Michael, the halfbreed Gallade. The shaking in the spike began to diminish and become less apparent as Celebi formed a small dome around the bright orange protrusion. Jessica was still clutching her own chest spike but her mind was not on trying to use her power to save her beloved. She was making mental plans should Michael wake up, this Gallade was the world to her and this was now the second time in as many weeks that she has been of the cusp of losing that world.
'When my beloved returns and in full health...I'll tell him...I'll tell him everything Arceus told me...' Jessica thought to herself, unaware that her thoughts had been transmitted through her spike and was made audible throughout the room. Everyone except Celebi turned their attention to the now blushing Gardevoir, with Ruby giving Jessica a knowing wink.
What felt like an hour had passed by before any noticeable change occurred on Michael's physical form. The quaking in Michael's spike began to stabilize at that point and everyone watched as Celebi lifted herself off of the half-breed, a somber look in her big blue eyes.
'I've done everything I can...it's up to Michael now...'
Those words should have been a dagger to Jessica but, oddly enough, she took the news quite well. Slowly the blue-haired Psychic-type walked towards her beloved's prone form. With a tender advance Jessica lowered her head and pressed her lips softly against Michael's own, amber eyes waiting and waiting for a sea of emerald green to greet her. Slowly Jessica closed her eyes and maneuvered her orange chest spike until it was lined up with her beloved's. When the tips made contact Jessica poured her all into what she was about to say.
'My beloved Michael...seeing you like this is so hard on me and...I want you to know that I'm right here, waiting for you to wake up so we can be together again. My life simply isn't the same without you and...I want to become strong for you...so you don't have to keep worrying about me all the time. Please, my beloved...please wake up so I can tell you just how much I love and adore you, so you can have the future you deserve with me, Blade and Amber...please wake up for me, for us...for our future...'
Jessica paused her thoughts before continuing.
'Because that is the future I want...a future with you by my side forever...a future that accepts our love for what it is and not for what it isn't...I love you, Michael Kramer...I always have...I always will...'
Jessica opened her eyes and gasped at what she saw...
Emerald green met Amber.