A/N Guess I'm back after finishing chapter 20 :)
enjoy the rest of the chapters
Chapter 15 - Move out!
"I am dividing two teams. One will retrieve fuel for the townsfolk while the others will find a way to evacuate. I have already assigned who will be in charge of these operations," Optimus said to his soldiers and humans in the control room.
The Autobot leader had ordered Nate to go with Jazz's team and Hilbert with Arcee. Nate asked the leader what he'd be doing.
"Staying here and ensuring everything goes as planned, We'll be back up if anything goes south. Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
Hilbert watched as Nate went over to Jazz's team leaving the adult alone. Clay, on the other hand, was responsible for looking after his people, so Hilbert was the only human going with Arcee's team.
The trainer followed behind the Autobots, leaving the Ark and headed to the campsite.
"We are only going to take a small portion of these people and Pokemon. Let's get them packed up." Arcee announced.
The team followed behind her and left the Ark. Outside, Hilbert manages to convince a few trainers to come along just in case there's any Decepticons following. Those trainers still felt uneasy being around giant robots but who could blame them?
The Cybertronians also got their share of humans and Pokemon to bring, even Bluestreak helped out gathering people up. Bluestreak brought the people over to Arcee's team where a few humans and Pokemon were at.
"They should be enough right?" The sniper asked.
"Yeah, if we get more people it would be hard to bring them to Mistralton City." Arcee said. She looks beneath her, watching Unova's Champion calm his people and talking to the trainers about something. The Autobots paid no mind to it.
Hilbert looks up at the giants talking amongst themselves before calling everyone out, "We leave now. Everyone, stay close."
The humans picked up their belongings as the Pokemon walked beside them. Arcee and Hilbert took the lead while Windblade and the twins stayed behind the party.
Route 6
Coming from the sky, Windblade transforms and hero lands in front of the refugees and Autobots. "Coast is clear, we are not too far from Chargestone Cave."
Arcee and Hilbert nobs before telling the group to move forward.
As everyone made it to Chargestone cave, the civilians sigh in relief. Having luck by their side when no Cons were patrolling this area.
"We should rest," the Champion suggested.
Walking into the tunnels, some of the humans and Cybertronians admire the floating stones that spark with electricity. Sideswipe got close to one and right as he was about to touch it, Hilbert shouted, "Wait, don't touch that!"
Sideswipe bounced back by the blue electricity that zipped him. He jogged back to the group waving his right servo. "Ok, never doing that again."
The champion grinned with a "I told you so" face while facing the front liner shaking off the reminder of the blue static. If he could, Sunstreaker would be rolling his optics because of the stupidity he just watched.
A flash caught everyone's gaze by the cave's entrance before being awarded with thunder. Some of the townsfolk whisper amongst themselves and a few Pokemon backed further into the group.
Hilbert spun around to meet Arcee's gaze. "I know a good spot where we can camp out for the night."
Everyone followed the trainer deeper into the tunnels until they came across a spot that was spacious enough for them. Townsfolk found spots they wanted to rest on and the Pokemon stayed close to them for warmth or comfort.
Water drips from the top creating harmonic echoes as different sounds of hums and chirps fill the background like white noise. The Autobots stood guard. Windblade sits down resting in her bipedal mode unlike the twins shifting into their alt using their avatar.
Behind Arcee, she heard a pop. Turning around to see Unova's champion far away from the group with a giant yellow spider… Before leaving she comlink over to the other 'bots about her whereabouts.
Hilbert, along with his Pokemon, went further into the cave reminiscing back to his early days in their journey. It dawned on how much time has passed. Hilbert and his Pokemon stopped in their tracks, he took out a hexagon cube box — the top of it showed a green slit in the middle.
"What's that?" Acree curiously asked, scaring the champion in the process.
Hilbert hold chest to calm down his rapid heart rate. "Ahhh, you scared me! Oh, this? It's a key item to hold special cells."
The femme walked closer, "What so special about these cells?"
Hesitating, he thought back on a secret that was shared with him about the lake guardian trio and the vision — he sighs to himself.
"How much do you know about legendary Pokemon?"
Seeing right through what he was trying to do, she played along. "A bit. They are quite powerful, are they not? We just recently learned they can be deities too."
"Do you not have deities or gods of your own?"
"We do. His name is Primus, the creator of all Cybertronians."
"We have a single creator too. There is a legend that they are called 'The Original One' said to create the universe. Dialga and Palkia are part of them too — they were just mythos before Team Galactic came into the picture."
"Really? Quite a big universe."
"Yeah. Anyway, these cells are special because they come from a legendary known as Zygrade. Nate and I were going around Unova to collect them since they've been showing up recently."
"And that's a good or bad thing?"
"Bad thing. Whenever Zygarde cells splatter all over a region, a cataclysm will happen — something is out of the natural order."
Hilbert turns around to continue walking, Arcee follows behind.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Since last week."
"But that's when we show up. You don't think…?"
"I'm not sure if it is directly towards you guys. If that were the case then Zygrade would be at 100 percent form right now."
Turning a corner, Galvantula spotted something shiny. When she got closer to it she got excited and ran back to her trainer. The EleSpider Pokemon lifts her front legs to gain her trainer's attention.
"What is it Tula?"
Hilbert and Arcee follow behind the Pokemon, turning a corner.
"A Zygrade core!" Hilbert said excitedly. He rushed over and put the cell in the cube.
Arcee smiled at the sight, then something sparked. "Hilbert."
The young man spun towards her, "Yeah?"
"How do you feel about me being your Guardian?"
Like a loading screen, Hilbert became completely baffled. An alien robot as his Guardian? Did she not think he could protect himself?
"I mean, don't get me wrong, but why? I can take care of myself and my team."
"I know of your achievements defeating Team Plasma and I'm not discrediting you from it. However, you are a major figure to the region and I don't want Megatron to use you as an example."
"As an example? Like killing the most powerful, showing the people what he's capable of?"
"Yes."
His eyes widened. To be used as an example against his people, the thought terrified him.
"Megatron, what is he like? Optimus said he is your enemy, why? Why are you at war and why does Pokemon and humanity have to suffer for it?
Arcee looked deep into his brown eyes, eyes that were determined, eyes that saw its own horrors. The pink Autobot carefully sat down and invited the trainer with his Pokemon to sit next to her. She told them about the war — her view on how it happened and what is known about the relationship between Optimus and Megatron.
"It was a lot more political than one would think. The fight for freedom of those who had no name, a fight against the caste system. Megatron and Optimus fought for the same thing until Megatron turned a different path. Due to our ability to traverse the galaxies, many races had to suffer our consequences."
Hilbert listens closely as many emotions rush through him. A political war between ideologies and freedom. Black and white, truth and ideals. Then it became more than that — the fall of Cybertron, a home that could no longer be called home.
"Earth became a holding ground for many Autobots and Decepticons. It was filled with so much Energon that the Decepticons tried Cyberforming the planet on multiple occasions. The inhabitants of the planet are very persistent. We admired their efforts."
"So then, how did you get here?"
"Space-time machine. Megatron had Shockwave built it to transport Earth to another plane of existence. Although the machine backfired and here we are now."
Hilbert stood from where he sat and threw his arms in the air. "That's a stupid idea! Wouldn't that cause the rest of you to go along with the planet? I- how is he even a warlord?"
Arcee laughed, "Believe me when I tell you the Decepticons tend to do the craziest stuff out of spite." Arcee's face frowns at the realization. "But, something didn't feel right about the situation and how there's another Ark here. That there's a possibility of Cybertronians existing in this universe — yet there are no signs of them."
Hilbert placed his hand on his bottom lip before dropping it to the side. "Arcee, I don't know how bad it is on your Earth but on our world, he won't win!"
The Autobot wanted to protest but Hilbert shot back.
"This world has faced many end of the world crises and domestic world domination. We have each other and the bonds to keep moving forward! Believe me when I say war on this planet is going to be a turning point — that's a promise."
Arcee gave a smile but in her spark held sadness. It was a naive ideal that beings like them could turn the tides but perhaps, with these creatures, there could be a chance. "We should head back."
The Autobot got back on her pede, and led the two back to the campsite.
After resting for a few hours the champion insisted on moving forward. The humans and Pokemon comply with the demand and pack up their belongings. The twins were back in their bipedal mode along with Windblade stretching her wings.
The Autobots notice a change in the champion's behavior after coming back with Arcee. She told them everything they converse about and how she'll talk with Optimus into being Hilbert's Guardian.
Making their way to the bridge, the Autobots noticed parts of the ground were moved — they saw the makeshift graves. They paid no mind to it as to not draw attention. Hilbert and Arcee were the first to cross, however.
"Hilbert!" The femme yelled as she held onto the side of the bridge, dangling in the ravine. Arcee was holding Hilbert by the leg.
"I'm ok! Maybe try catching me a little differently?"
"No promises."
Windblade hopped from the cliff edge and flew to the duo. She grabs Arcee by the servo and pulls them to the other side.
"Thanks Blade."
"No problem. What was that though? The bridge just fell apart?"
"Seems so."
Unova's Champion eased over the cliff seeing how far down. When he couldn't see the bottom, he backed away. He looks up when one of the femme asks the twins if they are alright before trying to find a way to get them across.
"I can fly over and get them one by one."
"That would take too long."
"HEY"
The duo jump hearing Hilbert shouting across the ravine.
"DOES ANYONE HAVE A PSYCHIC OR ELECTRIC TYPE POKEMON?!"
A trainer from the group shouted back, revealing a Pikachu whilst another trainer had a Gothorita.
Hilbert took out a pokeball of his own. A purple and pink thing that was holding itself into a ball came out. Weird steam of pink smoke escapes its forehead. Hilbert then commanded his Galvantula.
The trainer with the Pikachu saw the champion with their electric type. Catching onto the idea, they step out first. Both trainers yelled electro web, creating a bridge. Then came the next part, Gothorita and Musharna used psychic to keep the bridge steady.
"No way I'm I getting on that thing!" Sunstreaker recoiled. "That's a death trap waiting to happen!"
The humans and Pokemon didn't care for what the big giant yellow robot had to say, they trusted their champion and began crossing. Arcee and Windblade smiled.
"You boys coming over?" The flier comlink.
The femmes, humans, and Pokemon watched from the other side, seeing the twins hesitate to cross. In the end, Sideswipe shrugs, walking over to show his brother everything's a-okay. Finally, Sunstreaker crosses the bridge, earning a clap from everyone.
"You did it, Sunny!"
"Don't call me that!" Sunstreaker said, pushing his brother, storming off.
The makeshift bridge fell apart.
"We can't take this route anymore." Arcee commented.
Having the group turned around, they left Chargestone Cave to enter Mistralton City.
Pacing back and forth on the outskirts of Mistralton City, Jon and Bumblebee kept trying to call the Autobots every hour. Hearing Blaster through his communication link with a broken signal gave the scout all he needed to know about the situation. However, Jon texts and calls while getting no response in return.
It's been his hundred and forty-five calls now.
Bumblebee has been doing his best to keep his charge calm. His two Pokemon (Rocky and Elfen) tried to get their friend's attention away from his phone.
"Jon, I'm sure the others are going to be alright." Bumblebee cooed.
"You don't know that! What if— I don't know, what if they need help and we're not there! What if—"
"Jon."
Bee snapped the poor boy out of his miserable thoughts. Jon sat down on the grass, placing his head between his knees. Bee got closer and sat next to him, putting a servo on his partner's back. Lycanroc and Gardevoir also sat next to their friend.
"Stressing out isn't going to do you any good. The best course of action is to keep calm so you can have a clear mind."
"Speaking from experience?"
"In a way."
They sat there staring off into the horizons, seeing the clouds slowly turn grey. Soft breeze sways Jon's hair as he thinks about his sister. So many memories came to his mind, the adventures and the struggles. He wanted to get strong to protect those who did for him, but, he just feels useless once again. On top of that, having blood on his hands.
Jon unfolds himself to take off his backpack. Searching deep in the bag to find the mega stone. Bumblebee became curious, noticing his ward digging deeper into his backpack looking for something else. A piece of fabric came out that had a pretty pattern.
Elfen gazed at his trainer, seeing the mega stone in one hand and the gifted scarf in the other. Jon hesitated for a moment but got reassured by his mom's Pokemon. The boy clipped the stone to the scarf then tied it around Gardevoir's neck like a flight attendant.
"That's so pretty!" Bumblebee compliments the Embrace Pokémon.
"Mom gifted it to me after learning that Elfen can mega evolve."
"Is Elfen your mom's Pokemon?"
"Yeah, they grew up together, plus he helped mom raise us."
"Does your mom know?"
"She does. She knows the risk whenever trainers start their journey. Mom was just like us too."
"About Mewtwo."
"Yes. We can't lie to her. Any legendary we come across we always tell."
"You've met other legendaries? I thought they were supposed to be rare?"
"They are, It's just we're lucky to run into them."
Bumblebee craned his neck after hearing a roaring engine from a distance. He got up and squinted his optics to a familiar bright red paint job. "Windblade?" He questioned himself watching the femme transformed in front of them.
Following behind her, Unova's Champion waved while Arcee was excited to see their fellow comrade. Bee and Jon noticed a group of people and Pokemon following them.
"What happened?" Jon asked in an apprehensive tone.
Windblade and Arcee told the duo everything that took place in Driftveil City that they know of so far. Jon's expression changes rapidly hearing the news, thankfully, the bot's reassured that they are alright for now.
"Sorry cut your reunion short—"
The Autobots and Jon turned heads to Hilbert.
"— But we need to find shelter for the refugees. Skyla's gym is not too far, we can take them there."
"You'll do that. The rest of us will head back out to find a different path." Arcee commented.
"I want to help!"
Arcee sees the little boy's determination. "Of course. Jon, I want you, Bee, and Hilbert to explain things to the local gym leader and make sure they're willing enough to supply for upcoming refugees."
"Yes!"
Skyla trails the catwalks of her gym, thinking out loudly. After today's Challengers ended for the day, she got an email that air traffic around her city and nearby cities around Driftveil have been grounded.
No one knows for sure since it's been all classified. Skyla sighs, so much for on coming challengers she'll have to close her gym. Her phone began ringing, "Hello?"
"Gym Leader Skyla, Champion Hilbert is here. He requested to use one of our hangers as shelter."
Shelter? What for? She thought. "I'm on my way!"
Many eyes preyed upon the yellow scout, unlike Driftveil Citizens who are now used to their existence. They explained that Bee is friendly and won't hurt anyone but some beg to differ.
Coming out of the hangar, Hilbert caught sight of the Flying Gym Leader. The two exchanged greetings before coming to the question at hand. To cut the story short, the Champion explained their predicament that these citizens are going through.
"That explains why we're grounded. That's crazy, living robots?! Wow wee woah, okay I'll see what we can do!" She grabs a walkie talkie from her chest. "This is pilot Skyla, we have an emergency situation. Is there a hangar that's free of aircrafts?"
A response came from the other end. "Copy that." — she draws her attention to Hilbert — "Jewel Hanger 3 is open!"
"Thank you," Hilbert said.
The workers around the area help out the refugees and Pokemon to get settled down. Many wished to see their loved ones again.
Outside of the hanger, Jon clinched his hand onto his shirt, he took a deep breath before looking into the sky. "Please be safe."
As The Journey Continues...