The Blue Spirit
In one of the Fire Nation's fortresses, Zhao was having a conversation with someone named Colonel Shinu involving the archers they were looking at. "Absolutely not! The Yuyan Archers stay here. Your request is denied, Commander Zhao." Shinu told the commander.
"Colonel Shinu, please reconsider...Their precision is legendary. The Yuyan can pin a fly to a tree from one hundred yards away...without killing it." Zhao looked annoyed as he continued. "You're wasting their talents using them as mere security guards."
"I can do whatever I want with their talents. They're my archers, and what I say goes." Shinu said.
Zhao was now both frustrated and angry. "But my search for the Avatar and the Pokemon Trainers-"
Shinu cuts him off with a scoff. "Is nothing but a vanity project! We're facing a real war here, and I need every man I've got, Commander."
"But-" Zhao still couldn't finish.
"That's final! I don't wanna hear another word about it!' Shinu yelled. Suddenly, a cry of a hawk was heard. They both turned around and saw a hawk flying over to them with some sort of message. Colonel Shinu took a look at the message.
Commander Zhao looked interested himself. "News from Fire Lord Ozai?" Shinu handed the message to him. Apparently it was good news for Zhao, because after he read it, he gave off a smug smile. "It appears I've been promoted to Admiral. My request...is now an order." Colonel Shinu respectfully bowed to the newly promoted Admiral Zhao and left.
Zhao looked down at the Yuyan Archers with a glad expression on his face. Nobody even noticed that a strange figure wearing a a blue mask was on the roof of the tower Zhao was standing on, listening to the whole conversation. He wasn't the only one hiding. Someone else listened to the whole discussion...and it was some sort of Pokemon that kinda looked like an Armarouge's twin. Quietly, both the Pokemon and the masked figure disappeared into the shadows...literally in the Pokemon's case.
In a vast mountain range, or more like the remains of a ruined city, Makoto and the others set up camp in one of the ruined buildings ever since the incident with the storm.
The storm got Sokka good. He was in his sleeping bag, huddled against Appa...and was coughing.
Katara was by her brother as she pressed a wet rag on his forehead. "This should bring your fever down."
"You know what I love about Appa and Golduck the most?" Sokka suddenly asked. Golduck was close by, so he blinked in confusion and turned to the sick warrior. "Their sense of humor." Sokka answered anyway.
"That's nice. I'll tell them." Katara said.
Golduck turned to the sky bison. "Golduck Golduck?" Appa growled.
Sokka laughed. "Classic Appa and Golduck." Golduck just gave him a friendly smile and patted his sleeping bag a little.
Some of the other Pokemon were helping Arven get some soup nice and ready for Sokka. "Hopefully, this will be just the thing Sokka needs." Arven took a bit of a taste test just as Aang and Makoto came back.
"We're back." Makoto said. Some of the Pokemon greeted the two. Makoto turned to Katara. "So, how's Sokka doing?"
"Not so good." Katara answered. "Being out in that storm really did a number on him." They looked at Sokka who was sniffing pitifully.
"Well, this soup should be just the thing to make him feel better." Arven stirred the soup some more before he turned to the two boys who just came back. "Still, were you two able to find some ginger root for tea?"
"No, but we found a map." Aang placed the map he was carrying on the floor. "There's an herbalist institute on top of that mountain. We could probably find a cure for Sokka there."
"Aang, he's in no condition for travel. Sokka just needs more rest. I'm sure he'll be better by tomorrow." Just after Katara said that, she began to cough.
Makoto's eyes widened a little. "Oh no, not you too!"
Katara tried to assure them. "Relax, it was just a little cough. I'm fi-" She was cut off by coughing some more. After that, she groaned lightly.
While Aang and Makoto shielded their faces, Arven slowly shook his head. "Great, that's how Sokka started yesterday. Look at him now, he still thinks he's an Earthbender!"
"Take that, you rock!" Sokka was deliriously flailing his arms to prove Arven's point.
"It's only a matter of time until she starts talking nonsense." Arven groaned. Mabosstiff even whimpered in worry for the Water Tribe siblings.
Makoto looked serious. "We've gotta get them some medicine!"
Aang grabbed his glider. "Right." He was about to open it and fly off, but he changed his mind when he saw a bolt of lightning in the sky. "Uh, maybe it's safer if we go on foot." He turned to Arven, Appa, Momo, and the Pokemon. "Keep an eye on them, guys."
Arven nodded with a serious expression. "We'll be fine. Go." The Pokemon, and Appa and Momo voiced in their agreement.
Sokka laughed. "You guys are killing me!"
Aang jumped out and ran fast using his Airbending while Makoto held on to the Avatar.
Still searching in the open water, Zuko observed the area while listening to Lieutenant Jee who was looking at the map. "We haven't been able to pick up the trail of the Avatar and the Pokemon Tamers since the storm, but if we continue heading northeast..." Jee didn't finish because of a larger Fire Nation ship that was floating next to theirs.
"What do they want?" Zuko asked.
"Perhaps, a sporting game of Pai Sho!" Iroh guessed. He was playing a game with some of the crew members.
A messenger and a couple of soldiers entered Zuko's ship. The messenger held up a couple of wanted posters of Aang, Makoto, and also Arven. "The hunt for the Avatar and these boys known as 'Pokemon Trainers' has been given prime importance. All information regarding them must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao."
"Zhao has been promoted? Well, good for him!" Iroh happily moved his game piece while another player face palmed himself.
"I've got nothing to report to Zhao. Now get off my ship and let us pass." Zuko said with a glare.
"Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area." the messenger said.
"Off my ship!" Zuko snapped, which got the messenger and the soldiers to leave.
"Excellent! I take the pot!" Iroh cheered after he won the game. One of Zuko's soldiers that was playing punched himself. "But you're all improving! I'm certain you will win if we play again." Seems like Iroh's ready for another round of Pai Sho.
In a hidden outpost, a soldier was looking at the wanted posters while another was on the lookout for something.
"Says here that the Avatar can create tornadoes and run faster than the wind. And the other thing says that these boys can command strong unusual creatures and at times become 'one' with them. Pretty amazing!" one scout told his partner.
The other scout didn't believe it. "Ah, that's just a bunch of Fire Lord propaganda. There's no way any of that is true!" When he went back to looking, he spoke too soon...because something came zooming by, and that something was Aang with Makoto on his back. They unknowingly wrecked the outpost as they zoomed by. One of the scouts blew a horn to signal that two of the three targets have been spotted.
Back at the camp, Arven just finished with the soup he made for his sick friends. He and Greedent served a couple of bowls to Sokka and Katara. "Here you go, guys. Hope this helps."
They accepted the bowls and began to have some of the soup. "Thanks, Arven." Katara said kindly.
Sokka seemed to be enjoying the food quite well. "When Makoto commented on your cooking, he wasn't kidding!"
Arven shrugged. "It's no big deal. Since it was just me and my Pokemon for a while, someone had to make sure everyone was nice and fed." He gave a small smile while patting Greedent. "But I'm glad to hear that my little buddy enjoys the stuff I make. Same with our Pokemon."
Greedent happily wagged his big bushy tail. "Greed!"
Momo tried to dip just a finger into the soup pot, but he screeched a little when someone picked him up by the back of his fur. It was actually Meowscarada who gave the lemur bat a scolding look. "Meow!"
"Momo..." They turned to see that Arven was giving the lemur bat a scolding look as well...which changed into an understanding smile. "At least wait until everyone else has a bowl." He turned to Makoto's Fire-Type brother. "Lend me a hand here, Armarouge. Don't want anyone to starve." Armarouge nodded and used Psychic to serve everyone else bowls of soup for them to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Aang and Makoto just entered a green house to talk to the herbalist there.
Aang spoke...fast. "Hello, we're sorry to barge in like this, but we need some medicine for our friends, they have fevers and they were coughing-"
The herbalist cuts the Avatar off. "Settle down, young man. Your friends are going to be fine. I've been up here for over forty years, you know. Used to be others, but they all left years ago. Now it's just me and Miyuki." She pet her cat who began to purr.
"That's nice." Aang said, still in a bit of a hurry.
The herbalist went on. "Wounded Earth Kingdom troops still come by now and again, brave boys, and thanks to my remedies they always leave in better shape than when they arrive."
Makoto smiled. "Wow, that's amazing!"
"That's nice. Are you almost done?" Aang asked impatiently.
Makoto elbowed him a bit. "Aang, don't be rude." He gave the herbalist an apologetic look. "Sorry about my friend. We're just worried about our sick friends."
"That's quite alright, dear. I just need to add one last ingredient." the herbalist searched through her shrubbery to find the last ingredient while muttering to herself. While she was looking Aang face palmed himself in exasperation, giving Makoto an annoyed glare which caused the Pokemon Trainer to apologetically smile with a shrug.
It was sunset and Zuko's ship was steaming by the shore. On the foredeck, Zuko was in the middle of Firebending practice.
He paused when Iroh came to check on him. "Is everything okay? It's been almost an hour and you haven't given the men an order."
"I don't care what they do." Zuko replied.
"Don't give up hope yet. You can still find the Avatar and the Pokemon Tamers before Zhao." Iroh assured his nephew.
Zuko turned to his uncle with a look of desperation and fear on his face. "How, Uncle? With Zhao's resources, it's just a matter of time before he captures the Avatar and the Pokemon Tamers." He turned to look out at the ocean as he whispered something else. "My honor, my throne, my country...I'm about to lose them all."
The herbalist finally found the thing she was looking for in the shrubbery. "Oh, here's what I was looking for! Plum blossoms."
Both boys looked tired, but their heads shot off the table when they heard her. "Finally!" Aang said. Just as she placed the flower into the mixture she made while she was talking to them, Aang reached for the bowl. "Thanks for all your help!"
Suddenly, the herbalist slapped his hand with her spoon. "Hands off! What do you think you're doing?"
Aang flinched and rubbed his sore hand. "Taking the cure to my friends."
The herbalist laughed and gave the bowl to her cat. "This isn't a cure! It's Miyuki's dinner. Plum blossom is her favorite."
While Miyuki happily enjoyed her dinner, Makoto smiled a little at the cat. "Well, what do you know?" He looked at the herbalist. "But what about our friends?"
"Well, all they need are some frozen wood frogs." the herbalist answered. "There's plenty of them down in the valley swamp."
Both Aang and Makoto looked at each other in confusion before they turned back to the herbalist. "Okay...? So, what are we supposed to do with the frozen frogs?" Makoto even asked in confusion.
"Why suck on them of course!" the herbalist answered.
Both boys looked shocked and disgusted. "Suck on them?"
"The frog skin excretes a substance that'll cure your friends, but make sure you both get plenty. Once those little creatures thaw out, they're useless!" the herbalist explained.
There was a pause as they looked at the herbalist. "You're insane, aren't you?" Aang finally asked.
"That's right!" she gave a crazy reply. "Well, don't stand there all day! Go!" she threw some green sludge from her spoon in their faces. Aang blinked while Makoto took off his glasses and used his shirt to clean them.
Without much choice in order to help their friends, Aang and Makoto left to go find some frozen frogs...until several arrows came out of nowhere, a couple pinned Aang's pants to the ground. The Avatar created an air shield to protect himself and Makoto from the other arrows.
Aang pulled one of the arrows off the ground. "Uh...I think you dropped this..." But the two of them saw some archers taking aim at them both, making them scream.
"Time to go!" Makoto helped free Aang before the two of them ran away from the archers...only to fall off a cliff and into a swamp. Makoto got up and spat some swamp water out of his mouth. "Yuck!"
The two of them smiled when they saw what was in the water. "Frogs!" They wasted no time in getting some frozen frogs.
"That should be enough in case Arven and the others get sick too. Let's hurry back before-" Makoto was cut off when one of Aang's sleeve got pinned to a rock. They both gasped when more arrows came at them. Aang used his Waterbending to create an ice wall to protect them. It didn't go well, because a couple more arrows were able to break the ice wall. The archers pinned Aang's other sleeve before they fired a net at the two of them.
As the net was coming their way, a random shadowy portal appeared under Makoto's feet. He yelped when he fell down the portal, causing the frogs he collected to fall out of his shirt and also causing confusion to the archers and Aang. "Makoto? Where'd you go?" The Airbender looked around for his friend. The Yuyan Archers decided to look for him later and went to take Aang away.
Soon, Aang was found bound at the legs and arms with chains. He was struggling against them when someone entered the same room...Admiral Zhao.
"So this is the great Avatar. Master of all the elements." Zhao took a good look at Aang. "I don't know how you've managed to elude the Fire Nation for a hundred years, but your little game of hide and seek is over."
"I've never hidden from you! Untie me and I'll fight you right now!" Aang angrily said.
"Uhh, no." Zhao replied before he asked Aang the following questions. "Tell me, how does it feel to be the only Airbender left? Do you miss your people?" the question saddened Aang. But he became angry again when Zhao talked some more. "Don't worry, you won't be killed like they were. See, if you die you will just be reborn and the Fire Nation would have to start searching all over again. So I'll keep you alive, but just barely. But you won't be alone for long. Once we find and capture those two Pokemon Trainers, they'll be enough company for you." As he started to walk away, Aang took a deep breath and blew at gale force at Zhao, making him fall over. The admiral got up and narrowed his eyes at the Airbender. "Blow all the wind you want, but your situation is futile. There is no escaping this fortress, and no one is coming to rescue you." After that, he slammed the door and left Aang all alone.
Back at camp, Arven and the Pokemon looked over at the sick siblings while Sokka had another coughing fit.
"Water." Sokka weakly groaned.
"Aang and Makoto should be back any minute." Katara assured him.
"Yeah, they just need to get something to cure you two." Arven chuckled before he turned his eyes to the window. "What's taking those boys so long?" He quietly asked himself impatiently.
He turned back just as Katara and Sokka coughed some more, making him a little worried. He went over to mainly Katara and held out a hand. "Here, I'll go and get you two some water."
"Thank you, Arven." Katara handed him a water skin.
Arven turned to the Pokemon. "Mabosstiff, come with me bud. You too, Meowscarada. The rest of you stay here and watch over Sokka and Katara until we get back." Some of the Pokemon nodded while Mabosstiff and Meowscarada followed Arven out of camp to get some water and hopefully run into Aang and Makoto...unaware of what was currently going on with both of them.
Speaking of Makoto, he was now standing in a shadowy part of the fortress, looking around in confusion. "Huh? What happened? Where am I?" He remembered what happened in the swamp and became worried for his friend.
Makoto was about to call out to Aang...until a purple blade was placed in front of his mouth to silence him. The same blade turned his head to make him look at a familiar looking Pokemon. "A Pokemon? You don't look like a Paradox Pokemon...and you kinda look like Armarouge." His eyes widened a little. "Wait, I've seen one like you before." His mind went back to a day in his Biology class.
Flashback in Naranja Academy:
Makoto was among the students listening to Jacq's lesson on Pokemon evolution.
"Now as you all may have known, there are a number of ways Pokemon can evolve. However, some Pokemon have more than one line of evolution, meaning they evolve differently depending on certain conditions. This is what's known as split evolution." Jacq explained.
He drew some Pokemon images on the board to show some examples to his students. "Take Kirlia for example: It can evolve into one of the following two known as Gardevoir and Gallade. Kirlia evolves into Gardevoir by leveling up to 30, however Kirlia can evolve into Gallade by using a Dawn Stone on it, but only the male can become Gallade."
Jacq erased the board to draw another example. "Split evolution effects how the Pokemon performs in battle." He turned to smile at his students. "Before I continue, do any of you have a Pokemon named Charcadet?"
Makoto smiled and raised his hand. "I do, Mr. Jacq!"
"Ah, Makoto. Can you come up here and bring out your Charcadet?" Jacq smiled kindly.
Makoto got up and walked over until he was standing next to his Biology teacher. He brought out the Fire Child Pokemon who stood on the teacher's desk for the other students to see.
"Now Charcadet here is a great example on how well the Fire-Type can perform depending on how he evolves." Jacq drew two separate sets of armor on the board and made them look like they were on either side of Charcadet.
Jacq pointed at the brighter of the two armor images. "If you let Charcadet put on this set of armor known as Auspicious Armor, then they'll become the Fire/Psychic-Type called Armarouge that specialize in Special Attacks like Flamethrower and Weather Ball."
Jacq turned to the image of the darker set of armor. "However, if you give Charcadet a set of Malicious Armor, then the little fella will evolve into a Pokemon called Ceruledge, a Fire/Ghost-Type who specializes in Physical Attacks like Flame Charge and Brick Break."
"Char!" Charcadet stood proudly after hearing about his evolved forms.
Flashback ends:
Makoto blinked while looking at the Pokemon in front of him. "You're one of a Charcadet's evolved forms, Ceruledge."
Ceruledge nodded and lowered his blade arm. "Ceru."
Now Makoto was confused some more. "Wait, I thought only Paradox Pokemon got sent here to this dimension. How did you get here?" Ceruledge just shook his head and motioned for Makoto to look behind him.
When he did, Makoto quickly hid in the shadows some more.
What the two of them were looking at was a crowd of Fire Nation soldiers who were standing in front of one of the balconies in the fortress. Makoto looked up and saw Admiral Zhao coming into view to say something to the soldiers. "We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element! Until today only one thing stood in our path to victory, the Avatar. I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner!"
While the soldiers cheered, Makoto silently gasped. "Aang."
Zhao went on with his speech. "It won't be long until the ones with these unique creatures called Pokemon will be my prisoners as well. Their Pokemon shall be put to good use in the Fire Nation!"
Makoto narrowed his eyes at the admiral. "Don't count on it." While the trainer wasn't looking, Ceruledge sank down into a shadowy portal he made in the ground.
"Once the Pokemon Trainers are ours, they'll be put to work in capturing more of those creatures that have been spotted throughout the world! This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground!" Zhao finished up his speech. The Pokemon that floated next to him gave off a buzz.
Makoto's eyes widened after what he heard. "Oh no, Avatar Roku's right. The Fire Nation really IS trying to collect the Paradox Pokemon to help them win against the war! I left my Pokemon back at camp, so I guess I'll have to ask you to help me, Ceruledge." He turned to where he last saw the Fire Blades Pokemon...only to find that he was all alone. "Ceruledge? Where'd he go?"
He felt something tap him on the shoulder, he turned his head to see a figure in a blue mask. "W-Who are you?" Makoto cautiously took a step back from the figure. The figure, or rather the Blue Spirit, just took the surprised Pokemon Trainer by the arm and stealthily made their way deeper into the fortress.
Arven was carrying some water to take back over to Katara and Sokka. Meowscarada and Mabosstiff were by his side. At the same time, the three of them were also looking around for Makoto and Aang since they never came back for a while.
"What's keeping those two anyway? I know Makoto would never be around goofing off while his friends are sick." Arven started to look pretty worried. "I hope they haven't gotten lost, or kidnapped." Mabosstiff gave off a worried whine.
Meowscarada suddenly got in front of Arven and Mabosstiff as if to protect them from something. "What is it?" Arven asked the Magician Pokemon who just hissed in warning.
Suddenly, a shadowy portal formed in front of them. Meowscarada got his claws ready while Mabosstiff gave off a warning growl. Arven even narrowed his eyes, giving a guess as to what might come out. "A Paradox Pokemon?" To their confused surprise, it was actually Ceruledge that came out of the portal. "That's not a Paradox Pokemon. That's a...Ceruledge?"
"Ledge." Ceruledge pointed his left arm blade to the portal that was still open.
"You want us...to follow you in there?" Arven was suspicious of the Pokemon. "And why should we just follow you?"
"Ceru Ceruledge." Ceruledge answered.
The answer made Meowscarada's eyes widen with worry. "Meow!?"
Mabosstiff gave a worried bark before he used his teeth to tug on Arven's shirt a little. Arven looked at the two Dark-Types with wide eyes. "What? Is it Makoto and Aang?" The two of them, and also Ceruledge nodded their heads. Arven grunted a bit. "I had a feeling they'd be in some sort of trouble." Arven looked over at the portal with determination. "Into the portal!" He and the two Pokemon by his side rushed into the portal. "Don't worry, little buddy! We're coming!" Arven said just before he, Meowscarada, Mabosstiff, and Ceruledge jumped into the shadowy portal to save Aang and Makoto.
Back in his cell, Aang was still struggling to free himself from the chains. He stopped just in time for something to pop out of his clothes. It was the frozen frogs for Sokka and Katara. They were thawing out and were leaping away.
"What? No! Don't leave, frogs!" Aang was struggling against the chains again so he could get the frogs. "My friends are sick and they need you! Please go back to being frozen!"
On the other side, the guards that were guarding the Avatar's cell heard a croaking noise. They both looked down and saw some frogs coming out from underneath the door. They looked back up just as a Fire Nation soldier helmet bounced down the hallway in front of them. They went over to check it out...only to find themselves knocked out. Another guard came and was about to sound the horn...but the horn he was trying to get was snatched and was used to knock him out.
The one who knocked the guard out with the horn was Makoto, he looked at the Blue Spirit who was the one who took care of the other guards. "Nice moves. So where are they keeping Aang?" The Blue Spirit pointed to the cell door.
Aang soon heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. It slowly opened to reveal the Blue Spirit on the other side, he pulled out two swords and ran towards Aang who screamed when he saw the swords...But he saw that the Blue Spirit only used the swords to cut the chains on his wrists and ankles. "Who are you? What's going on? Are you here to rescue me?" Aang asked the mysterious figure.
"I guess he is." Makoto walked into the cell and approached his friend. "I don't know much about him, but he did help me find you."
Aang smiled when he saw his friend. "Makoto! What happened to you? I was worried after you vanished earlier."
Makoto was about to answer, but they saw that the Blue Spirit opened the door and motioned them to follow him. Makoto nodded. "I'll explain later. Right now, we need to get out of here." They both followed the Blue Spirit out of the cell.
While they were running, Aang noticed some frogs still trying to get away. "My frogs! Come back, and stop thawing out!" Aang tried to get some of the frogs, but the Blue Spirit came back and dragged him away from them. "Wait! My friends need to suck on those frogs!"
"We'll pick more up once we're out of here!" Makoto told the Avatar.
As they were running off, Admiral Zhao was on his way to the Avatar's cell with a scribe following him. "I want a full transcription of my speech sent to the Fire Lord, along with glowing testimonies from all of the ranking officers present, and-" He stopped after he heard a moan. He turned to the right and saw the guards that were knocked out by the Blue Spirit. Upset, Zhao slammed the cell door opened...but there was no Avatar, only a lone frog who hopped out of the room. Zhao angrily left the area.
"Sir, should I hold off sending that speech to the Fire Lord?" the scribe asked.
The three of them were seen scaling a rope on the innermost wall of the fortress. Sadly, they were spotted. "There, on the wall!" one of the soldiers who spotted them yelled.
"Uh-uh!" Makoto said. A soldier cuts the rope they were climbing, causing the three of them to fall down to the ground. Of course, Aang used his Airbending to give them a soft landing. Soon they ran off with the Blue Spirit unsheathing his swords.
The robot moth Pokemon gave off a warning buzz just as Zhao came next to it. "The Avatar has escaped! Close all the gates immediately!"
"They're on to us!" Makoto yelled at they kept running.
Aang ran on ahead. "Both of you, stay close to me!" He used his Airbending to keep the gate in front of them open. Still, some soldiers were in the way, but the Blue Spirit stepped up to fight them.
Since he didn't have any Pokemon with him, Makoto sweated a little when some soldiers were coming his way...only for the soldiers to be blowing away by a wave of leaves. "Huh?" Makoto blinked a bit.
"Play Rough, bud!" Mabosstiff got some more soldiers with the Fairy-Type attack.
Aang smiled a bit seeing the Dark-Type. "Mabosstiff?" The Boss Pokemon gave off a happy bark to the Airbender.
Makoto looked behind him and saw Meowscarada and Arven running over. "Arven! Meowscarada!" The Grass/Dark-Type hugged his human brother in relief.
"Now I understand why you and Aang were taking your sweet time to get medicine, little buddy?" Arven patted his friend on the shoulder a little.
Makoto gave off a sheepish apologetic smile. "Yeah, sorry about that." All of them ran off some more. Aang, Meowscarada, Mabosstiff, and even the Blue Spirit were fighting off some of the soldiers as they ran. "How did you find us anyway?" Makoto asked.
"We had some unexpected help that brought us to you." Arven answered just as Mabosstiff sent some soldiers flying with Hyper Voice aided by some more Airbending from Aang.
"What kind of unexpected help?" Makoto asked. Meowscarada tricked some soldiers with his Flower Trick.
Soldiers used their Firebending at the group. Just as Aang used his Airbending to protect them, something slashed the soldiers away. It turned out to be the same random Ceruledge as before. Aang got ready to fight the Pokemon. "Great, another one!"
Makoto and Arven's eyes widened when they saw the Pokemon. "Ceruledge!" They said at the same time before they blinked and looked at each other.
"Wait, you know this one?" Aang asked the Pokemon Trainers.
Makoto nodded. "That's a Fire/Ghost-Type Pokemon called a Ceruledge. He's the one that brought me here to save you."
"And that's the same Ceruledge that brought me, Mabosstiff, and Meowscarada here to help you two." Arven added.
Still, Aang had another question. "How did he get you guys here in the first place?" He remembered a shadowy portal that save Makoto earlier, and it became clear to him. "He's the one who made the portal that saved Makoto!"
"And I'm guessing that the portals were actually Ceruledge using the Ghost-Type move known as Phantom Force." Makoto turned to the Armarouge twin. "Am I right?"
Ceruledge nodded. His blades glowed as he helped the Blue Spirit fight some more soldiers. Meowscarada joined in using Night Slash.
Soon, everyone stopped when the moth Pokemon hovered above them, spun around and released some flames.
The robot moth floated down just as Zhao walked over. "Yes, very good." He petted the Pokemon that became his ally before he turned to the Avatar and the Pokemon Trainers with a smug smile. "Well, what do we have here? Not only do I see the Avatar, but also both of the Pokemon Trainers as well." The moth buzzed, about ready to attack, but Zhao placed an arm in front of it to stop it. "No, hold your fire! The Avatar and the Pokemon Trainers must be captured alive!"
Suddenly, the Blue Spirit was behind Aang with his two swords crossed in front of the Airbender's throat, surprising mostly everyone. "Hey, what are you doing!?" Arven yelled at the Blue Spirit who remained silent. As if that weren't enough, Ceruledge came between Makoto and Arven and pointed his fiery blades at their necks as well, causing quite a stand off.
Admiral Zhao gritted his teeth. "Open the gate."
"Admiral, what are you doing?" Shinu asked in disbelief.
"Let them out, now!" Zhao ordered. The gates were opened, letting the Blue Spirit and Ceruledge back away with their captives while Meowscarada and Mabosstiff were left with no choice but to follow them out of the fortress.
"How could you let them go?" Shinu questioned.
"A situation like this requires...precision." Zhao replied.
The Blue Spirit and Ceruledge were still backing away from the fortress...not realizing that an arrow was pointed their way.
"Do you have a clear shot?" Zhao was talking to a Yuyan Archer. "Knock out the thieves. I'll deliver them to the Fire Lord along with the Avatar and the Pokemon Trainers." The arrow was fired. Ceruledge saw it coming and vanished into another Phantom Force portal...but the Blue Spirit got hit and was knocked on his back, surprising Aang, Makoto, Meowscarada, Arven, and Mabosstiff.
Makoto recovered as he turned to his partner Pokemon. "Meowscarada, Magical Leaf!" Recovered himself, Meowscarada nodded and provided a dose of Magical Leaf that covered them from the naked eye.
"Quick! Recover the Avatar and the Pokemon Trainers!" Zhao ordered. The soldiers ran out of the opened gate and towards the wall of leaves.
"We need to get out of here!" Arven told the others. Still, Aang walked over to the Blue Spirit and slowly removed his mask. He and the other four were shocked to see that the Blue Spirit...was none other than Prince Zuko!
The soldiers were getting closer and closer. Aang and Makoto looked down at the unconscious prince, hesitating a bit. Arven noticed their looks, so he frowned and shook his head at the boys. Mabosstiff looked between the human boys while Meowscarada grunted while he kept using his Grass-Type attack.
Zhao's robot moth partner blasted the leaves away with some fire...but it was too late. The targets were already gone. Admiral Zhao was left scowling while another frog hopped off from the fortress.
It was now morning. Zuko woke up and found himself in the middle of a forest.
"I still can't believe we saved him from that other Firebender we met on Roku's island." He heard Arven say. From the sound of it, he was pretty annoyed by the choice.
"Come on, Arven." Zuko heard Makoto. He looked to see the two Pokemon Trainers, their Pokemon partners, and also the Avatar sitting next to him. "He helped save us back in the forest, so we saved him. Seems fair to me." Makoto added with a shrug.
Sensing that Zuko was awake, Aang began to speak up. "You know what the worst part of being born over a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with." While Meowscarada and Mabosstiff voiced their sympathy for Aang, he continued. "Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together."
Makoto gave Aang and small smile. "Sounds like the two of you were quite a duo back then, Aang."
Aang nodded. "He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like him." He turned his attention to Zuko, as did the other four. "If we knew each other back then, do you think we could've been friends too?" The answer...was Zuko springing to his feet and shooting a fireball at the five of them who were able to avoid it.
"You know, answering with WORDS works a lot better, you jerk!" Arven yelled at he ran away with the other four.
Left alone, Zuko raises his eye in consideration to what Aang said.
Aang, Makoto, Arven, Meowscarada, and Mabosstiff returned to the swamp and gathered up some more frozen frogs.
While holding a frog, Arven raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure that sucking on these frozen frogs will help Katara and Sokka feel better?"
Makoto shrugged. "That's what the herbalist told us." Meowscarada and Mabosstiff just looked at each other before they stuck their tongues out in disgust.
Zuko made it back to his ship, walking past his uncle on the main deck.
"Where have you been, Prince Zuko? You missed music night! Lieutenant Jee sang a stirring love song." Iroh said, still holding the horn he played for music night on the ship.
"I'm going to bed. No disturbances." Zuko said just before he left for his room. Iroh began to blow on his horn again.
Aang, Makoto, Arven, Meowscarada, and Mabosstiff returned to camp to the relief of the other Pokemon.
"Sorry it took so long. We were able to find Aang and Makoto." Arven looked kinda tired from what happened so he found a corner and laid down to rest. Mabosstiff joined him to get some sleep as well.
"Suck on these. They'll make you feel better." Aang gave Sokka and Katara each a frozen frog to suck on before he went to lay on Appa's tail.
"Guys, how was your trip? Did you make any new friends?" Sokka asked with his mouth full.
Makoto and Meowscarada were resting next to Koraidon. "No, Sokka, I don't think we did" Makoto tilted his hat so that it was covering his eyes.
Instead of sleeping, Zuko just laid awake in his bed, looking at the Fire Nation symbol on the wall before he rolled over.
Sokka seemed to be enjoying the taste of the frozen frog. "This is tasty!" But that changed when the frog thawed in his mouth, making him realize what it really was. So he spit it out in disgust. Katara's frog thawed as well, making her cry out. Now the two were fully recovered...and spitting and coughing to get the taste out of their mouths.
Their reaction was enough to get Golduck, Tinkaton, Cloyster, Scovillain, and Greedent to laugh out loud. Raichu, Armarouge, Garganacl, and Toedscruel just sweat dropped at the scene. Koraidon decided to ignore the scene from the Water Tribe siblings, so he gently nuzzled both Makoto and Meowscarada and joined them in slumber.
Meanwhile, Ceruledge appeared in the swamp and got a view of the camp Makoto and the others were staying at...but at the same time, he was giving information to someone.
"And you're sure you saw one with the Fire Nation?" the figure asked.
Ceruledge nodded his head. "Ledge. Ceruledge."
The figure he was talking to was actually Hunter. "I see. Now all we need to do is figure out where one of the Dimension Diamonds are located in this dimension." Hunter smiled and pulled out a Poke Ball. "You did great, Ceruledge. You deserve a nice long rest in the Poke Ball." He returned the Fire Blades Pokemon to the Poke Ball before he looked up at Makoto's camp. "As did you, Makoto. I promise we'll be able to see each other again soon." He walked off to continue his own quest.
Ta-da! Another Celestial Squad chapter down, but more importantly, it's also the first chapter posted in the new year! Not sure if you've noticed yet...or if you even care, but I've decided to put both the Dragon Ball X series and the Pokemon Super: Sun & Moon series up for adoption. I know it might be a bit of a surprise to those who read those two, but I've just lost the interest and the motivation with those two and the game that inspired them: Xenoverse 2. So, if anyone out there wants to adopt one of them or both, PM me and I'll be happy to let you take over how you see fit. Other than that, I'll still be working on the Pride Team Adventures as well as the Celestial Squad, so look forward to the next chapter. See ya later!