Latias walked through the illusory gate and into the Secret Garden. Her gaze shifted back and forth like she was scanning for something, but nothing seemed out of place. Focusing with her mind, she sent out a psychic pulse. Attempting to connect with one of the guardians stationed here.
After a few seconds, then thirty, then a minute, and so on, Latias tapped her foot as Pikachu let out a sigh. The disguised dragoness moved her hand up, scratching the mouse under his chin.
"Yeah… Right there." He'd egg her on, loving the rough sensation.
Latias figured that by now, someone should have come, but there wasn't a single presence here. The psychic wave had managed to go all the way to where Lorenzo, Bianca, and Ash were. They would pass through harmlessly and not awaken them.
Pikachu was really getting into all the petting, but with his heightened senses, the mouse knew something was off. In addition to that, Latias' pets were becoming less than adequate. He grabbed her hand with his paws, and stopped the errant digits.
"Is something on your mind, Latias?"
Latias pondered for a moment, "Yes… I don't feel the Twins anywhere inside."
Pikachu hopped off her shoulder and touched the ground with a light gait. He then slammed his tail into the ground. Shrieking in pain, the mouse let out a growl reminiscent of a Pyroar's roar. Latias watched as sparks flickered from Pikachu's cheeks. He rolled on the ground, holding his aching tail, which twitched angrily as a small bump rose on it.
"Arg! I forgot about the concrete! Should have used Iron Tail!" Pikachu shouted. Pikachu began to spout expletives.
Latias couldn't help herself, giggling at the sight as Pikachu gave her a glare, "You're lucky that Ash loves you or I'd shock you!" He threatened, eliciting a laugh from the Dragoness at such a cute display.
Pikachu shrugged off the giggling dragon with a shake of his tail, "Isn't this a little weird, Latias?"
Latias arched an eye, "Yeah, you're usually more careful and like… A War Machine."
Pikachu facepalmed, "Not me! If there was anyone here, they'd definitely have come after hearing me. So, you were right." He pointed his still aching tail at her.
In fact, it was unusually quiet. Usually there were Pokemon moving all over the place. Latias transformed in front of Pikachu, taking on her usual red and white form. She quickly flew through the area, checking the trees and various nests of the locals. It didn't seem like they were here either. Her eyes narrowed and she immediately went to check on the Soul Dew. Floating just above the pool, she found the blue jewel neatly placed on its pedestal as usual.
'I know the water wouldn't be flowing if it was gone,' she thought, but she knew it was better to make sure regardless. Pikachu came bounding toward the stairs, his ears twitching with curiosity, and joined her at the top.
Pikachu hopped onto the edge of the fountain to inspect the jewel, recalling the night Latios had emerged from it. Nothing seemed to be happening at the moment. Latias kept looking into the stone. There was something tugging at her being. A sudden flash of memory jolted through her mind.
She saw Lorenzo and an average familiar looking man. They appeared to be arguing and it was escalating. Her eyes would widen in recognition of Latios' disguise. Her child, Latios, looked desperate, but the older man didn't want to back down. Latias felt another pang and clawed at her chest.
"But why?" She whispered.
Pikachu looked up at her. "Did you say something?" The dragoness didn't answer or acknowledge him.
Lorenzo's body collapsed into Latios' arms and the disguised man would carry Lorenzo back into his shop. He closed the door behind himself, leaving Latias feeling a mix of confusion and betrayal. There is no way her surrogate child would do that. All at once, the Secret Garden grew dark, and Latias felt a sense of clarity wash over her. She still wasn't sure why Latios would do something like that.
With that realization, her eyes snapped back into reality. It didn't make much sense to her, but Latias already knew what she wanted to do: yell! Yes, to angrily yell, but what came was anything but.
"I'm going to really smack him upside the head!" Latias shrieked, making Pikachu tug on his ears at the high pitched sound.
Pikachu grunted in pain, "Hey! Chill out, tell me what's up!"
Latias saw how he held his little pointy ears, apologizing quickly for her outburst, "I hope that your ears will be okay…"
"Tch! I'll be just fine. What happened to you?" He asked her.
Latias told him that Latios was here earlier. Pikachu seemed puzzled. "I see… So, when do you think this happened?"
Latias was combing through the memory, seeing that it was already dark by then. "Maybe a few hours ago. Or could be just a little less." She wished the random vision would show a clock, but even a Legend can't get lucky all the time.
Pikachu's tail twitched, "Okay, so what's the plan now?"
"The best plan is to find that little trouble maker and give him a piece of my mind." Latias was still pondering something else at the same time. "I just don't know why Latios would attack Lorenzo," she said just loud enough to make Pikachu do a double take.
"What did Lorenzo even do to him?" Pikachu questioned.
Latias sighed, thinking she may have glossed over the details a moment ago,"It didn't seem like anything besides a small argument. I just…" Latias felt the gears turn, but no good reasoning would come of these thoughts.
"I just don't know!" She finished, shaking her head in frustration.
Pikachu shook his head. "It's like everyone is going crazy around here. We should get Ash. He could help!" But as he was about to head for Lorenzo's shop, Latias stopped him.
"We can't," She said firmly.
Pikachu looked at her through narrow eyes, "Why can't we? Why wouldn't we?!"
Those were great questions, as Latias could provide answers. "You remember when Ash and Greninja did that thing where they bonded?" Pikachu nodded.
"And you remember watching me heal him." And once again, he nodded.
"Then you already know. Ash is most likely resting right now. When you use Heal Pulse on someone, it's actively making the body work over time to heal itself." Latias explained as the mouse listened. "And so…"
"We can't bother him because he's already asleep and you probably let Bianca know she couldn't do anything with him." Pikachu finished, but Latias shook her head in response.
"Actually, she could have done things with him, but I'm pretty sure she didn't…"
Pikachu's tail fell and his ears drooped, "So, I was giving my buddy the space he needed and…"
"Don't sell yourself short of being a wingman. You're really being helpful. I'm glad you came with me, Pikachu," Latias commended him, causing Pikachu to blush.
Scratching the back of his head with his own paws, Pikachu recovered quickly. "As nice as the sentiment is… We need to go! Though I'm not sure where."
Latias thought of a few places the twins liked to go and one seemed like a safe bet. She'd been there a few times, and caught the duo training the wild Pokemon. Not that they knew their Mama had watched. It was one of the many joys of life she'd come to appreciate. Seeing both of them having the time of their lives. The memories filled her with a pleasantly warm feeling.
Turning to Pikachu, the Dragoness spoke up, "I think we'll be heading to the beach."
Pikachu gave her a confused look, "Which one? There's beaches everywhere on this island!"
Latias agreed, the mouse couldn't be argued with on that point, "Yeah! I guess I should've said which one…" She trailed off, frowning before continuing, "Crescent Inlet is the beach I'm referring to"
Pikachu nodded and hopped onto her back, "So, we're flying Jet Latias, right?" He asked the dragoness who smirked.
"You think you can hang onto me?" Latias questioned the little mouse.
"I've been on the back of a Latios who was actively trying to shake me off. You'll be no trouble," He confidently squeaked.
Latias had to commend the little fighting machine. He was a brave soul, and Pikachu served her great knight in shining armor well. Anticipating the unknown, Latias made sure to cover the electric rodent with a shield on her back before turning invisible. Latios could be very irrational right now and she wanted to be prepared for what the both of them may find.
~Somewhere~
Latios and Latias played on the beach, doing a mock battle. Each one showing off the skills they'd recently learned from their Momma. Latios had mastered Shadow Claw and used it to deflect his sister's Dragon Claw, causing rather powerful clashes of energy to send sand flying high into the sky. Both destructive blows made the trees tremble in the wind and caused the water to spray backward from the shoreline.
That endorphin rush made Latios want more. His natural instincts kicked in, much like those of a wild animal. He gave a wild yet focused glare at his sister. Latias looked determined on her end to make the right move. In fact her claws were already glowing the familiar green sheen of yet another Dragon Claw. Latios gave an eager grin, flashing his inky shadow covered arms. Latias looked at him with ever growing confidence and almost like she was calculating an idea.
Latias shot forward, angling herself just unnoticeably to the side. Right as Latios prepared to counter, she flitted past his Shadow Claw and shifted into an aileron roll. The backflip showed haughtiness, but Latios merely shook it off with a grin. A maneuver like that warranted a playful response. Using Psychic, he flipped himself backwards. Flying away while upside down, he watched his Sister blow past where he'd been previously.
She looked noticeably confused when she swiped at nothing with her power infused claws. It irked her and made her grit her teeth because she was focused on causing real damage. What she didn't see was the sand that covered her. With a painful shift, the tiny grains bore into her, causing Latias to choke back a cry of pain. She righted herself and was once again flying at her brother. Lowering her head, Latias implemented the next best strategy.
Latios prepared himself for the next strike, but she disappeared, 'Invisible huh?'
He could feel her movements in the sky with all the wind coursing around him. The psychically enhanced sand covering his sister didn't help her either. He was prepared thanks to this sly strategy, cramming the sand against her just enough to create a crushing sensation. That's when he heard a cry of pain right next to him. His plan worked just as he anticipated. Latias wasn't expecting the particles of sand floating in the air. He had packed them down to a point they could hardly be seen, but approaching him was next to impossible.
Turning directly to where she was hidden he prepared to strike her down. Inky black claws shot at her and Latias barely opened her eyes with the barest hint of a wince before swinging her claws wildly at her brother. Both attacks collided with one another! Intense sparking flashes erupted from the center of the struggle, and the resulting explosion of purple and green ricocheted off them both. In one moment, it was incredible energy; the next, a burning pain engulfed the duo.
Latios would be sent sprawling backwards and his sister would slam to the ground after the incredible hit. The eons tumbled, spreading sand beneath their bodies, which covered them uncomfortably. For a few minutes, neither one of them moved. The mock battle appeared to have ended in a draw. The duo had put far more energy into that last offensive than expected and were now feeling the after effects, but the blue eon could still move. Latios shifted, his body straining as he huffed.
Cringing with effort, Latios slumped onto his back. His wings spread out, enjoying the summer sun soaking into his feathers that held the heat wonderfully. Despite sweating and feeling the rush of adrenaline, which brought with it the idea of danger, he still smiled.
Opening one eye and glancing carefully at his sister while breathing heavily. He found that she didn't seem to be moving. Latios' eyes widened, and he panicked! Flopping over, he rushed into a sloppy levitation that ended with him crashing next to her. Latios' face was covered in sand, the gritty texture burning his eyes. Despite the pain, he chose to nuzzle her instead. Latias didn't seem to acknowledge it at all; her head merely slumped to the side.
'Sister!' He called, a bit of panic began to infect his telepathic voice.
His fear began to take hold like a spreading toxin. Latios tried to tilt Latias' head, but it only turned to the other side. Latios teared up as he tried to hug her neck with his own. It was only when some footsteps were heard approaching them from the side that he glanced wearily in the sound's direction.
"Hey, Kids. I couldn't help but notice your clashes."
Latios widened his eyes in surprise at what he saw. A large navy blue shark looking Pokemon that his Momma had mentioned when they watched a big league match. The fins on his arms were scarred and the armor-like skin was shredded in places.
Latios fought the urge to curse. 'A Garchomp?! He could kill us both!' He closed his eyes, hugging his sister tighter and waited.
Nothing happened. He took a cautious peek and noted something curious. In the Pokemon's arms were a large number of berries. The land shark smiled as he stared down at them. It was still unsettling to look at. Like a Sharpedo waiting to rip and tear apart a large ship.
"Hey, come on. I'll try to help get them crushed and we can get your Sister back up." He offered, although the legend wanted to scowl and insist that everything was fine. Another part of Latios knew he would be of assistance if he wasn't going to kill them. Without any real options, the eon bowed his head, allowing the newcomer to move in.
"My name is Sordet. Here," He said, imploring Latios to grab the berries in his hand with his psychic prowess.
When Sordet gave him another confident smile, the berries floated out of Garchomp's claws. He watched the large dragon turn to grab a rather imposing rock with a flat surface. Bending down, he prepared to lift it. The rock began to shift and was torn out of the ground with ease.
"Not too much trouble, see?" Sordet questioned, his voice rumbling with a chuckle.
Sordet hefted it up and brought the rock to the twins, setting it down as Latios floated back the berries, "You two are pretty impressive for little ones. Who trained you?" The Pokemon questioned, crushing the berries in his claws.
Latios just stared without wavering. It was clear that the blue eon didn't wish to speak with his helper.
Sordet chuckled, "That's fine… I am an old mon compared to you." He focused particularly on crushing a harder-looking berry. With practiced precision, it sliced nicely with the help of his claws.
The Pokemon grinned. "Come now, no need to be shy. I only wish to help," he said, nodding toward the still barely moving Latias, "If I was going to bite your heads off, I'd have already done it."
Latios looked to the side before uttering, "...I guess you've got a point." This earned another chuckle from the old Pokemon.
"There we go! Nice to hear you speak. Now, I need you to wake up," Sordet started to fade in and out.
What?
Latios reached toward his old friend, but Sordet was fading away. His sister still lay in the sand, waiting for the help she desperately needed. Latios reached out for her, but she too had disappeared. He was now alone.
He was being shaken and stirred. It was annoying and he turned away from whoever was messing with him. He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his dreams and not relive the waking nightmare that was reality. However, the shaking continued until he could no longer bear it.
Latios' eyes shot open, seeing familiar stalactites hanging above him. He then noticed Sato sitting next to him, hand still outstretched as if he were the one waking him up. Actually, he probably was. That's right, he remembered telling them to give him some time to sleep and only to wake him up when forty minutes would pass. How did he manage such a detailed dream in such a short time?
Latios would get to the bottom of that later, 'Urgh… So, forty minutes passed like that?' He grumbled, seeing Sato nod.
"Uh yeah… We're about to do what we planned. Are you ready?" Sato questioned the blue eon who merely slumped back onto the cave floor.
Latios wondered how he ever managed to sleep on such uneven terrain. He wanted to curse; he had been hoping forty minutes would last forever. Where was Celebi when you really needed him? Latios figured that maybe he could lay here a little longer, but it wasn't meant to be. He needed to play the part after all. That man would come back if he could catch a glimpse of Latios.
'Alright, I guess I'll get up. There's not really any time to waste.' Latios relented, rolling over and levitating off the rocks below. He stretched and flexed his wings. He wanted to go the extra mile, perhaps tearing apart a boulder just to relieve the tension in his body. He'd have to settle for ripping apart that awful man if he could manage it.
~In the woods~
He had left the tournament hall earlier than expected. It hadn't even crossed his mind to check around and see if anyone was close by. Feeling like one was being watched was usually a simple thing to point out. Of course, since he recalled his drones to be close by and saw no major movement beyond wild Pokemon. He'd relaxed.
His plans were going off without a hitch, and anyone with extensive battle knowledge remained out of his way. His other plans were flawless as well, 'The DMA doesn't really require a Latios to run. A Latias would be just fine to operate it on its own.' Was he honestly thinking of abandoning this effort? No.
Despite his preference to avoid killing innocent bystanders, there was no reason to spare this boy's life. Especially considering Latios's assistance in his time of need. He recalled the files he obtained from the Team Rocket servers years ago. Annie and Oakley's findings were just wasted in that operation. Giovanni likely didn't care about a superweapon that absorbs life energy.
'And he is a fool. The potential for creating another one is astronomical.' All he needs to do is figure out how this thing came into existence.
Pushing aside some brush, the man was reminded of his earlier halcyon days. The aches and pains of the past were causing him considerable trouble. As he pushed through the brush, memories flooded back, including that of his mentor.
~25 Years Ago~
A town in the middle of a crisis. Homes set ablaze by a roaming faction of thieves added to the chaos. Amidst the chaos, children screamed and cried while gunfire echoed throughout the area as several groups spread out. Beams of light shot out, turning Pokemon into statues resembling husks of their former selves.
The hunt evoked horror as Pokemon were taken down one by one. Village inhabitants that tried to fight back were killed and young kids were the only ones spared this atrocity.
Deep within the village, a child and her mother prepared to leave. Packing things as the band of bounty hunters closed in on the last portion of town. Despite the frenzy and panic, she urged her little boy to move as quickly as possible. Time was of the essence, and it refused to slow down.
"We need to hurry, Katchen! Those people are coming!" She said just loud enough for her little boy to hear.
He would nod, continuing to stuff whatever would fit into the small bag at his feet. Once he ascertained that he couldn't add more to the bag, she ushered him to the back door. Upon opening it, they made a dash for the edge of town. Being that it was a steep cliff and only the villagers knew a secret path down, the mother was assured that perhaps they'd escape to live a long life.
As they managed to leave their home behind, several people rushed towards it. The man leading this group had a specific purpose in mind. Attempting to locate this specific woman. Her knowledge of a certain rare Pokemon had caught his attention. If he could find it, he'd never have to worry again. She was gone though.
"Dammit! Where'd she go?!" He questioned as his men searched the place, but turned up empty-handed.
"Boss Bastion! This home is empty! We even checked the basement!" They reported, making him grunt in a frustrated fashion.
The fact that the mother and child had just left saved them from immediate discovery. However, they couldn't ignore how narrow their escape had been. So, she took Katchen's hand and ran all the faster. The young boy didn't understand why they had to leave. He just wanted to stay home and play as usual.
His mother was determined. Nothing would get in the way of her protecting her child. However, that resolve wavered when she realized that even the back of the village wasn't safe. Smoke billowed into the air. The store where she and Katchen frequently bought goods. The homes of good friends had been ransacked and now produced more heat than comfort. It utterly horrified the mother, but she couldn't stop to grieve.
The constant push forward was making it difficult for the boy to breathe. "Momma? *Huff* Wh- Why is this happening? *Hah*" His mother couldn't afford a moment of rest, but she couldn't ignore him.
"Katchen, we can't stop here!" She couldn't emphasize that enough, "If these guys catch us, it'll be too late to get out of here! Trust me, run with all you've got!" She kissed his forehead as he nodded. Tears were budding in his eyes, but his mother said to not stop. He would do his best not to.
So, the path to the edge of town continued. They pressed forward, undeterred by any obstacles in their path. Upon reaching the edge of the perimeter, she heard a harsh clicking sound.
"Cease your escape." A male's harsh voice echoed, making the two turn.
What they saw was a man holding them at gunpoint, communicating with someone on a high-tech walkie-talkie. "Boss Bastion, we found her. Matching the exact description you provided.
The mother started shaking with shock and realization. Her grip on Katchen's hand weakened. Now it was her turn to breathe heavily as reality caught up with the new situation they were in. The man clipped the communication device onto his side.
"Don't try anything funny. Boss Bastion will decide your fate." He said forebodingly, ensuring that the barrel of his gun remained aimed at the woman.
Katchen teared up, seeing the situation unfold and still not sure why, "Ma… Ma?" Tears stained his cheeks, streaming down faster.
There was nowhere to go. Especially when lacking calm and focus. The sheer steepness of the cliff would insure their deaths if this gunman didn't first. At that moment, another man joined him.
"You can lower your weapon. You can join the others; I'll handle this." The gunman holstered his weapon, saluting his boss.
"Yes, Boss Bastion." He said loyally before rushing off.
Bastion gave his full attention to the woman, "You nearly gave me quite the scare. Trying to run off like that. If you'd stayed put, things could've gone smoother."
"Momma!" Katchen yelled anxiously.
She glanced at her precious child before turning her attention back to Bastion. "Why are you doing this?!" She gestured towards the destruction of her home, where raging flames devoured the nearby houses of her friends.
Bastion shrugged indifferently. "Don't worry about them. You've got other things to worry about. Tell me where Mew is and don't pretend you don't know.' He grinned, moving toward her.
Katchen's mothers eyes widened, "I- I don't kno- AH!" Before she could finish, she was struck across the face and fell to the floor, where her son ran to her side.
"Momma! Please!" He shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I said to not pretend! There's more involved than your precious little friend." He shifted his attention to her child, "I think we can come to an agreement. What do you say? Information in exchange for your child's life?" Bastion reached for him, gripping Katchen's shirt and tugging the little boy toward him.
The way he gripped the child's clothing began to restrict his breathing. "NGH! GH! Mo- Grg! Mma!" He struggled, being lifted into the air.
"WAIT! I really don't know! Mew can teleport! I don't know where she went! Please, let my baby go!" The mother shouted, bowing down before the evil man.
Bastion smirked. "At least you're being honest with me now. This little brat must mean quite a lot!" He said, shaking the choking child with barely restrained glee.
Bastion didn't hear her speaking, only audible sobs, "I see…" He dropped the child.
Katchen fell to the floor with a pained yelp, but he had more pressing matters to deal with. He saw Bastion walk up to his mother, a flash of panic lit up his eyes. The boy tried to scream, but his voice wouldn't come out. Then he saw the shine of a barrel being placed at the back of her head.
A single shot was heard. Then nothing but the sound of flames crackled. Bastion gave the child a harsh glare as the boy watched the puddle of blood spread beneath the body of his mother. Crawling over, Katchen slipped several times. His trauma kept the pain from registering as he made it to his mother.
Bastion watched the child trying to comfort his dying mother before turning to leave, "You two were worthless. I will find Mew without her assistance. Heh."
Katchen tried shaking his mother, but to no avail. "Mom! Please! Get up!" He cried, hoping for some miracle.
Even as the clouds rolled in, he stayed. Despite the rain, he stayed next to her. The warmth had left her body not too much longer afterward. His heart raced, but nothing would change. She didn't move to hug him nor did she tell him it would be okay. A few more hours would pass and the dreary clouds would leave.
Katchen's stomach growled an empty pang of hunger, "Hungry… Momma…" The empty feeling wouldn't subside, but he wouldn't leave her here. He picked up her arm, trying to pull the corpse with him toward an alleyway. He managed it after twenty minutes of struggling. Sitting next to her, he waited.
His thoughts were a swirl of confusion, anger, and loneliness. An unsettling cold began to creep in. 'That man—Bastion—' He looked at his mother once more, 'Bastion!' His anger was taking over.
"BASTION!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Katchen heard a splash of water from behind and saw an eight legged Pokemon looking at him with big horrifying purple eyes that glinted in the moonlight. It was red with black spots and stripes adorning its body with a horn to boot. He recognized it as an Ariados. This Pokemon would surely kill him.
He turned away from the monstrous bug type and spotted a stick, likely broken off from building debris. He ran for it. The bug fired a sticky webbing, trapping its prey to the floor. As he hit the ground, Katchen closed his eyes. He waited for the ending. Nothing happened.
"Ariados, return." The bug was sucked back up into its Pokeball.
Katchen looked up, seeing a woman standing before him, "And you might be?" She asked the boy who didn't know what to say.
She gave him a once-over and appeared satisfied. "You can tell me later. But for now, I am Hunter J." J said, a rather focused look in her eyes.
~Crescent Beach~
'The day I met her... My life changed.' He reflected on the pivotal moment when their paths first crossed. Later on, she bestowed upon him a new title, 'Hunter K is who I've been.' He couldn't help but wonder if his dearly departed master was still proud of him.
Despite the passage of time, he still struggled to find answers. His past life and the one he inherited seemed to constantly intersect, yet he remained hopeful for an even greater purpose. That purpose seemed to present itself when news of Hunter J's death reached him.
Hunter K finally noticed the moon high in the sky, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Where are they?" His thoughts wandered out loud, consumed by the search for answers.
Seeing as his drones hadn't even gotten a glance at his quarry, Hunter K looked around the empty crescent. The ocean still lapped at the shoreline, its peaceful sound contrasting with the tension in the air. He despised this sense of anticipation, yearning for the next conflict to begin. Yet, nothing had greeted him. The wild Pokemon were gathering on the forest edge and his drone's had sent the information to his mask.
Corviknight squawked in agitation as it observed the gathering of wild Pokémon. "Steel yourself, Corviknight. They can do you no harm. We're not here to deal with them," Hunter K idly chastised his controlled specimen who quieted quickly at his beck.
He played with a certain Dark Ball in his hand containing the Latias he'd captured. Hunter K smiled to himself, confident that capturing Latios would be easy. His plan was coming together, and soon Ash would pay for his actions. Maybe even the islanders will take part in this exercise of torment. Hunter K noted the details and contours of the Dark Ball, wondering just how this little object could be so devastating to the mind of a Pokemon.
As this thought crossed his mind, his mask detected movement. With a sinister grin, Hunter K greeted his foe. "Latios! You've come." The Pokémon on the edge of the clearing heard this. Confusion crossed their faces until they remembered the eon duo's ability to become invisible.
A nervous energy coursed through him as he contemplated the power of Psychic abilities. 'Psychic huh?' Within seconds, it stopped and Latios hit the ground just where Hunter K had been staring. The Eon's invisibility rendered null.
"A futile effort, but I figured you'd try that!" Hunter K chided, watching the eon Pokemon squirm in pain as a sound invaded his mind. "Unlike your partner, you don't have any backup! These wild Pokémon certainly don't count," he said, shifting his glare to the Pokémon on the edge. Corviknight also watched them, waiting for them to try anything.
Latios growled in pain, his eyes narrowed with fury as he watched the man drawing near. "This is almost poetic, isn't it? I sharpened my stealth, and now it's paying off," he spat out bitterly, frustration evident in his voice.
Hunter K's expression soured, though Latios couldn't see it. "Actually, this isn't very stealthy at all," he mused aloud, acknowledging the irony of his previous wording.
With the Dark Ball clenched tightly in his hand, Hunter K pressed on, "Regardless, the mechanism that's subduing you is hidden. You won't find it. You should have considered other strategies…" His words trailed off as Latios suddenly smirked.
In a swift move, Latios slammed into Hunter K's chest with a quick Tackle, sending him sprawling backwards onto the ground. Gasping for breath and clutching his chest in pain, Hunter K winced as an error message flashed on his mask—the signal had been disabled, but by whom?
As Latios floated back up, a gleam of determination in his eyes, he declared, 'You're the one who's being subdued!' He lunged at Hunter K again, but Corviknight intercepted, launching a massive Shadow Ball at the legendary Pokémon. Latios elegantly dodged the attack and attempted to reach Hunter K once more, teleporting closer to his target. Corviknight was confused as Latios reappeared much nearer to Hunter K, a faint glow emanating from his jaws. With a smirk, Latios unleashed an Ice Beam that swiftly froze the armored bird solid. Turning back to Hunter K, Latios was shocked to see the man still standing tall.
Despite the probable broken ribs from Latios' tackle, Hunter K appeared relatively unfazed. In his hand, the Dark Ball crackled with energy as it burst open, revealing its captive. Latios's heart sank as he realized who was inside.
His sister appeared considerably darker than usual, a menacing aura surrounding her form. Latios felt a surge of gratitude towards Sato; if not for him, he wouldn't be able to fight properly. Yet, he knew he would have to confront his sister, and the realization tore at his heart.
Latias enveloped herself in flames, becoming a blazing cannonball hurtling towards Latios. The scorching heat turned the sand beneath them into glass upon impact, resulting in a devastating explosion. Latios screeched in agony as the flames tore into him. He recognized the move as Super Singe, and cursed himself for ever helping her learn such a powerful move.
Latios crashed onto the newly glazed glass, feeling its sharp edges cut into his body like miniature razors. The pain was excruciating, but he knew he couldn't afford to stay down. As he struggled to rise, horror gripped him as he witnessed Latias summoning the shards into the air.
With a sinking feeling in his heart, Latios looked to his sister, hoping against hope for some small mercy. But there was none to be found. The storm of glass shards glinted ominously in the moonlight, and Latios braced himself for the inevitable onslaught. He knew he had to defend himself, even if it meant hurting her.
For a brief, eerie moment, everything was silent. Then, the glow of Latias' eyes intensified, and the shards hurtled towards him with deadly precision. Latios prepared to meet them head-on, steeling himself for the battle ahead.
"No! Hold yourself back! I don't need him dead!" Hunter K shouted, his frustration evident on his face as he desperately tried to control the situation.
'It's now or never!' Latios thought quickly, determination coursing through him as he floated upward, ready to seize the moment.
With a fierce determination, Latios gathered his strength and summoned a powerful gust of wind, hoping to disperse the storm of glass shards before they could reach him. The wind whipped around him, creating a barrier between himself and the deadly projectiles.
But Latias was relentless. She manipulated the flames around her, intensifying their heat and directing them toward Latios with precision. The scorching flames lashed out, aiming to sear through his defenses and inflict even more damage. Latios gritted his teeth and focused on maintaining his barrier, feeling the heat blistering against his skin. Despite the pain, he refused to yield, pushing himself to withstand the onslaught.
As the flames grew and the wind barrier strained against the heat, Latios felt his strength waning. The scorching flames licked at his feathers, threatening to break through his defenses and engulf him entirely. But he couldn't afford to falter now. He had to protect himself and find a way to reach his sister before it was too late.
Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Latios poured his energy into reinforcing the barrier, bolstering it against the relentless assault of fire. Sweat beaded on his brow as he struggled to maintain his focus amidst the intense heat and pressure.
With each passing moment, the flames grew hotter and more ferocious, testing Latios's resolve to its limits. But he refused to back down. He knew that he couldn't afford to let his guard slip, not when so much was at stake.
Despite the pain and exhaustion gnawing at him, Latios remained steadfast, clinging to the hope that he could endure long enough to find a way to reach his sister and break through the darkness that consumed her. The man saw what was happening, beginning to back away from the legend's battle. He then turned around and ran for cover. With that determination burning brightly within, Latios finally broke the stalemate by expanding the barrier outward. An explosion shook the beach sending a grandiose shockwave that slammed into Latias' body.
Latias, caught off guard by the unexpected force, was thrown backward by the sheer impact, her body tumbling through the air before crashing hard onto the sandy shore. The force of the explosion sent waves of pain coursing through Latios's body, but he gritted his teeth and maintained his focus, channeling every ounce of his strength into controlling the barrier. The blast had created a brief opening. Once the shockwaves subsided, he dropped the barrier. Panting with exhaustion, he floated shakily for a moment.
The energy Latios used was catching up with him. He fell to the ground, fatigue rushing forward as he reached a claw out to his sister. However, she was too far away. His claw fell to sand and his eyesight grew blurry.
'I'm sorry, Mama... I thought I could solve everything on my own,' the tired legend lamented, a wave of melancholy washing over him.
~The Cliffside~
Sneasel grinned mischievously to herself. "Too easy! He didn't think there would be anyone looking for his machine," she remarked, eyeing the destroyed console with Scyther at her side.
"Yeah, good thing Sato thought about this, or Latios would be struggling," replied the Bug-type, examining the severed wiring.
She gracefully hopped onto Scyther's back. "Once we meet up with Sato at the ocean, then we can begin phase two." However, their departure was unexpectedly interrupted.
With a deafening roar, a Hydreigon unleashed a Dark Pulse at them, catching them off guard. Swiftly, Scyther soared into the sky to evade the attack.
The resulting explosion reverberated across the cliffside, alerting everyone nearby. The Hydreigon charged at them once again, prompting Sneasel to leap off Scyther's back.
"You think you're tough?! I'll show you! Ice Shard!" she yelled, hurling a freezing spear at the dragon, who screeched in agony. Realizing her impetuousness, Sneasel began to fall. "AH! Catch me!"
In a swift maneuver, Scyther swooped in and caught her midair. "That was reckless!" exclaimed the bug, as Sneasel grunted.
"Let's get out of here already!" Sneasel exclaimed, while Scyther nodded in agreement.
Scyther rushed for the ocean, but Sneasel saw something still gunning for them from the back that made her eyes bug out, "Scyther! That dragons coming back!" She told him as the bug-type tried to increase the speed he was already outputting.
A concussive explosion of energy shot out from Hydreigon's maw, "Dive! DIVE NOW!" She shouted as Scyther dropped altitude, pistoning his wings as fast as he could. The powerful blast shot overhead barely missing the two. Swiftly flying down the cliffside, the waves below welcomed the duo.
Scyther gulped, showing apprehension, "Can't you beat him?! He's a dragon type for Arceus sake!" He practically screamed, rippling straight through a wave and spreading the water droplets through the air.
Hydreigon was on their tails, gaining on the two with little trouble, "I could say the same of you! Aren't you a bug type?! Use X-Scissor! That's super effective on a dark type!" Sneasel growled back.
Scyther shook his head, "How about another Ice Shard and I won't catch you this time!" He retorted.
A fine mist was covering the top of the ocean. Sneasel grinned, remembering a part of the plan that was established earlier, "Hey, forget all that! Let's keep on going!"
Scyther shook his head, "I was on it!"
The bickering wasn't helping the situation anyway and Hydreigon was gathering fire in all three of his heads. He hoped that the dysfunctional team would stay distracted so he could kill them both right away. Scyther finally something vaguely in the distance and smirked, continuing on his original course. Just as the dark dragon prepared to unleash his burning rage, a large blast of Ice shot out in a beam of sorts, freezing the dragon's wing.
A roar of agony could be heard, then a large splash echoed. Sneasel watched the beast sink under the water, desperately flapping its unfrozen wing and snuffing out the fires in his multiple maws. A Lapras showed itself from the foggy mist.
"One more Ice Beam!" Lapras obliged, rolling out another powerful shot of ice.
Hydreigon's movement slowed and he was frozen solid. Scyther turned to watch as the dark dragon was swallowed by the waves. Sato got up, leaning against Lapras to get a better look at the damage done.
'It's really not right… That Pokemon didn't do anything wrong…' He thought, knowing it was usually the trainer that gave the commands.
Seeing that he couldn't do anything about it, he took out two Pokeballs and returned his Pokemon, "Lapras, let's get closer to shore and make sure you keep using Mist." Sato hoped that Latios was pulling through on his end.
~Crescent Inlet~
Hunter K eyed the legendary Pokémon warily, his mind racing with calculations. He knew Latios could make a move at any second. Carefully, he stepped closer, using his mask to monitor Latios' vitals. 'His vitals are still alright. Latios has just lost a lot of energy,' he noted, assessing the situation.
With a confident smile, Hunter K reached for a Dark Ball from his belt, preparing to capture his weakened opponent. 'This was easier than expected,' he thought, relishing in his impending victory.
Suddenly, his mask detected movement. Before he could react, an orange beam shot out from the forest canopy, slicing through the sand and blasting the ocean apart with explosive force. Water erupted into the sky as trees were singed and parted by the powerful attack.
Turning his head, Hunter K's eyes widened in surprise as he witnessed a young woman walking confidently through the now-open path. "Step away from Latios, or the next attack will be aimed directly at you!" Misty's voice rang out, her gaze fierce as she stood beside the imposing figure of Gyarados.
Recognition flickered across his face. "Misty? What brings you here? Wasn't the tournament hall to your liking?" he inquired, a hint of animosity in his tone.
Ignoring his question, Misty's glare intensified. "Gyarados, unleash another Hyper Beam!" she commanded, her voice carrying a newfound ferocity.
In that split second, he threw out another Dark Ball. A new Pokemon ripped from its confines. Standing before Misty and her water dragon was an intense fishy looking dinosaur. Its large maw clicked like it was ready to tear apart something or in this case, someone. With a glare that might subdue others, it stomped toward Gyarados.
"Draco! VISH!" it growled, rushing the watery dragon with a slathering jaw covered in spittle, its teeth revealed and crackling with intense energy.
Misty jerked backward, her voice sharp with concern, "Gyarados!" as Hyper Beam let loose, seemingly overtaking Dracovish in a massive explosion. At least, that's what they thought. Misty's eyes widened as she pointed, "Right there, Gyarados!" She saw the smoke break apart underneath the moonlight.
The fossil fish was already upon them, tearing into Gyarados' scales, ripping several off, enough to draw blood from the fragile skin underneath. A roar of pain echoed from the large water type as it struggled to shake off the determined Pokémon, only for it to grip even tighter.
"Dracovish, shake your head. Tear it up!" Katchen shouted, a smirk playing on his lips that the other trainer couldn't see.
Dracovish complied, drawing more anguish from Gyarados, who continued to try and fail to throw the creature off. Unable to bear watching any longer, Misty revealed her Mega Keystone hanging from her tied-up hair. Katchen's expression shifted to one of surprise behind his mask. "Back off, Dracovish!" he commanded, but the light shot out regardless.
"Strong! Valiant! And powerful! And now, my beautiful blue sweetheart!" Misty's voice rang out with grace as Katchen watched the light connect with Gyarados's forehead. "MEGA EVOLVE!" she exclaimed with unwavering determination.
The buildup of energy resonated and sent Dracovish flying backward! The sandy earth ripped around them as Gyarados transformed, growing larger and more menacing than ever. His eyes glowed with a humming energy, threatening to tear apart any Pokémon standing before him. The crackling power sent anything nearby blasting backward with a resounding roar from the dragon.
Hunter K strode confidently toward the epicenter of the light, casting a glance back at the still-unmoving Latios and Latias. Then, his masked gaze returned to Misty. "I suppose there will be two bodies tonight," he remarked, pulling his last Dark Ball off his belt.
'And there's no need to play fair…' he thought, casually tossing the ball in his hand a few times.
Misty couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion at his actions. 'He shouldn't be so confident. Does he truly believe he can win?' she wondered, taking a cautious step back.
"I really hoped to save this one for true emergencies. It took me quite a while to track down," He remarked, his lips curling into a sinister grin. "But this time, he's the predator."
Misty felt a shiver run down her spine at his words, but before she could respond, she sensed movement from one of the Poké Balls on her belt. With a burst of light, Togekiss emerged, "Toge, To, Kiss!" it exclaimed, sensing her unease.
"Togekiss, not now! He's—" Misty's warning was interrupted by the Dark Ball shaking violently and opening. A deep violet light erupted from it, materializing into a menacing mechanical creature. Togekiss gasped in surprise and fear, while Gyarados instinctively moved to protect them both.
The mechanical creature's eyes gleamed with a bright purple light as it hissed, "Gen? Genesect!" Misty's eyes widened in shock; she had never encountered one of these before.
"Genesect, tear them apart. Leave nothing behind," The man commanded, his voice dripping with malice as he directed the futuristic bug towards Misty and Gyarados.
Turning back to his Dracovish, he added, "Make sure to watch over those legends over there. I don't want them escaping while I'm finishing this one off." He watched as his fishy fossil Pokemon nodded and left him to do just that.
Just overhead, invisible to the naked eye, soared a legendary Pokémon and a yellow mouse, their presence unnoticed by those embroiled in the intense battle below. Latias observed the unfolding scene, while Pikachu witnessed it from her back. 'Misty's in trouble, Pikachu!' she communicated urgently.
The mouse clenched his jaw in concern. 'Yeah, I can see that too! Do you see anyone else?!' he thought back to her.
Latias scanned the area and spotted her children lying in the sand. 'My little ones are down there! I'm going to get closer!' she declared, but Pikachu shook his head in warning.
'Are you sure about that, Latias?! There's a Pokemon down there!' Pikachu's words rang out in her mind, causing her to flinch.
'I'll figure a way around that thing! They need their Mama!' Latias insisted, her instincts driving her forward.
Pikachu sighed, wishing Ash were there. Even his seemingly empty-headed trainer could solve this issue. But he refocused. 'Fine… We'll do it your way, but if something goes wrong, I'll try to back you up!' he resolved, offering his support, which reassured Latias.
She trilled happily at his commitment. 'You're the best, Pikachu!' Latias expressed her gratitude, sensing Pikachu's hesitance but appreciating his willingness to help nonetheless.
Pikachu bit his lip before finally allowing the appreciation to be absorbed, 'Yeah… No problem.'
Latias zipped through the air, not realizing that the mask had been set off. As Hunter K turned around to clock it in, he seemed… stunned? In utter disbelief he muttered, 'So, I got a chance to get two sets of eon twins? This is getting better by the second.' He thought, watching both Gyarados and Genesect stare one another down.
Feeling the urgency of the moment, Misty knew she couldn't stand idly by. "Hyper Beam! Blast it with everything you've got!" she commanded, her voice echoing with resolve.
Gyarados began to charge another Hyper Beam, its fiery glow casting eerie shadows among the trees. Beneath his mask, Hunter K grinned and clenched his fist. "Use Techno Blast Electric!" he commanded with fervor. The cannon mounted on the back of Genesect whirred to life, rapidly accumulating energy. A wild humming filled the air, and vents on the mechanical bug's back released bursts of steam. Its feet firmly anchored to the sandy earth, Genesect leaned forward in anticipation. Suddenly, they fired!
The space between the combatants crackled with escalating energy, culminating in a cataclysmic explosion as their attacks collided. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the surroundings, forcing Misty to shield her eyes. Even then, she was violently propelled backward, crashing to the ground with a thud. Hunter K, undeterred, braced himself against the onslaught, eagerly awaiting the outcome of his gambit.
The crater left in the wake of their clash smoldered with residual heat, yet both adversaries remained locked in a fierce standoff, their determination unyielding. From the sidelines, Latias observed the chaotic display with wide eyes. 'Wow, that's intense! I don't think we stand a chance against that...' she murmured inwardly, awestruck by the sheer power on display.
Pikachu nodded in agreement, his expression grim. 'This is getting out of hand. We'll have to hang back and hope Misty can hold him down.' With a solemn glance back at Latias, the yellow Pokémon prepared for the tumultuous battle to continue.
~End of Chapter~
That was a while coming. As we can see, things are taking quite a turn. Sato is being proactive and Hunter K is being very aggressive. Latios is trying his best, but not having much luck! Misty has shown herself and Latias towing Pikachu has finally appeared on the scene! Then even Dracovish and Genesect are finally appearing! What else could happen next!?
That's a great question that I'll hopefully answer it next time. See you all in the next one.
If you read this, please let me hear what you have to say below!