~Attractive Altomare~
~Regroup~
Zipping overhead, a blue blur rushed through the night sky. The sun was beginning to rise on the very edge of the horizon. Just behind him was a dark apparition of sorts, trailing like a shadow.
"Zephyr, hold on. Something's going on…" The shadowy figure said, her voice sharp with caution. Zephyr, the Eon, halted abruptly.
"What? Are you trying to stop me on my quest again? She's going to get away, and then I'm going to blame you, Darky," Zephyr retorted, his frustration evident. He glared at the apparition, his impatience barely contained.
She scoffed, her form rippling in the dim light. "Keep it in your pouch! We've got serious business." Her reply was curt and authoritative. They landed on the side of a building, where Zephyr quickly became intangible and her own body melted into a sliver of shadow cast by a window.
Appearing in front of the Pokémon Center in a flash of light were Abra, Sato, Misty, Latios, Togekiss, and Pikachu. They unceremoniously hit the ground, except for Abra, who didn't have much experience transporting large groups. Misty immediately jumped back up, grumbling about how sore she was from the tumble.
Her eyes locked onto Latios, and she realized they needed to hide the legendary Pokémon. Before she could act, he started to move. 'Wuh… What h- happened?' His shaky question was heard by Misty and Sato, who picked himself up, dusting off his clothing.
Misty spoke up hesitantly. "I- I think that bastard got both Latias'." She saw the eon's eyes widen in horror.
A wail of despair echoed from the depths of his hoarse lungs. Latios' frustration manifested as he smacked his head into the cobblestones below. 'DAMN IT ALL!' he cursed inwardly and outwardly to everyone nearby.
Sato gritted his teeth, turning away, his shame evident. "Latios…" he started, but quickly fell silent as Latios headbutted the ground again, cracking the cobblestones. Tears began to run down Latios' face as he angrily yelled out again, smashing his head yet again, causing a trickle of blood to ooze down the side of his skull.
In the back of his mind, Latios wasn't sure how to process the loss of his sister and his Mama in such a short time. 'IS THIS A TEST?! WHY?!' His mind swirled with rage, and he wanted to do more. He cracked the cobblestones once more with his skull, pieces of it flying up from the impact, along with more blood dripping down his face.
Sato clenched his fist. "STOP!" he shouted, seeing the dragon glare at him.
Despite the glare, Sato continued, "Doing that won't help them! We need to figure something else out right now!" he said quickly, urgency clear in his voice.
Latios shook his head vehemently. 'OUR PLANS FAILED! WE COULDN'T STOP HIM AND NOW I'VE LOST EVERYTHING!' His eyes narrowed in on Sato. 'AND YOU! YOUR PLAN?! IT DIDN'T EVEN WORK!' The young teen flinched away from him, unable to respond, knowing that Latios was right.
Misty stepped forward, placing a hand on Latios' shoulder. "We're all feeling this loss, Latios, but hurting yourself won't free them. We need to get Ash."
Latios' breath came in ragged gasps, his anger barely contained. 'What's the point in bothering him? We tried everything…' His voice faltered, the anguish clear.
Sato clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. "Latios, I know I failed. We all did. But giving up now won't help us find them. We have to keep trying! As long as they're still here…" Benihime's smiling face showed up within his mind.
Latios looked at him, the raw pain in his eyes slowly being replaced by a flicker of determination. 'And what if we fail again?'
Misty spoke up. "I wasn't here for everything, but it's obvious you both tried your best. So, let's pull ourselves together and give it our all. Okay?" She looked at the blue legend, who only grunted in response.
'We don't have any real choice…' Latios's emotions poured out like an overflowing cup of rage and frustration. He turned intangible, his voice echoing in their minds. 'I must go check on the Soul Dew! You two do what you can. If I get lucky, maybe I'll encounter that man again.' He shook his head as if anyone could see him before the doors of the center opened.
"What's with all the commotion?" Nurse Joy asked, noticing the two battered figures standing outside. She had been alerted by the sound of breaking cobblestone.
Misty quickly responded, "Sorry! It was an accident. Abra here is new to teleporting, and we all hit the ground hard." She pointed at the Psychic-type, who scratched his head sheepishly, his expression not differing much from his usual look.
Nurse Joy's expression softened as she took in the sight of the exhausted and injured group. "I see. Well, accidents happen. Come inside, all of you. Let's get you patched up." With that, she retreated inside and awaited them. Misty breathed a sigh of relief.
Sato shook his head. "Latios, are you already gone?" He got no answer and assumed it must be true. "Well, that's happening. Misty, are we going to the Pokémon Center or getting Ash?" he asked, looking to her for directions.
Misty nodded with determination. "I'm going to get Ash," she reaffirmed, turning to Sato. "You need to get the police. If they don't listen, go find Brock. Either way, we'll figure this out and get both Latias back. I know it," she said, her fierce determination shining through.
On a nearby rooftop, Darkrai's shadowy form shifted with a shiver. "It seems like they've been through quite the ordeal. You caught all that, Zephyr?" she asked her invisible companion.
Zephyr nodded, though she couldn't see it. "Yeah, I'll get Tobias. You're not a psychic, so you can't relay the information," he said, feeling a wave of melancholy.
Darkrai's shadow moved slightly, an air of indifference around her. "Did you just try to send me nightmares while awake?" Zephyr asked, sensing the shift.
"Maybe. Maybe not," Darkrai responded enigmatically, her tone leaving Zephyr guessing.
Zephyr knew she liked to play more than she let on. It took time to build a "friendship" like their current one, no matter the circumstances surrounding them. Suddenly, the shadow extended from the window, and Darkrai shot off into the rising sun, leaving Zephyr to his own devices. Silently, the eon wondered where exactly she was heading as Darkrai didn't say.
Shaking his head, the legend flew off. 'Just go with the flow, Zephyr. It'll all work out,' he thought, leaving the area behind where Sato and Misty began to rush off in different directions.
Nurse Joy burst out the doors, looking between the two noisy guests. "HEY! You forgot the checkup!" she shouted to no avail.
Nurse Joy sighed, mumbling under her breath about how she wasn't paid enough to deal with this. She turned back inside, her frustration palpable as she prepared to deal with the aftermath of the unexpected visitors.
The sun crested over the horizon as the dawn greeted the fair island city of Altomare. As of now, it was silent as most early mornings could be. A few early bird businesses would just now be starting to ready up for the incoming tourists. For those people, it was a clean slate and the start of a bright beautiful day sure to bring them prosperity. For a small group in particular, that wasn't the case.
Sato was rushing through the town, heading toward the police station as fast his legs could carry him. Huffing and panting with sweat dripping down his forehead, his mind kept replaying the events not too long ago. Misty had sent him off to find the police while she went to find Ash and Bianca. He was exhausted, feeling aches and pains beginning to tear at his body. The aftereffects of Heal Pulse were beginning to take their toll and Sato's pool of energy was being sapped more than ever.
Still, Sato stayed the course because he wanted to help in any way he could. 'Would be amazing if I had a ride…' he thought, feeling sluggish as his feet hit the ground.
His mind shifted to the idea of finally having a Charizard and being able to actually fly whenever he wanted. It made him feel more tired than usual, and he stumbled but quickly righted himself.
'Can't slow down now. Gotta keep moving forward! For Beni!' he thought, pushing his tiredness away as best as he could.
Yet, he fell forward anyway, his hands catching the side of a building. Determination alone couldn't ward off this overwhelming fatigue. It threatened to flood his system, forcing Sato to think about what other options he had. Leaning against the cool concrete, he reached down to the side of his belt and tapped one of the Pokéballs. Out popped Scyther, who looked very surprised.
"Scy?! Scyther!" he shouted in shock at seeing how bad off Sato was.
Sato took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Scyther, I need your help. We have to get to the police station, and I'm running out of energy," he explained, hoping his companion would understand.
Scyther's eyes narrowed with determination. "Scyther!" he replied, nodding firmly.
"Thanks, buddy," Sato said, mustering a weak smile. He climbed onto Scyther's back, feeling the sharp exoskeleton under his hands. With a swift beat of its wings, Scyther took off, gliding over the streets with Sato clinging tightly.
As they flew, Sato's thoughts drifted back to his mission. 'Hang on, everyone. We're coming,' he silently vowed, his resolve strengthening with each passing second.
With the wind rushing through his hair, Sato tried scanning the area as did Scyther. The police station would be rather easy to spot even in such a cramped corridor filled town like this. He hoped they would be open.
'Urgh… I'm really tired.' Sato's grip faltered, feeling the desire for sleep start to take over. Scyther noticed and quickly went in for a landing. 'I've really exceeded everything I can…' Beni's face appeared in his mind, causing Sato to frown again.
'You'll give up on me?' she asked, her beautiful eyes scanning his own green irises.
Sato shook his head. 'I'm trying really hard! It's…' He couldn't bring himself to call her or this a burden.
Beni smiled, tears welling up in her eyes. 'It's okay… Maybe it was meant to be this way.' Her melancholic voice shattered him from within as she began to fade.
His eyes shot open. "NO!" he shouted, reaching out, but only Scyther was there before him.
"SCY?!" Scyther exclaimed in surprise, wondering if he had done something wrong.
Pulling his hand back, Sato began to tear up. "Damn… Damn!" he cried out, Scyther reaching out to try and comfort the teen, but Sato shook off the Bug type.
"I really did mess up! That whole thing!" he exclaimed, feeling the full effects of despair hit him all at once.
Sato wanted to be strong. He never imagined just how tough it would be to protect someone. The tears flowed freely from his eyes, running down his cheeks as the weight of the world finally set in. Maybe the Heal Pulse from before had numbed this and given him strength, but now he was unable to escape the torment wringing him out inside. He slammed his fist onto the ground, his feet flailing uselessly like a child having a tantrum.
Scyther watched, helpless and unsure of how to console his trainer. The emotional storm inside Sato raged, his sobs echoing in the coming dawn. Despite his own fatigue, Scyther remained vigilant, staying close to Sato, hoping his presence alone could provide some comfort.
"Nnnnhh…" He grunted, feeling his resolve weakening and he slumped back against the wall. "Be- niiiiiiiii…" Sato's eyes closed as he passed out, unable to bear his tiredness any longer.
Scyther felt a panic overtake his features, but he dare not use his claws on the young teen. Making sure to guard him, the bug type looked around, finding that they were alone.
Hydreigon landed right in front of Lorenzo's shop, and off his back hopped Hunter K. Lorenzo's hands were bound in front of him, courtesy of his captor's technology. The Hunter wondered why he had bothered with the restraints at all; the old man hadn't resisted once. The lack of resistance made Hunter K uneasy. Was this a trap? How much more would he have to fight?
'This should be the easy part,' he thought, considering the possibilities as Hydreigon plopped Lorenzo down.
"Open the door," Hunter K ordered, pressing the cool steel of his revolver into Lorenzo's back.
"Urgh… Yes. The key is in my pocket," Lorenzo said, gesturing to the front torso pocket of his overalls.
Giving him a look of disdain, Hunter K slowly reached for the key. "Remember, any wise moves and it's all over for you." he reinforced, pressing the revolver harder into Lorenzo's back, making the older man grunt in pain. Within seconds, the Hunter had the key and, with swift efficiency, popped the door open. Lorenzo walked quietly forward, followed by his captor.
"Hydreigon, if any uninvited guest shows up, you know what to do." Hunter K said, shutting the door behind him.
The dragon nodded with excitement that it would finally get a full battle without some cheap shot taking him out of the equation. Together, albeit reluctantly, the two stepped through the large darkened room. Lorenzo was at home here, the smell of many years worth of work rushed his senses and the smallest hint for a hope at survival brushed through his mind. Yet, the barrel jabbing him in the spine shook that from him. His head lowered as he recognized the final obstacle that Hunter K swiftly pulled open.
The light from within the garden shined out, blinding them for just a moment. Shining shafts of bright sun were pouring from the enhanced roof. Lorenzo pushed onward with encouragement from Hunter K.
Meanwhile, the Hunter seemed to be looking around in awe. "So, this is what I've been looking for this entire time? It sure is rather beautiful. Such a shame that its existence may be snuffed out this very day." He heard a grunt of disdain from Lorenzo, but ignored it.
He grinned. "Oh come now, Lorenzo. We may not know each other personally, but you must admit this was fate. You're about to become part of my legend. Enjoy it." Hunter K spoke, an obvious tinge of overbearing smugness contorting his words.
Lorenzo grit his teeth, hands trembling in barely concealed anger. "The only legend I wish to be a part of is the one where you're defeated and this becomes nothing more than a bad memory!" Venom laced his words as his rage coiled tighter in his body, his voice spitting by the end of his tirade.
Without warning, Lorenzo was tripped and sent crashing hand first to the ground. A harsh snap echoed and a horrid, garbled yell of pain was heard. Hunter K walked around the old man, stopping just in front of the writhing old fool. Leaning down, he put the barrel of the gun beneath Lorenzo's chin and tilted his head up.
"Tsk, tsk… You should mind your temper. I think you broke a few fingers with that fall." He grinned down at the older man who could only look on with barely disguised anger at the malicious face of his attacker.
Lorenzo had gotten used to the feeling by this point. His hands still stung, and his heart wouldn't stop rapidly beating in his chest. The back of his overalls were tugged as he was pulled up by them. Once he was on his feet, the old man stumbled a bit, but Hunter K stopped him from falling again.
"Don't try it a second time, that first one was rather pathetic of you. Now show me the Soul Dew. We don't have time to spare." He chided, watching as Lorenzo took a shaky step forward.
"R-Right this way." Years of showing people around a museum had been perfect for this moment. He ignored the pain, trying to imagine that it was just another day at his job. That Hunter J was just another patron he'd greet in front of his shop. It wouldn't go away, this feeling of dread mixed with acceptance that poured into his mind.
This thought ran its course and together, they stood in front of the heart of Altomare itself. The fountain seemed to beat like a heart of sorts and the water flowed crystal clear.
Hunter K let out a small gasp of awe. "So, this is it. The heart of the city." He admired the glow from the center, the ancient metal towering from that center. The jewel that would cement his rise to fame and power beyond his wildest dreams. His next goal was clear. To see the DMA in all its glory. Reaching out, the evil man's glove pierced the water and the beating of its heart bumped faster. As he sunk deeper, his fingers surrounded the jewel. It glowed brighter than before as if hoping to defy him and force him away.
Hunter K chuckled at this display before tightening his hold. The exterior was as such, glass as smooth as a rock polished on a riverbed, but you could tell that it was strong enough to survive a powerful hit. He pulled it swiftly, a clinking sound echoed from the burbling water. All at once, he felt an irresistible tug on his soul and the world fell away.
~A Memory~
"You wish to change this coalition of bandits?" A young teen questioned the older woman sitting opposite himself.
She glanced at him, smirking. "Of course. All we've done is drag entire villages down over time." Turning, she glared at the rest of the group currently working with them. "You're the only one I can trust here, Katchen." The name made him grit his teeth.
He had thrown that identity away along with his old life. In a sense, he'd been revived like a phoenix. Thrust into circumstances beyond his old life's comprehension. Truly being blessed with a person to look up to, a person who saved him from an early end. She still liked to tease him with that name regardless as if never letting him forget when they met. Not that he could. It was ingrained in his head.
Still feeling the rain as if it were yesterday, he reached up to wipe it away, but of course nothing was there. "You know it's, "Hunter K". I've been working with you for years, Hunter J." He wished he knew her name so he could tease her, but he knew that even if he did. He wouldn't. She saved him and was his world.
Hunter J waved it off. "Relax. Besides, I think the name is rather nice." She moved her long hair to the side, giving him a small smile.
He grunted, looking back down at the bowl in his hand, seeing his reflection in the stew. A small blush on his face. "Eh, whatever." Pushing the embarrassment away, he looked back at her. "What's all this about? Why'd we wait to discuss this?" That was a legitimate question. It would have been safer to bring up topics farther away from camp, but Hunter J always did things a certain way.
She leaned in, smirking completely unlike her usual self and whispered. "Because I've finally moved up a rank. I'm in the higher echelon of hunters now." His eyes widened, feeling her soft breath on his ear.
"That's interesting…" Whatever was he thinking?! This was better than interesting, it was monumental! Work over the last ten years has paid off. Hunter J changed things radically over the course. Her hunts had gained prestige and her methods didn't need the subjugation of entire villages or towns that were springing up. The warring days for the overzealous deserters who knew nothing more than death and destruction being left in their wake had become useless over time. A waste of effort.
Some of those people had even left, choosing to join some annoying startup gang named Team Rocket. In Kanto, even the hunters were being pilfered by this mob and their actions were always erased from the public eye quickly. Whoever ran that bunch must be incredibly powerful in the underworld.
Regardless, Hunter K thought of them with disdain. The business controlled by hunters had started shrinking since that all began and now they were branching off to other regions in hopes of escaping Team Rocket.
"Congratulations." He finally said, seeing her grin knowingly.
"That's a better response." Hunter J then continued, "And…" She stopped, hoping to bait him into asking.
He wouldn't dare let her think that he would be stone cold to her. "And?" Hunter K questioned with a slight anticipation.
"Bastion is coming down to greet our ragtag group."
The statement planted in his mind and his hands trembled. A sound of glass breaking echoed out in their encampment. Each shard flew from the impact area and some ended up in the fire along with the sizzling stew. Hunter K's comprehension was lost for a moment until his brow furrowed. A few people around the small area gave him a raised eyebrow, but not much else before they all turned back to their current business.
"He's coming here?" The whispered question rang with hopeful desperation.
Hunter J nodded. "This is your chance. Your revenge and my only chance to cement myself as a successor." She watched him fully turn to her.
"When is it?" He asked in a low tone, drumming his fingers on his knee.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "He didn't give an exact date, but we'll be ready, right?"
He started to nod, then a sickening grin showed itself. "Yes. I will be there by your side every step of the way." He said with a certain conviction.
With a nod of her own, the two enjoyed the campfire. Their thoughts on the future and where it might take them.
~Waking up~
Hunter K saw the fountain in his blurry vision and the bright blue ball of distracting lights going off in his hand. As everything came into perfect view, he heard an explosive bang from outside. Jolting fully awake, he realized that he'd gotten the Soul Dew.
'Memories? Of J…' He put a hand to his forehead, feeling the moisture of sweat on and under his gloves.
Hunter K turned to see Lorenzo was still there. "And you're still here? Fool. How much time has passed?!" He questioned as the old man narrowed his eyes.
"It's been barely a minute." He answered begrudgingly.
Another blast echoed outside and Hunter K shook his head. "Nevermind." He pointed the gun at Lorenzo, twitching it to the left. "Show me another exit. I will not be impeded."
Hydreigon maneuvered through the sky, narrowly dodging several Shadow Balls that whizzed past him, each exploding with a muted thud as they collided with the watery surroundings. Curious onlookers peered from their windows, bewildered by the commotion outside.
'Whatever is firing these is invisible! I must find them!' Hydreigon thought, trying to discern a pattern in the attacks.
Unbeknownst to him, Latios was darting back and forth, adjusting his speed to optimize his strikes. His translucent maw opened, releasing a chilling Ice Beam that enveloped Hydreigon's underside, sending a frigid shiver through the dragon's body.
'C-Cold!' Hydreigon summoned heat from within, unleashing a fiery blast that narrowly missed the source of the ice. The flames scorched the cobblestone streets below, turning them into molten lava. Though the heat dried his scales, Hydreigon still couldn't locate his assailant.
"Come out, you invisible coward!" Hydreigon roared, but there was no reply.
A swift shot of ice struck his wings, causing them to freeze and making Hydreigon plummet. Desperately, he shot another flame from his left head, momentarily halting the attacks. "URGH! WHERE ARE YOU?!" he bellowed, his right head scanning frantically.
The left head interjected, "We should return to our Master!"
Hydreigon's main head shook. "We can't! You know what punishment awaits us if we fail."
The right head grunted. "Nothing yet! Let's use Dark Pulse to clear the area!" Latios knew he had to act fast to prevent collateral damage. As he prepared another Ice Beam, the left head spotted him just in time.
"THERE!" A Dark Pulse shot out, colliding with the Ice Beam and causing a massive explosion. Latios, now visible, plunged into the waters below. Hydreigon, feeling triumphant, dove down to retrieve his fallen opponent, only to be met by an unexpected sight.
Emerging from the shadows of the canal was a figure, its form shifting in and out of visibility. Aquamarine eyes glowed ominously, freezing Hydreigon in his tracks. 'A demon?!' he thought, terror gripping him.
The shadowy figure floated upwards, shadows swirling around it and expanding ominously. Holding a sphere of darkness, the being's eyes narrowed.
"Dark Void…" The ball of darkness shot towards Hydreigon, engulfing him and sending him crashing to the cobblestones below with a dull thud.
The figure's eyes remained fixed on the fallen dragon until Latios resurfaced. "Who are you?!" Latios asked, astonished to see Hydreigon incapacitated.
"Introductions can wait. We need to find Hunter K." Her voice was low, comforting yet commanding.
Latios, sensing the urgency, set aside his curiosity. "Follow me. I know another way." He led the way, with the mysterious figure close behind.
The young couple stirred awake as the sounds reverberated across the city. Chocolate eyes warily met hazel as they turned to face each other. "Ash? D-Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. Ash tightened his arm around her, his brow furrowing.
"Yeah. Something's happening," he replied, though the comforting blankets still enveloped their bodies, tempting him to stay.
As Ash relaxed his arm and began to move, Bianca snuggled closer, her head pressing into his side. "Bianca…" he murmured, his voice as soft as the sheets covering them.
Bianca breathed in his scent, feeling the nightmare of the previous night fade further into the background. Ash's presence had brought her serenity and further solidified her feelings for him. She wanted to spend more time with this man and explore where their relationship could go, but the world seemed determined to pull him away.
"I know. Those explosions were close…" Her left hand trailed up his chest. "We should go." Ash nodded, a smile forming on his lips.
"Don't worry. I'll make it up to you, Snugglebug," he promised, his smile widening into a knowing grin, using the same affectionate nickname from last night.
She scoffed, smirking. "Sure, Champ. Just don't make a promise you can't keep." Leaning in, Bianca kissed his jawline, sucking gently, and Ash leaned down to meet her kiss fully. They savored the brief moment, knowing it had to come to an end.
Ash pulled away reluctantly, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "I'll check it out. Stay here and keep safe, okay?"
But he felt a gentle pressure on his arm. Turning back, he saw Bianca shaking her head. "I'm not gonna just sit here while you go out and risk who knows what to find out what's going on. I'm going with you." she asked, still wrapped in the blankets he'd just shed.
He sighed, but nodded. "Yeah. We'll just be careful together, okay?"
Bianca gave him a small smile and threw the blankets aside, making Ash blush slightly. "Oooooh. Later, Champ," she teased, her voice playful and light.
Ash shook his head, trying to tune out her teasing lilt. He stood quickly, his mind already focused on the potential danger outside. Bianca dressed hurriedly, the urgency of the situation overriding her earlier playfulness. Pulling up his pants, grabbing his belt, donning his shirt and jacket, and finally putting on his iconic hat, he was prepared for whatever might come. As he stepped toward the door, he saw Bianca motion at his shoes.
His eyes widened, and he picked them up rather sheepishly. "Uh, thanks."
Bianca winked and tapped her own shoes on the wooden floor before heading past him. Ash followed her, but his stomach grumbled loudly. "Oh…"
She turned back with a knowing smile. "We'll pick something up on the way." He nodded, relieved and hoping that it would be soon.
As they stepped out into the early morning light, the sounds of distant explosions still echoing in their ears, they moved with a sense of urgency.
~End of Chapter~
Legacy of Time: Hope you enjoyed! Hoping to get out Chapter 20 a little faster.