Episode 148: Trickster's Last Trick Part 1
A few days passed since Kairi has beaten Silver in a five-on-five Pokémon battle. So Sora and Kairi continued on in their journey throughout the Johto region, joined by Tracey, Karen, and Sakura.
The group made a stop, unaware of a new Pokémon flying above them. It is a white, avian Pokémon with an ovoid body. While its feet are small and situated closely together, its wings are broad and triangular. Red and blue triangular markings over its underside, and it has a short tail consisting of three feathers. On the back of its head are three spikes: a red-tipped one on the right, a blue-tipped one on the left, and a pure white one in the middle. It has a relatively flat face and small, black eyes. This Pokémon is known as Togekiss. The Togekiss looked down at them and hovered without being seen by any of the group, with the exception of Togepi.
Kairi picked up Togepi in her arms.
"Come here, baby," Kairi said. She started to cuddle the Spike Ball Pokémon. Togepi giggled from the cuddles. "You're such a cutie, Togepi."
"Toge, Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
Togekiss flew off and headed right for a young woman wearing a white elegant dress. She pets the Pokémon on the head.
"Good work, Togekiss," the woman said. "The time will come for them to use the Crystals against him."
Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, Ash looked up in the sky and he suddenly felt some sort of disturbance.
"What does it mean?" Ash asked. DiZ appeared before Ash.
"Have you sensed it, Ash?" DiZ asked.
"I did. Something is happening, but I don't know what. What do you think it is? Could it be Organization XIII up to their usual tricks?" Ash asked.
"I do not claim to know, but I can only doubt it is. If the Organization is involved, then they would undoubtedly attempt to remedy the problem that may have already taken place," DiZ said.
Ash knew DiZ had a point, but he could only hope Sora could do something to stop it before something bad happens. He wondered if it could be a different kind of disaster like the Greenfield incident involving Sora's mother.
Over to Kairi's house, Xion looked outside like something was wrong.
"Karen, are you going to be okay?" Xion asked.
Back in Johto, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Pikachu, Angel, Blossom, Togepi, and the Pichu were continuing to make their way to Olivine City, unaware of Team Rocket following them with their balloon.
"Found them at last," James said.
"After we lost their trail, we finally found them again," Jessie said.
"Okay, is that gizmo ready yet?" Meowth asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be," Jessie said, taking out a bazooka with a gloved hand. "We launch the grabber and grab Pikachu and place him in the shockproof cage and take off faster than we blast off!"
"I don't think it's a good idea to jinx it yet, because we can't afford another screw up; especially how bad it hurt from that previous payment we made from the other unpaid bills we had stacked up on us," James said.
"Please. After we get back to HQ, the boss will be very impressed by our resolve and he'll be mighty proud of us, so he'll have to take us off our debt and give us the promotion we rightfully deserve!" Jessie said.
"Then I'll be back on the boss's lap," Meowth said.
"And we can boss around the grunts, as well as Cassidy and Butch," James said, snickering.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said, popping up again.
"For once, I'm glad that you came out because you can share in the basking with us!" Jessie said.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said.
"Alright, boys! Battle positions!" Jessie said.
"Shockproof cage, ready!" Meowth said.
"Getaway plan, ready!" James said.
"Ready. Aim," Jessie said, aiming it at Pikachu. "Fire!" She fired the grabber at Pikachu, but the hand is destroyed by a light blue ball of energy, much to their dismay. "What the hell?!" They looked to see Togekiss hovering in front of them. "What is that?"
"I think I've seen this before," James said, taking out a device, looking up Togekiss's information. He found it. "Here it is. It's a Togekiss. And according to this, it's the fully evolved form of Togepi!"
"So, Togepi evolves into a Togetic," Meowth started.
"And when exposed to a Shiny Stone, Togetic becomes Togekiss," James said.
"But where did it come from?" Meowth asked.
"Who cares?! Let's get it!" Jessie said. James and Meowth looked at her. She looked back at them. "Just hear me out! We got a rare Pokémon staring right in our faces, and we have an opportunity to catch it!"
"How are gonna get it? We just lost our only grabber!" James said.
"Details," Jessie scoffed. She took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Arbok!" Her Pokéball opened and Arbok came right out. "Use Poison Sting!" Arbok fired Poison Sting at Togekiss who only dodges while its whole body started to glow white. "Why is Togekiss glowing like that?"
"I think I know! It's getting ready to use a Sky Attack!" James gasped. Togekiss came rushing at the balloon, making it explode when it came into contact. Team Rocket screamed as they go crashing down to the ground, and right in front of Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and the Pokémon.
"Team Rocket, why am I not surprised?" Sora asked. Team Rocket saw they were in front of the group and stood right up.
"Prepare for trouble, in for a scream," Jessie said.
"Make it double, we're quite the mean team," James said.
"Oh, here we go," Sora groaned in annoyance.
"WILL YOU STOP DOING YOUR STUPID MOTTO ALREADY?! WE ALREADY KNOW WHO YOU ARE!" Karen yelled. Team Rocket did an anime fall when Karen yelled at them.
"Do you think we're just repeating ourselves?" James asked.
"I feel like a broken record," Meowth said. Jessie growled in anger.
"I hate it when they don't respect the motto," Jessie growled.
"Look, morons. We were a whole lot happier when you weren't here to spoil anything, so why don't you make a drum and beat it?" Sora asked.
"We should we beat it when we can beat you?" James asked.
"We're not going anywhere until we get your Pikachu!" Jessie said. "Arbok! Use Poison Sting!" Arbok fired Poison Sting at the group. Sora took out his Pokéballs and threw them.
"Come on out, guys!" Sora called out. Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Remoraid, Snubbull, Yanma, Donphan, Natu, Noctowl, Scyther, and Mamoswine came right out to battle. Pikachu held Remoraid like he was a gun.
"You gotta ask yourselves just one question. 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punks?" - Pikachu subtitle.
"He's got a Remoraid, and I don't think he's afraid to use it!" Meowth said.
"I'll join right in!" James said, taking out two of his Pokéballs and threw them. "Go! Weezing and Victreebel!" His Pokéballs opened and Victreebel chomped on Meowth this time.
"Not me, ya stupid weed! Them!" Meowth yelled, wagging his feet around.
"Don't eat Meowth! You don't know where he's been," James said.
"Use Poison Sting!" Jessie ordered. Arbok fired Sting at the Pokémon.
"Mamoswine! Use Ice Shard to block!" Sora ordered. Mamoswine uses Ice Shard to block Arbok's Poison Sting.
"Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb!" James ordered. Weezing fired a Sludge Bomb at the Pokémon.
"Remoraid! Use Psybeam! Pikachu! Aim!" Sora ordered. Pikachu quickly aimed Remoraid at Weezing's attack and fired. Psybeam cuts through Weezing's attack. "Snubbull! Use Bite!" Snubbull heads for Meowth and bites on his tail, making him yell in pain.
"YEOW! JUST WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY TAIL BEING BITTEN BY ONE SNUBBULL, ANOTHER ONE JUST FLAT OUT BITES ME ON MY TAIL!" Meowth yelled. Snubbull tossed Meowth at Wobbuffet, knocking him down.
"Victreebel! Use Razor Leaf!" James ordered. Victreebel unleashed Razor Leaf at Sora's Pokémon.
"Scyther! Use Slash on those leaves!" Sora ordered. Scyther slashed through the leaves like they were made of butter. "Use X-Scissor!" Scyther came at Victreebel with an X-Scissor, landing a hit. "Yanma! Use Sonic Boom! Cyndaquil! Flamethrower! Totodile! Water Gun! Natu! Night Shade! Chikorita! Razor Leaf!" They fired their attacks at Team Rocket and their Pokémon Noctowl! Use Wing Attack!" Noctowl flew at Team Rocket and lands a hit onto them. "Donphan! Use High Horsepower!" Donphan charges at Team Rocket, sending flying in the air. "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu jumped up in the air after he sets Remoraid down. Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt, shocking them. An explosion occurs and they go flying in the air.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket shouted as they go flying in the distance. A star twinkles in the distance.
"Great job, guys," Sora said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said. All of the Pokémon shared Pikachu's joy when the Johto starters started to evolve. Sora was especially surprised.
"You guys are evolving!" Sora said.
Just then, Chikorita has become a Bayleef, Cyndaquil has become a Quilava, and Totodile has become a Croconaw.
"Bay, Bay!" Bayleef said.
"Lava," Quilava said.
"Croconaw," Croconaw said.
"I guess that battle really did the trick," Sora said, calling them all back inside.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket crashed right into a dumpster in a town just ahead of them.
"OW!" Meowth yelled when he landed. Team Rocket sat up in the
"Dammit! Blew it again! Blew it again!" Jessie exclaimed.
"We would have succeeded if only that Togekiss didn't get in the way and ruin everything," James said.
"Hey, what do you three think you're doing?! Get the hell out of there!" A cop yelled. Team Rocket got out and started to run off. "Geez, even the kids here have more sense than to play in the dumpsters."
Back with Sora and his friends, they were about to take off when they're greeted by Togekiss.
"Who's this Pokémon?" Sora asked, taking out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Togekiss, the Jubilee Pokémon
The evolved form of Togetic
Type: Fairy/Flying
It will never appear where there is strife. Sightings of this Pokémon have recently become rare.
"So, that's Togepi's fully evolved form," Sora said.
"It's even more amazing in person than in any book," Tracey said.
"Same here," Sakura said.
"Have you ever seen a Togekiss before?" Kairi asked.
"Not up close. I only seen it in books," Tracey said, taking out his sketchbook and started to sketch Togekiss.
"I'm so glad you're doing okay," a voice said. It belonged to the woman from before. "I sent my Togekiss out earlier to assist you."
"Thanks, but who are you?" Sora asked.
"My name's Crysta. And you've already met my Togekiss," Crysta said.
"Toge," Togekiss said.
"My name's Sora, and this is my partner Pikachu," Sora introduced.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"My name's Karen. I'm Sora's sister. And this is Blossom," Karen introduced.
"Pika," Blossom said.
"I'm Kairi, and this is Angel, and this is Togepi," Kairi introduced.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"My name's Tracey," Tracey introduced himself.
"And my name's Sakura," Sakura introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you," Crysta said. She looked over to Togepi and smiled. "I must say, your raised your Togepi very well."
"Thank you. I had him as an egg," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Tell me, have you been in contact with someone calling himself Trickster by any chance?" Crysta asked. Sora didn't like where it was going, but he was curious on how she knows about him.
"We met someone wearing a white mask if that's what you're asking," Sora said. "Why?"
"I've been searching for him," Crysta said. "I can sense he's somewhere nearby." Sora knew he was going to come across him again rather he wanted to or not. "But I'm sure you can use your Keyblades to fight him." Sora and Kairi exclaimed in surprise.
"How did you know about the Keyblade?" Sora asked.
"I was an apprentice of Flora, so she told me," Crysta said.
"Did you know Teol, too?" Kairi asked.
"Only a few times, but we should sit and talk," Crysta said. Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and the Pokémon sat around, wanting to know about what she knows about Trickster and why he wants to kill off the human race and all the Pokémon so badly. "I'm sure Flora has told you that Trickster has possessed a boy sometime ago, didn't she?"
"Yeah, she did," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Right until he gains a physical form," Sora said.
"He's getting close to do so. I have felt it," Crysta said.
Kairi was really worried. She had a feeling something bad was gonna happen.
"Crysta, if you don't mind me asking, but why does Trickster want to eliminate the people and Pokémon so badly?" Kairi asked.
"He always had a hatred for both human beings and Pokémon, believing that they should never exist. He attempted to do so once, but he was foiled by a band of wizards and sealed him away, but only his physical form, but not his spirit. But even his spirit was sealed off for many centuries until those three fools undid the seal," Crysta said.
Sora faceplamed, knowing how Team Rocket's stupidity was the cause of it all.
"I'm almost afraid to ask, but how did that happen?" Sora asked.
"It's like this," Crysta started.
(Flashback)
Jessie was throwing her trademark tantrum, unaware of the seal close to them.
"I can't believe those twerps beat us again! I cannot stand it!" Jessie yelled, picking up a rock and and threw it, shattering the seal. And that was when a dark spirit escaped.
"Free at last!" The spirit said.
Crysta comes and saw the seal shattered. She gasped when she ran right towards it.
"Oh no!" Crysta gasped. "What happened?! How did this happen?!" She heard Jessie yell and scream, taking her rage out on James and Meowth. "What have you done?"
(Flashback ends)
"Who the spirit has possessed is beyond me," Crysta said.
"I can't believe it. I knew her temper would get her in trouble, but I didn't think it'll get us all in this kind of trouble," Sora said.
"And it's only just beginning," a familiar voice spoke. Everyone turned to see Trickster floating above them.
"Trickster!" Kairi said.
"That's Trickster?" Sakura asked.
"That's him," Sora said. Karen knew there was something familiar about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Can it be?" Karen asked to herself.
"If I had known those imbeciles were the cause for my freedom, I would have thanked them properly before I could have them killed," Trickster said.
"It's all over for you, Trickster," Sora said, summoning his Kingdom Key. Kairi summoned her Destiny's Embrace and held it.
"Since you know some of my backstory, I shall enlighten you. My real name is ExDark. And I am a demon with a goal! A goal to eradicate the entire human race, along with all of the Pokémon, and then, I'll destroy Organization XIII after the humans and Pokémon are all extinct," Trickster said.
"Not unless we stop you," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"You are welcome to try," Trickster said, snapping his fingers. Just then, Trickster has summoned his army of monsters. Sora and Kairi engaged the monster army as Crsyta has summoned a white staff and weaved it and destroyed some of the monsters.
Pikachu fired Thunderbolt as Angel fired Swift. Sora and Kairi fought the monsters hard, taking them out, starting with the goblins and hell divers. The fight raged right on, so much, it was sapping their strength. Crysta managed to replenish their stamina, using her magic. Once they had recovered, they started to come for Trickster himself.
"Time to take my leave for now," Trickster said, clapping his hands. They were blinded by a shining light.
They opened their eyes and saw he was gone.
"Where did he go?" Tracey asked.
"Gone. He must be hiding somewhere nearby, so he must be taunting us," Crysta said.
"What else is new?" Sora asked.
"Sora, can I have a word with you in private?" Karen asked, taking him by the shoulder. "And I mean now." Sora gulped, knowing what it could be about. She dragged her brother to a new spot where they could talk in private.
"Karen, what gives?" Sora asked.
"That was Tom, wasn't it?" Karen asked. Sora tried to think of an excuse, so he found one.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sora said. Karen wasn't buying it.
"Don't play dumb with me, Sora. I want you to tell me the truth right now," Karen said.
"I don't know! I don't know, okay? I just don't know," Sora said.
"I said I want the truth," Karen said.
"And I'm telling you, sis. I seriously don't know if it's Tom or not," Sora said.
"You sure?" Karen asked.
"Yes. Kairi and I-" Sora was cut off.
"Don't drag Kairi into this," Karen said.
"Couldn't you let me finish?" Sora asked. Sora sighed. "I wasn't gonna jump into any conclusions until I got all my Psyduck in a row, which aren't. Also, I didn't want you to get your hopes up over nothing."
"That's my problem, Sora. One you shouldn't have to carry on your shoulders," Karen said. "I mean, you already have too much on them, dealing with the Heartless. Not to mention, the Nobodies, too."
Sora knew she was right. He did have too much on his shoulders before dealing with ExDark aka Trickster.
"Karen," Sora said.
"Sora, listen, I want you promise me that nothing will happen to Tom. Because if something happens to him, I'll never forgive you," Karen stated.
"I promise, Karen," Sora said.
Sora and Karen rejoined their friends and began to search for Trickster. But they ran into his monsters along the way, hoping to slow them down.
Meanwhile, Roxas has his Keyblade out and he uses it to slash at Trickster's skeletons and zombies. Storm clouds suddenly began to gather around it started to rain. Roxas then puts on his hood and held his Keyblade closely. He was oblivious to Axel following him. Axel has his hood up, too.
More of Trickster's monsters have come and attacked the fire elemental Nobody, so he fought back with his chakrams.
"Man, these things are a real pain," Axel said.
Roxas has found Trickster at last after coming so far.
"There you are," Roxas said. Trickster turned to see Roxas and grinned underneath the mask.
"Well, a member of Organization XIII. I was hoping you would show up sooner or later," Trickster said. He chuckled. "Of course, I didn't think they would send in a baby to do a man's job."
"I wouldn't be quick to judge," Roxas said, holding the Kingdom Key and came at him. Trickster summoned a large broadsword and used it to clash with his Keyblade. He pushed the Keyblade wielding Nobody back.
"So, you can use a Keyblade, too? It seems to long ago when Keyblades were all the rage. It looks like Keyblades are making a comeback!" Trickster said. Roxas said nothing and he kept on attacking and attacking. Trickster kept on blocking.
Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Crysta, and the Pokémon have made it back and saw the fight going on.
"Look!" Tracey said. Everyone sees Roxas with his hood up. "That hood! He's with Organization XIII!"
"Flora did say Trickster would be a threat to them, too, so they sent one of their own to deal with it," Sora said.
"But that's not all, Sora. Look!" Tracey said, pointing to the Keyblade. Sora saw the Keyblade in Roxas's hands.
"Is that what I think it is?" Sora asked.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"That's a Keyblade!" Kairi said.
"Eevee!" Angel exclaimed in shock.
"Organization XIII. Aren't they the Nobodies you told me about?" Sakura asked.
"That's them," Sora said.
"How does he have a Keyblade, and whose Nobody is he?" Karen asked.
"We'll have to ask after we deal with Trickster," Sora said.
"You mean by helping someone from the Organization?" Karen asked.
"Believe me, I don't like it either, but it's the only way to get the answers we want," Sora said.
"He's right. He must know something," Kairi said. The couple rushed on as Pikachu and Angel went with their partners. Togepi is being held by Sakura as she watches on.
Roxas was quickly being overpowered by Trickster, and he was about to finish him off when Sora sprang into action. He blocked Trickster's sword with his Keyblade.
"You again!" Trickster growled.
"What's the matter, Trickster? Don't like being tricked?" Sora taunted.
"You'll pay for taunting me, human!" Trickster said, swinging his sword at him, but Kairi came and shot a beam of light at Trickster, hitting his face. His mask breaks in half, revealing his face. Sora gasped when he saw who it was. The same can be said with Karen.
"Tom?!" Sora and Karen exclaimed in shock and surprise. Trickster laughed.
"Looks like the Torracat is out of the bag!" Trickster said with Tom's voice and a demonic voice speaking at the same time. Trickster then laughed.
"Tom, can you hear me? It's me! Karen! Yout friend from when we were little kids!" Karen called out. Tom looked at her and he tried to fight ExDark's hold over him.
"Karen," Tom tried to speak. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, Tom, it's me! Your mom and everyone else are worried about you, and I've been looking all over for you!" Karen said.
"Karen, I-" Tom said before he was cut off.
"No, don't you fight back against me!" ExDark said. through Tom's body.
"Get out of my body, monster!" Tom yelled.
"Fight it, Tom!" Karen called out. Tom screamed as he held his head. ExDark then laughed and gave an evil grin.
"Tom belongs to me. Nothing you can do can stop me," ExDark said.
"I don't think so, Trickster or ExDark or whatever you call yourself. Tom is still in there and I'm gonna get you out of there!" Sora said.
"But you'll have to kill your friend to do it," ExDark said.
"We'll find a way," Kairi said.
ExDark gave off a crimson aura all around his body as he floats into the air.
"Now to summon my strongest creature to deal with you! Come forth, Arclight!" ExDark shouted. A creature resembling a falcon came flying downwards from the sky. Its whole body is made entirely of light. "Destroy them!" Arclight came flying at them when Sora, Kairi, and Roxas scattered to fight the flying creature. It came swooping at Kairi, but she cartwheels out of the way as Roxas jumped and came at the Arclight and slashed at a wing. Sora also jumped and slashed at the other wing. It wasn't enough to bring the Arclight down, only make it fire a beam of destructive light from its beak. Sora and Kairi cast their reflect spell to block the attack. It almost shattered judging how strong the beam was. Roxas casts a stone spell, hitting the creature of light. The three Keyblade wielders came running at the Arclight and slashed at the Arclight and destroyed it. ExDark scowled as he floats down. "So, it would seem even my strongest monster is no match for the likes of you. It looks like I'll have to deal with you myself. Prepare to be the first to your extinction!"
He rushes at the Keyblade wielders with his sword, but they blocked with their Keyblades. With the three of them, they pushed the possessed boy.
"Come get some!" Sora dared the demon. ExDark came at them again, so Sora and Roxas jumped in the air and gave him a kick on the back, but Kairi tackles him with her shoulder.
ExDark raises his hands and unleashed a powerful flurry of flames. Sora, Kairi, Roxas, Pikachu, and Angel managed to avoid it and came back at him once the flames has subsided.
The fight raged on right until Sora, Kairi, and Roxas had ExDark beaten. Sora fired a beam of light at ExDark at the chest and he screamed. Tom struggles.
"No! Stop fighting back!" ExDark growled.
"Tom, get him out!" Sora said.
"You're not going to use me for this!" Tom said.
"Tom!" Karen said. Tom gave off one last scream before the crimson spirit came rushing out. Tom collapsed on the ground, so Karen came rushing at him, catching him. "I got you."
"He isn't dead, is he?" Kairi asked with worry.
"No. He's only unconscious," Crysta said.
"You don't think he's strong enough now, do you?" Sora asked.
"You think you've defeated me that easily! I think not!" A new voice spoke. They looked up and saw the spirit hovering above them. "I grew so much stronger in a short amount of time. Now I'm strong enough to reveal my true form to you all! See the face of true terror before you die!" ExDark heads for the ground and the ground breaks open to reveal a giant blood-red monstrous creature. He has the head of a man, but has large demonic wings. He has clawed hands, hooved-legs and a long dragon-like tail.
"Oh, crap," Sora could only say.
Trickster, or should I say ExDark has revealed his true form, so this one fight is what will decide the fate of the world's inhabitants. Can Sora, Kairi, and Roxas be able to defeat ExDark once and for all, or will it all end here and now? Just wait and see.