GammaTron: Oh this chapter is gonna be a good one.
SZ: Oh yea, so let's just cut to the chase. We don't own anything in this story aside from OCs, so let's begin!
GT: Righty-o! *hears a snort before looking behind SZ* SZ, don't look now, but there's an Entei that's about to bark right behind you.
SZ: Oh ha ha. Like I'm gonna fall for th-
Entei: BARK! *a volcano erupts outside the studio*
Entry 030: WHOO! Name's Makoto Nanaya! And nice to write another entry in our travel log in this world! You see, after a rather...interesting encounter with a Drowzee and Hypno-and Misty accidentally catching a Psyduck- we were travelling down the road when we encountered a Hitmonchan. We thought it was a wild Pokemon at first, so Ash decided to have Pikachu fight it. Honey got interested when she heard Ash mention teaching Pikachu a secret punch called the Rocket Punch...hmm...might have Honey try it out next time we're sparing. It didn't do much to Hitmonchan...and then his trainer, Anthony, showed up and showed what Hitmonchan could really do, knocking out Pikachu. But instead of mocking, he complimented Pikachu's Rocket Punch and noted it'd probably knock out any Pokemon around Pikachu's size in one blow. We also ended up meeting his daughter Rebecca, who wants her father to stop training because from what she said..it's stressful on both her and her mother.
To do that, we'd have to beat Anthony's Hitmonchan in the P1 Grand Prix, a big ol' Fighting-Type tournament. Kinda reminds me of the Mixed Martial Arts contests on TV that I like to watch. Considering we only had Luka and Primeape, I decided to tackle the bigger issue of the two and help Ash with Primeape. In my opinion...heh, really proud of myself with the end results, but I'll get to that in a bit. Heck, during said training, got myself a new outfit and everything. And I gotta say that I make it look good! Did have to modify the jeans for my tail, though. Anyways, once the tournament started, the first match was Primeape against a Machop. It was a bit choppy at first, but once Primeape started trusting Ash, he won and got into the next round.
And then...Luka ended up going up against last year's champ: Hitmonlee the Kicking Fiend. Luka...he….he couldn't even get a blow in. That Pokemon was insane in its kicking beatdown! And when he tried Double Team with an Aura Sphere at the end, the jerk used Mind Reader and then combined Blaze Kick with Mega Kick! Tsubaki had to throw in the towel Anthony offered her to stop the match! Hoo...and just when ya think the brutality would end...in the match between Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, it looked like Hitmonchan would win, but...he ended up 'tripping' and was brutally kicked by Hitmonlee. Rebecca started to get between Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee when Anthony took the kick meant for Hitmonchan and threw in the towel! Well...at least the mission was accomplished. He looked really sorry for ignoring his daughter. And while there was an intermission for a new ring to be brought it, we found out Hitmonlee's Trainer...was James of Team Rocket. Oh ho...We had a feeling he was cheating, but...we had no proof thanks to that battle with Hitmonlee.
It wasn't until Kajun came back from the bathroom did we realize that the Meowth they pointed at when we asked where he was was just a doll! Where was that cat?! Well...not important right now as we got to the final match and...holy guacamole it was epic! Seriously, fist and kicks were flying like crazy from both Primeape and Hitmonlee! Heck, Primeape even got himself a monier: the Wild Beast! Ohhh...that sounds so awesome~! Going into Round 2, Pikachu spotted something so I sent Booster with him to check on it. They were really going all out when Round 2 went off! They even knocked out the Ref by the shockwave from their Mega Punch and Mega Kick colliding! Oh ho...and just when you think Hitmonlee was gonna win after he knocked Primeape to the mat...you sirs and madams are wrong~ Primeape tossed Hitmonlee into the air, and...oh Arceus this part was just pure epicness! He used Bulk Up and jumped up after Hitmonlee and went full-on all out pummeling on the guy using a Bulk Up-booster combination of Close Combat and Aerial Ace! He didn't even stop when they hit the ceiling! Hell, his final attack combined the Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, an Ice Punch learned from Aqua, and Mega Punch...AND IT BROKE THE CEILING! EEEEEEEEEEE! *shudders* Oop! Uh….well…*clears throat*Okay, so Primeape won with that final move. We didn't fully hear what happened, but Team Rocket got sent flying after being electrocuted...so...yeah. I blame Pikachu. Regardless, Primeape was the P-1 Grand Prix champ, getting a nice shiny belt! Would've gotten a cash prize if Primeape didn't break the ceiling. Anyway, we're continuing our journey a...and…*sniff*...Oh sweet lord! What is that smell?!
"This is a really weird city. Lots of factories, but no people," Ash noted as they walked through a large, cringy city filled with industrial factories.
"Haven't they heard of environmental protection guidelines here?" Tsubaki questioned as her nose scrunched.
"Ack…" Makoto gagged as she put a clothespin on her nose, "Bwhat da eck is dis place?"
"It's called Gringy City," Misty read from a small guidebook.
"Sounds about right," Mai noted.
"It says here that it used to be a wonderful place to visit," Misty noted in the guidebook.
"Well, before they went overboard on the factories," Brock added, "They pretty much ruined the air and the water here."
"Well...guess we won't find any Pokemon here," Ash joked.
"Pi..."
"Pikachu?" Ash pondered as he knelt down to Pikachu, his face red as his cheeks were sparking randomly.
"Em/Su…"
"Ah!" Makoto caught Berry and Cherry, their faces and cheeks the same as Pikachu's, "Bwhat's goin' on?!"
"The air must be affecting them," Kajun guessed.
*BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZRT!*
"Ow…" Ash and Makoto groaned...before all of Makoto's hair and tail fur poofed up.
"...Oh bome don!"
"I have some extra rubber gloves," Ash offered as he pulled out a pair.
"We need to find a Pokemon Center, STAT," Brock frowned.
"I think I see one not too far ahead...I think," Mai answered.
"Then let's hurry! I...I think Yuki's feeling sick, too," Noel added.
"Vul…" Yuki whimpered, her face a bit paler than normal.
"Then we better hurry."
"...A sewer….why a sewer!?" Jessie snapped.
"It's da only way t' sneak into da local Pokemon Center," Meowth answered.
"Yes, but I am NOT trudging through sewer water!" Jessie argued.
"I 100% agree with Jessie! Plus this stench is unbearable!" James added.
"Lucky for youse two, I had enough cash from selling dat scrap we found ta buy some supplies ta have dese built," Meowth motioned to a pair of diving suits, "The tubes pump in fresh oxygen and air freshener."
"..." Jessie and James wasted no time as they put the suits on, "That doesn't mean we're going through sewage."
"...I thought you might say dat," Meowth smirked before Jessie and James were suddenly shocked, "Should you two ignore my orders, ya get shocked. Now get ta work!"
"Manipulative little furball…" Jessie growled as she and James lowered into the sewage.
"Why do we always do the dirty work?" James frowned.
"Because we're down on our quota dis month and dey're gettin' tired of us sendin' Rattata," Meowth deadpanned.
"...Fair."
"Nurse! Hey, nurse!" Ash shouted as he kept pressing down on a bell.
"...What?" a Nurse Joy yawned as she walked in, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"...Um...not really, no," Mai admitted as she looked at a clock, "Yeesh. It's midnight."
"Nurse, please! You gotta help us," Makoto pleaded, thankful that the air was clean in the center, "Pikachu, Cherry, Berry, and Noellie's little Yuki are sick!"
"Hmm…" Nurse Joy looked the three Electric-Types, "They all have colds."
"...That's a very lazy assumption," Makoto frowned, "Your sisters and cousins were..."
"No, no, no. See how their cheeks are sparking? They have too much electricity in their bodies right now. When an Electric-Type has that happen, they develop colds. It happens most in Electric-Types that have abilities like Lightning Rod," Nurse Joy explained, "They just need a bit of rest."
"Oh..."
"...A-and Yuki?" Noel asked.
"Pix…" Yuki whined.
"Hmm…" Joy muttered as she put a hand to Yuki's forehead, "?! Oh my...she's burning up!"
"You're not assuming she's a Fire-Type?" Mai asked.
"...You met my niece that has never been to Alola before, haven't you?"
"Yep," Mai relied, covering Kajun's mouth.
"Then she should know that it's bad when an Alolan Vulpix is feeling this warm," Nurse Joy frowned as she gently picked up Yuki, "We have an Intensive Care Unit for Ice-Types when they're like this. She'll have to stay in it for eight hours."
"O-okay."
"...Just one more question. Are...you the oddball of your family?" Ash couldn't help but ask.
"Ashton, th-" Kajun began.
"Hm? Oh no. It's my family that are the odd ones."
"..." Kajun facepalmed, feeling yet another headache form.
Outside the local power plant, the nearby waters began to bubble as blobs of purple sludge began to rise, a pair of red eyes glowing ominously before they rushed for a nearby opening and began to block it up.
"Hmm?" Meowth blinked as he saw the pumps for the suits shut down, "...Oh...Dat can't be good...especially fer me if Jessie and James resurface! What do I do? What do I do?!"
"?! What happened to the power?" Ash asked as the entire Pokemon Center was pitch black.
"Not good...The backup generator isn't working either…" Nurse Joy whispered, "If we don't get power in here soon, the Pokemon in the ICU…"
"Y-Yuki…" Noel whimpered, having just put Yuki on a stretcher for the Ice-Type unit, before Aqua popped out of her ball, "Aqua?" a shadow came over her, "U-Umi?"
"Milo~" Umi exhaled and a Powder Snow began to cover Yuki.
"Bui!" Aqua began to gently pet Yuki while using Ice Punch.
"At least she'll be okay," Nurse Joy noted, "These two will need to stay and keep your Vulpix cooled down with this."
"A...alright…" Noel nodded, looking down at Yuki with worry, "Yuki…"
"...Noel, you and Mai stay here," Tsubaki spoke up, "We'll go find Officer Jenny and see if she knows what's going on."
"Let's go!" Ash agreed.
"Pikachu…"
"Emolga…"
"Pachirisu…"
"Easy now, you three," Makoto comforted, "You gotta stay here, okay? Nurse Joy will keep an eye on you while we sort this out."
"So just stay put, okay?" Ash added as they rushed out.
"Be careful…" Noel whispered.
"...If there's anything we can do to help, let us know," Mai said to Nurse Joy.
"I will," Nurse Joy nodded.
"...Chu…" Pikachu whispered.
"We….could've...died...down there…" Jessie wheezed as she tried to get some air in her lungs.
"Darn it...Meowth…" James coughed.
"How was I supposed t' know da power would go out?!" Meowth argued, "What do ya think I am? An Absol?" an idea then popped into his head, "Wait...dis is poifect!"
"How is a power outage perfect when we almost suffocated?!" Jessie and James snapped.
"Simple; no power means no security cameras, so we can waltz into da Pokemon Center and snatch every Pokemon dere. And for da topper, we can hit da twoips too, so it's a double bonus fer us!"
"...Let us catch our breath first and we'll talk."
"...Still no answer at the power plant…" Jenny sighed as she put her phone down, "Sorry...I can't get a hold of the people at the power plant."
"Well, then where is it?" Ash asked.
"You can't miss it," Jenny answered as she pointed over to some big buildings nearby, "It's the ones with the massive smoke stacks."
"Thanks. Let's hurry a-" Ash began before a set of bushes ruffled nearby, "?"
"Now what…?" Makoto groaned as the group turned, seeing Pikachu stumble out, "Eh? Pikachu?"
"Pika…"
"Oh, Pikachu...You should be back at the Pokemon Center with Noel and Mai," Ash sighed.
"Chu…" Pikachu shook his head.
"I don't get it," Ash admitted.
"...I think Pikachu's afraid we won't come back," Misty figured, earning a weak nod from Pikachu, "See?"
"...Okay, Pikachu. You can come," Ash admitted after a few moments, "But you have to promise me that you'll take it easy, okay?"
"Pika!" Pikachu beamed a bit as he jumped into Ash's arms.
*BZZZT!*
"...Maybe you should keep your rubber gloves on, Ash…" Tsubaki whispered.
"Y-Yeah…" Ash twitched with small sparks coming off him.
"It will be okay, Yuki," Noel comforted, lightly petting her Vulpix.
"Vul…" Yuki mumbled, sound asleep in the mound of snow that had been the stretcher she had been on.
"I am so glad that drains are installed in here if a Pokemon with an Ice-Type move fires one off by accident," Nurse Joy noted.
"...Does this happen often?" Mai couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm?"
"The Pokemon here getting sick. This isn't the first time it happened, is it?"
"...No...It's because of the pollution," Joy sighed, "It's the main reason why no one with Pokemon passes through here. Whether it's the chemicals in the air, the smoke from the factories, the polluted water, or the intense humidity, any non-Poison-Type or Steel-Type Pokemon that passes through Gringy City gets sick or worse…"
"...And the mayor hasn't done anything about this why?"
"Who do you think approved of them?"
"...What?"
"Well..to be more precise, it was his successor…" Joy sighed, "He wanted to make the town great again by 'moving it into the future'...but in truth, he sold the town to some local companies to make some quick cash, and…" she looked outside a nearby window, seeing the smog colored sky, "You see the result."
"This...this just isn't right," Mai scowled as she looked out at it all.
"It would take a miracle to truly change all of this," Nurse Joy admitted.
'Let's pray for one, then…' Mai thought.
"Here's the power plant," Tsubaki noted.
"Be on your guard. Who knows what could be lurking in here due to the power outage," Kajun advised as the group cautiously walked in.
"...No one's in here," Ash noted, "...We might as well look around."
"...No...urp. Ted…" Makoto replied, holding her hands over her nose, 'Oh god...it stinks even worse in here! Why?! Why does it smell worse in here than outside?!' Ash handed her a clothespin, "Thanks…"
"This is really strange. Why aren't there any workers in here?" Kajun pondered.
"That's a good question," Brock admitted as they looked around.
"...I think I found the layout of the place," Misty spoke, looking at a map for the power plant, "The central control room seems to be down that way."
"Good eye, Misty," Tsubaki nodded, "Hopefully we can learn something there."
As the group made their way down the darkened hallways, they were unaware of something passing through the air ducts. Something moved past behind the group in the back and Misty shivered.
"Think something's following us!" Misty gulped.
"Hmm?" Ash blinked as the others turned, seeing nothing behind Misty, "...There's nothing there."
"But I know I heard something back there."
"...Misty, it's okay to admit you're a total chicken," Ash stated, "We can wait outside for us."
"I am not a chicken you little twerp! I KNOW there was something back there!" Misty argued.
"Misty, don't st-" Makoto began before tensing up, "Gh?!"
"What's wrong, Ma...ko...to…?" Kajun began before she, Brock, Tsubaki, and Misty noticed something floating behind Ash, "?!"
"What? I got something on my face?" Ash blinked.
"Ash...whatever you do...don't….turn….around..."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"There's...something...behind...you…" Brock gulped.
"?!" Ash gulped before turning around, "Alright! If anybody's there, you can come on out!"
"And if you're a ghost or monster...Then stay where you are and we'll leave ya alone…" Makoto admitted.
"Makoto!" Misty barked.
"I have a very rational fear, Misty!"
"Then that makes you a coward!"
"I…!"
"Knock it off! We…" Tsubaki began.
"PIKA!"
"Pikachu, please be quiet...we…" Ash began as the group looked at Pikachu, only to tense when they saw something hovering behind the sick Electric mouse, "GH?!"
"Chi/Mol!"
Blue and yellow electricity illuminated the object. On top of it were a sick Berry and Cherry while what they were on top of was a strange thing. It resembled a greenish-grey sphere with a pair of U-shaped magnets on the sides and three large screws on either the top of it or acting as feet of sorts. It also had a single eye in the center of it.
=Magnemite= the sphere spoke.
"...Oh...it's just a Magnemite…" Kajun sighed a bit in relief.
=Magnemite, the Magnet Pokemon. Magnemite floats in the air by emitting electromagnetic waves from the units at its sides. These waves block gravity. This Pokémon becomes incapable of flight if its internal electrical supply is depleted= Dexter informed.
"Cherry! Berry! What are you two doing on a Magnemite?" Makoto demanded.
"Wait. Could this Magnemite be the reason why the Power Plant's not working?" Misty pondered.
"I'm not sure," Kajun replied as Magnemite circled around Pikachu as Makoto tried to get Cherry and Berry off, "I believe it's attracted to the stored up electricity inside of Pikachu, Berry, and Cherry."
"...So it's streaking them?" Ash blinked.
"Stalking and possibly," Kajun replied.
"...I think Magnemite in love…" Misty guessed, seeing Magnemite blushing as it looked at Pikachu.
"I could understand if it was an animal-based Pokemon, but Magnemite are an inorganic-based Genderless Pokemon," Brock noted.
"WILL YOU DROP THEM ALREADY?!" Makoto barked.
=Mag?!= Magnemite jumped, sending Cherry and Berry on top of Pikachu, before flying off.
"That's more l-" Makoto began before her tail shot up, "GAH! Even through the pin I can still smell it...Oh Arceus! It's getting worse!"
"Seriously, what smell, Ma-" Misty began.
"Grimer~!"
"...What...was that?" Misty gulped before a vent grate clattered to the ground following by purple sludge that formed into a bundle of slime-like creatures.
"Grimer!" Kajun gasped.
=Grimer, the Sludge Pokemon. Grimer emerged from the sludge that settled on a polluted seabed. This Pokémon loves anything filthy. It constantly leaks a horribly germ-infested fluid from all over its body. Grimer's sludgy and rubbery body can be forced through any opening, however small it may be. This Pokémon enters sewer pipes to drink filthy wastewater= Dexter informed.
"Wastewater...Of course! The Grimer are the cause of it! If this power plant is using the water as its powersource, then the Grimer…"
"GRIMER!" the Grimer cried out before a massive amount of darker-purple sludge joined the Grimer, forming one big version of Grimer.
"Muk~!"
"Oh Arceus! What is that?! It smells...eben...wor…" Makoto slurred before she fainted.
"Makoto!" Tsubaki gasped as she caught her fanted friend.
=Muk, the Sludge Pokemon, and the evolved form of Grimer. From Muk's body seeps a foul fluid that gives off a nose-bendingly horrible stench. Just one drop of this Pokémon's body fluid can turn a pool stagnant and rancid. This Pokémon's favorite food is anything that is repugnantly filthy. In dirty towns where people think nothing of throwing away litter on the streets, Muk are certain to gather= Dexter informed.
"Now what do we do?" Misty groaned.
"Book it!" Ash called, scooping up the trio of Electric-Types and ran off down the hallway.
"Wait!" Misty called out as they followed after him, Tsubaki and Kajun carrying the KOed Makoto as the Grimer and Muk gave chase.
"Kajun, can you have Hikari…" Tsubaki began.
"I can't. Hikari's part Fairy, and taking on that many Poison Types with this amount of stench wouldn't do any good!" Kajun answered, "In fact, I don't think any of our Pokemon can fight back due to the overwhelming stench."
"Ugh! This stink's giving me a headache!" Brock admitted.
*BAM!*
"Ow!" Ash yelped as he fell over.
"Ah…" a man in a light-blue and dark blue uniform groaned as he rubbed his head, a flashlight in his hand before a man in a similar outfit ran over.
"What the... What are you kids doing here?!" the second man demanded.
"We'd love to answer, sir, but…" Kajun began before seeing the Grimer and Muk come charging at them.
"Ahh! The Grimer are here too!" the two men freaked before they ran, "Get to the control room!"
"Wait up!" Ash called as the others followed and quickly closed the door behind them, Misty going as far as to grab a folding chair nearby and propped it under the doorknob, "What's going on with the power?"
"The Grimer have all blocked the water intake," one of the men explained, "With that blocked, we can't boil the water to create the steam that powers the plant."
"Wait...this is a green Power Plant then?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yes. Our last mayor had it built to prevent pollution and create power for the town," the second man nodded before frowning, "But our new mayor 'improved' on it to make sure it generates even more power."
"That explains the smokestacks," Tsubaki nodded before the door started to be slammed against, "They're trying to ram the door down!"
"Oh no…"
"...Hang in there…" Nurse Joy whispered, looking at a resting Sandshrew in worry.
"Shrew," Terra held up a bucket of pure water with bits of ice in it and a cloth.
"...Thank you," Joy smiled as she accepted the bucket and cloth, "...Wait. Where did you get this clean water from?"
"Bui," Aqua held up a paw before putting the Ice Punch-infused paw on Yuki once more.
"Ahh…"
"...You think Ash and the others are okay?" Noel asked.
"I'm sure they are," Mai assured, "We just have to hope th-"
"HELP~!"
"...That was Team Rocket, wasn't it…?" Mai asked with a sigh.
"..." Noel got up with a scowl, "I'll handle them. Umi, stay here and keep Yuki cold."
"Uh, Noel...You, uh…" Mai began before Noel held up the tiny 'gun-shaped charms,' "...Go right ahead."
"Hai….Bolverk will help me."
"Is Bolverk a Pokemon's Nickname?" Nurse Joy asked as Noel went off and out of their sight.
"It's….a long story."
"?"
"Why are there so many Grimer?!" Jessie screamed as Team Rocket ran from a hoard of Grimer.
"Dey must be attracted to da pollution!"
"Of course they would! It's a Poison Pokemon Paradise!" James freaked as they turned a corner, "?! A dead end…"
"Grimer~!"
"I'm too pretty to smell awful!" Jessie screamed as Team Rocket hugged each other in fear as the Grimer approached them.
*BANG BANG!*
"Grimer~!" the Grimer freaked as something was blasting them apart until they fled, carrying the reforming Grimer with them.
"...What just happened?" James blinked.
"There aren't any bullet shells or marks from them passing through…" Jessie noted as Meowth paled.
"Gunshots dat hurt wit' no bullets…?" Meowth squeaked.
"Team Rocket!" the humans of the trio looked up as Meowth paled significantly.
"SHE HAS GUNS?!" Jessie gawked.
"I TOLD YOU SHE WAS PACKIN' HEAT!" Meowth snapped.
"You...came here to steal the Pokemon, didn't you?" Noel scowled, her trigger fingers resting away from the triggers yet kept the guns aimed at the trio.
"...I'm afraid to answer that," James squeaked.
"...You were trying to take advantage of the power outage...weren't you?" Noel scowled further.
"We plead da Fifth?" Meowth gulped before Noel configured Bolverk into a machine gun, "ACK! I forgot it could change forms!"
"You're going to leave this town...and forget you ever saw us for the next three days...understood?" Noel stated.
"Y-You don't scare us, Twerpe…" Jessie began before Noel pulled the trigger.
*BABABABABABABABABAABBABABABABABANG!*
The trio heard a wall crumble behind them. They turned around to see the blocked path had collapsed...aside from three perfectly-shaped cutouts of the trio made of the solid steel. Meowth and James...were thankful the stench was already foul.
"...You were saying…?" Noel asked.
"You…" Jessie began before Noel turned Bolverk into a rocket launcher, "...were never here!"
The trio ran off, "Looks like Team Rocket's fleeing for their lives~!"
"...Those three...honestly…" Noel sighed as Bolverk turned back into its 'charm' like state.
"Cun~"
"Hmm? What was that?" Noel blinked before she noticed a mist forming in the area, "?"
"Sui~"
"Sui? Water?" Noel looked around before turning around and gasped.
Standing just a few feet away was a Pokemon that was as big as Entei...with just as much of a presence of sheer power in its form. It was a slim, quadruped, blue, mammalian Pokémon with white, diamond-shaped markings. Its face and underside were white as well. Two white 'streamers' flowed out of its body, accompanying the aurora borealis-like mane of fur flowing behind it. It had a long, white snout. It had a large, hexagonal, cerulean blue crest on its forehead that resembled the antlers of a Qilin with two prongs on either side of the base. It had red eyes, a small tuft of fur under its chin, and small paws with white paw pads. Said eyes were currently looking right into Noel's.
"Ash, did you turn on a flashlight again?" Misty demanded.
"Huh?" Ash looked down at his jacket, 'The Rainbow Wing's glowing! But...why?'
"B-Beautiful…" Noel awed once she managed to find her voice.
A bit of an amused look passed through the canine-like Pokemon's eyes. A soft sneeze made Noel look up at the crest to see a tiny black nose poking out. Soon, a tiny pure white hedgehog-like Pokemon poked out of the crest, its back coated in grass that seemed to be growing out of its body with two large pink flowers. Noel nearly squealed at the cuteness of it when the large canine jumped at the water.
"Ah! Wa…" Noel began before she froze.
The Pokemon landed on the water and jumped like it was a solid surface. What was left behind was a ripple, washing away the pollution. As the canine 'ran' around the water, more ripples gave way, washing away the pollution and exposing the very bottom of the water's surface in water so pure. As the Pokemon continued its run, the flowers on the hedgehog began to shine. The smog coming from the smokestacks and even the pollution in the sky seemed to move en masse towards the flowers, seeping into them and giving way to a clear night-time sky.
'They're...they're cleaning the entire city of its pollution…' Noel mentally awed.
"Nurse Joy, you may need to look at this!" Mai called out as she looked out a window, Ventus' lower beak dropped as he sat on her shoulder.
"What's wro...Oh my!" Nurse Joy gasped as Mai nearly fell backwards when the blue dog raced by the window and down the polluted river, "That was...Suicune?!"
"Suicune? Wh…"
"This...this is…" Nurse Joy nearly choked out, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at the pure night sky, "This is a miracle…"
"Um...I think I saw something green on its head, too," Mai noted.
"It brought a Shaymin as well? N...No wonder I can see the sky again..."
"A Shaymin?"
"One of the Mythical Legendary Pokemon. It's said that Shaymin draw in pollution that dwells in the sky to purify it," Nurse Joy explained.
"Whoa…!" Mai awed.
"The door's breaking!" Misty freaked as the door finally gave way, letting the Grimer and Muk enter.
"Come on, you three. You gotta fight!" Ash encouraged the ill Electric-types.
The trio looked at each other before inhaling deeply. The trio cried out as they released blasts of electricity, zapping a few of the Grimer only for several more to take their places.
"No good. No matter how many are taken down, more take their place," Kajun frowned before another vent nearby fell from the ceiling, "They're coming in from the ceiling again?"
=Magneton=
=Magnemite=
=Magneton=
=Magnemite=
Swarming out of the open vent were Magnemite with some of them clustered into groups of three, seemingly fused together.
"Magnemite and Magneton!" one of the workers gasped.
"They must be friends of that one Magnemite we met before," Tsubaki guessed before the lights suddenly turned on, "?!"
"Power's being restored? But how?" one of the workers gasped, "Do you have friends out clearing the blockade of Grimer outside?"
"SHAYMIN~!" the tiny hedgehog Legendary cried out as it unleashed a green beam from its body, slamming into the Grimer and scattering them away from the power plant's water intake entrance.
"Grime?! Grimer grime!" the Grimer freaked once they saw Suicune.
"SUICUNE~!" Suicune roared before firing a white lightning-shaped beam from the tip of its crest, freezing more Grimer in chunks of ice upon contact before shattering them with flicks of the white 'ribbons' on its majestic form.
"Grime Grimer~!" one Grimer screamed before they began to retreat away from the city, Suicune's purifying ripples seemingly giving chase on the water.
"(You better run you mean-woah~!)" Shaymin yelped as the small hedgehog-like Pokemon nearly fell off Suicune.
"(Easy now…)" Suicune giggled, a ribbon catching Shaymin before it could fall, "(Thank you again for helping me with this.)"
"(No problem! What are fellow Legendaries for?)" Shaymin smiled before looking over at where Noel was still at, looking at them in awe, "(Still...Did you see those things that girl has?)"
"(Yes...The power that emanates from her...it feels as if she has been touched by Dialga)," Suicune nodded before running towards her.
"Ah!" Noel gasped before Suicune jumped over her and towards the distance, "W-Wow...What were those Pokemon…?" she moved before something bounced off her shoe, "Hm?" looking down, she saw a necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant on it, "What's this?"
"That's it, everyone! Keep it up!" Ash cheered on as the 'army' of Electric Pokemon fought back the Grimer.
"(Boss man! Boss man, wesa got da big problem!)" a Grimer shouted as it slithered towards Muk.
"(What? Can't you a see w-")
"(Suicune was being spotted!)"
"?!" the other Grimer tensed as they paused in their approach.
"(What?)" Muk gulped.
"(Da Legendary Pokemon Suicune is here! Isa tak down weesa brothers and sisters witha Shaymin clean everyth!)"
"(...Weesa run!)" another Grimer screamed as the Grimer began to flee.
"(W-wait! Yousa getting back here!)" Muk shouted to the fleeing Grimer before turning to the humans, "(Yousa interlopers! Weesa is try to survive! Weesa kind is dy and yousa…)" Muk charged at Ash, "(Ganna kill yousa all!)"
"Pika/Pachiri/Emol…" the trio of electric rodents growled.
=Magne= the stalking Magnemite began to spark.
"CHU/SU/GA/mite= the four shouted, releasing a combined Thunderbolt at Muk, electrocuting it badly.
"MUK~!" Muk cried out.
Ash spun his cap around while pulling out a Pokeball, "Pokeball, go!"
Ash threw the ball and it bounced off Muk's head. The sphere opened and sucked in the Sludge Pokemon before snapping shut. It landed on the ground before it began to shake. It gave one last shake before it stopped, the red light dimming down.
"Yes! I captured a Muk!" Ash pumped his fist as he picked up the Pokeball, "Ash Ketchum saves the day again!"
"Ash…" Ash looked over to see the others holding their noses,, Kajun looking straight at him, "You may want to send that one over to Professor Oak."
"Huh?" Ash sniffed before covering his nose, "Ugh! The stinks coming out of the Pokeball?!"
"(Oh Arceus above! It's worse than Noel's cooking!)" Cherry screamed, looking much healthier.
"(Why can I smell it now?! WHY?!)" Berry freaked.
"(I think we blew through our colds at the worst possible time!)" Pikachu exclaimed before the trio collapsed, swirls replacing their eyes and foam coming out of their mouths.
"...Yeah. I think I better get to the Pokemon Center and send Muk over to the Professor."
"Ya think?!" the others exclaimed.
"You saw Suicune?!" Misty gawked, 'No wonder the Rainbow Wing glowed! One of the Legendary Trio under Ho-Oh was here!'
"N-not just that, but...it...er, she was carrying a small hedgehog-like Pokemon with her," Noel answered, "It was so cute too…"
"Hedgehog-like...YOU SAW SHAYMIN!?" Kajun exclaimed, instantly before Noel.
"I-I think so!" Noel squeaked.
"Ashton, Dexter please!" Kajun called before catching the thrown Pokedex from where Ash was trying to call Professor Oak.
=Suicune, the Aurora Pokemon, and a member of the Legendary Beast Trio. This Pokémon races across the land. It is said that north winds will somehow blow whenever it appears. Suicune embodies the compassion of a pure spring of water. It runs across the land with gracefulness. This Pokémon has the power to purify dirty water= Dexter informed as it displayed an image of Suicune.
"Ah! That's it!" Noel exclaimed, pointing at Dexter's screen.
"Oh...Noel, I am so jealous of you right now! You got to see one of the Water-Type Legendaries!" Misty exclaimed.
"And…" Kajun typed into Dexter.
=Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokemon. It is one of the Mythical Legendary Pokemon. It lives in flower patches and avoids detection by curling up to look like a flowering plant. It can dissolve toxins in the air to instantly transform ruined land into a lush field of flowers. It is said that the flowers all over its body burst into bloom if it is lovingly hugged and senses gratitude= Dexter informed, displaying the tiny white and green hedgehog-like Pokemon.
"Oh! Th-that's the one!" Noel gasped before gushing, "Too cute~~"
"Wait a second...if it was soaking in all the air pollution…" Mai looked out towards the small islands littering the once-polluted water to see them covered in a multitude of flowers in bloom, "...I...I think I'm never going to stop being shocked by Pokemon…"
"Ugh….my head…" The girls looked over to see Makoto sitting up, rubbing her sore head a bit, "I dink I got a cold from that smell..."
"Makoto! Makoto! I saw a cute adorable fuzzy Pokemon!" Noel exclaimed as she ran over, showing Makoto the image of Shaymin on Dexter.
"...Oh my Arceus! That is the most adorable ball of fluff I've ever seen!" Makoto squeed before covering her mouth as she coughed before Nurse Joy put a hand on her forehead and a thermometer in her mouth.
"Mmmhmm. It's a cold," Nurse Joy confirmed.
"Eh?!"
"I suggest you rest for a few days before you go out travelling again," Nurse Joy advised and walked off, "I'll get a few rooms set up for you all with a private one for your ill friend here."
"Aw come on…" Makoto grumbled, "Stupid slime's overbearing smell knocking me out…"
"And said 'stupid slime' is now one of Ash's Pokemon that will probably come back into Ash's team," Tsubaki noted.
"Wait, what? ...He caught it?!" Makoto exclaimed before sneezing.
"He did," Kajun confirmed before noticing the water drop-shaped pendant, "Noel...Is that a Mystic Water?"
"What?!" Misty exclaimed before looking right at said object, "?! Noel...where did you get that?!"
"Um...I-I think Suicune dropped just as she and Shaymin were leaving," Noel answered.
"...Jealous. Noel, I am so jealous that there is so much that I am feeling nothing but emptiness now," Misty informed.
"Eh?"
"Noel, Mystic Water is said to be made by Suicune itself by shedding a tear," Kajun explained, a book with a gold 'L' on the cover in hand.
"If you have a Water-Type wear it, its attacks go through a major boost!" Misty added, "The fact...you...ugh! How did you get all the good luck today?! ...er...aside from Yuki's fever, that is."
'Good save,' Mai admitted mentally, "So what happened to the Magnemite and Magneton?"
"Left the moment we stepped out of the power plant," Tsubaki answered, "It turns out Magnemite was only attracted to Pikachu, Cherry, and Berry because of the excess electricity coming off them."
"Aw...guess Magnemite didn't find them...attractive...anymore," Makoto snickered before coughing into her hands.
"...I'm letting that go because you're ill," Tsubaki stated after a moment.
"Heh...sickness for the w-achoo!"
"...Wonder what's gonna happen to the city?" Mai couldn't help but ponder, "I mean, it got that way because the mayor…"
"That I can answer," Brock spoke before motioning to a nearby TV.
=In other news, the scandal behind Mayor Giliyani's deal with waste companies and illegal 'improvements' on the green power plant has reached an all time high thanks to the recent Grimer outbreak last night. Officials are already stripping him of his title as mayor, and is carting him away for crimes against the environment and endangerment to all Pokemon who entered our city, both wild and Trainer owned. Several Trainers are also suing the now-ex mayor for the deaths of some of the Pokemon they owned due to the pollution. Reports are also coming in that the sudden purification of the sky and waters are due to sightings of a Suicune and Shaymin, but evidence has yet to be found outside of the purified sky and water. Regardless, we….we…*sniff* I...I'm sorry. Just..for the first time since ex-mayor Giliyani was sworn in...=
"Well, that's a relief," Misty noted before Ash quickly hung up and ran away from the phones, Squirtle's NetBall in hand.
"If the caller ID is Professor Oak's lab, don't answer it until we're long gone," Ash pleaded to Nurse Joy.
"...Okay?" Nurse Joy blinked.
"What happened?" Brock asked.
"Apparently...the Muk I caught loves hugs," Ash noted.
"Beg pardon?"
"Oh Arceus, the stench!" Oak cried.
"(Yousa very very huggable~!)" Muk cheered while there was an empty petri dish nearby, "(Yousa even fe missa delicious munchy!)"
"Someone! Anyone! Get this Muk off me and into the Poison-Type Stink Decontamination Chamber!" Oak pleaded, his head and one arm the only things not underneath the hugging Muk, "And call Noel! I need another order of anything she cooks! It ate my last sample!"
"(I am so glad that I don't have a nose,)" Gengar noted as Primeape was collapsed face first on the floor, twitching with foam coming out of his mouth.
"(Yep,)" Krabby agreed.
"(The stink…)" Primeape rasped, "(Must...overcome...weakness for...Boss Ash and Boss Makoto…)"
"(...So who's the new guy again?)" Gengar asked.
"(Primeape,)" Krabby replied, "(When you came here, he got caught. Guess he's calmed down.)"
"WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP?! GET A PSYCHIC-TYPE OR STEEL-TYPE ALREADY!"
Tager's Search and Rescue Mission!
Tager: Greetings, I am Iron Tager. Upon arriving outside of a city, a local officer called Jenny greeted us. We were able to establish our cover stories of me being the uncle to Dulse and Zossie-whom had parents would had them include silver in their diets as an explanation for their skin tone-trying to find the four 'students' of mine that arrived in Kanto. She explained to us that they assisted in saving the Pokemon inside of a Pokemon Center-which I was informed prior by the Ultra Recon Squad that it was where Pokemon are treated for injuries and illnesses-from a diabolical organization known as Team Rocket...by blowing up the center itself. Apparently, all the Pokemon were put into 'PokeBalls' and transported to another Pokemon Center in Pewter City. Now, we are going through Viridian Forest following the trail of the girls. *sighs* The things Kokonoe has me do...
Episode 2: The Viridian Forest
"Drill!-!-!-!" a Beedrill screamed as the swarm flew away from Tager and Stinger, all of them smoking from either electrocution or from Dragon Rage.
=So giant bees or wasps that can inject poison from their arms and not have them rip out like regular bees...This world's evolution is strange= Kokonoe bluntly put it.
"But now because of those things, we've gone off the path," Tager frowned.
"So it seems," Dulce noted.
"Mon dieu…" Fifi sighed as she shook her head, "Why did we not stop for some Repels?"
"There's something that keeps them away?" Tager asked.
"Oui. They are special sprays that mess with Pokemon and make them avoid those sprayed with it," Fifi explained.
=If we did that, wouldn't she be keeping away?= Kokonoe deadpanned.
"Wouldn't it affect you as well?"
"Non. So long as I stayed outside of my Battle Form until the spray wears off, I will be fine," Fifi replied.
"The only thing is that we have no idea if the cash from the last time we were in a Pokemon world would work," Zossie admitted.
"I see," Tager noted, "We will need to come up with a way to earn some of this world's currency, then."
=Yeah, yeah. That's good and all, but one issue, Tager: How are you going to get out of the forest?=
"We were going to the north," Tager replied as he looked up, "When sunset comes, we'll be able to continue on."
=Right...just keep an eye out for anything suspicious=
"Right," Tager nodded before a warning alarm went off from Dulse's backpack, "What was that?"
"That was a sensor for radiation from an Ultra Wormhole," Dulse replied as he opened it and pulled out his helmet before donning it, "There's an abundant amount of the radiation nearby."
"Could it be the Ultra Beast we've been tracking down?" Zossie asked.
"This way!" Dulse ran off, Stinger flying beside him.
"Ah! Darling, wait!" Fifi called as she followed.
"This happens often, doesn't it?"
"Him running off after those readings? Yep," Zossie replied as she climbed onto Tager's shoulder as he began to jog after them.
Eventually, they arrived upon a set of ruins overgrown by the forest. Tager skidded to a halt in time to see Fifi whacking Dulse upside the head with a log.
"De toutes les choses folles que vous avez faites, vous allez toujours dans des situations dangereuses sans évaluation! Oh, ce dresseur maudit ... Je jure que si jamais je revois Ross, il le regrettera!" Fifi ranted in fluent Kalosian.
=Wow...Guess this 'Ross' guy is easy to target for blame for her= Kokonoe noted.
"GOL!"
"...What was that?" Tager asked.
"The readings have increased exponentially! It's here!" Dulse exclaimed, a large bump on his head.
"Your Ultra Beast?" Tager asked.
"Non…" Fifi replied as cyan and blue rocks all over rumbled before assembling into a large bipedal creature resembling a suit of Roman armor with bronze rings on its wrists and ankles and a large crack in the center of its chest with a bronze belt-like bandage over it, "It is…" a burning aura erupted off the creature, "...A Totem Golurk!"
"Aura confirmed. Analysis of it indicated a drastic increase in Speed!" Dulse informed.
"Gol…"
"..." Tager said nothing as he stood ready.
=Hey! Any advice on fighting this thing?= Kokonoe asked after a speaker poked out of the top of Tager's head.
'Another upgrade she hid?!' Tager's eye twitched.
"They're Ground/Ghost-Types. Physical damage and electrical damage will not work on it," Fifi explained as she switched to her Pokemon form.
"GOLURK!" Totem Golurk roared as he threw a shadow-engulfed fist at Fifi...which passed through her.
"Normal-Types aren't affected by Ghost-Type moves, but Normal-Type moves can't hurt Ghost-Types," Zossie explained with a grin.
"So my punches and magnetics won't work," Tager frowned before looking at a collapsed tree, "Would throwing a tree work?"
Zossie shrugged. Totem Golurk dashed back away from a barrage of poisonous needles fired by Stinger before backhanding a green sphere of energy fired by Fifi. A Dragon Rage shot out from Stinger's mandibles only for Totem Golurk to vanish in a blur. Stinger looked around before Totem Golurk appeared behind the Ultra Beast, fists glowing with an icy-blue energy.
"Stinger, behind you!" Dulse shouted.
"Naga…" Stinger turned only for the fists to smash into him, sending him away as frost began to form on him, "NAGAN~!"
"It knows Ice Punch...Just what we needed," Dulse grit his teeth.
"Gol…" Totem Golurk growled before it was smashed into the ground by a tree trunk, "URK!"
"...So it did work…" Tager noted, holding onto the tree trunk with one hand.
"Fifi, Odor Sleuth!"
"FUR?!"
"I know you don't like using it, but it will help with the Ghost typing," Dulse reasoned.
"Frou…"
"I'll…" Dulse coughed into his fist once with a blush, "Do the thing you like if you do."
"FUR~!" Fifi charged in, her nose glowing and hearts in her eyes.
"Golurk…" Totem Golurk growled before Fifi landed on him and began to quckly sniff all over the Totem, causing it to glow white briefly until the Totem backhanded her with an Ice Punch.
"Fifi!" Dulse shouted, jumping and catching the now slightly-frozen Pokemon.
"You can punch him now!" Zossie called, "Big Sis just took his Ghost tricks away!"
=I don't get this at all= Kokonoe groaned as Tager caught Totem Golurk's Shadow Punch =But...whatever. Tager...take him...her...whatever...it down=
"Roger!" Tager roared as he slammed his free fist into Totem Golurk's face, knocking the Totem over.
"Gol…." Golurk groaned before struggling to get back up.
"...That was easier than I…" Tager began before Golurk's legs tucked into its body, "?!"
Fire erupted under its 'skirt' before it rocketed at Tager, tackling him and sending them crashing through several trees. Totem Golurk took to the air, dragging Tager up into the air with him.
=It can fly like a rocket?! ...Tager, I want it=
"B-"
=I. WANT. IT=
'The things she gets me wrapped up into…' Tager mentally grumbled before he started to punch Totem Golurk repeatedly in the 'face.'
Totem Golurk grunted with each blow to its 'face,' yet continued to ascend. Tager swung his arms up, brought his hands together into a large fist, and slammed it down on top of Totem Golurk's head. The blow finally made the Totem release Tager and disengaged the 'rockets.'
"Estimated height...optimal," Tager noted as he grabbed Totem Golurk, "You've got some decent rockets...now let me show you mine!"
"Gol?"
"Releasing Armagus!" Tager roared.
"Gol?!" Totem Golurk exclaimed before rockets erupted out of Tager's feet and sent them rocketing at the ground
"KING OF…!" Tager roared as his body glowed bright red before they impacted with the ground right upon the ruins, "TAGER!"
*KRAAAAAK-KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
"Whoa!" Zossie awed as she peeked out from behind a stump, having barely held on to it from the explosion from the impact.
"Awooo~" Fifi moaned, her eyes replaced with swirls, as she was held by Dulse while Stinger was partly stuck in the ground from trying not to be forced back by the explosion.
"Well...I hope they weren't important ones to this world," Dulse gulped.
"Gol…urk…." Golurk's voice weakly groaned out from the center of the crater.
"It's still active?!" Zossie gawked before Tager emerged, carrying the slumped Totem Pokemon with him, its Aura gone, "Holy Miltank…!"
"Target captured…" Tager grunted before looking at Dulse and slid his glasses back into place, "Dulse, do you have any of those capture devices to spare?"
=Oh just think of it, Tager...This creature seems to be a living golem with flight capabilities rivaling or event your own! Imagine what could be developed from studying it!= Kokonoe crooned in glee =How does it create the fuel needed for flight? How could it maneuver like that in the air?=
"Roger, Kokonoe…" Tager grumbled as Dulse handed him a Beast Ball, letting him tap it against the knocked out Totem Pokemon and caused it to be sucked up into the ball.
"...You're not gonna send it to her immediately, are you?"
"How? We don't have a way to send it to her across Ultra Space," Tager replied.
=...Memo to self: build new upgrade for Tager to do just that= Kokonoe muttered.
"So...Are ya gonna give it a nickname?" Zossie asked.
"Hmm?" Tager raised a brow.
"Well, you want to keep calling to 'Golurk' all the time?"
"...Fair point, I suppose," Tager noted.
=Subject 01!=
"You're acting way too excited, Kokonoe...and that honestly scares me."
=Subject 01!=
"Hmm...Well...it appears to take on the appearance of a Roman soldier…" Tager noted, "But its body seemingly made as a golem and that crack…" he held up the ball at the sky to get a better look, "I believe that...Loew will be a good name."
"Loew?" Dulse repeated.
"Named after the late 16th century Rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel. It was said in a tale known as the Golem of Prague that he created a Golem out of clay from the banks of the Vltava River and brought it to life through rituals and Hebrew incantations to defend the Prague ghetto from anti-Semitic attacks."
=Tager, I demand you go with Subject 01!=
"What?" Tager asked loudly, holding a hand up as it began to crackle, "I can't hear you? I think we're entering a dead zone!"
=Tager, don't you d…=
*crunch*
"I hate it when she does these upgrades without telling me…" Tager grumbled before seeing the sun setting, "Ah, so that's West. Good, so North is that way, then."
"Good. Then if we get back onto the correct path, we should arrive at the new localized area," Dulse noted.
"Great!" Zossie cheered.
GT: Hooo...That was a chapter in of itself. I think I can smell the stink from Muk here…
SZ: Same...ugh...the smell is strong! We need to purify the air somehow!
GT: *starts spraying air fresheners* Well...seems we can't do our normal outro it seems. So read and review, please! Hopefully, if we get enough, the stink's gonna go away…
SZ: I hope so!
Ash Ketchum: Pikachu [Starter], Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Krabby(At Prof. Oak's Ranch), Eevee, Gengar(At Prof. Oak's Ranch), Primeape(At Prof. Oak's ranch), Muk(At Prof Oak's Ranch)
Misty: Goldeen, Staryu, Horsea,, Psyduck, Starmie [Starter]
Brock: Geodude, Onix [Starter], Zubat, Vulpix
Makoto Nanaya: Berry(Pachirisu) [Starter], Needles(Beedrill), Cherry(Emolga), Booster(Flareon), Honey(Buneary)
Noel Vermillion: Yuki(Alolan Vulpix) [Starter], Nymph(Eevee), Umi(Milotic)
Tsubaki Yayoi: Luka(Riolu) [Starter], Astrea(Eevee), Sorin(Rockruff), Izayoi(Honedge)
Mai Natsume: Terra(Sandshrew) [Starter], Aqua(Buizel), Celsius(Eevee), Noble(Cubone), Ventus(Rufflet)
Kajun Faycott: Hikari(Ralts/Kirlia) [Starter], Koko(Espeon)