Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Forty-nine: The war for the world, part two
An encampment of Kalosian rebellion forces had established a stronghold along the one edge of Shalour City, where the flying ship The USS Enterprise landed. The drawbridge shot out to touch the ground, and the crew came filing out. The leader of the Kalosian rebellion forces at Shalour City, a tall, grizzled mid forties fair skinned man with long white hair bound in a single men's ponytail, gave a salute to the crew of The USS Enterprise as they disembarked.
Meeting up with the Kalosian rebellion leader at Shalour City was James, Captain of the flying ship that had just arrived. Following along side James was Meowth, his first officer and technically one of James's Pokémon. "You must be the leader or the rebel forces here at Shalour City," greeted James as he and Meowth met up with the rebel leader, "My crew and I came here when we got it that Shalour City can possibly be wrest from Team Heart hold."
The rebel leader gave a single affirmative nod. "The name's Geralt," said the rebel leader, giving his name as Geralt, "You must be the Captain of the flying ship that had just landed here."
James gave a single affirmative nod. "Yes," replied James, "I am Captain James T. Kirk, Captain of The USS Enterprise."
"Wait, wait, wait " Meowth spoke up, getting both James and Geralt to look at him. Looking right up at James, Meowth asked, "Your name is James T. Kirk? I thought that it was just James."
"Umm, Meowth," James began, "Humans have first and last names. They also often have middle names too." Hands on his hips, James asked, "What, you thought that my full name was just James because you thought that it was my species name or something?"
Shrugging, Meowth said, "To be honest, yeah I kind of did."
"Yeah, we got a few things to go over once all of this brewhaha with Team Heart is squared away," James remarked. Looking to Geralt, James said, "So what's the objective here, Geralt?"
"The Tower of Mastery is where Team Heart forces here in Shalour City are holed up," Geralt said, "Supposedly, one of the first things Team Heart did after taking over Kalos, aside from the complete and total banning of fatphobia, was begin a mad search for a copy of a book called Shalour's Gate. Apparently only three copies are known to exist."
Looking curious, Meowth asked, "Just curious, but why does Team Heart want a copy of some old book?" An itching voice in the back of Meowth's mind told him that Dawn may know something here concerning the rare book. Dawn has developed into something of a bibliophile as of late, and the crew of The Big Beauty WAS in Kalos in the past, before it fell to Team Heart rule. Meowth figured that he'd ask Dawn the next time he saw her.
"Aside from how it's massively rare," Geralt began, "It supposedly holds secrets that could be used to terrible effect if Team Heart were to learn of said secrets and exploit them. It's why each of the three known copies were entrusted to three different parties. Who said parties are I have no clue. All that I got are rumors that all three parties live in differing foreign lands each. Hopefully none of the lands are under the banner of Team Heart."
"What secrets do you think that they hold?" James asked.
"Given that the book's titled Shalour's Gate," Geralt began, "And Shalour City is the place where Mega Evolution was first discovered and perfected, I'd wager that the book has true secrets concerning the intricacies of Mega Evolution. Just imagine if Team Heart were to learn those secrets and use them to strengthen themselves."
Meowth briskly shook his head. "Yeah, that's not something that I'd like to see in any of my nine lives. The last thing that the world needs is for Team Heart to gain more power."
"So when do we go and besiege the Tower of Mastery?" James asked.
"We go as soon as what forces we're leading over are ready," Geralt replied, "But before that we need to wait to get info on what all forces we can expect to see at the Tower of Mastery."
As James gave an understanding nod, a Kalosian rebellion member came jogging up to James, Geralt, and Meowth. The rebel member stopped short and gave Geralt a salute. "Sir, we've just got word on what all we can expect to encounter when we lay siege to the Tower of Mastery," said the rebel member.
Turning to look at his subordinate, Geralt said, "Alright. What are we looking at, soldier?"
"If we have one rebellion member fight each counted Team Heart member, then we'll be going in with a slight numbers advantage," said the rebel member, "We can quickly overwhelm Team Heart at the Tower of Mastery with sheer numbers. But..."
Geralt arched a wry eyebrow at the 'but' said at the end. "But what, soldier?" Geralt asked.
"There's two Team Heart Captains at the Tower of Mastery," said the rebel member, "And they each have an Assistant, so that's four big names to keep an eye out for."
"Do you know of the Captains we'll be dealing with?" Geralt asked.
The rebel member nodded once in the affirmative. "The first one is West, a Captain of Kalos's native Team Heart Sector. He's here with his Assistant Bernard. The second is a Captain and Assistant pair from the Kanto region, Jessie and Merdez. They-"
"Wait a minute," James cut in, both he and Meowth looking shocked. "Jessie's here?"
Geralt and the rebel member both looked to James and Meowth, took note of the looks on their respective faces. "...You both are familiar with that Jessie girl," Geralt guessed, both his tone and his expression showing confidence that his guess is correct, "But the familiarity is without love."
"James and I have a..." Meowth began, "...Very complicated relationship and history with Jessie. She was an old friend of ours, but when the three of us came to a fork in the road so to speak, James and I went right while Jessie went left. Things... have not been all that easy for James and I, but we are trying to help the right side here win out in the end."
"If it proves absolutely necessary," Geralt began, "Can you two face you former friend in battle? Regardless of the past friendship you all have, Jessie is a member of Team Heart now. She has to go down, same as the rest of Team Heart."
James had a look in his eyes that was equal parts grim and resigned. "...Jessie has made her bed," James said, his heart still aching for a friendship that has long since been long gone, "Now she'll have to lay down in it."
Meowth nodded in agreement. "Jessie is playing for the wrong side. Regardless of the past that me and James has with her, we're going to take her down. Without mercy if necessary."
Geralt nodded in agreement. "Alright, glad to see that you two are on the same page," Geralt said. There were a few more things that needed to be checked, but after that the rebel forces were ready to lay siege to the Tower of Mastery, which was taken by Team Heart forces in Shalour City as their stronghold during the Kalosian rebellion.
James and Meowth, as they and some of their crew from The USS Enterprise charged in alongside the rebel forces, had grim looks on their faces. They were about to fight against an old friend of theirs who had gone down a different path than them. Although they were going to fight Jessie and do what they could to defeat her, it was still going to be rather difficult for them, emotionally if not physically. But still, they had to fight their former friend.
...Just thinking about Jessie as being their former friend had sent pangs of somber pain coursing through the hearts of James and Meowth.
A short while later, the forces led by Geralt reached the Tower of Mastery. Normally one would have to wait for the tides in order to access the Tower of Mastery, but Team Heart since they had taken over the Kalos region made the Tower of Mastery far more easily accessible via building a massive pier area connecting the main shore of Shalour City to the Tower of Mastery.
There was even more than enough room to permit making a moderate amusement park on the pier if Team Heart so felt like it, but aside from a few vendor stalls and public benches available, there was nothing. As the forces led by Geralt rushed past all of this, some Team Heart members came out from hiding to ambush Geralt and those he was leading.
The Team Heart members came out from hiding behind a lot of the vendor stalls, at least two of the benches, and one male Team Heart grunt had even come rushing out of a portapotty. The result of this ambush was that the rebels were flanked on their left and right sides. The only saving grace the rebels had here was that although Team Heart flanked them, Team Heart forces there were being spread a bit thin.
But that thin flanking bought Team Heart forces at the Tower of Mastery enough time to rush in to help prevent the rebel forces from taking the Tower of Mastery. The rebels, plus James and the members of his flying ship's crew who came with him, were caught up well before they were even able to reach the objective of this battle in the Kalosian rebellion.
James scowled bitterly as he, Meowth, Geralt, and the other heroes were being overwhelmed. James called out his Weezing and Arcanine to help the heroes fight off Team Heart. Weezing used Smokescreen to obscure the line of sight for the enemy Pokémon, but pulled off Smokescreen in a way that allowed the rebels' Pokémon to pick off enemy Pokémon with impunity.
After Arcanine took out its sixth enemy Pokémon in a row, Meowth saw that more Team Heart forces were coming in from the Tower of Mastery. "Guys, this isn't looking good for us," Meowth said in a worried tone, "At this rate, the rebel forces here at Shalour City are gonna get wiped! It's like the forces Team Heart has here are without end! So much for those earlier estimations!"
Scoffing in bitter, angry annoyance, Geralt said, "That doesn't surprise me. Team Heart is still after a copy of that rare old book. They probably figured that having as many people as they can rustle up for the job as possible look for it is probably a good idea."
"Well we still won't let Team Heart take a victory here!" James said, "Or at an absolute minimum, we have to make them work as hard as possible for it if they're to best us in battle here!"
The fighting raged on for a short while longer before even more Team Heart forces came from the Tower of Mastery. The rebel forces were in dire straits as even though none of the trainers in the group of rebels had been wiped yet, they were starting to get worn down. A few of them had even seen one or two Pokémon get defeated.
Even James had to recall Weezing who was knocked out by a very lucky Kantonian Raticate who was able to pull off a sneak attack while Weezing had been in the middle of saving Arcanine from a sneak attack from a Hoennian Linoone. The rebel forces were looking to be close to being bested and taken prisoner by the Team Heart forces at Shalour City. But then...
"Starmie, use Ice Beam!"
"Vikavolt, use Thunderbolt!"
"Vikavolt, you use Thunderbolt as well!"
"Primarina, use Sparkling Aria!"
"Primarina, you use Sparkling Aria as well!"
A rush of ranged attacks flew past James, Meowth, Geralt, and all of their allies to go on to hit some of the Pokémon belonging to Team Heart. The surprise strike pushed the Team Heart forces back and granted a much needed measure of relief to the heroes fighting to liberate the Tower of Mastery and Shalour City as a whole. James, Meowth, and Geralt all turned to look to see who it was, James and Meowth were both rather surprised.
It was Misty, who they recognized as one of the 'original twerps', along with four of the twerps from the Alola region, those being Lana, Sophocles, Elio who is the Champion of Alola, and Selene. "It's been a while, Water Twerp," Meowth said, "Thanks for the save from you and your friends here."
"What are you all even doing here in Kalos?" James asked as Team Heart forces were pulling back to the Tower of Mastery.
Lana gestured to herself, pressing a plump hand to her chest. "I've actually always wanted to come to the Kalos region," Lana said, "I mean, it's regarded as the romance capital of the world. What girl wouldn't wanna go to Kalos? But I've never had the courage to do so, given how I'm..." Lana stopped short, gestured to all of her rather considerable self. "...Rather well fed," Lana finished, "And I know that Kalos isn't friendly towards persons who tip the scales."
"Yet another reason I got a problem with the Kalosians, those cheese eating surrender monkeys" Selene said, Galar strong in her voice, "The Kalosians would keep out me man Sophocles because he just so happens to be on the larger than life side of things."
"But Kalos has become a lot more fat friendly," Sophocles said, "Granted it's due to Team Heart taking over, but still. When Lana posed the idea to Elio that they can go to Kalos, Selene thought it'd be a good chance for her and I to go as well. Granted I had to tell Misty as well, so the five of us all came here as a group."
Meowth folded his arms over his chest. "Oh yeah, the Sinnoh Champ Twerp told me and James that two of you girls are dating the one Alolan boy, due to her crazy friend suggesting a harem idea."
"Well it was one of Kenny's better ideas," Misty remarked. Gently shaking her head, Misty went on, "But that's besides the point. How are things looking?"
Stepping forward, Geralt said, "We were able to push Team Heart forces here in Shalour City back into the Tower of Mastery, thanks to you kids showing up. But I don't think we can push right now, our Pokémon are exhausted and some are even fainted."
Elio gestured to himself. "My group and I have some medicines for Pokémon. We can help perk them back up. Also, my Ribombee knows Pollen Puff, it'll heal friendly targets."
Geralt nodded once in thanks. "Much obliged, we're gonna need all the help we can get."
...
The forces of Team Heart were still withdrawn into the Tower of Mastery while the rebel forces were maintaining things outside. After a number of Pokémon belonging to the rebels had been perked up again, Misty and her group looked to James and Meowth, a look of concern on her face as she was looking at two former enemies. "...Jessie's at the Tower of Mastery?" Misty asked.
James nodded grimly in confirmation. "Meowth and I have to go and deal with her, she and the other members of Team Heart cannot be allowed to continue threatening the world like they have been for ages."
"Can you deal with them, though?" Elio asked, a wry eyebrow arched.
"We're gonna have to," Meowth said, "James and I both feel it's kind of our fault that Jessie fell into Team Heart in the first place."
Sophocles looked a bit surprised to hear that. "You guys think it's your fault Jessie had gone and joined Team Heart?"
Meowth nodded in the affirmative. "James and I had actually tried to convince Jessie to come with us down the path we took," Meowth said, "The path that led us to become members of the crew of the Sinnoh Champ Twerp's flying ship. But Jessie and wasn't swayed, she ended up going in a very different direction instead."
Misty looked at James and Meowth with a troubled, resigned look. "...For what it's worth you guys, I don't think that you should blame yourselves," Misty said, "You two had earnestly tried to help steer Jessie down the right path. But some people just won't change their ways no matter what. Jessie's made her bed, and now she has to lay in it."
"We know, we've said as much ourselves," replied James, "But it..." Gently shaking his head, James said, "...But it still hurts, you know? Jessie was me and Meowth's friend for ages. We were bad guys together in Team Rocket, and we could have been good guys together on board of The Big Beauty."
"When Team Heart is taken down wholly and for good," Lana began, "Maybe a sort of plea deal can be worked out for Jessie, depending on how cooperative she is and how much slash what kind of info she's able to give to investigators."
Meowth perked up at that, as did James. "We might be able to save Jessie, you think?" Meowth asked.
Misty saw the spark of hope in the eyes of both James and Meowth, hope of being able to save and reunite with a friend. "...It'll be a long shot, though," Misty said, "And Jessie is going to have to be very cooperative. But yes, yes I can see Lana's idea being plausible." Looking to James and Meowth, Misty said, "You guys still care about Jessie, huh?"
"Do you still care about your two twerp friends in Kanto?" James countered.
Misty was reminded of Ash and Brock, of the friendship that she had nearly lost due solely to the petty meddling of her older sisters. "...I understand your point completely," Misty replied.
Geralt came walking over to where Misty's group was talking to James and Meowth. Seeing this, Elio stood up. "What's the situation?" Elio asked.
"Rebel forces are ready to storm the Tower of Mastery," Geralt said, "You and your group would be very much appreciated if you all were to join us. You especially Elio, given that you're the Champion of Alola, plus your Ribombee can heal allied Pokémon during the siege on the Tower of Mastery if the need arises."
"It's not exactly what Misty and I had planned on our Kalosian vacation alone with Sophocles," said Selene, "But I suppose that we ought to help out those filthy Kalosians."
Geralt arched a wry eyebrow at Selene. "...You're Galarian, aren't you?" Geralt asked.
"Born and raised," Selene confirmed, "Why?"
Nodding once, Geralt said, "Just wondering. Anyway, we're ready to besiege the Tower of Mastery. Let's get going!" Geralt rallied the rebel troops aiming to lay siege to the Tower of Mastery, and led all of them to bring down the Team Heart stronghold in Shalour City. Within short order, the battle to determine the fate of Shalour City would begin in earnest.
Not one moment after the rebel forces busted into the Tower of Mastery, the fighting between the rebel forces and the Team Heart forces had re-sparked. But the forces of Team Heart only had time to do a bit of catching their breath, they hadn't been able to heal properly. That allowed the rebel forces to do a push early on into the battle within the Tower of Mastery.
The rebel forces, having been able to heal and rejuvenate their Pokémon, also the rebel forces were joined by a few friendly tourists including Alola Champion Elio, were able to put pressure onto all of the Team Heart members at the Tower of Mastery. Geralt from what he was seeing as well as what he was seeing, was figuring that Team Heart at the Tower of Mastery was gojng to be going down within very short order.
But that didn't mean that the rebel forces were going to be having an easy time with it. In fact, they had to break up to focus on specific Team Heart members during the siege, seeing James and Meowth go one way, Sophocles with Selene and Misty go another way, and Elio and Lana go a third way as the Team Heart forces at the Tower of Mastery had spread out.
...
Sophocles with his girlfriends were met up by two male Team Heart grunts and Professor Minerva, although the girls and Sophocles didn't know who she was yet. "Are you children seriously trying to help with the downfall of Team Heart?" Minerva asked, "You do realize that Team Heart rule here in the Kalos region is actually a good thing, don't you?"
"Team Heart a criminal organization that forcefully takes over areas and rules them with an iron fist," Misty said.
"Team Heart rule is the only way to ensure that everyone lives equally," Minerva said, "Free from the worries and fear of discrimination."
"All of this Team Heart mumbo jumbo is really cramping on me and Misty's date with our boyfriend here," Selene said, "Do you know how oppressive you guys are being?"
Minerva arched a wry eyebrow. "Hang on," Minerva began, "The boy with you. Are you two girls both dating him at the exact same time?"
"Well yeah," Misty admitted, she and Selene both blushing profusely, "I mean, we couldn't decide on which of us would get to have him, so we settled on both being with him at the exact same time. You don't have a problem with us being his harem, do you?"
Shrugging, Minerva replied, "On the contrary. You girls' relationship with that boy actually supports Team Heart rhetoric. It helps to show that those who live larger than life are just as deserving of romance as those who are more slender. Imagine how the higher ups of Team Heart would react if they heard that a larger boy has his own harem."
"Umm, I'm pretty sure that me being rather on the chunky side has nothing to do with why Misty and Selene are both crushing on me," Sophocles explained, "Heck, for Selene it kind of has to do with how I'm admittedly rather on the nerdy side of things."
"And you plus your friends here are going down, you daft bird!" Selene declared, "Go, Incineroar!"
"Go, Togedemaru!" Sophocles said.
"Go, Starmie!" Misty called out. After they were all done, Misty had sent out Starmie, Selene had sent out Incineroar, and Sophocles had sent out Togedemaru.
"Go, Yanma!" said the first Team Heart grunt as he sent out a Yanma.
"Go, Dustox!" said the second Team Heart grunt as he sent out a Dustox.
"Go, Galvantula!" Minerva said as she sent out her Galvantula.
Seeing all of the enemy bug type Pokémon instantly made Misty tense up. "Gaahh! Why do all of them have bug Pokémon?!" Misty said, "That's so creepy!"
"Oh yeah, we still need to help Misty get over her entomophobia," Selene remarked. Sophocles then reassured Misty that things were going to be alright for her, given that he and Selene were here, so she had no reason to fear all of the enemy bug type Pokémon.
That still didn't make things any easier (or less creepy) for Misty, though.
Elio and Lana made their way through some Team Heart members, all of them falling back as Lana's Primarina and Elio's jumbo mark Kommo-o swept through the Pokémon belonging to those who would rule the Kalos region. Elio was having an especially easy time with it, but then again he is the Champion of Alola. All that Lana had to do was stick with him and she'd be fine.
"You know, I really wasn't expecting my first ever trip to Kalos to turn out like this," Lana said as she and Elio took out some more Team Heart grunts.
"I understand," Elio replied, "This was supposed to be a nice little vacation, but instead we're helping with the fighting to remove Team Heart from power."
"And why would you do that?"
Elio and Lana, having defeated yet another Team Heart grunt, stopped short upon hearing a male voice speak up. The boyfriend and girlfriend couple turned to look and saw West and Bernard walk up, although they had no idea who either of them were. It had been West who had spoken up to get the attention of Elio and Lana.
Gesturing to Elio and Lana, West said, "Why would you guys fight to help bring down Team Heart rule here in the Kalos region?"
"Because you guys are an oppressive regime that rules all of their lands with an iron fist and allow for no dissident," Lana replied, a bitter scowl on her face.
"Tell me, young lady," Bernard began as he gestured to Lana, "Have you seen anyone punished for any cruelty they had aimed directly towards you?" Lana stopped short, a looked of shocked surprise on her round, plump face. Going on, Bernard said, "Before, Kalos would have been far too hostile in tone and attitude towards those of your size," Bernard said.
"The only reason you're being respected here despite your perfectly acceptable size is because of how Team Heart is the ruling power here in Kalos right now," West said, "If it weren't for Team Heart rule, you'd face discrimination everywhere here in Kalos, and for no good reason. You aim to quote unquote help the Kalos region by bringing down the only reason why Kalos can't disrespect you?"
Lana did admit that the two guys before her and Elio had a point. Lana had gotten rather big ever since her parents got divorced long ago; as things stand right now, Lana weighs a shade over two-hundred and five kilograms. She is very undeniably very fat. And yet she's fighting to help liberate a region that, if it gets its freedom back from Team Heart, will do nothing but spit in her face and tell her she's not welcomed in their land, solely because she's fat.
Scowling, Lana said, "So what if the people of Kalos try to give me and other big-boned people the boot after we free them from your rule? Your rule is STILL far too oppressive! People need to be able to have the freedom to live how they wish! If everyone is forced to live a certain way, then that will lead to things being stifled! Freedom is necessary for invention and progress! It's necessary for new discoveries, for the basic right of living!"
"Freedom isn't a right that people are entitled to have," West countered, "It's a privilege that has to be regularly earned and deserved. If people abuse their freedom by being discriminatory jerks, then they ought to have their freedom revoked. Team Heart's way helps to prevent discrimination, it helps to prevent cruelty. The world lacks the room for human cruelty, it lacks the heart for human cruelty."
Elio called back his Kommo-o and sent out his Salazzle. "You guys say that the world lacks room and heart for human cruelty," Elio said, "But how do you explain Team Heart's actions?"
"Tough love," West replied as he sent out Orthworm and Bernard sent out Tinkaton.
As Lana's Primarina and Elio's Salazzle got ready to face off against West's Orthworm and Bernard's Tinkaton, Lana couldn't help but scowl bitterly. As much as she appreciates it that Kalos isn't able to harsh on her over how she's fat, she still thinks that the oppressive rule of Team Heart is too much. As such, Lana intends to fight Team Heart on this and help to liberate Kalos from their rule.
...Despite how Lana most likely will be told to get out of Kalos after she helps to liberate it from the Team Heart regime.
Meowth kicked down a Team Heart grunt after scratching them in the face, taking that grunt out of the fight. Meowth stood back to back with James as the fighting raged on. "There's no end to them, James," Meowth said as he, James, and the rebel forces fought on to bring down the Team Heart forces at the Tower of Mastery.
Looking around, James said, "We ought to be seeing Team Heart fold here soon, they look like they are starting to fold and-" James stopped short when he saw a familiar shot of long red hair in a distinctive curve. Taking a better look, James saw it as Jessie, with her Captain's Assistant Merdez, was fighting some rebel force members.
"...It's Jessie," James said grimly, making Meowth perk up.
Geralt who was with James and Meowth also perked up. "She's your old friend who's now a Team Heart Captain, right?" Geralt asked, "You want help in bringing her down?"
James and Meowth both nodded once in agreement, and in unison, before they with Geralt coming along ran over to confront Jessie and Merdez. Jessie was about to have her Gourgeist attack a Furret belonging to a rebel forces member before James called out, "Jessie!"
Jessie stopped short as she turned to look in the direction that the call came from. Jessie, along with Merdez, was surprised to see James and Meowth, as well as Geralt. "James? Meowth? What in blazes are you two traitors doing here?" Jessie exclaimed. While Jessie was distracted, the rebel she was about to fight, as well as said rebel's Furret, took off.
"It's funny that you call us traitors," Meowth said bitterly, "Given that we had asked you to come along with us down the path we wanted to take."
"You two had wanted to buddy up with the very same twerps who had taken down Team Rocket!" Jessie exclaimed, as if what she just said were a terrible, unforgivable sin that James and Meowth had both committed, "Have you two boys no shame at all?!"
Gesturing widely with his right arm, James said, "Have you no shame, Jessie?! There's more to life than being a criminal! Meowth and I both knew that, we still know it! We found a good path to take, a path that makes people see us as someone to admire! It actually feels good! Why couldn't you've come with Meowth and I?"
"And abandon my pride?! As if!" Jessie exclaimed. Pointing at James, Jessie said, "Gourgeist, we're fighting James, Meowth, and their do-gooder friend with them!"
"Go, Flaffy!" Merdez said as she sent out a Flaffy.
"Go, Arcanine!" James said as he sent out his Arcanine.
"Go, Probopass!" Geralt said as he sent out a Probopass, "Use Earth Power on Flaffy!"
"Arcanine, use Flame Wheel on Gourgeist!" James ordered.
"Flaffy, use Thunderbolt on Probopass!" Merdez commanded.
"Gourgeist, use Shadow Ball on Arcanine!" Jessie called out.
Arcanine was the quickest, jumping up before spinning in a wheel that became engulfed in flames as it rolled right at Gourgeist, busting the Shadow Ball and ramming right into Gourgeist, making it cry out in great pain. As for Flaffy versus Probopass, Flaffy tried to conjure its Thunderbolt, but it was blasted from below by Probopass's Earth Power, kicking it up into the air a bit before it fell to the ground defeated.
Gourgeist winced as it looked up, only to see Arcanine glaring down at it. "Arcanine, use Crunch!" James called out, prompting Arcanine to lunge forward and bite down hard onto Gourgeist, eliciting another greatly pained cry from Gourgeist before it passed out, clearly defeated.
Arcanine jumped back and landed next to Probopass as Jessie and Merdez recalled their respective fainted Pokémon. "Go, Leavanny!" Merdez said as she sent out a Leavanny.
"Go, Yanmega!" Jessie said as she sent out her Yanmega, "Use Ancient Power on Arcanine!"
"Leavanny, use Leaf Blade on Probopass!" Merdez ordered.
"Arcanine, use Flame Wheel on Leavanny!" James commanded.
"Probopass, use Power Gem on Yanmega!" Geralt called out.
Arcanine was the fastest again, jumping up into a spinning wheel that became engulfed in flames as it rolled at and rammed into Leavanny, taking it out instantly. Yanmega had taken aim at Arcanine, but Arcanine when it charged at Leavanny got out of the way, making Ancient Power miss. And then Probopass's Power Gem struck Yanmega, taking it down on one hit that was times four super effective.
Once more, Jessie and Merdez had to recall their respective fainted Pokémon before sending out their next Pokémon. "Go, Carbink!" Merdez said as she sent out a Carbink.
"Go, Arbok!" Jessie said as she sent out her Arbok.
James looked grim and resigned as he regarded Jessie's Arbok; as much as Arcanine was on a roll here, James felt that he knew what to do. "Arcanine return," James said as he called back his Arcanine, drawing a mildly curious look out of Jessie in the process. Tossing up another Pokéball, James said, "Go, Weezing!"
Weezing, who had been revitalized thanks to the medicines that Misty's group had, was now facing off against its old friend Arbok. But Weezing wasn't the only one facing off against an old friend in this battle for the Tower of Mastery. "Weezing, are you alright with having to face Jessie and Arbok like this?" James asked.
"Oh that's rich," Jessie said, "This is war, James! It's not like any of us have a choice!"
James gave Jessie a look that was equal parts grim and resigned. "...Weezing," James said, "Use Thunderbolt on Arbok."
"Probopass, use Flash Cannon on Carbink!" Geralt ordered.
"Carbink, use Reflect!" Merdez commanded.
"Arbok, use Crunch on Weezing!" Jessie called out.
Weezing was the fastest, conjuring and casting a Thunderbolt at Arbok that, although it didn't knock Arbok out, it did a lot of damage AND scored paralysis, which kept Arbok from acting. Carbink then tried to set up Reflect, but it was blasted by Probopass's Flash Cannon, getting knocked out in the process. Despite its great defensive stats, Carbink doesn't have the best base health out there, also it took a times four super effective attack that got STAB.
Merdez recalled her Carbink as Arbok still writhed under paralysis. "Arbok, try using Crunch on Weezing again!" Jessie ordered.
James, looking and sounding more resigned, said, "Weezing, use Flamethrower on Arbok."
A blasting breath of fire flew from Weezing's mouth and scorched right into Arbok, doing enough damage to knock Arbok out. Jessie, frustrated, recalled her fainted Arbok. "I still have more than enough Pokémon to keep this going, you know!" Jessie declared.
"I know you do," James said, "But what's the point? You do realize that Team Heart is going to lose here, don't you? At this point, it's best that you just surrender." A hint of pleading hope entered the eyes of James, hoping that Jessie still had some fond regard for the friendship she had with him as well as Meowth. "...Please, Jessie," James said, "Please just stand down."
"And be thrown into jail?!" Jessie exclaimed, "As if!" Readying a Pokéball, Jessie said, "Go-"
"Give up, Jessie. Now."
Jessie stopped short when she felt sharp points on her throat, when she heard Meowth's voice threatening her. Meowth while on Jessie's back was holding his claws right to her throat, his cool, indifferent tone making it very clear that he'd take her out the hard way if she didn't stop. As grim as it was to threaten Jessie like that, it's clear she wasn't going to stop otherwise.
With Jessie frozen in place due to not knowing what to do, James and Geralt quickly made their way over to Jessie and Merdez to relieve them of their Pokémon. It was around that time that all of the fighting was coming to an end anyway, and the rebels were victorious. Even so, James as well as Meowth did not FEEL all that victorious.
...How could they, given the bitter battle that they've just had against Jessie?
After the fighting came to an end and the Kalosian rebellion had Shalour City contained, Geralt met up with James and Meowth, who were both talking to Misty's group. "Thank you for the aid that you and your crew had lent to us," Geralt said to James. To Misty's group, Geralt went on, "And you kids had also gone great in helping to aid Kalos. You especially, Alolan Champion."
"Well I wasn't about to let Team Heart ruin my girlfriend's first trip to Kalos," Elio said while his Kommo-o who was out again nudged its head up against the side of Lana's face, making her giggle a bit before she petted the jumbo mark pseudo-legendary on the side of his face.
Misty looked to James and Meowth, saw that they both looked conflicted. "...You guys are still upset with yourselves about Jessie, huh?" Misty asked, getting both James and Meowth to perk up and look at her.
Gesturing to Misty, James replied, "How could Meowth and I NOT be upset? We had to fight an old friend with which we share a lot of memories. We could have prevented our fight with Jessie today if we were more successful in getting her to go down the path we wanted to take. Just imagine if all three of us, me Jessie and Meowth, had become good guys instead of just me and Meowth."
"Well it WOULD have been interesting to see all three of you taking orders from Dawn," Misty said, a hint of sly amusement in her expression.
The Alolan classmates looked around as the rebel forces were detaining the present members of Team Heart. "...When Team Heart is taken down for good," Selene began, "Things here in Kalos will be going back to the way they were prior to Team Heart rising to power, right?"
Nodding once, Geralt replied, "Mostly, yeah."
Selene scowled bitterly. "...Which means the Kalosian people will go back to being openly hostile to blokes who live larger than life."
Geralt nodded once in the affirmative. "That is most definitely going to happen, yeah."
"Despite the fact that at least two persons who are notably plus sized," Selene said, "One of which is incredibly hot and handsome, had fought and worked hard to help liberate the Kalosian people from the authority of Team Heart."
Geralt gave a troubled, resigned sigh. "...Unfortunately."
"So regardless of how we've put ourselves on the line for them," Lana spoke up, "Me and Sophocles are still going to be faced with cruelty and hostility from the Kalosian people simply because we're both fat." Shrugging, Lana asked, "How is that fair?"
Geralt shook his head grimly, resigned as the injustice that heroes who did indeed put themselves on the line were forced to put up with. "There's... no easy answer here, young lady," Geralt remarked, "Some people never just never change on their own no matter what, only shift if forced to, and will all too gladly shift back if given the freedom to do so."
Sophocles had a grim look of consideration on his face. "...Sounds to me like Team Heart actually was making at least one or two valid claims."
"Yeah, that's part of what makes fighting Team Heart so tough," Geralt agreed, "They have at least one or two valid claims." Things at Shalour City were settled, all present Team Heart members had been captured and detained. But even though the rebels and their allies still won the day, it doesn't really FEEL like they had won the day.
It felt more like they... that they were tired after enduring for long enough.
END, CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the Kalosian rebellion continue to rage on, but this time some spotlight is put on James and Meowth. They and the rest of the crew of the flying ship assigned to James arrive at an encampment of rebels in the area of Shalour City, given that Team Heart forces are trying to keep the Tower of Mastery, as well as find a copy of Shalour's Gate. James and Meowth agree to lend a bit of aid, although they're taken aback upon learning that Jessie's at the Tower of Mastery.
The heroic forces then rush to take the Tower of Mastery, but get surrounded and doomed to be overwhelmed. Luckily, a group consisting of Misty, Selene, Lana, Sophocles, and Elio are in Shalour City at the time and they rush in to offer relief, as well as force the Team Heart forces to retreat into the Tower of Mastery while the rebels get a chance to catch their breath as well as revitalize some of their fainted Pokémon, a boon that Team Heart doesn't get access to luckily enough.
Within short order, the revitalized forces of good storm the Tower of Mastery, where within said tower Sophocles, Selene, and Misty deal with Minerva and two Team Heart grunts, while Elio and Lana deal with West and Bernard, and James and Meowth deal with Jessie. Focus is placed mainly on James and Meowth against Jessie, and they eventually win out. But the ordeal is still a rather big deal for James and Meowth, who both had to get over their past bond with Jessie.
There's also the fact that Team Heart is able to get off some of its rhetoric, making the heroes do a bit of questioning. This is further solidified when, after the heroes win the day and defeat Team Heart at Shalour City, the rebel leader more or less confirms that Kalos when liberated will go right on back to being non-fat people friendly, despite the fact that two very notable very fat people had actually lent aid to help with liberating the region from Team Heart rule.
While some of the heroes are left wondering if liberating Kalos is even worth it given that Kalos once free is guaranteed to not show any appreciation whatsoever to the fat people who had helped to save it (in fact Kalos will get downright hostile towards plus sized persons), the rebellion to save Kalos is still raging on. Things will continue in the next chapter, where the other reborn trainers will get some time to shine before the last big push. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Tsukune (Palkia), Fangfang (Yveltal), Kurumu (Groudon), Sif (Zacian), Veldora (Koraidon), Odin (Arceus)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Zamasu (Necrozma), Shenron (Rayquaza), Porunga (Zygarde), Armstrong (Regigigas), unknown legendary Pokémon
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Villetta (Miraidon), Cameron (Kyorge), Tetsu (Xerneas), Rogers (Zamazenta), Alucard (Lunala)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Gardevoir (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)