As one of my reviewers pointed out, I've got a bad habit of ending chapters on cliffhangers. This time there isn't one, but it feels strange to me and I almost added in something interesting before bumping it to the next chapter instead. It's an impulse that's difficult to curb!

I'll probably edit this a bit later because I'm still a little unsatisfied with it, but for now I'll sleep on it and get to that in the morning. :)

Enjoy.

Chapter 82
Budding Trust

Kenta tossed his bangs out of his face as he rushed toward the Crystal System. The ground shook violently, yanking at his ankles and threatening to trip him. He stumbled but fought to keep his balance. The monstrous form of Steelix had unearthed itself entirely, deadly intent in its stoic eyes. It towered over the skeletal machine in preparation to assault his and his friend's Pokémon. The boy gritted his teeth and pressed forward with all his might. He stopped in front of the Crystal System, throwing his hands out.

Panic erupted behind him as Typhlosion and Meganium barked desperately for him to move. Raikou jerked its head in his direction, its wild eyes open wide.

But he remained locked in place. He gave no sign of fear, standing deep within shadow of the steel snake. Jackson caught up to him and took a similar defensive stance at his side. Kenta's gaze hardened, clenching his fists. There was no time to argue for his friend's safety.

"Don't be stupid!" Eusine shouted from afar. "Get away! You'll be crushed!"

Steelix bellowed a formidable boom—not a warning, but a declaration that it would not exhibit mercy on the tiny humans. It lunged toward them with ruthless fury.

No! Kenta thought, his brash inner words drowning out the gentleman's. I won't let it hurt them!

Something small grazed the corner of his vision. Before he could turn away from the danger looming over him, a brief flash blinded his eyes and a Pokémon with a long neck took shape in front of him.

"Water Pulse, Lapras!"

He glanced at Marina with a start. The girl arrived and stood firmly at his right, clenching her Poké Ball tight in her palm. Cool droplets flecked his cheek, and he turned back to Steelix and the creature she had released.

Lapras uttered a shrill cry, spitting out pulsing ripples of water. Steelix halted as it was drenched. The pressure of each wave forced it to lower its head and lurch backward.

"Oh yeah!" Jackson rummaged through his pockets and tossed a couple of Poké Balls. "Azumarill, Quagsire! Help us out with Bubblebeam and Water Gun!"

Two blue Pokémon appeared to aid in Lapras' assault. One of them, a round aqua rabbit, bounced forward and breathed a sharp beam of glowing bubbles. The other was calmer and unaffected by the massive size of their opponent. With a completely straight face, the Quagsire fired bullets of water above. Steelix smacked the tip of its tail about in response, opening its jaws to release a wrenching sound.

"Good idea, you two!" Kenta encouraged his friends. "Keep it up!"

Marina cast a nervous look at him. He met eyes with hers for a moment, but she quickly shifted her attention back to her Lapras. "Just keep using Water Pulse!"

Lapras hissed and led the pack of Water-type animals, forcing Steelix to keep its distance. Kenta regarded the girl Trainer and her Pokémon with quiet, increasing interest. A particular memory struck him, leaving him open mouthed.

Wait a minute, that Pokémon—.

Another earthquake wracked the area, shaking the group underfoot. He stowed the thought away for the time being and craned his neck upward. Steelix reeled about, churning the puddle beneath it into a nasty mixture of water and mud that clouded the chiseled metal segments of its body. With a furious howl, it reared and charged headfirst. It plowed through the Pokémon's defenses at a slow but certain pace, diving toward them through the mud. The three young Trainers stepped back in shock.

"Oh no, here it comes!" Jackson exclaimed in panic. "That wasn't enough to stop it?!"

Marina bit her lip and then planted a foot in front of her, shooting a determined glare. "You're not getting any closer! Lapras, Body Slam and hold it still—!"

She was interrupted by an ear piercing snarl. The strong electromagnetic field crackled and bathed their backs with a force that pulled their hair on end. They turned around, facing the Crystal System. Raikou struggled in midair and kicked at the machine's waiflike structure whenever it could reach. But the barrier ensnaring it began fluctuating. Its translucent purple hue faded as it was surrounded by threatening sparks.

A cold shiver went down Kenta's spine. He grabbed Marina's shoulder.

"You have to go!" Even as her face fell in distress, he whirled around to Jackson. "Both of you, before you get caught in the blast!"

"What?! No! What about you?" Marina argued.

Jackson regarded his order with just as much heated disagreement. "No way! We aren't leaving you behind! We'll defend Raikou to the end!"

Kenta dropped his shoulders with tender understanding. "You guys…"

The three stuck close together and courageously faced the Steelix barreling toward them. Their Pokémon in front of them gave their all to slow its progress, while the ones behind them fought hard to break through the Crystal System's field. Raikou howled, but was drowned out by a deafening crack. A swift gust whipped at them, stifling their ears. The Trainers closed their eyes and braced themselves for the full brunt of the failing barrier's eruption.

But nothing came. They remained tense when light showered over their shoulders. Realizing they were in no danger, they looked about in anxious puzzlement.

Electricity soared above them like a shooting star. The form of the Legendary Beast jumped freely past the line of water Pokémon, the bright energy trailing behind it as if it were an extension of its being.

"Raikou!" Kenta exclaimed.

The vigorous tiger bashed into Steelix before it collided with Lapras, roaring and stopping it in its tracks. Veins of electricity coursed across Steelix's damp body, causing it to wince. It recoiled only to be struck by a thick bolt of lightning, which Raikou added onto as it released the rest of its excessive energy. The force hurled Steelix into the plateau, and the giant serpent collapsed with a final grand tremor.

Buson, watching from above, was careful not to stray too close to the edge of the cliff as the quake ended. He stepped back in incredulous dismay. "What the hell!? I thought its electricity was being absorbed!"

"It's taken too much damage!" Bashou stated. "Raikou overpowered it before the crystal's field could explode. Our perfect system…!"

Buson gritted his teeth. "I hate to say it, but it's been compromised. I think this is it."

A harsh breath slipped out of his accomplice's mouth. The silver-haired man recalled his unconscious Pokémon and scanned the area, searching for another possible option.

"Nothing we can do," Bashou ultimately said. "Let us retreat."

Kenta glanced back at the Crystal System. It now sat quietly—its ongoing hum silenced and its field dissipated. Weak, erratic static danced over the black crystal, which was cracked and fragmented in its dented frame.

"It broke…"

"Whew," Jackson gave a heavy sigh, "I hope it stays that way this time!"

"You said it."

Their battle worn Pokémon sauntered over to them, especially Typhlosion and Meganium, who rushed around the disabled Crystal System and over to the boys. Jackson laughed off their concerns, recalling Azumarill and Quagsire while giving his hardworking starter Pokémon a few pats on the back. Typhlosion, meanwhile, slowed to a stop in front of Kenta, who ruffled its fire-retardant fur with a proud grin. Spear the Beedrill soon followed, resting its buzzing wings as it stood beside its companions.

"Great job hanging in there, Typhlosion," he praised. "You too, Spear."

Typhlosion suddenly buried its face into his hoodie. Laughing, Kenta petted it with a strong but reassuring grip.

Rushed footsteps caught his attention. Marina sprinted past him and over to Lapras, who had begun hissing at Raikou in apprehension. Raikou ignored the noisy threat, focusing its protective glare on Team Rocket.

"It's okay… It's okay, Lapras," she said, offering a smile. She hesitated getting closer, but ran a gentle hand down Lapras' long neck. "Raikou's not an enemy."

Lapras still appeared uneasy at first. But her Trainer's words had a calming effect, which quieted the feral growling. She lowered her head to Marina's level and closed her eyes; a small sign of trust. Marina took this with a soft sigh. Her smile grew a little wider, and she whispered some soothing praise before returning the Pokémon.

The Poké Ball she used was the classic apple red—different from the unnatural azure hue engrained in Kenta's memories.

It was then that the boy noticed a twinge of fear on her face. Marina had followed Raikou's gaze, and what she saw caused her falter submissively. Concerned, he looked up the cliff to where the poachers still stood. Rather than eyeing the Legendary Beast freed from their grasp, Bashou and Buson gazed in their direction. Bashou in particular wore an expression that Kenta couldn't identify—other than that it was intensely directed at Marina.

Why is he…?

Kenta scowled and closed the distance between him and his friend. She was snapped out of her daze as he stood beside her defensively. They were joined by Jackson, who had caught onto this as well. Along with their Pokémon, the Trainers stood together and sent the intimidating look right back at Team Rocket.

Bashou made a twitch of a smirk, but he signaled Buson and they both turned tail. Their cargo plane exhaled dust, rising up and taking to the sky. They fled toward the rugged north, sailing out of the Johto region itself.

"Hah, they're running!" Kenta pointed out with amusement.

"Sucks to be them; there's nothing but wasteland out there!" Jackson pumped a fist into the air. "And never come back, you hear me?!"

Marina smiled at her supportive friends, turning into a laugh in relief.

"Are all of you okay?" asked Eusine. He ran over to them with his Hypno at his side, and she turned to him and nodded.

"Yeah, we're fine!"

"You know that was incredibly reckless of you three to stand right in front of the Crystal System, don't you?"

"Well—but Raikou was in trouble. I just wasn't thinking."

"But of course! I am not scolding you," Eusine exclaimed and smoothly slipped a hand into his pocket. "Not much, anyway. I would have done the very same for Suicune."

Marina released a giggle while the boys grinned in response.

They were interrupted by a growl from Raikou, and they turned to see it circling the Crystal System from a hesitant distance. The beast shone brightly as it fired a mighty thunderbolt. Without the means to protect itself any longer, the abandoned device buckled under the pressure. The gem at its center busted apart, and the Crystal System burst into flames and collapsed into melting, charred pieces.

Another smoke trail wandered into the sky, mirroring the one coming faintly from Buson's destroyed robot. The abnormal storm clouds were vanquished by the light blue sky, allowing the sun and natural clouds to fully encompass the area once again.

"Welp, there it goes…" Jackson said in breathless awe.

"Good going, Raikou!" Kenta called. His face fell slightly, however, as he failed to find the beast. "Raikou? Where did it…?"

Everyone else had been equally distracted by the destructive display, having also lost track of it. They searched around them, but it didn't take long to spot the stark yellow fur in the distance.

Raikou stood beyond the other side of the canyon, watching them. Kenta smiled calmly as the group stared back at the beast with tranquil relief.

"Thank goodness," Marina said and placed a hand over her chest. "It looks like it's okay now."

"Perhaps when Raikou broke through the Crystal System, it returned some of Raikou's power," Eusine pondered.

A light spring breeze brushed through them, causing ripples on the puddles nearby. Raikou finally moved, turning fully toward them. It bowed its head low. The feline then whirled around, bounding over the hills and forests while barking an invigorated cry. It disappeared from sight within seconds, and the Trainers and their Pokémon watched until they could see it no longer.

"I think he trusts humans just a little more now…" Kenta cupped his cheeks and called out, "Raikou! Let's meet again someday!"

His solitary words reverberated in the air. After a few quiet seconds, a distant roar called back in return. As its echoes graced the area, it resembled the sound of rumbling thunder.

"It replied to you!" Marina spun around to Kenta with her eyes glistening in delight.

Elated, the boy grinned widely and let out a laugh. "Okay!" He moved in an uncharacteristically dramatic way as he held out his fist with a thumb up. "Perfect!"

An odd atmosphere replaced the tranquil one.

"Kenta, what the heck was that?" Jackson asked him. Marina turned away and succumbed to a fit of giggles.

"Wha—?" Kenta froze before quickly fixing his posture. "It's my victory pose."

"Really? It looked silly to me."

"It's the same as my dancing!" laughed Marina. She slapped her hands on her thighs as she failed to contain her amusement.

"N-No it isn't!"

"I'm so sorry, Kenta, but it totally is!"

"That was rather out of place for you," said Eusine.

"You agree?!" Kenta asked the man in disbelief. He slipped a hand through his untidy bangs, looking away. "Oh man, maybe you're right…"

They shared an awkward bout of laughter before returning to the situation at hand. Eusine called Officer Jenny to inform her of the events that had occurred. He guided her to their location on the map to investigate the wreckage left behind by Team Rocket. After waiting for her crew to arrive, Jenny questioned each one of them briefly. The Trainers were exhausted from the stressful ordeal—Kenta outright famished since he hadn't eaten anything that day or even last night—so she allowed the four to return to Route 45's Pokémon Center for the time being.

"I can't believe you didn't mention that to us earlier," Jackson said as he got in the back seat of Kudou's car. He absolutely refused to sit in any order that allowed for Kenta to be next to Marina, which puzzled Marina and annoyed Kenta. But they were too tired to argue, so they let Jackson have his way to sit in-between them.

"Mention what?" Kenta asked, closing the door and putting on his seatbelt.

"That you gave Raikou a Full Restore. I mean, that would've saved a lot of worrying about it not having enough energy to escape the Crystal System on its own, you know. We all thought it was too beaten up to fend for itself."

"Oh, well, if the Crystal System drained too much energy, then Raikou really wouldn't have been able to make it out."

"Really? Why?"

"Electric-type Pokémon get really weak if they use up all of their stored electricity," Kenta explained. The two jolted as the vehicle started and began traversing the bumpy mountain roads.

"Oh yeah, I remember that! I got you now," Jackson looked over his shoulder perkily, "You sure were brave out there, Marina. A real battling pro!"

With her head tilted away toward the window, the girl didn't respond.

He raised his eyebrows. "Marina?"

"Ma…ya…" Marina muttered unintelligibly. Her eyelids stayed loosely shut, even as her body was jerked about by the car's various unpredictable swaying.

"Woah!"

"What?" Kenta asked, leaning forward to see.

"She's asleep! How did she manage to do that? I can barely even sit still."

"This morning, she told me that she didn't get much rest," Eusine answered from the driver's seat. "All that excitement must've tuckered her out."

"Did…" Kenta paused for a moment. "Did she say she had any nightmares?"

"What? No, not at all."

"I see…"

He watched as Jackson scrambled to pick up the backpack at his feet. The boy wedged it between Marina and the car door, preventing her from hitting her head on the window as she slept. Once her cheek rested safely on the bag, Jackson leaned back and beamed at his good deed.

"There we go! A perfect pillow," he said proudly.

Kenta made a small smile and reclined into the seat, staring at the passing scenery outside his window. He held himself steady in the rocking car as his mind wandered. Gathering the events involving Raikou and Team Rocket, joy spread across his face whenever he thought about how Raikou had responded to him. Everything turned out fine, in the end—perhaps better. The beast's nod in gratitude brought hope that its faith in people was slowly being mended again.

But the recollection halted on something else. His optimism slipped a bit as a lingering question resurfaced.

Marina's Lapras…is it the same one I saw at the Ruins of Alph?