Team Plasma Takes Blueberry Academy by Storm: Pokémon Liberation Movement Gains Momentum
On Saturday, Team Plasma, a new student-led group founded by Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius of class 11-B, disrupted the Battling Club's league challenge with a surprise protest on the main battleground. The group, advocating for the release of Pokémon from their Poké Balls, has quickly become the latest trend at Blueberry Academy, with many students joining the cause and releasing their Pokémon. "We believe that the truth about Pokémon oppression needs to be spread," said Gorm, Team Plasma's spokesperson. However, not everyone is on board. "It was really annoying that we couldn't hold our league challenge," commented Caitlin, Champion of the Battling Club. As Team Plasma's influence grows, the academy is buzzing with debate over Pokémon liberation.
Colress read the school paper in his dorm room as he sipped his morning cup of tea. He sat at his desk, the newspaper surrounded by the clutter of wires and circuit boards from the previous evening's tinkering. The pale February sunlight filtered in the small window.
It was his birthday.
It was almost a curse to remember it, but he did so every year. He was the only one that ever did. The tea scolded his tongue.
The doorknob of his room rattled violently. Colress set down his cup, the tea creating a circular stain on the newspaper. Calmly, he rose to his feet and opened the door to find Ghetsis wearing a scowl.
"My door doesn't have a lock." he said indignantly as he pushed past Colress and flopped onto his bed.
"By all means, come in." Colress drawled sarcastically, shutting the door behind him. "I installed the lock myself, but it appears the rabble still find their way in."
"Put one on my door tonight." Ghetsis said, putting his legs up. Colress winced as Ghetsis shoes left a streak of mud on his sheets. He sat back down at his desk and sipped his tea.
"I assume you aren't here for my handyman skills?"
"No," Ghetsis lips curled into his usual sneer. His eyes caught the newspaper on Colress' desk. "I was going to show you that, but I see you've already got it. We made quite a stir on Saturday."
"That we did," Colress smirked. The protest had gone better than any of them had hoped. With the crowd that the Battling Club usually drew, combined with Rood's effort of spreading the word, half the academy had turned out to witness another of Ghetsis' poignant speeches. "I never knew you had such a way with words, Ghetsis."
Ghetsis leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile. "I've taken some inspiration from the great leaders of history, seeing as I'll be right there with them one day."
'That explains a lot.' Colress thought with a shudder. He had a feeling he knew which side of the Kanto war Ghetsis had resonated with.
"What's next in your great plan, then? More protests?"
"Yes, but that's not why I'm here. We both know your talents lay outside of holding a sign."
"I should hope so." Colress agreed. His fingers still felt stiff from holding the damn thing for so long.
"During half-term next week, we'll be going on a little field trip onto the mainland. I wish to visit Dragonspiral Tower to learn more about Zekrom and Reshiram."
Colress nearly choked on his tea. "Dragonspiral Tower? That's the other side of Unova. The journey would take hours even on the train."
"My home is near Victory Road, we'll stay there for the week. It has all been arranged." said Ghetsis cooly.
"It has? I see..." Colress quirked an eyebrow, but couldn't find it in himself to argue. Nobody had ever invited him to their house before. It was hardly going to be a slumber party, but it would be a refreshing change of pace from studying. "Victory Road? That's not far from Opelucid. Perhaps I ought to pay my own parents a visit too."
Colress hadn't seen his parents since the summer holidays. His Christmas at the mostly deserted academy had been almost the same experience he would have gotten at home, only with more decorations.
"They're scientists too, aren't they? Do you think they know anything about the legendary dragons?"
"They specialise in Pokémon medicine and medical equipment, so I doubt it." Colress shook his head. "Do you not think you might be putting the cart before the Mudsdale? Why spend time looking for legendary dragons so soon?"
"Why wait?" Ghetsis shrugged. "Trainers have sought after the dragons for their whole lives with no success. I don't like wasting time."
"And what about the protests? You aren't losing interest already, are you?"
"Zinzolin will be able to organise those in my absence. He is proving himself quite capable. You needn't fret, Colress. Team Plasma will not crumble if we go home for the holidays." Ghetsis smirked.
Colress leant back in his desk chair and sighed. Dragonspiral Tower was said to be Unova's oldest building. He couldn't quite remember the legends, but it was either the place where the legendary Pokémon came to life or where they lay in deep slumber. The tower lay on the outskirts of Icirrus City where the wild Pokémon there were strong and hostile. He'd need to train hard this week to ensure Klink and Magneton would be up for the challenge.
"And dare I ask why my presence is required for this excursion?"
Ghetsis stood up and put his hand on Colress' shoulder, his fingers digging in, just enough to be painful.
"Because you're my right-hand man."
Colress' day-to-day life had become less mundane since the advent of Team Plasma. He used to float between lessons, unobserved and unbothered. Today, he didn't even make it through his lunch break without being bombarded with Team Plasma 'business'.
He was eating in the library when Zinzolin took a seat across from him. Colress looked up with a sigh. He wasn't sure how much of this new attention he was enjoying. He certainly had no desire to see Zinzolin's dreadful face any more than he absolutely had to.
"We have Battle Studies today." Zinzolin said in his smarmy voice.
"Yes, they gave me a copy of the timetable too," Colress rolled his eyes, "I'm aware."
"Are you also aware that, as a founder of Team Plasma, you're expected to act like one?" Zinzolin fixed him with a cold, blue-eyed stare.
"Is this about the badge? If it means that much to you, I'll wear it."
"No, it's not about the badge," Zinzolin scowled, "It's about us not battling. It goes against Team Plasma's code of ethics. We must refuse unanimously - a united front."
Colress finally looked at him properly, searching for a hint of mirth on the boy's face. "You're asking me not to battle... In Battle Studies?"
Zinzolin smirked, "Good, you're catching up."
"No." Colress replied bluntly, looking back down at his book, "Battle Studies is graded. The deal is Team Plasma doesn't interfere with my education."
"Oh, for crying out loud..." Zinzolin sighed, leaning back in his chair, "Try and see the bigger picture, Achroma. If everyone refuses, they'll have to grade the class another way. You won't get a gold star for being the one person that was willing to battle. You'll just make us look bad."
Colress shot him an irritated look, "Why does it matter what I do? Just have your united front and leave me out of it."
"Well, it wouldn't be united then, would it?" Zinzolin shot back, "I have been given the job of managing operations. I will build Team Plasma from the ground up. I will not allow you to undermine my efforts."
Colress let out a groan. This was quickly becoming more trouble than it was worth.
"Fine. If it means you'll leave me alone, I'll do it." Colress sighed.
Zinzolin smirked, rising to his feet. "I'm glad you see it my way."
Colress shot him a cold smile. "I'm glad you're leaving."
Battle Studies later that day was a shambles. Mr. Hodge rubbed his hands over his eyes with a pained expression as most of the class refused to partake in a battle.
"Sir, did you know that Poké Balls are cruel?"
"I will never make a Pokémon battle again, even a rental Pokémon!"
"Sir, did you hear Ghetsis' speech on Saturday? No? You should come to the next one then. He explains it better than I do."
Colress found himself at the back of the crowd, watching Team Plasma's ideology unfolding before him. As promised, Zinzolin and Ghetsis had managed to work everybody up into a self-righteous mob.
"It's not looking like I'm getting a battle partner today." Annie muttered to him.
Colress turned with a start, he hadn't seen her approach.
"You haven't caved yet, then?" he replied, straightening his glasses.
"No chance. I want to be a Gym Leader one day."
'A Gym Leader.' Colress could picture her being a Gym Leader, surrounded by bug Pokémon that adored her. She'd be strong and confident, but kind as she commiserated young trainers who suffered defeat. He shook the picture from his mind.
"I don't suppose you're still up for a battle?" she asked, flashing him a hopeful smile.
"I'm afraid not." he grimaced, "Team Plasma are a... united front."
"I figured as much. Worth a try." she shrugged.
The lesson ended up moving to a classroom. Battle Studies became Battle Theory.
As night drew in, Colress returned to the terrarium alone to train. He made his way to the Coastal Biome to practice battle strategies with his Pokémon. He stood on the sandy shore and the waves lapped gently on the beach, barely masking the hum of the machine that propelled them under the surface.
Overhead, the stars twinkled, scattered like glittering diamonds beyond the hexagonal glass pattern of the dome. For a moment, Colress found his gaze drawn upward, beyond the boundaries of the man-made structure. Past the glass, past the artificial environment that encased him, and into the vast expanse of the universe.
Space.
It was so far away from Ghetsis, his parents and his future. Up there, none of it mattered. Space was a realm of possibility, where no one demanded anything from him. It was quiet, distant, infinite.
Colress shook himself from the thought and returned his focus to the task at hand. He needed to get stronger. He thought again of Ghetsis' raw strength and Annie's easy synergy with her Ariados. He always came back to that.
It wasn't his choice of Pokémon. Steel was a dependable type, bolstered by resistances and immunities.
'So, what then? Is it because my technique lies in the unremarkable grey area between friendship and fear? Ghetsis' Pokémon quiver when he gives a command. Annie's Ariados knows her so well, it anticipates her commands before she says them. My Pokémon...'
Colress' eyes came to rest on the chrome gears that glinted in the moonlight before him.
'Klink and I know each other about as well as I might know a rental Pokémon. I give commands and it understands them. That is the depth of our relationship.'
"Klink, thunderbolt." he instructed. Klink complied. A peel of electricity struck a nearby rock.
It felt empty. Hollow. There was no bond between them.
'But I do have one thing they don't have. I have science. There must be a way to amplify Klink's power using a device. Perhaps if I could simulate adrenaline and amplify it...'
Colress' mind began reeling as he trained. He could become strong in his own way. He didn't need intimidation or an emotional bond.
After all, if he'd had any experience of emotional bonds, somebody would have remembered it was his birthday.