Part 43
Ecruteak City
Kimono Girls Estate
Grace burst into her residence from yearas ago, calling out for the Kimono Girls. She left Robbie, Matt and Mari at the entrance of the house, far more concerned with finding her guardians. The trio entered with caution, more less as a sign of respect with how well crafted the houses of Ecruteak City were.
Eventually the group stumbled onto Lana and Miyu in the garden in the back of the estate, quietly chatting.
"Lana!" Grace exclaimed as she rushed over to the brunette, confirming her suspicions. "What happened?"
"We don't know." She replied, motioning to herself and Miyu who waved to the group. "I can't remember anything that happened after Mt Corenet."
"Doesn't Lugia remember anything?" Grace asked. Lana shook her head.
"No. She woke up just a few moments before Abyss Arceus did. Everything happened so fast that she didn't have anytime to observe where we were before she took us to the Whirl Islands." Lana explained.
"But why don't you remember where you sealed yourself away to? You were the one who made the choice to begin with." Grace reasoned, gaining a sigh from Lana.
"I believe it was the amount of time she and Lugia spent encased in the crystals. It must've wiped their memory." Miyu said.
"There must be some way for you to get those memories back. Maybe we need some kind of trigger." Grace suggested.
"No, I've tried everything already. I even had Lugia go into my mind using Psychic, but she said that there was absolutely nothing about where I sealed us away." Lana replied, getting a shrug from Grace. She was out of ideas now.
"Alright, can someone tell me what's going on?" Robbie asked out loud, drawing attention to the three people that were struggling to understand what was taking place.
"I'm sorry guys. I was planning on explaining everything to you back in Cherrygrove City…" Grace began before Miyu motioned for her to stop.
"Grace, I'll explain it to them." Miyu said, receiving a nod from the dark haired girl. "So what do the three of you know about the Crests?"
Robbie and Matt looked at each other, remaining silent since they knew next to nothing.
"All I know is that there are two sides to the Crests. The Light and the Dark. The Light will be helping the King fight the Dark." Mari explained. "Each Crest connects us to a different Legendary Pokemon. That's all I know."
"That much is good to know. But the three of you still have a lot to learn. The Crest that connects you to each of those Legendary Pokemon mean that you're a Descendant of one of the members of the King's Court from the Days of the Originals." Miyu began, getting several confused looks from the trio.
"The Days of the Originals?" Matt repeated, receiving a nod from Miyu.
"I'm sure the three of you know the time periods the past couple of centuries have been divided into. You have the Dark Days when the Legendary Pokemon rampaged throughout the earth for centuries. Then you have the Old Days when society was under the direction of the old system known as the Pokemon League." Miyu went on. "Then you have the era before that, when Humans and Pokemon were first starting to understand each other. That was the Days of the Original."
"So what does all of this mean...I mean, why does this matter to any of us?" Robbie asked.
"It was during that time that Abyss Arceus was created. All of the Legendary Pokemon were threatened by its presence, thus beginning an era of battles between the powerful Pokemon. After a few decades of fighting, a few of the Legendary Pokemon began to side with Abyss Arceus because of the immense power it possessed." Miyu explained. "As the fighting continued, the Legendary Pokemon became weary, but with no end to the battling in sight, they seeked assistance of humans. Granting a specific human a portion of their power, a group of people gained the power to fight alongside Legendary Pokemon. This was the creation of the Crests."
Lana studied the expressions of each of the trainers. Confusion was clearly and understatement.
"I know you guys are probably confused at the moment, but just hear us out." Lana said before motioning for Miyu to continue.
"The fighting continued. In fact, it got worse. But the Crests proved to be of great assistance to the Legendary Pokemon. Abyss Arceuss was finally cornered and sealed away. Those who sided with Abyss Arceus disappeared, but it was clear that they made it their goal to free Abyss Arceus." Miyu went on. "They succeeded on Mt Corenet, and now the duty of defeating Abyss Arceus has fallen onto the next generation of Crests."
"All of this has to do with some kind of war between the Legendary Pokemon?" Matt exclaimed.
"Yes. Although our goal was to contain the situation before it could get out of hand. That's why Lana was prepared to seal away Abyss Arceus at Mt Corenet. It was our original plan since Blake had disappeared. But when he returned it was too late for us to consider trying to prepare him for the Storm. We decided to make a gamble on sealing Abyss Arceus away to stop the Storm. Unfortunately that didn't work out in the end."
"…So in a nutshell, we're expected to join this war and destroy Arceus?" Mari said, summarizing Miyu's explanation.
"Abyss Arceus." Miyu corrected her before giving her a nod. "And you're not expected to. You have to."
"Have to? But what if I don't want to?" Robbie asked in return.
"I know all this may sound unreal to all of you, but does the annihilation of humans at the hands of tainted Pokemon sound good to you?" Miyu asked sharply. Robbie was taken aback for a moment, then he looked down.
"No…" He muttered. He had seen Abyss Arceus on Mt Corenet. He had seen the hysteria in Sinnoh. None of this was fake.
"I know it's a lot of responsibility to be forced to accept. But I'm here to help." Miyu assured them.
"Not just Miyu, us too." Lana added along with a nod of agreement from Grace.
Matt, Robbie and Mari looked around the girls, unsure of how to reply to this.
"Don't feel overwhelmed, we'll help you." Miyu continued.
The feeling of unease still didn't leave the trio, but all they could do was swallow their discomfort and give the girls a nod.
Kanto Region
Indigo Plateau
Lexer sat behind the wooden desk in the studio, quietly observing multiple Team Rocket grunts preparing the camera's for a live broadcast to both Kanto and Johto. His takeover of Kanto was nearly complete. Soon enough they would be advancing into Johto and taking the lands there as well. He would unite the two regions.
"Sir, we are ready to begin broadcasting." One of the grunts called out to him, receiving a nod from Lexer. All of the lights in the studio were then turned on him as the grunts that had been working behind the scenes became silent, positioning their cameras properly.
One of them raised their hand, confirming that they had jammed the signal over national television and all radio stations. Another grunt then gave Lexer a count down before motioning for him to speak.
"Good evening people of Kanto and Johto. I'm sure many of you know me as the Commissioner of both of the regions. I know word has leaked out about a recent attack on the Committee HQ by Team Rocket, so I decided to personally assure you all that everything is fine." Lexer began.
All over Johto, his face appeared on any television that was on. His voice was heard through any radio. There were few people who couldn't hear or see him.
In Kanto, several blimps were moving about region with two large monitors mounted on the sides. Lexer could be seen on these, sending his message to any of the people or trainers that had escaped capture just a few days before.
"While the attack from Team Rocket is true, the Committee and Team Rocket have now come to an agreement. The two of us have decided to merge together. And I have been placed at the top as the leader!" Lexer declared. "Now I plan to unite Johto and Kanto by whatever means necessary. All who oppose will face arrest and detainment. Willingly submit, and you will become a part of the organization that will unite the world!"
This announcement was the spark that set many wheels in motion. The first being Team Rocket's presence in Cherrygrove and Blackthorn City. Battles broke out in these two cities as the citizens of the town refused to submit to Team Rocket control, but the greater number of the men and women in black resulted in an eventual takeover of these cities.
From there Team Rocket established themselves in these two towns as a base in the Johto Region before spreading out what forces they had to take the region by force. This caused an uproar in the remaining cities of Johto as they called for Lexer, but the Commissioner had disappeared after this, leaving the people to continue crying out in vain.
As the Team Rocket advance continued, trainers and citizens continued to prepare themselves in city to city, planning to engage and hold off Team Rocket, unaware of how many people were actually part of Team Rocket.
One of the first major battles was in Violet City, and during the first few minutes of the attack, many would've described the approaching Team Rocket as a black tidal wave. There numbers were just beyond what anyone was expecting, but there were still trainers that stubbornly fought to protect themselves and the people around them. The toll was high for this battle. Any trainers that hadn't been maimed during the battle had been captured and thrown into the camp that had been built in what had once been New Bark Town.
Those who managed to escape went off to warn the next towns about what they would truly be facing.
Soon enough, Team Rocket had circled around the southern parts of Johto and claimed all of the cities including Azalea Town and Goldenrod City, leading to a large gathering of trainers in Ecruteak City and Olivine City. Everything else had been lost to Team Rocket, and many were considering giving in to the superior power. But it was during their final defense did a hope appear for the struggling Johto trainers.
Those who had gathered at Ecruteak City were given direction by the Kimono Girls to go down into Route 36 for a strategical advantage. In order to get to Ecruteak City, they would have travel through a tight area. If they were engaged in battle at this location, the confusion and disarray would hopefully give the trainers a fighting chance.
Unfortunately, this proved to be futile. Team Rocket was far more organized than they had given the trainers had given them credit for. So organized that the problems of battling in a small area were completely negated. The trainers were thoroughly dominated as they were forced back to Ecruteak City. It appeared as though nothing would be able to stop Team Rocket, until a massive fire ball was dropped down onto the field.
A portion of the Team Rocket forces were taken down in an instant, forcing everyone's eyes to look up toward the bright skies above. Descending toward the field was a large silhouette that matched the shape of a phoenix. As it moved out from in front of the sun, many could see that it was large fire bird that held great beauty as it came down to the field.
Standing firmly on its head was none other than Grace who was looking around at the battlefield. Unconscious Pokemon littered the field, and there were a large number of trainers that had been caught by attacks from other Pokemon, resulting in severe damage to their bodies. It was a sight she could barely stomach. But this was war.
The Pokemon that had been lost by Team Rocket were quickly returned to their Poke-balls while fresh Pokemon were thrown out to engage Ho-oh. The trainers had been looking up at Ho-oh in awe, but with the appearance of a second wave of Pokemon, they began to wonder what the limitations of this Pokemon were. But then a loud screech shook the field before a large beam of pulsating winds dropped onto Team Rocket's Pokemon. A shockwave was sent out from the spot of impact of the attack that traveled out in all directions, knocking many to their bottoms as a large dust cloud formed.
Everyone's attention was now drawn to the ferocious looking, silver creature that was descending from the skies above as well, watching as it flapped its large wings to blow away the cloud that had formed in the center of the field. Many were shocked to see what was left.
An enormous crater marked what had once been Team Rocket's massive force, and this was more than enough for Team Rocket to realize what they were really facing off with.
"Retreat!" The order was shouted by any of the higher ranked members of Team Rocket. They had no chance of beating Lugia and Ho-oh together. Not right now at least.
The trainers erupted with cheers as they watched Team Rocket take off in a rush to get moving. The battle wasn't very long, but it was significant win for them. Perhaps there was a chance of them beating Team Rocket.
1/29/0047/Morning
Ecruteak City
Whispers floated around the large gathering in the large garden of the estate the Kimono Girls addressed as a house. Hundreds of trainers were packed shoulder to shoulder in the space, waiting for the meeting to commence.
"You're attention please!" Nozomi called out as she stepped up onto the small wooden stage that had been put together just minutes before hand.
The side conversation came to an end as all eyes fell upon the Kimono Girls who were now standing on top of a small stage together.
"By now I'm sure all of you are aware of that it has been two months since Team Rocket and the Committee declared that they have merged together. And we have done nothing but battle against their combined forces to the point of exhaustion." Nozomi continued on. "But during this time, many trainers have joined our cause to fight against them."
The past two months were filled with trainers and civilians arriving in large groups. They had heard about the trainers in Johto that refused to submit to the Committee and traveled all the way from Kanto to join the fight.
"And now, we can fighting against them. The attacks from Team Rocket are dwindling as our numbers continue to increase. We may appear insignificant to them, but we have fought hard, and now we are finally about to show them the power of the Resistance!"
Nozomi concluded her speech by informing everyone of the first major movements. The forces that had gathered in Ecruteak City would be divided into three separate forces. One would head west toward Olivine City to join the battle there. The second force would head south to reclaim the southern part of the Johto Region. The last force would remain in Ecruteak City, awaiting the return of the troops that went south.
Leading each of these battalions was one of the three active Crests the Resistance had at its disposal. Mari, Grace and Lana. These girls, while being incredibly young, had no trouble rallying troops because of their heroics while defending Ecruteak City.
"Where does that leave us?" Robbie asked in a flat tone. He had lost the pep in his step after the first few attacks on Ecruteak City. He was no where near as boisterous as he was before this civil war began. The battles had forced him to abandon his belief that Pokemon were the key to peace.
Robbie and Matt sat together in the middle of a semi circle created by the Kimono Girls that were surrounding them.
"The two of you have yet to unite your Crest with Raikou and Suicune. Until you complete this task, you won't be able to battle alongside the girls." Nozomi stated.
"But how are we going to find them?" Matt asked in a deadpan. Similar to Robbie, Matt had become much quieter. These enormous battles were anything but gory, Matt still struggled to adjust to the thought of so many Pokemon harming each other so brutally. Even attacking humans if ordered to do so by Team Rocket. It was so wrong.
"Their movements have been limited to the Johto Region. The Kanto Region is off limits since Team Rocket is so active in those Regions, so we can be sure that they'll be here. It's up to you two to find them." Yumi explained.
"Isn't there any kind of hint for us to pinpoint their location?" Robbie asked.
"Unfortunately, no. They're always on the move so all you can really do is stay on the move until you meet up with them." Miyu pointed out.
"So we've placed the two of you in the second unit which is heading south. They will be traveling all over the southern parts of the Johto Region, so hopefully you run into Suicune and Raikou as you battle with them." Rei went on.
"And if we do find them, what does that mean for us?" Matt asked.
"The two of you will become commanders. With the power of a Legendary Pokemon, you'll be leading Resistance forces against Team Rocket and the Committee." Nozomi replied.
Matt's expression darkened. He wasn't interested in any of this. He didn't want to do any of this. He wanted to return to his home in Hoenn. He wanted to wake up from this nightmare.
"Fine." Matt muttered as he rose up from the floor as the trainers outside the estate gave shouts that the first and second battalions would be meeting at their rendezvous point. "Let's get going Robbie."
Robbie spared the Kimono Girls a glance before following Matt out the room, leaving the five girls.
"This is exactly what we were trying to avoid." Nozomi mumbled after a moment of silence passed. "The Storm has already killed their spirit and things have only just begun."
"I know. Hopefully we can turn the tide quickly in Kanto." Yumi said.
"Yeah, hopefully."
2/21/0047/Dusk
Goldenrod City
"We've assumed control of the Pokemon Center, hopefully this will put an end to the Team Rocket control here." Matt said into the small communicator on his wrist.
"That's good to hear Matt. We've cleared out the west side of the city, so the battles here should end by tomorrow." Grace replied before she returned to the heat of the battle, ending their conversation.
Matt gave a heavy sigh as he lowered his arm, taking a quick look around at the trainers he had led on this mission to take over the Pokemon Center that Team Rocket had been using as a stronghold to continue their fight regardless of the superior numbers of the Resistance forces.
None of them were in good shape. Many of them had received wounds that went from shallow to gruesome as they fought through the Team Rocket forces.
"Yow!"
Matt looked back at one of the long sofas near the entrance of the Pokemon Center. Resting on the sofa was a young man without a shirt and a left arm.
As they were approaching the Pokemon Center, he had been caught in one of Team Rocket's usual bomb traps where an Electrode or Voltorb would use Self-destruct. This young man had been caught in the blast and he was suffering greatly from it.
Matt felt sick to his stomach as he watched two other adults bandage up his shoulder to stop the bleeding. He could still battle, but if it was up to Matt, he would've sent him back to Ecruteak City.
Matt couldn't stand watching so many people get injured like this in battle. Why was all of this happening?
"Professor Elm?!" Robbie exclaimed as he rushed over the man that had been bound and gagged, resting on the floor of the storage room beside a woman. Helping the man so that he was sitting up, Robbie removed the cloth that covered his mouth, allowing Elm to speak. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"What are you doing here?"
"Evergreen and I were distributing the vaccine for Pokeosis from this Pokemon Center to Kanto and Johto. They were going to send us to the camp they finished constructing in New Bark Town, but that's when you guys attacked the city." Elm explained.
"The cure to what?"
"Pokeosis. I'm sure you heard about the incident at Mt Coronet. Where a lot of the spectators were attacked by oddly colored Pokemon."
"Yeah. I was there."
"Well it turns out that those Pokemon had been infected with an ancient disease that forces them to revert back to their previous instinctual mindset." Elm continued. "I received word about two months ago that the disease was spreading across the Sinnoh Region and moving into parts Hoenn. So Evergreen and I set out to mass produce the vaccine to Pokeosis to stop the spread into Kanto and Johto. We succeeded in getting the vaccine around Kanto and Johto, but we couldn't get it out of Hoen and Sinnoh fast enough."
"Wait, so the Pokemon in Sinnoh and Hoenn are…"
Elm gave him a grim nod.
"They're truly wild Pokemon now."
Hoenn Region
Slateport City
Leaning against the wall of the hospital lobby, Griffen felt his knees give away, leaving him to the drop down to his bottom. He cupped his hands over his ears, hoping that this would block out of the screams of the trainers that were being dragged into the building. This helped slightly, but not enough to block out what they were shouting about.
"Nuzleaf! How could you!?" A male trainer snapped as he was brought into the building on a gurney. He had a long gaping wound traveling down his torso, and he was in tears as the workers steering the gurney did their best to restrain him during his violent outbursts.
Griffen grinded his teeth together, trying to distract himself from the sole question that had been on his mind for the past two months.
Where was this world headed?
The northern parts of the Hoenn Region all the way to the east coast had come face to face with two rampaging Legendary Pokemon that continued to fight regardless of where they were located. On top of that, the normal Pokemon the Hoenn Region had gone off the deep end as well.
There were only a handful of safe areas to run to at this point. Slateport City along with Sootopolis City and Dewford Town was recognized as areas that people could live in safely for the time being.
Outside of those areas, people and Pokemon were being massacred by the enraged Legendary Pokemon, or the deranged Abyss Pokemon that were taking over the region.
The Storm was raging now.
Storm continues. Now Pokeosis has spread to Hoenn as the people of the region make one last final stand, although all hope seems lost as conditions continue to deteriorate. How can all of this pain and suffering be undone? Can anyone stop it before its too late?
Share your thoughts please. Is the story getting out of control to you? Does it seem intense or dark at this point? Please Review.