Huh...for whatever reason, I really enjoyed leaving you all on a cliffhanger like that.
Maybe I should do that more often...
Ah, well, all cliffhangers have to have a resolution. And I plan on sticking to my update schedule - if I need to change that in any way, I will let you all know.
Anyways. On with the story!
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
The Absol was little more than a blur as she hurled herself forwards, horn glinting with Dark energy, leaving no doubt as to her intentions. Even as Medicham broke into a sprint, she knew she wouldn't be able to reach Marcus in time. He'd moved too far forward.
Kriesh, with her speed-boosting Sky Impact, drove ahead of Medicham, but even she would be too slow, and Skorupi and Phantump weren't even as fast as Kriesh. Medicham could see the realization in their eyes even as they pushed, forced themselves to run faster than they ever had before yet knowing it would not be enough.
"Impenetrable Shell!"
Shellder, though, was just fast enough. Not to get in front of Marcus, as the rest of them were doing, but to throw up an unbreakable barricade between Marcus's upper body and the lunging Absol.
A loud grating noise sounded as Absol's horn ripped across the Impenetrable Shell. But Shellder had, in his haste, put it just slightly too far up. It made sense; he was hurried, and he only knew that he had to protect Marcus's throat.
But, though the Impenetrable Shell altered Absol's trajectory, it did not arrest her flight. Marcus screamed, a scream that would radiate in all their minds for days afterwards, as Absol's horn slashed a deep, diagonal cut down his chest.
Then Kriesh was there, aiming to tackle Absol away, with Medicham a half-step behind her, fist drawn back and crackling with Fighting energy. Absol blurred, shifting effortlessly out of Kriesh's way, and twisted her head to slash down Kriesh's side as she went flying past. Then she looked up, opened her mouth, and expelled a single beam of Dark energy right at Medicham.
"Psychic Dodge!" Medicham cried. At the same time, she heard Phantump and Skorupi call out ranged attacks. Medicham flipped over the ray and punched forwards, only to find empty air as Absol bent sideways. Medicham only had a heartbeat to realize that she'd left herself wide open before Absol stabbed the blade atop her head into Medicham's gut.
It was almost like she'd anticipated the strike before it had even happened.
Absol held her horn there for a split second, smirking as Medicham gasped in pain. Then she flicked it upwards, splitting Medicham open from stomach to chin.
Medicham fell, clutching the wound and biting back a scream. She rolled over, gasping in pain, as blood seeped from the gash. She could see Kriesh, spinning to face Absol, unheeding of the wound in her side; could see Shellder, Skorupi, and Phantump all firing attacks at Absol; could see Marcus, face down, blood pooling under him.
No!
Absol was only motionless for a second before Dark energy rippled around her and she disappeared. A Confuse Ray and a set of spikes from Skorupi's Pierce whistled through the air. Absol reappeared right behind Phantump a second later, seemingly having teleported even though Medcham could see no Psychic energy emanating from her, horn glowing black once more.
"Impenetrable Shell!" Absol's horn bounced off the shell that sprang up behind Phantump. In an instant, Phantump twisted, one arm outstretched. "Curse!" But, yet again, Absol bent just enough to avoid the attack. Her mouth opened and she fired five rays of Dark energy point-blank at Phantump. Five wet thuds sounded, followed by a sixth as Phantump fell to the ground.
Absol didn't miss a beat, easily twisting away from a wild charge from Skorupi. Her eyes locked on Shellder as he fired an Ice Flurry at her. Swiftly, she slashed her horn down diagonally through the air. To Medicham's surprise, the slash remained, a curved blade of Dark energy attached to nothing.
Absol repeated the motion twice more; all three slashes combined barely took a second. Then she sent them flying forwards, one at a time.
The first one shattered off of an Impenetrable Shell, but not before tearing through the Ice Flurry as though it were nothing. The second struck Shellder's Defensive Shell, and to Medicham's horror scythed right through. Shellder let out a choked cry, opening his shell reflexively, just in time for the third aerial blade. Shellder fell, his blood joining Medicham's and Marcus's.
Abruptly, a loud bark sounded as another Pokemon lunged from the bushes, white eyes twinkling. "Flame Surge!" it howled. A burst of fire came from its jaws, surging towards Absol and crackling as it did so. Absol yet again flickered with Ghost energy and disappeared.
Medicham rose her head, conscious of her own blood pooling on the ground but not caring. She only had eyes for Marcus, who was groaning in pain, both hands held to his stomach, now bright red. "H…help…" he whispered, barely audible.
The Houndoom that had lunged from the bush stood confusedly, looking from one side to the other. "Did…did I get it?" he asked.
"No."
Houndoom howled as no fewer than a dozen Absols reappeared around him. Twelve deep gashes ripped across his skin and he fell near-instantly. "Beam Impact!" Kriesh cried.
"No Escape!" Skorupi joined her, firing two - no, three - rays of Dark energy at the pack of Absols.
All twelve blurred, scattering as the Beam Impact only slammed into the downed Houndoom and threw his broken body across the clearing. All twelve twisted, avoiding the rays of Dark energy that Skorupi desperately fired with ease. All twelve opened their mouths.
Three dozen Dark-type rays burst out, three from each mouth. Skorupi and Kriesh didn't stand a chance. Their broken bodies fell unconscious to the ground under the swift and brutal bombardment.
Medicham raised a hand and threw a useless blast of Psychic energy at one of the Absols, hoping to somehow attract their attention, stall Absol any way she could. But Absol didn't even look her way. Eleven Absols flickered out of existence as the real Absol, no longer caring to exert the energy required to keep her duplicates up, strolled towards Marcus.
Marcus looked up. One of his hands left his stomach and reached out in a desperate, placating gesture. "Please…"
Absol said nothing. Her horn lighting up with Dark energy told Marcus everything he needed to know.
Medicham screamed. She should have gotten up, should have moved, but her body wouldn't obey her, too weakened by blood loss. The rest of the team were unconscious or worse, unable to see, unable to protect their Trainer anymore.
A scream was all Medicham could muster.
Absol halted.
For the first time since her attack, she stood still. The finishing blow was primed, but she didn't take it.
Instead, she looked back. Her eyes widened. Medicham's eyes followed her gaze, and she was at once slammed with a presence the likes of which she'd never felt before.
Life's Will.
Absol let out a snarl as she stepped back from Marcus's body, away from the being that stood on the edge of the woods, glaring at the clearing and at her in particular.
Medicham could not take her eyes off the being. Its body was colored blue and black, looking somewhat like a larger version of the Sawsbuck Medicham had seen once, back in the forest, when an Unovan Trainer had passed through. Medicham had only caught a brief glimpse of the majestic four-legged Pokemon, its brown body and green, leafy horns making it look like a walking tree as it strode through the woods alongside its Trainer.
This Pokemon was different, though. Instead of leaves, its horns were filled with a rainbow of light, jutting out in all directions from the top of its head. Power radiated off of it, power that Medicham could feel even though the new arrival's gaze wasn't even aimed at her.
Absol backed away, her face a mask of fury; then all of a sudden the fury disappeared, replaced with the terrifying calm she'd exhibited all throughout the fight. She glanced at Medicham. "Next time you see Seeker-Of-Endings," she said, "send him my regards."
Then she was gone.
The Sawsbuck-like Pokemon turned its gaze upon Medicham. Its eyes twinkled with sorrow, and then it, too, disappeared into the foliage.
"Wait!" Medicham cried, holding out a hand, but it was too late.
Her last hope gone, she let herself succumb to exhaustion. She barely heard the shouting of alarm, the hurried footsteps, as she sank into darkness, a darkness she could not resist yet knew, deep inside, she wouldn't emerge from.
Betrayer-Of-Kin allowed herself a silent, disappointed hiss.
It wasn't often that she failed. Sure, Marcus was badly wounded, but Betrayer-Of-Kin knew that with prompt treatment it would not be fatal. And she wasn't deaf; she'd heard the voices, the footsteps. Other Trainers had been coming even as she left.
Then again, there was one bright spot to come out of all this.
Betrayer-Of-Kin continued to move. She knew where she was going, and she knew it wasn't far. She walked with a somewhat hurried air. Normally she didn't hurry, but this was different.
"Absol?"
The words, her species name, the name that she'd tricked the rest of 'her' team into believing was hers, came from the right. Betrayer-Of-Kin turned to see Mable, looking down upon her, her Umbreon standing beside her.
"Where have you been?" Mable asked. "You were sent on a scouting mission, not meant to disappear for an entire day!"
Betrayer-Of-Kin allowed her features to rearrange into a grin. "Inform Lysandre," she said, "that I have located the Lifebringer."
"So." Lysandre's glare was withering. "A year. You spent a year combing Kalos in search of the Lifebringer. You found nothing. And now Mable just randomly stumbles across it on a completely unrelated operation?"
Xerosic wilted. "Ah…sir. I must…not have been looking…in, well, the right places…but I'm sure…"
As the scientist continued to blather, the being on the ceiling watched with amusement masked by irritation. He did so enjoy Lysandre's anger. He drank it in gleefully.
"No matter," said Lysandre. "Your operation is the same. You're with Celosia. I will join Mable. And Aliana and Bryony will meet up at the Power Plant, as agreed. Is that understood?"
"Understood, sir," said Xerosic. "Clear as crystal."
"Get out of here," Lysandre ordered. Xerosic turned and practically ran out the door.
Lysandre sighed, then looked up at the ceiling. "It's time."
The being allowed a predatory grin to cross his features. "Finally."
Darkness reigned, but it was mixed with a bizarre warmth. Medicham sunk deeper as visions flashed across her mind, visions that she did not want. She relived the battle over and over again, wondering what she'd done wrong, if she could have protected Marcus better.
If I'd just been a little faster, a little more strategic, a little stronger…
Her chest hurt, but not as much as it had before. Slowly, almost without thinking, she reached up a hand to her chin. She felt the part where Absol's horn had struck, and then ran a single finger down, from chin to stomach, down the injury that she knew would scar.
Was Marcus all right?
Were any of them all right?
Her mind flew back to Phantump, motionless on the ground, overloaded with Dark energy; Shellder, shell split by one blade of darkness and body split by another; the Houndoom, whom she was pretty sure she recognized but couldn't place where, his body covered in deep gashes and flying across the clearing, propelled by Kriesh's misaimed Hyper Beam; Kriesh and Skorupi collapsing under a barrage of countless Dark-type rays.
How many of them were still alive?
Breathe. She thought back to the exercises Lucario had set for her, meant to instill calm and embrace the inner self. Slowly, Medicham began to take deep, calming breaths. In. Out. In. Out.
She felt the pounding of her heart slowly lessening.
Light. The darkness and the warmth disappeared, replaced with a chilly air and what was clearly an artificial light. Medicham looked down. She was standing on a tiled floor - a Pokemon Center, then. She looked up.
"I remember you."
The voice came uncontrollably from her own mouth at the sight of the floating Musharna in front of her. Was this the same Pokemon Center? For she recognized this Musharna from that day when Marcus had caught Kriesh.
"I'm sure you do," Musharna intoned. "Don't worry. Your friends all survived, and your Trainer is being treated in the Lumiose Hospital. His parents have been notified. Everything is going to be fine."
"All of them?" Medicham asked, somewhat disbelievingly.
"Whatever attacked you," said Musharna, "inflicted quite a few injuries that stopped just short of life-threatening. Our belief is that your Trainer was the only one they were actively attempting to kill."
Medicham sagged with relief. Musharna sighed. "Your injuries were the worst, aside from your Trainer's," she said. "Your friends have already been released. Would you like me to take you to them?"
"That would be great. Thanks," said Medicham.
"Follow me, please." Musharna floated out the open door. Medicham followed unhesitatingly.
The instant she walked outside, she was mobbed.
"Oh, thank Arceus!" Kriesh was the first one on her, quickly followed by Shellder, Phantump, and Skorupi.
"Is everyone all right?" Medicham asked.
This brought a harsh chuckle from Kriesh's throat. "What do you mean, 'is everyone all right'? What about you?"
"We thought you…" Shellder trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
"What about Marcus?" Medicham asked.
The rest of the team fell silent. "All we know is he's bein' treated," said Skorupi. "He…lost a lot of blood before anyone got ta him."
"What even happened?" Phantump asked. "I mean, I lost consciousness pretty quickly, so I didn't exactly see what was going on."
"Well, after you and Shellder went down, Houndoom showed up," Kriesh answered. "It…didn't help much."
Medicham looked over the rest of the team's shoulders to see Houndoom, clearly trying to make it look like he wasn't watching them.
"Thanks for helping," she said.
Houndoom looked up, his eyes shining with regret. "Save your thanks," he growled gruffly. "I don't deserve it."
Recognition finally came to Medicham like a swift punch to the gut. "You're the Houndoom from the forest!" she realized. "Aren't you a Team Flare Pokemon?"
Houndoom curled his lip. "Yeah," he answered. He let out a sigh. "I should go."
"Wait, wait, hold on a second!" Medicham cried.
"Fine!" Houndoom retorted, spinning aggressively. "Go on! Yell at me! Curse me! That's what I deserve. Isn't it?"
"That's…" Medicham said placatingly. "That's not what I said."
"Yeah, but it's clear that's what you meant." With those words, Houndoom whirled again and flounced off.
Medicham looked questioningly back at the team. "Do any of you know anything more?"
"I'm pretty sure he's been following us since we beat him," said Kriesh. "And no, I have no idea why he did that."
"Did he chase the Absol off?" Phantump asked.
A cold pit settled into Medicham's stomach as she turned back towards Phantump. "No, he fell like the rest of us," she said. "We couldn't even slow her down. But…someone else arrived. I didn't recognize it, but it was powerful enough to force her to retreat."
"What did it look like?" Shellder asked.
"Like…" Medicham almost said 'a Sawsbuck', but recalled that none of the rest of them probably knew what a Sawsbuck looked like. "Blue. Black. Multicolored horns. Four legs. It-"
"The Lifebringer."
All of their heads snapped towards Phantump. The tree-like Ghost looked somewhat wistful as she spoke again. "He roams the forests around Coumarine often. I've never seen him, but some of my old group - before the Skorupi, that is - could channel his energy and grow their own berries. And they spoke of him often, said that my ancestral line had unbreakable ties with the Lifebringer. They described him almost exactly the same way you just did."
"Are you saying that Xerneas just showed up and bailed us out?" Kriesh asked. This got her some strange looks from the rest of the team. "It's what humans call him. Team Rocket sometimes mentioned him when they were talking about Kalos."
Medicham's expression was grim. "I think that's exactly what I'm saying," she said. "In which case…we all owe the Lifebringer a debt of gratitude."
A cough came from Medicham's right. The team turned to see a plump Wigglytuff standing before them. "Apologies for interrupting," said Wigglytuff, "but the Lumiose Hospital asked me to collect the team of one Marcus Grayson. Are you his team?"
"Yes, we are," Medicham answered.
"With me, please," said Wigglytuff. "Stand within five feet of me. Don't put any body parts outside that radius. Fearow, you can be above me if you want."
"My name is Kriesh," Kriesh growled, but obeyed, hovering to a position less than five feet above Wigglytuff. The rest of the team gathered around the pink Pokemon.
It happened in just a second. Medicham's stomach suddenly twisted in a knot and she bit back a gasp of surprise. Vomit forced itself up her throat and she barely forced it back down. Her entire body was tensed, and nausea filled her belly.
Then she was standing on solid ground again. She let out a few quick breaths, taking in the cool, calming air, and looked around at the bustling hospital they were standing in the middle of.
Humans in white coats, male and female alike, scurried about along with Pokemon of all shapes and sizes. In her immediate view, Medicham could see everything from a tiny Cherrim to a group of Blisseys and Chanseys to even a Gyarados which really didn't seem to have a place in a hospital. Wigglytuff was already moving into the crowd. "This way, please."
Despite the bustle, Wigglytuff seemed to carve a path through the crowd fairly easily. Medicham led the rest of the team close behind, making sure to stick close to Wigglytuff to avoid being caught up in the crowd.
Wigglytuff led them through a door and into a much quieter hallway. Medicham followed, close enough that she nearly crashed into Wigglytuff as she stopped dead. In front of her stood a Jynx who had evidently just teleported in.
"Jynx," Wigglytuff greeted. "How's the newest arrival?"
"Doing fine, as far as I know," said Jynx. "The Clefable assigned to notify his parents came back. It seems they can't make it."
Medicham frowned. She didn't know Sarah and James that well, but that didn't sound like them.
"That's a shame," said Wigglytuff. "This is Marcus's team, by the way. I'm taking them to see him."
Jynx's eyes swept over them. "My condolences," she said, and then teleported away.
Wigglytuff at once began moving again. Medicham followed, remaining a little further back than before now that the immediately surrounding area wasn't as crowded. Wigglytuff made a right, then a left, then another right, and finally slowed down to look back at the team.
"In here," she said, gesturing towards a door on her left.
Medicham stepped through the door obediently, the rest of the team on her heels.
The room that entered Medicham's vision was unlike anywhere else in the hospital. The rest of the hospital had been bright, welcoming, and full of activity. This room was foreboding, quiet, and the only sources of light were the countless screens displaying innumerable rooms, innumerable images of humans lying in beds. Some were conscious, others looked on the edge of death.
"Welcome to the Teleportation Hub," said Wigglytuff. "In here, we are able to see any room in the hospital. If something goes wrong, we are able to instantaneously teleport to wherever needs us." She indicated the several other Pokemon standing around, a mixture of Psychics and Fairies ranging from a pair of Alakazam to a lone Clefable. An Arcanine stood in the center of the room, scanning the screens; his eyes narrowed as he saw Medicham and the rest of the team filing into the room alongside Wigglytuff.
"Wigglytuff." Arcanine's eyes narrowed. "What are non-workers doing in here?"
"They wanted to see their Trainer," said Wigglytuff.
Arcanine snorted. "Then take them to see their Trainer. Not in here. This is for hospital Pokemon only."
"Listen." Medicham stepped forward, her patience eroded to a very thin point. "We just want to see our Trainer, in here, and then we'll leave. It'll only-"
"In case you've forgotten," Arcanine interrupted, raising himself to his full height. "Wigglytuff can teleport. You want to see your Trainer, tell her to take you to your Trainer's room. Get out."
Medicham was about to protest when she saw, over Arcanine's shoulder, a familiar face.
Marcus was still unconscious; he seemed to be hooked up to a couple of machines, and most of him was covered by the machines or a blanket, but Medicham could see his face, his closed eyes, his discomforted expression.
Arcanine sighed, looking over his shoulder. "That your Trainer?" he asked. "Yeah, he was pretty beat up. They got him on life support. It's looking good, but he'll be in here for a little while."
His expression, which had softened over the course of the speech, now hardened again. "All right. You've had your look. Now out."
It was then, as Medicham was torn between further protestations and acceptance, that the entire room suddenly went pitch black.
"What the-" Arcanine cried out. "Light!"
"Flash!" The cry came from several throats at once, and the room exploded with light so bright that Medicham had to cover her eyes.
After a few seconds, though, the light faded to a more comfortable level. Medicham opened her eyes. Arcanine was glaring down at her. "Did you do that? Did one of you do that?"
"No!" Medicham protested. "What happened?"
"The screens are down!" Arcanine snarled.
"Sir!" Wigglytuff cried, peering out the door. "It's not just the screens! The lights outside are down too!"
Arcanine paled. "Alakazams, the lobby!"
Both of the Alakazams winked out of existence. A few seconds passed before they reappeared. "Everything's out. Lights, cameras, vending machines. And it's not just the hospital."
"Clefable, find Clemont!" Arcanine began barking orders instantly. "The rest of you, start evacuating!"
"What's going on?" Shellder asked.
"The power's gone out," Arcanine growled. "All throughout the hospital, possibly all of Lumiose. We have to assume that the Kalos Power Plant has failed in some way, because everything's out. Including life support."
"Marcus," Medicham whispered, horror filling every part of her body.
"Exactly," Arcanine snarled. "Now quickly, you need to go. We'll handle your Trainer, now-"
"Your attention, please, citizens of Lumiose City."
Light burst forth into the room once more as all the screens flickered back on. The chilling female voice drew everyone's attention to the newly relit screens. Medicham gasped as she saw two women, one with red hair and one with green, both dressed in the trademark visor-and-uniform getup of Team Flare Admins.
"We are representatives of the organization known as Team Flare," the red-haired woman said. "Our forces have overrun the Kalos Power Plant. As of now, we control where the power goes in this region."
"Kinda weird that the entire region operates off of only one power plant…" the green-haired woman piped up.
"Shut up, Bryony," said the red-haired woman. "Anyway. As I was saying, we control all the power in this region. We choose whether or not to power your monorail. Your lights. Your refrigeration. Your hospital equipment."
"And it would be a real shame if some of your citizens died because the equipment keeping them alive didn't have any power," Bryony added.
"So," said the red-haired woman, steepling her hands, "here's the thing. We want Pokemon. Two hundred of them, to be exact. Our representatives are waiting at the bridge to the power plant on Route 13. You will leave the Pokemon with them. As soon as they have received two hundred Pokemon, we will turn the power back on, and we will leave."
She grinned wickedly. "But," she said, "if you resist us, or try to cheat us in any way, we will know. And if we receive any word of resistance…well, there are some very sensitive controls where we're standing." Over her shoulder, the terrifying form of a Hydreigon emerged from the shadows, all three mouths locked in a snarl. "And Cerberus here might just accidentally break them. Hydreigons are quite destructive, after all. And no one wants that, do they?"
"Basically, send the Pokemon or the power goes out for a long, long, time," Bryony stated.
The red-haired woman glared at Bryony. "I just said that, Bryony!"
"Shut up, Aliana!" Bryony protested. "You promised I would get to say the demands!"
The screens cut out at that moment, leaving the watchers in darkness once again.
Medicham hadn't even realized she'd been curling her fists so tightly. She looked down to realize she'd drawn blood from her own hands.
"How…" Shellder's voice was aghast. "How can they just do that?"
"Because," Kriesh said bitterly, "these Teams are all the same. They just don't care."
"But…" Medicham looked back at Arcanine. "...if life support is down, does that mean Marcus is-"
"Not yet," Arcanine growled. "We have auxiliary power systems in the case of an outage, but they're meant for momentary problems, not something like this. And our equipment isn't electrically insulated, so trying to power it with an Electric-type will just overload the systems. Your Trainer will be fine for about twelve hours, but then…if we don't have power by that time, he will die."
Medicham let out a furious breath, then turned to the rest of the team. "We have to do something."
"How?" Skorupi asked, his voice quivering. "We're in Lumiose! We can't get ta the power plant, an' even if we were able ta, what could we do against two Admins? We barely beat one, an' she had two Pokemon while we had that overpowered Archeops an' an entire flock of Spearow on our side! What are we supposed ta do?"
"I don't know," said Shellder. "But Medicham's right. We can't just do nothing."
"I'm with Medicham too," said Kriesh.
"I'm with Medicham three." Phantump slid over to join Kriesh.
Skorupi sighed. "All righ'. So what's the plan?"
It was then that Clefable popped back into the room. "Clemont's already preparing his team," she said. "And we've got League support incoming. At least one of the Elite Four, possibly two. It doesn't seem like they're planning on giving in to Team Flare's demands."
Arcanine hesitated for a surprisingly long time. "As expected. Get back to Clemont, and stay there," he growled. "They'll need a teleporter. And…" Another pause lasted for several more seconds. "Take these Pokemon with you."
Clefable glanced at Medicham and the rest of the team. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Arcanine growled. "Go."
"Yes, sir," said Clefable. "All right, you five. With me. You know the drill - five feet, no further."
Once again, Medicham's stomach twisted and churned, and once again she had to force down vomit that threatened to come at the call of a sudden burst of nausea. Then Medicham, the rest of the team, and Clefable were standing at the front door of, surprisingly enough, the massive tower that dominated the city.
"Hello again, Clefable." This voice came from a blue-suited, glasses-wearing human who seemed to have been in the process of walking out the door. Around him stood a Heliolisk and a Luxray, while above him hovered a Magnezone and an Emolga. All of their eyes were locked on Clefable and the Pokemon surrounding her. Medicham was aware of the Heliolisk especially staring her down inquisitively.
Clefable waved. "Hello, Clemont. These five are with me," she added with a glance back at Medicham.
This satisfied Clemont's team, who looked away, their curiosities sated. Clemont clearly understood at least part of what Clefable was saying, judging by the speed at which he nodded. "All right, then. The League's told us that they're sending their reinforcements over here. Just hold tight and - ah."
This interruption came as another Trainer appeared a few feet away from Clemont. This trainer was taller, blond-haired, clad in an all-white garb, and radiated confidence mixed with worry. He was surrounded by a stocky Barbaracle, a snarling Gyarados, an incredibly well-muscled Clawitzer, a gigantic Seismitoad, a similarly large Blastoise, and a Starmie whose gem was just powering down from the Teleport it had enacted.
"Siebold, glad you could make it," Clemont greeted.
"Glad to be here," said Siebold. "Kalos is in chaos. Most of the Gym Leaders and Elite Four are running damage control, and Diantha's busy contacting Unova and Alola to advise them of the situation and ask for aid. Seems like it'll be us two and Ramos, plus a couple of Trainers Ramos picked up."
"Gym Trainers?" Clemont asked. "Ace Trainers?"
"No, just a couple of Gym Challengers," said Siebold. "Fourth-badge level, but apparently they've acquitted themselves well against Grunts before. With two Admins there, presumably with their full teams, we'll need all the help we can get to keep those Grunts off us."
"A Clefable from the hospital brought some allies as well," Clemont said, indicating Medicham and the rest of the team.
Siebold and his Pokemon turned towards Medicham, who suddenly felt uncomfortable under the stares of all of them. She could tell at a glance that these Pokemon were all much, much more powerful than she was, and easily the most powerful Pokemon in the area.
This must be one of the 'Elite Four'.
"And why are you here?" the Blastoise asked, his voice deep and questioning.
"Our Trainer's in the hospital," said Medicham. "He'll die if we don't get the power back on."
"Statement: One moment," said Starmie, his voice a monotone drone. "Realization: I believe I recognize them from Grant's report." His single gem flicked to Kriesh. "Query: You are Kriesh, correct?"
"Yes," Kriesh said with a note of trepidation.
"Realization: These are the Pokemon that were involved in the situation with the Spearow flock," Starmie droned, looking up at Siebold. "Conclusion: They possess experience. We can use them."
Siebold nodded. "Got it. All right, you five. Which one of you is the leader of your…team?"
"That would be Medicham," said Phantump. Slowly, the others nodded.
"Medicham," said Siebold, "your team is on Grunt duty. Do not engage any Admin Pokemon unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Your priority is to keep the Grunts off Clemont, Ramos, and I while we deal with the Admins. Is that understood?"
Medicham nodded.
"Good," said Siebold. "All right, here's what we're dealing with. We've got an unspecified amount of Grunts and two Admins, all of whom presumably have full teams of six. One of the Admins, Aliana, is pretty well known. She was freelance for a while before joining up with Team Flare. Aliana uses a combination of Poison, Dark, and Dragon-types. Her Dragalge's a major threat; it has an ability called Poison Touch, allowing it to effectively control poisons. Don't get poisoned while it's nearby, or it'll be able to accelerate the flow and knock you unconscious practically instantaneously. One of our Ace Trainers learned that one the hard way. The other main threats are her Vileplume and Hydreigon. Both are clearly experienced battlers that know their way around a fight and are vicious to boot. Don't hold back against her; she packs a lot of power and supplements it with some nasty tricks, so your best bet is to use your head to fight her."
Siebold cleared his throat. "Bryony we know less about. She appears to be a generalist with a theme of fast, maneuverable Pokemon. As far as we know, she's got a Beedrill, Liepard, Bisharp, and Aegislash. The rest of her team is unknown, but we can assume they follow the same theme. If you wind up fighting her team, your priority has to be to pin them down. They're fast, and almost certainly faster than you, but they're not invincible and they're not quite as hardy as Aliana's."
Siebold glanced around at the Pokemon gathered around him. "Everybody ready?"
Nods from all around brought a smile to his face. "All right. Starmie, Clefable, take us to Route 13, right to the bridge."
"With all due respect, Siebold," said Clemont, "what about their warning? If the Power Plant is damaged-"
"They're bluffing," said Siebold. "They said they'd shut off the power in their little broadcast, but all the lights and sensors were still on in the background. They haven't shut it off. They're rerouting it to someplace. And I'm positive they want that power almost as much as they want those Pokemon. I highly doubt they're actually going to destroy the equipment."
"What if you're wrong?" Clemont asked.
"You're a wizard with technology, Clemont," said Siebold. "If I'm wrong, I have no doubt that you can have that power plant back up before too long."
"You got it," said Clemont. "Everyone, cluster around Starmie and Clefable!"
Medicham stepped up next to Clefable, anxiety hammering in her chest. She'd fought Team Flare before, but this was different. Before, she'd fought against raiding parties, made up of single-digit amounts of Grunts.
Now, she was leading the team into a full-scale battle. If any of them got hurt, it would be her fault. If any of them-
Best not to think about that.
Medicham clenched her fists. She would not let Marcus die because of Team Flare.
She felt Kriesh's presence on one side of her. The others clustered tightly as well. Medicham looked around, seeing their anxious but determined expressions. Even Phantump looked tense and ready to fight.
In the next second, Lumiose was gone, and for the third time that day Medicham's stomach churned and roiled like a stormy sea. At the very least, she thought, she was becoming used to it.
"Report."
"As you know, there was a 93.47% chance that successful contact of the parents would lead to Marcus being pulled from training," said one of the two Absols standing side by side in the center of the 'clearing' surrounded by the Perish Dimension. "I took action to prevent such a possibility. The teleporter arrived at the parents' house right on schedule. The teleporter's memory was wiped and replaced with a memory of the parents refusing to come. The parents have no knowledge of Marcus's condition."
"Good work," said the other of the two Absols. "It is good that the Lifebringer arrived. Seeker-Of-Endings's carelessness would have certainly doomed Marcus otherwise. And yet the Lifebringer's actions have changed his own fate. Team Flare is coming for him."
"Bringer, are you sure Seeker-Of-Endings should proceed with this mission?" the first Absol asked. "Betrayer-Of-Kin has already taken advantage of his inexperience once. Would it not be prudent to replace him with a more seasoned operative?"
"I know that he has erred, Reader," said Bringer-Of-Visions. "I have considered the possibility of replacing him. But there is a 60.26% chance that Seeker-Of-Endings's removal will result in a significant change in events. The chance is too high. He will stay for now."
The Absol known as Reader sighed. "I tire of cleaning up his messes."
"Have patience, Reader," Bringer-Of-Visions cautioned. "Events are coming to a head. Marcus's team, the Lifebringer, Team Flare...today there are many converging paths. Many destinies could change in the upcoming conflict. We will watch."
Bringer-Of-Visions sat down, every inch of movement radiating calm.
"And if we must intervene further...then so be it."