Episode 4: Diego vs the Azrael Trigger
At a destroyed city in the future, a purple orb appears and deposits Gary and Misty from it.
Misty: What is this place?
Gary: It seems we've been teleported to another location.
Misty: Well, let's find out where we are.
She runs off.
Gary: Lucifer... (Screen turns grayscale) Who is he?
He follows Misty.
Meanwhile after Amelia puts her Swellow back to its Pokéball, Ash runs as he holds Amelia through some plains and runs up a hill. As he reaches towards a peak, he then stops and places Amelia down. Once she stands up on her own, she bows to Ash in gratitude.
Princess Amelia: I have no words to express how grateful I am for your help... (Pauses and notices Ash having a cut in his arm) You're hurt!
Ash: (Checks his arm for any injury) It's nothing.
Princess Amelia: Don't say that. (Uses some fabrics as a bandage to cover the injury) I'm sorry. It's all my fault...
Ash: Smile. (Ash then wags his index finger. A Beautifly flies towards them and Amelia smiles. It then flies away.) Your smile... That's all I need. (Ash then walks along the hill and Amelia follows him.) Team Rocket mentioned the Flames of Disaster. Is that why they're after you?
Princess Amelia: Yes. The name of the sun god our country honors is Solaris... (A flashback of the festival plays in the background.) It is told that Solaris's rage would destroy the world. (The background shifts to Amelia's vision of Azrael from before.) His wrath comes in the form of the Flames of Disaster. (Background returns to normal.) 5 years ago, we almost faced the full force of his fury... I was a child then, so I don't remember it very well. I lost my father then... (An image of the Team Rocket Trio looking over their shoulders at the camera appears as Amelia continues.) And now those three are trying to cause the same disaster again... (Back to her and Ash with the sky and ground around them) What can I do? (Pause, then Ash grabs Amelia's hand and they run together.) Ash? Ash! Ash, wait! I can't run that fast!
Ash: Don't worry! Just raise your head and run! (They continue running with Pikachu following them. It then fades into another scene.) Feels great, doesn't it?
Princess Amelia: Yes. I-I've never run so fast before...
Ash: Nothing starts until you take action. If you have time to worry, then run!
Ash grabs Amelia's hand and Pikachu smiles. And then the camera points towards the sky and fades.
May and Diego have returned to Madera Castle Town in disappointment.
May: I can't believe we didn't find who you're looking for. Maybe we'll try again next time.
The duo look around the town, and Diego sees something in surprise. He sees Ash and Amelia return to town. Ash suddenly motions his hand to stop and grabs her as Diego's Altaria used Dragon Pulse on him and he jumps to avoid it as she screams. He suddenly hears Diego's voice and they both look up.
(Play Silver Appears from Sonic 06 for this part)
Diego: I've been looking for you. You're the Azrael Trigger. (Diego appears in front of his Altaria and looks at Ash and Amelia, then points a finger at him.) Your actions will condemn us all.
Ash: (Gets in front of Amelia) Who are you?
Diego: My name is Diego. (Points at Ash again) For the future of the world, I will destroy you!
Ash proceeds to battle Diego.
Ash: Okay! Pikachu, let's go!
Pikachu begins to battle Altaria.
(Play Vs. Character from Sonic 06 for this section.)
Diego: Altaria, use Dragon Pulse!
Altaria used Dragon Pulse.
Ash: Pikachu, dodge it and use Volt Tackle!
Pikachu begins to use Volt Tackle and attacks Altaria.
Diego: Altaria, use Ice Beam!
Altaria uses Ice Beam and hits Pikachu.
Ash: Pikachu!
Diego: Now use Dragon Pulse on the Azrael Trigger!
Altaria uses Dragon Pulse and is about to hitAsh. However, Pikachu thunderbolts the Dragon Pulse and the huge explosion occurs.
Ash: I don't know who you are or where you came from, but using your Pokémon to attack people is not what a Pokémon trainer does!
Diego: I don't wanna hear it! You caused the destruction of my world and you must pay for your horrible crimes! Altaria, use Dragon Claw!
Altaria uses Dragon Claw on Pikachu and it sends the electric mouse into a wall.
Ash: Pikachu!
Pikachu gets up in pain, but is still determined to fight. Altaria then used Dragon Pulse on Ash, sending him into a wall as well.
Princess Amelia: Ash! No!
Ash gets up.
Ash: Whoever you think I am, I don't know what your talking about!
Diego: Lies!
Altaria begins to attack again, but Pikachu attacks again.
Ash: Pikachu, use Thunderbolt! (Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on Altariaand it is now paralyzed from the electricity.) Now Pikachu, use Iron Tail to finish this!
Pikachu finishes the battle by using Iron Tail and sending Altaria into the wall. Altaria was defeated and Pikachu wins.
Diego: Altaria!
Ash: Way to go, Pikachu! (Diego was nursing his Altaria back to health when Ash walked up to him.) Alright. What's going on?
Diego's Altaria uses Dragon Pulse to attack Ash and Pikachu, knocking them towards a building where they slams hard against the stone and falls down to the ground on their knees after hitting it. Amelia looks on with worry as Ash and Pikachu try to catch their breath as Diego approaches him.
Diego: Hmph! Is this a joke? How could someone like you cause the destruction of our world?
Amelia looks as a giant mechanical hand approaches from behind her to grab her.
Ash: What do you...mean?
Diego: It doesn't matter. For the sake of the future, the Azrael Trigger must be destroyed!
(Play Silver Appears from Sonic 06 again for the rest of this section)
Diego's Altaria is about to destroy Ash and Pikachu when Amelia's scream is heard, and both look at her being grabbed by the Team Rocket Trio's hot air Meowth balloon as it flies off.
Ash: Amelia?! Wait!
Ash and Pikachu try to run when Diego's Altaria hits them with a Dragon Pulse again.
Diego: Don't you dare turn your back on me! It's time I finally put an end to this!
Diego's Altaria is about to finish him off when...
May: Combusken, use Fire Spin!
Combusken's Fire Spin attacks Diego's Altaria.
Diego: Altaria!
May appears and guards Ash out of harm's way.
Ash: May?!
Diego: Get out of my way, May! This is my mission!
May: Absolutely NOT!!!
Diego's patience is starting to run thin as Ash gets up.
Ash: Thanks, May.
May: No problem. And Ash, go save the Princess from Team Rocket! I'll handle this guy!
Ash: But what about you?
May: I'll be fine! Just go and save her!
Ash: Okay! Come on, Pikachu!
Ash and Pikachu runs off to chase Amelia and Diego begins to nurse Altaria back to health as May angrily approaches Diego.
Diego: Look, it's not what it...
May angrily smacks him in the face.
May: I cannot believe you! This whole time, the person you were looking for was Ash?! Were you seriously trying to kill him and Pikachu?!
Diego: You don't understand! He's responsible for destroying my world!
May: That's crazy! Ash would never do that!
Diego: But it's true! In the near future, his actions will cause the devastation of my world. So I must...
May angrily smacks him in the face again.
May: I trusted you! How could you do this to my friend, who is also my traveling companion?! He helped me out and even comforted me whenever I lost a Pokémon contest! And if you think I'm gonna let you murder him, you're sadly mistaken!
Diego: But...
May: BUT NOTHING!!! Don't you ever speak to me again! We are done!
Diego: But...
May turns around and then faces Diego one last time.
May: There's a special place in hell for people like you. If you think it's okay to murder people with your Pokémon, then maybe you don't deserve to be called a Pokémon trainer!
May walks off in disbelief, and Diego tries to explain, but stops. He hangs his head down in confusion, wondering what to do.
In Madera New City, Brock was walking through the city.
Brock: This city is amazing. I can't believe a place like this would have an awesome city. Anyways, I should head back to the castle town and... (He sees Jessie walking and was angry.) What is she doing here?!
Jessie: Where is that big twerp?
He then walked towards her.
Brock: Alright, Jessie! What are you doing here?! Are you here to steal Pokémon again?!
Jessie: No. (She gives Brock a card.) Give this to the twerp with the Pikachu when you see him.
She walks away.
Brock: She's up to something. But I'm gonna hold on to this until I meet up with Ash.
(Play Soleanna Castle Town from Sonic 06 for this section.)
Ash and Pikachu return to Max, who is eating some Fries while Munchlax is eating his Pokémon food.
Max: Whoa! What happened to you?!
Ash: I ran into some guy who claims he's from the future and his Altaria tried to kill me and Pikachu because he thinks I ruined his world, but I don't know what he's talking about!
Max: I can't believe he tried to kill you guys!
Ash: I know. But if I run into him again, I'll get him to explain himself. And while he was attacking me, Team Rocket kidnapped the princess again?!
Max: Seriously?! When will those three ever give up?!
Ash: That's the thing. They never give up, no matter how many times they try!
Max: Yeah. They're the worst. By the way, that guard over there wants to talk to you.
Ash: Really?
Max: Yeah.
Ash approaches the guard, who has an Arcanine.
Ash: Excuse me. Are you the guard?
Guard: Yeah. What is it?
Ash: Well, do you mind opening the gate to the New City? A friend of mine is there.
Guard: Huh? You want me to open the gate so you can get into the New City Plaza?
Ash: Yeah.
Guard: Did somebody tell you that I'd just go ahead and do that for you?
Ash: Well...
Guard: In that case, I'm sorry to say I can't actually help you. I'm just a guard. Are you looking for the commander?
Ash: Yes. Where is he?
Guard: Well, if you just talk to every soldier in town, you'll find him eventually, right?
Ash: Okay. I'll do that!
Guard: Okay. There are multiple soldiers including me in this town. Talk to all of them.
Ash: Okay. I'll do that. Nothing's gonna stop me from saving the Princess.
Guard: But some soldiers will feel threatened by you for taking their work. Some might try to trick you, so be careful. I think there might be two that will try to do that...
Ash: That is one thing I don't need to know.
Guard: Well, if you can figure out who the captain is, come back and talk to me.
Ash: Okay. Someone point me to the real commander!
Max: This may take a while. (A waiter approaches Max.) May I have some more fries please?
Waiter: Okay. Large, small or medium?
Max: Medium.
Waiter: Okay. One pack of medium fries coming up.
Ash starts asking the first solider.
Ash: Are you the captain?
Soldier 1: No. Try asking another one.
The camera shows Max eating his fries and asking for more every time Ash asked a guard if they are the captain.
Ash: (Offscreen) Are you the captain?
Solider 2: (Offscreen) Of course I am.
Ash: (Offscreen) Really?
Soldier 2: (Offscreen) No.
Ash: (Offscreen) Aw man! Are you the captain?
Soldier 3: Nope. Sorry.
Max: May I have some more fries please?
Waiter: Kid, are you sure you want more fries? I don't want you getting sick.
Max: Yes, I'm sure.
Waiter: Okay. What size?
Max: Another medium.
Waiter: Okay.
He leaves, and after 5 minutes have passed...
Ash: Where is the captain already?!
Max: Ash, while I was eating, I know who the captain is.
Ash: Really?
Max: Yeah. I figured it out just now. It's that dude over there.
He points at the guard.
Ash: What?!
Max: Yeah.
He took out some money and puts it on the table for the waiter.
Ash: You mean to tell me that I made a fool of myself for 5 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE CAPTAIN WAS AND IT'S THAT GUY OVER THERE?!!!
Max: Yup. Sorry for not telling you this. I didn't know until I overheard him admitting it.
Ash: I need to have a word with him.
He approaches the guard.
Guard: Hey Kid. Did you figure out who the captain is?
Ash: Yes I did.
Guard: Alright. Go ahead and talk to the one who you think is the captain.
Ash: I'm already talking to him. And it's you!
Guard: Who me?
Ash: Yeah! My friend over there told me you were the captain the whole time!
Guard: Well...
Ash: Are you the captain or not?!
Guard: ...
Ash: Well?
Guard: You guessed it. I'm the captain. I'm one of the two who tricked you. I didn't want anyone else involved in Madara's business. But, you seem to have the strength... I will ask you on behalf of all the guards. Please help us save the Princess. Sorry for tricking you.
Ash: It's fine. Sorry for yelling at you.
Guard: It's fine. I would've been mad if someone tricked me as well. Anyways, I'll open the gate for you.
After the gate is open...
Ash: All right! Let's go see Brock at the town's warehouse. Max, you ready? (He noticed Max groaning and holding his stomach.) Max, are you okay?
Max: I think I ate too many fries while I was waiting for you to figure out who the captain was.
Ash: Next time, try not to eat too many. Okay?
Max: Okay. I'll remember that next time either you, Brock or May take too long!
When they entered the New City...
Ash: Wow. So this is what Madera's new city looks like. This place is so amazing. Pikachu, let's go and find Brock. Wait, where's Max?
Pikachu points at Max, who is currently vomiting on the ground at the entrance of the gate due to all the fries he ate.
Max: (Groans) Note to self, next time, don't eat too many fries...
Munchlax pats Max on the back and he begins to vomit again and then he vomits so much, making Munchlax cringe in fear. Two sweat drops appear on Ash and Pikachu.
(Play Soleanna New City from Sonic 06 for this section)
Ash and Max, who is currently holding a bucket, are walking to the town's warehouse.
Ash: Max, how are you feeling?
Max: A little better, but I'm holding on to this bucket in case I have to puke again.
Ash: Do you need any medicine?
Max: No. I'm good.
Ash: Are you sure?
Max: Yes.
Ash: Okay.
The duo approach the entrance of the warehouse, which was guarded.
Madera Guard: This is a warehouse. If you don't have any business here, stay away.
Ash: We're here to see a friend of ours.
Madera Guard: A friend of yours?
Ash: Yeah.
Max: Wait. How did you let him in?
Madera Guard: He's a gym leader. Anyone who is a gym leader, elite four, Pokémon league champion or Grand Festival champion can go in there go train.
Ash: I'm an Orange League champion, so does that count?
Madera Guard: But it was an unofficial Pokémon league.
Madera Guard 2: You did say Pokémon league champions can come in. You didn't say anything about it being official or unofficial.
Max: He does have a point.
Madera Guard: Fine. You can go in.
Ash: Okay.
Max: I'm a friend of his, so can I go it as well? I'm a family member of the Hoenn Region Gym Leaders.
Madera Guard: You know what? Fine. Sure.
He opens the gate and Ash and Max enter. They then approach Brock.
Ash: Brock.
Brock: I saw Jessie from Team Rocket on the outskirts of the city. (Gives the card to Ash) She wanted to give this to you.
Ash looks at the card and a holographic message from the Team Rocket trio shows up.
Jessie (via card): Twerp with the Pikachu.
James (via card): If you want us to return the Princess, you must give us that time orb.
Meowth (via card): Meet us at our base in the snowy mountains close to Madera.
The recording ends and Ash hand the card back to Brock, who is not paying attention. He fumbles it in his hands before dropping it and stomping on it with his shoe.
Brock: Huh. They're pretty cocky.
Max: It's most definitely a trap. Knowing those three, I don't think they will honor their agreement.
Ash: (Holding his time stone) I'm going.
Max: Ash?
Ash: Since Team Rocket went to the trouble of telling me where Amelia is, I think I should thank them personally.
(Play Is It Right from Sonic 06 for this section)
Meanwhile, Diego sits down at the harbor steps in Madera New City, still in wonder over Ash for a long time. Just then Natalie arrives, and puts her hands on her hips.
Natalie (OC): So this is where you are. I've been looking for you. (Diego hears her voice, but turns his head back to the shore, still pondering. She walks up to him on the steps.) What's wrong?
She looks at him closely as he ponders.
Diego: (Sighs) Well, uh, Natalie. To kill someone to save the world... (Turns his head to the shore again) Is that really the right thing to do?
Natalie (OC): (Puts her hands on her hips again in disappointment) You're so naive. Whether it's right or wrong, I can't really say... (Diego turns his head to her, clueless) But what I do know is... (Crosses her arms) If we don't take this chance, the future will remain exactly as it is.
Natalie makes a sad face, and Diego looks up to her and nods, then gets up.
Diego: Since he's after Team Rocket, let's sneak into their base. Maybe we'll learn something new.
Natalie (OC): Good idea.
They both left the harbor.
Stay tuned for episode 5.