Chapter 85 – D-Team to the Rescue

The next sequence of events happened so quickly that neither Goodra nor Growlithe were quite able to register what was going on. One moment the Halberd loomed before them, growing closer and closer. And then all of a sudden started to retreat back into the sky.

Was it rising again…No, they were falling. The wind ripped at their bodies, throwing them this way and that. The shrouds of aura had disappeared from around. The world inverted. Now it wasn't the Halberd looming before them, but the ocean, and the spec that was Aether Paradise.

"OH SHIT!" cried Goodra. What the fuck had just happened…

The answer was a Hyper Beam attack, that had struck the armour-clad psychic Pokémon levitating them up from behind. A powerful blow from out of nowhere, strong enough to rip and tear at the armour, revealing purple skin beneath. It swivelled around in the air, as did Butch, Cassidy, Jessie, James and Meowth.

"Huh. Where did they come from," enquired an astonished James.

"They must have been on the Centurion," cried and angry Cassidy. "I thought I told you knuckle heads to keep a look out."

They were looking up at a newly arrived group of Pokémon consisting of five airborne dragon Pokémon, each with a mammalian Pokémon riding on their back: Charizard and Ashachu, Dragonite and Geyser, Axew astride Salamence, Koraidon with Hunter and Rayquaza as Zamazenta stead. Upon noticing they had caught the attention of the Rockets, the dragons let out a unified roar.

"Well don't just float there Mewtwo," shrieked Cassidy. "GET THEM!"

The armour-clad creature, Mewtwo, raised its three-fingered paw and conjured a bright orb of energy, which became a bright beam as it was hurled at Charizard and the others. They promptly scattered into the air.

Growlithe and Goodra continued to plumet through the air, tumbling and spinning as they did so. One moment the Halberd ached above them, the next they were gazing at Aether Paradise far in the distance. Charizard and Dragonite dived down to catch them.

For a moment they were perpendicular with each other, and it seemed to Goodra that the two dragons were falling with him. Growlithe couldn't observe anything, being in too much a state of distress. Then Charizard folded his wings and dropped below so as to catch Goodra on his back, while Dragonite caught Growlithe in his arms.

"Got 'em," Charizard shouted up to Koraidon as he stretched out his wings and levelled out. "Fuck he's heavy."

"Good hustle Chari," Koraidon called back to him over the sound of the wind.

"YOU DON'T GET TO CALL ME THAT!" Charizard roared back.

Koraidon descended in an arch until he was flying beside Charizard, where he winked at hi and replied coyly, "Whatever you say, Flamey!"

Charizard groaned. "Even worse!"

"Yeah, only I get to call him Koraidon," Ashachu cried out from his perch on top of Charizard's head. "Or I'm going to start calling you Kora."

"You don't hear me complaining."

"Will you three stop flirting," roared an angry Salamence from above. "Head down to the Aether Foundation as we planned."

Dragonite, who would normally have joined in the flirting, was trying to console a hysterical Growlithe, while a concerned Geyser watched on from over his shoulder as he clung to the dragon's back.

"It's okay, it's okay," cooed Dragonite as Growlithe continued to howl and cry. "I've got you."

"Hey Growlithe. Don't be a whimp!"

Growlithe stopped sobbing and looked around for who had shouted his name. His eyes brightened when caught sight of Hunter waving at him from Koraidon's back. "Hunter," he barked, his voice suddenly triumphant. "You're back!"

The brief moments of flirtatiousness and happy reunion were cut short as a bright beam of physic energy short over Charizard's head. Ashachu felt it ruffle his ears. Directly above, Mewtwo was in combat with Rayquaza. The armour-clad Pokémon was trying to launch attacks at them and being blocked by Rayquaza.

As they watched, Rayquaza let off a powerful Hyperbeam attack, a golden beam of pure energy bursting from his jaws, which missed Mewtwo by inches. The shockwave burst through the air, forcing the dragons to adjust their flight in order to remain airborne.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR," Salamence roared over the sounds of the battle. "GET TO THE HUMAN SETTLEMENT!"

"Mewtwo," bellowed Cassidy, as the dragons quickly departed the scene, diving towards Aether Paradise. "Stop them!"

Mewtwo moved so as to go after Charizard and the others but was blocked by the enormous form of Rayquaza. The giant green dragon raised a glowing tail and swung it at him, forcing the physic type to retreat.

"That's one hell of a Dragon-tail," Ashachu mumbled to himself as he clung to Charizard's horns. The wind ripping at his fur as the dropped lower and lower and the spec in the ocean that was Aether Paradise loomed larger and larger.

"It's no good," Cassidy called to her teammates as the dragons disappeared. "This Pokémon's too powerful. Suggest we retreat to the Halberd and prepare next move!"

[Pokémon]

The Halberd...

"Target is in range. Fire the forward cannons," Gozu spat as the batlike form of Lunala dived from the Ultra-wormhole towards the Halberd.

"Sir, yes sir!"

The console in the forward command centre was now occupied by a Monferno and a Thwackey, who were acting as gunners. Both were monkey like Pokémon, with hand like paws capable of operating controls.

Monferno was thinly built, orange fur and a long tail with a bright flame at the end like Charizard's, while Thwackey thickset and round, his fur green in colour. It was the former who had responded taking up two joysticks to aim the cannons, while his partner quietly turned the dials to charge and power the weapons.

Two ion beams fired from two smaller forward gun turrets on the raft of the Halberd, right below the super structure. Lunala managed to dodge both, weaving in and out but only just. The beam grazed her left wing.

"HIT IT AGAIN," Barked Gozu.

"Sir," Monferno replied.

The remaining cannons below the superstructure begun to fire, and Lunala found herself beset with laser beams. Still, she managed to weave between them as she drew closer and closer to the vassal.

"Sir, she's gaining proximity," said Monferno. "Should we activate the main cannon."

"Negative," snapped Gozu. "Stun only. We need Lunala alive. Just keep up the pressure. Don't let her get close to Cleave or under the range of the turrets."

"Sir, yes sir!"

The Halberd's cannons continued to fire at Lunala from all directions. The turrets were like a gang of Metagross all using hyperbeam and never having to recharge. It quickly became impossible to weave in and out of the attacks, forcing Lunala to retreat and just dodge.

A bright smile crossed Gozu's face. "That's the way!" He pulled a cigar out of his pocket and chewed off the end, before pressing it to Monferno's tail to light it. Monferno tensed, irritated at the personal intrusion. As far as the fire type was concerned the habit couldn't kill Gozu fast enough.

But he had little time to dwell on it, for at that moment was when Lunala made her first and last mistake. She attempted to shield herself from the attacks using protected. A thin bubble-like aura formed around her. He grinned, as he watched her threw the scopes and growled, "You're mine now," before firing the cannons again.

Two ion beams struck Lunala, the shield around her ineffective to protect her. She convulsed a few times before plummeting downwards towards the ocean.

"Hehe. Beautiful." Gozu leaned over the console, watching Lunala fall in the scopes. He took a drag on his cigar, the smoke blowing into Monferno's face.

[Pokémon]

Aether Paradise...

The elevator finally arrived in the conservation area. The usually peaceful simulated perfect Pokémon habitat was suddenly alive with tension. If felt as though the air could be sliced with a knife. Aether employees in white protective uniforms and visors covering their heads were marching up and down the walkways.

They were clearly preparing for battle. Accompanying them were large, fully evolved Pokémon like Drifblim, Magmar, Houndoom and Stoutland. In the distance Ash could see the large from of a Tyranitar standing almost awkwardly on a walkway with its trainer.

He, Cameron, Pikachu and Lucario stepped off the elevator platform. Cameron wandered up to the railing and looked down into the grass below. Compared with the activity on the walkways, the conservation area itself was deserted.

"What happened to all the Pokémon?"

"They've either been evacuating or they're hiding somewhere," said Ash, uneasily. "Don't forget. Most of them are wild Pokémon."

"Oh right," Cameron replied with a nod. "Instincts. Flight or fight."

"Luu." Lucario growled, closing his eyes, and reaching out across the conservation area with his aura to detect the Pokémon who were living there. The aura sensors on his head flew upwards as though caught in a strong wind.

"Pika." Pikachu sniffed the air, as though trying to catch the scents of the Pokémon present.

"So, what are we going to do," asked Cameron, looking up the high ceiling. The Halberd was visible overhead like a giant beast. The guns on the top of the ship were firing red laser beams at something in the sky. Too hard to make out at this distance, but is resembled a Butterfree or Beautifly, but with round wings.

As they watched, two of the laser cannons struck the creature…or whatever it was…and it begun to fall. As it dropped below the Halberd, a square box like forcefield formed around it, holding it in place. Seeing the Halberd up there gave the boys not just a feeling of dread, but finality. As though their lives had been building to and would end with this.

"Is that" asked Cameron.

"Lunala," mumbled Ash, biting his lip.

"Dear Arceus." Cameron looked back down at the railing, one hand squeezing the bar and the other falling limb by his side.

Ash took a hold of Cameron's free hand, and squeezed it, causing Cameron to look up at him in surprise. "This is what we do," he said determinatively. "We find a place to make our stand. And if we win. If we can rescue Lunala. Then we can save Ashachu, Hunter and the others."

"Pika Pikachu." Pikachu squeaked enthusiastically at his trainer's words and pressed himself against Ash's neck, hugging the side of his head. Ash raised his free hand to return the gesture, placing it on Pikachu's side and pressing the mouse closer against himself.

At the same time, Lucario came up behind Cameron and pressed himself close to the boy, putting his arm over his chest and burying the end of his muzzle into his shoulder. He let out a soft cry of, "Lu-cario." Softer than Cameron had ever heard him before.

The moment of both romantic and platonic intimacy was brought to an end when one of the Aether Employees yelled out, "INCOMING," followed by the sound of glass shattering.

"No way," Cameron exclaimed as he snapped his head upwards once again.

Hovering right above the glass ceiling was an enormous serpentine Wyrm. Green scales decorated with yellow rings, a squarish head with four horns and two short forearms ending in sharp looking talons.

"It can't be," breathed Ash, as he whipped out his Pokédex.

"Pika…"

Rayquaza the Sky-High Pokémon. A legendary Dragon and Flying Type. Rayquaza lived for hundreds of millions of years in the earth's ozone layer, never descending to the ground. This Pokémon appears to feed on water and particles in the atmosphere. It is said it would descend to the ground if Kyogre and Groudon were to fight.

"How in the distortion world did Team Rocket…"

Ash didn't get to finish his sentiment. Rayquaza raised its tail, glowing with a bright white light, and brought it down hard on the glass. It shattered raining down shards into the conservation area.

In that moment, the trepidation and fear that both boys had been feeling up to now vanished. It was as though they were acting on instinct. Ash and Cameron each produced Pokéballs from their belts and tossed them into the air.

"Zacian, Flygon. I choose you!"

"Let's go Hirosaki. Use psychic attack, stop that glass from falling."

The balls burst open in flashes of white light. Hirosaki rocketed upwards towards Rayquaza as soon as he materialised, his eyes glowing blue. Little shrouds of aura appeared around the falling shards holding them in place. Zacian and Flygon appeared by Ash's side. Flygon rocketed up to join him, a split second later, as Zacian appeared by Ash's side awaiting orders.

Ash pointed drastically upwards at Rayquaza. "Zacian use Moonblast and Flygon Dragonbreath. Pikachu, you help out with thunderbolt."

A bluebell jet of flame shot from Flygon's mouth, as Zacian gathered and released a pink orb of energy from her jaws. Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder and let loose a bolt of lightning. Rayquaza braced itself, lifting up its tail to protect the rest of its body.

But now that the ceiling was open, the assault could begin. Four more dragons, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, flew inside and started circling downwards; Salamence, Dragonite, Charizard and a red creature Ash had never seen before that looked almost like a living motorcycle, but with wings on the sides of its head. They weren't alone either…

"Wait." It took Ash a moment to comprehend.

Then a familiar voice shouted, "NO STOP! WE'RE FRIENDS…IT"S US."

"Ashachu!"

"Pikaka," gasped Pikachu as he landed back on the ground.

But the battle had already begun. Various attacks were being thrown at the dragons from the Aether Pokémon gathered and the room was beginning to disappear in explosions and smoke.

Ash filled his lungs. "STOOOOOOPPPPP!"

[Pokémon]

The Halberd…

"Target acquired," barked Monferno as a green light flashed on the console. "I'm raising it up now."

"Hehehe. Come to new papa," Gozu chuckled, swirling his cigar in his mouth with his teeth, before taking a drag and blowing out a large puff of smoke. It made Thwackey sneeze and Monferno wrinkle his nose and grimace. "Move the cage in place somewhere towards the top of the vessel near the main gun turret. That way we can draw the blinding one in where it'll be easiest to attack!"

"Sir, yes sir," agreed Monferno with a nod.

They were interrupted at that point by a call over the intercom, and man's voice saying, "Sir, incoming report from the field."

Gozu sighed and took another drag on his cigar. "Put it through," he barked curtly.

A video screen above the monitor descended and flickered onto to show the image of a scowling Cassidy.

"Commander Gozu, sir."

"This had better be good news Cassidy," Gozu boomed.

Cassidy grimaced before continuing, causing Gozu to smirk. "Unfortunately, sir, we've encountered a problem. My team managed to capture most of the Pokémon who were attempting to flee Aether Paradise, however…"

"How many are unaccounted for," interrupted Gozu.

"Only two, sir," replied Cassidy. "But the looks of it, a Growlithe and a Goodra. They're trained Pokémon so the Pokéballs couldn't capture them."

Gozu took his cigar out of his mouth and considered Cassidy for a moment. "You know Giovanni assured me that you and your partner were the A Team…What's his name, Bob?"

"The name is Butch," came an annoyed voice from off screen.

"Quiet," hissed Cassidy, momentarily turning her head away from the screen.

Gozu continued as though there had been no interruption. "But if you can't handle capturing a small gang of runaways. Especially when you have the ultimate Pokémon with you!"

"We were attacked by a group of large dragon Pokémon, Sir," explained Cassidy hurriedly. "Including a Rayquaza. They managed to flee with Goodra and Growlithe to the Aether Paradise."

Gozu raised his eyebrows. "Intriguing. Who would have guessed that the Aether Foundation had Pokémon like that."

"I'm not sure they're Aether Foundation though, sir," said Cassidy. "They came from the Centurion."

Gozu took a final drag of his cigar before extinguishing it…by pressing it into the fur on the back of Monferno's head, making him wince. "Then we will have to accelerate the plan." He pulled out his communicator and bellowed his next words into it. "SOUND THE ALARM. PREPARE ALL UNITS FOR THE ATTACK…"