Chapter 102 – Geyser's plan
Throughout his journeys in the Pokémon world, Ash had seen so many things that he had reached the point where he thought the universe could show him nothing that would shock or surprise him. From legendary Pokémon with the power and vengeance of gods, to madmen bent on the worlds destruction to being from another dimension.
But that was before he ventured through the Ultra Wormhole and arrived in Ultra Megaloplis.
Captives of Team-Mecha, Ash, Jimmy, Cameron, and those of their Pokémon who were out of their balls on the beach, had their hands and feet bound chain gang style and marched two abreast through the wormhole. On the other side was a dark city. A maze of crystal-like skyscrapers, jet black in colour.
Ash was unsure whether they were actually black, or merely looked this way in the dim light of this world. The sky above them was pitch-black. Darker than a Darkrai. The only light came from lights on either side of the street or alleyway onto which they had emerged. The lights seemed to illuminate the outline of the buildings but leave most of their features hidden in shadow.
There was only one exception to this. In the distance…At the end of the road was a dark tower. Like a cylinder rising high in the air above all the other structures. It seemed to have light spilling out of the top of it, but they only shone dimly. Even in this state, Ash couldn't help but thinking that lit up, it would be very impressive.
He glanced down at his feet. The ground was smooth and the light from the streetlight reflected of it. As though it were made of glass. It didn't feel natural, that was for sure.
"What the hell is this place," Cameron demanded, pulling at the thread holding them all together. In the proses he nearly caused himself and Lucario to fall over. Fortunately, Jimmy and Dragonite managed to catch him, though they nearly got tangled in the web.
"Careful," Jimmy hissed at him in a half whisper. "Don't try any moves while we're stuck like this. We need to think of a plan."
Hunter provided an answer to his dad's question. "It's Ultra Megaloplis. The headquarters of the Zeraora Guild."
"So, this is where you're from then, Koraidon," said Ash.
Koraidon was tied up directly behind had. He lowered his head and spoke softly into Ash's ear. "Not quite. This is the headquarters of the guild, which oversees Pokémon adventure and rescue teams across the Central Alpha Gradient."
"The what," Ash whispered back to him.
"Basically, the part of the multiverse with Pokémon. There are all sorts of parallel universes and alternate dimensions stacked up against each other inside the Ultra space. They're infinite, but for every dimension which evolved Pokémon, there's another dimension that didn't. Ultra Megaloplis is at the centre of all of Pokémon universes, so it's where the guild is based. Rescue teams don't venture into universes where there are no Pokémon."
Ash pursed his lips. "Why can I never understand a word you say."
The chatter among the captive humans and Pokémon proved too irksome for Team Mecha, who sought to silence them. There was a tug on the string holding them all together, causing everyone to jerk forward, and nearly fall over.
"Humans will be silent," came Miraidon's voice from behind.
Like a prison chain gang, Team Mecha had stationed themselves as guards at each end. At the front of the line was Genesect, who had spun the web and who was holding it in his claws. Miraidon and Magearna. Deoxys kept watch from overhead, flying around them in little circles. It's long, spindly arms were outstretched like wings.
"You will be brought before the guild at the Megalo Tower. Guild leaders will question you and exercise their judgement. Magearna will go ahead and announce our arrival."
"Right away, master Miraidon," they heard Magearna reply.
"Humans will keep moving. Forward march."
Genesect gave a tug at the thread, pulling them all forward. Ash glanced down as he started to walk again and saw Magearna scurrying past him and ahead of the human-Pokémon train. For someone with such tiny legs, the doll like Pokémon moved very quickly. He glanced around as they walked along the road. The tower gradually getting closer and closer. Occasionally Ash caught sight of a Pokémon lingering near the base of the crystalline buildings. But it was too dark to see what any of them were.
"Where is everybody," Ash whispered back to Koraidon. "Shouldn't there be lots of other Pokémon here, if this is the guild headquarters."
Koraidon clenched his teeth and looked nervously around before responding. "I don't know. It could be late at night, so the teams have either returned to their worlds or are asleep. Or something else could have happened. Time works differently here."
"Humans will be silent," Miraidon repeated, a little more forcefully.
Nova and Geyser had the fortunate misfortune to have been chained in a row between four large Pokémon. Dragonite and Zoroark behind, and Flygon and Typhlosion in frong. This gave them the disadvantage of having a lot less slack in their binding than the others and forced them to walk with their paws above their heads. Poor Nova, being the smallest, was forced to stand on the ends of his toes. But it meant they could converse, without being easily overheard.
"There's a way of this," Geyser whispered, bowing his head as much as he could to bring it down to Nova's level. The tiny mouse was about a head shorter than him.
"Cyn." Nova turned his head to look at him, a curious expression on his face.
"We need to cut out of this thread. I can't reach my scalchops. But you can use cut."
"Are you serious," Nova murmured back.
Geyser looked around him, and then said, "Doesn't an energy blade appear in your paw when you use that move. Use it to cut us free."
Nova clenched his teeth. "Err I'm not sure that's a good idea." He sounded apprehensive. "These guys seem like they mean business. Besides, I don't think they're bad. We might be able to trust them. I mean they're a Pokémon rescue team, by and for Pokémon."
"You really that naïve," growled Geyser, feeling a twinge of annoyance to Nova's response. "How can trust anyone who ties us up…Well, in this way at least."
Nova clenched his teeth again, thinking. "Good point," he replied after a while. "But…Do you have a plan. Didn't take this long lot to subdue us the last time."
Geyser had an answer ready. "We'll be quick. As soon as we're both free, you and the dragons send your attacks upwards to distract fly boy up there." Without moving his head too much, he glanced upwards at Deoxys encircling from above. He felt a pang in his stomach, as he though he saw the psychic type looking at him…Could Deoxys read minds. Geyser certainly hoped not. "I think I have enough strength to open another Ultra Wormhole."
"Is that really your plan," hissed Nova. "You think."
Geyser felt that annoyance again and struggled to keep his voice to a whisper. "What else do you have."
"I agree, it's our best chance," Zoroark suddenly interjected, a little too loudly. "I'm a dark type. His moves have no effect on me, and mine are super-effective. I can keep him at bay."
"Humans will be silent," shouted Miraidon. "You will not receive a fourth warning."
Geyser tilted his head back to glare at Zoroark. Then he looked up at Deoxys again. Deoxy's was still circling. Geyser tried his best not to make eye contact. He could almost feel it's gaze burrowing into him, as though Deoxy's eyes projected laser beams. He held his breath for a moment, forcing himself to turn his gaze forward. He stared at Typhlosion's back. Around him he could hear whispered and murmurs from the other Pokémon…Passing on his message.
"Humans will halt!" Miraidon suddenly cried out, making him jump right out of his fur. Geyser's heart pounded and a for a second, he thought he'd been found out. Then he looked up and realised they were standing directly under the tower. And that was when he realised, that it was now or never. He looked at Nova and then over his shoulder at Zoroark.
"Okay now," he whispered.
Just as it had on the beach, the sequence of events that followed happened very quickly and total chaos reigned. Nova conjured a white needle like object made of white energy in his paw and just it cut the thread around his paws. He then slashed at rest of the thread around him to free Geyser, Dragonite and Zoroark.
"Hahahaha. YESSS!" Zoroark brandished his now free paws triumphantly.
"Zoroark," Geyser shouted, staring upwards.
Deoxys had noticed the breakaway attempt. Likely from the second Nova cut the thread. But the legendary was surprisingly slow to react. It stopped in mid-air, it's body morphing and changing. It's chest and thighs expanded and it's head became round and slender, with three spikes. Then it dived at them.
Zoroark raised two claws and fired a beam of purple and black wave like energy at it, shouting as he did so, "DARK PULSE."
At the same moment, Flygon outstretched his wings and flew upwards to position himself between Deoxy and the Pokémon on the ground. With a cry of Dragon breath, he fired a beam of orange and green flames Deoxys. The psychic type disappeared in a puff of black smoke as the twin attacks engulfed it.
"Everybody, attack the nearest guard as soon as you are free."
"Then follow me."
Geyser and Nova sprinted up and down the chain line, using cut and scalchops to cut the thread, freeing the other Pokémon and their trainers. As soon as they were free, the others attacked the remaining Team Mecha members. Lucario, Typhlosion and Zacian attacked Genescent with flamethrower, aura sphere and a bite attack. Dragonite, Ashachu and Axew attacked Miraidon leaving Ashachu and Pikachu to fire thunderbolt upwards at Deoxys to help Flygon. A barrage of attacks to keep it in the air and away from the Pokémon on the ground.
Ash, Cameron, and Jimmy moved to the centre of the group and formed a small circle with the backs to one another. Each trying to make sense of the chaos so they could co-ordinate and help their Pokémon partners.
"Great job guys," cried Ash. "Dragonite, pull back and use dragon breath. And Pikachu use thunderbolt."
"Lucario Hunter, coordinator your attack," ordered. "Try coming at Genesect from different sides with force palm."
Meanwhile Geyser sprinted away, taking shelter beside Ash. He put his paws together and concentrated. Focusing his energy through his paws. He felt an enormous pain, as though fire were rushing through his chest and up his arms, and his knees collided with the floor as he fell forward. But when he opened his eyes, he felt a sense of relief and triumph as he saw the now familiar sight of the Ultra wormhole before him.
"Quick everybody!" he started to cry out, before an attack from Deoxys hit from somewhere above. The attack missed, but the explosion in its wake created enough white light and smoke to temporarily blind the otter and the three humans.
"What WHOA." Ash, who hadn't seen nor felt Geyser come up behind, stepped backwards. He tripped over Geyser's body and fell backwards into the wormhole.
Pikachu heard him cry out, and turned his back to seek Ash's feet disappear inside. With a cry of "PIKAPI," he sprinted after, leaping into the wormhole after him after him.
But the Team Mecha quickly saw what was happening. And they had a surprise move left. As other Pokémon made their way to the wormhole, Miriadon produced their Pokéballs. He must have brought them from the beach. One by one, he started returning Ash and the other's Pokémon to their balls, each disappearing in a shower of red.
"Humans will not leave…"
"Chari, c'mon."
Only Charizard and Ashachu managed to make it through. Barely. The end of Charizard flaming tail managed to whip into the portal before the red beam from the Pokéball could touch it.
Cameron found himself tackled to the floor by Miraidon as he, Lucario and Hunter tried to get through the hole. Pain exploded through the human's body as his near naked form came into contact with the hard smooth surface. His skin felt as though it were on fire as rubbed against the ground. His eyes watered, distorting the image of Lucario and Hunter disappearing into their balls.
"Ahh. Lucario No. Get off me."
"Humans will not leave," Miraidon repeated.
Then a jet of flames engulfed his body, causing Miraidon to leap into the air and off Cameron, who quickly sat up. Behind him, Nova was standing with his flames lit up on his back.
"Let us go," the fire mouse growled at the serpentine Pokémon. Looking past Miraidon, he could see his own parents tangle up in a web by Genesect. "I'm coming." But as he prepared another fire attack, Miraidon raised his Pokéball.
"Humans will not leave."
"NOOO!" Thinking quickly, Geyser grabbed a hold of Nova by the scruff of his neck, and pulled him into the Ultra Wormhole…