Sheesh, these weekly updates are making my head spin. I went and cleared out all the unnecessary disclaimers in the first 60 chapters too, which resulted in me speed-editing the story. It turns out I already spruced them up a year ago but never went and updated them here. Whoops! Felt like I was racing the new readers for a while there.

It was funny reading through them, though; it's been ages and things sure have changed. HGSS wasn't even a thing back then, just a theory named "GSDS". Those were the days, hm?

Enjoy.

Chapter 80
Hasty Pursuit

The fall was certainly feasible for a powerful creature like Raikou, but its current condition didn't do it any favors.

Raikou stumbled through the slanted terrain and prickly brush at a sluggish pace, attempting to catch up with the cargo plane. Fatigued and electrically paralyzed, it relied on pure adrenaline to keep it moving. The strange manmade vehicle had already sailed out of its sight, and the tiger's acute ears could no longer pick up the faint humming it produced. But it must have been going in the same general direction.

The beast hobbled onward with small running bursts. Eventually its legs buckled like jelly, and the beast collapsed with a clumsy thump. It released a snarl, its ragged breath kicking up a small patch of dust.

"Geez, this isn't my Ho-oh damned day," Raikou growled to itself.

Its scarlet eyes examined the sky, looking for any sign of dark clouds. It hoped that the girl—Marina, Aura, whatever the blue-haired girl was named—was correct. Raikou despised having to leave her behind, but there was no other option at the time. Her reasoning was solid, if only a little selfless. Hopefully Bashou and Buson would realize Raikou had escaped and turn around in pursuit.

If they did set their dastardly device up again, and Raikou managed to reach them, its injured shape would certainly get Raikou snatched back up with pathetic ease. Yet getting help was no option. Raikou couldn't sense Suicune or Entei nearby, meaning it would have to retreat a considerate distance and sacrifice a lot of time to find them. Suicune would never let Raikou hear the end of it if something unfortunate befell her, and those two humans were of the particularly horrible variety—something not very comforting for her situation.

The girl's friends were another option. She put a lot of faith in them, and the boy named Kenta seemed particularly just and true in his ways. But it was an alternative that didn't sit well with Raikou's cynical view of people.

Raikou struggled to its feet. It bounded forward only to meet the earth as its legs gave out once again. It bared its fangs when it was unable to move. A hiss escaped its mouth followed by a booming, livid roar in frustration.

There had to be a way to destroy that "Crystal System" machine. It must have limitations, and Raikou aimed to exploit the hell out of them. No matter how kindly the other people seemed, it wanted to resolve matters itself.

It was a shame that its body was too battered and debilitated to match its stubborn ideals.

A fierce howl echoed in the sky with soul-chilling potency. Pidgeot jerked backward in intimidation, while alarmed wild Pokémon fled on the ground. Kenta looked about as the reverberated through the land's cliffs and crags. He recognized it in an instant.

"Raikou?" Kenta looked at his airborne bird Pokémon. "Pidgeot, go in the direction where that came from!"

Though Pidgeot seemed unwilling, it tilted its wings and glided to the left. It circled the area for some time in search. They passed over a hill spotted with hardy shrubs, and the Pokémon gave a chirp of notification. Kenta searched and pointed out the large yellow spec below.

"Yeah! Right there!"

Pidgeot honed in on it, dropping altitude. Kenta kept an observant eye on Raikou's figure. It seemed to have collapsed, motionless even as they descended and caused a light gust to breeze through the area. There was no sign of Team Rocket or Marina. The moment they touched ground, the boy leapt off and dashed toward the immobile creature.

"Raikou!"

The beast could barely turn its head in his direction, but it sent him a seething bark. Kenta slowed but remained resolute. He spoke calmly, raising his hands in a passive manner.

"It's okay, Raikou," he told it. "It's just me."

With a disobedient snort, it turned and attempted to leave. It walked a couple cumbersome steps only to fall over. Raikou snarled loudly as it struggled to stand, and Kenta sprinted closer.

"Hey, take it easy!" He reached into his pocket and took out a small container of green healing solution. "You're hurt, right? This will help you, I promise."

Raikou narrowed its eyes, and Kenta returned the look, unruffled by its defensive behavior. They held a tense, sturdy stare. Pidgeot fluttered its wings with jittery caution—concerned for the wellbeing of its partner.

Until finally, Raikou yielded to the fact that it was in no position to lash out at the approaching boy. It reluctantly rested its head on its forelegs, quieting down. Kenta made a brief, gentle grin and knelt beside it. He used the potion with measured sprays and voiced reassurances when the medicine initially stung on contact, causing the tiger to hiss. But it relaxed a little as its pain and stiffness began to wane.

"After what happened yesterday, I thought it'd be a good idea to carry around a Full Restore just in case," Kenta explained to pass the time. He moved around to Raikou's other side with haste and made sure to cover any bruised areas as well as the entirety of its limbs—eliminating the paralysis. Though Raikou shifted a bit to test the limberness of its body, it remained still and let the boy continue with a silent, pensive gaze.

"Guess it turned out to be useful. I'm glad to see that you escaped—huh?"

Kenta paused as he combed through Raikou's bushy violet mane. Deeply locked within the curls was something glossy and metallic. Curious, he clasped his hand around it, brushing away stray hairs to reveal a small golden bell. It let out a deep, clear jingle as he turned it in his hand.

Raikou snapped at him, uttering a quick bark, and Kenta let go of it immediately.

"Oh. Sorry," he said and backed off, wearing an awkward but lighthearted smile. His vigilant Pidgeot gave a tense squawk at Raikou's behavior, and he gave it an assuring nod to pacify its anxiety. Raikou didn't respond in any significant manner, but shed its hostility when the boy decided not to get near the bell again.

When Kenta emptied the Full Restore, he pocketed it and glanced around them. He then looked back at Raikou, his expression turning troubled.

"Have you seen Marina? Did she escape with you?" he asked.

It closed its eyelids tightly, lowering its head with evident regret.

"I thought so… Do you have any idea where they went?"

Raikou turned upward, facing the direction it was headed. Kenta copied him with a rising spark of determination.

"That way?"

A growl responded in affirmation.

"Alright. Thanks."

They stood, the tiger tenderly stretching its legs. With a solid lead now in mind, Kenta fiddled with the PokéGear strapped to his sleeve. He selected the name of his friend in his contacts list, waiting as it rang.

He stumbled as he was nearly smacked in the face by Raikou's spiky tail. Raikou bounded away from him, navigating the hills and plateaus with incredible speed.

"Raikou, hold on!" Kenta tried to call it back. He watched as the beast hiked up a tall bluff and came to a stop, getting a clear view of the area. It didn't move after that, and the boy hoped it wouldn't go any further on its own as his call connected.

"Oi, Kenta! What's happening?" Jackson answered.

"I just found Raikou," Kenta replied, "It looks like it escaped from their plane."

"Really?! What about Marina?"

"She's not here. But Raikou seems to know where Team Rocket was going, so she must be wherever they are."

"Yes! Marina, I'm coming to save you! Haha!"

"Send us a signal of where you are at once," Eusine said over Jackson's celebrating, "I've found a map of the back roads around here, so we should be able to get to their location by car."

Kenta fetched his starter Pokémon's ball with his free hand, grinning with a fire in his eyes. "Right! I'm on it!"

After his Typhlosion released a bright flare into the sky, he was soon joined by Jackson and Eusine. He recalled his Pidgeot and got into the car, calling out to the Legendary Beast with their plans once they drove close enough to where it was. Raikou appeared to be disinterested in joining up with them, ignoring them outright and keeping a fair amount of space between it and the Trainers. But it seemed to almost lead them along as it searched about, never going too fast for the car to catch up.

They continued heading north. The forests shrank in volume, the landscape becoming overtaken by smaller, hardy plants. Eventually they lost sight of Raikou. Calling it out gave no response, so Kenta released his Beedrill. He ordered it to go ahead of them to scout for any signs of the ones they sought.

It was then that fair sky became clouded in unusual darkness, which Eusine pointed it out at once.

"There they are!" he called. He pressed hard on the gas, causing the car to accelerate on the rough roads and shake everyone inside.

Jackson appeared clueless. "What? What's that cloud?"

"It's that machine they were using earlier," Kenta answered with a serious frown. "Team Rocket's probably trying to trick Raikou again."

"Then they're leading us right to them? Ha! Guess there's no reason to worry about finding them now!"

Kenta was quiet as Spear flew ahead of them into a thick patch of trees. He gritted his teeth and kept a fixed glare on the artificial storm clouds.

I hope we can get to them before Raikou, he thought. Hang in there, Marina. We're almost there!

The Crystal System hummed quietly. A small string of plasma was emitted into the air from its diamond-shaped form, generating a thunderstorm above. Occasional lightning streaked through the air and caused deep rumbles of thunder to pound into the hearts of anyone nearby. Bashou and Buson were not bothered by it in the least. They stood in patient wait for their prey while keeping their little hostage in check.

Marina kept as close an eye on them as they did her. When Bashou wasn't looking, she made her movements subtle as she tried to reach for her Poké Balls. But no matter how much she shrugged her shoulders, her wrists were tied tightly together. She couldn't even knock off one of the balls to pick it up off the ground. They had restrained her too well.

It's no use. She thought and relaxed in defeat.

It was uncertain how long they were waiting. Without a clock, she couldn't tell. The two men remained persistent, their commitment to the task resolute. She could only watch from where she knelt on the ground. At some point, she took a deep breath to keep herself focused. Her lack of sleep attempted to get the best of her—now that her adrenaline had tapered down and nothing else was happening. She stubbornly shook it off, looking around to find anything to aid her in a possible escape.

The only thing she could really do was try to stand and run away. But Bashou had her in his peripheral vision at all times, so the chances of that working were incredibly slim. She gave up on it, at least for now until something eventful distracted him.

Still…Every time I get involved with Team Rocket, someone else always has to come to my rescue, she pondered unhappily. What a Champion I'd be. I won't let this happen again next time. I'll stand my ground!

"We've got an incoming from six o' clock!" Buson shouted. He had positioned himself near the Crystal System at the bottom of the cliff, looking down at the radar on his robot.

"Is it Raikou?" asked Bashou.

"No, it's not emitting electricity!"

Buzzing filled the air, and a Beedrill emerged from the woods lining the valley. It hovered about in a passive manner, paying little mind to the cautious looks it garnered. When the Pokémon stopped in the air before her and Bashou, Marina leaned forward with a hopeful start.

Wait, is that Kenta's? Spear? She gave it a pleading stare, and it tilted its head and retreated back into the forest. Hopeful anxiety perked in her heart as her senses picked up the sound and sight of a red car closing in on their location.

"Damn! They're coming back again?! How did they find us so quickly?" Buson exclaimed.

Bashou seemed only a little bothered. "Your hero is pretty diligent to follow us this far," he said to Marina without looking at her. "Buson, get ready for another fight."

"Gotcha!"

The vehicle zipped out of the brush and came to a halt at a close but safe distance from the Crystal System. The three watched as the other trio leapt out of the car, especially the younger two who almost sprinted to their feet to face them. Buson took his typical pose by folding his thick arms and standing over them in his bipedal machine.

"Hah! So the Hero Boy returns!" he goaded Kenta with an intimidating smirk.

"No chit-chat!" Jackson demanded and pointed at them. "What did you do with Marina?! You'd better tell us!"

"There's no need to worry," Bashou called from where he stood. He bent down and grabbed the ropes holding Marina, dragging her to her feet.

The boys left their mouths agape upon seeing her. Unable to speak from the cloth covering her mouth, Marina returned their gaze nervously. Though they seemed so close, a whole cliff and more separated them.

Bashou was cool and serious in the face of their astonished reactions. He placed a hand on his hip and said, "As you can see, she is fine, though she is a bit constrained at the moment."

Jackson broke out of his horrified stupor and lunged out. He was held back by Kenta, who restrained his arms as the brown-haired boy flailed wildly in anger.

"You tied her up?! Why you! You're lucky Kenta's holding me back because I—!"

"Calm down," Kenta exclaimed, somehow placating his friend. He gave Bashou and Buson a heated glare of his own. "Now turn off that machine and let Marina go!"

"Yeah! That shouldn't be tough for you since you let Raikou go too," Jackson called out with a sneer. "Hehe! Serves you right!"

"Oh, I'm so going to cry," Buson sarcastically responded. He glanced at Marina. "That damn girl was the one that let Raikou escape, not us."

"And now she is suffering the consequences," Bashou added. "Concerning Raikou, why are you putting out so much effort for the sake of a mere animal? As you said, Raikou has rejected mankind. Even if you were to rescue it, it wouldn't so much as thank you for it."

"You're wrong!" Kenta yelled so that his reply was clearly heard. He moved away from Jackson and clenched a fist at them. "It's only because of evil people then and now that he thinks that way. But Raikou knows there's a difference between you and us. We helped Raikou, and it trusts us in return!"

Lightning lit the area followed by a crack of thunder, as though in vehement agreement. Buson just laughed.

"Oh, acting cool, Hero Boy?" he said mockingly. "Think you're buddies with it now, yeah?"

"I see," Bashou mused in a rather understanding but stern manner. "You're set in your ways. I understand what you're thinking now… However, no matter how hard you try, Raikou will not escape the pull of the Crystal System."

Kenta made a confident grin. "Raikou wont' be tricked a second or third time!"

Their talk was interrupted by a bright flash. A sideways thunderbolt streamed between them, aimed right for the Crystal System. Marina watched with a rising fear as the device began to absorb and processes the energy.

Raikou?!

There was no sign of the beast anywhere; not even its powerful roar could be heard echoing in the air. The machine seemed to delay reflecting the energy to its assailant. Unable to determine where the attack originated from, it sent the electricity back in random directions. The bolts lashed out everywhere, nearly striking Kenta and Jackson as it blasted into a tree behind them.

Buson evaded the attacks with some effort, gritting his teeth and searching around him. "We've got you now, Raikou… Where are you?!"

He was answered by another anonymous attack sent into the Crystal System. Again, it delayed before releasing the energy in all ways around it. This time one of the lightning bolts soared over where Bashou and Marina stood, and he let go of her to shield himself. The girl flinched, crying out.

"Raikou is using the Crystal's counterattack to assault us!" Bashou exclaimed. Marina turned to him and then the Crystal System below. Her friends resorted to seeking the ground for safety, especially as Raikou remotely sent yet another attack toward the device.

Oh no, she thought with an alarming start. That means we're in the way!

The next wave was unleashed without any restraint. Marina barely had time to process it as lightning headed in their direction. It struck the ground beneath them, causing the cliff's edge to crumble. The impact shoved her further away from her captor. She considered running when the earth under her feet fell away. She looked down just as the wind howled and sucked her downward. Her stomach churned horribly and she let out a scream, alerting Bashou too late to catch her. The image of the man was replaced by an unforgiving cliff face as she fell.

"No, no, no!" she cried out. "Help!"

She couldn't hear anything aside from the wind. It was swiftly replaced by a noisy buzzing, and she closed her eyes as something tightly gripped her waist. Her gut still jumped, making her nauseous.

A light vertigo hit her as she saw her legs dangling high up in the air. The deafening buzzing continued, and she looked up to see the large red eyes of Spear the Beedrill. She released a heavy sigh. The handkerchief had slipped off of her face, and she took the fresh air with appreciation

"Thank you, Spear," she said to the giant bee, which quipped a small hum in return.

Spear flew over Buson and his robot, the man watching them with a look she couldn't discern. However, she could see the vivacity in her friends running toward her as Spear began lowering itself in their direction.

Marina smiled, but a hoarse screech interrupted her brief moment of relief. She glanced over her shoulder. Beyond Spear's translucent, fast-beating wings was the sharp image of Buson's Skarmory. It soared toward them with a threatening chirp, closing in on them fast. Marina tried to shake out of her restraints and looked up at Spear. If it weren't carrying the girl, it could probably manage to out speed the metal bird, but as it was now there was no chance of easily evading it while keeping a good grip on her.

"Hurry, we're being chased!" she tried to rush it. "Try to land!"

Spear descended at an increasing pace. Marina heard Kenta give an order, but his Pokémon obeyed before she could figure out what it was. Weightlessness befell her again, and a razor sharp whistle grazed her ear as Skarmory skimmed between the two. Skarmory began to dive toward Marina, but Spear darted in front of it and distracted the bird with a flurry of needles. It gave a surprised squawk and retaliated instead of going after her, attempting to slice the bee with its sharp wings.

Helpless, the girl's face twisted in frustration and fear as she fell. Watching the battle above and listening to the voices of her friends below, her breath hitched and she braced herself for impact.

Uh oh, cliffhanger. Well in this case, she already fell off it.

Marina's Current Pokémon:
King the Quilava (Male)
Phany the Donphan (Male)
Muu-chan the Misdreavus (Female)
Prince the Espeon (Male)
Amber the Plusle (Female)
Lapras (Female)

Available via PC:
Kenya the Fearow (Male)
Etc.