[Part 1]
The pickup truck shook and rattled like a hand of an elderly shellshocked sailor suffering from Parkinson's. The last thing even remotely resembling a road was what, an hour ago? No need for infrastructure in a nature preserve, after all - the only ones traveling through these parts were either rangers, or rich people enjoying a nice safari. The former traveled on foot, and the latter had their fancy Jeevees to ignore terrain while they shot at wildlife from their fancy rifles.
Masahide's group was neither. Well, most of it.
There were a couple of League biologists, he did not give a flying shit about their names. One was specialised in Bug Types, and the other was more of a generalist. Both were complete nerds, looked the part, and only had weak Pokemon that made their work easier, meaning they were dead weight in any dangerous situation - though their expertise was supposed to come in handy on this trip. Masatane was their driver, survival expert and muscle - he was a League-employed Ace Trainer, and was packing a couple of 101s, and even a little something from the Vault - League's new procedure for important operations after the recent Tedorigawa massacre. Nobufusa was a ranger that worked in this preserve, and supposedly knew this place like the back of his hand. Finally, Masahide himself was a special inclusion to this group. Because they had important things to uncover, and Masahide was a Mystic on League's payroll. A cushy and comfortable position on 99 days out of a 100. This was not one of those days.
Mere twelve hours ago, their lookouts noticed that the Combee population local to Nagashino nature preserve began a mass exodus to North-West. Off-season, and very suspiciously timed. The League thought that either Ghost and Calamity fled to this place, or the Plague expanded its territory, driving local wildlife out. Their team was supposed to get to the bottom of this mystery. Preferably, without engaging any 101s - though if they did, Masatane was there to pick up the slack.
The truck nearly tipped over after a particularly bad bump. Ugh. Masahide wished they could get a helicopter, but according to their ranger, they were going to get shot out of the sky by some territorial Skarmories if they did.
"Could you drive more carefully? We won't make any progress if we're dead," he complained.
"Could you shut up? We've got a schedule, I'm being as careful as possible with your fragile glass asses here," their driver countered.
"Gonna barf," one of the researchers noted, the generalist one. Masatane emptied an open bag of chips in one gulp, and shoved it into their hands, all without looking.
The researcher took the hint, and used the bag.
A few minutes later, they finally passed the plains that had a surprising amount of Diglet-made nooks and bumps, especially considering the sheer lack of Diglets on their way - and drove into a grove. Here, Masatane was forced to finally slow the hell down, to avoid splitting the truck in two against a tree trunk.
It did not help the researchers' nausea, as the car still shook like a raft in a storm on a sea of jello, but at least they has less worries about dying.
"Everyone, buzzing on our 11," the ranger noted.
"Combees?"
"Likely"
They slowed some more, the truck quieting down enough that soon, even the two bookworms could hear that same sound.
"Yes, those are Combees," the bug researcher nodded, then looking pensively, "That's odd, they don't sound stressed"
"Everyone, on foot," Nobufusa commanded, the rest of the group knowing better than to ignore a ranger's advice in their own territory.
Masatane released a Slowking - not one of his 101s, but clearly in peak condition. Masahide followed with his Alakazam - it was always a good idea to have a Psychic Type as a bodyguard of sorts, though for them, it was also a part of the investigation.
The ranger did not release anything, and the researchers pondered if they should. The bug one released a Charjabug. Not that it would help much.
Their formation was simple - Masatane at the front, ready to deal with any trouble. Nobufusa right behind him, making sure they're on the right track, and didn't get ambushed. Then the researchers, glancing around with trepidation, like they were about to be jumped by a hungry Bewear or something. Then finally, Masahide, making sure nothing sneaked up on the group.
Nothing did.
In just a couple of minutes, they came across a clearing. Nothing special, just some flowers, some berry bushes here and there, and a few dozens of Combees gathering food and nectar. The bug researcher looked at the things with some doubt.
"They are pretty calm and organised. Whatever happened, their Vespiquen is likely still in command"
"Prepare the Net Balls," Masatane commanded.
On one hand, greenish-blue Pokeball with a crisscross, net-like pattern on it was five times as expensive as a regular one. On the other hand, it was also pretty darn effective at catching Bug and Water Types - like the Combees that gathered on this clearing. Four of these devices hit their marks - the generalist researcher managed to whiff, and sent his Net Ball into a berry bush - and two devices failed, bugs escaping. Which meant, two were captured. They could work with two.
"Alakazam, we are up," Masahide noted, his Pokemon giving a curt nod.
For now, just one Combee was summoned, After appearing, it looked agitated for just a few seconds, before settling into a blank calm, as if finally understanding what just happened.
"Your group was traveling North-East. Do you know why?"
Normally, Pokemon could understand words, or at least intentions behind those words. Still, Alakazam made sure to translate it - specifics were important. The bug looked at them for a few seconds, before replying.
"ESCAPE," Alakazam provided Masahide with a translation from Pokespeak, "HAD TO ESCAPE. DANGER."
It took him a few seconds to power through a telepathy-induced headache. Thanks to his Mystic abilities, he was not in an immediate danger of getting his brain fried, but it was still far from pleasant.
"So, you had to escape danger. But you are not that far from there, and were taking your time gathering food. Why?"
"WAS TOLD TO GATHER FOOD. GATHER FOOD. LESS DANGER HERE"
"What is the nature of this danger?"
"POKEMON GO MISSING"
Masahide looked at the researchers, relaying the information. Both seemed puzzled at the revelation.
"Does it mean 'Combees go missing'? Or Pokemon in general?" the bug researcher asked.
"ALL POKEMON"
This was… Weird, even by Masahide's standards. If it were just Combees, it would've had meant that some sort of a natural predator appeared in the nature preserve, and was hunting them down. Like Talonflames. But if it was something that was a danger to all Pokemon…
"So, are we gonna check the area, see what caused all the ruckus? Or are we just gonna sit on our thumbs all day?" Masatane growled impatiently.
"Hold on," the bug researcher said, giving his colleague a glance, "I'd like to hear from the second Combee"
"You'd like, or you'd need?" Masahide's headache was already settling in, and another round of interrogation was going to only make it worse.
"Need. Just recall the first one," researcher nodded.
The first Combee was swapped for the second one. Just like the first, it looked dazed and confused for a bit, before looking blankly at the people around.
"Why was your group traveling North-East?"
"POKEMON MISSING. DANGER. HAD TO ESCAPE"
"What made them disappear?"
"DANGER"
"Why were you wasting time gathering food then?"
"LESS DANGER HERE. HAD TIME"
The migraine was getting worse. Painkillers first, relaying the answers to the researchers second. Popping a couple of pills, Masahide waited a few seconds, before voicing what exactly did he hear.
"I see. Recall the Combee for now, we might need to talk to it later," the bug researcher nodded. Though once the bug was back in the Pokeball, his voice got far less level, "There's something wrong with these Combees"
"Define 'wrong'," Nobufusa looked at him funny.
"They exhibit nearly identical mannerisms and reactions. And both acted strangely at first, after being released from the Pokeball"
"And the chances of meeting two nearly identical Pokemon are slim. Not completely impossible, but it'd probably be easier to find a shiny," the second researcher added, "Sort of a mind control at play?"
"Why would anyone want to control a bunch of weakass Combees?" Masatane scoffed.
"That's what we should probably check next. Can your Slowking protect it from mental influences right after we release it?"
"Hm… Sure," he agreed, though he still clearly thought this was a waste of time.
The first Combee was released, and at Masatane's command, Slowking's eyes shone in a clear display of psychic powers. The Bug Type, covered in a soft glow, looked around frantically, as if searching for something and not finding it.
Something was wrong.
Combee's three faces gradually twisted in a grimace of horror and pain, its combined bodies falling through the air for a moment, before suddenly turning around, and zipping at the two researchers. The Charjabug intercepted it with a spark of electricity, prompting it to fall to the ground, rolling a few meters, before coming to a stop, and curling onto itself.
It… Was dead?..
"Oh shit," Masatane took only a second to reach for the Pokeballs on his belt.
It was a second he did not have.
A mere moment later, something shot down from the skies, and impacted the Ace Trainer with enough force to crumple him into a heap. Then a few somethings fell on the researchers, who were saved by a protective screen from Slowking. Then a few more shot towards Masahide, his Alakazam thankfully erecting a barrier to shield him.
The Psychic Types' protection was good, but not omnipotent, nor omnidirectional. Masahide was relatively safe, since Alakazam was only shielding him, but the researchers and the ranger had to share one shield. In mere moments, they were picked off by stray shots that were not caught by the barrier. Either dead or dying.
With few seconds to spare, the Mystic ran towards Masatane's body, and grabbed the few Pokeballs on his belt that mattered, releasing two 101s - a massive, metallic monstrosity Metagross and a dragon with somewhat insectoid look called Flygon - as well as the thing from the Vault: a tiger-like manifestation of thunder, Legendary Pokemon Raikou.
It took only a moment for the three present Psychic types to notice where the enemy was.
[Part 2]
"Why-why did you at-attack them?!" the Absol turned to Nagashino.
"They caught onto the ruse. It was only a matter of time before they found us," the Vespiquen stated impassively.
"Your plan was not as smart as you think, mutt," Okehazama smirked, "And now, you have to help us deal with its consequences~"
"W-why would I-"
"Because if you don't, it will be two against three. And if one of us dies, the world ends, doesn't it?" the Glaceon covered his mouth with his paw, softly laughing, "Nagashino, can you take care of that tiger?"
"Affirmative."
"Then I'll deal with the dragon, and you, mutt, are going to kill that metal thing. Can you do that? For the world?~"
Honnoji looked at the Glaceon, and then to the three Pokemon that had just noticed them.
There… Was not much of a choice, was there?..
