It was violent: the way items flew off the table before two fists dented the metallic furniture. An impressive feat for someone who was physically the smallest among the four Team Rocket Specialists, but it only described the level of anger the man was about to unleash.
"HOW!?" Arlo turned to the other three Team Rocket Specialists. "How did some random hick have access to Snag Technology!? He should not have been able to steal the Prototype Shadow Charizard! Not only that, but those trainers stopped us from capturing a Raikou! A. RAIKOU. Do any of you plebians understand what that even means!?"
"So the rock can get Legendary Electric mon. Big whoop." The Iron Marauder scoffed and looked away. "Look, we already got a lot of good Pokemon. Why push it further? Let's leave already."
Arlo's eyes practically whipped in the masked man's direction after hearing that. "You were the one who chose to engage when I ordered all of us to retreat! The loss of the Shadow Resurrection project is on your hands!"
"Don't think I wasn't paying attention." The Iron Masked Marauder may have been of lower rank, but he didn't care as he stood to his full height and walked toward the screaming leader. "I know you're working on half the data we salvaged from Cipher and even a fraction of their genius: Ein. All that so-called smarts, and here you are scrounging scraps. No wonder you could never surpass Candela."
Hun and Attila's eyes widened at the mention of the Leader of Team Valor. They knew enough about Arlo that mentioning her was taboo around him.
Arlo slammed his hands on the table, denting it again. But instead of exploding, he calmed down before looking back up. "Don't think you're not the only one who did their homework, Marik." Arlo spat with utter venom, causing the masked man to flinch. "And just so you know? Giovanni already knows why you obsess over dark and bug-type Pokemon."
"H-He already knows? T-Then why?"
"He's humoring you. He knows even if you find what you're looking for—you'll botch it up as you did today!" With a scream, Arlo took out his Poke ball, an action mirrored by the Iron Marauder.
Atilla, seeing what was about to happen, stepped between the two. "Whoa! We don't need to start something right now. We're a team, remember?" Seeing neither back down, Atilla started to think. "Raikou came to us when we started activating the machine and capturing electric Pokemon. Let's do that again, but set a trap for them. We'll be able to get back the Charizard then."
A second passed as Arlo and the Iron Marauder stared at each other before lowering their Pokeball. The nobleman of Team Rocket sighed and pushed his glasses up. "A good plan, Atilla. You and Hun can find a location with a dense electric Pokemon population and begin another harvest. I'll need to make preparations of my own. It's good to see SOMEONE doing their job properly."
The masked man clicked his tongue before walking away in the opposite direction. Atilla sighed as he rubbed his head after the two left. "Those two are supposed to be our superiors, but they act like playground brats!"
"You did well in stopping them." Hun walked up to his partner.
"Why did we have to get partnered with those two? Why couldn't they be handed off to Cassidy and Baloney? Or Jesse and James!? They're specialists in espionage and disguises, so they're better with people! We specialize in hunting wild Pokemon! And we did better alone!"
"You know someone is attacking our members." Hun chided. "The extra backup is necessary until we find who's responsible for these attacks. I'll be setting up the Crystal for its next excursion."
As the four Team Rocket grunts left, no one realized one of the floor panels opening up to reveal a coughing teen and his Nidorino climbing out of the dusty hole.
When Bea first heard the Galar League closing down that year due to one of the power plants having an accident, she felt despondent. After promising to do better than last year, it looked like life had other plans. She entertained the idea of training hard that year and would have done so. Yet plans as simple as those went awry when shopping in a mega mall. Bea and her brother were buying supplies for a family barbeque when Bea saw a lottery game. Her brother wanted to play for the consolation prize of a Ghastly Doll, but the girl won plane tickets to Kanto instead.
The idea of training in different lands appealed to Bea, so it didn't take long to find the nearest gym and challenge the best Kanto had to offer. The gym leader wasn't expecting to gain the ability to talk to Pokemon or run into a trainer who could steal other people's Pokemon and command a Legendary.
At least Kanto was keeping her on her toes.
Right now, Bea walked behind Wes as the Snagger walked beside Raikou. Eusine tagged along with them but was in low spirits at having his Alakazam stolen. The Galarian girl walked faster, meeting the gaze of the trainer from Orre.
"Who are you?" She asked. It baffled her that this odd trainer could do the same thing as those thieves did: steal other Pokemon from their trainers. However, one of the prominent legends of Johto respected and listened to the commands of the silver-haired teen. All these conflicting thoughts and facts culminated in one question.
"I already told you. I'm Wes." The Snagger responded even though he knew that was not what she was asking. "Look, I went on a journey just like every other trainer. It's not my fault it got weird," He looked to his left back at Raikou. "and still is."
Eusine ran up behind Bea and pointed to Wes. "Weird?! How do you call catching one of the three Johto Legends weird!?"
"Catching all of them was more annoying than weird," Wes whispered before he realized his mistake at how loud that sounded.
"All of—ALL OF THEM? INCLUDING SUICUNE!?"
Raikou turned to the disheveled man. At that, the Legendary nodded to confirm that Wes indeed caught the legendary trio.
It was just not Eusine's day: first, he got called a hobo, got punched, found out he was stalking Raikou instead of Suicune, lost Alakazam to thieves, and now found out Suicune was already caught by the rude man who questioned—(and was right about)—him!
"What? I let them go." The Snagger motioned a thumb to Raikou.
The words were supposed to make Eusine feel better, not fall to his knees in despair. Wes really wished Rui—(the real, not imaginary)—was here rubbing off her annoyingly boundless optimism. (Imaginary Rui was trying to get Wes to say her words, which involved friendship and rainbows in the same sentence. Best to ignore Imaginary Rui for a while.)
But it was only going to get worse for the Snagger. Bea found herself impressed. She had heard rumors of three special Gym Leaders wielding the Kanto Birds: Candela gave off the pressure that rivaled even their undefeated Champion, Leon. But to think there was someone who caught an entire Legendary Trio by himself? That was unbelievable! Yet, seeing the proof made Bea realize one thing.
Wes' eyes widened as he turned to Bea. "Why are you bowing?"
"Sifu!" Bea raised her head, eyes shining with awe. "Teach me your strength! You must be a powerful trainer to command legendaries!"
"I don't like where this is going." Wes didn't believe it: somehow, there was an even WORSE reaction than someone hating him for his secrets.
"It suddenly makes sense how you were able to give me advice on double battles! Your battle acumen must rival that of the top trainers of the world! Please! Take me on as your disciple, Sifu!"
Eusine started to sob. "Fine! I admit it! Someone beat me to the punch! But you! Please, take me under your wing as well! I, too, wish to capture Suicune as you did!"
Wes, sarcastic as he was, was at a loss for words. An explosion in the distance, along with the fearful cries of Pokemon, killed the awkward silence.
"Oh, thank Arceus, Pokemon in peril!" Wes bolted towards the explosion. Raikou did the same but gave Wes a look as he ran. "I stand by what I said."
"Wait, Sifu!" "Come back! I must learn how you captured Suicune!" Bea and Eusine cried out as they chased after Wes and Raikou.
Ash Ketchum had no idea where to go to find Astro. As soon as he and Prince Nidorino climbed into the mechanical tower, they started to look for signs of the man who stole their friend. Ash let Jigglypuff out soon after, recalling that the puff once tracked the Clefariy on Mt. Moon. Yet, Jigglypuff tilted his head as he didn't see who stole Astro and had no clue how to track something he didn't know.
Considering that they were deep in unknown and enemy territory with no plan, Ash voiced, "This was probably a reckless idea."
Many would be proud of Ash admitting his reckless streak. Though, all would chastise him for still doing something reckless. Also, none of them were there to realize and be pleased with said growth.
'Nonsense, vassal!' But Prince Nidorino was there with Ash. Wait, no. That's not a goo— 'You did this before and saved my life and the kingdom! Surely this is a good action that should be repeated without question!'
Ash supposed he could agree with his poison Pokemon. (Even if many of his other friends felt like screaming no repeatedly in their minds for some reason.) "But what do we do now?"
'Don't worry, friendly friend~!' Jigglypuff spun before pointing. 'We'll just have to explore this mystery dungeon!' Prince Nidorino and Ash turned their gaze towards a flight of stairs in the room that went into the higher floors. Without much prompts, Team Luckless began their climb.
Jigglypuff let the two go first before spotting something shiny among the scattered objects on the floor. He picked it up, thinking it was some sort of treasure, before skipping after Ash and Prince Nidorino.
On the second floor, Team Luckless found a hallway filled to the brim with jail cells. Inside one cell was a restrained Electrode, bound by multiple metallic clamps that absorbed the natural electricity of the round mon.
'Oh no! We gotta help them!' Jigglypuff cried out.
'Wait!' Before the fairy type and the poison type could begin charging their attacks, a voice behind them cried out for them to stop. Team Luckless turned a few cells down, spotting a trapped Pikachu. And by the shape of the tail, this Pikachu was female. Unlike the other electric Pokemon, the machines clamping down on the Pikachu looked inactive. 'Don't hit those bars! There was an Electivier that overpowered his clamps, and when he broke through his cage, those scary guys all came in and beat him to a pulp!'
Breaking one cell would alert everyone else. Ash knew facing those trainers at once would be a bad idea, but he didn't want to leave anyone behind. "There's gotta be a way to free you guys."
'Well, unless you have that shiny object that opens doors with a press, I don't see it happening.'
'You mean this?' Jigglypuff picked up a cylindrical device with a marble-like top.
The Pikachu's eyes widened. 'Yes, that's it! Point the shiny part to that weird square!' She cried out as she looked to her left.
Seeing how high it was, Jigglypuff handed the device to Ash. The teen flashed the glass to the panel before the cell doors retracted into the floor. At the same time, the restraints around the Pikachu retracted as well, allowing the Pikachu to escape.
'Finally! I'm free!' She exclaimed as she moved her body around.
Despite being colorful characters, most of Team Luckless was perceptive. Unlike the other Electric Pokemon, there was something different about this Pikachu.
'Hold on, why weren't you being drained by the cages as the others were?' Prince Nidorino asked.
The Pikachu stilled as she heard that. "I-It's a long story..." Her ears perked up. "But there's no time for that now! We have to save my friends! These guys are using them to power up this tower!"
"Alright, let's get to work!" Ash said as he went to the next cell and pointed the device in the panel.
The machine beeped. But this time, the panel showed a hologram asking for a password.
Ash blinked as he realized he didn't know what to put in. He wondered why until he saw the smaller print above the password.
"Cell currently in use. Automatic unlock disabled until Miracle Crystal is shut off."
Prince Nidorino perked up after hearing that. 'Those sound like the words the Clefairy people use. What does it mean, great war general?'
Ash thought for a second before making a light hammering motion with his hands. "Right! Some machines have safety features that need to put off power before properly shutting down. We can't go in while they're being drained."
'Then we have to shut down this Miracle Crystal!' The Pikachu cried out. 'I remember how in the middle of the tower, there was this thing that absorbed all electrical attacks!'
Ash wanted to save Astro, but he also wanted to help all these poor electric types. Hopefully, doing one could also solve the other. "Right, so where's the crystal?"
The Pikachu held her defiant pose from a while ago but started to sweat when the question came up. 'It's above us, right?'
'Is it?' Come to think of it, trainer,' Prince Nidorino began to think deeply. 'How long were we climbing up here? I believe a while, right?'
"Yeah, it was hard to climb up that vent." Even with psychic powers, Ash had to admit he wasn't sure if vents were supposed to be designed vertically, unlike the movies.
'What are the chances of it being under us?'
Ash's silence was the same as admitting it was a good chance they passed it.
Huh, Ash realized Jigglypuff wasn't wrong in calling this place a mystery dungeon.
Wes, Bea, and Eusine came across a ravine where Electric Pokemon were scattered around the area. However, the tower in question was nowhere to be seen.
Raikou raced forward, heading toward the area where the most concentrated electric Pokemon was.
"He better not run into another trap." Wes readied his Poke Ball before spotting a glint in the forest surroundings.
He wasn't the only one as Wes felt someone grab his right arm and yank him back from metal pillars rising out of the ground and creating a forcefield around where he previously stood. Bea was the one who did the action if Wes could tell from the soreness in his right arm. But he wasn't going to complain if a sore and maybe broken arm was better than being trapped.
"Thanks." Wes managed to say before he and Bea felt movement rushing towards them. Yet, they didn't expect the ground beneath them to give way. Eusine froze as he lost sight of his allies because of dust clouds appearing from the collapse.
The dust settled, and Bea and Wes found themselves facing the pointed ends of purple blades. A strange, knight-like Pokemon with swords for hands and a flame motif pointed his arm weapons at the two downed trainers. Behind him was a familiar Alolan Sandslash and Alolan Muk, the former cleaning its claws and implying it was the one that set this trap.
"On the dirt, where you belong." Above the two, Arlo and Atilla walked forward; the latter had a smug smile plastered on his face. "Now then, thief. I'll be taking back that Charizard and that device on your arm. If not? Well...I don't mind having my Ceruledge turn your body into burnt and cut pieces."
The Pokemon called Ceruledge ignited the blade in front of Wes with purple flame. Wes clicked his tongue as he felt the eerie heat of this new Pokemon he did not recognize.
"Or?" Arlo turned his gaze towards Bea. "How about you surrender, and I won't do it to your little girlfriend." At his word, the purple Pokemon ignited the blade, pointing towards a downed Bea.
Wes narrowed his eyes. "Your big idea to stop us was to plant two traps, one of them being a pitfall?"
Arlo only laughed again. "If your trying to stall so Raikou can save you, I'm afraid the Dog of Thunder will find itself...busy."
Ahead, Raikou stepped back as it stared down six Pokemon: a Pinsir, Shedinja, Orbeetle, Houndoom, Drapion, and Tyranitar. All six had darkness etched to their eyes and snarled at the Legend with tones akin to bloodlust. Further ahead, Iron Mask smiled as the Dark Pokemon surrounded the Legendary. Two Pokemon—with darkness glazed over their eyes—stood by him in case a stray attack came his way: an Alakazam...
And a costumed Riolu.
"So, give me what I ask for, or I'll just finish the job and bury you here when I'm done." Arlo finished.
"Fine, take it. This stuff isn't worth dying for." Wes fished his belt before throwing the Poke Ball that held the Shadow Charizard to the Team Rocket Leader.
The raven-haired man caught the sphere and opened it. Yet the only thing that came out was the hiss of empty air.
"And for the record?" Before Arlo could order his Pokemon to attack, Wes spoke up with a smirk. "It wasn't Raikou I was stalling time for—Phantom Force!"
Energy gathered behind the swordsman before a pulse of ghostly energy exploded, revealing Wes' Mismagius appearing.
"What!? How!? When!?" Arlo gapped.
Wes got up, thinking back to when he reached for his ghost Pokemon's ball and threw it into the air as he fell. Luckily for Wes, Arlo was so focused on looking down on his opponents he neglected to look up to see a Ghost Pokemon gathering energy to vanish into thin air.
But the Alolan Sandslash moved to retaliate. Yet, no one expected Bea to already be up, intercept the Pokemon, and punch—an ice and STEEL Pokemon with enough force to send it back flying into the Alolan Muk.
"Brain, what are you showing me?" Wes couldn't believe how Bea could OVERPOWER a Pokemon. He wasn't the only one as every other human in the area gaped at the show of strength from a human girl smaller than most.
Bea continued to surprise everyone as she jumped up, intending to punch a stunned Arlo. However, the leader and his agent snapped out of their stupor and avoided the attempt. Atilla and Arlo grabbed their Pokeballs, which Wes mirrored.
Espeon, Umbreon, and Metagross came out from Wes; Arlo brought out Bisharp, Crawdaunt, Scollipede, and a Lycanroc in its midnight form. Atilla brought out Mightyena, Granbull, and Toucannon. Bea narrowed her eyes but followed the others as she followed up by bringing out her Hawlucha, Grapploct, and Machamp.
All Pokemon stared each other down before rushing at each other with rising ener—
Wait.
Where did Eusine go?
Hun continued to manage The Tower as he watched the fighting from inside.
As he watched the screens, a new one popped up, showing the center of the tower's power source: the Miracle Crystal. Hun wondered why the security was showing him this until he spotted a teen and his group of Pokemon wandering in. Hun's eyes widened as he threw a Pokeball to the ground. "Runerigus!"
Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum and Team Luckless entered a room with everything centered around a strange, pulsating crystal. Ash didn't know why, but looking at the tree-sized Crystal suspended in the center of the room...it felt alive.
It was a shame that Ash was distracted. If Astro was there, the emanation Pokemon would have warned Ash and the others something was above them. That something ended up being several shadowy arms appearing from above to snatch Jigglypuff, Nidorino, and Ash.
'Ah!?' Pikachu cried out as she watched her three rescuers being ensnared by ghostly hands.
From above, a strange but fragmented painting started to phase through the ceiling wall. Although the picture looked like it was made from paint, it moved as if animated like a cartoon. 'Bah! Sacré bleu! Your outfits: it offends me! Puffball, you should wear an outfit that insinuates your roundness, not your sleepiness!' As Jigglypuff started to tear up at someone insulting his sleeping wear, the painting turned its animated eye to Prince Nidorino. 'Purple with that brown long coat? Eugh! Can your sense of fashion be any more plebian?!'
'You take that back!' Prince Nidorino snarled before the Runergius shoved a rock into the mouth of the prince to shut him up.
The ghost and ground type turned to Ash and eyed his get-up. 'I admit, red and black are always a good pair. But no! You do not have the passion~ to make it work! Honestly! Who told you to wear this? You'd be better off with blue and white! ... Maybe keep some of the red—on the cap if you can.'
"Hey, yeah? Why did I pick up my black jacket when I like blue more?" Ash looked down at his attire.
The Runerigus clicked his tongue. 'No, no, no, no, no! This simply will not do! I will have to...' It's singular flared with a dark glow. 'Get rid of you!'
And that was the cue for Ash's battle instinct to kick into overdrive. "Jigglypuff, Disarming Voice!"
'Yoom—' Just as with Prince Nidorino, Runerigus slammed a large chunk of himself while Jigglypuff was inhaling. This stopped his attack from hitting the ghost type, but a light coming from his right—
Slash! Slash! Slash!
While the ghost and ground type turned its attention to Jigglypuff, Ash mentally ordered Prince Nidorino to use Rock Tomb, the rock in the maw of the poison type stretched outward, forming something akin to a double-sided sword. In quick motions, Prince Nidorino used the rock to slash through the ghost hands holding his allies. Ash and his Pokemon fell down, the former of whom took out Notus and El Almohada's Poke Balls before bringing them out.
With that cry, Runerigus shot its many ghost hands at the group, all turning to Shadow Claw mid-attack. Ash linked his orders: El Almohada used Reflect cover for him and Pikachu. The other three dodged and raced towards the ghost in the ceiling. Jigglypuff fired off another Disarming Voice, sending a shockwave of Fairy energy to ward away the incoming shadow hands. Prince Nidorino jumped in first, striking him with a single Poison Sting Needle before Notus sped in with Aerial Ace, nailing the painting head-on with her speed. The two moved past as the Evolved Pokemon took the hit: Nidorino sliding as he did while Notus flew nearby her ally.
However, Nidorino dropped his attack, wincing from pain even though he didn't get hit. 'Something's wrong! I... I feel weaker!'
He and Notus looked up and avoided two more Shadow Claws. However, everyone noticed that these strikes were much more powerful than before.
Ash realized that in his haste to defend his Pokemon and himself, he forgot to scan this unfamiliar Pokemon with his PokeDex.
Before he could, he heard a voice coming from the hallway they entered from. "Runergius has the ability called Wandering Spirit: it takes the ability of those that make contact with him. Seeing how much stronger he got, your Nidorino must have had Hustle as an ability? That's a rare ability on a common Pokemon."
Hun stepped out of the Shadows, followed by a Beedrill wearing an ornate necklace.
Ash's eyes widened as he looked at the jewel-wearing Pokemon. At the same time, Hun stepped forward, motioning to his hand where he held up a jeweled bangle. Wait. No. That was a Key Stone, something used for—"Mega Evolution?"
Hun looked right at Ash as he said the words. "Indeed. This is what happens to all those who oppose Team Rocket!" He pressed the stone on the bangle as it exploded with rainbow light along with the Beedrill.
(Ash didn't realize the cracked Battle AR in his pocket reacted to the Mega Stone energy.)
As the light died down, Mega Beedrill, Hun, and Runerigus stared down Team Luckless. It didn't look good, Runerigus stole the ability of their best hitter before the fact it took all of them to hurt him normally.
Now, with his trainer and a Mega Pokemon thrown into the mix?
Runerigus reformed his hands before making picture motions to capture each of Team Luckless in squares.
'Oui, Magnifique!' The Kalosian Runerigus yelled with zeal. 'There it is! The desperate look upon all your faces for facing the mighty Team Rocket! We shall be the brush that paints the instrument of your defeat! En Garde!'
But while all this was happening, no one noticed the Pikachu looking at the Miracle Crystal... and seeing seven dots blinking faintly.
{Author Notes.}
UGH! School is so hard! This delayed this chapter by soo much! It doesn't help I've been having a rough time lately! I hope you enjoyed this small chapter. I wanted to set up more dynamics between the characters, but I couldn't quite figure out how to make it work.
On the bright side, we've got quite the match-up building: Team Rocket members from various (movies/TV/Games) Versus trainers from different mediums as well!
Can't wait to see how things will pan out in this fight! Thanks for reading this anyway, and hope you all enjoy your day!