Well how about that, I'm updating this again, and so soon after the previous update! I'll be honest with you, this one will be a bit of a mess, as there's going to be a lot of fighting in this chapter. Specifically, a lot of unplanned fighting, so it may be a hit hard to follow. But I'll try my best, so enjoy.
Chapter 13:
Hatred and Love
Back up at the entrance to the Zero Lab, things were at a stablemate. Andrew and Giacomo had engaged in a furious fight and were pummelling every inch of each other they could reach. Ortega was involved in the fight, but he was lying dazed on the ground after Andrew managed to land a heavy kick on the back of his head. This caused Giacomo to explode with rage and begin pummelling Andrew. Meanwhile, Eri was engaged in a fight with 2 other Team Eclipse agents at once. She was fighting only 1, but after the other had pinned Mela to the ground and began choking her, Eri had engaged them in combat as well. Atticus wasn't in direct combat with anyone, but instead sneaking around in the shadows and behind some of the rocks and boulders, sneakily knocking out any Eclipse member he could.
As for everyone else, they were all engaged in pokémon battles. Despite the fact that Team Eclipse's numbers were significantly smaller than Team Star's and their allies, their pokémon teams were a lot stronger, as they were all using Paradox Pokémon. Because of this, Team Eclipse were able to hold their own against Team Star and their allies. The only things they were having any difficulties with were the massive Revavrooms that the leaders of the rescue party were riding. In particular, the Team Star Admins couldn't help but be impressed by how fiercely Florian and Juliana's mother fought against them. Her determination to save her children had sparked a fire in her eyes as she mowed down Paradox Pokémon from atop her Revavroom. Director Clavell also seemed to be having a bit of fun on his, much to everyone's amusement. But other than that, no one was making any ground in this fight.
Giacomo was anxious to get this done and run down to assist Penny and the others, but Andrew just wasn't letting up. Giacomo received so many punches from him that his ears had begun to ring, and his face was really starting to hurt. But fortunately for him, Andrew didn't appear to be faring much better. He was clearly weakening, and his face was starting to swell. Through all of their fighting, they were now lying next to one of the boulders, which gave Giacomo an idea. Unfortunately, it seemed like Andrew had the exact same one. Before Giacomo could initiate his plan, Andrew pushed off of him and got to his feet. Then, in the same motion, he picked Giacomo up and slammed him into the wall. The force of this caused Giacomo to taste blood. Andrew grinned at him. "No wonder you freaks all need special treatment," he gloated. "You're all weak, and pathetic! If you didn't get handouts, you'd never amount to anything! You queers and foreigners are all parasites, who leech off of the hard work of us true, normal Paldeans! If it wasn't for us, you'd be nothing!" But before he could continue, they heard the sound of someone screaming with anger coming from above. Looking up, they saw Ortega leap from the boulder with a small rock in his hands. "SHUT THE HELL UP!" he screamed, before slamming the rock down on Andrew's head, knocking him out. Ortega turned to Giacomo and began to check up on him, but Giacomo kissed him before he could get very far.
"Hey Romeos, save the make-out for later!" Mela called. She'd managed to get back on her feet, and was in the process of pulling one of the agents Eri was fighting off of her and was riding on their shoulders while hitting them. Eri managed to get the upper hand in her fight, and was in the process of pinning them to another boulder. On top of that boulder, Atticus stood perched, waiting to strike. When Eri was successful in pinning them, Atticus leapt down and brought another rock down on top of the agent, knocking them out too. Eri thanked him, then spun around and kicked the agent Mela was fighting in the stomach. Mela leapt off of them as they went sprawling. Then, she kicked them in the head with her heavy red boots, knocking them out as well. As these victories occurred, more and more happened around them as well. Soon enough, Team Eclipse was running out of steam. "We need to hurry!" Ortega exclaimed. "The others down they may need our help!" "But we don't have a way in!" Eri replied. At this, Giacomo held up a small device. "As a matter of fact, we do" he told them before walking up to the keypad at the door of The Zerp Lab. He attached Penny's device, and began to work on opening the door.
"ELECTRO DRIFT/SOLAR BLADE!" both Florian and Gina cried at the same time. Both Paradox Pokémon charged at each other and their attacks collided. The force for this fight sent shock waves through the room. Nemona had to pull Juliana away from where she lay to save her from falling debris. Carmine ran over to Kieran to shelter him from the damage, leaving herself exposed. Without thinking, Arven ran forward and did the same for her. Florian and Gina paid no mind to any of this, and carried on with their battle. "Outrage Miraidon!" Florian called. "IRON LEAVES USE SACRED SWORD NOW!" Gina screeched. Once again, both attacks clashed, however this time Miraidon's was able to overpower Iron Leaves' and strike it directly. Gina looked outraged by this and ordered Iton Leaves to use Close Combat. Miraidon allowed the attack to land, then retaliated with Snarl, doing major damage. At this point, Iron Leaves' legs had begun to shake slightly, but it pushed on. It launched a powerful Psyblade, but Miraidon countered it with Dragon Tail. The two attacks clashed together in a powerful duel, sending out even more shock waves. Everyone stopped what they were doing to bear witness to this epic battle. Both Paradox Pokémon continued to duel until Miraidon finally managed to get the upper hand by wrapping his tail around Iron Leaves' Psyblade. Using all of his strength, he spun around and hurled Iron Leaves into one of the walls. Iron Leaves crashed into it, then fell still.
Gina stared in horror at what had just happened. She was so flabbergasted that she lost, that she dropped the Master Ball that contained Iron Leaves. Taking advantage of this, Florian ran forward and slammed his foot onto the ball, smashing it to pieces and releasing the Iron Leaves. He then tried to make a swipe at Gina, but she ducked under his arm and took off, kicking his fet out from under him as she ran. Florian hit the ground hard and felt the wind leave his lungs. Penny rushed forward and help him up. He nodded his appreciation, then began looking for Gina. But before he could do so for very long, he and Penny heard Nemona scream. Looking over to her, they saw her on the ground, crying loudly. At first they thought she was hurt, but then they followed her gaxe and Florian's stomach dropped. Gina was backing away towards the lift, dragging a still unconscious Juliana with her. She looked down at Nemona and all of her friends, and pressed a jagged rock to Juliana's throat. "I HATE YOU ALL!" she bellowed, sounding more and more insane by the second. "I CAN'T LET YOU DESTROY MY REGION! I WON'T! AS LONG AS I BREATHE I WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT PALDEA! IF EVERYONE IS AGAINST ME, THEN SO BE IT!" Florian growled and went to attack her, but Gina stuck the jagged rock further into Juliana's throat. "STAY BACK!" she shrieked. "OR I WILL STICK THIS INTO HER NECK!" Florian froze. He glared at Gina, but didn't move.
Gina continued to grin with triumph. "You haven't seen the last of me!" she told them, her voice quieter, but still shaking with insanity and rage. "I will be back! I will put a stop to this woke madness! It's a disease, a virus, and I am the cure! I will purge any foreigners and faggots from this region! Starting with her!" Nemona screamed at this and tried to run over to her, but she wouldn't make it in time. Gina raised her rock over her head and went to slam it into Juliana's neck. But before she could, the lift doors opened and the twins' mother burst out. In one swift movement, she kicked Hina right in the face and freed Juliana from her grasp. Gina stumbled backwards and fell down to where Penny stood. Penny glared down at her and raised her foot. "You know," she said to her. "You should really take after Florian, and shut the fuck up!" Then she stamped her foot down on Gina's face, knocking her out.
After Florian and his mother had a long embrace, with both of them in tears, everyone made their way out of The Zero Lab. Penny and Kieran helped Florian to the lift, as he was tired and they were a similar enough height, and Nemona carried Juliana up the lift, with the twins' mother fussing over her daughter. Chairwoman Geeta had come down to give any aid she could, and brought a battalion of policemen and women with her. While they rounded up the forces of Team Eclipse, Geeta herself picked up Gina and carried her out of the Zero Lab. Once back in Area Zero, Florian was greeted with uproarious applause for his return. He waved modestly, then began to stand behind Penny a little bit, which made her laugh despite herself. A camera crew had arrived as well to film their victory over the hate group. Pulleys and makeshift lifts had been constructed to help carry everyone back out of Area Zero. Giacomo and Ortega had resumed their making out, and Mela and Eri also start doing that. Florian and Penny both looked like they want to do it too, but Florian still needed her and Kieran to walk properly, and his mother was there too. Throughout all of this, Nemona wouldn't let Juliana go. She continued to carry her, openly weeping with relief, now that she had her crush in her arms again.
In groups between 3-8, everyone was hoisted up back to the rest of Paldea. Nemona and Juliana, Geeta and Gina, and Florian, Penny, and Kieran were the first group to be sent up, since the twins had to be brought to a hospital, despite Florian's protests that he was fine, and Geeta needed to bring Gina to the police. A few prison trucks were brought over the the Crater to gather up the arrested members of Team Eclipse. As Penny led Florian and Nemona carried Juliana to the hospital, they watched as Chairwoman Geeta put Gina into the prison truck. As she did, Gina stirred and woke up. She looked around and saw where she was being brought. "Wait Chairwoman Geeta!" she called, trying one last time to spew her bigotry. "You must understand, you've got the wrong person! I'm not the bad guy here! I was trying to prevent Paldea from being destroyed! If no one does anything, the queers and immigrants will consume Paldea, and us native normal Paldeans will be eradicated!" Geeta held up her hand to silence her. "Your delusions stop here Gina," she told her. "For your actions, you will face severe consequences." Geeta grabbed the doors of the prison truck and went to close them. But before she did she leaned in and said, "And by the way, if you want to appear as the good guy, maybe don't tell a gay woman that she's going to be the end of Paldea." Then, she slammed the doors shut, and Florian, Penny and Nemona watched as Gina was driven away, her saviour complex being drowned out by the cheers of celebration from them, and from Team Star.
OK, writing Penny stamping on Gina's face was very satisfying. And now, she's finally getting her just desserts. I do hope you enjoyed that, because I had fun writing Team Eclipse's defeat. Now, we're on to the usual recovery chapter, and then the bit where you see what happened to all of them. So, I've only got 2 chapters left, and I have no idea when they will come out, but hopefully before the 19th of June. See you all in the next one.