The mountain where the townsfolk had gathered for their celebration was a beautiful location. It had an incredible view of the landscape that spread out below it. The lush green forests were visible and the rivers sparkled as they meandered through them. It was a perfect setting for the festival.
However, it wasn't quite a peaceful environment anymore. Cassandra had sent her Steelix to attack and she was now in control. Sabrina and her group had to act quickly. Sabrina's face hardened and her eyes grew cold as she prepared to battle.
"Nessa. Bea. Take Fennekin and the little girl to where the people are." She commanded.
"But what about you?!" Nessa was clearly worried for the safety of Sabrina.
"Let me worry about Steelix."
"But Sabrina!" Goh shouted, wanting to stay as well to battle alongside Sabrina. But Sabrina didn't want to take any chances.
"GO NOW!" She shouted. The others were stunned by the intensity of her words. Sabrina's expression was cold and determined as she looked at Steelix.
Everyone ran, Nessa, Bea, Fennekin, Goh, and the young girl, and Steelix made a move to follow, but Sabrina's psychic energy blasted out, hitting it hard in its head. The attack was so strong that it knocked it back and sent it tumbling. The creature's heavy body slammed into the ground, causing a small tremor as it struggled to regain its balance. It looked dazed and confused, shaking its head. Cassandra glared at Sabrina.
"I can sense them. You're no match for me." Sabrina declared while raising her hand.
Cassandra only laughed. "You really think I'm just some ordinary woman? Haha, oh please. You don't know me. My abilities may not be psychic ones, but I am much stronger than you." Her eyes glinted dangerously as she snapped her fingers and Steelix reared up and charged at Sabrina. It roared and its powerful body shook the ground.
"Come on then!" Sabrina was ready. "Alazakam!" From the Poke Ball, Alakazam appeared to aid his trainer as always. He had an intimidating glare as he prepared for battle.
"Alakazam! Psycho Cut!"
"Steelix! Block with Iron Tail!"
Both Pokemon unleashed their moves in unison. Alakazam launched a blast of psychic energy while Steelix swung its long tail, sending out a shockwave that sent both Pokemon tumbling backwards. Both of their attacks had collided, cancelling out their powers and leaving the battlefield a mess of rubble. Alakazam was thrown against a wall while Steelix was slammed into a rock, shaking off the pain as quickly as possible.
"Now Steelix! Dig!" Steelix roared loudly, its eyes flashing with anger. It dug its claws into the ground and burrowed underground, quickly disappearing from sight.
Sabrina was not deterred, however. "Alakazam, follow it!" Alakazam nodded in acknowledgement, quickly jumping into the hole and following after it.
Sabrina could see through Alakazam's eyes and she was able to track Steelix's movements, giving her an edge. Alakazam's speed was incredible, it could move faster than most Pokemon and it had an almost perfect understanding of its surroundings.
However, it was not fast enough to evade the attack. Steelix suddenly burst from the earth beneath him, slamming Alakazam hard with its body and knocking the Psychic-type back. It roared again and lunged at him.
Sabrina grunted, gritting her teeth as she felt her Pokemon's pain. But she wouldn't let her Pokemon fall here. She quickly used her telekinesis to push Steelix back and send it tumbling back down into the earth. "Such strength...!"
She then commanded Alakazam to use Psyshock to hit the ground. A large wave of energy burst from the ground, hitting the ground in a circle around him and knocking the large snake Pokemon back out into the open.
Cassandra frowned. She wasn't going to let her opponent win that easily. She snapped her fingers and ordered Steelix to use Stone Edge. The Steel-type's eyes flashed a bright blue as it lifted up a few rocks in the ground, making them hover in the air. With a quick movement of its tail, the rocks flew straight for Alakazam, striking it hard. "Now use Rock Throw!" she commanded, and Steelix launched more stones at the Alakazam, causing further damage. Sabrina was taken aback. "Such a combo!"
Sabrina wasn't deterred by the damage, though. "Use Calm Mind, Alakazam!"
Calm Mind allowed Alakazam to gain clarity of the mind, and the Psychic-Type Pokemon's body would glow, making him stronger.
"Now use Shadow Ball! Do not allow Steelix to come near!" Sabrina's eyes flashed a powerful psychic purple. With a powerful burst of psychic energy, Alazakam blasted out a wave of purple orbs that exploded in the air and sent the rocks hurtling towards the Steel-type.
The large snake-like Pokemon tried to avoid the rocks, but the Shadow Balls were too fast for him to dodge them all. A few hit him and sent him tumbling backwards. Sabrina and Alazakam weren't going to give him a chance to recover.
"Use Dazzling Gleam, Alazakam!"
Alazakam leapt forward, using its powerful psychic abilities to blast out a powerful beam of light that struck the large snake, sending him flying backwards. Steelix crashed into a wall and collapsed in a heap. The attack was so strong that it sent the rocks in its way tumbling away, causing more damage to the battlefield and making the ground shake. Cassandra's eyes narrowed.
"Enough of this. Use Dig, Steelix!"
Steelix growled and dove into the ground. Sabrina could sense the vibrations from the earth beneath her and knew where Steelix would emerge, so she quickly used her telekinesis to lift her and Alazakam up and out of the way. Steelix burst from the earth, smashing through the rocks and sending them flying towards Sabrina. She managed to dodge most of the debris, but a large rock hit Alakazam in the shoulder, sending him flying backwards.
"Use Earthquake, Steelix! Make this entire mountain come down!"
"What?!" Sabrina was shocked. This woman would bring down an entire mountain just to beat her and Alakazam?
"Use Shadow Ball!" Sabrina commanded. Alakazam summoned his energy to attack with a Shadow Ball, blasting it towards Steelix. But the Steel-type dodged and leaped out of the way. He slammed into the earth, causing a massive tremor that sent rocks and rubble flying. Alakazam was thrown backwards, his body crashing against the ground.
"Now, Steelix, finish this!"
The large snake roared and lunged towards Alazakam. The Psychic-type Pokemon managed to dodge the first strike, but the second sent him flying. Alakazam was thrown against a wall, his body hitting it with a loud crack.
"No!" Sabria cried out as she was caught up in the force of the Earthquake, the tremors breaking her balance and her focus. She fell down, a few rocks bumping into her and damaging her body.
Alazakam was beaten. He couldn't go on anymore. Sabrina was in shock, twitching on the ground. She saw that she had a bruise on her arm thanks to the rocks, the Earthquake being tremendous in this small space.
"Ngh..." She grunted along with her Alakazam. The battle came to a halt, the silence filling the atmosphere, occasionally broken up by a rock falling over.
She lay there for a moment, dazed, the harsh scent of dust filling her lungs as small rocks and debris rolled over her skin, their sharp edges scratching against her. A throbbing pain shot up her arm where a larger stone had struck, a dark bruise already blooming beneath her sleeve. She winced, fingers brushing over it as she caught her breath, the world still trembling slightly around her.
The cramped space felt smaller with each tremor, every reverberation echoing off the walls and through her bones. She tried to pull herself up, but her muscles ached, and her hands slipped against the grit-covered ground. For a moment, she just lay there, feeling the bruises starting to bloom under her skin, a reminder of the relentless power of the Earthquake that had torn through them both.
"That power...Even with my focus, it somewhat blindsided me..." She said, attempting to get back up, but then Cassandra appeared behind her. Sabrina was shocked and then felt the woman grab her neck from behind. Her fingers dug into Sabrina's flesh, making her scream out in pain.
"Gh! Gaaaahaa!"
"You have lost." She whispered. Sabrina was frozen in terror. Her body shook from fear, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. Cassandra's eyes were filled with malice and her voice was laced with venom. "Now I'm going to enjoy making you pay."
She threw Sabrina to the ground. She was on her knees and was trying to get back up. "H-how?"
"Steelix is one of my many powerful Pokemon. Lord Baevel has blessed me with his gift of Pokemon."
"Baevel..."
"I will make sure you are taken care of by him personally." Cassandra smirked and raised her foot, slamming it down hard on the back of Sabrina's head. Sabrina's vision blurred as the world faded away and darkness took her.
After defeating many grunts along the way, Ash had made his way to the capital city. He had made it to the capital in a matter of minutes. Misty and Brock were still behind, not being able to keep up. As the Star Champion flew past, he could see the citizens of Kurodaka living their lives in peace from this distance. The sun was setting and he could see a few of them going about their evening business.
Ash, Misty and Brock stood on the hill, a massive palace that sat atop a mountain overlooking the city. Truly, it was a marvelous sight to behold, its architecture being both impressive and imposing at the same time, its towershaving a large Lugia statue behind them. It was made of a lavish material, gleaming under the sun. It stood proudly against the horizon, an embodiment of strength, majesty and a certain pride in the region.
The city was nothing to scoff at either. The streets were clean and bustling, and the air smelled of spice and incense, even from this distance. It was lively with the sounds of the many marketplaces that dotted the streets, each filled with the sounds of the merchants selling their goods, and the people bargaining and chatting with each other. It was an incredible place, full of life and excitement.
"Wow...!" Ash couldn't help but marvel at it all, even if he was supposed to be on a mission. Pikachu, on his shoulders, also couldn't help but admire the scenery. It truly was a place of great beauty and culture. "The Capital is beautiful, huh?"
"Yeah...I've only read about the place in books but I never imagined it'd actually be this stunning." Brock was a bit amazed by the city. "I guess when a place isn't under the control of a dictator like Lord Baevel, then it would actually be really nice to visit, but unfortunately, it is."
"From the looks of all those decorations, they must be getting ready for a festival. Do you think it's also about Lugia?" Misty pointed to the colorful decorations all over the city. The people were busy setting them all up. The three noticed the signs that read about a festival dedicated to the legendary pokemon of the seas.
"Probably. But it looks like they don't plan to celebrate with everyone else in the smaller towns." Brock said.
"Their loss, honestly." Ash said.
"We'll see how it goes once we take down Baevel. Now let's go to that palace and go wild!" Ash and Brock nodded. Ash then brought out his Charizard, requesting the Fire-type Pokemon to bring him and his friends to the city.
The sun began to set, casting a golden glow across the landscape below. But of course, there was a major battle coming for the Star Champion and his crew, the sun acting as a sign of the battle that was to come. Ash, Brock, and Misty were on a mission to defeat Lord Baevel, a king who had ruled the region for years with an iron fist.
The three of them had their respective auras burning bright, ready to swing into action.
Ash, Misty and Brock made their way through the city, making sure not to be seen by the guards and the citizens. They kept a low profile as they made their way towards the palace.
"Wow, this place is so huge and busy!" Misty marveled at the sights around them. There were so many people walking around, chatting with one another and shopping in the markets. The smells of fresh cooked food wafted through the air, enticing the senses and drawing the attention of passersby.
"Yeah," Brock agreed. "This city really seems to thrive..."
Heads turned towards Ash as he walked by, pointing at his attire and gasping at his presence. Whispers followed them wherever they went and it was clear that he had caught the eye of everyone in the city. Not only did he catch their attention because of his uniform, but it was obvious that it was indeed the Star Champion they were seeing here.
It was a long way from the palace due to the size of this city, which made their trek very tough. The sun was beginning to set, signaling the end of the day and the beginning of nightfall. They had to be careful about this one, making sure they wouldn't cause a ruckus for all the citizens in this area.
Just then, music started playing from somewhere, signalling the beginning of the festival. Brightly colored lights lit up the sky above them, creating a dazzling display of colors that danced and swirled with each new beat. The crowd cheered as they watched the spectacle unfold before their very eyes, clapping in time with the music and cheering louder and louder as the fireworks exploded overhead, illuminating the night sky with vivid hues.
They looked up and saw that there were giant colorful balloons floating high up above them, casting colorful shadows over them. Some carried streamers that stretched out from either side, while others held banners bearing images depicting the history of the region, most notably the Dark-Type Pokemon. It was clear that this was some kind of celebration honoring these creatures and their legends throughout history.
"Oh, looks like it's starting!" Ash said.
"Yeah, definitely!" Brock said, excited for what they're about to witness.
As soon as the words left Ash's mouth, hundreds upon thousands of tiny paper lanterns floated gently through the sky like fireflies, shining brilliantly against the darkening dusk skies as if stars themselves had fallen onto this very land itself... Every single lantern had its own unique shape; some resembling animals such as birds, fish, insects, or plants; others resembled shapes like hearts or diamonds; yet every last one was filled with soft warm glowing light emanating softly around everyone's bodies. Those that held candles within them flickered rhythmically alongside one another, giving off soft waves of heat radiating outward towards every single person standing underneath this glorious sight before us.
"I wish we could join in." Misty said, mesmerized by the sight. Everyone was now dancing, singing, and having a good time as they celebrated. Many played music instruments, complimenting the musical score playing through this area, creating beautiful melodies in unison together without missing a beat.
But there was something rather interesting about the song. Something only Ash could pick up on. He closed his eyes, realizing that the song was mentioning a certain someone. Who else but Lugia? The reason this festival even existed. Misty and Brock could feel it too, knowing that this festival was to celebrate a godlike being like Lugia.
However, it wasn't all peaceful, as guards patrolled the streets. Any signs of trouble or crime could have resulted in violent altercations between citizens and officials alike, especially considering how strict Lord Baevel enforced his rule over this region during times like this when large numbers of people gather together at once. One wrong move could lead to someone being taken away from the festivities without warning; even children weren't spared from punishment if their parents were deemed unruly enough!
The song became more powerful, resonating with many and causing everyone to cry out in joy. These melodic notes echoed throughout the city as music continued playing nonstop. Drums sounded out every few seconds and flutes played sweetly in tune alongside trumpets sounding loudly. Even pianos joined in later after those notes faded away again and strings strummed lightly as accompaniment. Voices sang along merrily as they chanted praises and adorations to Lugia.
"Does the sound please your ears?" An old man went up to them and asked.
Misty smiled and replied with, "It's lovely and enjoyable. And that song..."
"About Lugia." The old man grinned. "You three are newcomers to the city, aren't you? It is always a pleasure to meet outsiders. You look different from anyone I've ever seen. Especially that boy. Is he a foreigner?"
"We're travelers." Ash answered. "There's something about this song..."
"Hm, yes. What you're listening to is Lugia's Song. The Song of the Sea."
"The Song of the Sea...?" The Trio repeated in awe.
The old man nodded. "Yes, miss. This festival is to show respect for Lugia. That is why everyone is singing such praises. And I am assuming this is the first time any of you three have heard the song yourself."
"Are you a fortune teller?" Brock chuckled. "You got that right. This is the first time I've heard a song like this." He said. The others also nodded. Of course, it's their first time, since they usually don't get to travel to this region very often.
"Well, the Song of the Sea was first sung many centuries ago by humans and Pokemon alike, including Lord Baevel, when Lugia visited our city to bless us with great prosperity and fortune."
"When was that?" Ash asked curiously. If it was many centuries ago, then that means this Lugia they speak of is probably extremely powerful.
"More than a century ago. No one can remember exactly how many centuries, but we have stories about the event. Stories say that Lugia blessed everyone and everything in this city with his divine power. When he sang this song, the water began flowing with more abundance, and the land became fertile once more after years upon end without rain. Ever since then, the waters of Kanto Region flowed freely once again, providing nourishment for life and allowing crops to grow. It's amazing isn't it? A miracle really. Lugia saved our home and our people."
Everyone in the trio was stunned by what he said, this was the first time they had ever heard such things. They hadn't realized that Lugia had been around that long. "And so, in honor of what happened, we sing this song every year during this festival. In doing so, it grants us the strength to carry ourselves through anything!"
"Wow..." Ash, Misty and Brock looked amazed.
"Though, unfortunately, Lord Baevel forbids such festivals." The old man said.
"Forbids? Why?" Misty asked.
"Since Lugia is a guardian deity figure, he believes such figures should not be worshipped as gods, though in reality, that's pretty much what they are." The old man explained. "Only he himself should be worshipped as a god."
"So he doesn't allow any festival related to Lugia at all?" Brock was a bit surprised. "Well, technically, this festival isn't illegal. At least not in the strictest sense. But it does violate several laws passed by Lord Baevel that make certain festivals prohibited."
"Laws against the worship of gods?" Misty raised a brow.
"No, no, dear." He chuckled. "Festivals involving celebrations of the divine forces, yes. So technically speaking, this isn't a festival but rather just a public gathering for social gatherings, if you will."
"That sounds kind of silly..." Misty shook her head. She knew how strict Baevel was to everyone here in the city, which meant everyone had to abide by those strict rules or risk severe punishment, especially during times when these kinds of festivities took place publicly in the middle of the night, but still.
"But it is how he rules. So you may celebrate, just don't let yourself get carried away." The man warned.
"We're only passing by here anyway." Misty reassured.
"Ah, yes. To go to the palace I'm presuming. Many others here have similar plans tonight. Though you may want to be careful, because the guards will surely try to stop you before you even reach there. If you are smart and quick, they won't bother looking your way, and you should make your escape without trouble."
"Thank you so much for this information, sir." Misty bowed politely. "We'll take your advice and be wary of those around us."
"If that's the case, good luck, my young friends. Don't forget your goal. Be brave, strong and wise. Lugia will be with you every step of the way."
In his castle while the event was going on, Baevel sat upon his throne, lounging idly. The hall was dimly lit, illuminated solely by the flickering torches lining the walls, casting eerie shadows across the stone floor. He sat patiently while enjoying the food and drinks, waiting for an update on the situation with the Star Champion.
While the guards and soldiers were on duty, he was relaxing in his chambers. He didn't care much for the festival going on in the city, but he knew that his people would enjoy themselves, even if it meant breaking some of his laws. He smirked and leaned back in his seat, letting out a satisfying sigh.
"Ah...what a lovely evening. The festival is going nicely and there hasn't been a single disturbance yet. Everything seems peaceful and perfect." He laughed heartily and took a sip from his goblet of wine. "A wonderful night indeed! I should have more festivals like this!"
Just then, a soldier came running into his chamber, panting heavily. His armor clanked loudly as he knelt down before Baevel. The lord looked up, annoyed at being disturbed by this intrusion. He frowned and waved his hand dismissively at the soldier, who quickly bowed his head in apology.
"What is it?" Baevel demanded impatiently. "Why do you disturb me?"
"We apologize for disturbing you, my lord. But we've received word that he has arrived in the city! The Star Champion is here!" The soldier exclaimed breathlessly.
Baevel's eyes widened in surprise, but he composed himself quickly. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he glared at the soldier. "What? Are you certain of this? Where did you hear this news?"
"Y-Yes sir! It was confirmed by multiple sources! He is currently somewhere outside the palace walls, and has yet to arrive. We spotted his face from afar!"
"And is he joined by anyone? Any of those people he came with in the Astra Vessel?"
"Only two of them, sir. A boy and a girl." Baevel's eyebrows furrowed, trying to think of a plan. He had been aware that the Star Champion was coming to this city, but not so soon and without his entire entourage. Something must have happened to them, or else why wouldn't they all be together? Perhaps they were split up or captured by someone or some group. Whatever the case may be, it doesn't change anything. He still needs to deal with the Star Champion as quickly as possible. If he could capture him first, it would give him an advantage over the other regions, especially since he is the strongest of the group. But how?
"Sir?" The soldier spoke up, breaking Baevel's thoughts. "Should I send more guards to search for him? Or perhaps prepare the army to fight against him?"
Baevel thought for a moment, before shaking his head. "No, no. Do not worry about that. Just keep patrolling the city and look out for him. I will handle everything else." He turned his attention back to his drink, sipping it slowly. "You may leave now."
"Yes sir!" The soldier saluted him and left the room.
Baevel leaned back in his chair, thinking hard about this situation. There were too many unknowns for his liking, and there were too many risks involved. He had heard rumors of what the Star Champion was capable of, and how powerful he truly is. It worried him greatly. If only he knew exactly where Ash and his friends are at the moment...
"I'll find him. Or perhaps, I should bring him to me. I know Cassandra well. Without a doubt, she's probably captured one of his members and is coming right here." He said with a wicked smirk.
Nessa, Bea, Goh and the little girl largely stayed out sight, hiding amongst the shadows and alleys. Goh was leading them through the city, keeping a sharp eye out for any danger. He kept his hand close to his belt, ready to draw his sword at any moment. They were all on edge, wondering what kind of dangers awaited them here in the capital.
The streets were dark, lit only by the occasional lantern hung high above the ground. Shadows loomed everywhere, making it difficult to see where one was going. It was easy to get lost in the maze-like alleys and narrow roads. But despite their worries and fears, they pressed on, determined to reach their destination.
Nessa, who was always looking out for her companions, noticed that the little girl seemed particularly nervous and scared. She took her hand and squeezed it gently, trying to reassure her that everything would be alright.
"It's okay," Nessa said softly, giving the young girl a warm smile. "We're almost there. Just a little bit further."
The little girl nodded and returned her smile, feeling more relaxed now that she had someone to lean on.
They continued walking in silence for some time, gradually getting closer to all the people that were in hiding within this large cave system. As they approached their destination, they began hearing voices coming from deep within the caves. Voices of those who had suffered under Baevel's rule.
As they got closer to the entrance of the cave, they could hear the sound of children laughing and playing. A small group of kids were gathered around a makeshift campfire, roasting marshmallows over the flames. They were chatting happily, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. Goh, Bea and Nessa looked at each other, wondering if they should intervene. But before they could decide, a loud cry rang out.
"Help me! Please!"
Bea was the first to run forward, followed closely by Nessa and Goh. The three of them rushed towards the group of children and saw a young boy cowering behind a rock. He was shaking with fear and his clothes were torn and dirty.
Goh knelt down next to the boy, placing a comforting arm around his shoulders. "Hey, what happened?"
"T-there's something out there...I don't know what it is..." The boy stammered, tears streaming down his face.
Nessa scanned the area, searching for any signs of an attacker or other threats. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted a figure lurking in the shadows. "There!" she shouted, pointing at the shapeless mass of darkness. "That must be it!"
"Let's go!" Bea cried out, leaping to her feet. She charged straight at the dark creature, swinging her fists wildly. It dodged easily, disappearing into the shadows once again.
"It's fast!" Goh yelled, holding a stick as defense. He swung wildly, slashing through empty air. The shadowy figure reappeared behind him, grabbing hold of his wrist. With a swift movement, it twisted his arm backwards, almost dislocating his shoulder. Goh screamed in agony, dropping to his knees.
"Goh!" Nessa exclaimed, running to his side.
Meanwhile, Bea continued to fight the mysterious entity. Her attacks were fierce and powerful, but ineffective against such a swift opponent. The shadowy figure moved like lightning, weaving through the air as if it were made of pure darkness itself.
As the battle raged on, the little girl watched from a distance, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. She clutched tightly onto her mother's skirt, unable to take her eyes off the terrifying scene unfolding before her. She could feel her whole body tremble as she watched the fight unfold. It seemed like an eternity, but eventually, the dark figure retreated back into the shadows, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Goh lay motionless on the ground, his face contorted in pain.
"Goh..." Nessa whispered softly, kneeling down beside him. She placed a hand on his cheek and gently brushed away the tears that had fallen from his eyes.
The little girl walked over to the unconscious young man and knelt down beside him. As for what that creature was, it was obviously a Pokemon, but no one could tell what Pokemon it was exactly, only that it was fast and dangerous.
"Is he okay?" The little girl asked. She looked at Nessa with concern written all over her features.
"I believe he'll be fine," Nessa assured the child, looking into her eyes with a gentle smile. "But he needs our help now more than ever." The little girl nodded and turned her attention back to Goh. The boy was still unconscious and breathing heavily. His skin was pale and clammy, and there were bruises covering most of his torso.
"If he was being attacked by this...then everyone else is in peril!" Nessa realized that whatever that Pokemon was, it endangered everyone else in hiding within this cave system. "Bea!" Nessa called out to the fighter, who was already on her way towards them. "Please. We need to move him out of here, now."
"Right," Bea nodded. She lifted Goh up with ease and carried him out of the cave entrance, leaving Nessa and the little girl to follow her.
As they traveled through the underground tunnels, they heard voices echoing off the walls. Some were angry, others scared. All of them were calling for help. Bea and Nessa pushed forward, ignoring the pleas and cries for assistance. They knew that the safety of the innocent came before anything else.
After a while, they arrived at another large cavern, this one filled with people huddled together around makeshift fires. Most of them were women and children, some were elderly and infirm. Everyone looked terrified and frightened beyond belief. Many had tears streaming down their cheeks.
Nessa scanned the crowd and spotted a group of children sitting next to a woman who appeared to be their mother. The children were crying, clinging to their mother desperately. Nessa approached them cautiously, not wanting to startle them.
This did not look like a celebration whatsoever. In fact, this seemed to be a group of people in hiding from some sort of evil force. There were men, women, and children here. Some were injured, others were sickly or malnourished. They all wore tattered clothes and looked exhausted.
"Who are you?" the mother demanded. Her voice was firm and commanding. She stood protectively in front of her children, glaring at the newcomers.
Nessa raised her hands slowly, showing that she meant no harm. "My name is Nessa. These are my friends, Bea and Goh. Please do not worry. We're here to help."
"Did that weird Pokemon do this to you all?"Goh asked. He was feeling better after being healed by Bea's Pokemon, Machamp.
"Yes." The woman nodded solemnly. "That thing has been attacking us ever since we came here. It's captured many of our loved ones already."
"What is it?" Bea questioned.
"We don't know," the woman replied. "All we know is that it's very strong and fast. And it seems to enjoy hurting us."
"We can't stay here," Goh stated. "We have to find somewhere safe where we can rest and recover."
"There is no such place," the woman responded sadly. "There is nowhere safe anymore."
Nessa frowned. "What about the city? Surely the festival is still going on."
The woman shook her head. "Lord Baevel will destroy anyone who tries to leave the city. He wants everyone to remain inside the capital. Anyone caught leaving will be punished severely."
"Why would he want that?" Nessa asked.
"He believes that the city is his kingdom," the woman explained. "He thinks that the city belongs to him alone. That's why he has forbidden anyone from leaving."
"Forbidden? Has no one ever left this city?" Nessa questioned.
"Only his trusted servants are allowed to." A man said, holding onto his arm as if it was broken. "Those that try to leave without his permission are captured, tortured, and then killed. Those that do escape the city end up being eaten by that thing. The one who is responsible for capturing our loved ones. The worst part is, he doesn't seem interested in killing us outright. Instead, he just takes one of our loved ones away at a time, leaving us to live in misery. We have no choice but to stay here until either Lord Baevel decides to stop persecuting us, or we die of starvation. Either way, our lives are completely ruined."
"Where does he take your loved ones?" Nessa inquired. She could see the pain in everyone's faces. They were all suffering from the loss of their families. It was clear that they had suffered greatly under this tyrannical ruler.
The woman shrugged. "I wish I knew. All I know is that he keeps them somewhere far away from here."
"Far away? Like outside of the city?" Goh pressed further. "That means they're probably in other cities of Johto."
"Most likely," the woman agreed. "Or maybe even in another region entirely. I don't know where he would keep them. All I know is that they are being kept somewhere far from us."
"And how long ago did this start happening?" Nessa continued her interrogation. "How many people have you lost so far? Do you know how many others are still out there?"
"About eight years now," the woman answered. "And we've lost almost half of our population already. There are only a few hundred of us left."
"Eight years?! That's insane! Why haven't you done anything to fight back?!" Goh demanded angrily. "You should have fought against him!"
"We tried, but we're outnumbered," the woman said sadly. "We tried fighting back, but he has more soldiers than we do. We tried running away, but we were captured. We tried hiding, but we were found. We tried fighting back again, but we failed every single time. Now, most of us are too weak to even lift a finger."
"Hm..." Nessa pondered for a moment. All of this was indeed terrible. Ash was right to show u here after all. "And I doubt it's slightly easy with that Pokemon running around. What even is that Pokemon anyway?"
The woman shook her head once more. "I'm afraid I cannot answer that question. I'm sorry." She looked down at her children and gently patted their heads. "I must protect my children. Please forgive me."
"Alright then. We'll figure out what it is, stop it and then ensure your safety." Nessa stood up, looking back at the two of them. "Waiting for the Star Champion to show up might be risky, so we will have to sort this out ourselves."
"Ourselves?!" Goh was surprised to hear this. "What are we supposed to do?!"
"We'll fight it," Bea responded. "We'll find that thing and defeat it. Then we can rescue everyone else."
"But we don't know what it is," Goh protested. "How can we fight it without knowing what it is?"
"I'll find out soon enough," Nessa reassured him. "Just trust me on this one." She looked over at the little girl, who was still clinging onto her skirt tightly. But right now, the little girl would have to let go. "Come on, let's get going."
Cassandra had some guards drag Sabrina along with them to the palace, which was a long walk from the port where the Astra Vessel landed. They were met by a few soldiers guarding the gate, who immediately recognized her as the leader of their order. The group of guards escorted her inside, leading her straight to the throne room, where Lord Baevel waited patiently. As she entered, she saw him sitting upon his throne, looking quite bored.
"So, you've returned at last," he greeted, not even bothering to look up from his goblet of wine. "I've been waiting for you."
"Yes, my lord," Cassandra replied politely, bowing slightly before him. She knew better than to speak out of turn here. "I have brought a prisoner, as requested."
Baevel raised an eyebrow, finally glancing over at her. "A prisoner?" he asked curiously. "Just the one?"
"Yes, sir," Cassandra confirmed. "We managed to capture one of them during our mission."
"Really now?" Baevel chuckled softly. "Well done. Very impressive. I suppose you want me to reward you for such good work?"
"No, of course not," Cassandra denied quickly. "It was simply a matter of doing what needed to be done."
"Hmm..." Baevel pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair. After a few moments, he nodded slowly. "Alright, fine. Bring forth the prisoner."
Sabrina was brought forward and forced onto her knees. Her arms were tied behind her back, preventing her from moving freely. Even without her hands, she could still move, but she knew it would be pointless to try and escape right now. Instead, she kept quiet and focused on the conversation between the two leaders. She needed to learn everything possible about the situation. This is when Sabrina would use her abilities to read their minds, however, she noticed something strange in Baevel's mind. She couldn't read it. She tried focusing harder on the task at hand, but nothing happened. It was as if his mind was blocked off completely.
'I can't read his thoughts...is he...a Psyorg as well?' Sabrina wondered to herself.
Baevel stared down at her with a cruel smile on his face. His eyes seemed to glow a sinister dark color as he studied her carefully. He leaned forward in his seat, resting his chin on his fist. "So, you're one of those pesky trainers who've been causing trouble for the Auravale Empire lately. And now you've shown up here."
Sabrina didn't answer him. She just stared back defiantly.
Baevel sighed. "No matter. I'm sure you already know why I had you captured."
"You're going to torture me," Sabrina said flatly. "And kill me afterwards."
"That may be true," Baevel admitted, smirking slightly. "However, I'm sure you'd rather not die. So, why don't you tell me where the Star Champion is? I'm sure he will come to save you." The lord grinned evilly at the thought. "Then I can finally put an end to him once and for all."
"He's not coming for me." Sabrina replied bluntly. "He doesn't care about me. I'm just a tool for him. Just another person who has been caught up in this whole mess."
Baevel laughed loudly at this. "Oh, I see! So, you think you're worthless to him? Ha! Well, let's find out if that's true. Guards, take her away!"
Sabrina was dragged out of the room by the guards. She didn't fight back. There was no point. Even if she could somehow manage to break free, she wouldn't make it very far. The best thing to do would be to wait for Ash and the others to arrive.
As soon as the door closed behind the guards, Baevel turned his attention towards Cassandra. His expression changed from amused to serious again. "Now then, Cassandra, I've got some questions for you."
"Yes, sir," she answered obediently. "What can I do for you, Lord Baevel?"
"I need your help," Baevel began. "I want you to go into the city and bring the Star Champion to me. You will be given a large reward if you succeed. Failure means many grave punishments. Do you understand?"
Cassandra hesitated for a moment. This sounded like a difficult task. "Yes, sir. But...what if he isn't in the city?"
"Oh, I'm quite certain he is," Baevel replied confidently. "After all, he is a very famous trainer. Everyone knows him. He has a lot of fans. And he always travels in a group of at least three people. I'm sure he's in the city somewhere."
"Understood." Cassandra bowed respectfully to her lord. "I shall return soon."
"Make sure you keep an eye out for the Star Champion. If he shows up, contact me immediately." Baevel ordered. "If he does not appear within a week, I will assume you failed and send someone else after him. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Cassandra replied, bowing deeply again. "I won't let you down."
"Excellent. Now get out of here," Baevel dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "And don't come back until you have found him."
Cassandra nodded and left the throne room. As she walked through the halls of the castle, she couldn't help but wonder why the lord wanted the Star Champion so badly. Why did he seem to fear him? What was he planning?
She shook her head. It didn't really matter to her. All that mattered was that she had to complete the mission assigned to her by Lord Baevel. That was her duty. And nothing else mattered to her.
Nessa, Bea and Goh quietly moved across the cave, attempting to not startle whatever Pokemon was lurking around here. The little girl stayed in the main area with the others, hoping that they would be safe.
"It should still be nearby. Let's try to avoid it and find a way out." Nessa suggested.
"What if we run into more of those soldiers?" Goh questioned. "I don't think we can avoid them forever."
"We can deal with them later," Bea responded confidently. "First, let's find a way out of here. We'll worry about the soldiers when the time comes."
The trio continued moving through the caves. Eventually, they came upon an opening leading outside. They carefully peeked their heads out and looked around. There were no signs of any threats in sight. However, there was a small group of guards standing guard nearby. They must have been posted there to prevent anyone from escaping the city.
"Great, now what?" Goh whispered. "We can't go back inside. We need to get past these guys somehow."
"Leave it to me." Nessa stepped forward, approaching the group of guards. She was able to use her charm and charisma to persuade the guards into letting her pass. Once she was done, she returned to the others. "Follow me."
"How did you do that?" Goh asked curiously. "I mean, how did you convince them to let us through?"
"I used my feminine wiles," Nessa winked at him. "They couldn't resist my charms."
"Really?" Goh raised an eyebrow. "Feminine wiles, huh? Well, I guess that works too." He shrugged. "Let's hurry up and get out of here before anyone notices us."
"Right." Bea nodded and followed behind the two of them. They walked out of the cave and headed towards the exit of the city. As they neared the exit, they heard a loud noise coming from the other side of the wall. It sounded like something skittering rapidly. Suddenly, they saw a figure emerge from the shadows. It was a Pokemon of impressive speed. One that goes by the name of Umbreon.
The Umbreon stared at the three of them intently. Its yellow rings glowed brightly, and it bared its fangs menacingly. It seemed to be waiting for something. Or someone.
"Wait, that's the thing that attacked us..." Goh realized. "It's an Umbreon!"
The Umbreon stared at the three of them intently. Its yellow rings glowed brightly, and it bared its fangs menacingly. It seemed to be waiting for something. Or someone.
"Wait, that's the thing that attacked us..." Goh realized. "It's an Umbreon!"
The Umbreon growled at them, snarling at the trio. To think that this as the Pokemon capturing people. "Just this Pokemon alone?" Nessa said.
Umbreon didn't respond. Instead, it lunged forward, attacking the three of them with great ferocity. Nessa and Goh flinched, while Bea took the brunt of the assault, holding her arms out. Due to this, Umbreon bit her arms. It's fangs digging deeply into the skin of her left arm. She cried out in pain as she waved her arm, forcing Umbreon off.
"Ngh! Ghhh!" Bea got on her knees, holding onto her bleeding arm.
Meanwhile, Umbreon circled around the group. Its eyes were focused solely on Goh, and its body language indicated that it was ready to strike at any moment.
Nessa ran over to Bea and began tending to her wounds. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Y-yes..." Bea winced in pain. "I'll be fine. Just...just keep an eye out for the Umbreon."
"Uhh...!" A nervous Goh had his legs tremble in fear, backing up slowly. The Pokemon before them had just attacked Bea, and now, it looked like it was coming for him. Nessa knew very well that Goh didn't stand a chance. Bea was rather injured and there was no sign of Sabrina nearby. The three of them were on their own.
However, due to being the Star Champion for a while now and even growing closer, Nessa has mustered up some courage with her. She knew very well that it wasn't hopeless. Not yet. And not ever. Where she held onto hope for so long and finally saw freedom from Volman, she saw a way out of this.
Standing up, she would get in front of Goh, looking directly at Umbreon. "Stay back, Goh. I can put a stop to this."
"You ...How?"
"Simple...By catching it." In her hand, she held a Poke Ball, gripping onto it tightly as she held her hand out.
Umbreon looked at the Pokeball in her hand, and then at the two of them. It seemed hesitant to attack now that she was in front of Goh.
"I'll be fine," Nessa stated confidently. "Trust me. If it attacks me, I can easily handle it. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you, Goh. So trust me."
"O-okay," Goh nodded, taking a deep breath.
Nessa threw her Poke Ball at Umbreon. As it flew through the air, the Pokemon jumped up, avoiding it, but that wasn't the end of Nessa's plan.
"Goh!" She called out, running forward.
Goh followed her lead. He sprinted forward, aiming for the Poke Ball, grabbing it and throwing it back at her. Nessa was able to catch the ball, just before Umbreon pounced on her from behind. However, Nessa had a second Poke Ball in waiting, sneaking it at the last second and throwing it straight at Umbreon's face, causing it to collide with its mouth.
A red light absorbed Umbreon into the Poke Ball, and after shaking and struggling for a while. If the ball halts, then Nessa would have successfully caught her own Pokemon while saving the lives of many. If not, then a disaster will strike certain.
"Ngh..." Sabrina was on the floor, restrained and weakened. Her clothes were tattered and ripped in places. Blood was smeared on her skin and she was barely able to move, let alone fight back.
Her psychic abilities weren't of use to her right now, she needed to rely on her own physical strength and willpower. She tried to stand up, but her legs buckled beneath her weight, causing her to fall back down. She could feel the cold, hard stone against her cheek. The room was pitch black. She didn't know where she was or how much longer she would remain here.
"I couldn't read his thoughts...Not at all. I can read anyone's mind and yet he was able to resist. How can that be? Unless..." It clicked with Sabrina. "He's a specialist in Dark-Types
The darkness surrounding her seemed to grow thicker and more oppressive with each passing moment. The silence became unbearable. She figured out why Baevel resisted her power. After all, Psychic Powers mean nothing to those of the Dark. The door to her cell opened slowly. From that door, Baevel himself arrived, staring down at her. He smirked at the sight of her in this condition.
"Well, I suppose it's about time," he chuckled softly. "To think I had someone as strong as you in my hands...It makes me wonder how many other people have fallen into similar situations."
Sabrina glared at him. She wanted to speak, to say something witty or sarcastic, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't hurt you. Not yet anyways," he assured her. "In fact, I might just keep you alive. Perhaps even let you go. Maybe. You are quite beautiful after all. It'd be such a waste to kill you now."
"What do you want from me?" she demanded.
"Hm. That's the question, isn't it?" Baevel smiled at her. "What does the great and mighty Lord of Kurodaka want with me? What could he possibly hope to gain from capturing a single trainer who has been nothing but trouble since she came here? Well, it could be that you're a rare type of human...You're a Psyorg. A mythical race of beings who were wiped out by my ancestors centuries ago."
"You already figured that out...?" Sabrina replied coldly.
"Ah, yes. You're quite intelligent, aren't you? But still, I have to ask. Do you know why I want to use you?"
"No. Tell me."
"Well, it's simple. Your people were a race of psychics that could bend the very laws of nature. You were practically similar to Legendary Pokemon...even related to the Celestials, I hear. Imagine what I can do if I were to harness that power? What a rare find..."
"What...what are you talking about?" Sabrina demanded angrily. She tried to push herself up off the ground, but failed miserably, her body refusing to cooperate. "You can't...I won't allow you!"
"Now now, don't be hasty. Let's talk this over first," Baevel said calmly. He knelt down beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I have plans for you. Big plans. And you're going to help me accomplish them. Or else...well, let's just say I won't be so merciful next time."
"I refuse to help you. I'm not afraid of death." Sabrina declared. "If you want something from me, you're going to have to kill me."
Baevel smiled wickedly at that. His grin widened as he stood back up, looking down at her. "Very well. We shall see how long that bravado lasts."
With those final words, he left, leaving Sabrina to ponder the fate that awaited her.