8- Hunting Grounds.
In the Nemesis' laboratory were three pods which transparent glass revealed some things floating in some kind of liquid inside them. The door opened and Shockblast entered the lab, typed something on the lab's terminal, causing currents of electricity start to flow through the pods from outside inside. The pods started to deplete the liquid, causing the beings to start awakening, showing they all had yellow eyes.
"It's time for your first field test." Shockblast declared as huge shadows rose in front of him as terrifying roars accompanied them.
A few days later, on New Iacon, someone seemed to be packing.
"Max Potion. Ice Heal. Pecha Berries. Dragon Scale." Iris named while her partner Fraxure was passing her the items she placed into her bag. "And last but not least, what every good pokémon deserves after a hard training: some of your favorite Pokéblocks."
"What's up with the packing? Are you going on a trip?" Max asked he and Bonnie arriving.
"Can we go with you?" Bonnie requested.
Iris laughed. "No, it's not that. You see, today my master, gym leader Clair, and the gym leader of Opelucid City, who is also a dragon type trainer, are going to have a meeting. I'm going to attend it as well because it may involve my future."
"Huh?" Both kids said confused.
"In other words, they are about to debate if I'm ready to start preparing to become the next gym leader of Opelucid's pokémon gym."
"Woah, really?" Max asked in disbelief.
"That's awesome." Bonnie added.
"What do you know? Looks like we're gonna have another gym leader among us very soon." Misty anticipated joining in with Ritchie.
"Is that for real?"
"You bet, Ritchie. When we visited the gym during my travel through Unova, the gym leader told Iris she could be his successor at taking care of the gym." Ash confirmed from a high platform with Serena next to him.
"Let's hope they will not put you through a test." Serena added.
"I hope so, because I was never good at studies." Iris admitted nervous.
"Way to go Serena, keep giving her pressure." Ritchie said sarcastically.
"Ups, sorry."
"Fear nothing Iris, you will be just fine. I'm sure of it, we all have seen how you and your pokémon battle." Dawn reassured her.
"So, ready to make a good impression?" Iris' Autobot guardian asked.
Iris sighed, knowing there was no turning back now. "Here we go."
In that moment, an alarm started to sound.
"Looks like someone is calling us." Fixit recognized.
"How do you know?" May asked.
"The base is equipped with a multiple alarm configuration system, adapted to display a different alarm depending of the issue. This one, for example, is designed to announce an incoming transmission. A suggestion of mine." Clemont detailed.
"Wow, you certainly have contributed to the base's updating." The Hoenn pokémon coordinator admired, which made Clemont blush a little.
"Patch it through." Ratchet authorized while Fixit operated the terminal.
The same screen showed who was calling them.
"Hey Jack, how long not knowing about you." Ash saluted.
"How are you pokémon rangers doing?" Misty asked.
"Actually fine. After that great victory you achieved against the Cons which forced them to leave our world, we have returned to our previous operations, handing over our usual duties. Is it true that they are back again?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Ash confirmed.
"But fear nothing Jack, this time Team Prime is equal in resources and firepower." May reassured him.
"Good to know. But that's not the reason of my call."
"What is it, Ranger Jack?" Optimus asked entering the room.
"I thought it would interest you what we found circulating on Internet."
An image appeared on the screen, which showed what seemed to be some kind of giant creature moving in a forest. But the weird thing was that the creature looked made of metal.
"Hey, that looks like…a Predacon?" Dawn recognized.
"Pi piplup." Piplup nodded.
"If that's the case, it couldn't be other else than Predaking." Smokescreen added, which caught Iris' interest.
"This picture was taken one day ago at Kanto Safari Zone by a tourist. Since that, rumors have spread about a new kind of metal and dragon type pokémon lurking within the area." Ranger Jack explained.
"Which means lots of people will travel there to try to spot or capture it." Misty deduced.
"But what is that Predacon doing there?" Max questioned.
"In our last encounter he seemed to be hurt. Maybe he's just looking for a safe place to recover or hide." Iris suspected.
"Then we better find him before the wrong ones reach him first." Ash suggested.
"I better inform the others to return from patrol to start equipping us properly for the worst."
"Wait Smokey, there's no need for that."
"What do you mean, Iris?" Bonnie asked.
"Have you forgotten he is a giant cybertronian dragon, engendered as the ultimate Autobot hunter? He tried to squash and fry us." May reminded.
"But he seemed scared when we found him hurt. I'm sure he's just confused and lost, not knowing where to go on this planet."
"Well said, Iris. While he was originally created for the purpose of hunt us down, Predaking was merely a recently born mind, manipulated by Galvatron to do his bidding. But according to Ratchet, he is smart and independent enough to think by himself, the reason why he spared his life and turned against his creators. Besides, he was a great help in the battle against Unicron back on Cybertron. And so, as an intelligent being, he also deserves the chance for redemption. We must approach him with caution, but without bad intentions if we hope to show him we are not his enemies." Optimus proclaimed. "We must act covertly on this mission, and I think our human friends are the proper ones for this task."
"Well, I'm actually in the area. If you send some of the kids, I will make sure everything goes fine while they search for this dragon Con." Ranger Jack communicated.
"Understood. I will require volunteers to accompany Ranger Jack."
"Count us in." Ash accepted.
"Pika pika." Pikachu nodded.
"If you go, we too." Ritchie added.
"Pika." Sparky said.
"I'm in." Misty joined.
"Don't forget about me." May announced.
"I'm going too."
"Are you sure, Iris? What about your meeting?" Smokescreen reminded.
"Well, there's still a lot of time for that, which I had planned to spend in the Village of Dragons meanwhile. Besides, I can always rely on the ground bridge when it's time. I'm the only one who knows what Predaking may be going through, I have to do this."
"Who's acting like a kid now, huh?"
"She's speaking with her heart, Smokescreen. It will be best for you to trust your friend's instinct." Optimus advised.
The young Autobot sighed in defeat. "Alright. But in case things get complicated, call us and I will come to assist."
"You are also stopping to act like a kid, Smokey. Fear nothing, we will be fine." Iris reassured.
"Yeah Smokescreen, what could go wrong?" Dawn said.
Moments later, a ground bridge opened in middle of the Kanto Safari Zone and the five kids emerged from the portal. Ash spotted Ranger Jack waving at them from the distance, so they joined him.
"You kids didn't waste any time." Jack greeted as he signaled them to crouch.
"So, what are you doing here, Jack?" Ash asked.
"Look over there." He said passing him his binoculars.
Using the binoculars, Ash took a look to where Jack told him and saw something disturbing: at the distance, he saw lots of people in uniform getting ready a few big cages, although probably not big enough to trap Predaking. But what shocked him was who those people were, when he recognized their uniforms.
"Team Rocket."
"What? They are here as well?" Iris asked.
"Not the Team Rocket we know, but their usual agents and grunts."
"They also have their own private army." Misty added.
"Those look like some kind of assault force." Jack reported checking them.
"Looks like they are very determined to sneak in and search for rare pokémon." Iris noticed.
"If they are here as well because of Predaking, they have no idea where they're getting into." May reassured smiling.
"You are right, May. Team Rocket has only experience regarding stealing regular pokémon and trying to catch legendary ones. They have no experience when it comes to cybertronians unlike Team Alien." Ritchie supported.
"Even so, they have broken a very important law: it is forbidden to enter into a safari zone and catch singular pokémon by no authorized means. We must stop them."
"And how do we do that, Jack? Besides calling the Autobots for backup." Iris asked.
"If only we could figure out who the officers are…"
Being her turn to see with the binoculars, Misty spotted two familiar faces between Team Rocket's forces. "I can't believe those two are here."
"What did you saw, Misty?" Ash asked.
"I already discovered who are in charge of this operation. Look Ash. Remember them?"
Once Ash looked to where Misty pointed saw what she meant. "No way, Cassidy and Butch?"
"You know them?" Jack asked.
"We had a few encounters with them in the past." Ritchie answered.
"You too?" Ash asked surprised.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked as well.
"Pika pi." Sparky nodded with the arms crossed.
"Those two works for Team Rocket as well. But while Jessie, James and Meowth are obsessed with catching Pikachu and chasing us wherever we go, those two participate in other operations of Team Rocket." Misty revealed.
"While our Team Rocket are sometimes easy to face, Cassidy and Butch are smarter and harder to deal with." Ash continued.
"So, are you saying they are of the elite?" May specified.
"That would explain why they are in charge of such operation." Jack connected.
"So, what do we do now?" Ritchie asked.
"I think we should search and find Predaking before they do." Iris suggested.
"Why such a hurry? Even if they managed to find him, they will not stand a chance against him." May recalled.
"Yeah, but if that happens, Team Rocket will become aware of the Autobots and Decepticons' presence on Earth." Ash pointed.
That was also heard on New Iacon.
"We could have another Team Alien to deal with." Serena realized.
"Even if it is Team Rocket?" Max asked not convinced at all.
"Ash's right, we cannot allow our disguise to get compromised, specially by a criminal organization. You must locate the Predacon and ensure Team Rocket would not discover his existence." Optimus transmitted.
"If we manage to apprehend them all they will not be able to report it to their headquarters in case they figure out what the new pokémon they're tracking really is." Jack pointed.
"We will let you elaborate a plan to face them, Jack. Meanwhile, we better start looking for Predaking." Ash proclaimed.
As the kids commenced the search, Team Rocket was still finishing the last details for their operation.
"Come on everyone, these cages need to be ready. We want our soon new acquisition to feel comfortable." Cassidy hustled.
"I have sent some search patrols to star searching for that weird pokémon. They will start with the forest, seems to be the ideal place to hide something that big." Butch informed his partner.
"Good. Now we just need to wait." She said as she pulled out a phone. "Sir, we are ready to start. No one has noticed our unauthorized entrance."
"Excellent. Remember that once the pokémon is inside the cage, you must use its shock measures to immobilize it."
"Shock measures? Doesn't that sound a little drastic?"
"For a metal type pokémon like that it will simply force it to fall asleep, like administer a sedative to a patient before a surgery."
"Alright. If you say so, professor Wamba."
"It's Namba!" The one on the other side of the conversation corrected, probably mad by the tone, before it hung up.
Cassidy groaned. "Such a strict guy."
Meanwhile, the Team Rocket troops were already searching the forest, tracking any clue of the Predacon's whereabouts. However, they were not aware that something was stalking them: a sinister and ferocious yellow robotic eye get them on its sight from the woods. Once they started to separate to cover more ground, the strange figure decided to approach one of them, like a predator hunts its prey. Once it was clear enough, it charged at the grunt without warning. His screams were heard by the other nearby grunts.
"What was that?" A female grunt asked concerned.
"It seems one of our teammates has established contact with the target." Another grunt sensed.
"Then he could need help."
"Team 1, this is team 2, have you located the target?"
"Negative, but we heard it too. It must be nearby." Another soldier reported through com-link.
"Hold a second, we have contact. It coming our way!" Another of team 2 reported before the signal was lost.
"Team 2? Respond!" The squad's leader requested, but received no answer. "How they managed to get contact with it? The screams came from where team 3 was, very far from them."
They were not aware that right behind them a giant shadow was rising above them.
"Eh? It wasn't supposed that it was going to be sunny today?" One of the grunts asked confused.
A sinister growl was all they heard before turning to the shadow and remain speechless from what they found, or maybe what found them instead. Moment later, Ash and his friends were searching the forest by themselves, hoping for finding Predaking before Team Rocket.
"So anyone has an idea about how to locate the Predacon?" May asked.
"Since we already have had a few encounters with him, I guess Sparky and Pikachu will already be able to recognize and follow his smell." Ritchie suggested. "What do you think, Sparky?"
"Pika pika." Ritchie's Pikachu nodded.
"How about give it a try, buddy?" Ash encouraged.
"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded as well.
"I know who can give us a hand with that too. Riolu, come out."
Ash called his newest pokémon.
"You have a Riolu? Wow, since when did you get a cool pokémon as this?" Iris asked in disbelief, making Riolu stand proud.
"I guess Tracey hasn't told you yet. Riolu can use his aura to search through this forest, and that way detect something as big as Predaking. Want to give it a try?" Ash asked.
Riolu answered with a happy nod and started to use his special sense while both Pikachu tried to catch any unusual scent. After a minute, the electric pokémon denied their heads, signal they got nothing. But Riolu managed to detect something unknown at a certain distance from them. He signaled them the way.
"It seems he have found something. Let's go Riolu, lead the way." Ash proclaimed.
After a while, they reached a clearing in middle of the woods, but this wasn't a natural clearing.
"What has happened here?" Misty wondered.
"These trees have been felled. Maybe because of something huge and very strong." Iris noticed, checking the surroundings.
"Something like a Predacon?" Ritchie guessed.
"Probably. But why would Predaking react like this?"
"Guys!" Ash called. "Riolu says it's this way."
"If this has been done recently, we still can catch up with him." May deduced as they resumed the march.
Finally, they found something.
"What are these trinkets?" Ritchie asked grabbing one from the floor.
"These must be the tools Team Rocket was going to use to catch Predaking." Iris deduced.
"Are they serious? It looks to be these things can't even cause him tickles. I doubt they could hurt even Fixit." May opined.
"It seems they found Predaking either way, but where are they?" Ash wondered.
"And why did they leave behind their equipment? Something must have happened to them." Misty sensed.
"Pi? Pika pika!" Pikachu shouted as he looked to where Riolu was sensing something.
Next to where they were lied one of Team Rocket's catching machines, but it was broken, with signs that something overturned it. But it was moving, because there was still something tearing it apart on the back. Because it was a little within the shadows, Misty pulled out and turned on her phone's flashlight, and aimed it to it, revealing there was not one, but two giant beings tearing apart the wreckage.
"I think we are not alone." She announced.
Suddenly, the two figures stopped what they were doing and turned at them, showing two pair of glowing yellow eyes in the dark.
"Uh, fear nothing, we are not like the ones who came first. We are friendly. Have you seen something big, metallic with wings?" Iris asked nicely.
One of the beings chuckled as they walked out of the shadows, revealing that they also looked like cybertronians, and had a known emblem.
"Maybe." One of them answered before they transformed, revealing what they were.
"Predacons?" Iris asked surprised.
One of them, blue with silver and brown touches, turned into a feathered dragon, and the second, who was silver and light blue, turned into a Ursagryph, and once they did, charged at them.
"Sparky, stop them with Thunder Shock." Ritchie commanded.
"You too Pikachu, use Thunderbolt." Ash added.
Both Pikachu launched their electric attacks, stopping the Predacons on their tracks.
"Now is our chance. Let's get out of here." Misty proposed, so everyone started to get away from the beast, except one who wanted to face them.
"Come one, Riolu. This is not the time to fight." Ash insisted grabbing his pokémon.
It didn't take long for the Predacons to get out from paralysis and started the pursuit.
"How is it that there are now two more?" May asked.
"No idea, but one thing for sure: these don't look as calm as Predaking." Ritchie opined.
"We need to leave them behind. Split up." Ash suggested.
When the Predacon duo reached their last position, they started to check around, using their senses. The feathered dragon was tracking right below a tree, one where Iris, Fraxure, Ritchie and Sparky climbed up, and now were waiting for it to leave by making no move. The Ursagryph was searching next to a fallen hollow log, just where Ash, Misty, May, Pikachu and Riolu hidden inside. They could feel the Predacon lurking around because of the log's moves when it moved around, and they could see part of its beak from the log's hole. Riolu was getting ready for attack in case of, but before they could be discovered they heard a weird sound. This made both Predacons to stop searching and look to where the sound may come from, and headed for there next.
"Uff, that was close." May sighed relieved.
"But why did they leave?" Misty asked.
"No idea. But it may have something to do with that sound we just heard." Ash deduced.
"They reacted to it like if there was something calling them." Ritchie added.
"Do you think it may be Predaking?"
"I…certainly don't know. How it is possible there are two more living Predacons here?" Iris asked confused.
"Didn't Optimus say Predaking was the only living one of his kind?" May reminded. "Maybe there's something more about the Predacons' biology not even the Decepticons know."
"Do you think they are with him?" Ritchie suggested.
"I certainly hope not. Does two act a very different way."
"Can you explain it, Iris?" Misty asked.
"The way they talked, the way they acted, how they chased us…there is something about those Predacons that gives me the creeps. It's…terrifying."
That let everyone worried, the situation may have turned a lot more dangerous than they ever imagined. Meanwhile, speaking of the two Predacons, they meet at the entrance of a cave, where they transformed back to robot mode.
The one who turned into a Ursagryph laughed. "Those natives look so insignificant. It's amusing seeing them running away with those little insect legs of theirs."
"Don't get too cocky, brother. Did you feel when those tiny creatures shot us that lightning? The sensation forced me to stop and recover. I guess that's what the boss told us about being careful with what the native creatures can do."
"Oh, don't get so dramatic. They still can't do us any harm."
"Your ego is admirable, but don't let it go to your head." A new voice, one bossy but female, warned from the cave as sounds of something big coming from within it were heard. "Those 'humans' have gotten the wrong idea that they can do with us the same as they perform over the other beings which share their world. Let's show them what happens when they face something they cannot tame."
Back with the group, they decided to report Jack what they discovered.
"So there are more than just one of these dragon Cons. Where could they come from?"
"We have no idea Jack, but its indeed bad news. Iris believes these new Predacons are more dangerous than Predaking because of their behavior." Ash reported, talking through his Pokétch.
"Then I guess it's time to call for backup. I will warn Prime so he can send your pals to assist."
"Sounds fine. What about Team Rocket?" Misty reminded.
"Have you come up with how to deal with them?" May added.
"Not yet. It seems they have a huge number of troops around some highly advanced cages, probably designed to trap the strongest of pokémon. I was planning to disguise myself as one of them to sneak into their camp and sabotage their equipment while I wait for my own reinforcements to arrive." Jack revealed.
"Sounds like our best choice for now."
"We could also help you with our pokémon too." Ritchie offered.
Suddenly, Riolu got alarmed as he turned his sight at the forest.
"What is it, Riolu? You're seeing something?" Ash asked.
"I'll take a look." Iris volunteered climbing up the trees.
"Go with her."
Riolu joined Iris and guided her, jumping between the trees' branches. After a while he stopped and pointed to a certain direction. Iris focused her eyes to try to see what Riolu was pointing at, and managed to spot at the distance some huge figures moving between the trees, as she heard the sound of trees going down. Knowing what that meant, she and Riolu returned immediately with the others.
"It's the Predacons, they are moving. Riolu and I saw them moving in that direction." Iris informed.
"That's where Team Rocket's forces are. What do you think they are up to?" Ritchie asked.
"No clue. But one thing for sure, now they are the ones who got trouble." May said.
Meanwhile, back at Team Rocket's camp, they started to hear noises coming from the shrubbery. They were about to call their pokémon when they saw what was it: some of their own companions came out running, some even yelling in panic, showing some parts of their uniforms torn apart.
"Sir, the recognition teams are back." One grunt reported to Butch.
"Have they succeeded in locating that pokémon?"
"Hum, well… I think it's better for you to see it by yourself."
"What?" Butch said confused until he saw them acting like a bunch of scared kids while their comrades attended them. "What has happened in there?"
"Sir, thank Arceus we're out. We need to get out of here as fast as we can." One of the squad leaders begged completely scared.
"Hey! Could you please settle down for a moment? Tell us what happened to you." Cassidy demanded.
"Those things, the creatures we were tracking, they…they are not what we thought. Sincerely, I even doubt they are even pokémon, they look more like machines, or monsters."
"They were waiting for us, and suddenly they jumped at us, catching us off guard. We tried to hold them off, but our equipment seemed to not affect them." A female grunt added.
"Those pokémon seems to be highly aggressive. Which means they will be very useful for Team Rocket's future military operations. If we are going to capture them…" Cassidy started.
"With all due respect ma'am, are you crazy? We barely escape from them, there's no way we are going to face those monsters again." One grunt protested.
"We came to catch weird pokémon, not battle some rogue dangerous machines." Another supported.
"I say we just take whatever pokémon we encounter here and take our leave as soon as we can." Another suggested.
"You will not lay a hand of any of those pokémon." A familiar voice caught their attention, and when they turned, they saw Ash and his friends standing before them.
"This place is supposed to be a peaceful refuge for them to live safe from guys like you." Ritchie added.
"Well well, look who is it, the stubborn kids who always ruin our plans. And I see you also brought new friends with you." Cassidy recognized.
"It's been a while since the last time we met."
"Very long. We know you wouldn't be lazing around despite not knowing about you, Butch." Ash nodded.
"Well, thank you. You see, I'm so flattered that you said my name correctly that I'm about to turn a blind eye and let you go without fighting."
Cassidy sighed in disbelief for her partner's reaction. "Seriously?"
"Those things your forces encountered in the forest are something beyond you understanding." Iris warned.
"Is that so? Well, I guess we should focus our attention on you instead. Maybe we can succeed in what that trio of losers never managed to achieve and take your Pikachu." Cassidy proposed.
Butch laughed. "Oh, I would love to see James, Jessie and Meowth's faces when they see us succeeding in what they spent some much time and effort."
"You can try, but we have been getting stronger all this time." Ash challenged.
"Pika pika." Pikachu supported.
"So you wanna battle us? Very well, let's see if your so strong pokémon are match for all of ours. Troops, prepare for battle." Cassidy instructed.
"Ma'am, there's something coming from the forest." One sentinel communicated.
Immediately, all faces turned at the edge of the forest while some trees were shaken, making flying pokémon flew away, while they heard roars. Then, the Predacons jumped out of the woods, but this time there was a third one with them: this looked like an ordinary green and golden metallic dragon, with just as some curious detail, a claw at the edge of its tail. The three beasts charged against the humans at full speed, roaring as a way for intimidation.
"Is them. Run for your lives!" One of the grunts yelled.
"Let's get out of here!" Other supported.
"Cowards! Don't let such wild lifeforms scare you like Rattata. Activate the cages!" Cassidy commanded.
The cages' operators typed on the cages' terminals, turning them on and making some giant cables emerge from the inside and launched at the cybertronian dragons. The new Predacon reacted fast and grabbed them with its mouth; the feathered dragon wasn't so lucky and was caught by some, which once coiled around his body started to electrify him, but the effect was minimum, since he started to stand his ground and pull from them, tearing them apart one by one; the Ursagryph simply jumped from one side to another, dodging the cables, while he channeled heat energy to his mouth and unleashed a huge fire shot at it, destroying the cage. The new Predacon used its full force to pull from the cage and managed to lift it on the air, making it to toss it hard and it ended exploding. Once he was done with the cables, the feathered dragon approached the cage and started to slicing it with his claws and jaws. Once the other Predacons joined, chaos erupted between all Team Rocket's forces.
"We need to contain those machines before they destroy us all." One officer said.
"Let's use our pokémon." Other suggested as they were to grab some of their poke balls.
But before they could, they saw one of their soldiers grabbing all of them into a bag.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
"It isn't obvious? I'm not gonna allow you to use these pokémon for such ambitious use." The soldier answered back, revealing to be Jack disguised as one of them.
"Come back here, there's a chain of command. We have orders to follow." One of the officers insisted as he was about to grab the bag.
But before he could, Jack jumped above him and landed on his head, knocking him out. "Sorry, I don't take orders from you. I never was on your side."
And so, Jack continued to walk above the Team Rocket's soldiers who tried to take back their pokémon. While this happened, the Predacons continued their rampage.
"Despite they are unleashing their rage with the bad ones, I see what you meant Iris: these Predacons seem completely opposed to Predaking. They look wilder." May noticed.
"You are right. Once they are done with them, who knows will be their next target?" Ritchie added.
"Then we better stop them right here right now. Or at least try it."
"Well said, Ash." Iris supported.
"We stand with you." Misty followed.
The group summoned some of their pokémon to fight back the Predacons: Riolu attacked the Ursagryph with Force Palm on the head, annoying him enough to earn his attention, and while he used Double Team to confuse him, Pikachu and Sparky launched their electric attacks; Misty's Gyarados coiled around the new Predacon and grabbed its neck with Crunch, allowing May's Blaziken to hit it repeatedly on the head with Blaze Kick and Sky Uppercut; Iris' Fraxure climbed onto the feathered dragon's back and started using Scratch around his body, looking for weak or sensitive points, until he found one which attacked to earn the Predacon's attention, who started to jump one way to another trying to shake him off, but that allowed Iris' Dragonite to surprise him with Ice Beam, starting to freeze his frontal part. But the Predacons were not going down without a fight: the feathered dragon started to charge up his flames to melt Dragonite's Ice Beam, and that's how it happened, countering the ice with more powerful flames which ended taking down the pokémon, before he finally shook Fraxure off with a quick turn; the Ursagryph had enough with the electric attacks, so he roared and started to launch flames everywhere, forcing the two pokémon to stop attacking and cover themselves, Riolu continued with his attacks, until the Predacon used a whirl of his tail which disposed of all the copies and managed to hit him hard, sending him near his pals; the newest Predacon managed to dodged Blaziken's last attacks and took the chance to grab Gyarados by his tail with its mouth and next it started to spin him around like a toy, making him to hit Blaziken like a wrecking ball before releasing him. The Ursagryph Predacon was about to finish Riolu, but Pikachu intervened first and stunned him with a quick hit of his Iron Tail on the head, allowing Sparky to drag him safely. That caused him to thank them both, specially Pikachu, for saving him, he was now starting to get used to battle with friends.
"Guys, are you okay?" Ash asked concerned as he and Ritchie went to check them.
"Pikachu." Pikachu answered with a nod.
However, everything wasn't over yet: the others' pokémon were not unable to keep fighting and the Predacons now had them surrounded.
"Do you think it's the best time to use a Z-Move?" May suggested.
"We still haven't mastered them." Ritchie replied.
But before they could do anything, the new Predacon felt something hitting it from behind: it was Cassidy, who was holding a rocket launcher, and it seemed she fired it because of the smoke coming from it.
"It seems we have underestimate you, but we will find a way to force you to bow down to your new masters." Cassidy declared.
Then, for everyone's surprise, the new Predacon seemed to be laughing as it walked at her.
"Please. You, make us bow before you?" It started, revealing to be a female by the tone of her voice.
"Don't get close. I warn you."
"There's no use, Cassidy. Take it down." Butch suggested as he came with another rocket launcher. "I can't believe we are forced to do as those three uses to act."
They continued firing rockets at the Predacon, but she continued approaching without any sign of injure. Then, when she was almost above them, she transformed, turning into a tall robot with a very scary face, with the wings now at her back but still with the tail. She grabbed their weapons with one of her hands. That left them speechless.
"Do you really believe we were as dumb as the creatures you're used to slave?" The female Predacon said before chuckling as she crushed the weapons, but wasn't all: next her tail seemed like channelizing the same heat from their fire and shooting an energy shot at their remaining cage, destroying it. "Fools. You have no idea. This world doesn't belong you anymore, and it is time for the new masters to show their minions their rightful place."
Cassidy and Butch remained speechless, even frozen by fear. But before the Predacon could dispose of them, she heard a transformation sound which made her turn at her right, and that's when Sideswipe kicked her on the face.
"Sorry for the delay. Too much distance." The young Autobot apologized.
And he wasn't alone: immediately a storm of shots surprised the other two Predacons, who the same as the gang saw Hot Rod, Arcee, Smokescreen and Warpath shooting at them from the distance. Hot Rod drove at the gang after changing form to pick them up and take them to a safe location while the rest covered them. Arcee ran toward the feathered dragon and climbed onto his back, earning his attention while Smokescreen continued firing at his head, forcing him something to look away and allowing Arcee to kick him there. The Ursagryph Predacon decided to focus his attention at Warpath, who was constantly firing his gatling gun. The Predacon ran at him, but was what the Autobot tank was expecting: he allowed him to approach enough, dodged a jump he attempted to crush him and changed to vehicle form. The Predacon rose to use his claws, but Warpath already had his cannon aiming at his chest.
"Gotcha, Kabuum!"
And the shot hit him on the chest. The impact was strong enough to send the Predacon backwards. He stood again, but even that he looked intact he really now had a bruise on his chest because of Warpath's shot, which started to make him concern, specially when the Autobot continued firing his cannon. Sideswipe was now facing the female Predacon in robot form, dodging her strikes with her claws and countering his swords, but her skin was too tough for his slices to cause her any harm. She managed to block his next strike and push him back, before stomping onto his chest to trap him against the floor.
"I will show you why you shouldn't pick a fight you cannot win." She announced before she attempted to strike again with her claws.
Sideswipe grabbed her hand and started struggling to push her back, but then her tail approached his head from the side. It moved its claws ready to use them against him, but the young Autobot grabbed them as well and try the same as with the hand. The feathered dragon had enough with Arcee and changed to robot form, making the female Autobot to hook herself to his wings, until he fell backward, on purpose, crushing her against the floor. He was ready to stomp her next, but Smokescreen's shots draw his attention, and made him to swing his wings, making him to launch some kind of small sharp discs at him, but he dodged them without problem.
"Launch me some little trinkets any time." He mocked.
That made the Predacon to change back to his beast form and started to chase him, so he did the same. Meanwhile, after dropping the gang to somewhere safe, Hot Rod joined the battle, shooting at the Ursagryph Predacon as he charged at him. The creature saw him and decided to focus on him, but Hot Rod simply jumped above him and transformed before landing behind him. That made him to start chasing him. Both Autobots saw the other one being pursued by the other Predacon and decided to try something. They drove at the other, with the beasts after them. As they got closer, both Autobots changed to robot form as they continued running at each other, and finally they jumped, grabbed each other's hand and Smokescreen turned on the phase shifter. That caused that when the Predacons lunged at them they ended colliding together. Sideswipe was still struggling against the female Predacon. Her tail stopped trying to grab him and instead charged up for another shot. Fortunately, in the last moment, Sideswipe aimed the tail at her hand, making her shoot at herself. That hit really hurt her, releasing him as she checked her hand, allowing him to kick her double on the chest before pulling out his cybertronian shotgun and fired at her repeatedly times until it took her down. The other Predacons noticed this and ran to her aid.
"I'm fine. You think you may have won, but this is merely a test for us." The female Predacon revealed.
"A test?" Sideswipe asked confused.
"For what?" Hot Rod demanded.
"Not your business, Autobot. But I admit that if it wasn't for your interference, this test would not have been complete. Farewell, for now." She ended before she changed back to dragon form and took flight with the other two, heading to the heights.
"Pss." A familiar voice called the group, which turned at some debris and saw Butch whispering to them hidden below it. "Are they gone?"
"Yes, you can come out now." Ash nodded.
"Uff, finally. It is already hard enough when it comes to rare pokémon capable to defend themselves, but giant transforming robots? We didn't enlist Team Rocket to be squashed or fired by dangerous machines."
"Don't think despite we have saved your skins from those robots you are free of charge. You still entered the safari zone to steal pokémon without permission." Ritchie reminded.
"Don't ever think about reporting this to your boss." Misty advised.
"Actually, I won't." Cassidy surprised.
"Uh? Really?" Ash said in disbelief.
"This experience has been too much for me, I don't care if the boss will get mad to us for denying in going after another of those things."
"Are you…saying you want to leave Team Rocket?" May asked confused.
"If staying with them is going to put us in these situations of risking our lives, then Team Rocket is not a worthy cause anymore." Cassidy confessed.
"Yeah, I think it's time to start thinking of retirement, asking for a more peaceful life." Her partner supported. "But quit Team Rocket will not be easy as quitting a job."
"You can leave that to me." Ranger Jack offered. "If you can give us any useful info about Team Rocket's operations, the pokémon rangers can provide you with the necessary protection."
"Like authorities with the witness protection program?" Iris recalled.
"Exactly. In case your former chief tries any attempt for revenge, you will have nothing to worry about."
"What about the others?" Ritchie reminded.
"Already taking care of." Jack answered pointing to the grunts and officers, already knocked out. "I have called headquarters for backup, we will take it from here."
"Okay, then we accept your offer." Cassidy accepted.
"That could allow us to start again." Butch added.
"I'm glad you decide to change side. Of course, this may be the last time we see each other." Ash appreciated.
"You are a strong trainer kid, and also quite persistent. Keep it up that way and not even Giovanni will be able to stop you." Cassidy complemented.
"And if Jessie, James and Meowth are still behind you, you better still be like that and keep make them blast off." Butch added.
May laughed. "We will."
With all said, the former Team Rocket elites went with Ranger Jack and his arriving companions.
"We better head back to base. We need to report what we saw here." Hot Rod reminded.
And so, once at New Iacon…
"So anyone care to explain what three Predacons are doing on Earth?" Arcee demanded.
"I thought Predaking was the only actual living Predacon." Warpath recalled.
"I'm no authority, but something tells me cloning old bones can also create life." Bumblebee deduced.
"Hey, didn't you think that…?"
"I do, Sideswipe." Ultra Magnus nodded.
"What? What are you guys referring to?" May asked.
"During our stay on Cybertron we found some Insecticons scavenging for Predacon fossils. Probably from Predaking's refuge, the hugest deposit on the planet." Hot Rod narrated.
"But we didn't spot any other living Predacons during that time, just the ones Unicron reanimated." Smokescreen recalled.
"Perhaps the Decepticons managed to recover a few fossils before Primus decided to relocate our home world, allowing Shockblast to create more beasts to control." Ratchet realized.
"That's why those Predacons were able to transform but acted that way: perhaps they are been controlled by the Decepticons." Ritchie assumed.
"So, they are living in the ignorance as Predaking used to?" Dawn wondered.
"Or perhaps they are with them because they share their point of view. The way that fem Predacon looked at me reminds me of how some Cons used to do." Sideswipe opined.
"Whatever the reason of their affiliation with the Decepticons, the existence of these brand-new beasts represents a serious menace to all Earth's inhabitants, as you saw today." Optimus proclaimed.
"Well, the good thing is that thanks to their intervention Team Rocket has been stopped." Misty added.
"Thanks for your efforts as well." Bee supported.
"Speaking of group, where's Iris?" Max noticed.
"I had to drop her at Unova once we returned. It was the time for her meeting." Smokescreen answered. "I wonder how is she doing?"
"Oh, maybe she will tell us. She's calling back for a bridge." Fixit announced.
Iris and Fraxure returned to base.
"That was quick." Ash noticed.
"So, how it went?" Serena asked.
"You…you guys are not going to believe it. After making a demonstration of both my knowledge and experience in battle, they told me that I may not only be able to become the gym's next leader, but that I could also become Unova's next champion." Iris revealed.
"Whoa, really?" Max asked in disbelief.
"Iris, that's amazing." Bonnie added.
"Way to go, pal." Misty congratulated.
"And what about you? Are you going to accept that post?" Ritchie asked.
"Well, I will need to train harder in order to become that strong. It may be the next step for me in becoming a dragon master." Iris answered.
"Well in that case, make sure to reserve me the first place to challenge you to a battle, champion." Ash announced.
"Pika pika."
Iris laughed. "In that case prepare yourself, because I will not go easy on you." Iris swore.
Meanwhile, at a secret facility hidden somewhere on Kanto, inside an office…
"Sir, we have no news from Cassidy and Butch's search team. It has been two hours since Professor Namba received their last call." A young blonde woman reported entering the room.
"Agent Domino, mister Giovanni doesn't attend meetings without previous touches." A secretary next to the desk of Team Rocket's leader objected.
"It's okay, Matori, she doesn't need that kind of authorization." Giovanni corrected as he turned at her. "What do you think it means?"
"According to protocol, or they have been captured or something unexpected as happened to them. Either way, both situations mean they have failed." Domino assumed.
"I'm not viewing anything on the news. If they have been caught by the police, they have decided to keep it in secret." Matori reported checking her tablet.
"A shame, they were some of our best agents. But let's not allow this loss to stop us in our path."
"Do you want me to announce this public, sir?" Domino questioned.
"Hum, yes. The loss of those two could serve a motivator for others to start improving. Maybe that could make those three useless to try to rise to the challenge." He said with a smirk.
But he wasn't the only villain rejoicing: on the Nemesis, the three leaders were waiting for certain ones to return: the three Predacons.
"At last you are back. What do you have to report?"
The female one bowed to them. "The test has been a success, lord Xiaxus. We not only engaged combat with humans, but also with their native companion creatures. They tried to battle us, but were not match for our strength."
"As I anticipated. I must assume you also practiced command, Ser-Ket."
"Yes, Shockblast. Also we encountered a few of those Autobots which you spoke." The female Predacon named Ser-Ket revealed.
The Ursagryph Predacon laughed. "Those Autobots are weak. I don't get why you get some much trouble dealing with them."
"That's because we are more similar to them, for your knowledge, which means we are more in equal conditions, while you are basically juggernauts. You should think about putting yourself on our places." Dropkick complained, which was a bad move because the feathered Predacon grabbed him by the neck.
"And you should watch your tongue, pigmy."
"I would not do that if I were you." Shatter threatened aiming him her guns.
"Come on. Try it." The Ursagryph Predacon challenged.
Knock Out sighed. "I feared something like this could happen."
"Enough!" Starscream shouted. "Dropkick, may I remind you these new recruits are also your new comrades? If we want to surpass the Autobots we all need to respect each other and accept our strong and weak points. And Shockblast and I went through a lot in order to create them, so from now on think more properly what will come out of your mouth. Understood?"
Dropkick nodded hardly.
"Fine, you can release him now, Skylynx."
The feathered dragon, Skylynx, put him back on the floor.
"And Darksteel, you may be wise to hold your ego and not let it draw you out of your path." Starscream said to the Ursagryph Predacon.
"He's right, brother. Despite those Autobots' weaker appearance, they are very versatile on battle. They also managed to cause us a few significant bruises." Ser-Ket recalled.
"Knock Out will take a look to your wounds." Shockblast reassured.
"Your observations are most admirable, Ser-Ket, that's why you are the one of the three in command. You must know to not underestimate our enemies and learn how to use that strength and primal instinct of yours to work together with your new companions, if we want to exploit all chances to take over this world." Xiaxus proclaimed.