Chapter Twenty: Aerial Prison Break!
Daybreak is one of the most peaceful times of the day in Chinooka City. The reddish sun peeks lazily over the verdant forests to the northeast and dye everything in ruby red. From the lakes that encircled the whole settlement, save for two narrow spits of land which connect the city to the Bamboo Forest which lies between Chinooka and the northwest and the desert which separates Dune City from the southernmost city of the Coreian landmass. The parts of the city that weren't covered in reddish dust from the morning sunlight were lush with the green vegetation that made up the citizens' agricultural projects, which looked like square patches of green from far overhead. One or two greenhouses dotted the houses where the people lived, housing the rarer herbs and spices that wouldn't tolerate the intense midday sun.
All in all, Chinooka was a sight to behold for those who had the ability to fly. Half of its citizens had this ability and made up the hardworking task force of the Chinooka Pidgey Postal Service, who took to the skies day in and day out, transporting mail to the people of Corei who lacked experience in the modern electronic means of communication and those who still hung to the traditional method of getting a message across. Every dawn, many a Pidgey and Pidgeotto took to the sky to stretch their wings before they reported for duty, savoring the peace their city exuded…
…peace that was soon to be shattered.
A strange addition was seen in the sky this morning above the dawning sky of Chinooka City. A large airship that resembled a sable-colored blimp slowly approached the city, its powerful engines thrumming softly as it drew nearer. Aside its bleak coloration, a large, silver S was embossed on the side of the airship, informing all who knew what it meant that danger and despair were upon them.
The first to notice the strange air vehicle were the Pidgey and Pidgeotto whose airspace the craft had invaded. Whilst the younger and fearful Pidgey flew for cover in their hanger, their bolder evolutionary cousins took to the air to fight off this larger, intimidating intruder. However, before the Pidgeotto could mount any form of resistance, a hatch opened up under the Javelin's long, sharp spearhead, not unlike a gaping mouth, creating a sucking force so great it swept every last Pidgeotto into the yawning opening. Closing up again, the engines diverted their thrust into a landing position, causing the large craft to bear down on the defenseless city.
Inside the office, a young girl of almost ten years of age stood on one side of a counter as a blue-shirted clerk detached a small, spherical parcel from the leg of a large, majestically powerful-looking Pidgeot. Handing it over the counter, the attendant smiled as he watched the girl eagerly tear off the thick brown paper that encased the pokéball. "Here you go, Sky," the clerk said cheerfully as he watched her admire the capture device form all angles. "Special delivery of one Charmander from Professor Celio's lab!"
Slipping the spherical parcel into the pocket of her tan denim skirt, the blue bracelets on the wrist clanking, the girl beamed and said "Thanks a lot, Arroyo!" Looking up, her brown eyes sparkled beneath her reddish-brown fringe and added "You too, Piyo! You must've had a long, hard flight to One Island. But if anyone could do it, it'd be you. Take a rest, OK?"
The Pidgeot cawed once in acknowledgement and flapped its wings once, taking off for the hanger and some rest.
"See you later, Arroyo!" she added to the clerk as she turned to go, her long plaits swinging around behind her as she sprinted out of the office and promptly into a solid, breathing "wall" just outside the door.
Straightening her headband which held a single golden Pidgeotto feather to the side of her head, she shouted, "Hey! Why don't you guys watch where you're wa- walk- who the heck are you creeps?!" she faltered staring up into the shadowy faces of about six tall, intimidating figures who blocked her way.
"Think we should do her in?" One of the strangers said in a thick, gravelly voice, rubbing his marble-sized knuckles in a threatening manner as he said so, leering down at her paralyzed form. "She's seen too much as it is…"
"She's only seen us, pinhead," A female voice scoffed. Although a head shorter than the rest of the group, she still towered over the petite brunette. "Besides, we have our orders. Capture the Pokémon here, keep the citizens in lockdown."
'Lockdown'! Sky thought frantically. Why'd anyone want us in lockdown? I've got to get help!
"If you say so… hey! Get back here!" the first voice grunted, reaching down with his large hand to seize the girl who'd just mastered herself and ducked out of reach, taking off running down the street, her brown leather sandals kicking up dust as she ran.
"Idiot!" the female voice snapped. "You two!" she snapped, motioning to a pair of grunts who made up the group. "Catch her now! If she gets help, the whole operation is bungled! The rest of you, follow me and round up the rest of those stupid Flying Pokémon!"
Sky ran as hard as she could as she heard heavy footfalls echoing behind her. Ignoring the yelling voices ordering her to stop she skidded to a halt and dashed down a narrow alleyway that thanks to her slight frame was able to navigate swiftly. As she heard her pursuers' angry oaths, she crawled through a fence into the street that ran parallel to the one she'd left the Team Shadow agents behind on. Picking herself up, she ran on with one thought lodged in her mind as the red-roofed Pokémon Centre came into view: I've got to get Ricon!
Bursting into the Pokémon Centre, she startled the local Nurse Joy and her assistant (this time a Blissey) and said, "Nurse Joy! Lock the doors! Quickly!"
"Sky, honey! Why on earth…?" the matron began as Sky leapt towards the payphone and punched in the number for Pokémon League HQ, Sterling City and rattled off into the speaker, "Fuego! Where's Ricon?!"
"G'morning to you too, Sky," a teenage boy said drily as he appeared on screen, his lank black hair tousled and partially obscuring his blood red and bleary eyes. Eyeing her sweat drenched plain white top and bedraggled hair he added, "What's the rush?"
"Fuego, this is serious! Team Shadow's attacking Chinooka City! They're planning to lockdown the entire city!" Sky yelled frantically into the receiver. "Now where's my brother?!"
"Asleep," Fuego said in the middle of a gigantic, ostentatious yawn. "It's what normal people usually do at six twenty a.m."
Sky wasn't amused. "Don't get smart with me, Fuego! Team Shadow…"
"…have had enough running around this morning, little missy," a cold and slightly out of breath voice said harshly. Sky wheeled and received a crushing backhanded blow to her temple which downed her immediately.
"SKY!" Fuego yelled, the brutality he'd seen on the screen snapping him wide awake.
"Destroy the satellite," the agent said gruffly to his large brown bear Pokémon that stood behind him. Nodding slightly, the Ursaring stumped outside, allowing Fuego to see Nurse Joy being forcibly restrained by the brute's partner and the Blissey out cold, courtesy of a small, grey Pokémon with heavily muscled arms, three yellowish ridges protruding form out the top of his head and a mean look in his scarlet eyes as it flexed its wrist.
"Sky! Sky, wake up! SKY!" Fuego's voice yelled as the picture went black and the communication cut.
"Fuego? What's going on?" an elderly voice said curiously. Whipping around, the black-haired boy spun around to see a man who looked almost as old as his voice walked up the corridor towards him. Dressed in a forest green kimono and his feet shod with black flipflops, a large green dinosaur, with great pink petals ringing its long green neck, and a young man, dressed in a tan muscle shirt and blue denim shorts, walking alongside him.
"Ricon! Thank goodness you're up!" Fuego said anxiously.
"Why, what's wrong, Fuego?" Ricon said calmly, although his brown eyes betrayed panic his obscured panic.
Quickly, Fuego filled them in, the men's face paling with each word spoken.
"What do we do, Herbert Sr.?" Ricon asked swiftly, his face as white as his colleague's long wintry beard.
The old man cleared his voice softly although his green eyes remained focused. "You, Ricon must make all haste for Chinooka City. Fuego, you return to Appleburn at once!"
"But… shouldn't I go with Ricon?" Fuego stammered in surprise.
"I think not," the senior gym leader said firmly. "Clyff is already at home in Dinocanyon City. His gym and city is protected. Appleburn City will remain undefended should you stay here or move to Chinooka too. You must also consider the proximity of your homestead to this 'Team Shadow's' position and the likelihood that it would be the perfect place for them to strike next! I shall rouse the other leaders with instructions to do the same… now go!"
***
In the Javelin's holding cells, after half an hour of watching Atlas gloat at their capture and rant at the news that Grandpa was presently unaccounted for amongst Sapph's Pokémon, Sapph and Haley were shoved into a holding cell opposite the only occupied one there.
"'ere ya go, Manson!" their jailer crowed raucously, slamming the door on their stumbling backs. "Two new playmates! Well, ain'tcha a lucky boy!" Laughing noisily, the jailer trotted off to grab a snack to eat.
"What do we have here?" a calmly (and irritatingly) familiar voice said as Sapph rubbed his rear. After something dropped from what seemed to be the roof of the cell and walked into the pool of light cast by the single fluorescent tube hanging in the middle of the corridor that separated the two cells did Sapph and Haley get a good look at who their new 'playmate' was.
"Aw, man…" Sapph groaned. "Not you…"
"Yes, me," Rubin said, casting his brother a sour look, "and I don't appreciate your tone, Sapphire!"
Sapph went incandescent red as he bellowed "Don't call me that!"
"Why ever not, brother?" Rubin went on coldly, as though uninterrupted. "It is your name, is it not?"
"Shut it, Rubin!" Sapph yelled, as Haley trembled heavily with the effort of not bursting out laughing loudly.
"There's no need to be so rude, brother," Rubin said, noticing Haley out of the corner of his eye and smiling faintly. "At least introduce me to your… um, unfortunate girlfriend…"
Now Haley wasn't laughing so much as she was blushing.
Sapph yelled back, "Haley's not my girlfriend! And what the hell d'you mean by unfortunate?!"
"Which girl wouldn't be, to get stuck with a trainer with less than no skills?" Rubin smirked. Smiling a courteous smile at Haley, he added, "The name's Rubin Logan Manson. Please don't judge my family by my little brother…"
"I'M NOT YOUR LITTLE BROTHER! I'M YOUR TWIN BROTHER, DAMN IT!" Sapph bellowed, totally apoplectic at this point.
"Born second means you're younger than being born first, Sapphire," Rubin contradicted him evenly. "Anyway, I'm charmed to meet such a beautiful flower such as yourself, Miss…?" he said enquiringly.
"H-Haley Mizura Kent," Haley stammered, now as red in the face as Sapph, who was making retching motions behind her back.
"Anyway, we should get out before the guards get back," Rubin said distractedly, glancing up and down the well-lit corridor for sounds of approaching Shadow grunts.
"Really? Wow, I'll just magic my key out of nothing and you do the same!" Sapph snarled sarcastically with his back turned to his brother. A loud clanging noise caused him to spin around and Haley's jaw to drop as Rubin's cell door opened, the brown eyed trainer staring at them questioningly as though he'd expected them to know he could open it all along.
"Once more with feeling, Ralis! Confusion on the lock!" Rubin cheered, pointing at the lock on Sapph and Haley's cell door for emphasis. Ralis's green domed head glowed bright blue as the lock clicked and scraped, matching the Emothion Pokémon's head in hue. With a final clank, the door swung open noisily before them, causing Sapph's jaw to join Haley's in scraping the prison cell floor.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Rubin said swiftly, returning the Ralts and leading the way.
***
Momma raised me better to be a sewer rat, Anuvi muttered, as he scampered around the labyrinthine ventilation ducts, following a couple of grunts that carried his (empty) pokéball and the eleven others that belonged to and presently imprisoned, his friends.
The two grunts reached a door with a card key slot and stopped. Anuvi watched through the ventilation grilles as one of them procured a card key from their pocket and swiped it through the lock, turning the red light on it green and causing it to click. With a swooshing sound, the door slid open and the grunts marched over the threshold. Anuvi scooted into the pipe that ran along the inner wall of the chamber the agents entered and saw them dump the pokéballs on the shelf amongst the other pokéballs that lined the shelf.
"Hey, I thought we were to take 'em to the Experimentation Chamber, Andre," a familiar voice whispered.
"How often do you run across a Ledian who knows Thunderpunch, Kayla? Or two Eevees, a Mongle and an Aquala?" her partner hissed back. "We'll just hide 'em in here 'til things quiet down and then make a break for it. We take the ones we want and sell the rest on the next black market ship out to Orre!"
Scuzz buckets! Anuvi hissed, watching the duo as they chuckled malevolently and exit the room. As the door slid shut and the dishonest Shadow operatives' footsteps died away, a bright green flash filled the air duct and a large green X appeared on the shaft's entrance, causing it to fall away as Anuvi sprang lightly into the room and lope softly over to the shelf and pick up the twelve pokéballs belonging to his friends and himself. Opening them all, he turned to look for a length of cloth to tie around his neck, forming a makeshift backpack to carry his pokéball around in. Looking up at the others, he said Hey, guys! What's up?
Where are we, Anuvi? Bubbles said, looking up from the quailing Vulpix who she was comforting.
I'm guessing Team Shadow's air ship, Anuvi said shortly. I saw those creeps Andre and Kayla bring you guys here. Remember the losers we fought in Nightspark Bay, Crimson?
Not really, Anuvi, Crimson said calmly looking around for a way to escape. You fought them, not me.
Anuvi face-faulted at this comment.
Oh, yeah, Anuvi said, smirking embarrassedly. Good point.
So what now? Mace said wickedly. Do we fight our way out?
For once, you've had a bright idea, Zen commented coldly, leaning against a crate and looking bored with the proceedings.
Not really a good idea, Zen, Anuvi said firmly. We still don't know where Sapph and Haley are…
Well, we won't know 'til we get out of here, Anuvi, Vapor said nonchalantly, although like Zen and Mace simply bursting to take action.
What do you recommend, Mongie? Bubbles said in a cutesy, thoroughly annoying voice.
Ignoring the slight, the Leaf Squirrel said, I recommend we leave through the ventilation system. No one noticed me when I snuck in that way, and…
There's a problem with that idea, Anuvi, Crimson contradicted.
Huuuuunh? Anuvi asked, looking gormless.
Passage's interior shape denies surreptitious translocation of present group members of height greater than three feet, Silver droned, as mechanical-sounding as ever.
Ergo, Zen, Crimson, Bubbles and Blitzkrieg will not fit, Ento said succinctly.
Duh, Vapor added succinctly.
What's your idea then, Einstein? Anuvi retorted huffily.
There's not much choice, Mongie, Bubbles said softly.
A-NU-VI! Anuvi said irritably.
But you are a Mongie, Anuvi, Pixy muttered.
Yeah, a Mongie… I mean, Mongle with a name, Pixy! Anuvi snarled.
Don't snap at her, Anuvi! You should know better! Crimson scolded.
So should Bubbles! And don't talk down to me, Bug Head! Anuvi shot back.
How else d'you expect him to talk to a shortstack? Zen quipped.
Hey! Lavender shouted.
What did you say, jerk? Vapor snapped, stung by the low blow.
For the record, Anuvi… I have another plan in mind, Crimson said sternly.
Oh, yeah? Anuvi replied sullenly.
Well, Crimson said slowly, as though measuring his words. If we break down the door, we may set off an alarm. But, if you, Lavender, Pixy, Ento, Ace, Mace, Silver and Vapor go through the ventilation shafts as you mentioned and manage to steal a card key for the door, we can all escape…
Sounds like a plan, Ento said cheerfully.
Negative, Ace said snippily, bristling at the opening through which Anuvi had entered the room. There's not enough air space for me to fly in there.
Me too, Vapor muttered, staring at the opening in the wall. What if a certain Combatant Pokémon gets bored and starts a fight with some Team Shadow Pokémon without me?
Really? Lavender said slyly. Sure you aren't scared, Vapor?
I disagree, Bubbles said sternly. Because I'm not letting Pixy go anywhere with Anuvi!
Hunh? Anuvi said suddenly, staring a hole through Bubbles' head. Why the heck not?
Like, 'cause you're totally irresponsible! Bubbles shot back, staring daggers at Anuvi.
OH, yeah?! Anuvi retorted.
Yeah! Remember Everwood Forest? Bubbles shot back, her cerulean face mere inches from Anuvi's red one. Remember the mushrooms, Mr. Responsible?
Anuvi bit his lip but said nothing else.
Passage through ventilation system impossible for self due to excessive magnetic energy flowing in walls, Silver droned, backing away. Low visibility also key demerit in shaft transportation.
That's true, Ento mused, looking up at the pipe with second thoughts.
Bubbles, it's scary up there! Don't make me go! Pixy wailed, hiding behind the Water Hare Pokémon.
Decided, Zen smirked. So shall we revert to Plan A? Walking towards the door, Zen smiled and slammed his right fist into the door causing it to fly clean off the frame into the opposite wall.
Was that necessary? Crimson said, a skeptical look in his blue-visored eyes.
What, you want to wait for this Kayla and Andre to come back and let us out? Vapor asked incredulously, sprinting out into the corridor.
Hey, wait up! Don't think this means you get first dips! Mace and Zen yelled leading the others out of the storage room. At the doorway, however, Lavender slowed down, sensing that one member of their party hadn't left via the doorway. Looking back towards the ventilation shaft, her long ears picked up shuffling noises from the corridor overhead.
Anuvi?
***
A tall, beefy man peered anxiously around the corner, his mousy brown hair drenched in sweat and his beady eyes wide and panicky. It had been three hours since Chinooka City had been placed in lockdown and the citizens' ability to go about their daily business was stripped from them by the occupation troops of Team Shadow. This individual however clutched a brown paper bag in which a package of sausages, a slab of cheese and a couple of long loaves of bread rustled as he stole quickly up the street.
Making it to his home without incident, the man bolted the door and leaned against it heavily, panting as if pursued by the guardians of Hell. Looking over his shoulder, he thought frantically, Team Shadow? Here?! This has got to be a bad joke… I can't let them get to me… not now!
A cold voice whispered from deeper within the darkened house that made the man's heart fail. "Welcome home, Trey Bolton, former Leader of Doracus's Delta Faction."
His eyes wide, he reached for the baseball bat he had propped against the wall and swung it blindly towards the source of the voice, which seemed to have silvery eyes which gleamed in the gloom. Before the bat made it, a flash of silver shredded the bat, cleaving it into pieces. A second steely flash later had the man sailed sideways through the wall (note, not into the wall, through it) and crashing into one of the chairs that stood in the man's sitting area. Coughing up a small quantity of blood, he stared up fearfully as the shadow stepped into the room accompanied by a smaller, yet less humanoid figure whose long, gleaming claws and shining yellow eyes spelt fear.
"Did you really think disguising yourself as a civilian would keep your operations hidden for long?" The shadowy figure admonished, settling into the sofa that stood below the hole the man had created as he flew through the wall. The man gibbered helplessly. If this youth (for the man's voice sounded young, almost teenlike) was Theologos himself, he and his family were doomed.
"I want information on Damian Kent. Now," the boy went on in a businesslike voice. "And do hurry spilling the beans, before my associate decides to make you spill more."
"Please," Trey pleaded, his eyes wet with tears. "M-my family…"
"Died a long time ago, Trey," the shadow said shortly. "I'm growing impatient. Now talk!"
"Please… m-m-m-mercy," the older man begged. "M-m-my d-d-d…"
"Do you think I care about your pet?" The youth said coldly, rising to his feet quickly and towering over the man in his fury although normally he'd give roughly sixty pounds and two feet to the giant who groveled at his feet piteously.
"Daddy?"
Three pairs of eyes whipped towards the doorway in which a little girl stood, clutching a large Buneary doll in her tiny fist. Dressed in a long nightdress that looked like one that'd fit a girl twice her age, she rubbed her sleepy looking eyes which gazed blearily upon the scene from beneath her long hair which colour she had seemingly inherited from her father and mumbled, "Who a you talking to, Daddy?"
"NO! Kaede, go to your mother, QUICKLY!" The man said quickly, making to shield his daughter from any injury his assailants may inflict on her but collapsing midway due to the pain he felt in his side from the blow he'd received.
Finding the eyes of her father's attacker who stared at her, Melanie could not run even if she wished. As the grey eyes locked onto her wide green, innocent ones, the father, pleaded, "No… anything but her… anything but my daughter… please… here's all I know," he added, tossing a dossier at the boy, sobbing. "Just don't hurt her… please… I'll come q-q-quietly…"
After staring at the girl for a long five minutes, the young boy reached down, scooped up the file and said shortly, "No need to worry… I've got what I want. Let's go," he added, returning the ferocious Pokémon to its capture device and stepping out from the room. Pausing in the doorway, he fixed his eyes upon the little child, who'd taken to shielding herself with the doll, the silver orbs reflected a quality their owner had not yet displayed and whispered, "It's alright… I'm leaving now. Don't worry, I'll keep your daddy's secret."
And without another word he marched to the front door. A second later, a snap announced that the door had closed behind him.
***
Anuvi, wait up!
Leave me alone, Lavender!
Not until you wait up!
Shut up! Get lost! Leave me alone!
The tiny Evolution Pokémon had kept up her pursuit of the Mongle for over ten minutes, calling out to him and telling him to stop. Anuvi had up till a moment ago ignored his companion until he could no longer do so and now decided to keep her quiet before the whole airship knew they were up in the ventilation system.
Anuvi, the others need you! C'mon, let's go help them! Lavender insisted, slightly out of breath.
Anuvi igored her completely now, hoping this would get her off his back. Unfortunately this plan backfired, causing the Eevee to become even more perkily pesky.
A-NU-VEEEEEE! Lavender trilled, jumping onto the Leaf Squirrel's back in an effort to pin him down. What she forgot was that she gave a foot in height to her quarry… not to mention his presently nasty temper. Being the straw that broke the Camerupt's back, Anuvi glowed neon green as his tail accumulated power, he swung his tail in a vicious arc and snapped, I said beat it, Lavender!
Anuvi's Leaf Blade attack struck at point blank range, blowing the smaller Pokémon into the roof of the pipe, where she rebounded into its floor noiselessly. For a few minutes Anuvi only glared down at her, panting heavily as his rage clouded his vision. Turning sharply, he stalked off, the green essence fading away and the shock of what he'd done catching up with him after twelve feet. His ruby red eyes widened as a green light shone from behind him, engulfing him just as the horror he felt did likewise. He spun around and thought he was having a heart attack…
…Lavender had rather changed. 'Changed' in the sense that she had grown a couple of feet, grown lime green hair and long dark green ears. She was now slender-looking, her brown eyes and feet had remained untouched (as they stared at Anuvi) although the same couldn't be said for her paintbrush tail. It had stretched to almost three times its former size, the lower third the same colour as her body and the upper thirds resembling a long, dark green leaf, thinner than Anuvi's tail leaf and wonkier. A leaf sprouting from the front of her neck and her forehead completed her new appearance.
La-la-la-la… Anuvi stammered as the newly evolved Verdant Pokémon stood before him.
Why, you… Lavender said softly, her eyes glowing green as she descended on the Leaf Squirrel.
WAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGHH! Anuvi screamed, louder than Lavender could ever manage as she stood before him, looking down at him with pitiful eyes.
You're not useless, Anuvi. None of us think so, She said softly as a soft green vapour enveloped her, healing her injuries.
Wha… wha… wha… what? Anuvi stammered as the Leafeon's attack ended and she started to glow green once more.
I said, 'You're not useless, Anuvi', Lavender said, (miraculously) back to her former Eevee self; ruff, paintbrush tail and all.
Ha-hu… he... how? The Mongle blurted out weakly.
I'm not sure, Lavender said, carefully not looking Anuvi in the eye. I guess this is the result of Cipher's experiments on me.
All Anuvi could do at this point was look stupid and say, Uhhh… 'Cipher'?
Team Cipher… Lavender amended bitterly. Normally, Eevees have unstable DNA that enables them to adapt to their environments. They wanted to tweak this… 'adaptability', as they called it- to create an army of multitype drones capable of defeating all gyms in Sinnoh. At least that's what I heard…
I don't get it, though, Anuvi stammered. How did you evolve into… what did you evolve into? he ended rather feebly.
Leafeon? Dunno, Lavender said thoughtfully.
You don't wha-?
Hey, it is my second time doing it after all! Lavender huffed.
Anuvi gulped and said Urk, sorry… wait, second time?
Lavender nodded and said The first time it happened was back in Green Hill City… Zen used a Confusion attack to knock me out of the way of a Rock Throw attack. Next thing I knew I was glowing pink an' feeling all cunning… and tall. I was able to lift the stones with my mind and…
Hmm, maybe this Team Cipher succeeded, Anuvi mused, sitting on his haunches and crossing his forelimbs.
Meaning, Sherlock Wood? Lavender said eagerly.
Think about it, Anuvi said slowly. Zen hits you with Confusion… poof, instant Espeon. I hit you with Leaf Blade… and pow! You're a Leafeon. It seems you can take on the element of whichever attack your hit with and evolve into the corresponding Eeveelution. However temporarily, he added as an afterthought.
Wow, Lavender gasped, staring at Anuvi in wonder. An' I thought Ento was the brainiac…
The question is, can Vapor do the same? Anuvi said, not catching the implication of his teammate's comment.
I don't think so, Lavender said thoughtfully, looking suddenly downcast. They acquired him the day their lab syndicate was busted up. He was never experimented on. And Saffron has evolved into Jolteon, so I doubt he can freely transform like me… hey, this isn't why I followed you! We have to help the others!
You go. They don't need me, none of them do, Anuvi snarled in his old temper, not looking back at Lavender as he said so.
Yes, they do. He doesn't admit it to the others' faces, but he's too insecure to be a leader, Lavender countered fiercely.
Who? Anuvi said, turning around sharply to face Lavender again.
Crimson, Laender replied simply. He may be a tough Ledian now, but he's still as innocent as the little Ledyba Sapph caught way back in Everwood.
Crimson… innocent little Ledyba? Anuvi snorted, fighting down the urge to whoop with laughter. Yeah, right…
Besides, Lavender went on, rolling her eyes. You know what Zen's like, and Silver's a mindless zombie. Ace has a follower complex and me… well, let's just say you're the best at being in charge. Or would you rather want Bubbles or Blitzie in command? she added slyly, causing Anuvi to blanch.
Well, what're we waitin' for? Let's go! Anuvi said, running back down the pipe, Lavender joyfully scampering at his heels.
***
"Where are we going, Rubin?" Sapph said shortly. "I thought we were looking for our Pokémon!"
"You're looking for your Pokémon," Rubin corrected him, peering around the corner for sentries. "I'm looking for the control room, so I can shut down this operation."
Sapph ground his teeth in anger and snarled, "Just like you to steal the show, eh, Rubin?"
"It's actually not my fault I'm on an enemy ship without my Pokémon, Sapphire Manson. Nor is it my fault I'm here either," Rubin chided his brother softly, still not bothering to look his brother full in the face.
"Don't call me Sapphire, Jerk-in!" Sapph snapped. "And what do you mean, enemy? I've no beef with Team Shadow! They're the one with a problem with me!"
"Oh, and keep your voice down, Sapphire. Do you want us to be heard?" Rubin said calmly, ignoring his brother.
"Yeah, keep it down, Sapph!" Haley whispered as she brought up the rear.
Sapph cringed as his travelling companion scolded him. "Not you too, Haley," Sapph moaned.
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder why the heck I came to compete in Coreian contests in the first place," Rubin said to no one in particular. "All I'd get is interruptions like you and your issues, Sapphire. Every where you go, you cause problems with your rashness and overlarge mouth. I suppose it's little wonder Father wants you to grow up to be more like me…"
At this point, Sapph went crazy, grabbing his twin by the scruff of his jacket and slamming him into the steel wall and pinning him there, breathing heavily and looking quite deranged.
"Sapph, let him down!" Haley gasped, aghast at how violent brothers could get.
"YOU SHUT UP!" Sapph roared at Haley, feeling he'd had about enough of Haley's hypocrisy to last for a lifetime. "And you…" he added locking his blue eyes onto his brother's brown ones, which looked totally composed and not the slightest bit worried about his predicament.
"You think that two minutes longer in this world means you're so cool. You think a stupid tin cup makes you lord of the universe? You think two minutes of extra life can give you the right to hold yourself aloof? Like the older, smarter, stronger, cooler brother in the world? Well have I got news for you," Sapph snarled, his face mere inches from his brother's. "It doesn't. D'you hear me, Rubin Logan Manson?! IT… DOES… NOT!" He yelled, slamming his brother into the wall with each yelled word.
"Are you finished, Sapphire?" Rubin asked calmly, as though nothing more had happened aside a fly landing on his shoulder.
"AND DON'T CALL ME SAPPHIRE!!" Sapph roared, slamming Rubin's back into the wall once more and letting him go, stalking off around the corner…
…and smack into Captains Zula and Vulca.
"Though' I told ya I heard a noise outside the cabin, did'n' I, Vulca?" Zula said excitedly, fixing Sapph with a maliciously evil eye.
"Fine, you won," Vulca said in a sullenly bored voice. "Now can we capture him before Atlas finds out?"
"Oh, CRAP!" Sapph screamed, gathering his wits around him and tearing off around a corner and down the corridor before the captains could get over their surprise of running into the prisoner outside their quarters.
"Think we should alert the grunts?" Vulca said in a flaccid, bored tone of voice.
"Nah, I haven't felt the thrill of the chase in months," Zula said evilly, her yellowish eyes glinting with malice as she sprinted after Sapph, her bare feet slapping on the metallic floor. "Come ON, Vulca!" She called behind her, spurring her unenthusiastic partner to grudgingly take part in the chase.
As Vulca rounded the second corner, Rubin and Haley emerged from the shadows, Haley clutching Rubin in fright as the former had his hand to her mouth.
"That moron," Rubin snorted to himself in disgust. "Well, that was close," he added aloud. "Let's go find the control room, then…"
"Wait! What about Sapph?" Haley demanded.
"My brother always is more trouble than he's worth to me," Rubin replied unfazedly. "Don't worry, he's always in trouble when we were younger. Finding the control room and shutting down this airship is more important…"
"What could be more important than your brother?!" Haley gasped in surprise.
"What do you think we can do against two 'Captains', Haley? Especially as you don't have a single Pokémon on you?" Rubin demanded shortly.
"We can't just leave him!" Haley insisted.
Rubin exhaled quickly and said, "Listen, Haley. If we can sink this air ship, the authorities can handle the Shadow grunts and their captains. Sapph can look after himself until we cripple the flight apparatus and render this ship grounded!"
"Well, I'm going to look for Sapph… I don't like him much," Haley said, blushing as she said so in response to Rubin's inquisitive stare. "But we can't leave him alone! He's your brother, for crying out loud!"
Exhaling softly, Rubin turned an exasperated eye on the female researcher in training and said, "You're serious, aren't you?"
Haley just glared.
"Well, only if you insist…" Rubin began.
"I do."
Holy Celebi… Rubin moaned despondently.
***
Darn… another locked door, Crimson said dejectedly, staring at the heavy sliding door that impeded the group's progress.
Do you really think Haley's here, Bubbles? Pixy asked the Water Hare hopefully.
Can't tell, Pixy. Like I can't read the sign, Bubbles informed her nervous team mate sadly.
Who cares what the sign says? Zen interrupted brashly. Let's break it down and find out!
NO! Crimson yelled nervously. We can't go around breaking down every doorway we see, Zen! They'll catch on to us!
If they haven't already, dumba**, Vapor supplied arrogantly.
Fine, fine, Zen said coldly. Then, flashing an evil grin he called, Yo, Blitzkrieg!
The vacantly placated Water/Electric type looked up sorrowfully. Pixy's worry seemed contagious.
Say, Blitzie, Zen went on, smiling at the Sparkewt whilst remaining carefully out of the Five Star Pokémon's view, as he consulted the others on what to do. Want some candy?
Blitzkrieg's face lit up almost instantly. He smiled happily as he nodded his head vigorously.
It's behind the door over there, Zen went on in a seductively enticing voice. Can't you hear it, Blitzie?
Blitzie hears it! Blitzie hears it! Blitzkrieg intoned happily.
Well, why don't you free the candy? Zen asked innocently.
Yay! Free the candeeeeeeeee… Blitzkrieg cried happily, leaping to his feet and charging the door exuberantly.
What the… Blitzkrieg… NOOO! Crimson yelled too late as a loud crunching noise rent the air. Soon all that was left of the Electric Newt was a Blitzkrieg-shaped hole and a long, drawn-out ecstatic noise of …eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
All the others glared at Zen, who looked confrontational and said in a defensive voice, "What? I tried to stop him, you know!
After staring suspiciously at the Combatant Pokémon for a moment longer, the others followed Blitzkrieg into the room, who they found staring at the walls in open-mouthed shock. The walls were lined with row upon row of cages, each one housing a Pokémon stolen from the Pidgey Postal Service. A strange contraption stood on the upper landing of the circular room, seemingly composed of thick wires and tubes, which ran from every cage to the top.
Blitzkrieg stared at the cages for a moment and said, Are… they all… c-candy?
Like, afraid not, Blitzie, Bubbles said in wonder, also awed by the strange sight the room offered.
No… candy? Blitzkrieg said, his lower lip trembling. Zenny lied?
Sorry, baby. That's the way of the world, Zen said calmly staring around and looking unconcerned for the Electric Newt Pokémon's feelings.
No… no candy? WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!! Blitzkrieg bawled, loosing bolts of lightning in his anguish, causing Pixy to jump in fright and fire off an Ember attack which almost hit Ace, who'd flown upwards quickly in her bid to stay out of the literal line of fire.
Blitzie, like, calm down! Bubbles implored her oversensitive teammate, unable to get close due to the electricity he was building up.
BLITZIE WANT CANDY! Blitzkrieg bawled, ignoring his teammate.
Blitzkrieg, enough! Ento said sharply. You will give away our position!
Too late! Zen said, pointing to the upper landing. We have company!
For a group of weedy looking men in white lab coats had come running to see what the fuss was about. Looking into the lower level of the room, they noticed the Pokémon assembled there.
"Himmel!" One of them gasped. "Were they not the Pokémon Kayla and Andre were meant to have sent in for the test run of the Life to Energy Converter 5000?"
"Release the security Pokémon!" A second man yelled to his comrades. "They will deal with this intrusion soon enough!"
"Intruder alert! Set instructions to 'Destroy'!" Yet another one yelled, after getting over the shock of spotting the gaggle of Pokémon and slamming a red button. Doors opened all around the lower level, out of which stepped a horde of evil-looking steel Pokémon of three kinds; Magnemites that looked like carbon copied of Silver, Trispio like the ones Anuvi had seen drag Sapph and Haley away, and a third kind that looked like large steel balls which seemed to have flat arms and legs capable of wrapping around their bodies. Their evil green eyes glared at the Pokémon who were apparently trapped like Rattata.
Now what, Captain? Ace said staring back at the creatures that outnumbered them forty to one.
Isn't it obvious? Zen grinned at the red Bug type Pokémon.
Well… I guess it can't be helped now, Crimson said, rolling his eyes. Looks like you get to have your battle, Zen.
Alright, let's rock! Vapor and Mace yelled in unison.
Winner gets the loser's lunches! Zen yelled, charging the horde before him, seeking out his first 'frag'.
Zen, get back here! Crimson called, dodging a line of Stringshot and retaliating with Mach Punch, causing the offending Trispio to shudder greatly, but not much else.
Bubbles and Ento sent streams of water slamming into the opposing hordes of Steel Pokémon, stunning them but not quite defeating them. Blitzkrieg was given a wide berth by both sides as he blindly pummeled all that stood in his path with furiously powerful Thunderpunches in his fury, yelling Where's my candy? Gimme my candy!
There're too many of them, Captain! Ace yelled, blowing away another three of them with Cyclone. I'm guessing we're outnumbered fifty to one!
Acutally, ratio of enemies to allies presently stands at thirty nine point four-four-seven to one, Silver droned, frying various Magnemites with well-placed Thunder Waves. Thirty nine point two-three to one… thirty ei-aaaargggh! Silver screeched, having been blasted into next Wednesday by a violent flash of multiple Thunderbolts. Health levels… presently… zero percent… abandoning resistance efforrrrrtsssss… a smoking Silver droned as he lay on the floor, defeated.
Two more Magnemites went down as a bright white light burst from Mace as he evolved into a larger Sea Urchin-like Pokémon. Green leaves sprouted from the top of his head as he stood an extra one foot three inches taller. His yellowish green upper body was now punctuated all over with nasty looking spines on which two beady black eyes glared down at his fallen foes. Turning to face Vapor on his two conspicuous green feet, he grinned and called, How was that?
Sorry… evolving doesn't count, Vapor grunted coolly as he flash froze another three with a well placed Ice Beam. Four frags!
SEVEN! Zen yelled, knocking three Champall for a loop with a flying Rolling Kick. Just then, about a dozen random steel types flew overhead through the air, smoking all over as they squealed feebly. The three of them stared around from their source and saw a scared-looking Pixy, smoking slightly at the mouth as she looked horrified at the power her attack had taken, apologizing over and over for what she'd done in her panic.
Crap, we're losing to someone who doesn't want to fight! Vapor thought aghast as he nailed another Trispio with an Iron Tail (another attack Haley had purchased from Green Hill City's Odds and Ends).
The Steel army catching wind of Pixy's ability, decided the Fox Pokémon was their greatest threat. Two Trispio ganged up on her, binding her feet with Stringshot whilst a third knocked her out with Body Slam.
Pixy! Bubbles screamed, yelling in pain a split second later as two Magnemite shot her down with sizzling bolts of golden electricity. Another one aimed at Ace who went into a Cyclone attack, hitting the Thunderbolt dead on and turning the serpentine twister into a hurricane of lightning which attack all the remaining Magnemite, KO'ing them in one shot. A sneak attack from Two Trispio had the Swoop Pokémon cartwheeling through the air, dizzy but otherwise unhurt.
Crimson meanwhile was elsewhere, battling through the hordes of Trispio and Champall with an alternating barrage of regular Comet Punches and Mach Punches, causing much damage to the opposition, but not enough too quickly due to the panicked nature of his attacks missing a large number of targets.
"Destroy them! Destroy them all!" The scientists screamed from atop the balcony overlooking the brutality that was a free-for-all battle between ten of Sapph and Haley's Pokémon versus a seemingly endless horde of Steel type Pokémon. Wing Attacks, Thunderbolts, Aura Spheres, Ice Beams, Pin Missiles, Water Guns and Bubblebeams flew all over the place as Crimson and the others battled the Trispio, Champall and Magnemite hordes that swarmed around them.
Urgh! Zen gasped as a Bullet Punch from a Champall sent him flying into a crate filled with four foot lengths of steel pipe. A split second later, the offending Steel/Fighting Type was sent flying courtesy of a swift Razor Leaf, courtesy of Mace.
NINE! Mace roared in triumph before a couple of Magnemite whizzed overhead thanks to Crimson's Mach Punch.
Zen shook his head to clear away the grogginess and studied what he'd landed on more closely. A smirk escaped his lips as he hefted a pipe length (which seemed light, yet durable) and twirling it over his head, brought it down swiftly on a retreating Trispio who was keen on avoiding Ento's Bubblebeam. The Trispio went flat, spirals replacing its eyes in classic 'knocked out' position.
Hey! No weapons allowed! Vapor snarled indignantly, quickly sending another two Trispio into submission with a swift Water Pulse attack.
That wasn't in the rule book, Zen called back with a grin, laying into six Champall and knocking them into the walls of the lab and the cages that lined them with a display of impressive Kung Fu quarter staff kata. Oh, by the way, that chalks up sixteen, he added, pivoting on the 'pole' and sending another Magnemite soaring into Bubbles and Blitzkrieg's combined Water Gun and Thunderpunch attacks.
Vapor muttered darkly for a moment before Mace's yell of THIRTEEN! snapped him out of his predicament in time to dodge a Spider Web attack.
There was no way he was going to eat Zen's lunch… especially if Sapph made it.
"Quickly, whilst they fight their battle royale, throw the switch!" One scientist hissed to another as the battle waged on.
His companion nodded slightly and let his hand drift almost aimlessly towards the lever that would start the horrible process. Grasping it tightly, he pulled it down hard, starting the device with many a flashing of lights. The scientists let out a horrible laughter of triumph as the machine began drawing the life force of the caged Flying types all around into their cells.
"It works! IT WORKS!" One of them shrieked, watching Piyo struggle against the sensation of weakness that over came him swiftly. As his eyes drooped, many a Pidgey passed out, twitching feebly as the Pidgeotto swooned dizzily in their cages, letting out feeble caws of protest as death welcomed them.
A split second later, however, there was a flash of green light and the switch spun through the air before his eyes. A second blast of greenish yellow light flashed through the air and struck the machine, rendering it obsolete. The scientists shrieked in horror as two green forms sailed through the air into the room, their eyes locked on the scientists with hatred, their tails glowing green with natural power.
Take this! Anuvi and Lavender yelled in unison, launching simultaneous Leaf Blade attacks at the scientists' feet, blowing them backwards into the wall and knocking them out.
Anuvi! Bubbles yelled in triumph as the Pidgey who were still alive and the Pidgeotto cawed, their voices gaining strength by the second and Piyo regarded his saviours benignly.
Lavender? Is that you? Crimson gasped as he stared at the Leafeon as it shone with a green light and reverted back to her Eevee form.
Yep! Did ya miss me, Crimson? Lavender replied perkily.
And it's nice to see you too, Crimson, Anuvi grunted, launching a third Leaf Blade attack which somehow took out four Trispio in one shot.
Likewise, I'm sure, Crimson said nervously, slightly cowed by the Mongle's surprising increase in strength.
Pixy, hit Lavender with Ember, quickly! Anuvi roared, nailing another two Champall with Leaf Blade.
But that'll hurt her! Pixy groaned from the floor.
Yeah, Anuvi! Have you flipped? Crimson bellowed, striking another one with two Mach Punches.
DO IT! Lavender yelled, catching onto the Mongle's plan.
Pixy closed her eyes as she consented to the plan, spraying the Eevee with red hot fireballs and sending the littler Pokémon flying. In midair, however, Lavender glowed reddish orange and grew again, her tail growing more and bushier as a small, flame-shaped tuft of yellow fur blossomed on her forehead. A split second later, a red-furred Flareon flipped out of the light, readying a large ball of flame in her sharp-toothed mouth as her blue eyes locked onto a gaggle of Trispio and Champall.
EVERYBODY, JUMP! Anuvi called, and they did so, Bubbles lifting Pixy into the air as Crimson lifted the bound Zen. A split second later, Lavender unleashed a stream of humungous fire from her maw which scorched all the Steel types who were too slow, wiping them all out in a tidal wave of intense fire.
Lavender landed and morphed back into her original Normal type form, completely wiped out from all the evolving she'd done that day. The others landed and rushed up to check on her.
Good job, Lavender! Anuvi beamed at the worn-out Eevee. Knew you had it in you!
Heh, heh, Lavender smirked back, her eyes half closed.
Well, all that's left is to destroy that machine, right? Crimson asked Anuvi.
Right, Anuvi smiled back.
Well then, allow me! Mace cried, running towards the contraption as he pulsated, flashing red all the while.
Mace… NOOOOO!!! Anuvi yelled as the Urchane flashed red furiously all too late…
BOOM!!!
"Hah! Nowhere to run now, Sapph Manson!" Zula crowed triumphantly as the two captains cornered Sapph on a catwalk that ran along the outer shell of the Javelin.
Sapph, staring over the railing realized that running to the outer deck was a bad idea. The airship was five hundred feet in the air and rising fast. The sight of Chinooka City shrinking rapidly before his eyes made him feel nauseous. The air blowing wildly about made him grip the rail tightly and hold on like a limpet as his cap was blown off.
Crap… Sapph thought dejectedly, watching his favourite headgear fly off into the wild blue unknown. That hat was lucky!
"That's as far as you go, Team Shadow!" A voice yelled out from behind the captains as Rubin and Haley charged out onto the catwalk and cornered them.
Thanks a million, Celebi, Sapph groaned mentally, rolling his eyes at the heavens. Having my brother rescue me only makes me feel so much better…
"I'm so afraid, hero!" Zula cackled arrogantly, staring at the older Manson in disdain. "Imagine, Vulca… we've been trapped by three noobs with no Pokémon!"
"I believe that one noob with no Pokémon, one determined lady and one trainer with Pokémon," Rubin smiled back.
Sapph couldn't believe what he was hearing. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING A NOOB, YOU B******?!"
Haley was stunned too. He called me a lady! Legaeria, I think I'm going to swoon!
Rubin wasn't smiling anymore. "Funny thing to call someone who's come to help you Sapph!" He called above the rushing winds.
"Oh, yeah?!" Sapph retorted. "Well, in cases like this, 'help' is only one letter away from 'hell' to me!"
Before another word could be yelled out, a noise louder than anyone could muster burst out unexpectedly… burning images into the trainers' eyes that they'd not soon forget.
In Vulca and Zula's eyes, it burned the image of a wall of fire that separated them from their prey…
In Rubin's eyes, it blazed a picture of his brother that he assumed would be his last…
For Haley, it was the scene of a friend's end…
…and for Sapph Manson it blazed the picture of Chinooka City from five thousand feet up, rushing up to meet him so violently fast it would be his end…
…to be continued?
***
Whoo, that took too long to write… damn laziness and seminars… I got nothing left to sling at y'all, so I think a Corei-Dex update is in order!
Name: [url="."]Urchane[/url]
Corei-Dex Number: 091
Species: Urchin
Pronunciation: UH-kane
Element: Water/Grass
Height: 3'07"
Weight: 84kgs
Name Derivation: URCHin + bANE
Evolution line: Urchane usually follow this evolutionary line:
Urkid -(28)- Urchane
Author's/Artist's Note: Incessantly troublesome, they enjoy floating near boat hulls which get shredded on its prickly hide.
Next time (Sapph voiceover): Man, this falling from great heights-cliffhanger thing is getting really old… this is what? The third time?! Just hope it's not the last time I do anything… Next on TCQ - Chapter Twenty One: Ace on the Airwaves! DON'T MISS IT!