Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 68: Enter Galactic!
As Ash and his friends were preparing to leave Veilstone City, Reggie decided to take them around town.
"Maylene gave me all the details."Reggie said. "It must've been intense, if it ended in a draw."
"Yeah, the pokemon totally gave it their all."Ash remarked.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"True, the pokemon deserve all the credit, but let's not forget to thank Denise."Brock said.
Ash, Reggie and Dawn looked at Denise.
"Your right, Brock."Ash answered. "Denise's battle really brought back Maylene's battling spirit."
"Yeah, their battle was awesome too."Dawn commented.
Denise cheeks turned a bit red and smiled shyly.
"Aw come on guys, I was just trying to cheer up Maylene thats all."Denise assured and looked at Reggie. "So Reggie, why don't you fill us in where we're all headed now."
"Can't wait, huh?"Reggie asked with a smirk and closed his eyes. "Relax, you'll see."
The group arrived to the place where the meteors of the city were.
The gang marvel at where the meteors could have come from as red, green and blue lights appear far overhead.
"You like it, pretty neat, huh?"Reggie said. "Since your all leaving Veilstone City bright and early tomorrow, I wanted you to see our city landmarks tonight."
"City landmarks, huh?"Ash asked. "You mean those bunch of rocks?"
"Pika."Pikachu responded.
"Ash, those aren't ordinary rocks."Dawn corrected. "They're meteorites, right Reggie?"
"Right exactly."Reggie replied.
Ash and Pikachu gasped in surprise.
"Meteorites?"Ash said.
"There are so many."Brock admitted.
"These meteorites are part of what put Veilstone City on the map."Denise explained.
"You see our city has been called the city formed from rock and these meteorites are part of it."Reggie said.
The group checked the large map.
"I knew I've read the city was built around meteorites, right?"Dawn asked.
"Right."Reggie agreed. "The meteorites have been honored as guardians way back in ancient times, of course as the meteorites formed a group, people started travelling here from all over to see them and thats how Veilstone City began to take shape. Now the greatful people in our city have been watched over by their guardians."
"Wow, the meteorites are guardians."Ash remarked with a smile.
"So excited to learn where they came from."Dawn commented.
"Well, we both love a good mystery like this."Denise chuckled.
"Yeah."Brock agreed. "Think of the people all over the world moving here, all those years ago, creating what turns out to be Veilstone City."
Afterwards...
The four heroes went back into the pokemon center.
Ash sat down to clean his third gym badge while Pikachu was next to him.
Denise was next to him and was brushing Eevee's fur.
"Pika pika..."Pikachu said.
"Ash, it's so great that both you and Denise have three gym badges now."Dawn said kindly.
"Plup."Piplup giggled.
"Thanks, Dawn."Ash replied. "But me and Denise both need five more to enter the Sinnoh League, this is no time to get too confident."
"Yeah, but there is no need to rush either."Denise reminded. "We just continue doing our training together and we'll have our five gym badges anytime soon."
"Right, Dennie."Ash agreed. "But I didn't get the cobble badge defeating Maylene fair and square."
"Come on, she gave you that badge because she recognized you and your pokemon's strength and determination so you gotta be proud."Brock stated.
"I guess I have to keep on battling super hard and prove Maylene did was the right thing."Ash commented and looked at Pikachu. "So buddy are you with me all the way?"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"Now that's the spirit."Brock remarked.
"Hey, I wonder where our next gym will be."Denise said. "Is the next town close or far?"
Brock picked up a remote to put on the large screen that showed the towns in Sinnoh.
"Let's see now..."He commented.
Then Nurse Joy walked by holding free orange drinks.
"From here I think Pastoria City is a good choice."She suggested.
"You think?"Ash asked. "Maybe so..."
"There is a resort of Lake Valor right on the way, so you can break for a little rest."Nurse Joy explained. "I heard the gym leader is an expert on water type pokemon as well."
"Hmm...water types, cool!"Ash chuckled. "So I guess our next stop is Pastoria City."
"Awesome."Denise remarked and thought. "And maybe we can have a little picnic together while we're there..."
Brock went up to Nurse Joy.
"Perhaps you would like to come to."He flirted. "Together we would find what we've been seeking true love, our love burning with a fire deep in our hearts!"
Croagunk poison jabbed his trainer and he collapsed.
"Of course, fire can burn in some other places."Brock muttered.
Croagunk dragged his trainer away.
"Oh my..."Nurse Joy said.
Ash, Dawn, Denise, Pikachu and Piplup sweat dropped at the sight.
Denise looked at the view outside.
"Pastoria City, I guess I have to start training for it."Denise thought and a small frown grew on her face. "There is no doubt that Paul already beat that gym leader by now..."
"Hey Dawn, what is going on with your next contest?"Ash asked.
"Ash, you'll never guess we're right in the middle of working in a new combination."Dawn replied with a weak smile.
"Piplup."Piplup said sadly.
Ash notice Denise was staring out the window.
"Hey Denise, what are you thinking about?"He asked.
Denise blushed a little and cleared her throat.
"Umm...no one."Denise responded and looked away in embarrassment. "I mean nothing! Nothing at all..."
Ash looked at Denise in confusion.
"Eevee..."Eevee giggled quietly.
Then a sound was heard outside and the four heroes saw a ray of light coming from where the meteorites were.
"Whoa."Dawn said in surprise.
"That's weird."Ash admitted.
"What in the world is that?"Denise asked.
Then the light from outside suddenly disappeared.
"The light just vanished."Dawn commented.
"Piplup."Piplup responded.
"What was it?"Ash asked.
"Pika."Pikachu replied.
"Eevee..."Eevee whispered.
Meanwhile...
Reggie was talking on the videophone with Paul.
"It's me, Hi."Paul said."So you need to send me Electabuzz since we're preparing for the Pastoria Gym."
"Pastoria, huh?"Reggie responded with a smirk."Guess it really is Electabuzz's turn, that's right your two old friends, Ash and Denise has been here. You know, the trainer with the Pikachu that can use Volt Tackle and the girl you were telling me about? Interesting those two are I like it."
"Well, I suppose you would."Paul replied while looking away.
"Guess what?"Reggie asked. "The two both earned the Cobble Badges."
"So what?"Paul muttered with his eyes closed. "Anyone can win at the Veilstone Gym."
Back in the Pokemon Center...
The communications and all technology suddenly powered down.
The four heroes rushed up to Nurse Joy.
"Nurse Joy, what happened?"Brock asked.
"I'm afraid something has gone terribly wrong with medical equipment and its effecting the recovery of the pokemon."Nurse Joy replied.
"What?"Ash said.
"And you don't know why?"Dawn responded.
"Nurse Joy!"
Maylene and Lucario rushed inside the pokemon center.
"Lucario and I sensed something was wrong."Maylene admitted. "So we came quickly as we could, we have to figure out and fast."
The four heroes and Maylene rushed out of the pokemon center.
"Maylene do you have any idea what did this situation?"Denise asked.
"Lucario says it has something to do with the meteorites in the park."Maylene answered.
"Did you call Officer Jenny?"Brock asked.
"The phones are dead so Connally has gone to inform her."Maylene said.
"Hey check out those helicopters!"Ash stated. "They have been above the park all day long!"
The group arrived in the park and saw Team Rocket on the floor.
"It's Team Rocket!"Ash said.
"But where are those meteorites?"Dawn asked.
Denise notice Team Galactic in the park.
"I think those creeps took them."She retorted with a frown.
"Team Rocket are those friends of yours?"Ash asked.
"As if!"Jessie shouted angrily.
Ash took out his pokedex to scan Toxicroak.
"Toxicroak the Toxic Mouth Pokémon and the evolved form of Croagunk."Ash's Pokedex said. "The poison produced in its sacks is carried through tubes in its arms to its knuckle claws."
"Fashion freaks or not, they stole our meteorites and they're no friends of ours!"Meowth commented.
"Fashion?"Dawn asked. "Since when?"
"Piplup."Piplup responded.
Brock looked at Team Galactic.
"I think I remember them..."He said.
"That's right."Ash agreed. "In Eterna City..."
"So Team Rocket aren't the only creeps here."Denise said bitterly.
"What are you up to?!"Ash demanded.
"Dark Pulse."Saturn ordered.
Toxicroak sends a Dark Pulse at the group.
"Lucario, quick use Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario blocked Dark Pulse with Aura Sphere causing an explosion.
But when the smoke cleared, it revealed Toxicroak wasn't harmed.
"It didn't do a thing!"Ash said in shock.
"We don't care about those landmarks, but these meteorites must take the necessary forms."Saturn commented.
"What the?!"Ash started.
"What are you talking about?"Dawn asked.
"We're talking about the necessary forms of building a new world."Saturn replied.
"New world..."Denise said with a frown.
"Sounds bad to me."Ash admitted.
"Pika."Pikachu agreed.
Officer Jenny then arrived on her motorcycle.
"Officer Jenny!"Brock remarked lovingly.
"Maylene, thanks for the tip off."Officer Jenny responded with a smile.
"My specific duty."Maylene remarked with a salute.
Officer Jenny looked at Team Galactic.
"You took the meteorites, right?"She questioned. "All the communications are down because of your tricks!"
Saturn smirked. "Maybe or maybe not..."
"I bet they're responsible for the pokemon center break down."Brock suggested.
"Not just the pokemon center, but every other equipment across Veilstone City."Officer Jenny stated.
The group became shocked hearing this.
"You think the Sinnoh police aren't aware of all the behind scene activity going on lately?"Officer Jenny asked. "Well your busted! Your part of the super secret criminals, Team Galactic!"
"Team Galactic?"Ash said.
"Tell me, what are you planning to do with those meteorites."Officer Jenny demanded.
"That would be a big waste of time, but I will say its part of our plan."Saturn answered. "Toxicroak, Dark Pulse go!"
Toxicroak fired Dark Pulse at the group.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
"Piplup, Bubblebeam!"Dawn ordered.
"Eevee, Shadow Ball!"Denise ordered.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
Pikachu, Piplup, Eevee and Lucario fired their attacks at Toxicroak's Dark Pulse to destroy it.
However when one part of the Dark Pulse was about to hit Brock, Croagunk stepped forward to block the attack.
"Wow..."Dawn said.
"Yeah, Croagunk!"Ash chuckled.
"Thanks Croagunk, you saved me."Brock replied with a smile.
Croagunk noticed Toxicroak was going up to him.
The two pokemon glared at each other.
"Surrender peacefully while you can."Officer Jenny warned. "Unless you rather leave screaming in handcuffs."
"Clear the way now."Saturn ordered.
The grunts released their Golbat to distract the group, in order for the meteors to continue being lifted.
Dawn took out her pokedex.
"What are those things?"She asked.
"Golbat the Bat Pokémon and the evolved form of Zubat."Dawn's Pokedex said. "Being nocturnal, Golbat fly at night in search of prey."
The Golbat began to fire their attacks at the group.
"We need some help now!"Officer Jenny stated.
Croagunk and Toxicroak continued glaring at each other.
"Toxicroak, what are you doing?"Saturn asked. "Destroy Croagunk now!"
"Croagunk use Brick Break!"Brock ordered.
Croagunk and Toxicroak began to battle each other.
"Alright Croagunk, Poison Sting!"Brock ordered.
Croagunk fired Poison Sting at Toxicroak.
"Use Sludge Bomb!"Saturn ordered.
Toxicroak fired Sludge Bomb.
While the two were battling, Team Rocket got in middle of two attacks and end up blasting off.
"Why us?!"Jessie complained.
"Beats me!"James replied.
"Is just being the wrong place at the wrong time."Meowth replied.
"AND NOW WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"Team Rocket screamed and disappeared in the night sky.
"They're so many Golbats and we can't get any closer to the helicopters."Officer Jenny admitted.
Then a electric attack hit the Golbat that was going to hit Pikachu and Eevee.
The group saw Reggie arriving with Electabuzz to help in the fight.
"Ash is everybody okay?"Reggie asked.
"Reggie, Electabuzz, we're fine."Ash replied with a smile.
"Just in time too."Denise remarked while blushing a little.
"But Reggie the meteorites-"Dawn started.
"We got to combine all our attacks to destroy those lines."Reggie replied and looked at Electabuzz. "Electabuzz, before I sent you back to Paul, how about a little warm up?"
Electabuzz nodded in response.
"But first we need to do something about those Golbats."Officer Jenny reminded.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
"Eevee use Shadowball!"Denise ordered.
"Electabuzz, Thunder!"Reggie ordered.
"Now Piplup use Bubblebeam!"Dawn ordered.
Pikachu, Eevee, Electabuzz and Piplup fired their attacks at the Golbats, knocking them out.
"Alright, let's move!"Reggie said.
The group rushed after Team Galactic.
"Allow Toxicroak to use Sludge Bomb!"
Toxicroak fired Sludge Bomb at Reggie and Electabuzz, separating them.
Electabuzz becomes surrounded by Golbat, until Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to disperse them.
One of the Golbat, however, manages to fire off a Shadow Ball at Pikachu, which Electabuzz blocks.
Pikachu and Electabuzz use their electric attacks to knock out the other Golbats.
"Awesome!"Dawn remarked. "Did you see the amazing combination the two of them just used?"
"That's something you don't see everyday."Denise responded.
"You know I think Electabuzz was paying off a debt."Reggie admitted with a small smile.
"Okay Pikachu, Volt Tackle!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu rushed forward using Volt Tackle.
"Electabuzz, Thunder go!"Reggie ordered.
Pikachu uses Volt Tackle, supercharged by Electabuzz's Thunder attack to the cables attached to the meteors.
"Lucario use Bone Rush!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario uses Bone Rush to cut the cables.
"Piplup, Whirlpool!"Dawn ordered.
Piplup uses Whirlpool to contain the meteorites and place them back where they were before.
The Penguin Pokemon landed on one of the meteorites.
"Wow, it worked!"Dawn cheered.
"Nice move, Piplup."Denise said with a smile.
"Piplup."Piplup replied.
One of the soldiers looked at Saturn.
"What now Commander Saturn?"She asked.
"I'm afraid there's no choice now."Saturn responded and took out a pokeball. "Toxicroak, return."
Toxicroak was returned back to his trainer.
Team Galactic began to retreat in their helicopters.
"No you don't, Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
"Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
Pikachu and Lucario send off a Thunderbolt and an Aura Sphere respectively, but the helicopters were too far away.
"Officer Jenny, I'm sorry."Ash apologised.
"Pika..."Pikachu said.
"We let those creeps get away."Denise stated sadly.
"We did manage to bring all the meteorites back for that I thank you all for your help."Officer Jenny answered.
Brock bend down and smiled at Croagunk.
"You battled well, Croagunk, it's okay."He assured.
Croagunk looked away with a screw on his face.
"I'm sure we haven't seen the last of those criminals no doubt."Officer Jenny said. "If only we know more about Team Galactic's plan."
The Next Morning...
It was time for the four heroes to leave.
"All the very best for your journey."Maylene said.
Lucario spoke in agreement.
"Hey Maylene, thanks."Ash replied. "You stay well."
"I'm sure we'll see you again."Dawn remarked.
"Yeah in the mean time I'm looking forward seeing you win your next contest."Maylene answered kindly.
"Paul said his next gym battle is in Pastoria City too and have a safe trip."Reggie stated. "Make you two win your fourth gym badges."
"Oh we well."Denise assured with a confident smile.
"Thanks, we'll do our best."Ash answered.
Pikachu smiled. "Pikachu."
The heroes then waved goodbye and continued on their journey.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Eevee (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Thunder
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish