Chapter 27 The First Strike Part 1
The air was thick with tension as the first light of dawn broke over the United Region. Ash stood atop a cliff overlooking the sprawling kingdoms below, his gaze resolute, his posture unyielding. Beside him, Lillie stood silently, her expression a mix of determination and quiet strength. Together, they watched as Team Alpha's forces spread out across the land, ready for battle.
Taking a deep breath, Ash raised his arm, gathering the swirling energy around him. With a fierce shout, he unleashed a powerful beam into the sky, its light piercing through the clouds. The signal blazed brightly, marking the beginning of the war.
As the beam lit up the sky, gasps and murmurs spread through the United Region. In the streets, townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances, knowing what the signal meant. Kingdom soldiers stood watch, eyes sharp and cold.
A frightened woman whispered to her husband, "The battle's coming here… we can't hide from it."
Nearby, a soldier sneered, "Don't think of betraying us, or you'll regret it."
But beneath the fear, hope flickered. An old man, clutching his cane, murmured to his grandson, "Look, child. They're fighting for us… perhaps our suffering ends today."
In hushed voices, townspeople passed along silent hope.
As Jekyll and his team of Normal-type Pokémon trainers approached the border of Harmony Kingdom, the first line of soldiers stepped forward, their expressions hard and unyielding. One barked, "Halt! You are forbidden to enter the Harmony Kingdom. Turn back now!"
Without hesitation, Jekyll gave a nod to his fellow trainers, and in unison, they released their Pokémon—Pidgeot, Snorlax, Ursaring, and more. With a powerful sweep, the Normal-types surged forward, swiftly overpowering the guards. The soldiers stumbled back, unprepared for the relentless force, and soon retreated to regroup, leaving the gates unguarded.
With a grin, Jekyll raised his hand, signaling to the trainers behind him. One by one, they pulled out musical instruments they had hidden in their packs—guitars, flutes, drums—and began to play a loud, rebellious tune that echoed through the streets. The music flooded the kingdom, breaking the oppressive silence forced upon its people.
As they marched in, the townsfolk peeked out from windows and alleyways, eyes wide with astonishment. Many had never heard such joyous noise, and as Jekyll's group advanced, hope began to spark in the hearts of Harmony Kingdom's residents. The battle had begun, and so had the first notes of their liberation.
Mancy led her team of Bug-type trainers into the heart of Bramblethorn Kingdom, her expression determined as they faced the well-armed soldiers guarding the gates. The soldiers sneered, clutching tanks of pesticide and crates of illegal power-ups, weapons specifically designed to harm Bug-types.
One soldier laughed, raising his sprayer. "Bugs don't belong here. We'll wipe them out in seconds!"
Without hesitation, Mancy raised her hand, signaling her trainers. "We're prepared for your tricks." The Bug Pokémon trainers activated special coatings on their Pokémon, forming a protective shield that repelled the pesticides. Led by powerful Bug-types like Heracross, Scyther, and Scolipede, the swarm advanced with precision, darting past the soldiers' attacks.
The soldiers tried to deploy the power-ups on their own Pokémon, but Mancy's team was faster. Her Pokémon struck swiftly, disarming the soldiers and rendering their weapons useless. The Bug-types surged forward, breaking through their defenses and leaving the soldiers scrambling in confusion.
As they moved deeper into the kingdom, residents watched in awe and cautious hope from behind closed doors, hearing the unmistakable hum of Bug Pokémon wings filling the streets. It was only the beginning, but Bramblethorn's long-held terror of Bug-types was starting to crack.
Ringo led his Grass-type trainers through the outskirts of Viridale Kingdom, where once-lush forests were now reduced to scarred, withered remnants after centuries of ruthless exploitation. The soldiers patrolling the forests were openly harsh, overseeing farmers who toiled endlessly, their crops seized and freedom stolen. As Ringo and his team approached, they saw the soldiers roughly pushing farmers aside, claiming the little they had harvested.
"Back off!" a soldier barked, noticing Ringo and the Grass-type trainers approaching. "This land's ours. You have no right here."
Ringo's eyes hardened. "No right? These forests belong to everyone, not to be destroyed for greed. Grass Pokémon, take action!"
The Grass-type trainers unleashed their Pokémon—Sceptile, Breloom, Roserade, and Tsareena—who immediately attacked the soldiers with swift precision, cutting through their ranks with vines, spores, and razor leaves. The soldiers scrambled, unprepared for such a fierce retaliation. Ringo's team expertly guided their Pokémon to overwhelm the soldiers, driving them away from the farmers and breaking their control over the area.
The battle intensified as soldiers attempted to regroup, reaching for crates filled with illegally traded exotic plants. Ringo directed his Pokémon to neutralize them, leaving the crates unusable and disrupting the kingdom's exploitative trade.
Farmers looked on with newfound hope as the soldiers were forced back, the air filling with the scent of forest plants and renewal. Though the forest was far from healed, the spark of resistance had taken root, igniting the first strike for Viridale Kingdom's freedom.
Victor led his team of Fighting-type trainers into the heart of Battleforge Kingdom, where the infamous death battle colosseums loomed ominously. Inside, echoes of past battles haunted the walls, and the bones of those who had perished in forced fights littered the edges of the brutal arena. The soldiers guarding the entrance wielded crude, makeshift weapons crafted from these very bones, grinning with twisted pride as they spotted Victor's group approaching.
"Fresh challengers?" one soldier taunted, raising a bone spear. "Step inside. You'll be fighting for your lives soon enough."
Victor's eyes blazed with anger. "We're here to end this cruelty, not to join it." He turned to his trainers. "Show them what true strength looks like!"
With fierce battle cries, the Fighting-type trainers released their Pokémon—Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr, and others—who launched themselves into the arena, overpowering the guards with swift, precise attacks. Soldiers attempted to retaliate, but their primitive weapons were no match for the unrelenting force of Victor's team.
As the trainers advanced, they tore down the bars and shackles surrounding the colosseum, freeing captives and tearing apart the twisted symbol of oppression. The crowd, once silenced by fear, began to cheer as Victor's team dismantled the horrific spectacle. The soldiers fell back, the first blow to the Kingdom struck as Victor's group brought true justice to the arena.
Wallace, the renowned Sootopolis Gym Leader, led a group of Water-type trainers as they approached the harbor of Aquarine Kingdom. The once-pristine waters were now choked with trash and oil slicks, a grim sight for anyone who loved the sea. Ships bearing the kingdom's flag patrolled the polluted waters, their guards imposing strict rules even on beachgoers, who were forced to wear heavy formal attire instead of swimsuits, forbidden from enjoying the waves.
As Wallace observed the scene, his expression hardened. "They've turned these waters into a prison. Let's remind them of the sea's true power."
At his command, the Water-type trainers released their Pokémon—Gyarados, Milotic, Swampert, and Pelipper—all moving swiftly through the murky waves. The Pokémon targeted the patrolling ships, creating massive waves that rocked the vessels and sent guards sprawling. The soldiers scrambled, unsteady on their feet as they tried to keep control.
"Show them no mercy!" Wallace called out, his Milotic unleashing a powerful Hydro Pump that blasted one of the ships, sending it crashing back toward the docks.
As the ships capsized, trash began to drift away, cleared by the powerful currents created by the Water Pokémon. Onlookers watched with hope as Wallace's team symbolically reclaimed the ocean, striking the first blow for Aquarine Kingdom's freedom and restoring the spirit of the sea.
Paris led his team of Electric-type trainers into the heart of Voltshield Kingdom, where the relentless hum of overused power filled the air, leaving residents sleepless and drained. Towering electrical fences crisscrossed the city, trapping people within rigid zones, while bright lights flickered with an oppressive, unyielding intensity.
Paris surveyed the scene with a hardened gaze. "They've turned electricity from a tool into a prison," he said, turning to his team. "Let's show them how it feels to be free of this control."
At his signal, the trainers released their Electric Pokémon—Electivire, Luxray, Jolteon, and Raichu—who immediately targeted the key transformers. Powerful Thunderbolts and Discharges struck the electrical nodes, sending surges through the grid that caused the lights to dim and the ever-present hum to falter.
Soldiers scrambled to react, rushing to the control panels, but Paris's Manectric and Ampharos disabled the fencing circuits, short-circuiting the barriers that had trapped the kingdom's residents for so long. As the electrical defenses collapsed, silence settled over the area for the first time in years. Residents emerged from their homes, awestruck by the calm and stillness.
Sanders led his team of Ground-type trainers into the harsh, sun-scorched lands of Stoneheart Kingdom. The roads were jagged and uneven, forcing residents to stumble and struggle as they walked, while towering, half-finished pyramids cast shadows over the land. Citizens, weary and bruised, were forced to labor day and night, constructing these monuments under strict, brutal oversight. The water supply was tightly controlled by the kingdom's soldiers, leaving the people parched and dependent on their rulers for every drop.
As Sanders surveyed the scene, his face hardened with resolve. "They're suffering on their own land. Let's give them a reason to hope."
With a swift signal, Sanders's trainers unleashed their Ground-type Pokémon—Garchomp, Rhyperior, Hippowdon, and Krookodile. The Pokémon began to tear up the harsh roads, turning the cracked stone into fine sand that smoothed the path for the people to walk on. Meanwhile, a few Dugtrio and Excadrill tunneled toward the guarded wells, disrupting the soldiers' control over the water supply. Fresh water bubbled to the surface, flowing freely to the people for the first time in years.
As soldiers tried to regain control, Sanders's team countered with Earthquakes and Rock Slides, sending tremors through the ground that destabilized the towering pyramids and halted the forced labor. The exhausted workers watched with hope as the oppressive structures began to crumble, a symbol of the kingdom's grip starting to break. The people of Stoneheart looked on, inspired by this first strike for their freedom.
Relena led her team of Steel-type trainers into the rigid and oppressive Steelhaven Kingdom, where the atmosphere was one of absolute order. The streets were patrolled by cold, emotionless robot soldiers, and citizens were subjected to harsh, mandatory armor testing, forced to wear heavy plates as soldiers watched for weaknesses. Any sign of defiance was met with immediate punishment, leaving the people in a state of constant fear and submission.
Relena's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the heavily armored guards and the towering, metallic structures that cast shadows over the streets. "They think steel is strength? Let's show them what real strength looks like."
At her command, her trainers unleashed their Steel Pokémon—Metagross, Bisharp, Steelix, and Magnezone. The Pokémon moved with calculated precision, immediately targeting the robot soldiers with pinpoint attacks. Magnezone's Thunderbolts surged through the circuits, frying the robots' internal systems, while Bisharp and Scizor dismantled their armor with sharp, decisive strikes.
The soldiers scrambled to respond, but Steelix's massive frame blocked their path, creating barriers that disrupted their controlled lines. Metagross launched a powerful Meteor Mash, shattering the robotic enforcers and scattering the soldiers' formation.
Relena's Pokémon then began targeting the armor-testing stations, smashing them to pieces and freeing the people from their enforced trials. For the first time, the citizens of Steelhaven saw the oppressive order disrupted, replaced by a spark of freedom as Relena's team forged the first break in the kingdom's unyielding chains.
Radium led her team of Rock-type trainers into Terralith Kingdom, where the land was scarred by relentless mining and fossil excavations. The rulers valued their stones and relics above the lives of the people, leaving workers to toil endlessly in hazardous conditions, forced to live in slums under the shadow of the mines.
Radium surveyed the bleak scene, her expression hardening with determination. "They've put stone above humanity. Time to shift the balance."
With a swift command, she released her Rock-type Pokémon—Tyranitar, Lycanroc, Golem, and Rampardos. Her team targeted the mining sites and fossil labs, launching Rock Slides and Stone Edges to block entrances and send shockwaves through the ground. Stones tumbled, forcing the guards to retreat and disrupting the kingdom's precious operations.
The impoverished workers looked on with newfound hope as Radium's Pokémon shielded them from falling debris. Tyranitar's Roar echoed through the mines, shaking the structures, while Lycanroc and Rhyperior created protective barriers around the slums.
As soldiers tried to push back, Radium's team stood firm, using their Pokémon's strength to defend the people. For the first time, the slum residents felt the oppressive weight of Terralith lifting, a spark of rebellion lit by Radium's first strike for justice.
Now we begin with the fight, and the first strike will be split into two chapters. I hope you like the first one.