22- Return to Samiya.
Autobot base, moments before Team Prime scattered to different locations…
"I have programmed a pair of sensor satellites to scan the whole route of each and every Earth's underwater currents for big solid masses." Blaster informed as he was ground bridging the other teams to their chosen locations. "Once one discovers the current location of that Sea Temple it will mark its coordinates on the ground bridge and you will be able to go. Once you are ready, of course."
"Rest assured, Blaster. We got everything under control." Bonnie reassured.
"I'm already ready for departure." May announced. "I can't wait to return and see Manaphy again."
"Manaphy? Is that the legendary pokémon which lives there?" Misty asked.
"Indeed. You'll like it, it's a water pokémon, not to mention one very cute."
"What about the temple?"
"It's like a combination of an ancient city and an aquatic park: there were canals full of water which seemed to connect all the temple."
"No way, are you serious? Then I better grab my special suit for the occasion."
"You better get hurry, Misty. Who knows if we are lucky and it's found right now. I'll call the Bots."
May's hope was not as she expected: Blaster was right to let more than one satellite checking the currents, because it was taking longer than expected to locate that lost temple. Misty already had her special suit in its necklace form placed on her neck.
"All this hurry for just waiting?" Seaspray asked confused.
"Sorry guys, it seems May's excitement went ahead of reality." Misty apologized.
"Why do we have to sit here until Blaster's gadgets locked on that swimming building while the rest surely may be having fun on their assignments? I could have been doing something to kill time, like making inventory." Warpath complained.
"You, making inventory? Honestly Warpath, I thought you would prefer to spend it with target practice. Why inventory?"
"To know where the biggest and explosive weapons and explosives are placed."
"Argh, this is taking forever." May complained bored. "Guys, any news about the temple's coordinates?"
"I'm afraid not yet." Bonnie informed.
Fixit was helping searching by himself. "The structure is supposed to be moving alongside the currents, but giving its total mass it may move slowly despite the water's speed. Perhaps if we start with the parts regarding the deeps…"
Fixit stopped when the alarm sounded as one of the terminals showed a point in some part of the ocean.
"What's that?" Bonnie asked.
"Gals, it appears...we have located it." Fixit saw.
But they weren't aware that someone else was doing the same procedure from above the planet: from the bridge of the Nemesis, Shockblast was working without pause on a terminal.
"Are you sure this will work?" Xiaxus asked.
"I have designed these new generation sensors for specialized analysis on deep space. And since the deeps of the ocean presents similar conditions as space emptiness their functionality should act almost the same. If they can find non-visible particles like dark matter…" Shockblast was explaining, until the screen showed something in middle of the map. "...something avoidable like that can be found as well."
A few moments later, the group of four was about to cross the recent open portal.
"We don't know where the coordinates will take you. So please call back once on the other side."
"Fear nothing Fixit. We will be fine." May reassured.
"Still better safe than sorry." Warpath said.
Before they crossed the portal Misty activated her mermaid suit, just in case they appeared in middle of the water, while May wore a scuba mask. But once at the other side they noticed that wasn't necessary: they found themselves in middle of a huge open area similar to a plaza with little gardens with plants, canals full with water and lots of water pokémon all around the place. But the most amazing detail was that the ceiling looked transparent, allowing to see the ocean outside.
"By the Allspark." Warpath expressed in disbelief. "Base, this is Warpath, everything's fine. We have reached our destination without hazards."
"What a place, it's like nothing I've ever dreamed before. Looks like a huge aquarium overlooking the ocean from inside." Misty admired after she deactivated her suit.
"Whoa, take a look to this place. Basically is a paradise for an aquatic environment lover like me." Seaspray said walking between the wet zones.
"Just like I remembered it." May simply said as they started to walk around the temple.
For their unknowing, in other part of the temple, the sound of a ground bridge portal was heard as the reflection of water showed the silhouette of something giant standing above before a metallic foot stomped on the water. Meanwhile, the group continued admiring the surroundings while they searched around the temple.
"So, what connection you have with this… how was it called again?" Seaspray asked.
"Manaphy, also known as the Prince of the Sea." May answered.
"What a nice title." Misty opined.
"It was just an egg when we knew it for the first time, although I saw it first in a dream. An eager pirate wanted to use it to reach the Sea Crown, the most valuable part of the temple, so we helped pokémon ranger Jack to keep it safe from him."
"That's how you met him in the first place?"
"Right Warpath. When the egg hatched I was the first thing Manaphy saw."
"Ah, so it thought you were its mother? That's so cute." Misty complemented.
"Being honest it was a little tough acting like a mother, but we spent also great times together, we developed a strong link, like Max with Jirachi. Which also was hard at the moment we had to say goodbye. This is Manaphy's place and if it remained with me it could not take its place in the pokémon world. That's why I'm so excited to see it again."
"And to make sure the Decepticons will not get their hands on it. Fear nothing May, I give you my word I'll do everything on my hand to keep it safe." Warpath swore.
"Perhaps the best way to protect it would be it to remain with us. May, having such strong link with it, do you think it will respond if you call it?"
"Nice idea, Seaspray. Try to call it May, if it remembers you it will appear immediately. I'm sure it also wants to see you again." Misty supported.
"While you do that we will take a look around here, just to make sure the Cons haven't arrived yet."
"And prepare them a welcoming surprise." Warpath added as both Autobots walked away, leaving both girls alone.
"Okay, I'll try. I hope time has not made it forget." May prayed as she got ready. "Manaphy! It's me, May! Are you there?! MANAPHY!"
The pokémon's name sounded all around the temple, making some of the pokémon to hide under the water. Seconds passed without answer, which started to make May felt sad.
"Maybe it's not at the temple right now. It could be out looking for food, or playing around the sea with other water pokémon. I'm sure it's nothing serious." Misty said, trying to reassure her.
"You think they beat us? That the Decepticons arrived first and already took it?" May said, starting to fear the worst.
"It's Manaphy fast in the water?"
"Very fast. Practically it's uncatchable when it's swimming."
"Then surely nothing as big as a Decepticon would be able to catch it that easily. Rest assured, it may be fine."
Suddenly a splashing sound was heard nearby. May, hoping that it may be Manaphy, got near the water to see it better, but saw nothing. But she started to have a good feeling, one also familiar. And then, in a canal behind her, another splash happened, like if something came out of the water. The curious thing was that it seemed that something talked.
"Happy!"
May recognized that sweet little voice: she turned and smiled at seeing something little going at her.
"Manaphy!"
May opened her arms and grabbed the little blue cute pokémon, they were reunited at last. She couldn't avoid drop tears of happiness for all she missed it.
"I can't believe this is happening. It's really you, you are here."
"Happy. Mana, mana. May, I love you." Manaphy answered hugging her face with its long arms.
"Oh, it's such a cutie. And it talks? I thought only strong legendary pokémon were capable of that, by telepathy." Misty said.
"Mana?" Manaphy said confused at seeing her.
May laughed. "Don't worry, she's a friend of mine, you can trust her. And she likes water pokémon a lot. Meet Misty, say hi."
"Phy." Manaphy said saluting her.
"Hi Manaphy, it's an honor to meet you. May has told a lot of things about you, but certainly meeting you in person surpass everything. How is it that it can talk?"
"I think is like with babies: it can learn by imitating what it hears." May supposed.
"Babies?" Manaphy repeated.
"See?"
"Looks like our mission has become easier now that Manaphy's with us. Now we can call our friends back." Misty said.
"How about if we take Manaphy with us to New Iacon until the Cons finish registering the temple? Once they get tired and see Manaphy is not here it will get back with no worries after they leave."
Misty looked at May suspiciously. "Are you sure it isn't for something else?"
May laughed nervously. "Okay fine, you got me."
"Mana? Phy." Manaphy said jumping off May's arms.
"Huh? Manaphy, what's wrong?"
"Phy, phy."
Manaphy pointed to the other side of the gardens. The girls and the special pokémon went to check what it was, and when they figured it out they got an unpleasant surprise: it was a whole squad of Vehicons searching into the water canals, putting their hands in and pulling out every pokémon they grabbed, only to drop them moments after.
"Are you sure the general has described the target right?" The closest Vehicon asked, so the girls could hear their conversation being hidden.
"Yes. He said we're looking for something small, blue, cute looking with long antenna." Another answered.
"Well, I have seen enough creatures here with some of the features but none of them matches the one we're looking." Other complained after releasing a Mantyke he caught.
"Stop complained already. Be grateful we're searching for a small harmless one, instead of going after one capable of defending against us. Like it wasn't enough with the Autobots." The squad leader ended.
"Those Cons are after Manaphy. They are looking for it." May interpreted.
"Well, they're not doing well their job if it's here with us." Misty pointed. "But if they are here there must be someone commanding them here as well. Vehicons don't act by themselves except on energon mines."
"We gotta find Seaspray and Warpath and warn them."
The girls didn't know that their guardians already knew about the Decepticons' presence in the temple. They were seeing them submerged under the water, standing on a pillar of the temple, below where the Decepticons were searching.
"We did beat the Cons at arriving first. Now we can deal with them and get this mission done without much effort."
"Hold those urges of yours, Warpath. It's not good for us to put on a stick right here."
"Yeah, May appreciates this place, and so that pokémon she cares about."
"Now that I think about it, this resembles a situation I lived once when I managed to infiltrate a Decepticon outpost on Aquatron to prevent them from invading it. I simply took advantage from the environment and eliminated them without them noticing, one by one. I think we can replicate that scene right here."
"Eliminating them silently without causing any collateral damage? Stealth attacks are not my strong point, but I'll do my best."
While the girls and Manaphy sneaked between the smaller hideouts as they searched for the Autobots, these positioned themselves right below their foes, approaching them in silence. When a Vehicon tried to search putting his hand into the water, Seaspray took the chance to pull him into the water. Despite the splash the Decepticons didn't bother enough, thinking their pal simply slipped into like a human in a pool. Underwater, Seaspray disposed of the Vehicon fast breaking his neck with a strong grab, getting ready for the next one as the corpse sank to the deeps. Seaspray and Warpath employed the same strategy again and again to reduce the number of enemies. There was a time when Warpath almost got caught after catching one Con, and had to remain quiet and force his captive to remain silent by crushing his head, until the others lost interest and left him in peace. After a while, the number of enemies reduced enough for the Autobots to not remain very hidden and approach them more. Seaspray used his harpoons to eliminate the closest Decepticon while Warpath crushed other's head with his hammer. At the end only one Vehicon remained, so Seaspray decided to reveal himself.
"Hi, nice day. Don't tell me, you are going fishing, right? The problem, my friend, is that on this place fishing is forbidden."
"Autobot!" The Vehicon alarmed activating his guns.
"Yeah, about that, I'm afraid you are alone now."
The Vehicon didn't notice Warpath was right behind him, until he touched him with his back. He turned and saw the Autobot tank standing before him with a smirk on his face. The Decepticon, knowing he had no chance against him, retrieved his weapons and raised his hands.
"I surrender."
"Not today." Warpath responded giving him an uppercut with the Hammer of Primus so hard that he was sent flying through the temple's ceiling, keeping being sent away to the ocean.
"I don't think you have a concept about surrender." Seaspray said.
"I learned the Cons' point of view regarding that during the final days on Cybertron."
"Yeah! You guys did it, you've disposed off the Cons." May saluted.
"You will say the foot soldiers. But what about the superior they were supposed to assist?" Misty recalled.
Then both Autobots' faces changed to worried ones.
"I think we've just figured it out."
"Why? What's wrong Seaspray? Is it a bad one?" Misty asked.
"And...it's right behind us?" May added getting nervous.
The girls turned around, confirming their fear: the Decepticon leader who traveled to the Sea Temple was no one else than Shockblast, who stood in front of them.
"Where were you?" Warpath demanded.
"Despite the detail of the loss of military personal which will affect the strength of our collective military strength, their sacrifice was necessary to create the suitable conditions for my target to appear." The Decepticon scientist revealed.
"You were waiting...for us? Why?" Misty asked surprised.
"Giving all the evidences of how strong the connection between humans and pokémon seen in the legends regarding this place, it was logical to assume the mere human presence would be enough to make the legendary pokémon to come out. And once again my hypothesis has ended to be true."
"It doesn't matter now, you are not taking Manaphy. This is its home, where it must be." May defended.
"A brave effort, but lack of logic giving the current situation. Surrender the active to me or face severe consequences."
Of course, Warpath was not going to give Shockblast any chance so he fired his chest cannon, hitting Shockblast right on the chest, pushing him back.
"Girls, run! Take Manaphy with you! We will deal with him!" Seaspray instructed while he and Warpath went to face the Decepticon.
The girls didn't doubt and followed their friend's advice. Despite receiving it, the impact didn't cause any harm on Shockblast's chest, thanks to his hard armor. Warpath tackled and punched him on the head twice until Shockblast grabbed his hand and pushed him back, right before Seaspray jumped to his back. The Wrecker tried to use his harpoons on him, but they couldn't penetrate his armor, although it was giving the Decepticon an annoying time. Seaspray kicked Shockblast at Warpath, who waited for him to approach to use his hammers.
"Keep it like this, I'm going to make a hole on that tough skin." Seaspray said preparing his explosive harpoons.
Warpath kept hitting Shockblast with his hammers, hitting multiple parts of his body. Then he pulled out the Hammer of Primus, ready to give a final huge blow, but before he could Shockblast grabbed him by the wrist, twisted it, causing the Autobot to groan in pain, and put him between him and Seaspray, threatening to make him receive the explosives.
"Using an enemy as living shield? Quite low, typical of a Decepticon." Seaspray criticized.
"And still smarter." Shockblast contradicted before kicking Warpath at him.
Seaspray jumped to dodge the impact and started a close fight with Shockblast with his melee combat harpoons, clashing with the Decepticon's huge sword.
"Not bad, for a scientist." Seaspray provoked before Shockblast faced him.
"There's a reason to explain my high experience in close combat. As our former master, before I joined Megatron as a scientist, I used to spend my days in the arena." Shockblast revealed.
"What?"
"Yes. Until the Decepticons' foundation, I was a gladiator."
After that revelation, Shockblast surprised Seaspray with an impressive combo of an uppercut with the sword and a kick which sent the Autobot against a wall. He saw Warpath charging with the Hammer of Primus ready to strike, but before he could Shockblast evaded it very close and redirected the hammer to a pound, causing a huge splash that caught Warpath by surprise. The Autobot was still stunned by the water, so Shockblast changed his arm for his shock cannon, turned Warpath at him and aimed the cannon at his. Warpath, feeling the Decepticon pulling from him acted instinctively and fired his chest cannon, but that was what Shockblast expected. The result of both cannons firing ended in a huge explosion, which sent Warpath flying quite a distance, and ended unconscious. While Shockblast approached to check how his opponent ended, Seaspray attempted again to jump to his back. Despite achieving it, Shockblast reacted different this time, hitting his back against a wall, crushing the amphibian Autobot, ending the same as Warpath, Shockblast was about to finish them with his cannon…
"Hey! Leave them alone!"
Shockblast looked at May's shout before seeing Blaziken coming at him, receiving a direct Overheat on the face.
"That's it, Blaziken. Keep him away from them." May instructed.
Blaziken keep pushing Shockblast back with Blaze Kick and Uppercut, but he anticipated the pokémon's next move and reacted grabbing him by the leg before stamping him against the floor, a couple times and ending throwing him away.
"You've did enough Blaziken, return." May said retrieving him with her poke ball.
"We need to leave now. He's after Manaphy." Misty reminded as she took her and ran away.
Shockblast tried to spot where the human girls were heading, but there was a little detail bothering him: it appears the effect of Blaziken's fire managed to cover part of his eye in black, reducing his visibility.
"No matter if my vision isn't sharp as always, it will not stop me from getting what I've come for."
The girls hid under a bridge near where Shockblast was looking for them.
"Mana, phy."
"Sshh, not now Manaphy." May whispered.
Too late, Shockblast turned where the sound came and approached the bridge striding. But at the moment he looked under the bridge and spotted them, Manaphy intervened surprising him firing a huge stream of water which impacted right on his mouth, forcing the Decepticon to step back.
"That was...a Hydro Pump?" Misty recognized.
"Manaphy, you have learned to battle?" May asked in disbelief.
"Mana." Manaphy nodded.
"You are full of surprises."
Misty saw they were near a huge surface of water. "We may be able to hide under the water. May, get your mask ready, we're going for a dive."
May followed Misty's lead, took the chance that Shockblast was still spilling all the water Manaphy fired to his mouth and jumped into the water. Once in, Misty activated her suit, allowing her to move freely as mermaid in the water. Even being busy taking off all the water, Shockblast could hear the sound the humans and the pokémon made when they got into the water. In the mean time, Manaphy got interested on what happened to Misty's body.
"Mana?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong. It's just my special suit which allows me to get more comfortable at being in the water." Misty explained.
"I bet that one-eye Con would not figure out where to search for us." May said.
Then a huge impact shook the water nearby, made by the sudden entrance of Shockblast.
"You have to curse it, don't you?" Misty complained.
"Your attempts for keep away that little creature are effortless. Give it to me now." Shockblast ordered, threatening with his cannon.
Misty reacted first taking from her back a cybertronian weapon similar to the one some of her friends took and fired at him. The shots didn't cause any harm to Shockblast, but were enough to distract him from May and Manaphy. Shockblast manipulated his cannon a little before firing a set of missiles, still active underwater, which went toward Misty. Fortunately she did the same on her wrist terminal and evaded them just in time, thanks to her suit's change to fast speed mode.
"Think your trinkets can match me in the water? Catch me if you can." She challenged as the missiles turned back.
Misty moved at high speed, surpassing the one of the missiles as she performed maneuvers to make them hit each other or miss. While she did this she pulled out one of her poke balls.
"Let's even the tables."
And she called her second most powerful pokémon. Golduck made as his trainer and swam around the Decepticon, dodging his shots and countering with Focus Punch. Unnoticed by any of the present ones, some of the shock cannon's blasts impacted on the energy shield which covered the temple. Having enough of the fight, Manaphy swam below Shockblast and started to spin around, creating a huge current which dragged in the Decepticon: it was using Whirlpool.
"Smart idea, Manaphy." Misty congratulated.
With Shockblast trapped inside the whirlpool, the group took the chance to return to the surface. But when they did…
"Hum."
"Something wrong, Misty?"
"Is it me or has the water risen?"
"Mana, mana." Manaphy said pointing at one tunnel with water.
"I think Manaphy is telling us that's a passage we can use." May sensed.
"Well, then we better check if it's true." Misty encouraged.
They followed Manaphy into the hole, except Golduck because of his size, so Misty retrieved him and followed inside before Shockblast emerged and tried to grab them. The passage took them through the temple as a water slide, making them to scream in excitement, until they reached the end of the road.
"Woah, that was fun. I wonder if all secret passages are fun as this." Misty confessed.
Then they saw water flowing right next to them.
"Okay, it is not supposed to be water here. This is starting to look like a deja'vu." May said, right before a stream of water fell near them, which made her look at the ceiling. "Oh no, not again."
"What? What's going on?"
"It's just like the previous time. When the Sea Crown was affected, the force field around the temple started to fade away, making lot's of sea water to flood the whole temple. But it should be fine, so why is it happening now?"
"The shots from Shockblast's weapon. They maybe impacted with the field damaging it. We may be able to survive even if the whole temple is flooded but it will sunk into the deeps. We gotta fix it, but how?"
May tried to figure it out, remembering all what happened in their last adventure. At the end she recalled. "What a minute, I think I got it. We need to reach to the Sea Crown. When Ash returned back all its pieces the temple repaired itself. Maybe we can try something similar."
"Alright, so we need to reach the center of the temple. And that may be a problem giving the fact this place is huge. Which way do we go?"
May was clueless as Misty, until she thought of something. "Manaphy, you know this place completely. Do you know which the fastest way to the Sea Crown is?"
"Phy." Manaphy nodded as it lead both girls to another passage. "Mana, mana."
"I guess we have to follow him."
"In that case lead the way, Prince of the Sea." Misty requested formally.
Manaphy jumped into the water passage, followed by the girls. This one wasn't like the previous one, so the way was peaceful and without issues. At the end they reached to a huge chamber, which once they reached the surface showed to have a central part decorated by a bunch of structures like crystals inserted. The very heart of the temple.
"Is that…?" Misty started.
"Yes, that's the Sea Crown." May confirmed.
"How beautiful. It's incredible how such a treasure is also the most important part of the temple."
As they got out of the water, Manaphy took May's hand and guided her in front of the crown. Suddenly, a strange panel appeared in front of her.
"Hey, this is like the key of the entrance." May recognized as she pretended to operate it, and got surprised seeing it reacted to her moves.
"You...know how to use that...control panel? Because for me it's hard to understand as cybertronian." Misty said surprised.
"I believe...this has to do with...my genetic heritage."
"I think you have been passing too much time with Clemont and Ratchet when they work. Your what?"
"This is going to sound to you like a craziness but, I'm a long descendant of the people who built this place."
Misty's face turned speechless, before letting out some laughs. "You're kidding, right? Are you saying you're part mermaid?"
May laughed as well. "No no, not mermaid. Just humans who used to have a close link with water pokémon, known as the People of the Water."
"Oh, I see. So because you may be related with them you are capable of understanding this?"
"I think so."
May continued moving parts of the terminal until it deployed some kind of map.
"Okay, I think I know how to see the map of the temple." May said before looking at Manaphy. "You don't know what I have to touche in order to make the temple to repair itself, do you?"
Manaphy guided May's hand to perform some commands on the terminal, making the crown parts to shine in a yellow tone before displaying some yellow lines which flowed to the shield and repaired the holes. That brightness also woke up the Autobots, who stood looking at the spectacle in disbelief.
"Did we just wake up in the Allspark?" Seaspray asked confused.
The girls also saw the results from the crown's room.
"The holes are fixed, the water it's returning to normal." May saw.
"Go back to the map, let's see if we can locate where our friends are." Misty suggested.
May manipulated the panel, showing the map again.
"Look, I see them." May pointed to two dubious points in the map. "Looks like they're fine."
"And which is that point?" Misty detected, which seem to be other part of the temple.
"I think it's Shockblast. Looks like he's far from the Autobots and every important part of the temple."
"I wish we could use this to trap him, or expel him. Does this temple have traps?" Misty asked, making May, even Manaphy, to look at her with confused looks. "You know, like in that movie when the archaeologist escapes being chased by a big rolling rock."
"I don't know." May answered while she continued exploring the terminal's options, until she found something which made her smile. "But it seems there are some things we can use. I have an idea."
May started to move some of the panels' circles, making the crown to glow again, this time involving the whole room. Meanwhile, after recovering from the whirlpool's effects, Shockblast managed to clear his eye and resumed his search.
"Hey cyclops!" Misty called, making Shockblast to turn at her, accompanied by Gyarados and Golduck. "You shouldn't have come, now you're going to face the People of the Water's justice."
Misty fired at him, assisted by her pokémon with Flamethrower and Hydro Pump. Once Shockblast started to advance at them, they submerged back into the water.
"Your hopes of stopping me are delusional." Shockblast proclaimed.
The Decepticon followed them into the water. When he searched into the water, he spotted them at the entrance of a huge tunnel, which they entered before the Decepticon could aim his weapon. Determined to not let them escape, Shockblast transformed to his vehicle form and drove into the tunnel, but he encountered an unexpected surprise: once inside the tunnel, a strong current pulled from him, dragging him into the conduit. Because of the constant hits he received by the crashes, he was forced to return to his original form. The Autobots saw him going inside a nearby conduit.
"I thought Shockblast wasn't the pleased type." Seaspray opined.
The tunnel finally ended, taking Shockblast to another chamber with shallow water. And for his surprise, Manaphy was standing right in front of him, looking him with a face of determination.
"Try to understand this, little being: I have no intention of hurting you, but in case of resistance I'll not hesitate to take you with me by force. You choose how you want it to be."
"MANA!"
Manaphy's call summoned a whole legion of water type pokémon which surrounded Shockblast.
"The capability to exercise command over lesser pokémon. Very impressive, you may be more valuable than we imagined."
Shockblast wasn't wrong, because all pokémon started to attack him from all angles with Water Gun and Bubble Beam. Because there were so many attacks at the same time, Shockblast had no time to react, to choose where to aim his weapon as he tried to hit them blindly with the sword.
"Mana, phy!"
Manaphy commanded again, making all the pokémon to cease their attack and leave.
"Big mistake, you have lost your only advantage." Shockblast criticized.
"That's what you think." Misty announced.
The girl pressed some kind of hidden button. At once, lots of hidden doors around the room opened, making lots of water streams to come out very fast under lot of pressure, leaving the Decepticon just like before. This time the amount of water made the whole room to flood completely, not a problem for Misty and Manaphy.
"Your tricks are ineffectual against me." Shockblast scoffed.
"You haven't seen the best of us yet."
Shockblast looked around to see where May's voice came before another thing caught him off guard: some kind of yellow shiny current with water surface flowed through the water at high speed, circling around the room. At the top of it was May, not wearing her scuba mask, but seemed to not need it.
"Wow May, how did you…?" Misty started.
"Some rewards of the temple for the ones who protect it." May answered before she turned at Shockblast with Manaphy next to her.
May's current approximated the Decepticon at high speed, ending hitting him on the chest, sending him against the wall. Shockblast was preparing his shock cannon to fire that he didn't noticed Manaphy circling around him. The little pokémon placed right behind the Decepticon, saw the cable connected to the cannon so it thought it was important and started to pull from it.
"It seems Manaphy has noticed something important. Golduck, Goldeen, go to assist." Misty requested summoning them.
Both pokémon swam next to Manaphy and grabbed the cable, assisting on pulling. After some combined effort, the tip of the part connected to the back got out. That caused the weapon to not fire when he attempted to shoot at May's current. He inspected the weapon until he found the issue.
"The energy cable has been separated from the main base. I must relocate it." Shockblast said.
But that was a mistake, because as soon as he focused on fixing it, May moved around him, making the current to wrap him like a snake, catching him. She nodded to Misty, who pressed the previous button again, making the water to get out through other apertures.
"Manaphy, now!" May instructed.
Manaphy's antenna started to shine as two red rays emerged from them, one touched May while the other reached Shockblast. As this occurred, the room emptied completely. After the rays disappeared, the current around May did as well as her body landed safely, similar to Shockblast's.
"What just happened?" Misty wondered while retrieving Goldeen before going to check her friend. "May, are you alright?"
May opened her eyes, but there was something weird now: her eyes' color changed to red.
"How you achieved such growth, human?" A sinister deep voice came out from May's lips, surprising her.
"May, what's wrong with you? Why are you talking like...Shockblast?" Misty asked in shock, starting to imagine what may happened.
"Oh my, you look so tiny from here." A young sweet voice came from their enemy.
"May?" Misty said speechless referring to Shockblast, who's eye now turned blue. "Is...is that you?"
"How is that I'm seeing my body in front of me?"
"Shockblast, I think you should look yourself to realize why."
Shockblast followed Misty's advice, by his own decision not because she told him, and by seeing his reflection in a small pond of water he discovered the reason.
"I'm...inside...of a human body?!"
"It certainly looks that way, but how?" Misty asked, as confused as the Decepticon.
"You can thank Manaphy for that."
"Can you explain that, May?"
"It's called Heart Swap, a special ability which only Manaphy can use for in case of danger. It allows it to change the position of two or more individuals, making them ending on other's body. It did it with Ash and ranger Jack one time, the same as with Team Rocket even when it was still an egg."
"Are you saying it has used that move to place you in Shockblast's body while he's in yours?"
"Yeah. Honestly I didn't expect it could also work on cybertronians."
"What nonsense is this?! This is impossible, illogical! It has no scientific solid base!"
"That's your problem, Shockblast. By relying on logic, you cannot understand other crucial facts of our world. Not like us. Golduck."
Golduck understood what Misty was meaning and grabbed Shockblast, now trapped on May's body.
"You just fell right into our trap, Shockblast. We prepared all this in order to lure you here and trap you. You're going to be a while separated from your body."
"But this will not be permanent, right May?"
"Rest assured Misty, this is only temporary. It will be over in a short period of time."
Then Misty thought about something. "Time we can use to secure Shockblast even before he returns to his body. May, we didn't realize at first, but we've managed to capture Shockblast!"
"Really? Hum, then I guess there must be something the temple can help us to ensure he remains under our custody once the Heart Swap effects are over. Manaphy, there's something for that?"
"May, happy." Manaphy nodded pointing at the next room.
"Good, then we will do it. Right before I see how it feels to be a Decepticon. There's so much I want to experience now that I'm in one's body."
"Stop! My construct is not a child's toy!" Shockblast complained, making Golduck to cover his mouth, or better said the one of May's body.
"This feels a little weird, I wonder how they made it to transform the body parts for their weapons." May said trying many things until she managed to make appear Shockblast's shock cannon. "Oh, not bad."
But her moment of joy was interrupted when she felt someone tackling her from behind.
"Got you now, Shockblast. Now it's my turn to show you what it feels to being Kaboom right in your very face."
"Warpath, wait! It's me!" May begged, seeing his Autobot friends was her attacker.
Warpath stopped from firing his cannon at her face at hearing her. "Eh...what did you say?"
"Better said how did he say it? That last hit may have affected my audio receptors a lot, I swore Shockblast just spoke with May's voice."
Misty couldn't avoid laugh. "It's not a delusion Seaspray, you heard right."
"What? May!" Warpath started helping her to get up. "By the Allspark, how did this happen? What trick Shockblast employed on you?"
"It wasn't him, it was Manaphy. He used a move to make us change our bodies, which explains why I'm now in control of his. It's not the first time we witness it so it will end very soon."
Warpath sighed in relief. "Uff, thank Primus. For a moment I thought it happened to you the same as when Galvatron possessed Bee. But the other way around."
"And where is him?" Seaspray asked curious.
"Right here, on May's body." Misty answered pointing at it. "But guys, don't you realize what a great chance this is for us? We have captured Shockblast."
"Hey, you girls are right. There wasn't much possibilities for this situation from occurring during the whole war, but you girls have made it possible."
"We must report this to everyone." Warpath started before using his com-link. "Warpath to base, do you read me?"
"Loud and clear. How are you doing there in the sea?"
"You are not going to believe this, Fixit. We have Shockblast, the girls have managed to capture him."
"Wait, seriously?" Bonnie asked surprised.
"Is this true?" Ratchet suddenly asked interested approaching the terminal.
"Oh Ratchet, you are back?" Warpath asked.
"We managed to complete our mission sooner than we expected so we asked to return." The Autobot medic summarized while in the room the others of his team were present as well. "Are you sure you have Shockblast?"
"As true as I'm learning combat techniques from the Wreckers supervised by commander Magnus. Come down here and see it by yourself if you don't believe me. Over and out." Warpath ended, cutting the transmission.
"We just need something to keep him still when his mind returns home." Seaspray recalled.
"We already thought of that." May revealed.
The group moved to the next room, which was big enough for all cybertronians. Manaphy guided May to another panel and she operated some commands before she stood at the center of the room. Immediately, lots of the same currents like the one which covered her before wrapped around the body. Just in that moment, the effect of Manaphy's Heart Swap wore off, making both May and Shockblast to return to their bodies. Once he saw May was back, Golduck released her gently. On the other hand, Shockblast was now trapped.
"It has been...the strangest moment of my entire existence." Shockblast admitted.
"And soon it will also be your worst time as well. You can consider yourself a prisoner of the Autobots. We will read you your rights once we're back." Warpath told him.
"Are we going to take him with us?" Misty asked.
In that moment a ground bridge appeared near them.
"That won't be necessary." Ratchet announced coming out of the portal. "It would be too risky having him as a prisoner. Being one of the most important Decepticons will end in a total mobilization of their troops at the moment they are aware of his missing. Besides, any ordinary way of interrogation would be useless with him."
Everyone saw him carrying some equipment, specially cables.
"Is that what I think it is?" Seaspray recognized.
"As their main scientist and the smartest Decepticon of all, Shockblast has been learning lots of knowledge of many different scientific fields, being used for their goals against us. But all that useful collective source of info can now help us to stand against all his machinations, tactics an all his twisted experiments. To develop proper countermeasures against anything he may do in the future."
"How do you intent to do it?" May asked.
"By entering into his mind and seek it myself. Clemont will record everything from the other side so we can analyze it calm back at base."
"You will not succeed. I'm the one who invented the cortical psychic patch." Shockblast recalled.
"I know, but I have learned how to perform it properly without risk of possible anomalies from records from Decepticon datapads and my own experience. And now it's your turn."
With all said, Ratchet inserted one end of the cable behind his head and the other on Shockblast's. That made both robots to stay like in limbo. The group supposed the process was going to take a while, but it ended sooner than they expected when a beep sounded, making Ratchet disconnect himself from Shockblast.
"That's it? It's over?" Misty asked.
"Everything is recorded in the main computer, storage safe on Teletraan-1's hard drive." Ratchet answered before turning at Shockblast. "Now you know what it feels to be a test subject. To feel someone wander inside your head without being able to resist. At least now your knowledge will have a good use, to amend your actions."
"Whoa, that's some effective probing, Ratch." Warpath complimented.
"Have a nice ride, professor Con!" May saluted as she pressed another button on the terminal.
That made the floor below Shockblast to open, revealing a secret passage through he fell at high speed once the currents released him. The conduit took him at high speed like a roller coaster, ending being launched like a torpedo out of the lower part of the temple. He crushed against the oceanic floor, while the temple continued its way within the current, disappearing from his sight. Shockblast could only hit the floor in annoyance: not only he failed on his mission, but the Autobots also stole his most precious treasure, his knowledge, nothing to want everyone else to know. Meanwhile, back at the temple, the team was getting ready to return.
"Fear nothing Manaphy. Now that I know how to find this place, I can come to visit you anytime, so we will no need to say goodbye."
"May, happy. I love you." Manaphy said.
"What if the Decepticons tried to locate it again?" Misty reminded.
"No need to worry. I will ask Blaster to install a disruptor alongside the sensor. It'll generate interference pulses, making impossible to be detected by Decepticon instruments." Ratchet surprised.
"You hear it Manaphy? Your home is safe. The Decepticons will not bother you anymore."
"Mana?"
"Hey, how about if we take the chance and bring Manaphy to base for a quick visit? That way it will be happy to see Max, Ash and Pikachu again and will meet the others."
"Good idea May. As long as it returns back." Misty agreed.
"Yeah, I have no intention to end getting into a human or a pokémon body by accident." Warpath joked, making almost everyone laugh as they crossed the portal.
May was right: after they returned, the other teams were returning as well.
"Hi everyone, we're back." Serena announced.
"Looks like you have succeeded as well." Tracey deduced.
"You can say that, we managed to teach those Cons a good lesson." Smokescreen confirmed.
"And with the sensors planted on their territories, we will know if they dare to try to capture them again." Blaster said.
"So our response will be faster as well." Ultra Magnus added.
"We also have obtained a big prize with Shockblast's patch." Clemont added.
"Once we analyze it we will see what useful things we may be able to use." Ratchet said.
"Like how to restore my brethren from their remains?" Predaking asked hopeful.
"Maybe."
"Looks like our efforts have been well rewarded." Elita said.
"More like we think. Hey guys, look who has come to visit us?" May announced.
"Mana."
"Hey, is Manaphy." Ash recognized.
"Oh my, it has been a long time." Max said.
"Oh, what a cutie!" Bonnie admired with puppy eyes.
"Pikachu." Pikachu welcomed Manaphy.
"Mana, phy."
"I see you have kept your word. Thanks Clemont." May thanked.
"Actually I didn't need to do much. Max was very resourceful by his own. I'm sure that it would have happened the same way with you and Bonnie."
May blushed a little, although no one noticed it. "You have no idea what cool thing I've done. Manaphy allowed me to change my body with a Decepticon, now I know what it feels to be in your skin. But it was a shame not to figure out how they transform."
"No way, you really did that?" Ash asked surprised.
"Is that possible?" Bumblebee asked in disbelief.
"Weird but true. Believe me, I saw it with my own optics." Warpath confirmed.
"Yeah, that sounds amazing, but surely not as much as making a Z-Move with a legendary pokémon to beat three Predacons." Iris boasted.
"Oh really? Please tell more details."
"Take it easy Bonnie, we will share all our experiences once everyone are back home." Optimus said.
"Wheeljack has called for a return bridge. They have finished their mission as well." Fixit reported.
"I will place the last sensor on their position once they are back." Blaster said.
"I can't wait to introduce you to everyone, Manaphy." May told to the little pokémon taking it on her arms.
The ground bridge was open, with everyone waiting for the last group to return. Suddenly, Dawn and Piplup entered abruptly, like if they were pushed from the other side. Sideswipe followed, but seeing to be firing at the portal.
"You monster! You will pay for what you've done!" Sideswipe yelled to the ground bridge.
Wheeljack entered the last one with Sparky behind him, he seemed to be carrying something or someone. "Ratchet, get the sickbay ready! We have an emergency!"