With their target in mind, Nate and Grunt re-stationed themselves at the NAA base in Mt. Coronet and prepared to set out. While Snowpoint City is a small city, there is only a single route that can be taken to reach the city, prompting the two to send scouts ahead for traps.
"What have you heard from your people Nate?" Grunt asked all ready in his Knight and set to go at the base of the mountain.
"They can't see into the forest leading up to the city but this Shady character seems to have the bulk of his forces concentrated in the city." Nate replied floating in his AK a short distance away. "What about your ground troops?"
"They've reported quite a few traps along the road to the city. It ain't even gonna be easy gettin' there."
"How do you want to play it?" The AK pilot asked.
"You know there's only one way to get past a trap... and that's to spring it!" Grunt replied as he shot down the road.
"I'll send a couple AKs in case you need bailing out. The rest of us will try and soften up the city for ya."
"Sounds like a plan!" Grunt replied with traps activating in the background. "I'll meet you there!"
"Let's go everybody!" Nate called, leading his modestly sized AK core toward the rebelling city. By air the trip only took a few minutes before the AKs were on top of Snowpoint City and taking fire.
"Sir! They've got Knight blasters down there firing at us!" One pilot said, slightly shaken. "What are your orders?"
"Melee units stay away from the frontlines for now. You'll be sitting ducks while you descend to the city." Nate called. "Those equipped with blasters should take evasive actions and start firing back. See if you can make an opening for our Melee units to get down there."
"And what about you?" Another person asked.
"I'll provide support and try to take out a few of their blasters while I look for the commander. Anyone feeling unsure about evasive maneuvers should get behind me! Sonic Barrier!"
An invisible wall of sound materialized in front of Nate protecting him and those behind him from the relentless barrage of blaster fire.
"Let's take a few of these guys out shall we?" Nate said after settling in. "On my mark, I'll drop the barrier. I need two people to deflect the fire so that I can launch a Sonicboom. Can you do that?"
"Yes sir!" Came the quick reply from two nearby pilots.
"Ok then. Let's do this!" Nate replied as the pilots readied their swords. "Three, two, one... Now!"
At the signal, the two pilots jumped in fron of Nate and began deflecting fire with their swords. Their leader quickly zeroed in on a target and yelled "Sonicboom!"
A compressed wave of sound energy flew toward its target and destroyed the blaster. "Switch off! Sonic Barrier!" Nate cried soon afterwords, switching back to the defensive formation. "That worked pretty well. Wanna do it again?"
After a few more switch offs, the blaster fire from the ground began to wane, allowing Nate to focus on locating the enemy commander.
"Sir! We've received word of a Delibird running around and giving orders on the ground." An AK pilot called over the roar of battle. "Could he be the Commander you're looking for?"
"He matches the description so probably. Those blasters should be running out of power soon. Once they do charge in and wreck havoc!"
Following the soldier's description, it didn't take Nate long to descend to the ground and cut off the small Delibird.
"You keep awfully busy down here." Nate quipped as he landed in front of his foe.
"Well you know what they say: A Delibird's gotta Hustle." The enemy commander responded. "It's an honor to meet the legendary AK pilot Nate in person."
"What am I supposed to be flattered?"
"No but it should be enough to get your defenses down. Present Barrage!" Reaching into his bag, Shady pulled out a handful of presents, each containing a small explosive and threw them at his unaware opponent.
Nate barely had time to pull up his sword before the presents exploded. As the smoke cleared, Nate was met with a charging Delibird who delivered the first blow, an Ice Punch to the face, which sent the AK pilot sliding backwards.
"Sort of a cheap trick don't ya think?" Nate quipped as he tried to recover from the attack.
"All's fair in love and war." Shady replied, rushing in with an Aerial Ace attack. "And this is war!"
This attack was met on Nate's blade and the two began to exchange blows. However, neither one seemed to be able to land a hit. Every swing of Nate's sword was met by Shady's Aerial Ace and vice versa.
The first to find the tactic ineffective was Nate. He quickly backed away and yelled, "Sonicboom!"
"Icy Wind!" Was the counterattack from his opponent. As the sound wave approached, it was stopped dead in its tracks by the cold air Shady produced.
"You can't keep that up forever!" Nate yelled defiantly. "Sonicboom! Rapid Fire!"
"You'd be surprised at what I'm capable of!" The Delibird replied. "Blizzard!"
Just as before, the sound waves were stopped in midair by the cold wind, resulting in a cloud of smoke. Rather than continuing to attack from afar, Nate charged through the smoke with sword raised.
Realizing too late that the Sonicbooms were merely a feint, Shady was forced to take a direct hit from the sword, before using Aerial Ace to block once more.
"You're as good as the stories make you out to be." Shady said as he and Nate locked attacks.
"You're not to shabby yourself. But that doesn't mean you're going to win. Sonicboom!"
At close range, the Sonicboom landed successfully, forcing Shady backwards and knocking him off balance. While the Delibird was still recovering, Nate yelled, "Sword Resonance!" and charged, landing two brutal blows on the his opponent's wing and stomach, before Shady was able to force him back with a desperation fueled Ice Punch. As the two combatants faced one another, it was clear which way the battle was going.
"That's a neat trick you have there, vibrating your sword to increase it's attack power." Shady said, clutching a broken wing. Obviously in terrible pain he continued, "But that trick alone won't win you the battle."
"I think it will." Nate replied confidently, looking none the worse for wear. "But come at me with everything you've got and we'll finish this."
"You asked for it." Pulling his remaining wing backwards, Shady yelled, "Blizzard Punch!"
With a Blizzard at his back, Shady launched an Ice Punch and launched forward at an incredible speed. Nate raised his blade to block the attack but seemed to be moving just a little too slow. I've got him now! The Delibird thought but just as his punch was about to land, he was hit in the side by blaster fire and fell to the ground once more.
"Grunt! What are you doing!? I had that!" Nate cried as Grunt arrived on the scene, blasters still warm.
"It didn't look that way ta me." Grunt replied. "He was launching his ultimate and you weren't gonna be able to block it."
"I had it under control." Nate insisted. "And I can take it from here."
"I don't think so. You've had your chance against him. It's my turn!"
As the two NAA commanders argued over who would be able to finish Shady off, the weakened Delibird was still laid in the snow. They're arguing over who get's to defeat me!? I've been giving this my all and this battle is only a game to them. How can I turn this around?
As his opponents still continued to argue, a deep voice spoke into Shady's mind and asked, Do you want to win?
O-Of course I do! Shady replied almost instantaneously, almost glossing over the fact that a different voice was speaking in his mind. Wait a second! Who are you!? Are you saying you can help me turn this battle around!?
You're questions will be answered in due time. The voice replied. I will distract the two commanders. While they are engaged in combat, issue an order to your men to retreat to the shipyard. My allies will be waiting for you there.
"Fine... You can take him..." Nate declared, forfeiting his chance to finish the battle with Shady. "You won fair and square."
"Yeah! Rock beats scissors!." Grunt declared triumphantly, walking his machine over to where Shady laid. "Hey! Get up!" The NAA Commander yelled as he began kicking the Delibird with the AK. "Nate I think we bro-"
Grunt was cut off suddenly as a Dark Pulse flew in and struck his machine. As the smoke cleared, the assailant was revealed to be a Dusknoir, who floated above the battlefield.
"Who the hell are you?" Grunt yelled, a little mad about about the sneak attack. Instead of waiting for a reply, he raised his rocket launcher and said, "It doesn't really matter though, cause now you're dead meat!" before pulling the trigger.
The Dusknoir raised his hand and created a Shadow Ball, which he used as a shield to detonate Grunt's attack, without taking damage to himself.
"A Shadow Ball Shield!? But that's Light's move!" Grunt yelled. "Ok who are you really?"
Moving faster than the eye could follow Dusknoir disappeared and reappeared mere inched away from Grunt's Knight. "Your greatest fear brought to life. Dark Pulse!"
The Dark type move landed a direct hit and Grunt stumbled backwards off-balance. Before he could recover, Dusknoir followed up with a Thunderpunch, sending Grunt stumbling back further.
"You're welcome to jump in any time here Nate!" Grunt yelled in frustration.
"I didn't think you wanted my help buddy!" Nate shot back as he rushed into the fray with his sword raised.
"Well now I do! This guy won't even let me get off an attack!"
"One against one or two against one. It makes no difference to me." Dusknoir replied confidently. "I will still emerge victorious."
"That's what you think! Sword Resonance!" Nate yelled.
"Get a taste of my rocket launcher ya jerk!" Grunt cried before firing his weapon.
"Such primitive tactics..."
Nate's Sword Resonance was blocked and deflected with a Shadow Punch, giving Dusknoir an opportunity to launch a Dark Pulse at the incoming rocket. The move caused the projectile to explode prematurely, cloaking the battlefield in smoke.
"Where'd he go!?" Nate mumbled as a red eye appeared in the smoke behind him.
Catching his foe unaware, Dusknoir landed two Shadow Punches before firing a Dark Pulse that sent Nate flying to the ground a few feet away from his comrade.
"Nate! Are you Ok?" Grunt cried.
"I'm fine, but I'm not quite as sure about my machine." As the AK pilot stood to return to the fight, stray sparks began to fly off of his machines, indicating heavy damage.
"You're gonna pay for that ya big lug!" Grunt cried as he raised his blasters threateningly toward this new and powerful foe.
"I don't believe I will." The Dusknoir replied, chuckling slightly, "You're friend is too damaged to be of any use in our fight and I've already proven that I can battle circles around you. You're both lucky that my objective was only to stall for time, otherwise you would both be dead."
"What's that supposed to mean!" Grunt yelled in frustration.
"It means that while we were fighting, the resistance commander and his troops have escaped and it's time for me to join them. Enjoy this reprieve while you can, for the next time we meet very well could be your last." With his threat looming over Nate and Grunt, Dusknoir began flying east to where he knew his allies would be waiting.
"Not... our finest hour eh Grunt?" Nate said as he collapsed on the ground in exhaustion.
"Well we did recapture Snowpoint like Momo wanted. So it is technically a victory."
"Then why does it feel like an utter defeat?"
As the two New Age Alliance Commanders discussed the battle, Shady was about to get the answers he desired. Now bandaged up to recover from the battle, the Delibird entered a dimly lit room where Dusknoir and a single human wearing aviators and a camouflage hat were waiting.
"I appreciate your help back in Snowpoint and allowing my troops to retreat on your ship, but I have to ask who are you and why did you help us?"
"Both very valid questions. I am Angra Mainyu." Dusknoir replied, "And I'm trying to start a revolution of sorts."
"That answered one question but not the other. Why did you help us?" Shady asked.
"Because I need your help in my upcoming revolution." Angra replied, placing a hand on the Delibird's shoulder. "I need a face people can rally behind and I believe you are the perfect fit. My head of recruitment has assured me that you are well liked among your troops and are capable of keeping morale up in even the most dire of situations. From what I saw in Snowpoint, I'm inclined to trust his assessment."
"Is that your recruitment head over there?" Shady asked, pointing to the human who had remained silent in the meeting thus far.
"Very perceptive. Introduce yourself General."
"Nice to meet you in person Shady. I'm General Talent."
"The General Talent!? Aren't you the only human General to lead a successful assault on the Sinnoh mainland?"
"Indeed I am. I captured Sunnyshore before all this New Age Alliance crap sprung up." The General stated proudly. "I tried to keep it but Commander Taro kept diverting resources and talent away from Sinnoh toward Hoenn to try and stop the NAA before they took total control."
"As you can see Shady I've already begun assembling the right personnel to make this revolution a success and you could be it's face." Angra said, still unsure as to whether the Delibird was convinced. "Will you join us and overthrow the New Age Alliance?"
Shady pondered for a second before making a decision. "Our goals align, so for the time being I will join your resistance. What's our next move?"
"Another recruitment operation." General Talent cut in. "Over at Stark Mountain."
"Let's get started then!" Shady replied excitedly.
Good another piece has fallen into place. Angra though to himself smugly. Once the Stark Mountain forces come under our command, the fun can truly begin...
AN: Long time no see guys! Sorry for the delay but here's a nice long chapter for your patience. How many of you guessed that it would be Angra coming to Shady's rescue? The plot has finally begun to move forward with our next stop being Stark Mountain and our first submitted OC from Psychiceevee0103! Following that there will be another opportunity for one of your characters to be used in Pokemon New Age!
Here are the details(I'll try to avoid spoilers but if you need more info to come up with an OC feel free to message me).
I'm looking for a human OC who is going to a a resistance cell leader, sort of like Shady. You can create the OC around the Knights or Air Knights or you can take a completely different approach: Anything is possible! Just message me the details of your OC and a small background so I can get an idea of how to write them and your character could appear in Pokemon New Age.
I will update the chapter once the OC slot has been filled but this is going to be the first of many so don't feel bad if you can't submit in time.
Who will Angra try and recruit at Stark Mountain? Will Nate and Grunt be able to stop them? How will the New Age Alliance respond to this growing threat? Find out next time in Pokemon New Age: Uprising!