Pokémon: Storming Heaven's Gates

[Dark Sage]

Maybe Damien caught it after HE stole the rock!

By the way, I have an announcement to make. I know I said that I wouldn't start "Soul of Silicon" until April. However, the preparation is all done, and I have enough of a buffer. I'm going to get too far ahead of myself if I wait another month.

So be here tomorrow or Wednesday for the debut of my next fic! See you then.

[Inferno_Dragon]

Okay, I have only replied once since then. Okay, it is this. I started to read the first chapter. But somehow I forgot about this fanfic. Don't know why but it happened. Anyways, great as ever. Of course, the tie-ins with Pokemonese are great but the tie-ins with the anime are spectacular. The history of the past is a good part of this fanfic especially Jessie's daughter Jessica.

Now this is not a normal pokemon fanfic ... of course neither was Pokemonese. You didn't have the trainer just go to the gym, beat it and then they get the badge. You added some suspense, some pizzaz to the gyms battles and any other battles.

The talking battling pokemon are awesome. I would have never though of a pokemon being pokemon trainers. And wait is the deal with the Buneary? It is somehow following Starbuck (Good use of Literary use ... just like you did in Pokemonese.) everywhere.

Well, keep up the good work, Dark Sage.

[Dark Sage]

You were probably expecting Shadow to do the intro to this chapter. Well, you’ll see her in a minute. For now, you’re gonna listen to me.

My name is Mandy. I was once Queen of the Battle Girls. I’m likely not someone who you want to make friends with. After all, I made friends with someone five years ago, only to betray her two years later.

I was defeated, and I’ve been rotting in a cell for what I did ever since.

And I’m not sorry I did it. I have no regrets. If I could get out, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Why? It isn’t because I’m a traitor by nature. I wouldn’t betray any real friends. It’s principle. The one I betrayed… She doesn’t deserve what she has. I deserve it much more than she does.

This cell won’t hold me forever… And once I get out… I’m going to reclaim what’s rightfully mine…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN



Birthright

All over Blueberry Cove Park, folks started to perspire. The temperature had suddenly gotten very hot.

Everyone reached for their water bottles, lemonade, and sodas, and drank them quickly.

A Snubbull that was with its young trainer started to pant. A Machop wiped sweat off of its brow.

This didn’t make sense. It was only late May… Why did it suddenly turn as hot as August?

* * * * * * * * * *

Shadow was shivering, but it certainly wasn’t from cold. She was facing a Pokémon of a species she had never seen before… And she now kinda wished she hadn’t. This Heatran, as Damien had called it, didn’t just look like it wanted to eat her for lunch… It looked like it wanted to flame broil her first.

“Heatran?” said Starbuck, as he wiped sweat from his own brow. “What the Hell…”

He took out his PokéDex and pointed at the monster.

“Heatran,” it said. “The Lava Dome Pokémon. No further information available.”

“Mom, have you ever heard of this thing?”

Lisa took out her journal and skimmed a few pages.

On one of them was a sketch she had made of the creature, pieced together from information found in old books and scrolls.

“Heatran…” she muttered. “So that’s its name…”

“This is a Legendary?” shouted Starbuck.

“Stories tell of a Pokémon like this one that was born in the fiery core of the Earth,” said Lisa. “It’s not very high on the hierarchy of Legendaries, but legends do say that if it is angered, unstable areas of the mantle can rupture…”

“Causing volcanoes to erupt…” muttered Starbuck. “Terrific…”

“Shadow!” shouted Lisa. “According to the most reliable Legends, Heatran is a Fire/Steel Pokémon! If you have a Water Pokémon, you should defeat it with no problem!”

“That’s very reassuring, Mrs. Conrad!” shouted Shadow. “The only problem is, I don’t have one!”

Damien laughed out loud.

“Then pardon me for saying this,” he said, “but your goose is cooked!

“Heatran, use Lava Plume!”

Heatran spit a stream of molten lava at the terrified Gengar. It dove for cover, and the Lava Plume scorched an area of grass behind it.

“Like mummy there said,” said Damien, “this guy is half-Steel. Ghost attacks don’t hurt it much.”

“Oh yeah?” said Shadow. “Gengar knows one attack that does the same amount of damage to any Type.

“Gengar, Night Shade!”

“Gengar!” muttered the Ghost. It blasted a beam of pure darkness at the much larger Pokémon. Heatran closed its eyes and strained a little, but it was clear that the attack didn’t do much at all.

“Time to use Heatran’s super spectacular signature move,” said Damien.

Heatran, fry that phantom with Magma Storm!”

Heatran erupted into an inferno of flames…

“Magma Storm?” gasped Starbuck.

“I never heard of it!” said Lisa. “It must be a move that only Heatran can do!”

Shadow screamed and fell over, as explosions erupted out of the ground around Gengar, sending lava and flaming rocks flying in an attack that was truly a Magma Storm. It seemed that the whole air was full of flames, along with the screams of agony coming form Gengar.

When the storm subsided, and Shadow picked herself up, several fires were burning, and Gengar was lying on the ground, burned and unconscious.

“You’re lucky that Gengar is an undead Pokémon,” chuckled Damien. “If it were a living one, it might not have survived.”

Shadow growled as she recalled Gengar.

“You have one Pokémon left to use,” said Damien. “Send it out so my pet can barbecue it.”

Starbuck noticed that Sofia, who they had completely forgotten about, was now running in the other direction as fast as she could.

“Let her go,” said Lisa. “We have bigger problems.”

Shadow considered her options…

Weavile was out of the question, of course. An Ice-Type had the proverbial snowball’s chance in Hell.

Gallade wouldn’t last very long either. Its Fighting moves could smash steel, but there was no way Heatran would let it get close enough to use them.

That left Houndoom and Magmortar…

Wait… thought Shadow. Both of them are resistant to Fire…

But Heatran isn’t! If it’s truly Fire/Steel its Steel nature cancels out its resistance to Fire attacks!

She took a pokeball.

Well, Magmortar is stronger than Houndoom… So it’s my best chance…

“I choose you!” she shouted, throwing it.

The pokeball burst open, and Magmortar appeared in a flash of flames.

It frowned, and stared Heatran down for a few seconds. It was just as big as Heatran, but Heatran had a greater bulk.

“You think that will help?” asked Damien. “Heatran knows a few attacks that aren’t Fire, you know.

“Heatran, Earth Power.”

Heatran glowed, and the ground erupted in bursts of rock and soil around Magmortar. It grunted, and staggered to keep its footing.

Magmortar growled. It was clearly angry.

“Magmortar, listen!” shouted Shadow. “Most of Heatran’s attacks are ranged! So your best bet is to get right in its face!

“So get up there, and give it a Fire Punch!”

Magmortar nodded, and then charged at Heatran, with its left fist burning with fire. Heatran didn’t have much time to react before Magmortar slugged it with a burning knuckle. Heatran groaned.

“Seems we’ve found Heatran’s weakness,” said Lisa. “It’s incredibly strong… But it’s motor skills aren’t too great.”

“Figures,” said Starbuck. “It’s made of molten rock, after all.”

“And I think Shadow may have hit the nail on the head,” continued Lisa. “Heatran’s greatest strength is Special Attacks. But it isn’t too good at ordinary Attacks.”

Heatran groaned again, as Magmortar hit it with a second Fire Punch.

“Heatran’s ability to go hand-to-hand may not be too great,” said Damien, “but it does know some moves.

“Heatran, use Iron Head!”

Heatran grunted, and rammed Magmortar with a headbutt. Magmortar staggered back, clutching its chest.

“Now, use Stone Edge!” shouted Damien.

Oh no! thought Starbuck. That’s the move Leo’s Rhyperior used to defeat Blaziken!

Heatran glowed, and then rocky spires jutted out on its face and shoulders. It lunged to headbutt Magmortar again…

But Magmortar was ready. It slugged Heatran with another Fire Punch on the crown of the head, sending it to the floor.

Heatran growled and got up.

“Magmortar, since it likes Lava Plume so much,” said Shadow, “why not use your own?”

Magmortar didn’t need any prompting. If fired a blast of molten rocks from its hands, and Heatran groaned as it was hit by them.

Damien grit his teeth with anger.

“All right you bimbo…” he said. “It’s clear that your Pokémon is too hot even for Heatran to handle…

“I can’t win this battle… But thanks to a little move I taught Heatran, he’s gonna drag your Magmortar down with him…

“Heatran…

“Use Explosion…”

“NO!” screamed Lisa, hiding behind Starbuck.

“Yeah, right!” shouted Starbuck. “What do I have to hide behind?”

Shadow watched in terror as Heatran started to erupt in flames. Damien was out of his mind… A Pokémon this powerful using Explosion would reduce the whole park to a scorched crater… And there was nothing she could do to stop it…

“NOW!” screamed a voice that they hadn’t heard before.

Suddenly, three high-pressure blasts of water shot from somewhere behind Shadow and struck Heatran. The Legendary Pokémon let out an incredible scream as the flames surrounding it were replaced by clouds of scalding steam.

Shadow looked behind her, and saw Officer Jenny by a fire truck with three firemen, who were holding the hoses that were soaking Heatran. But despite this attack, it seemed Heatran would not give up. It roared with pure rage, and the flames started to rise again.

“Increase pressure!” shouted Jenny.

A fourth fireman turned a winch to the highest point, but it was no use. The intense heat was turning the water to vapor before it even reached Heatran.

I’ve gotta take that thing down before it remembers Damien’s command! thought Shadow. Hope that water weakened it enough…

“Magmortar, use Dynamicpunch!”

Magmortar roared, and charged at the huge Pokémon, and slugged it in the face with a crunch so solid that Shadow felt it.

Heatran let out one final moan, and collapsed on its stomach.

“You worthless piece of…” growled Damien.

He was interrupted as Jenny grabbed him, and held his arms in a lock.

“That’s quite enough, pal,” she said. “You’re under arrest.”

“WHAT?” shouted Damien. “Show me the law against Pokémon battling!”

“You broke about seven laws, fellah!” replied Jenny. “Never mind the fact that your Pokémon nearly burned the park down, it’s prohibited to use Pokémon with this level of power outside of a Gym or a tournament setting.”

She handcuffed him, and wasn’t very easy while doing it.

“Buddy, with the Twisting running rampant, there are safety guidelines for using Pokémon this powerful. You ignore them, you aren’t gonna last long…”

As Damien was hauled away, Shadow took some deep breaths.

“Magmortar, return…” she muttered.

Magmortar turned to light, and was drawn into its pokeball.

“Shadow?” asked Lisa.

“’Not very high on the hierarchy’?” shouted Shadow. “How powerful are the ones that ARE high?”

“Very powerful indeed,” muttered Lisa. “Take it from an old trainer who once fought one of the strongest…”

“Mom?” said Starbuck. “When did you…”

“A long story, Starbuck,” she said. “I’ll tell you someday.”

She changed the subject.

“Despite the fact that she received help from those firemen, Shadow’s Pokémon struck the final blow, so she won that battle. We found and defeated a Pokémon that we never saw before.

“So… What did the Peddler say to do next, specifically?”

Starbuck sighed.

“We each have to have a Ghost on our teams,” he said, “and then tonight we have to… walk north. And he told us not to talk until we got there.”

“Got where?” asked Shadow.

“He said we’d know when we got there,” said Starbuck.

Lisa sighed.

“We may have reached a point where natural law no longer applies,” she said. “When dealing with celestial forces, there is a time when everything you thought you knew becomes worthless, and you start seeing the world in a way that most mortals cannot.

“I’d wager that from this point on, the methods we must use to reach the Guardians are unorthodox. The only thing we can do is follow whatever instructions we get, and go wherever they lead.

“Because it may well be that the one giving us our instructions now… Is Arceus himself…”

Starbuck shivered a little. He looked at his watch.

“Two-thirty,” he muttered. “It won’t be dark until about seven. Maybe we should heal our Pokémon and ourselves, and rest up…

“Dealing with Ghost Pokémon is never easy…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Sofia had not stopped running until now. She caught her breath at the parking lot of a gas station.

Man, if she didn’t want to see him before, she really didn’t want to see him NOW. What was he thinking using a Pokémon that dangerous?

She took out her cell phone and dialed a number.

“Hey, Giorgio?” she said. “Look, I’m really sorry, but I have to take that day off you owe me tonight. Something came up.

“Yeah, I know… No, it has nothing to do with the job. Don’t worry, I’ll be there all the earlier tomorrow night.

“Just be sure to keep Cass away from the big pressure cooker. I’m not gonna be there to clean cheese off the ceiling this time.”

She sighed as she put the phone away.

She just wanted to relax tonight.

And there was one place where a member of Rocket Reborn could relax, where everyone knew your name… And everyone was always glad you came…

* * * * * * * * * *

Five o’clock.

The first basement level of the Grasp Building was occupied by, of all things, a bar and grill. It was called the Red Rocket, and to most Grasp employees, it was forever out of reach. Most of them didn’t even know the requirements for joining this club.

The only requirement was, you had to actually belong to Rocket. If you did, the place was a nice restaurant and bar. The members of Jessica’s organization liked it for the friendly atmosphere, reasonable prices, and food that was both good and came in large portions.

Right now, Sofia was laughing over a martini with a fellow member named Mick, who also happened to be her boyfriend. (Damien would never have gotten her to accept him back, no matter what he did.) Mick was one of the higher ranking members, mostly because he was both willing to do a Pokémon Dare and had survived many of them.

“Yeah,” said Sofia, “I have the night off, big guy… And I’d just love to spend it with someone who can take a direct hit from a Hariyama.”

“Hey, you should Dare someone yourself sometime,” said Mick. “Sure, losing isn’t fun, but winning is the best.”

“Well…” said Sofia.

Then the whole room fell silent as someone entered.

It was a tall man, muscular and broad, dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans. He had long, blonde hair, and a thick beard.

“Digger?” said Sofia, nervously. “What’s he doing here?”

“I’d wager, anything he wants,” said Mick.

Everyone watched the man with looks of sheer terror as he made his way to the bar.

“Uh… What can I get you… sir?” stammered the bartender.

“Coffee, black,” said Digger.

“Right away…” said the bartender.

He surveyed the room as the barkeep brought the coffee. He knew that everyone was afraid of him… It was hard not to be.

Digger’s job description was not known for certain. What was known was, he was called to watch whenever a member of Rocket challenged Jessica to a battle for leadership of Rocket. When Jessica ultimately won, Digger helped her carry the defeated – and usually unconscious, because it always a Dare – opponent away. Where they went, no-one knew, and no-one ever saw the opponents again.

Most members thought that Digger was Jessica’s executioner. He rarely even showed himself at any other times. He apparently only answered to Jessica herself, making him an odd man out in the system.

As he sipped the coffee, he looked at his watch. He didn’t expect his boss to be late.

At five fifteen on the dot, everyone took notice as Jessica herself appeared in the doorway. Her eyes and Digger’s eyes met. She nodded, he nodded back.

Digger tossed two dollars on the bar, and walked out. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they both left.

“You haven’t spoken to her yet, have you?” asked Jessica.

“She’s clueless,” said Digger. “As far as she knows, she’ll be there for another three years.”

They turned towards the wall in the hallway, one that didn’t suggest anything except a plain wall. Jessica simply pressed her palm against it, and a door-sized panel opened, revealing a private elevator.

Inside the elevator there were no buttons. Just a glass panel. Digger placed his hand against it. The door slid shut, and the elevator started to go down…

* * * * * * * * * *

The belief that Digger was Jessica’s executioner was only partially true.

Jessica did indeed order the death of some members who dared challenge her… But only if the only skill they had was skill that they imagined. Some trainers simply had delusions, huge egos, or the inability to believe that any trainer could be as powerful as stories said they were. When such fools challenged her, Jessica soundly defeated them, and they paid for their folly with their lives.

But… Some challengers had actual skill. Some were smart, and powerful enough to be an actual challenge. Jessica had a special punishment for them.

In the deepest subbasement of the Grasp Building was her prison. Jessica and Digger were the only humans – aside from the prisoners – who knew of its existence. He was its jailer, and his staff were Pokémon chosen for strength and ability to intimidate.

Prisoners were told upon coming here that they would never leave, this being their punishment for daring to challenge Jessica. They didn’t know that hope did exist for them. All of them had come close to defeating her, and Jessica knew she might need trainers with that much ability someday. She’d let them think she threw away the key… It would make them eager to accept any offer for release.

Jessica had come here with one prisoner in mind.

“Rhydon,” she told Digger, as they walked down the cell block.

Digger took a pokeball from his belt.

Jessica stopped at a cell and looked inside, through the small panel of one-way glass.

A young woman who was about her age was lying on a cot reading a book. She was about six feet tall, and quite muscular. Her dirty hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a ragged and dirty halter top and breechcloth – along with a metal collar around her neck.

Jessica smiled. She and Mandy went WAY back.

Mandy was once Queen of the Battle Girls. She was a Pokémon trainer of no small skill. And even before Rocket Reborn was founded, she and Jessica knew each other, both as allies and friendly rivals.

Jessica offered Mandy a place in her new group when it started, and Mandy eagerly accepted. Mandy soon became Jessica’s enforcer. She’d refuse to battle anyone who didn’t agree to a Dare, calling him a spineless coward if he refused. If she won, her Pokémon’s attack on the trainer would likely send him to the hospital.

If she lost, the attack wouldn’t ever cause her smile to waver. She’d tell the trainer to train the Pokémon more. With Mandy, it was truly a case of what didn’t kill you made you tougher.

Soon, Rocket Reborn grew into a modest-sized organization, and Mandy was Jessica’s second in command, and possibly the one she trusted the most…

No-one apparently knew that she was planning to betray her apparent friend in the worst way. No-one knew her reasons. They were known only to her, and she never revealed them.

Secretly, Mandy captured a Gible. She then started a training regimen using cruel and very illegal methods, designed not only to make it stronger, but to give it an incredible bloodlust, as if the Twisting wasn’t enough. Soon, it evolved into a Gabite, and then a Garchomp. Mandy now had an incredibly powerful Pokémon with a taste for blood.

At a very public Rocket event, Mandy’s challenge was all but subtle. She actually punched Jessica in the face, knocking her over, and then said that she was taking over Rocket. She could either stay down and let her, or get up and battle her in a Dare. Jessica wouldn’t stay down, and the Pokémon battle quickly began.

Onlookers later described the battle as the most brutal thing they had ever seen. One by one, Pokémon on both sides collapsed. Finally, Jessica was down to two Pokémon, one of which was on its last legs, and Mandy was down to her last. Mandy released Garchomp, and it savagely finished off Jessica’s second-to-last Pokémon. Mandy’s plan was now obvious – she didn’t only intend to defeat Jessica, she intended to kill her.

Then Jessica released her last Pokémon, and Mandy’s plan fell apart. It was an incredibly powerful Abomasnow, one of the most powerful Ice-Types. Garchomp are Dragon/Ground Pokémon, so Ice is deadly to them. Abomasnow defeated the Garchomp without half-trying.

Very few members of Rocket believed that Jessica had simply lucked out enough to have an Abomasnow on her team at that time. Most believed that she knew about Mandy’s plan all along, and had stayed one step ahead of her.

As Garchomp fell, Mandy expressed fear for the first time. Jessica glared at her, and then told her that if she got on her knees, she would be spared Abomasnow’s Sheer Cold attack.

Then Mandy did the dumbest thing she could have done: She actually did fall to her knees. And Jessica had been lying. The reason she wanted Mandy on her knees was so Abomasnow could get a clearer shot.

Poor Mandy was nearly frozen solid. Folks didn’t know at that point whether she was still alive or not. Then Jessica gave her a kick, and told everyone watching that this was the fate of traitors.

The last everyone saw of Mandy was Jessica and Digger dragging her away. Everyone assumed that if she wasn’t dead, Jessica would soon fix that.

Mandy still lived. For three years, she had been confined to this cell. Digger and Jessica were the only ones who ever came to see her. But she had learned her lesson – she wouldn’t beg anymore. She had remained defiant since her imprisonment began. She wouldn’t even answer Jessica when she asked repeatedly what the reason was for her betrayal.

Jessica took a small microphone on the door and spoke into it.

“Mandy,” she said, “step onto the circle.”

Mandy grunted in anger. She slammed the book closed and crossed her arms.

“Do it, Mandy,” said Jessica.

Mandy didn’t respond.

“You want me to activate the collar?” asked Jessica. “Now!”

Mandy sighed.

She got off the cot, and stepped onto a circle in the center of the room.

As she did, two iron manacles latched onto her ankles. Then, two long chains reached up out of the floor and grabbed her wrists. The chains pulled taunt and then latched in place.

Jessica turned to Digger.

“Open it up,” she said.

Digger punched in a code, and the door slid open.

Then he held up the pokeball, and a huge Rhydon appeared in the room as Jessica walked in.

“Don’t struggle, Mandy,” said Jessica. “If you do, you get a Hammer Arm in the face.”

“Are these really necessary?” growled Mandy.

“The chains?” said Jessica. “Of course they are. I know that if your hands were free, you’d try to strangle me.

“Well, get it out of your head, because that’s not going to happen.”

She smirked.

“Mandy, Mandy, Mandy…” she said. “Less than a week ago I was more than prepared to let you rot down here for good…

“But never let it be said that I’m not without mercy… I’m going to give you an offer… An offer for a second chance.”

“Why?” said Mandy.

Jessica shrugged.

“Well, you were my best trainer,” she said. “And the only trainer brave enough… Or maybe dumb enough, I don’t know… To attempt a Pokémon Double Dare.”

“You want me to do a Pokémon Double Dare?” asked Mandy.

Jessica nodded.

“I’ll let you out, Mandy,” she said, “but that’s the condition for you staying out. You’ll find a trainer I’m having trouble with, force him into a Double Dare, and kill him. If you succeed, you get freedom.

“If you fail, you go back here. Forgiveness only reaches so far.”

Mandy closed her eyes.

“What if I say no?” she said. “What if I decide to stay in this cell where it’s safe?”

Jessica chuckled.

She walked behind her prisoner. Then she gave her a slap on the behind. Mandy closed her eyes and seethed with rage.

“Wow,” said Jessica, “buns of steel…

“You’re a Battle Girl, Mandy… You cherish your body… It’s a temple… Such big muscles…”

She felt Mandy’s ample bicep.

“You know the stuff that Digger has been feeding you?”

“You mean the prison gruel?” asked Mandy, angrily.

Jessica chuckled.

“Well, I suppose you could call it ‘gruel’,” she said. “But actually, Mandy, it’s an incredibly nutritious dietary supplement. It was invented by Brawly in Dewford. He and his apprentices eat it all the time. It’s loaded with protein, carbs, vitamins… all the good stuff.

“If I hadn’t been giving it to you, the lack of activity would have made these splendid muscles atrophy a long time ago…

“If you don’t agree to my terms, you’ll start getting what the other prisoners get. You cherish your body, Mandy… If you refuse, I’ll let it go to waste!”

Mandy closed her eyes sadly.

“I guess I have no choice,” she said.

“I knew you’d see it my way,” said Jessica.

She turned towards the door.

“Once I’ve left, Digger will release you, and show you to the nice room I’ve arranged for you in the main building. It has a change of clothes, a shower, and a PC where you can retrieve your Pokémon. They’ll be very happy to see you.”

“My Pokémon?” shouted Mandy. “You said that you killed them!”

Jessica chuckled.

“A little white lie,” she said. “Digger and I had a bet as to when you’d stop sobbing after I told you that. I didn’t win, if it makes you feel better.”

* * * * * * * * * *

It was now seven o’clock.

Alone in the room she had been given, Mandy felt refreshed for the first time in a long time. After three years of being given sponge baths, she had finally been able to shower. And she had finally been able to throw away that filthy old Battle Girl costume that she had been wearing when she thrown in the cell and put on a clean one.

She strapped on her Pokémon bandoleer, and took a deep breath. She thought of Jessica.

Then she looked at the PC she had been given.

“Oh, you were a fool for letting me out, Jessica,” she said, sitting down at it.

She started to type in some programs. She knew that if she was caught, those chains would become a permanent feature of her imprisonment.

She really didn’t care. She didn’t have much left to lose.

“There’s a myth about Battle Girls,” she muttered. “People think that when we become as strong as an ox, we become just as dumb as one. Well, that’s true for some of us, but not all.”

As Mandy suspected, Jessica had changed her password in the past three years, but it was no problem to crack. After fifteen minutes of hacking, she had broken into her old friend’s files.

“What an interesting hobby you seem to have acquired, old friend,” she said. “The Plates, huh? Hmm… This may be a good way to start…”

* * * * * * * * * *

It was now eight PM.

At another section of the Grasp Building, two guards holding heavy-duty rifles were standing in front of a steel door.

They were surprised to say the least to see a Pokémon wander down the hall. It was a pretty little flower fairy with a red rose for one hand and a blue rose for the other.

One of the guards chuckled.

Then the Pokémon started whistling. It whistled a sweet, musical melody. The two guards held their heads…

In a minute, they collapsed, asleep.

Mandy walked out from around the corner. She took a pair of earplugs out of her ears.

“Good work, Roselia,” she said. “Your Grasswhistle put them under. Even with my earplugs, I felt like taking a nap.”

She bent down, and took a keycard from one of the guards.

“Thanks,” she said to the sleeping guard.

She scanned the keycard in the door.

A plate opened up.

”Hand print identification please,” said a computerized voice.

Mandy looked at the guard again. Then she lifted up his hand, removed his glove, and pressed his hand against the plate.

There was a beeping, and the door opened.

“Thanks again!” said Mandy.

She walked into the vault. Inside was only one item – it was one of the Plates, this one colored orange.

“The Fist Plate!” said Mandy.

She carefully looked at the pedestal that it was on, and the equipment around it. As she expected, the place was lit up like a pinball machine. The Plate was naturally wired. Simply taking it would trigger an alarm – or kill whoever tried to steal it.

She took a set of wire cutters out of her pouch.

As she expected, the three wires that the pedestal was connected to were three colors: red, blue, and yellow.

She knew which one to cut – Jessica herself had told her the little rhyme you had to know when disarming things like this: Red, you’re dead, blue, you’re through, yellow, you’re mellow.

She carefully clipped the yellow wire.

The fact that all the lights went dark was proof enough that she had succeeded.

“Come to Mandy,” she said, grabbing the Fist Plate. “Ah, it’s a shame that I don’t have time to look for the three other Plates that my old friend has…

“But this will be good to start…

“Only one thing matters now… Revenge…

“Once I’m done, Jessica, you’ll be the one languishing in that cell. And I’ll claim my birthright…

“Mom, dad… I’ll make you proud of me…”

She looked at the picture she had been given of Starbuck.

“But first thing’s first. Let me apologize in advance, Starbuck… I don’t want to kill you… But sadly, that’s what has to be done…”



Coming up next:

What is Mandy’s birthright? It’s a question that will remain unanswered for now.

Coming up next, Starbuck and party venture into the unknown on a quest to find the Spooky Plate. And Lisa must face a Guardian with an eccentric attitude. It’s all coming soon…

[Shuppet Master]

Nice to see an update. Also nice to see Magmortar in action again.

So thus far, that rich researcher has the Flame, Splash, Insect, Meadow, and Toxic Plates, and the crew is hunting for the Spooky Plate. This new character has stolen the Fist Plate and will probably lose it when she loses to Starbuck(this is speculation, but the outcome is predictable), so that makes 7 plates so far, about half the number. (Normal doesn't have a plate because Arceus is a Normal Pokemon.)

The story is starting to get good, Brian. Please update a little more often if you can. I know you also are writing Soul of Silicon, but this story is great.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

Caught up, nice fanfic, I'm interested, keep writing!

[Dark Sage]

I have a small secret to confess to. Ghost Pokémon make me nervous.

I only have one in my collection, and I rarely use it (I have it my team right now, because it was a necessity). The reason for this aversion is simple – I haven’t had much luck with them. I was nearly scared to death when I visited the Isle of the Cursed with Ishmael, when he caught his Duskull.

Years later, something else happened to make me even more afraid of Ghosts. It’s something I don’t talk about often, and I won’t now.

As fate would have it, our quest for the Plates has brought us to this realm where Ghosts are the masters, and now I have to overcome my fear if we want to get any further.

Sigh… Where’s an EKG Meter when you need one?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN



The Voice

Leo Solsby had been with Rocket Reborn for a long time. After Mandy had been defeated trying to wrest ownership from Jessica, he was pretty much the true second-in-command.

There were only a few times in his long tenure with the team that Leo had seen his boss fly into a rage. Usually, she conducted herself in a calm, collected manner.

This was not one of those times.

The two security guards that had been in charge of watching the vault that held the Fist Plate were cowering on the ground in front of her, hoping beyond hope that she wouldn’t hit them.

“Where did you two get your training?” she shouted. “A school for the blind?!”

“Ma’am, please…” begged one of them. “You see…”

“My explicit orders were,” said Jessica, “sound the alarm the instant an unauthorized creature enters. NOT human, creature! A Pokémon without an apparent owner qualifies, no matter how cute it looks!

“And now, someone has violated the sanctuary of our security wing, broken into one of our vaults, and stolen one of the essentials to our goals!”

“Uhm…” muttered the other guard. “Does this mean… we’re fired?”

At this moment, Leo’s cell phone beeped. He stepped aside and answered it.

“Fired?” asked Jessica. “FIRED?! I should say you’re not fired! You two are going to search this building from top to bottom, check every room, and find out who this thief is!”

“Miss Jessica, if I may be frank…” said the first security guard. “Whoever did it might be halfway to Kanto by now.”

“Not quite,” said Jessica. “If he tried to leave the building with one of the Plates, a security device at the front door would have stopped him cold. It’s a weapon that works like Thunder Wave. It can bring a Salamence to its knees if it has a Plate. Nobody but me and a few others know the right way to get past it. Since the weapon didn’t go off, the Plate must still be in the building.”

“Uh, Jessica?” said Leo.

“Leo, I’m busy, here?” said Jessica.

“It’s Mandy, Jessica,” said Leo. “She said she has urgent news. But she wants to talk to you on your private line…”

Jessica looked at him.

“What…” she said. “She wasn’t supposed to leave until tomorrow morning…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The moon had risen.

Starbuck, Lisa, and Shadow looked at the pokeballs they were holding. Starbuck’s held Dusknoir, Shadow’s held Gengar, while Lisa’s held the only Ghost Pokémon she had, a Misdreavus.

They were just outside of town, looking due north.

Starbuck turned to them, and put his finger to his lips. He had told them what the Midnight Peddler had said: They simply had to walk north, and be completely quiet.

They nodded to him.

As they started to walk, they heard a strange howl in the distance. Perhaps it was a Houndoom or a Mightyena. A feeling in their bones told them that they had truly entered a new stage.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jessica sat at her desk and turned on her video phone.

Mandy’s face appeared on it, and unlike last time, she was smiling.

“Hello, Jess,” she said. “What’s up?”

“If you don’t mind,” said Jessica, “we’re in the middle of a crisis, so if you could come back here as soon as possible…”

“I know all about your crisis, Jess,” said Mandy. “You’re looking for this, right?”

She held up the Fist Plate. Jessica gasped.

“It was easy to hack into your private files, Jessica,” said Mandy. “Find out what your plans were, where these things were stored, and how to get past the booby-trap you set at the exit of the building. No-one ever suspects a Battle Girl of having any brains… Often a fatal mistake.”

“Mandy…” growled Jessica. “You’d best return that… If you don’t want Digger to separate your pretty little head from your shoulders, you’ll…”

“Forget it, Jessica,” said Mandy. “You were a fool for letting me out. You keep me locked away for five years, and then throw me a bone, expecting me to go along with it?

“Well, I’m going to take down Starbuck and get the Plates he’s collected myself. And once I become powerful enough, I’m taking you down, and this time, it’s gonna be different! Then you’ll be the one languishing in that cell.

“And when I finally find my parents, they’re gonna be proud of me.

“Over and out…”

The screen went dark.

Jessica frowned and slumped in her chair.

“Her parents?” she said. “Who the heck are her parents?”

She paused.

“Whoever they are, something tells me I’d better get her before she finds them…”

She sighed.

Secretly, she didn’t want to have to accept another challenge from Mandy for leadership of Rocket Reborn.

She never told anybody this, but if Mandy’s hairdresser hadn’t told her about her plan to betray her one hour before she did, she’d have been caught completely off guard, and she wouldn’t have had that Abomasnow on her team… Mandy would have won…

* * * * * * * * * *

At nine o’clock, most members of Rocket Reborn were still up. Even if they weren’t doing something on behest of the organization, most members lived a pretty opulent lifestyle.

And at that time, the cell phones of each member went off. Each of them knew the ring. It was a special message that their boss wanted to deliver to the whole organization.

Every member turned on their phones.

“Attention members of Rocket Reborn,” said Jessica, as her face appeared on the screen. “A crisis has just come up. A powerful member of this group has betrayed us.

“Therefore, an offer now exists for all members. This traitor is a fugitive who must be brought in. A reward of six million dollars is offered for whoever apprehends Mandy Cahn…

“Dead or alive.

“Now, before you get very excited about the amount I’m offering, listen to my reasons for offering this rather large fortune. Mandy is one of the best trainers who ever was recruited by our organization. She refuses to battle unless an opponent agrees to a Dare. She is even willing to battle in a Double Dare.

“Furthermore, I would not recommend using standard means to apprehend her. Mandy knows every trick in the book, and won’t be captured using traps or trickery.

“Therefore, it is recommended that anyone who seeks out this individual find a partner to work with. One needs all the help he can get in dealing with this trainer. If a team manages to do it, the reward will be split, but even split three ways, you must admit, I’m offering a lot.

“A text message will follow giving specific instructions on identifying this fugitive and what else to do should you encounter her.

“Remember, the most vital goal of Rocket Reborn at the present time is the capture of Mandy Cahn… Dead or alive.”

* * * * * * * * * *

How much time it was after they had started walking from Blueberry Cove, it was hard to tell. Starbuck had looked at his watch, and found that it had stopped.

The three of them were walking down a lonely, dark road that none of them recognized. Cars had stopped driving by a long time ago, then all buildings, lights, and other traces of civilization had ceased. The only light now came from the moon.

Fear crept into the bones of the three trainers as they hustled on. They saw shadowy shapes in the dark trees to the side of the road. They paused to get a closer look, and recognized the creatures as Murkrow, but they were still intimidating.

Then, they saw a light turn on up ahead. A dim light, as if one lit by a candle.

They hurried towards the light, and as they did, a dark structure loomed ahead of them, as the road quickly ended in a cul-de-sac.

Starbuck looked at the building in front of him, and remembered watching a very old movie called The House on Haunted Hill. It was a run-down old place of old-fashioned design, which would seem deserted if not for the light in the window that had attracted them.

The front gate opened, and they slowly walked in.

“Ghastly,” said a voice, as they stepped into the courtyard.

“Haunter,” said another.

“Duskull,” said a third.

They looked around, and small, dark forms were all watching them.

“I think we’re here,” said Starbuck, breaking the silence.

They both looked at him. His words didn’t seem to ruin their efforts, so Shadow spoke up.

“Looks like a gaggle of Ghost Pokémon,” she said, as more and more of the small Ghosts started to appear. “But what do they want?”

Then the Ghosts started to push them. Others pointed towards a spot towards the side of the courtyard.

“Uh, you want us to go there?” asked Lisa.

The Ghosts herded them to a corner, where a lonely grave with a small tombstone had been dug.

Starbuck shivered as he looked at the inscription, praying that the name on it wasn’t Ishmael Conrad…

As he bent over to look, however, he was startled as two creepy eyes looked back at him.

He stepped backwards, as a frightening shape rose out of the grave. It was another Ghost Pokémon, one that seemed to be made of flimsy rags, with a wide-brimmed hat on its head. Its eyes glowed with green light.

An ominous voice came from the creature.

“What travelers come to this place at night, to a realm where there’s nothing but terror and fright?”

“Wait…” said Shadow. “I recognize this Pokémon. It’s a…”

Then the Pokémon interrupted her.

“Silence human!” it shouted. “My name is my own! I’ll speak it myself, and I’ll speak it alone.

“MISMAGIUS is what I am called; I come from a land where your nightmares are scrawled!

“If you went there yourself, you would be appalled.”

“Really?” said Starbuck, reaching for his PokéDex.

He pointed it at the Pokémon.

“Mismagius,” it said. “The Magical Pokémon. It chants incantations. While they usually torment targets, some chants bring happiness.

The Mismagius chuckled.

“You’ve traveled a long way to the edge of fear,” it said. “You may well regret coming here…”

As it said that, a hideous, cackling laughter echoed across the sky. All the Ghost Pokémon surrounding them except Mismagius cowered in terror.

“What was THAT?” shouted Starbuck.

Mismagius’s eyes glowed. Then it spoke.

“Tis the voice of the Twisting! The one who just cried. To say other would be word of a dunce.

“As you no doubt know, since you heard it yourselves, I have uttered that sentiment once.

“Tis the voice of the Twisting! Keep count, I entreat. You will find I have told you it twice.

“Tis the voice of the Twisting! The proof is complete, for now I have told you it thrice.”

“What?” said Shadow, shaking in fear. “The Twisting is… alive?”

Mismagius nodded. Then it spoke again.

“The cry that you heard is quite clearly insane, full of primal anger and rage. You’ve heard it, and I see your feelings quite plain, as if they were scrawled on a page.

“You think of your childhood, left far behind, that blissful and innocent state. The result of the cry, which so much brings to mind, a pencil that squeaks on a slate!”

Lisa looked at the Ghost.

“Mismagius,” she said. “We’ve come too…”

“I know of your purpose, I see it quite clear,” it said. “Why else would three mortals have ventured here?

“No humans come to this realm so late, unless they seek the Spooky Plate. As Guardian, I follow Arceus’s will, and wait for a trainer of exceptional skill.

“I’m bound to accept your challenge, forsooth…

“But…

“Will I battle one with age… Or one with tender youth?”

It turned its head, looking over Starbuck, then Lisa, and then Shadow.

“Age and experience versus youth and vigor…” it said. “A difficult choice…”

They were surprised that it hadn’t spoken in verse this time.

It looked over them for a minute more.

“Very well,” it said, “I now am sure. I’ll face the one who’s more mature.”

“Me?” said Lisa, surprised.

“Mom?” shouted Starbuck. “Oh, come on! You already did this against that Vespiquen!”

“Uh…” said Lisa.

She took a deep breath.

“Okay…” she said. “I’ll battle you for the Spooky Plate. I’m not scared of Ghosts…”

She shivered a little. That was a lie. Her memories of the Isle of the Cursed were still with her.

“How many Pokémon?”

Mismagius’s eyes glowed, and three pokeballs appeared in front of it, surrounded by auras of dark flames.

“Three?” said Lisa. “Oh, wait… You count as a fourth, right? No problem…”

She looked at the pokeballs on her belt.

My Misdreavus likely would be wiped out, she thought, and Munchlax has no attacks that can hurt Ghosts. So I guess my decision is already made.

“Begin battle,” said Mismagius.

“Fine,” said Lisa, taking a pokeball from her belt. “I’m starting off with a Pokémon that’s been with me since before Starbuck was born…

“Go, Shiftry!”

She threw the pokeball, and the sinister looking Dark/Grass Pokémon leapt out, bearing its leafy claws.

One of Mismagius’s pokeballs flew from its grasp.

“I choose you,” it said. “Do my bidding! Rotom!”

When the pokeball opened, it seemed to unleash a blast of electricity. What came out appeared to be a Pokémon made of electricity, with a ghostly face in the middle.

“Rotom?” said Shadow, startled. “I’ve… I’ve never heard of this one!”

Starbuck pointed his PokéDex at the odd specter.

“Rotom,” it said. “The Plasma Pokémon. Its body is composed of plasma. It is known to infiltrate electronic devices and wreck havoc.”

A Ghost/Electric Pokémon? thought Lisa.

“Shock Wave,” ordered Mismagius.

Shiftry cringed as a wave of electricity blasted from the strange Pokémon, striking it. Shiftry shielded itself, withstanding the blast.

“It’s still a Ghost, Shiftry!” shouted Lisa. “Hit it with Payback!”

Shifty lunged at the electric mass, swiping at it with its claws that glowed with dark energy. It was hard to see whether or not the odd Ghost was truly hurt or not…

But then a surge of electricity threw Shiftry backwards.

“Shiftry…” it growled, getting up.

“Uproar,” ordered Mismagius.

“Cover your ears!” yelled Starbuck.

He and Shadow did so, as a terrible blast of sound radiated from the Ghost, barreling into Shiftry and knocking it over.

Shifty struggled to get up, staggering against the onslaught of noise…

It threw its arms forward, and a Razor Leaf shot at the mass of plasma. A frown seemed to appear on Rotom’s face for a second.

“That seemed to hurt it!” yelled Lisa, trying to be heard over the din. “Keep doing that!”

Shifty fired another volley of sharpened leaves, and Rotom started to spark. The noise quickly died down.

The two Pokémon stared at each other.

“Something is wrong,” said Starbuck.

“What?” said Shadow.

“Mismagius sent an Electric-Type out against Shiftry when she knew that Electric moves aren’t that good against Grass-Types. Clearly, it’s up to something…”

Lisa looked at Rotom.

Can it be? thought Lisa. Is it setting up for a…

“Charge Beam,” said Mismagius.

Rotom’s eyes glowed. A pulsating beam of pure electricity blasted at Shiftry, striking it in the chest.

Shiftry held its chest, which was smoldering a little…

“Shiftry, Leaf Storm!” shouted Lisa.

Shiftry’s eyes glowed with feral light, and then a blizzard of leaves struck the whole area. Multiple ones struck Rotom, causing a shower of sparks, and cries that were either anger or pain.

Then Rotom collapsed, and retreated to its pokeball. The pokeball disappeared, as Shiftry fell on one knee.

Mismagius chuckled.

“Your creature fights well with foliage and flowers,” said the Ghost, “but I see in your soul that you know of greater powers.

“I know of your hopes and I know of your dreams, and you know that the world is not all that it seems.

“You know of the Pokémon legends and tales… To each one you’ve put in a slew of travails.

“I see in your past of a struggle you had… Yet you remember plainly… It ended quite bad…”

Another pokeball shot out.

“I choose you! Do my bidding! Sableye!”

The pokeball opened, and a small, nasty-looking Pokémon appeared. It was a dark, sinister-looking creature with eyes that appeared to be gemstones.

“Her encounter with Sableye didn’t end bad!” shouted Starbuck. “She and dad beat it!”

That’s not what Mismagius was talking about, thought Lisa. I don’t think so, at least.

She looked at Sableye.

Okay… It’s Ghost/Dark… That means it has no weaknesses… So I’ll just have to make due…

“Shiftry, Razor Leaf!” she shouted.

“Night Shade,” ordered Mismagius.

Shiftry tired to fire another blast of leaves, but its strength had been sapped by the Leaf Storm. Sableye dodged them, and then fired a bolt of blackness, knocking Shiftry over.

Lovely, thought Lisa. I can’t finish this with an Explosion, because that doesn’t hurt Ghosts…

“Shiftry, use Energy Ball!” she shouted.

Shiftry put its hands together, and started to form a ball of crackling energy in them…

“Shadow Sneak,” ordered Mismagius.

Sableye’s eyes glowed, and then it seemingly melted into the shadows…

“Shiftry?” said Shiftry, looking back and forth.

Then Sableye appeared behind it, and made a savage slash with its claw. Shiftry screamed and fell on its stomach.

Lisa sighed.

“Return…” she said.

Shiftry retreated to its pokeball.

If I can’t take advantage of a weakness, she thought, I’ll just have to go for raw firepower…

“I choose you!” she shouted, throwing another pokeball. “Infernape!”

The pokeball burst open, and the fiery, fighting primate burst out of it, burning with excitement.

“Sableye?” said the Ghost.

“Go!” shouted Lisa. “Flame Wheel!”

Infernape gestured, and a wheel of fire formed around it. It started running, pushing the wheel forward from inside, towards the Ghost Pokémon…

There was a scream, and Mismagius shielded itself as the Wheel collided with Sableye.

Infernape leapt backwards as Sableye slowly got up.

Mismagius’s eyes glowed.

“Zen Headbutt,” it said.

Oh no! thought Starbuck. It knows a Psychic move… And Infernape is part Fighter…

Sableye flew at Infernape noggin-first, and slammed into its stomach with a burst of energy. Infernape groaned and fell backwards.

“Get up!” shouted Lisa.

Infernape slowly got up. It looked at Sableye angrily.

“Flamethrower!” shouted Lisa.

Infernape inhaled a blast of fire from its maw, and Sableye screamed again as the flames scorched it.

Its eyes glowed with ghostly energy. Infernape nervously looked at its foe, as its reflection appeared in those eyes…

“Power Gem,” said Mismagius.

Sableye’s eyes glowed, and several sparkling gemstones appeared in the air around it. It gestured, and they shot forward like bullets. Infernape grunted as they hit it.

“Flamethrower again!” shouted Lisa.

Infernape shot another Flamethrower at Sableye, but this time, the Ghost was ready. It leapt over the blast, and shot a Shadow Ball at the fiery ape, striking it in the chest. Infernape screamed and fell on its behind.

“Again,” said Mismagius.

Infernape screamed again as Sableye repeated the attack, and it collapsed.

Well, so much for that, thought Lisa, as she recalled Infernape.

She looked at Sableye. She chose another pokeball.

“Okay, time to be serious,” she said. “I’m sending out someone with even more juice than your Rotom. Go, Ampharos!”

She threw the pokeball, and it burst open. The lean, semi-humanoid, electric sheep appeared.

“Ampharos!” it said.

It narrowed its eyes as it looked at Sableye. Sableye looked back.

“Zen Headbutt,” said Mismagius.

Sableye glowed, and flew at Ampharos.

“Thunder Punch!” shouted Lisa.

As Sableye reached Ampharos, the Electric Pokémon slugged it with a fist that was charged with energy. Sableye screamed and flew backwards.

“Now, when it’s stunned!” shouted Lisa. “Use Thunder!”

“Ampharos!” shouted the Pokémon.

It glowed with energy. Thunder clapped, and a bolt shot out of the clouds, striking the Ghost. It howled, and then collapsed, singed and burned.

It retreated to its pokeball, and the pokeball vanished.

Mismagius’s eyes glowed again. Its third pokeball flew forward.

“Come forth!” it shouted, “do my bidding! Spiritomb!”

The pokeball opened, and a very strange Pokémon appeared. It looked like a bonfire made of darkness, with two evil-looking eyes and a mouth, mounted on a stone slab below it.

“Spiritomb?” muttered Starbuck. “Okay, this one I’ve never heard of…”

He pointed his PokéDex at the thing.

“Spiritomb,” it said, “the Forbidden Pokémon. A Pokémon that was formed by 108 spirits. It was bound to a fissure in an old keystone as punishment for misdeeds five-hundred years ago.”

“Something tells me Ampharos is in big trouble,” said Shadow.

Ampharos looked at Spiritomb.

Why isn’t it attacking? thought Lisa.

She paused.

Its problem…

“Ampharos, Thunderbolt!”

“Sucker Punch,” ordered Mismagius.

Ampharos charged up a bolt of lighting, but just before it was able to throw it, a dark fist clocked it across the face. It cried out in pain.

The Thunderbolt shot forward, and Spiritomb groaned a little.

So that was why, thought Lisa. This thing is tricky… I’ll have to be careful…

“Ominous Wind,” said Mismagius.

“Ampharos, brace yourself!” shouted Lisa.

Ampharos did, as a spooky, chilling wind struck the area, and it shivered from the unnatural cold.

“Thunder!” shouted Lisa.

Ampharos quickly recovered, and another bolt of lighting struck, and Spiritomb groaned again. Its dark fires seemed to flicker erratically.

Spiritomb paused, as if it was unsure. Lisa got an idea.

“Signal Beam!” she shouted.

Ampharos’s eyes glowed, one of them turning red, and the other turning green. Two beams of light flashed from them, striking Spiritomb, and causing it to scream.

It looked somewhat dizzy now, as much as something shaped like this could.

“You’ve got it now, mom!” shouted Starbuck. “It’s confused real good! Now finish it off!”

“Memento,” said Mismagius.

Suddenly, Spiritomb started to burn fiercely. It locked its eyes with Ampharos, and Ampharos squeaked in fear.

“Memento?” asked Starbuck. “What’s that?”

“A very powerful move,” said Shadow. “So powerful, that a Pokémon can’t use it without knocking itself out. But before Spiritomb takes itself out with this move, it will drain almost all of Ampharos’s strength…”

That did seem to be the case. Ampharos fell to its knees, and then Spiritomb collapsed.

Spiritomb retreated to its pokeball and vanished. Then the pokeball vanished, and Mismagius grinned.

“I see in your past of a mission that failed,” it said. “Because your clever plans derailed.

“In your current quest, it will come again, that, my dear, is as certain as the rain…

“I see the prize is one you’ll need… Will you fail again, or will you succeed?”

“What?” shouted Lisa. “I’ll have to seek it out again?”

“What is she talking about?” said Shadow.

“I dunno…” said Starbuck.

“Enough talk, let’s finish this battle,” said Mismagius. “I choose myself.”

Lisa looked at Ampharos, who was panting and trying to catch its breath.

“My Ampharos is done battling,” said Lisa, holding up the pokeball. “I’ll recall it and use my last Pokémon.”

“As you wish,” said Mismagius.

Ampharos retreated to its pokeball, and Lisa took her last one. She closed her eyes.

“GO!” she shouted, throwing it.

In a burst of energy, Xatu appeared from out of the pokeball.

“WHAT?” shouted Shadow. “Mrs. Conrad, you brought a Psychic when you knew we were dealing with Ghosts?”

“Shush,” said Starbuck. “I think mom has a plan.”

Mismagius’s eyes glowed.

An Ominous Wind of its own began to blow towards Xatu…

“Xatu, use Me First,” said Lisa.

Xatu’s eyes glowed with golden light, and as the ghostly attack blew towards it, an even stronger Ominous Wind blew towards the Ghost Pokémon. Mismagius shrieked and fell backwards in mid-air.

Mismagius recovered slightly, and stared at Xatu without blinking…

“Xatu, use Shadow Ball!” shouted Lisa.

Xatu hurled its own Ghost attack at Mismagius. Strangely, Mismagius didn’t even try to dodge it. The Shadow Ball hit it squarely, and the Ghost cringed.

Then Mismagius started to glow with a fiery aura. Xatu glowed with the same aura, and the screamed in pain.

“Oh no!” shouted Shadow. “The Pain Split!”

“Pain Split?” asked Starbuck.

“Misdreavus’s signature move,” said Shadow. “I’m guessing this evolved form can do it too. It adds up Mismagius’s energy and Xatu’s energy into a lump sum, and then divides it evenly among both Pokémon.

“Since Mismagius had lost a lot of energy, it was a benefit to it. But Xatu had hardly lost any, so it was a liability.”

That’s right… thought Lisa. And if I gain too much of an advantage again, it might use Pain Split again to even things again… Until both Pokémon are hanging by a thread…

Unless… Maybe I should encourage it to that… And give it a surprise…

“Xatu…” she said. “Use Roost.”

Xatu started flapping its wings. It glowed with energy, as its muscles healed and the energy slowly returned.

Mismagius’s eyes glowed again. It gestured, and a Shadow Ball shot at Xatu, striking the Psychic. Xatu didn’t show much reaction, as was normal for its species, but it started to sweat a little.

“Shadow Ball again,” said Lisa.

Xatu fired it own Shadow Ball, and as Lisa expected, Mismagius made no effort to avoid it. The ghostly attack slammed into it, and Mismagius was thrown backwards.

Here it comes, thought Lisa.

Mismagius’s burned with its flaming aura again, as another Pain Split struck Xatu. Xatu screamed and fell on one knee.

“This is it!” shouted Shadow. “That move brought them both down to the brink… Neither of them will be able to stand one more attack!”

Xatu and Mismagius looked at each other.

Mismagius’s eyes glowed again. Another Ominous Wind started to stir…

“Xatu, Protect!” shouted Lisa.

As the chilling Wind blasted at Xatu, a sphere of energy surrounded it. Xatu stood up, and the wind harmlessly passed.

Mismagius’s eyes opened wide.

“NOW!” shouted Lisa. “Use Psychic!”

Xatu’s eyes glowed with blue energy, and a wave of mental energy shot from its forehead, striking Mismagius. The Ghost screamed, and fell to the ground.

“Ghastly…” said one of the Ghosts who were watching, sadly.

“Duskull…” said another.

Lisa walked up to the Mismagius, who seemed to be panting for breath.

“You’ve proven your skill to match up to size,” it said weakly. “And thus you have earned the coveted prize.

“My minions and I now go back to my domain… Where the Twisting might try to come, but will do so in vain.

“Good luck… May the blessings of Arceus guide you on the rest of your quest…”

Then, it slowly faded away. The other Ghosts vanished as well.

“Wait!” shouted Lisa. “You said I would have to try to capture that Pokémon again! How do I…”

It was too late. It was gone.

In its place was another Plate. This one was colored grey.

Lisa slowly picked it up.

“The Spooky Plate…” she muttered.

And then, as she looked up, the spooky old house was gone. She, Starbuck, and Lisa were standing in the center of Blueberry Cove Park. The sun was rising in the east.

They looked at each other.

“Mom…” said Starbuck. “What was it talking about?”

Lisa sighed.

“I guess I should tell you,” she said. “Let’s get some breakfast…”

* * * * * * * * * *

At the Pokémon Center, a Chansey brought coffee and a tray of bear claws to the three trainers’ table.

“You know how I claimed to have met Giratina?” asked Lisa, taking the coffee.

“I believe you, mom,” said Starbuck.

“It’s true, Starbuck,” she said, “but I didn’t just ‘meet’ Giratina.

“See, I found out where its lair was, from an eyewitness who had seen it, shortly after your father disappeared.

“I was a little gutsy at that point. I went there intending to capture it.

“The thing is, I made a fatal mistake that almost cost me my life.”

She sipped the coffee.

“You see, at that point of time, there were two schools of thought as to Giratina’s Type. Most everyone agreed that it’s part Dragon. But some people thought that it was part Dark. Others thought part Ghost.

“I assumed part Dark, because I reasoned that a Dragon/Ghost Pokémon just didn’t make sense.

“So, I went to the lair with all my Fighting Pokémon, hoping to get Type advantage when I battled the Legendary…”

She sipped the coffee again.

“I had forgotten rule number one about Legendaries. Legendaries cheat. They can do things that don’t make sense. It was indeed Dragon/Ghost.

“My Pokémon were decimated one by one, until I had none left. I could do nothing but run for my life. Fortunately, for some reason I don’t understand, it decided not to pursue. I can only assume that I had at least hurt it enough that it couldn’t use its energy to chase after me.”

“Don’t feel bad,” said Shadow. “It’s easy to make mistakes when dealing with new Pokémon. Especially powerful ones.”

“That Mismagius said you’d have to face it again…” muttered Starbuck. “Well, at least you know enough not to use Fighters.”

“Dragon/Ghost…” muttered Shadow. “That means… Its weaknesses would be Ice, Dark, and other Ghost and Dragon attacks. You could build a whole team centered around bagging Giratina.”

“It’s not that easy,” said Shadow. “It had the scariest attack…

“I remember it quite plainly… I had never seen anything like it… It simply vanished into darkness, and then reappeared a minute later, striking my Pokémon with a blade of pure darkness… It scared the Hell out of me…”

“Calm down,” said Starbuck. “When the time comes, we’ll…”

“Excuse me,” said a voice, “is this seat taken?”

They looked up, and saw two men. They were wearing long, brown robes and hoods. One of them was tall and thin, with a black goatee. The other one was short and squat, and wore glasses.

“Hey, I know you guys!” said Starbuck. “You’re from that group… The Brotherhood of Alpha, was it?”

“So nice to be remembered,” said the first one.

“Look,” said Starbuck, “if you want to start fighting again…”

“We come in peace this time Mr. Conrad,” said the tall one. “May we sit down?”

Starbuck nodded, and the two monks sat.

“So what’s the deal, Mr.…” asked Starbuck.

“Edmund,” replied the monk. “As you know, at first we didn’t want the Plates to be found. But something has changed that… Dramatically.”

“Huh?” said Shadow. “Did one of you see some sort of… Divine vision?”

“More like a nightmare,” said the shorter monk. “All the members of our order had it on the same night. We saw the Alpha Pokémon, and he was in pain, being suffocated by a force of pure darkness.”

“Our scriptures say that such a vision means that the Alpha Pokémon is in need,” said Edmund. “Clearly, if he is not in danger, he soon will be in the future. He must be found at this point.”

“Can you tell us something?” asked Starbuck.

“Yes,” said Edmund. “We know the locations of three Plates that neither you nor Rocket Reborn have not yet found. We knew the locations of most of the ones that have been found, but you beat us to them.”

He looked around.

“The walls have ears…” he said. “But, uhm… If you perchance have a pen and a paper…”

“Don’t worry,” said Lisa, taking out her notebook, “I’m never far from one.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Brother Edmund’s instructions were confusing to say the least.

His least confusing directions were the ones to the location of the Zap Plate. He spoke of a temple in the mountains outside of Starmie Beach. This temple was very old, and whatever it was dedicated too was no longer known. However, the place was beset by constant thunderstorms, so it made sense that Electric Pokémon lived there.

He said that the Mind Plate was at a hotel at Nutmeg City. If they simply checked into the place for a night, they would find what they wanted, apparently.

The strangest directions involved the Dread Plate. Edmund told them that it couldn’t be found unless both the Meadow Plate and the Insect Plate had been found. If a trainer had both, he simply had to go back to where he had gotten either of them, and he would find the place where the Dread Plate was kept. (This gave the trainers pause, because both Vespiquen and Roserade had warned them that if they came back, the Twisting would be controlling them with a vengeance.)

“A few more things before I leave,” said Edmund. “I can’t say for sure where the Iron and Icicle Plates are, but I believe they are not in Toreen. They may, in fact, not be in this dimension. They likely lie in… stranger realms, that are only accessible by special methods.

“As for the Stone Plate… That one I know nothing about. The scriptures of our order only speak of it in lists where all the Plates are mentioned as a group.”

“Well, thank you…” said Starbuck. “We’ll try our best…”

“Please…” said Edmund. “Save Arceus from whatever danger he is in… I fear that, perhaps, the worst may occur…

“I fear that the Twisting may claim him as a victim as well…”

The two monks left, leaving a stunned expression on the faces of the trainers…


Coming up next:

Our Three Musketeers barely have time to comprehend this possibility, because next chapter, Mandy strikes, and Starbuck and Shadow are forced to work as a team against her incredibly powerful lineup. And just what birthright does Mandy claim is hers anyway?

The answer will be revealed soon. Don’t miss “Double Dare”, coming next.

[Shuppet Master]

Whoa, what a nice April Fool's Day gift, another Guardian Battle, and it seems they'll soon get their hands on the Fist Plate as well.

So the current roster of Plates is:
* Heroes: Flame, Splash, Insect, Meadow(you said Grass Plate lol), Toxic, and Spooky.
* Villians: Fist(in a rogue's hands), Sky, Draco, Earth
* Unclaimed: Zap, Mind, Dread, Iron, Icicle, Stone

Keep up the good work, Brian.

EDIT: Thanks for correcting me on those last three plates, Brian! I hadn't gone back over your chapters and didn't know where those plates were. Oops. Thanks for also pointing out the name of the Flying Plate.

[Dark Sage]

Actually, Chris, if you went back, you'd know that Jessica still has the Sky, Draco, and Earth Plates. Mandy wasn't dumb enough to break into all of Jessica's vaults. She'd have been caught if she tried. One was enough for her. She reasoned she'd get the others when she was strong enough to take down Jessica.

[Dark Sage]

What's this? Two fanfic updates in one day from the Sage? You'd better believe it!



I gotta admit… Ever since I rode into Darcaven, hoping to find Starbuck’s mom, my life has gotten interesting.

I just wanted to know if she had information about a Legendary she had mentioned to me when I had sold her some scrolls I had found. And what happened? I got mixed up in a rescue mission, which turned into something out of a Harrison Ford movie.

I’ve put my neck on the line several times since then. I’ve met criminals, sect members, and talking Pokémon. And I finally caught a Shroomish, something I’ve wanted to do for years.

Why did I agree to become partners with my rival? Well, I’m not sure…

But now this partnership is going to be tested more than ever. Because in this battle, if we blow it, we’re both going down.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN



Double Dare

As the two monks left, Starbuck noticed that Shadow was reaching into her satchel.

“Damn…” she muttered. “Where did I put them?”

“Put what?” asked Starbuck.

“My cigarettes…” she said.

“Uh, Shadow…” said Starbuck. “Last month, the last time we battled each other, you told me you quit.”

Shadow sighed, and leaned her head on her hands.

“Oh yeah…” she muttered. “I forgot…”

She chuckled.

“And I didn’t gain any weight!” she said with a laugh. “Not yet, at least…”

“Something wrong?” asked Starbuck. “You need some gum?”

“I’m just nervous,” said Shadow. “Starbuck, do you remember what I told you when Percy sent me over that contract?”

“Basically,” said Starbuck, “you didn’t think that the Twisting could be cured, and you were only doing this because you wanted to die gloriously.”

“I know,” said Shadow, “but so much has happened since then…”

She looked Starbuck in the eye.

“Do you honestly believe that it can happen? Do you believe that it can be cured?”

Starbuck looked at her.

“Yes,” he said, bluntly.

Shadow leaned her head on her hands again.

“What will happen if we succeed?” she asked. “Will there be rewards?”

“Of course!” said Starbuck. “We’ll earn the gratitude of Arceus himself! Both trainers and Pokémon will sing praises to our names for ages to come!”

“I just hope no Jigglypuff start singing praises…” muttered Shadow. “At least not around us.”

“Does this mean you think it’s possible?” asked Starbuck.

“Dunno,” said Shadow. “I haven’t decided yet… But I have to admit, Starbuck, this whole thing has made my evenings much more energetic. Normally last night, I would have probably watched Dr. Who reruns until I fell asleep on the couch.”

Starbuck picked up the Spooky Plate.

“Well…” he said. “Time to send this to Percy so he can put it with the others…”

Before he could get up, his cell phone rang.

He looked at it. He didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?” he said, putting it to his ear.

“Hello, Starbuck,” said a cheery voice on the end. “I noticed you were about to ship that thing off to your benefactor.

“Well, don’t just yet. I have an offer for you.”

“Who is this?” asked Starbuck.

“An enemy of your enemy,” said the voice. “And I’m going to give you a chance to get another of the Plates, so long as you’re willing to fight for it. But I should warn you, I only play for very high stakes.

“Look out the front door, and you’ll see all the proof you need that I’m serious.”

Starbuck stood up, and went to the front door. Out the glass windows, he saw Mandy on the other side of the parking lot, mounted on a motorcycle, and holding the Fist Plate so he could see it. She was holding a phone in her other hand.

“In case you don’t recognize it, it’s the Fist Plate,” she said. “Meet me at the Blueberry Cove Contest Hall if you’re interested. Take your time. I’ve got all day.”

Then she quickly stashed the phone and the Plate in a satchel, and started the motorcycle. The next minute, she was gone.

“Man, without a helmet?” said Starbuck. “She’s nuts!”

Lisa walked into the room.

“What’s going on?” she said.

“Let’s just say you missed a lot while you were powdering your nose,” said Starbuck.

He sighed.

“This is likely a trap, people…” he said. “But if we can indeed get the Fist Plate, we can’t just ignore this. Swap your Pokémon for the strongest ones you have…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The Twisting had not put an end to Pokémon Contests. It had made them harder, for certain, making Pokémon harder to train for such competitions, but Contests still existed. And Contest Halls existed in every major city. Neither Starbuck or Shadow had ever been interested in training Pokémon to do appeals, so they didn’t know much about the procedure.

But Starbuck did realize why this trainer had chosen this place to meet – the last Contest was only three days ago, and the coordinators wouldn’t start preparing for the next one for a week. The Contest Hall was empty when they approached the front doors, where someone had apparently picked the lock.

The Contest Hall was dark as they walked into the main stage, the only light coming from the large skylight above them.

“So…” said Starbuck. “Where’s…”

Then the lights came on, and Mandy appeared, standing on a pedestal. She threw up her arms dramatically.

“Hell-oo!” she said in a cheery voice.

Starbuck couldn’t help but be a little nervous. He didn’t get along well with Battle Girls. He was very uncomfortable around women who were more muscular than he was.

“So what’s this about?” he said. “If you’re an ‘enemy of our enemy’, that means you don’t work for Rocket… But you have a Plate that they had, last I knew.”

“Yep,” said Mandy, pointing to the satchel on her back. “To be exact, I used to be on the same side as Jessica, but I got smart, and decided it would be better working independently.

“The name’s Mandy, by the way… I might tell you my last name later.”

“What do you want in exchange for the Fist Plate?” asked Shadow.

“I want to battle for it,” said Mandy, lifting up a pokeball. “But like I said, I only play for high stakes. The Fist Plate against the Spooky Plate…”

“Let me guess…” sighed Starbuck. “You want a Pokémon Dare.”

“Even better,” said Mandy. “I’m making it a Pokémon Double Dare.”

Starbuck raised an eyebrow.

“Double Dare?” he said, suspiciously.

“Each trainer has two Pokémon out at once,” said Mandy. “A two-on-two battle. Like in a Dare, the winner gets to punish the loser by attacking him or her with his remaining Pokémon… And in this case, it’s with both Pokémon she has present at the time.”

Starbuck chuckled a little.

“You obviously take me for a complete idiot,” he said. “You can go and tell Jessica that it didn’t work. We’ll get the Fist Plate some other way.

“Mom, Shadow, let’s get away from this nut.”

“I’m with you…” said Shadow, as they turned to leave.

“What’s the matter?” shouted Mandy. “Afraid?”

“It’s one thing not to be afraid,” replied Starbuck. “It’s another thing to be stupid! Taking a risk like that is not my idea of brave. Have you even considered what would happen to you if you lost?”

“Maybe I have,” said Mandy. “But the thing is, I’m not the average trainer. I don’t really care if I’m hurt… Because I have very little left to lose.

“On the other hand, I have a lot to gain. I can gain what’s rightfully mine. What Jessica doesn’t deserve.”

Starbuck turned towards her.

“Okay, maybe you don’t work for her…” he said. “I don’t suppose you’re gonna tell us what the whole story is?”

Mandy sighed.

“I’m willing to give myself a handicap,” she said, not answering the question. “You and Shadow can form a team. Both of you use three Pokémon apiece, one of each out at a time. I’ll use six, two out at a time. If you lose, the punishment will be divided between you. But if I lose, I take it all myself.”

Starbuck looked at Shadow.

“Shadow?” he asked.

“All right…” she said. “I guess I can do that.”

“I’ll watch your back,” said Starbuck. “This may be hard.”

He turned to Mandy.

“Just give Shadow and I a chance to discuss what we’re going to use,” he said.

Mandy smirked, and stepped down from the pedestal.

Why do I have the feeling I’m gonna regret this? thought Starbuck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Looking in from the outside was a far more loyal member of Rocket. It was, in fact, Leo.

He had trailed Mandy here, and was expecting to confront her, until he had seen Starbuck’s party drive up.

He wanted the reward that Jessica was offering – and he had no intention of sharing it with any other member of Rocket – but he wasn’t stupid. He knew that if he went in there now, they’d all recognize him, and they’d likely all join forces against him. It would be four trainers to one and twenty-four Pokémon against six.

But, he had an idea.

A Pokémon Double Dare would leave the losing side half-dead, and the winning side with a team of exhausted Pokémon. He’d merely have to wait until this battle ended and then defeat the winning side, along with Starbuck’s mother. It would be easy, and he’d not only be rewarded for bringing Mandy in, but for handling three other enemies.

It was a sound plan…

* * * * * * * * * *

“Be careful, Starbuck,” muttered Lisa. “I don’t know what trouble your father got into, but I really don’t think he would have approved of these cockfights…”

“He’ll be fine,” said Shadow. “He has me to back him up.”

The two of them turned to Mandy.

“Okay, Hippolyta,” she said. “We’re ready if you are…”

“Oh, more than ready…” said Mandy, holding up two pokeballs.

“I choose… Slowking and Slaking!”

The two pokeballs burst open. One of the Pokémon that appeared looked like a pink badger with a dopey expression, standing upright over six feet tall, and wearing a ruffled collar and a crown made from a large conch shell. (Both Starbuck and Shadow knew that it was actually a Shellder, a Pokémon that joined with Slowpoke in a symbiotic relationship in order to evolve.)

The other Pokémon was much bigger. It looked like a huge, muscular ape that would have been seven feet tall if it had been standing up. But it was reclining on its side, with a tired expression on its face.

“I think we’re in trouble, Starbuck…” said Shadow.

“Don’t worry,” said Starbuck, taking one of his own pokeballs. “True, Slaking have physical might that rivals some Legendaries… But they’re too lazy to use it effectively.

“I choose Dusk!”

He threw his own pokeball, and the small Umbreon leapt out.

“Go, Magmortar!” shouted Shadow.

She threw her own, and the huge, flaming Pokémon appeared in a bonfire.

Mandy chuckled.

“True,” she said, “due to its Ability, Slaking is very lazy. But you’re overlooking one important factor – the other Pokémon I sent out. My Pokémon know how to work as a team.

“Slowking, use Skill Swap! Your target is Slaking!”

“Slowking…” muttered the Pokémon.

Its eyes glowed with Psychic energy, and then Slaking started to glow as well.

Then it seemed like both Pokémon did a complete 180. Slowking’s expression turned into the tired look that was on Slaking’s face, and it lay down as Slaking was. However, Slaking didn’t have that expression any more. It suddenly looked incredibly alert and awake, and it quickly got to its feet.

“What happened?” asked Starbuck.

“Skill Swap let my two Pokémon switch Abilities,” said Mandy. “Now Slowking has the Truant ability, and Slaking has Slowking’s Ability. It’s the only way to cure Slaking of its lazy nature, and turn it into a true terror in combat.”

“SLAKING!” roared the huge Pokémon.

“We’ll see about that!” shouted Shadow. “Magmortar, use Flamethrower on Slaking!”

Magmortar was only too happy to do so. It pointed and fired a burst of flame at the giant. Slaking grunted as it shielded itself with its arm.

“Shadow, no!” shouted Starbuck.

“Huh?” said Shadow.

“Concentrate on Slowking!” yelled Starbuck. “The Skill Swap made it much slower, but if it manages to use that attack on one of our Pokémon, we’ll really be in trouble!”

Mandy grinned.

“Dusk, use Shadow Ball on Slowking!” ordered Starbuck.

Dusk shot a dark ball of ghostly energy at Slowking, forming a direct hit. The blast likely did a lot of damage, but Slowking barely reacted. This was normal – members of this family had a hard time feeling pain.

“Slaking, sock Magmortar with Punishment,” said Mandy.

“Huh?” said Shadow.

Slaking growled, and then slugged Magmortar hard in the stomach. Magmortar roared and fell on its behind.

Shadow closed her eyes.

She’s trying to make me angry… she thought. I can’t get angry! Starbuck is right… We have to defeat Slowking fast…

Magmortar only has one move that’s good against Slowking…

“Magmortar,” she said, “hit Slowking with Thunderpunch!”

Magmortar sprang to its feet. Electricity surrounded its fist, and it charged at Slowking fist first, delivering a punch to its gut.

“Slowking?” said the Pokémon, not realizing at first that it had been hurt.

Then it finally sunk in. It stood up.

“Slowking!” it said, angrily.

Its eyes glowed again, and a beam of Psychic energy shot at Magmortar. Magmortar groaned, and held its head.

The Twisting at work, thought Lisa. Mandy clearly intended to use Skill Swap a second time, to transfer Slaking’s ability to an enemy. But Slowking’s anger caused it to lash out on its own, and that may have ruined her chance.

“Dusk, use Shadow Ball again!” shouted Starbuck.

The Umbreon fired the inky globe of darkness again, and this time, Slowking truly screamed. It fell flat on its face.

Then it turned into energy, and retreated into its pokeball.

“That would make the score one to nothing,” said Starbuck. “We’ve faced worse than you, sister.”

Mandy threw out another pokeball, and it opened. A huge Tentacruel appeared, hovering in mid-air.

“When will I learn not to provoke them?” sighed Starbuck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Outside, Leo laughed.

“Man, the hottest battle to hit Blueberry Cove in years, and I have the best view,” he said. “All I need is a hot dog and a bag of popcorn! I can’t believe I forgot my camera!

“Best of all, whoever loses this battle, it’ll be someone I don’t like.”

Leo was so caught up with watching the battle, he didn’t see a shadowy, creeping shape sneaking up behind him…

In fact, he didn’t realize it was there until its ghostly claws were around his neck…

* * * * * * * * * *

Tentacruel fired a blast of water, soaking Magmortar, sending the Fire Pokémon staggering backwards. Then Slaking slammed its fist into the ground, and Dusk was thrown backwards.

“Shadow, concentrate on Slaking!” shouted Starbuck. “I’ll deal with the jellyfish!”

“I’m trying!” shouted Shadow. “Magmortar, try Flamethrower again!”

“Dusk, use Assurance!” shouted Starbuck.

Magmortar grunted, and fired another blast of flame at the giant. It seemed to do some damage; Slaking groaned, and panted for breath. Meanwhile, Dusk glowed with Dark energy, and leapt at Tentacruel, headbutting the huge Water-Type in the forehead.

“It’s going to take more than that,” said Mandy. “Tentacruel, hit Magmortar with Hydro Pump. Slaking, take a breather. Use Slack Off.”

“Slack Off?” said Shadow. “What the heck is that?”

Slaking relaxed its muscles, and let out what looked like a loud sigh. It glowed with energy.

I know what it is, thought Lisa. Slaking may appear lazy, but that’s actually an illusion. When it appears to be lounging, it’s actually storing energy. It can use that energy for incredible feats of strength, or to heal itself, using Slack Off, a rare move that only a few Pokémon can learn.

As she was thinking this, Tentacruel shot an even more intense blast of water at Magmortar, soaking it from head to toe. Magmortar groaned, and fell to the ground with a crash.

Shadow sighed. She held up her pokeball and called Magmortar back.

Two options left. She decided on the one that would make the most difference against both of Mandy’s Pokémon.

“Go, Gengar!” she shouted.

She threw another pokeball, and Gengar appeared with a spooky laugh.

“Eh?” said Mandy.

“Good thinking,” said Starbuck. “Dusk, change opponents! Hit Slaking with Dark Pulse.”

“Umbreon!” shouted Dusk. A wave of pure darkness shot out from the small Pokémon, and Slaking roared as it hit it.

“You want to play rough, do you?” asked Mandy. “Slaking, flatten that little runt with Hammer Arm.”

No… thought Starbuck. That’s a Fighting move…

Slaking leapt at Dusk. The small Eeveelotion squeaked in fear.

Slaking’s fist came down, and Dusk screamed in pain as it nearly flattened him. Slaking got up and gave him a kick.

“Umbreon…” moaned Dusk.

Starbuck sighed. It was clear that Dusk wasn’t doing any more fighting today. He held up the pokeball, and Dusk retreated.

“We’ll see who has the last laugh,” said Shadow. “Gengar, use Psychic on Tentacruel.”

Gengar’s eyes glowed, and a wave of psionic energy blasted at the huge jellyfish. Tentacruel groaned in pain.

Shadow has the right idea, thought Starbuck, taking a second pokeball. Tentacruel is vulnerable to Psychic powers, and Slaking’s Special Defense isn’t nearly as good as its regular Defense. So I’d best use my own Psychic…

“Dawn, come out!” he shouted.

The pokeball opened, and the Espeon leapt out. She glared at Slaking with a look of fury. Clearly, she knew that it had hurt her brother.

“Dawn, use a Psychic of your own! Target Slaking!”

Dawn fired her own wave of mental energy, and Slaking groaned and held its head. It staggered a minute, as if it were dizzy.

“Tentacruel, use Poison Jab on Espeon!” shouted Mandy. “Slaking, use Shadow Ball on Gengar!”

“HUH?” shouted Shadow. “Slaking can learn Ghost TMs?”

“Yeah, Slaking can learn almost anything…” said Starbuck.

Slaking put its hands together, and blasted a bolt of darkness at Gengar. The Ghost Pokémon hollered as it was struck by it.

Then Tentacruel rushed at Dawn, swinging its tentacles. Dawn leapt aside, trying to dodge them, but some of them struck, stabbing into her flesh with the barbs. She shrieked in pain.

“Shadow, listen!” said Starbuck. “Slaking is the major threat now. We have to focus on bringing it down before it heals itself again.”

“Gotcha,” said Shadow. “Gengar, use Focus Blast on Slaking.”

“Dawn, use Psychic on that big lug,” said Starbuck.

Simultaneously, a blast of mental energy, and a blast of pure force shot out of both Pokémon, striking the huge Pokémon dead center. Slaking didn’t react for a minute…

Slaking stared at the two of them.

“SLAKING!” it roared. “Slaking, Slaking, Slaking!”

“Oh, great!” shouted Shadow. “This ape is going bananas!”

Slaking raised its fist, clearly intending to hit someone with it.

“Slaking!” it shouted. “Sla…”

Then its eyes opened wide… It looked dizzy…

And then it collapsed on the ground, face-first. It was out cold.

“Huh…” said Shadow. “I guess our blasts knocked it out, but it was just too angry to know it for a minute or too!”

“There was a legend of a Tyranitar that was the same way,” said Lisa. “It kept coming no matter what a trainer hit it with, and then collapsed after the trainer’s Pokémon had been beaten and it was about to attack the trainer. It was just too mean to know that it had been knocked out.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Leo was asleep. But it was not normal sleep.

The thing that had snuck up behind him had locked his soul away in a remote corner of his subconscious, forcing him to sleep. And it had no intention of ever letting him wake up.

After all, it couldn’t have hoped for a better body. Leo was tall, muscular, handsome, and healthy, just what it wanted in a host.

“Seems I lucked out substantially,” it said, through Leo’s mouth. “Now, let’s see what kind of Pokémon he has…”

He took off the belt around his host’s waist that held the pokeballs, and looked at them.

“Hmm, not bad…” it said. “Well-balanced… I might have done better, but beggars can’t be choosers…”

It looked into the Contest Hall where the battle was raging.

“My plan at this point may well depend on who wins… But I can’t be seen yet… Three of them have heard the voice.

“Whoever loses will likely seek healing, both for themselves and their Pokémon. When that happens, I’ll make my move…

“In the meantime, I have some time to kill to initiate the secondary plan.”

Then the thing inside Leo Solsby’s body walked away.

* * * * * * * * * *

“You folks think you’re so smart?” said Mandy, as she recalled Slaking.

“I had a good teacher,” said Starbuck.

“Well, so did I!” said Mandy, lobbing another pokeball at them.

It opened, and what appeared to be a pair of clamshells the size of a boulder with spikes all over it appeared.

The two shells opened, revealing a mean-looking face inside.

“A Cloyster,” said Shadow. “And me without my Magmortar…”

“You got that right,” said Mandy. “Cloyster, let ‘em have it with Icicle Spear!”

Cloyster closed its shell, and then five sharp spikes made of ice shot out from its shell with the force of a machine gun, three of them striking Gengar and two of them striking Dawn. Dawn cried out in pain, and Gengar’s smile had long since turned into an angry frown.

“You take the fish,” said Shadow, “I’ll take the clam.”

“Gotcha,” said Starbuck. “Dawn, hit Tentacruel with a Psybeam!”

“Gengar, use Night Shade on that thing!” shouted Shadow.

Dawn blasted another wave of energy from its forehead, and struck the large invertebrate – Tentacruel was a large target, and it was hard to miss. Gengar wasn’t as lucky. When it shot its Night Shade at Cloyster, the clam simply kept its shell closed, and the armor took the brunt of it.

“Switch!” shouted Mandy. “Tentacruel, soak Gengar with Hydro Pump. Cloyster, hit Espeon with Spike Cannon!”

Tentacruel and Cloyster quickly sidestepped (or side-flew – it was hard to describe, as both of them were levitating above the floor, rather than standing on it) and Tentacruel blasted a stream of water at Gengar. The Ghost sputtered angrily.

Then Cloyster opened its shell and fired five shots in rapid succession, shooting a barrage of sharp spires at Dawn. She screamed and tried to dodge them, but three of them hit home.

“Espeon…” she groaned.

“Impossible…” muttered Starbuck. “How could it have lucked out and gotten five shots twice in a row with both attacks?”

Mandy laughed.

“It has nothing to do with luck,” she said. “Most members of the Shellder family have an Ability called Shell Armor, which simply makes them hard to hurt.

“MY Cloyster is a rarer specimen, which has an Ability called Skill Link. Whenever it uses an attack that strikes multiple times, it’s guaranteed to be able to attack the maximum number of times.”

“Espeon…” groaned Dawn, getting up.

“It’s just trying to goad you!” shouted Starbuck. “Use Morning Sun!”

“Huh?” said Mandy.

Dawn’s eyes glowed, and light poured in through the skylight. She glowed with energy, and she stood up straight as the cuts and bruises on her fur vanished.

“Gengar, hit Tentacruel with Psychic!” yelled Shadow.

Another blast of psionic energy shot from the Ghost Pokémon, and this time, it was more than the huge jellyfish could bear. It let out a final groan, and then collapsed in a heap.

Mandy chuckled as it retreated to its pokeball.

“Well…” she said. “You brought me down to half of my team… That means it’s about time…

“Now the real fun begins…”

She tossed another pokeball. A very large Pokémon started to take shape…

Starbuck and Shadow were startled as the Pokémon appeared. It stood upright, and was seven feet tall. It brought to mind a cross between a reptile and a humanoid hammerhead shark, although there was no mistaking it was a Dragon-Type Pokémon.

It let out a roar that shook the building.

“Is that…” gasped Shadow in fright. “Is that really a Garchomp?”

“Uh huh,” said Mandy. “And by the way, it hasn’t eaten today yet. The way I’ve trained it, it tends to view opposing trainers the same way it views t-bone steaks.”

“I think she’s bluffing,” said Starbuck, nervously.

“Well I don’t wanna find out!” shouted Shadow.

“Enough chit-chat!” shouted Mandy. “Garchomp, Dragon Rage! Choose a target!”

Garchomp roared again, and blasted a stream of violet flames from its jaws. Gengar screamed in agony as the dragonfire hit it, and it crashed to the ground.

Shadow looked at her Pokémon. It was out, and its flesh – or whatever passed for flesh in Ghosts – was badly burned.

“Okay…” she said. “This might be difficult…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The shadow rode up the elevator in the Grasp Building, all the while using its powers to delve into Leo’s memory. It couldn’t believe its luck. Leo knew more than it had both expected and hoped for.

As it exited the elevator and started to walk towards his destination, a voice stopped him.

“Leo?” said the voice, which had come from Kitsune.

The shadow raised an eyebrow when it saw who it was.

The trainer who defeated the Taker? it thought. Interesting…

“Is something wrong, Leo?” asked Kitsune. “You seem… Distant…”

Leo chuckled.

“No, no, I’m fine,” said Leo. “It’s just kind of warm out today…”

He put his hand on her thigh. Kitsune gave him a strange look.

“Say…” he said, “how about we go for a drink later, huh?”

“I’m… underage…” said Kitsune.

He chuckled.

“Pity…” he said.

Then he lifted her chin up, and kissed her deeply on the lips. Kitsune didn’t resist.

Leo let go after about thirty seconds. Kitsune simply stared into space. He grinned, and started to walk away.

She’d recover in about ten minutes, and she’d forget seeing him entirely once she had.

But the mark he had put on her would be useful as a backup plan.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Go, Gallade!” shouted Shadow.

Her pokeball opened, and the Pokémon swordsman leapt out.

“This is my last one, ‘partner’,” she scowled. “After this, you’re on your own.”

“Hey, I don’t like this any more than you do!” shouted Starbuck.

“Dawn, try to use Psychic on that big thing!”

Dawn screamed, and blasted its mental attack at the much bigger Pokémon. But it didn’t even seem to slow Garchomp down.

“Cloyster, Garchomp, try to catch that cat in the crossfire!” ordered Mandy. “Use Icicle Spear and Dragon Pulse!”

“Oh no…” said Starbuck. “Dawn, run!”

The Espeon didn’t dare disobey. Cloyster’s ice spikes shot at her, but she dove out of the way, and they embedded themselves in the ground. Unfortunately, it drove her right into Garchomp’s line of fire. The Dragon spat a large, purple fireball, and Dawn screamed as it burned her fur.

“Espeon…” groaned Dawn.

She struggled to her feet.

“That thing doesn’t know when to quit,” said Mandy. “Reminds me a lot of Jessica’s mom and dad.

“That was the thing with them, you know. No matter how many times Ash humiliated them, they came back asking for more. A lot of people would admire such dedication. Me? I think they were just stupid.”

“Consider this, Jessica,” said Starbuck. “Maybe they weren’t very good members of Team Rocket. But if they had given up and left Team Rocket, where would they have gone? What else was there for them to do? Maybe they thought that what they were doing was the only purpose their life had, and it may well have been.

“I’d say that James and Jesse deserve sympathy, not insults.

“Dawn, hit that cannon with Last Resort!”

“And once it’s done,” said Shadow, to Gallade, “finish it with Brick Break!”

Dawn glowed with a blinding light, and leapt at Cloyster face-first. Cloyster tried to shield itself with its shell, but the impact from the powerful attack forced it open and knocked it down.

Dawn fell aside, and Gallade charged at the mollusk, swinging its sword-arms and slamming them into its shell. Cracks appeared on the hard shell. Finally, one mighty blow floored the Cloyster, and it collapsed.

“Cloyster…” it groaned.

Mandy frowned, and recalled Cloyster. Then she pulled a bandana out of her belt, and then tied it over her mouth.

“What the heck is she doing?” said Starbuck.

“My last Pokémon,” said Mandy, throwing a pokeball.

The Pokémon that appeared was another big one, but rather than being tall, like Garchomp, it was long and thick. It brought to mind a large hippopotamus, with a mouth that was almost seven feet wide.

It opened its mouth and let out a very low roar, and as it did, a storm started to rise in the Contest Hall… A windstorm mixed with stinging sand.

“Meet my Hippowdon,” said Mandy. “Garchomp’s favorite partner, and the second part of my most lethal combo…

“As you can see, I saved the best for last…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“What do you mean, no entry?” said Leo. “I’m second in command of Rocket Reborn, I…”

“I really don’t care, Leo!” said the armed security guard who was at the checkpoint. “I’m well aware of who you are, but in light of what just happened, Ms. Jessica gave very specific orders! No-one except her is allowed past this checkpoint, no matter what!

“And don’t try pulling rank on us, because she also gave us permission to use lethal force against anyone who tried that!”

Leo closed his eyes. The shadow inside him was incredibly angry, but it knew it couldn’t cause a scene. It couldn’t give itself away.

He smirked.

“Well, I admire you for that,” he said. “You’re clearly doing a good job… Carry on.”

He turned and walked away.

“Seems I’ll have to deal with Jessica as well,” he said. “But Starbuck is the more important problem now…

“I’ll continue with the first plan…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“What’s going on?” shouted Shadow, as the sandstorm started to rage.

“I know this strategy!” shouted Lisa. “Cynthia the champion of Sinnoh used it with her Garchomp!

“Hippowdon creates a sandstorm using its Ability… And Garchomp’s Ability makes it stronger in a sandstorm. They’re a perfect match!”

“And I’m taking your Pokémon out,” said Mandy. “Hippowdon, use Fissure.”

Hippowdon lifted its paw, and stomped on the floor. A deadly shockwave of energy shot towards Dawn and Gallade. Gallade dodged out of the way, but Dawn wasn’t so lucky. She was thrown into the air from the impact. Starbuck dove to catch her, barely managing to do so.

“Dawn!” he shouted. “Say something!”

Dawn barely managed to squeak out her name.

“Your two Monsters are gonna pay,” said Shadow, as Starbuck recalled Dawn to her pokeball. “Gallade, use Psycho Cut on that psycho!”

“Gallade…” muttered the Psychic. It’s arm glowed with pink energy, and it slashed at Garchomp, leaving a deep gash across the monster’s chest. Garchomp growled, and held its chest.

“Go, Swampert!” shouted Starbuck, throwing out his last pokeball.

The pokeball burst open, and the huge, fully evolved form of Mudkip appeared. It snarled when it saw Garchomp.

“HUH?” said Mandy.

“Swampert, Hydro Pump!” shouted Starbuck. “Target Hippowdon!”

Swampert got down on all fours, and blasted a wave of water from its mouth, striking the Ground Pokémon. Hippowdon roared in pain.

Nuts, thought Mandy. I didn’t expect this…

Well, maybe I did… Shadow had a Fire Pokémon, so Starbuck evened things out with a Water Pokémon…

But I still didn’t expect Swampert! It’s part Ground, it can resist the sandstorm!

Have to take it out quickly…

“Time to show you why Jessica made me her second in command,” said Mandy.

“Second in command?!” shouted Starbuck. “You’re Rocket’s number two?”

“Not anymore, and you won’t live with that knowledge once I’m done with you!” she replied. “Only a trainer with my skill could have possibly taught a Pokémon the move you are about to see…”

“Oh… No…” said Shadow.

“Garchomp, smite Swampert with your almighty power!” shouted Mandy. “Call forth destruction from the heavens! Use Draco Meteor!”

“Draco Meteor?” said Starbuck.

He instinctively looked up through the skylight, to see that the sky had turned blood red… Garchomp started to glow with a fiery aura of energy…

“GALLADE!” shouted Gallade. It ran in front of Swampert, as if it was trying to shield it. Mandy laughed out loud.

“Pathetic!” she shouted. “Like that will do anything! My Pokémon will simply crush them both now!”

No sooner had they said that, then balls of flame crashed through the skylight and the ceiling. Mandy laughed hysterically as the honed in on the two Pokémon, while their trainers and Lisa dove for cover.

It only lasted a few second, but the damage would be much more lasting. Mandy chuckled, and looked up at the roof, which had been completely burned away.

“Ah, what am I worried about?” she said with a chuckle. “It’s a Pokémon Contest Hall, after all… I’m sure they’re insured against Pokémon-related damage…”

“Garchomp!” laughed the Garchomp.

“Hippowdon…” growled the Hippowdon.

“Gallade!” said a very angry voice from the cloud of smoke in front of her.

“Huh?” said Mandy. “That’s impossible…”

The smoke cleared, and Mandy saw that the impossible had occurred. Gallade and Swampert were still standing, and neither they or their two trainers looked very happy.

“How did they…” said Mandy.

“Gallade is no stranger to two-on-two battles,” said Shadow. “I even taught it a TM that can only be used in two-on-two battles.

“When it sensed that powerful attack coming, it instinctively used a strategy I taught it. It got close to its partner… Close enough so that it could use Protect, and shield them both with it.”

“No…” said Mandy.

“Hey, Shadow…” said Starbuck, “I hate to say it, but… We make a pretty good team…”

“Starbuck, Shadow!” shouted Lisa. “You have an opening! Draco Meteor weakens the user’s power! You can take that thing down now!”

“You got it!” shouted Starbuck. “Swampert, freeze that Dragon with Blizzard!”

“Gallade, hit that hippo with Close Combat!” yelled Shadow.

Swampert got down on all fours again, and shot a massive blast of ice from its jowls. Garchomp groaned, right before a solid coffin of ice formed around it.

It tipped over, and collapsed.

Then Gallade charged at Hippowdon, and struck the larger Pokémon with a flurry of punches and kicks. Hippowdon groaned, before it collapsed with its legs spread out.

Starbuck took a deep breath.

It was over.

Mandy sighed. She held up both pokeballs, and called her Pokémon back.

“I lost…” she said.

She bowed her head.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” asked Shadow. “Gallade…”

“Shadow… don’t,” said Starbuck.

Shadow looked at him.

“WHY?” she asked. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for her?”

“I don’t,” said Starbuck. “But there’s an old saying… ‘Dead men tell no tales’.

“And I want an explanation from this chick, which we won’t get if we kill her.”

Mandy looked up.

“Aw, fine,” she said.

She took the Fist Plate out of her satchel, and threw it on the ground, where it fell with a clatter.

“I didn’t get the Spooky Plate, but at least if you have this, it sets Jessica back. So I’m happy.”

“I want answers!” shouted Starbuck. “You were once her number one, and you turned against her? WHY?”

Mandy sighed.

“I’ll tell you if it will make you happy,” she said, “but we’d best get out of here before Officer Jenny shows up.”

Starbuck paused for a minute. He had forgotten about that.

Mandy had wrecked the Contest Hall with no concern for anyone’s safety. She deserved to go to jail…

But as much as he wanted justice done, he wanted to know what this was all about.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was noon, and the three trainers were in a café waiting for lunch to come (Mandy didn’t order anything) and waiting for the Battle Girl in front of them to say something.

“Are you gonna tell us or not?” asked Shadow. “Why do you have such a mad-on for Jessica?”

“Because, she has what’s rightfully mine!” said Mandy. “I should be the one leading Rocket Reborn!

“Her parents were the sorriest excuses for thieves who ever lived. On their best day, they weren’t half the thieves that my parents were…”

“Your parents?” asked Starbuck. “Who…”

“Oh, I might as well tell you…” muttered Mandy, reaching into her satchel. “This was taken when I was ten years old… In happier times…”

She tossed a photograph across the table. Starbuck picked it up.

“No… way…” he said. “Your parents were Butch and Cassidy?”

Mandy nodded.

“And long after Jessica’s folks were gone, they kept going strong,” said Mandy, “even without Rocket behind them…

“At least until the last time I saw them…

“Shortly after this photo was taken, they sent me to study in boarding school. After that, I never saw them in person again. My schooling was paid for through an intermediary…

“And every month, I got a care package from them, full of candy and gifts, along with a bigger one on my birthday and Christmas, but never with a return address…

“In each one, they told me to stay strong, and make them proud…

“You may have noticed that I used a Cloyster and a Tentacruel, the same Pokémon that they used when they fought as a team. When I became a trainer, I fished in every lake, river, and shore until I caught both a Tentacool and a Shellder, in order to get the same ones that they had.

“I have no idea where they are now… The care packages stopped coming… About three years ago…”

She smirked a little. They couldn’t have kept sending them to her three years ago, because they didn’t know where she was. They obviously had no idea that she was Jessica’s prisoner.

Mandy stood up.

“Keep in mind, Starbuck, I’m grateful that you decided to spare me the pain of losing a Double Dare… But this doesn’t change anything…

“Your enemy has an enemy… My only advice is, use that knowledge any way you can…”

As Mandy got up and left, Starbuck put the Spooky Plate and the Fist Plate on the table.

He took out his cell phone.

“Percy?” he said. “Yeah, it’s me… Can you find out any information on Butch and Cassidy?

“No, I mean Paul Newman. Of course I mean the former members of Team Rocket!”

He put the phone away.

“It isn’t as if there are that many duos who name themselves Butch and Cassidy…” he muttered.

Meanwhile, outside the café, Mandy was oblivious to the fact that a new enemy was watching…

The thing with Leo’s face started to follow her…



You folks are all probably wondering just what the heck has possessed Leo. Well, here’s a hint: What did it say on the entrance of the Taker’s temple?

Next episode, Starbuck finally confronts an emissary of the force he is opposing, and there’s more on the line now. The Twisting has perceived him as a threat, and the situation has changed.

And as a bonus, you’ll see more of his Pokémon. It’s all coming soon.

[Shuppet Master]

Wow, that was awesome, and we learn a surprising twist! I didn't expect that to happen.

No, I didn't mean Leo getting possessed by a ghost. I meant Butch and Cassidy bearing a child and she joined Rocket Reborn to take out Jessica. Seems the old rivalry between those two groups lives on to this day.

I honestly wish you would update this story more often, but I understand that you prefer Soul of Silicon more, and you may have stuff going on in real life, so I won't begrduge you. Just keep the updates as awesome as this.

[Charles Legend]

Oh I get it now, I bet you Darkrai is causing the The Twisting...

~Charles Legend

[Jeff]

Darkness, Destruction, and Death
Darkness = Palkia (space is dark)
Destruction = Dialga (things are destroyed as time passes)
Death = Giratina (duh)

Considering Giratina is the only ghost-type of the three, that would be my guess as to what's possessing Leo.

[Dark Sage]

The last time I fought Leo, he beat me. He wanted to prove to me that Rocket Reborn would be a serious threat, and could come for me at any time.

If he wanted to scare me away from my self-appointed task, he failed. He just made me mad. I’ve wanted a rematch ever since.

Well, I’ve gotten my wish…

But two things have changed, neither of them for the better. One, I’m facing Leo’s whole team, rather than just one of his Pokémon. If Rhyperior was any indication of his power as a trainer, I truly have my work cut out for me.

Two…

My opponent isn’t truly Leo at all. Some evil force connected to the Twisting seems to be controlling him. I don’t even know if Leo knows what’s going on while he’s a prisoner in his own body, which some demon has stolen.

Whatever the case…

…things have taken a sinister turn.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN



Stage Two

As a fugitive – both from the law and her old organization – Mandy couldn’t go to Pokémon Centers to heal her Pokémon most of the time. But that was hardly a problem for her. Criminal organizations like Rocket Reborn and Team Rocket before them knew of places in every town where trainers could heal in a hurry when they wanted to keep a low profile. It wasn’t always free, but these places could do it with relatively little overhead, so it didn’t cost much.

Mandy exited the Chinese restaurant that was used as a front for one such place, and started to walk down the street. She was well-aware that Jessica would likely send all of her troops after her, and that the chains she had been restrained with when she had made that bargain would likely become a permanent fixture of her accommodations if she was caught again. If she was lucky.

So, she was going to leave town and lie low for a few weeks, until the heat was off. Then maybe she could…

Her eyes twitched.

Instinctively, she spun around and aimed a kick at the one behind her. When she saw Leo dodging aside, she knew she wasn’t overreacting. She quickly made a fighting stance.

“You can’t sneak up on a Battle Girl, Leo,” she snarled. “So, how much did Jessica put on my head?”

“Six million,” said Leo. “But I really don’t care for it…”

“Yeah?” said Mandy. “The only way I’m going back to her is in a box.”

“Sounds a bit too messy for my tastes,” said Leo. “Actually, Mandy, I was hoping for a Pokémon battle from you…”

He lifted a pokeball.

“One with even greater stakes than a Double Dare…”

Mandy raised an eyebrow.

She had a general idea of what he had in mind…

She smirked.

“Really?” she said. “Pick your poison…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Nurse Joy looked at the four pokeballs that contained Dawn, Dusk, Magmortar, and Gengar.

“Good grief, you two,” she said, looking at a screen. “You say you were involved in a two-on-two? What Pokémon did your opponent use? Latios and Latias?”

“It’s a very long story, Joy,” said Starbuck. “Can you just heal them?”

“They’re hurt pretty bad, Starbuck,” said Joy. “I’ll have to keep them for overnight observation.”

Shadow sighed.

“Looks like we’re staying in Blueberry Cove another night,” she said. “I’m really getting sick of this town.”

“And it looks like we’re changing our teams,” said Starbuck.

Then his cell phone beeped.

“Text message,” said Starbuck, looking at it.

He read the note.

“Percy wants to talk to us on the video phone.”

“What’s the matter?” said Lisa, walking to the counter.

“We’ll soon find out,” said Starbuck, turning on the video phone.

Percy’s face appeared.

“Oh, there you are, Conrad,” said Percival. “I was able to look up that information on Butch and Cassidy you wanted. It wasn’t hard…”

“Oh?” said Starbuck.

“Let’s see,” he said, looking at a screen. “Eleven years ago, they attempted a robbery which was supposedly going to be the proverbial ‘big score’. Their target was an artifact called the Heaven’s Pipe, which was found at an archaeological dig at Mt. Coronet in Sinnoh. They succeeded, but were arrested soon after.”

“Heaven’s Pipe?” said Starbuck, surprised.

“Yes, a very mysterious object,” said Percival. “It was named the Heaven’s Pipe because it was found inside the core of an excavated meteorite that split open when it was dug out. No-one was ever sure what its purpose was, or where it came from. It was a strange flute-like object, but it couldn’t make any sound when blown, and the runes carved on it had no meaning in any known language. Some believed that it was… extraterrestrial in origin.

“The strange part is, the Heaven’s Pipe wasn’t in their possession when they were taken into custody, and they didn’t reveal its location… Most assumed that they had a rich buyer who was interested in such curiosities. In any event, the Heaven’s Pipe was never seen again.”

“Eleven years ago…” muttered Starbuck. “Mandy would have been ten… They probably sent her to boarding school because…”

“Because they thought they’d be caught?” said Shadow.

“Maybe…” said Starbuck.

“Anyway, they were charged with grand larceny,” said Percival, “and because they were repeat offenders, given a very stiff sentence. The sentence as stood was twenty years.

“While in prison, they apparently made far more use of their privilege to speak to their lawyer than most inmates, giving him various instructions for account transactions and deliveries… They didn’t make much sense when they were looked into…”

“Paying for their daughter’s schooling,” muttered Lisa. “And sending her care packages. They used a web of intermediaries to distract anyone who tried to follow the trail.

“And apparently they were too ashamed to tell her that they were in prison.”

“Anyway,” said Percival, “despite the secrecy, they were model prisoners, didn’t get into trouble, were paroled a little over two years ago, and now live in Canalave City in Sinnoh.

“But there is one thing I found out, and it’s the strangest part… According to records, they did indeed have a daughter, named Miranda…”

“Mandy is short for Miranda,” said Starbuck. “Go on…”

“Well…” said Percival. “According to this, she died of leukemia when she was seven.”

Shadow and Starbuck looked at each other.

“Percy…” said Shadow, “the Mandy we met was a very adult woman who had a picture of herself with her parents when she was ten. How could…”

“Percy, I’m gonna take a random shot here…” said Starbuck. “Do records say that there was no funeral, her parents had her cremated, and whoever wrote the coroner’s report retired less than a month later?”

Percival looked at the screen behind him.

“Yes, yes, and… yes,” he said.

‘There’s your answer,” said Starbuck.

“What?” said Shadow.

“Butch and Cassidy wanted their daughter’s existence to stay hidden for some reason,” said Starbuck. “Being criminals by profession, they clearly bribed a coroner to forge a report saying that she was dead.

“Then they gave her a new identity. Mandy saw nothing wrong with this… She knew her parents were criminals, and criminals change their identities all the time.

“So Butch and Cassidy were able to hide their daughter’s existence from the law when they were in prison, paying for her schooling via intermediaries set up by a lawyer who was clearly not on the right side of the law either. All their letters were sent by this lawyer after they dictated them to him in private conversation, so the prison screening process wouldn’t see them, and he sent the care packages too. Mandy would remain unbothered by the authorities, and never be questioned…

“Question is, why? Why did they have to hide their daughter so much?”

He sighed.

“Mandy has a right to know where her parents are,” said Lisa.

“Yeah…” said Starbuck. “And maybe we should ask her if the letters her folks sent made any mention of this thing…

“It may well be that Butch and Cassidy were afraid that they’d be caught by the police if they tried to steal the Heaven’s Pipe…

“But there’s another possibility…”

“What?” asked Shadow.

“They may have thought that the Pipe wasn’t just any precious artifact,” said Starbuck. “They may have thought that stealing it might be playing with fire…

“Maybe even eternal fire.”

As he said that, thunder started to rumble.

“It’s clouding up outside…” said Nurse Joy. “Might be starting to rain.”

Then a loud screech rang threw the air.

Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa recognized it only too well. They would never forget it.

That was the voice of the Twisting.

No sooner than their minds comprehended that, than a woman’s scream followed.

“That was Mandy,” said Starbuck.

“Are you sure?” said Shadow.

“Yes, and that wasn’t a normal scream,” said Starbuck, turning towards the phone. “We would have heard it if this Center was soundproofed. We didn’t hear that with our ears. It was a scream that reached the soul.

“Mandy is in big, big, trouble…

“Shadow… Once I’m done, get the strongest Pokémon you have…”

“May I ask why we should rush to save someone who attacked us?” asked Shadow.

“Because,” said Starbuck, “I don’t think her life is the only thing that’s in danger… The Twisting is starting to lose its subtlety…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Why do I feel like we’re running into a lion’s den?” asked Lisa, as they ran down the street.

“Probably because we are,” said Starbuck.

“In there.”

He pointed to a large parking garage.

They ran in, Starbuck and Shadow jumping over the guardrail. Lisa couldn’t possibly do the same, and stepped over.

Behind them, a small form followed them it. It was the Buneary again, having tracked Starbuck down again.

“Buneary?” it said, as it watched the humans run into the garage.

It slowly followed them.

“Mandy!” shouted Starbuck. “Mandy…”

He turned his head.

“MANDY!”

He had expected Mandy to be in trouble, but he didn’t expect this.

Lying in the middle of the parking lot was a large, black gemstone, the size and shape of a coffin. Mandy was inside it, like a fly trapped in amber.

Starbuck ran up to it. He was relieved to see that she was still breathing, albeit very slowly. Her arms were crossed over her chest, in the same position as those of a body at a funeral.

“What the heck?” asked Shadow. “What is this?”

Starbuck felt around the huge gemstone.

“No seams…” he said. “No hinges… There’s no way to open this… It’s like the stone was formed around her, like real amber.”

“That’s impossible,” said Lisa. “Gemstones like that can’t form in less than an hour. And amber isn’t black.”

“That’s because it isn’t a gemstone,” said a voice.

They all turned, and saw Leo, leaning against the wall several dozen feet away. He was partially hidden in the shadow, but there was no mistaking it was him.

“It’s darkness,” he said. “Darkness made solid.

“But don’t fret, she’s alive, for now. Although she isn’t very happy. She’s in a deep sleep, in which she’s experiencing her worst nightmares. Least of all is the beating I just gave her.”

“What did you do to her, Leo?” asked Starbuck, standing up.

Leo chuckled.

“She agreed to a very foolish wager,” he said. “It appeared simple… The winner could do anything he or she wanted to the loser.

“Even if she had a general idea of what her fate may have been if she lost, she really had no idea, or she wouldn’t have agreed to it. She didn’t realize what I wanted until it was too late.”

“What did you want from her?” demanded Starbuck.

“Everything she had,” said Leo. “Body, soul, and spirit. And I gift-wrapped them rather nicely, don’t you think?”

“This is crazy…” said Shadow. “Leo was a tough Pokémon trainer, but he wasn’t a black sorcerer…”

“Who are you?” asked Starbuck.

Leo’s eyes glowed.

“I am one of three servants of the being from whom the anger generates,” he said.

“The Twisting?” asked Starbuck.

“That is what humans call it,” said the thing with Leo’s face. “I won’t give the master’s name now, but in the human language, we three are called Darkness, Destruction, and Death.

“We were formed by his own anger, which grew so intense, it was given life. But we are but bodiless phantoms, and can only interact with others by using human hosts.

“Leo is the best one I’ve had so far. He’s strong and healthy… I may be able to last almost a year before he burns out…”

“You fiend!” shouted Starbuck. “Have you no decency?”

“He’s pure rage, Starbuck,” said Lisa. “He’s the embodiment of a negative emotion. I think the answer to that question is a definite no.”

“So which one are you?” asked Starbuck.

The creature sighed.

“I sealed Mandy inside a coffin made of solid darkness,” he said. “Which one do you think?!”

“Oh… right…” said Starbuck, looking at Mandy.

“If it makes you feel any better,” said Darkness, “I bear her no malice. She’ll only be the appetizer once I report back to the master. She was bait to lure you here.

“You see, you’ve become a danger. The master simply can’t allow you to find any more of the Plates. So I have to put an end to your little quest right here.”

He moved his jacket aside, revealing his pokeball bandoleer.

“You want to Pokémon battle?” asked Starbuck. “Couldn’t a demon like you subdue me some other way?”

“Maybe not,” said Lisa. “The Twisting only has power over Pokémon. Maybe Pokémon battling is the only form of combat that these specters can manage.”

“On the other hand,” said Darkness, “you can attack me all you want. I don’t care. Any wound you inflict on me will only hurt poor Leo’s body. And if it becomes too damaged, I’ll be able to seize another. Perhaps your girlfriend’s?”

Shadow gulped.

“Listen you…” started Starbuck.

He stopped.

“I almost called you a monster… Can’t do that… It would insult the Pokémon.

“Fine, I’ll battle you… And if I win, you let Mandy and Leo go!”

Darkness laughed.

“You want me to wager two victims in exchange for one?” asked Darkness. “That’s an uneven wager.”

Starbuck covered his eyes.

“I’ll wager myself and Shadow, then,” he said.

“HEY!” shouted Shadow. “Don’t I get a say in this?!”

“Too late, Shadow,” said Darkness. “I don’t allow takebacks. I agree.”

Shadow grabbed Starbuck by the arm.

“Listen, buster,” he said, “maybe you didn’t notice something… We were barely able to defeat Mandy two against one. This guy wiped her out!”

Starbuck sighed.

Shadow was right.

He looked at the demon that was possessing Leo Solsby…

He had a feeling he was in for the fight of his life…

He looked at his pokeballs.

The only Pokémon he has that I know about is Rhyperior, he thought. Assuming that this creature is using Leo’s Pokémon, and he likely is. Rhyperior’s greatest weakness is Water, so I’ll save Swampert for when he sends that out.

But wait… Swampert is vulnerable to Ground moves, and his Rhyperior knows Earthquake… That might not be a good idea…

“If you aren’t going to move, I will!” shouted Darkness. “Go, Weavile!”

He threw out a pokeball, and a nasty-looking Weavile leapt out.

Starbuck blinked. He could swear that there was a dark aura of some sort around this Pokémon that wasn’t present in most Weavile.

He threw a pokeball of his own.

“Go, Hitmonlee!” he shouted.

His pokeball opened, and the much sought-after Fighting Pokémon with powerful legs leapt out.

“Hitmonlee!” it said.

“Not bad for a start,” said Darkness. “Weavile, use Swords Dance.”

Weavile’s eyes glowed, as it started to move in the mystical battle-dance that was commonly known for Pokémon who used physical attacks. It started to glow with a different aura, and its eyes shone in the dim light of the garage.

Got to go in for a strike when it’s distracted, thought Starbuck.

“Get him!” he shouted. “Blaze Kick!”

Hitmonlee grunted, and then started to burn with fire. It leapt at the Weavile…

Weavile broke out of its dance, and quickly caught the foot as it fell towards its face. It made an upward toss, and Hitmonlee did a somersault, landing on its feet.

“Hitmonlee…” it said, forming a fighting stance.

“Time to give you a sample of true power,” said Darkness. “Weavile… Ice Claw.”

“Ice Claw?” said Shadow. “What the heck is…”

Weavile’s eyes glowed with a light that could best be described as madness. Then its left claw glowed with pale white energy…

It made a slash across Hitmonlee’s chest so quick, the Fighter couldn’t react. Hitmonlee screamed, and fell to its knees.

“Hitmonlee…” it gasped. “Hitmonlee…”

“What sort of move is that?” shouted Starbuck.

“Be proud,” said Darkness. “You three are witnessing Stage Two.”

“Stage Two??” shouted Starbuck.

“When I took control of Leo,” said Darkness, “I was able to speed up the Twisting’s effect on his Pokémon. All six of them have reached Stage Two of the Twisting. They are more savage and brutal then they were before, AND, they each know a move that has not been documented anywhere else. A lethal attack that only Pokémon in Stage Two can learn.”

“Good lord…” said Starbuck. “So… What the whole world is suffering from now is just the early stage? The Twisting is going to get worse?”

“Indeed,” said Darkness. “Better I end it for you now, so you won’t be around to experience it when Stage Two spreads to the whole world!”

“Hitmonlee!” shouted Hitmonlee.

It leapt at Weavile, clearly angry from the terrible wound it had been given. Its fists started hammering into its foe, in a terrible Brick Break. Weavile staggered under the blows, and then finally collapsed.

Darkness chuckled as he recalled Weavile.

“I can already tell just what move your Hitmonlee will learn once it reaches Stage Two,” he said. “Would you like me to tell you?”

“NO!” shouted Starbuck. “I’m taking you down, Stage Two or no Stage Two!”

But the truth is, he thought, I feel like I just jumped into a pool without checking to see if there was water in it…

* * * * * * * * * *

Darkness wasn’t entirely correct about the effect his spell had on Mandy.

She was fast asleep, but her dreams were not nightmares. After all, she had spent three years locked up with Digger and Jessica goading her and leaving her uncertain each day as to whether she would be executed the next. Not much scared her anymore.

As she slept, she remembered her past…

She remembered one day that stood out when she was ten, only five months after her parents left her at boarding school. The whole dormitory rushed when the matron shouted “Mail call!” and she was excited when she was handed a package that was even larger than the care packages that her parents usually sent her. It was marked “Fragile”, and had been mailed with several insurance stamps.

But it came with a very mysterious letter:


Dear Mandy,

We love you more than we can say. We don’t ask much of you, but we need a favor, and much depends on it. We wish we could explain more fully, but we cannot.

Inside this package is an item. The favor we ask is for you to protect it. We cannot explain what it does or what it is for, but it must be protected, and you are the only one we trust.

Put it someplace secure. Do not sell it. Do not flaunt it in front of your friends.

And whatever you do, no matter how much we beg, no matter what offers we try to make to you from this point on, you must never, ever, give it back to us. If you truly love and respect us as your parents, you will do this for us.

Study hard, and make the two of us proud. We hope to see you soon.

Love,


Mum and Dad


She read this crazed letter several times before she finally opened the package to see what her parents had sent her. And when she lifted it out of the box, a chill ran down her spine…

* * * * * * * * * *

Buneary watched, even though it was terrified. Darkness hadn’t seen it yet, but it was rooted to the spot in fear, and perhaps didn’t realize that Darkness likely wouldn’t care about it one way or the other.

It didn’t want to run either. On a small level, it knew that Starbuck was in trouble. It had been around Starbuck for so long, it now loved him very much, even though Starbuck didn’t seem to reciprocate any affection it showed him. It wondered if there was anything it could do to help, even though it could likely do nothing.

Darkness threw out another pokeball.

It opened, and a small Pokémon emerged.

Starbuck winced. It was a Ditto. And it had the same dark aura surrounding it.

“Ditto, Transform,” said Darkness.

Ditto glowed with energy, and started to change shape, turning into an exact copy of Hitmonlee.

“My Pokémon knows all of the moves yours does now,” said Darkness. “Just try to take it down.”

“Don’t worry, Starbuck!” shouted Lisa. “A Ditto can learn all the moves of its opponent, but it’s never as good at using them!”

Hitmonlee and Ditto faced each other, and took fighting stances, looking like two martial artists about to spar…

Then the blows started to exchange. Each Pokémon started throwing punches and kicks at the other, blocking their opponents’ blows in between throwing ones of their own. Their kicks became charged with fire at times, and their punches glowed with pure energy.

They paused and glared at each other for a second.

“Your Ditto has a major weakness,” said Starbuck. “It can only use Hitmonlee’s moves. Who knows a Hitmonlee’s moves better than a Hitmonlee? There’s nothing your Pokémon can do that can surprise mine.”

“Oh no?” said Darkness.

“Ditto, use Dark Triangle.”

The Ditto started to concentrate.

Dark Triangle? thought Starbuck, in shock. My Pokémon… can’t do that…

It’s another Stage Two move…

Then the fake Hitmonlee seemingly split into three Hitmonlee, which surrounded the real one. All of a sudden, Hitmonlee was assaulted by kicks from all sides, as the three Pokémon in one mercilessly assaulted it.

Then, all three kicked it at the same time, and Hitmonlee collapsed.

“Hitmonlee…” it groaned.

The three fake Hitmonlee fused into one, and took some deep breaths.

Strange… thought Starbuck.

He recalled Hitmonlee.

Ditto seems to be somewhat dizzy after doing that…

I have a feeling that these Stage Two moves are physically draining on the Pokémon who uses them. Clearly, each of these moves has a cost.

He looked at his pokeballs.

Ditto has the Limber ability, so Luxray would be a waste of time… And it’s a Normal Pokémon, so Dusknoir won’t work…

“I choose Donphan!” he shouted.

His pokeball opened, and Donphan leapt out. It stepped forward, causing the floor to tremble.

“Ditto, Transform again,” said Darkness.

The fake Hitmonlee shifted shape again, turning into a copy of Donphan this time.

Have to take this guy out before it manages another Dark Triangle, thought Starbuck. I just hope that one Stage Two move is a Pokémon’s bona fide limit.

“GO!” shouted Starbuck. “Giga Impact!”

“Donphan!” shouted the Pokémon.

It charged at its twin like a bull, glowing with pure energy, and struck it hard with its forehead. The fake Donphan screamed, and tumbled over, collapsing ten feet away.

“It may have taken the form of Donphan,” said Starbuck, “but it still had the Defense of a Ditto… In other words, like silly putty.”

“Very clever, Conrad,” said Darkness, recalling Ditto.

He threw out another pokeball.

Starbuck sighed as he saw what it was.

It was a Starmie.

That was trouble.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy’s dreams shifted again.

It was now three months after she had received that mysterious package from her parents. She had finally decided to do something. She was a bright little girl, after all.

She had told the matron that she was going to the movies. She hated lying, but what was she going to tell her? She wouldn’t have been allowed to go into town if she had said she wanted to go to the bank.

She hated banks, especially this one. It was a very old institution, and the inside was a large and cavernous structure. She shivered as she sat waiting for her turn, holding the package with its strange contents.

“May I help you, young lady?” said a voice.

Mandy nervously looked up, and saw the face of the elderly bank officer.

“Yes, hello,” she said. “Uhm, I believe I have a trust fund here…”

She handed him her ID card.

“Mmm-hmm,” he said, looking at it. “Yes, but you realize, you’re far too young to withdraw money from it.”

“Yes, I know,” said Mandy, “but I also know that it entitles me to certain… benefits that your institution provides.

“See, I’d like to… open a safe deposit box.”

The bank officer gave her an odd look.

“Mmm… Yes, I can do that…” he said, sitting down at his desk.

He started to type some information into his computer.

“Any specific type of box?”

“A secure one,” said Mandy.

“Hmm…” said the officer. “And how long do you intend to keep this box?”

Mandy sighed.

“I’m… not sure,” she said. “For as long as I’m able.”

The bank officer looked at her.

“That’s a pretty long time,” he said. “I know it’s none of my business, but what exactly could a young lady like you need to store that’s so important?”

“Something I’m supposed to protect,” said Mandy.

The officer didn’t ask any more questions. Like he said, it was really none of his business.

Fifteen minutes later, he led Mandy to the vault, where she placed the package in one of the hundreds of metal safes. He locked it shut, and set the digital combination lock. She was given a copy of the deposit form, and was on her way.

As she exited the bank, she felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders…

* * * * * * * * * *

Donphan sputtered, as the Hydro Pump from the Starmie drenched it.

“Donphan…” it growled, looking at the colored starfish.

Better use Donphan’s secret weapon before Starmie takes it out, thought Starbuck.

“Donphan, use Stealth Rock,” said Starbuck.

“Huh?” said Darkness.

Donphan glowed with energy, and the floor started to shake. Rocks started to tear from the concrete floor, and started to float in the air, moving slowly in a jumbled pattern.

“Smart,” said Shadow. “Now, each time Darkness sends out a new Pokémon, it’ll get clobbered. Like one free attack for Starbuck.”

“It might give Starbuck the initial advantage,” said Lisa. “But I have a feeling that Darkness may be saving his better Pokémon for later.”

“You fight well, Conrad,” said Darkness. “But you don’t realize one thing…”

He pointed, and another Hydro Pump hit Donphan. It sputtered angrily.

“My master may desire living sacrifices,” he said, “but I don’t need them. I am nourished by anger itself.

“Not only does the rage coming from my own Pokémon invigorate me, but so does that of yours. Your Pokémon have not escaped the Twisting any more than Mandy’s did. They may only be Stage One, but their anger still feeds me.

“And I find it delectable…”

“Yeah?” shouted Starbuck. “Eat this!

“Donphan, Giga Impact again!”

Donphan glowed, and charged at Starmie like he did before…

“Psychic attack!” shouted Darkness.

A wave of Psychic energy shot at Donphan, and Donphan screamed before collapsing in mid-stride.

“I also gain energy from the anger of humans,” said Darkness. “So be all means, lash out at me all you want. It whets my appetite!”

Starbuck recalled Donphan.

He’s right, he thought. More than likely, that was the mistake Mandy made…

He closed his eyes.

Have to be calm… As much as I want to strangle him, I have to be calm… I can’t sink to his level…

He threw another pokeball.



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“Dusknoir, go!” he shouted.

The spooky, ghostly evolution of Dusclops emerged, and let out a low moan.

“Get that Starmie!” ordered Starbuck. “Shadow Punch!”

Dusknoir flew at Starmie, and threw a punch that sent the Psychic toppling over.

“So you think you can beat my Psychic by using a Ghost?” asked Darkness. “Starmie, Dark Star.”

“Huh?” said Shadow.

Starmie glowed with the same dark energy, and a volley of stars of pure blackness shot out of its center like shuriken. Dusknoir screamed as they cut gashes across its ghostly flesh.

“Another Stage Two attack!” shouted Shadow.

This is getting out of hand… thought Starbuck.

He looked at Starmie.

Wait… Maybe instead of trying to prevent these Stage Two attacks… I should encourage them…

“Dusknoir, Future Sight,” he said.

Dusknoir glowed with energy, and its single eye glowed.

“You waste time with a time-release attack?” chuckled Darkness. “How do you know that I won’t be prepared for it by the time it kicks in?

“Use Dark Star again!”

The black stars shot at Dusknoir again, and the Ghost screamed in pain.

“That’s what I was waiting for, pal,” said Starbuck. “Dusknoir, hit that Starmie with Payback.”

“Oh… no…” said Darkness.

Dusknoir glowed with ghostly energy, and sped towards the Psychic, walloping it with a punch that had the force of its pain behind it. Starmie flew past its trainer, and crashed through the windshield of a parked car.

As Darkness recalled the Starmie, the car’s alarm went off.

Darkness sighed.

“Lovely…” he muttered.

He gestured, and the car glowed with a shadowy aura of energy…

Then it fell apart. The casing fell off, the insides spilled out, and the engine collapsed into a hundred pieces.

“Well…” said Lisa, staring at the wreck in disbelief. “That’s one way to deal with an annoying car alarm…”

“I never imagined that there were so many parts in one automobile…” said Shadow.

“Your master had best have the money to pay for that,” said Starbuck.

“What do I care?” said Darkness, taking another pokeball. “There’s one major benefit to having to possess humans in order to interact with others… Your host takes the rap for everything you do.”

“Okay buddy, that did it,” said Starbuck. “I’ve seen some sleazy trainers in my time. I knew one charming individual who purposely didn’t feed his Pokémon enough so they’d turn feral and be more ferocious.

“He’s dead now, by the way… His Pokémon eventually turned on him.

“But you… You’ve officially crossed the line to become the most vile thing I’ve ever met.”

“Why thank you,” said Darkness. “I do try to stand out above rest.”

He threw another pokeball.

“Go, Honchkrow!”

In a burst of energy, the large Flying Pokémon resembling a black falcon with a crest and a plume shaped like a hat appeared.

“Lovely…” muttered Starbuck.

Honchkrow squawked as it was buffeted by the stones from the Stealth Rock.

“Honchkrow…” it said, its eyes glowing with dark flames.

Okay… thought Starbuck. As if Stage Two didn’t make it mad enough…

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy’s dreams shifted.

She moved ahead several years. She was now fifteen. It was four PM on a Wednesday.

And she was doing the same thing she did at four PM every day, as well as seven AM every day, right before classes started. She was in the gymnasium of the boarding school, working out on a weight machine. Specifically, she was doing shoulder presses.

“Eighty-three…” she said, lifting the bar, “eighty-four…”

“Don’t you ever get tired of this?” asked a voice in front of her.

She paused and looked up, and saw Madelyn, a girl her age who she went to English class with. Clearly, she had just finished the aerobics class.

“Nope,” said Mandy. “Eighty-five… The key to surviving in life, Madelyn… eighty-six… is to be strong… In mind and in body.”

“Granted, Mandy,” said Madelyn, “but look at you! You have bigger muscles than most of the boys in our class.

“Word of advice, Mandy, boys don’t fall for girls that are more ripped than they are.”

“Ninety…” said Mandy.

She lowered the bar, and grabbed a towel.

“That’s because strong women threaten them, Madelyn,” she said, wiping her brow. “They’re comfortable around girls who are soft and innocent, because tradition says that the man is supposed to protect the woman. But when the roles are reversed, their manliness is threatened, and they don’t like it.

“And if men are threatened by me being strong, all the better…”

She sipped from a water bottle.

“Let me ask you this, Madelyn. If you could be any Pokémon at all, which one would you be?”

“Easy,” said Madelyn. “A Milotic…”

She sighed.

“The most beautiful Pokémon in the world… Trainers travel to the ends of the world hoping to catch a specimen of such divine beauty.”

“Uh huh,” said Mandy. “Interesting… As for me… I’d want to be Mewtwo.”

Madelyn looked at her.

“You want to be a psychotic, genetically created Pokémon that hates humans?” she asked.

Mandy chuckled, and stood up.

“No…” she said. “I want to be feared…”

She walked to the showers, leaving Madelyn staring in confusion.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Honchkrow, use Steel Wing!” shouted Darkness.

Honchkrow flew at Dusknoir, and the Ghost screamed again as its wing slashed across its chest.

“You’re already seeing a difference in this Honchkrow, right?” asked Darkness. “It’s a rare specimen that has the Super Luck ability, enabling it to land crippling hits far more often than most Pokémon.”

Shadow looked at Honchkrow.

Dusknoir doesn’t have many attacks that can hurt a Dark Type, he thought. And I just know that this guy has another Stage Two attack that I probably won’t like.

But I have to give it all I’ve got…

“Dusknoir, Night Shade!” he ordered.

As Honchkrow circled to make another attack, Dusknoir fired an inky blast of ghostly energy. Honchkrow let out a screech and landed, but did so on its feet.

“I’ve had enough of this Ghost,” said Darkness. “Honchkrow, use…

“Huh?”

Before he could finish his command, a ball of glowing, flaming, white-hot energy shot from behind Starbuck, and plowed into Honchkrow. The Flyer screamed.

“Oh, right…” muttered Starbuck. “The Future Sight… I forgot all about that…”

Honchkrow got up, looking incredibly angry.

“I guarantee that your Dusknoir is NOT going to forget this next move,” said Darkness.

“Here it comes…” muttered Shadow.

“Attack with Sky Attack!” shouted Darkness.

“Huh?” said Starbuck.

He had been expecting another attack that he had never heard of before. Sky Attack he had certainly heard of.

Of course, that did not make him feel relieved. He also knew that Sky Attack was the most powerful known Flying move.

Honchkrow glowed with energy, and it flew behind its trainer, flying out of the indoor parking lot.

“It’s leaving?” asked Shadow.

“It’s coming back…” replied Lisa.

“Dusknoir…” said the Ghost Pokemon, nervously.

It didn’t know what hit it. Honchkrow flew into the garage like a bolt of flame, slamming into Dusknoir and knocking it back towards its trainer.

Starbuck sighed, and recalled Dusknoir.

Score is tied, three to three, he thought. But I can take care of this bird…

He threw his fourth pokeball.

“Go, Luxray!” he shouted.

The pokeball opened, and the large electric wolf appeared. It snarled at Honchkrow.

“I’m through fooling around!” shouted Starbuck. “Thunderbolt!”

A bolt of pure electricity flashed from Luxray, and Honchkrow let out a bloodcurdling scream.

It fell to the ground, its feathers singed and its eyes glazed.

“Quoth the Raven, Nevermore,” said Starbuck.

“Funny,” said Darkness, as Honchkrow retreated to its pokeball. “A quote from the great American poet Edgar Allen Poe, if I’m not mistaken… Someone who is regarded as a great poet, because of his writings…

“Even though he was a failure at everything else… Squandered his inheritance, joined the army only to leave it by getting court-martialed on purpose, became an alcoholic and a drug user, and died miserable and broke.”

“What are you?” asked Lisa. “An expert on human misery?”

Darkness chuckled.

“Do you think my master causes rage in Pokémon merely because it brings him joy?” he asked. “Humans, my master not only causes rage, he has a lot of it himself. His anger is more than any that any human is capable of.

“And as you may think, he isn’t very happy because of it.”

“Mmm,” said Lisa. “So what did it have first? Fear? As a wise man once said, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering…”

Darkness chuckled.

“I have access to my host’s memory,” he said, “and I happen to know that the wise man who said that was Yoda in The Phantom Menace. Know this… Fear is one thing my master does not possess…

“But you will experience it when I take you to meet him…”

He held up another pokeball.

“I choose… Magnezone.”

The Pokémon that appeared was, to say the least, weird. It resembled nothing less than a miniature flying saucer, with an antenna on top, and two extensions on each side shaped like magnets that suggested arms.

The Stealth Rocks pelted it, and it shook a little, but it didn’t seem to be very hurt by them.

“What the heck?” said Shadow.

She took out her PokéDex.

“Magnezone,” it said. “The Magnet Area Pokémon. The evolved form of Magneton, it evolved from exposure to a special magnetic field. Three units generate magnetism.

“I have a college who witnessed a Magneton evolve into one of these things,” said Lisa. “Apparently, it only happens when a Magneton is in an area where there’s a great deal of natural magnetism.”

“Magnezone, use Lock-On,” said Darkness.

Magnezone glowed, and a glowing, red crosshairs appeared on Luxray. Luxray let out a confused growl.

Oh, no… thought Starbuck. If this thing is an evolved Magneton, and it’s using Lock-On, that can only mean one thing…

He’s planning to use Zap Cannon! That’s all I need… And since he used Lock-On, Luxray can’t dodge it…

“Luxray…” ordered Starbuck. “Use Charge Beam!”

“Luxray!” howled the Pokémon.

Its eyes glowed, and a beam of pure energy shot at Magnezone. It was pushed back in mid-air, and sparks flew from its metal casing.

“Attack!” shouted Darkness. “Thunder Rage!”

“Huh?” said Starbuck. “That’s not Zap…”

He stopped short. Darkness never intended to combine Lock-On with Zap Cannon…

He intended to combine it with this Pokémon’s Stage Two attack…

Magnezone glowed with purple flames, and what could best be described as a small thunderstorm started to erupt around it. Luxray slunk back in fear.

Luxray screamed as burning lightning hit it, and the smell of burning fur wafted through the air…

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy’s dreams shifted again. She was now sixteen. She was in the office of the dean of her school.

“Uhm, am I in trouble sir?” she asked.

“No, no,” said the dean. “It’s just that we’ve received a very unusual request…

“Apparently, the paperwork has been done. Someone is sponsoring your request for a Pokémon at the Opal Ridge Center.”

Mandy was more than a little surprised. She hadn’t put in a request. But she quickly knew who had.

“Anyway,” said the dean, “I also have train tickets for your trip there tomorrow morning.”

Mandy didn’t completely hear him. She was still in shock.

But she was excited too.

She was going to get a Pokémon… Her true dream was going to be realized… It would start tomorrow.

She sighed. She only wanted to know one thing… Where were her parents?

* * * * * * * * * *

“Luxray…” gasped Luxray, as it slowly got up. “Luxray…”

It glared at Magnezone and its master.

“Luxray…” it snarled.

“Angry?” asked Darkness. “Good… Now you’re starting to see the picture, Luxray…”

“What picture?” asked Starbuck.

“That anger shouldn’t be hidden,” said Darkness. “It should be let out! It releases us… It gives us the energy we need… The driving force that separates the strong from the weak!”

“That has to be the stupidest philosophy I have ever heard!” shouted Starbuck. “Do you realize how many wars in human history would have been prevented if two groups had simply talked things over like civilized people instead of screaming at each other?

“Anger is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Darkness, and your master is imposing it on the whole world. It’s a wonder why Arceus is trying to save us and not crushing us under his thumb!”

Darkness cringed. It looked like that last statement had hurt him severely.

“Do not ever speak that name in my presence…” he whispered.

“What name, Arceus?” said Starbuck.

Darkness cringed again.

“Do NOT say it again!” he said with a scowl.

Starbuck smiled.

“I think I will,” he said. “Arceus.”

Darkness scowled. Sweat poured down his face.

“Arceus,” said Starbuck again, causing Darkness to cringe again. “Arceus… You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think that there IS someone that you and your master are afraid of, so much that his very name is poison to you, and his name is Arceus.”

Darkness screamed…

“Starbuck…” said Shadow. “Maybe you should stop… That scream was not human!”

“Magnezone…” shouted Darkness, “use Explosion!”

“Magnezone…” said Magnezone, glowing with energy.

“Luxray…” said Luxray, in a frightened whisper.

This was enough for Buneary. It turned around, dropped to all fours, and ran away as fast as it could go.

Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa shielded themselves as a burst of pure energy tore through the whole garage. The Stealth Rocks were pulverized, and the windows of cars on each side shattered into little pieces of glass.

When Starbuck dared look, Luxray was lying flat and out cold, while Magnezone had fallen to the floor, dented, sparking, and with smoke pouring from it.

“Starbuck’s in the lead!” shouted Shadow. “Darkness got a little too angry. He has only has one Pokémon left, and Starbuck has two!”

“Uh, Shadow?” asked Lisa. “Don’t you remember what Leo’s strongest Pokémon is?”

Mom’s right, said Starbuck, looking at his two remaining pokeballs. I’ll go with what works best…

Both Starbuck and Darkness threw a pokeball out at the same time. Swampert appeared on Starbuck’s end, and the huge Rhyperior appeared on Darkness’s side.

“Time to finish this,” said Starbuck.

“Indeed,” said Darkness. “Rhyperior, Stone Edge.”

Rhyperior roared, and lifted its fist. Spikes sprouted over it, like a nasty mace.

It charged at Swampert, causing the floor to tremble.

“Hydro Pump!” shouted Starbuck.

Swampert got down on all fours, and blasted a stream of water from its jowls. Rhydon paused in mid-charge as it hit it, and roared even louder.

“Don’t you remember this Pokémon’s Solid Rock ability?” asked Darkness. “If a move is strong against its Type, the damage it does is reduced.”

“It still hurts him more than normal,” said Starbuck.

“True,” said Darkness. “And this next move will hurt your Pokémon much more than normal.

“Rhyperior… Dark Catastrophe.”

“What the…” said Starbuck.

He stopped. There was dead silence…

Rhyperior started to glow with dark energy…

“Everyone get down!” shouted Starbuck.

It came without warning. The floor was torn to bits as magma erupted out of it. Burning stones erupted out of the floor. Starbuck and his allies shielded himself as the Stage Two attack plowed into Swampert without mercy…

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy still slept. No force could awaken her while the battle was in progress.

The scene in her dreams shifted to her at age seventeen, one year later. She was in the hills outside of Hearthorne City in Sinnoh. It was ten PM.

A huge Onix roared, but it was clearly on its last legs. And it was Mandy’s best chance. She threw her Great Ball, and the huge Pokémon was drawn inside it.

She watched as the Ball shook, once, twice…

…three times…

It stopped. Mandy smiled and picked it up.

“Gotcha,” she said.

“And a very good one, I might add,” said a voice.

She looked up, and saw a young girl about her age perched on a crag above her. The girl’s clothes were ragged and torn, her face was dirty, and her hair was unkempt. But she still had a bandoleer of pokeballs and a traveling satchel.

“Jessica?” asked Mandy. “You out hunting too?”

“Not really, Mandy,” she said, “I have bigger plans than trying to catch the elusive shiny Noctowl now.”

She leapt down.

“You remember how I said, one day when my ship comes in, I’m going to start something big? Well, my ship has come in. And once I finally spend some money on some decent clothes, I’m going to start it.”

“So what is this big thing?” asked Mandy.

“Something I want you to be a part of, old friend,” said Jessica, putting her arms on Mandy’s shoulders. “I need someone with strong arms for this plan to work, and the Queen of the Battle Girls doesn’t get any stronger.

“Come with me, Mandy. We’ll have to accept the Center’s hospitality tonight, but starting tomorrow, we’ll stay in Hearthorne’s best hotel and eat at the local five star. We’ll live like princesses from now on.”

“And where did you get so much money?” asked Mandy.

Jessica chuckled.

“We can thank Hunter Jay,” she said. “And I intend to… If she ever gets out of prison…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck slowly crawled to his feet…

The whole lower floor of the parking garage had been turned to a burned-out ruin. Swampert was lying on the floor, covered with soot and ash. Rhyperior was not in the best of shape either. It was clutching its chest and taking deep breaths. Clearly, such a devastating move had come with a severe price.

“Officer Jenny is never around when you really need her…” he muttered, looking at his foe. “What do we have to do to get her to notice, burn this place to the ground?”

“Do you really want me to?” asked Darkness. “Doesn’t really matter to me if I take you two to the master dead or alive, after all…”

Starbuck pointed his pokeball, and Swampert retreated into it.

“Keep smiling like that…” he said.

One Pokémon left… he thought. This had better do it…

He threw his last pokeball. It slowly opened…

Blaziken emerged. It assumed a fighting stance.

Its eyes narrowed as it looked at its opponent.

“Blaziken…” it said.

“Rhyperior…” growled the Rhyperior.

Darkness chuckled.

“My, my…” he said. “I do believe that these two know each other…

“Yes… My host’s memory tells me that these two Pokémon fought each other before… And Blaziken came out the loser.”

“And now it’s time for a rematch…” said Starbuck.

He turned to Blaziken.

“You sure you’re up to this, pal?” he asked.

“Blaziken,” said the Pokémon, nodding.

“Then let’s end this right now,” said Starbuck.

“Get him! Brick Break!”

“Stone Edge!” shouted Darkness.

The two Pokémon charged at each other, Rhyperior lifting its fist…

Then Blaziken leapt into the air with legs far more agile than any Rock/Ground Type could possess. Rhyperior stopped short, only to be stunned as Blaziken landed fists-first, pummeling the Goliath with a rapid flurry of chops.

Rhyperior groaned and took a step backwards.

“Odd…” said Darkness. “Blaziken is clearly angry… But its anger… It’s diluted… Stale… I don’t like it at all… It’s…

“No…

“Your Blaziken! It’s protected!”

“Huh?” said Shadow.

Starbuck looked at him.

He crossed his arms.

“If by that, you mean, it isn’t Twisted, yes,” said Starbuck. “Never has, and I’ve had it longer than any other Pokémon.

“And you don’t seem to like that… I wonder why… Can it be that Pokémon who have resisted your master’s influence are… a threat?

“After all, most folks who have studied the Twisting believe that a Pokémon can resist it if it is raised from birth by loving, caring humans. If a Pokémon understands love, maybe this cursed source of rage sees it as a threat.”

“I’m not afraid of your Pokémon,” said Darkness. “Love is a gentle emotion, and is no match for a violent one.

“Rhyperior… Kill it…”

Rhyperior’s eyes glowed.

“Heh, you just proved my theory true, Darkness!” laughed Starbuck.

Rhyperior lunged at Blaziken, and slammed its fist downward, causing the floor to tremble. But Blaziken leapt out of the way, doing a backflip and landing on its feet.

“I won’t be defeated!” shouted Darkness. “Rhyperior, use Rock Wrecker!”

“No!” shouted Lisa. “That’s exactly how this thing beat Blaziken before!”

Just like last time, Rhyperior glowed with green energy, and its right fist grew to twice its size, becoming more like a boulder than a fist. It lunged at Blaziken again, and threw a punch at its face…

Then Blaziken threw a punch of its own, which collided with Rhyperior’s fist. The boulder shattered into shards of rock.

Rhyperior screamed in agony, and then started sucking on its injured hand.

“Let’s take this home, Blaziken. Send him back to the Twisting with Sky Uppercut!”

“Blaziken…” growled the Pokémon, crouching down.

It shot upward, socking Rhyperior on the chin on the way up.

Rhyperior stood still for a minute. It’s eyes appeared glazed…

And then, it fell on its back with a crash, making a crater in the floor.

Starbuck took a deep breath.

Then he looked at Darkness, who was glowing with black energy, and convulsing.

“I lost…” he said.

He fell to his knees.

“But you won’t win, humans…” he said. “Your victory is only temporary… Like rage itself, you can drive me away, but my master’s power can’t be quelled. You can’t kill a concept any more than you can stop night from falling.

“It will appear again, wearing a different guise… And in a different skin…”

Then Leo Solsby’s body collapsed to the ground.

The crystal imprisoning Mandy shattered into little pieces.

She shot up, as if waking up from a very unpleasant dream.

“Who!” she shouted. “What! Where!”

“Well,” said Shadow, offering her a hand. “That leaves How, When, and Why…”

“What happened?” asked Mandy.

She saw Leo.

“Wait, now I remember… Leo went crazy… He beat me…”

Starbuck felt Leo’s pulse.

“I’ll explain later,” he said. “For now, Leo is alive, at least. I’m calling the hospital.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Two hours later, Starbuck, Shadow, Lisa, and Mandy were back in the Pokémon Center, and Starbuck was on the phone.

“Right, Jenny, okay,” said Starbuck.

“Leo is awake, and incredibly scared,” he said, putting the phone away, “but he’s expected to recover.”

“So much…” said Shadow. “So much… evil…

“Maybe we should just cut our losses and quits.”

“That’s the last thing we should do,” said Starbuck.

“Huh?” said Shadow. “But…”

“Listen, Shadow,” said Starbuck, “you heard what that thing said… The Twisting as we know it is only a prelude.

“We have no idea when Stage Two will start happening to regular Pokémon. When it does, Pokémon will be even more savage, and more lethal than ever.

“And then what? For all we know, there may even be a Stage Three after that!

“It’s time we face facts… This is not a simple case of the natural order becoming undone. The Twisting is being caused on purpose, and the most likely motive is world domination!

“There is no way we are going to stop now… We are going to find all the Plates. We are going to find Arceus. If anyone knows how to stop the madness, he does!”

Starbuck sat down.

“And we have to watch our backs…” he said. “Darkness was defeated, but he said that he was one of three…

“Somewhere out there, Destruction and Death are waiting, ready to strike, and they could come in practically any form…”

He turned to Mandy.

“Mandy, your parents are in Canalave City,” he said with a sigh.

“Really?!” she said, getting up.

“Wait…” said Starbuck. “I know you probably want to go buy a ticket for the next boat to Sinnoh, but I have a small question first… Think carefully…

“Do you know anything about something called a Heaven’s Pipe?”

Mandy gave him a strange look.

“A Heaven’s Pipe?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Starbuck.

“Uhm…” said Mandy. “A Heaven’s Pipe…”

She looked at him for a minute.

Then she asked a question.

“Can you guys give me a week?”

* * * * * * * * * *

Coming up next:

The quest continues, as the trio leaves for Starmie Beach in search of the Zap Plate. But they’ll have an unexpected ally in their quest… Major Jane? What the…

Seeing will be believing. It’s all coming soon.

[Dark Sage]

Before I go, I will list the information for the new attacks used in this chapter, which will from now on be referred to as Stage Two Attacks.

Any writer is free to use them in his own Pokémon fic. Keep in mind though, they are very powerful, and a Pokémon should not learn them without some special method being used to teach them to it, either supernatural help, as was the case in this chapter, or training methods that are known only to a select few (and guarded jealously).

If you want to create Stage Two attacks of your own, use these as guidelines. Keep in mind, they always come with a cost, as do most dark powers.


ICE CLAW: Type: Ice; Cat.: Physical; Att.: 150; Acc.: 80; PP: 5

Always strikes first. May fail if used more than once in succession.


DARK TRIANGLE: Type: Normal; Cat.: Other; Att.: - ; Acc.: - ; PP: 5

User’s attack hits three times during the next round. Then, user becomes Confused.


DARK STAR: Type: Dark; Cat.: Special; Att.: 80; Acc.: 90; PP: 5

Strikes 2 to 5 times. If successful, opponent’s Sp. Attack rises one stage.


THUNDER RAGE: Type: Electric; Cat.: Special; Att.: 200; Acc.: 60; PP: 5 Effect%: 30

Has a chance of Paralyzing opponent. User takes recoil damage.


DARK CATASTROPHE: Type: Ground; Cat.: Physical; Att.: 250; Acc.: 100; PP: 5

User’s Defense and Sp. Defense are lowered two stages.

[Shuppet Master]

Wow, that's... awesome. O_O

I read it out loud and thought it was just amazing. It seems that the Twisting has now played its hand and thrown the gauntlet down, and these three are in it for the long haul.

I know you don't like updating this fanfic too often, but again, don't neglect it. I have a feeling I know who the Zap Plate's Guardian is.

[Dark Sage]

I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter up. Let’s hope the next one doesn’t take as long as this one did.



I don’t trust the military. Come to think of it, I don’t trust anything that’s controlled by the government. My father was the same way. He hated paying taxes, knowing that the money he was giving them would likely be used for some program he didn’t agree with.

I was quite surprised when Major Jane showed up out of the blue and said she wanted to help on this leg of our journey. She says her CO told her to do it, and she’s just following orders.

Sorry, Jane, but I won’t fall for that. You can come if you want… But you’re walking in front of me… And maybe once this is over, I can convince you to tell me just what the whole deal is, and why the army is so interested in these Plates. I’m a taxpayer too, after all… I have a right to know where my money is going…

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN



Alliance

It was eight AM, one day after the brutal fight with Darkness.

Leo grunted.

“Come on, Mr. Solsby,” said the nurse, who was trying to feed him. “You have to eat something. Try to keep an open mind.”

“My mind IS open,” muttered Leo. “It’s my mouth that’s closed.”

“He’s a big man,” said a voice from the door. “He doesn’t eat cream of wheat.”

Leo turned and saw Jessica.

“Oh, thank goodness,” he muttered.

“Leo, what the heck are you doing in bed?” asked Jessica. “We’ve got a new crisis on our hands.”

“You seem pretty angry,” replied Leo.

“Of course I’m angry!” shouted Jessica. “I just got off the phone with my health insurance company. Our policy doesn’t cover injuries caused by demonic possession.”

“I’ll leave you two alone…” said the nurse, getting up.

“You’d better be on your feet soon,” said Jessica. “With or without Mandy, we’re planning our next step, and planning the expedition to find two more things we need.”

“So where are we going, dare I ask?” asked Leo, leaning his head on his hand.

“It has to be some place that’s a major focus of Arceus’s power,” replied Jessica. “The Spear Pillar in Sinnoh is an example, but we don’t have the resources to make a trip there.

“However, the Ruins of Zalesia in the Spires will serve that purpose nicely.”

“The Spires…” muttered Leo. “A range of barren, foreboding mountains, full of dangerous Pokémon who don’t like visitors… I can’t wait… Just what purpose did these Ruins originally serve, anyway?”

“Like most structures in the Spires, no-one is certain,” said Jessica. “But a long time ago, a cabal of foolish wizards were able to summon something that we wanted to summon using the energies of the place.”

“Let me guess,” sighed Leo. “They couldn’t control it, and it killed them.”

“Well…” muttered Jessica. “Everyone assumes it killed them. But they, quite simply, were foolish, and had no understanding of its power.

“We will have understanding of their power, and we’ll have the Nexus Rod that Kitsune got for us, so we’ll have a better chance.

“Anyway, the party so far will consist of myself, you, and Kitsune. I need three others, and I’d like some recommendations.”

Leo sighed.

“Fine…” he said. “Just pull some strings to get me out of this hospital, okay? The place smells like my grandmother!”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Chansey, Chansey…”

The Chansey gleefully placed a large plate of waffles on the table where Starbuck was going over some notes with Shadow and his mother.

“Thanks,” said Starbuck. “That will be all for now.”

He looked over the notes they had got from the two monks. They had decided that their best bet was to continue searching for the Plates, and were planning their next move. Mandy had left, after they had exchanged cell phone numbers, and she had promised to call within a week, and would do so before booking a trip to Sinnoh.

“Let’s see,” he said. “They said that the Zap Plate was in some temple in the mountains outside Starmie Beach…”

He turned to a map on the table.

“A temple does exist there, or rather the ruins of one. Trainers who go there often find Electric Pokémon, such as Elekid, Electrike, and even, on occasion, Pikachu.”

“One would think that if more powerful Electric Pokémon lived there, someone would have found them by now,” said Shadow.

“Well,” said Lisa, “temples tend to have inner sanctums. Maybe they missed a nook somewhere.”

“Mmm…” said Starbuck, continuing reading the notes. “They said that in order to find the Mind Plate, we have to go to this hotel in Nutmeg City and spend the night…

“I checked out this hotel. It has quite a reputation. People who sleep there claim they get more rest than they normally get away from home.”

“Kinda creepy,” replied Starbuck.

“Now, to get the Dread Plate, we first need to have found the Insect and Grass Plates…” continued Starbuck, “which we have, and then go back to one of the places where we found them…”

“I do NOT wanna go back to Darcaven!” exclaimed Shadow.

“Then we’ll plan to go back to Lord Gilette’s mansion in Bunglewood,” replied Starbuck. “And we’ll take some Pokémon to use to fight off Roserade and its Roselia once we get there.

“For now… The most straightforward course of action would be to find this temple outside of Starmie Beach.”

Shadow and Lisa looked at him.

“I’ll find out when the next train leaves for there,” said Lisa. “In the meantime, let’s stock up on Ground Pokémon…”

None of them noticed the listening device planted under their table, which was transmitting everything they said to someone who was parked in a vehicle outside.

Major Jane was listening, and as she was, she quickly dialed a number on a cell phone.

“Yeah, it’s me,” she said, as someone answered. “I know where they’re heading next…”

* * * * * * * * * *

One hour later, Jessica was in her office, looking over some papers.

Not gonna be the easiest job in the world, she thought. But maybe we can…

Her speaker buzzed.

“Jessica?” said a voice. “General Volmer is here.”

“Ask him what he wants,” she said with a scowl. “I’m busy.”

Then the door to her office opened, and someone walked in, looking very angry.

He was a tall man, about sixty years old, who had no more hair on his head than an egg did. He was dressed in a formal military uniform, the single star on his shoulders indicating the rank of Brigadier General.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Jessica,” he growled. “I will not speak to you through your secretary!”

Jessica looked at him and her eyes narrowed.

“I’d have you hauled away by security for barging into my office, Volmer,” she said, “if you weren’t working for me. Sit down!”

Volmer growled. He sat down.

“How’s the project going, General?” she asked.

“Terrible!” he shouted. “My superiors keep asking to see results! If it doesn’t produce some soon, my funding is going to be cut off!

“When are you going to deliver what I need to make this project a grand success?”

“I do not have the resources to give you hourly reports, General,” said Jessica. “You are just going to have to have patience.”

“Damn it!” shouted the General, standing up. “I don’t know why I put up with a disrespectful civilian like you!”

Jessica smiled and got up.

“Oh, you don’t, do you?” she asked. “I think I know why… It’s because five years ago, your department made a mistake, and some important, top-secret material fell into the hands of a terrorist group. A Captain working under you was found to be responsible… The poor guy was court-marshaled, reduced in rank, and dishonorably discharged…

“But… Last year, I uncovered documents that prove that you were the one responsible, and you planted phony evidence to frame that poor guy so you wouldn’t be caught.

“Now do you remember why you put up with me, Maxie?”

Volmer sat down.

He was angry, of course. Few people would dare address him by his first name, let alone “Maxie”. But if she gave his superiors the documents that she had found…

“You have any idea what they do to crooked Generals in military prison, Maxie?” she asked. “Unless you want to find out, we’re playing by my rules. I don’t care what you did to earn that dumb costume you’re wearing, but you do what I say.

“Now, unless you have something useful to tell me, get the Hell out of my office.”

Volmer paused.

He did have one bit of useful news, but he decided not to tell Daala about it just yet.

In fact, maybe it was time for a change of plans.

“No…” he said. “I have nothing to report… I’ll be leaving. Good day.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Once outside, Volmer leaned against the wall. He seethed with rage.

She had insulted his uniform. You do NOT insult a military man’s uniform! An officer would not even insult an enlisted man’s uniform! Anyone in the military knew that it was an insult that just hurt too much.

For a moment, he thought of turning himself in. It wasn’t the first time he considered doing so. It might be a better option than being blackmailed by this bitch for the rest of his career.

But he wasn’t going to yet. Before he did, he was going to take her down too, and do it the only way he could.

She had told him to do all he could to keep the Conrad kid from getting the Plates. Well, what he was planning to do right now was technically something he could not do. It was against regulations and he knew it.

But… There was one thing he could do that he could claim was being done for research and investigation for a project that had been formally approved. He wouldn’t have to break any regulations…

He’d simply have to bend a few.

He started dialing his cell phone.

“Major Jane?” he said.

“Jane here,” said Jane’s voice on the other end. “My men and I are ready to ambush them.”

“Forget that,” said Volmer. “Listen. I’m changing the plan.”

“Sir?” asked Jane.

“Give all your men a twenty-four hour leave,” said Volmer. “Just tell them not to leave the vicinity of Starmie Beach.

“You have Pokémon, I assume?”

“Of course,” said Jane.

“When Conrad and his mother show up…” said Volmer.

He paused. He took some deep breaths.

“Offer to assist them.”

“Sir?” exclaimed Jane. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly serious, and that’s an order,” said Volmer. “If he accepts, assist him to the best of your ability. And take some detailed notes so they’ll believe it was done for investigative purposes.

“That is all.”

Major Jane was dumbstruck as he hung up. She didn’t know what was going on.

Still, she liked to consider herself a good soldier… And when you were a good soldier, it wasn’t your place to question an order…

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy felt quite out of place.

She was in a bank, a very formal institution. It wasn’t exactly the place where someone wearing the very informal outfit of a Battle Girl was comfortable. Still, she was used to the curious stares. Other trainers tended to look down on Battle Girls, thinking them brutal and uncultured.

Well, it was a stereotype. And like most stereotypes, it was true for some, but not all. Mandy had learned a long time ago to take the looks with a grain of salt.

She kept looking over her shoulder. She knew there was still a bounty on her head. If she wasn’t a criminal herself, she might have gone to the cops. Even if she had the nerve to do so, it might not have made a difference. Criminals as powerful as Jessica owned cops. And she had no doubt that some of the ones in her pocket would love to collect that bounty just as much as any member of Rocket.

“May I help you, ma’am?” said the female bank officer.

“Uhm, yes,” said Mandy, nervously. “I have an account here… Here’s my bank card…”

She showed it to the officer.

“I’d uh… I’d like to reclaim something that I put in my safe deposit box.”

“One minute,” said the officer.

She typed in Mandy’s PIN on her computer.

“My…” she said. “It’s been a long time since you put anything in this box…”

Mandy nodded.

“Well, the box is still there, I’m sure… Right this way…”

She led Mandy into the vault, a place she had not been to since she was ten years old. But she remembered that day plainly. She quickly punched the combination into the digital lock, a combination she had spent a whole afternoon memorizing, until it was branded into her mind.

She opened the safe, and lifted out a parcel. The airtight safe had kept it free of dust and moisture, leaving it in perfect condition.

After saying “thank you”, she ran out of the bank, stopped at the nearest park bench and sat down. After making sure no enemies were watching, she tore open the tape holding the parcel shut. Inside, the contents were carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, which was held together with packing tape. She carefully unwrapped it.

Then she looked at the strange item… The weird… thing that her parents had sent her, told her to protect, and implored her never to give back to them.

At that moment, she felt the same chill she felt when she saw it for the first time, when she was ten. This thing scared her.

She had never been able to figure out its purpose. It was a pipe or a flute of some sort, with a mouthpiece connected to a short, thick, blunt bore, with several small tubes protruding from it. It seemed to be made of a ceramic material, colored sky blue, with odd runes that were a different shade of blue. No sound had ever come out of it when she had tried to blow into the mouthpiece.

“Heaven’s Pipe, huh?” she muttered. “So that’s what you are…”

She sighed.

“Mum and dad’s letter told me never to sell it…” she thought. “But they didn’t say I could never give it to someone who figured out what the Hell it was for…”

She really didn’t care what it was for, to tell the truth. It was creepy, and learning its name had just made it creepier. She had to admit, she was tempted to give it to Starbuck, if only to get the damn thing out of her life forever…

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck and his two partners had gotten off the train, not knowing that their ever-present shadow was still on their trail. The Buneary had hopped on when they had gotten on board, and hopped off when they disembarked.

Starmie Beach didn’t see much activity this time of year. In the summer, the beaches were full of sunbathers, swimmers, surfers, and other beachcombers, but this was not the right season.

After asking around for about an hour, they got the directions they needed from a souvenir salesman:

“Take the old dirt road that leads into the foothills, and keep following it. Eventually, it will wind its way up Mt. Roan. The temple is about halfway up, around the third bend. I hope you’re in the mood for a hike.”

With those encouraging words in their heads, they started out of town. The outskirts were pretty rocky and dusty, without much to see except the tall mountains in front of them.

They were startled to hear a horn honk behind them.

“Oh, what’s your problem?” shouted Shadow, as they turned around.

They were startled to see that it was an all-terrain army jeep, and Major Jane was driving it.

She looked at them for a minute or two.

“Need a lift?” she asked.

Starbuck glared at her.

“We’re not going where you’re going Jane,” he said.

“You’re going to the temple to find the Zap Plate, right?” asked Jane. “Well, you want me to take you there?”

“What’s the catch, Jane?” demanded Starbuck.

Jane sighed.

“Conrad,” she said, “the temple is four miles uphill. Do you want to hike there, or do you want me to drive you there? My way is much easier, I assure you.”

“We don’t trust you,” said Lisa.

Jane sighed again.

“Okay, let’s get some things straight,” she said. “I don’t like you, you don’t like me. You’ve stated that you don’t like the military, and frankly, I don’t like civilians much.

“But, for some reason, my CO wants me to assist you. So that’s what I’m gonna at least try to do.”

Starbuck looked at Shadow and his mother.

“Do not turn your back to her,” he warned.

“Okay, Jane, fine. We’ll go along for now… But no tricks.”

They climbed into the jeep.

“Watch the rifle that’s back there,” said Jane.

This last statement made Starbuck jump. There was indeed a rifle leaning against the back seat.

“Don’t worry, it’s not loaded,” assured Jane. “I got the clips right here.”

She held up a magazine clip.

As she started up the vehicle, the Buneary leapt onto the back and held on. They started to drive up the mountain.

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck had to admit, the ride was welcome. A trip that likely would have taken all day took only half an hour.

The ruined temple stood silently beside the mountain path. It was made of an odd white stone (which certainly was not part of the geological makeup of the Starmie Beach area) and was half fallen down. Strange runes were carved on the walls, and a prevalent image was a symbol that suggested lightning bolts.

“So who built this temple?” asked Shadow.

“It was here long before there was a written language in this area,” said Lisa. “Several cultures used it to worship various nature spirits… Always ones that had something to do with weather in some form or another. Electric Pokémon of all kinds have been known to be seen here at one time or another… In fact, one record says that Zapdos was seen here once, and another says that Raikou was spotted here.”

“Maybe one of them will show up again,” muttered Jane, “and we can get its autograph.”

She got out of her seat.

“Let’s go.”

Starbuck noticed that Jane was leaving her weapon behind.

“You’re going in there unarmed?” he asked.

Jane chuckled.

“Conrad,” she said, “this place is protected by Arceus’s power. And as you know, their security has been beefed up. Bringing modern weapons in there is the divine equivalent of taking a knife to a gunfight…”

She adjusted her pokeball bandoleer.

“There’s only one way to deal with these creatures…”

Walking into the deserted, ruined temple was like walking into a great tomb. There was no sign of life… Only the broken remains of architecture that had perhaps once been beautiful, and the odd runes covering the walls, which were supported by arches.

“I still say that if anything powerful was here, someone would have found it by now,” said Shadow.

“Everyone who’s come here so far has done so hoping to bag a Pikachu,” replied Jane. “Most folks who make the hike are just young trainers with dreams. They aren’t trained to notice small things that might lead to big things…

“And I already notice one.”

She pointed to a pillar that was against the wall.

“So what’s so special about a pillar?” asked Shadow.

Jane walked up to it.

“Study it closely,” said Jane, “and then study the surrounding wall. You’d notice first that this pillar serves no structural purpose, as the ceiling is held up by the arches. In fact, this pillar doesn’t even reach all the way to the ceiling.”

The three of them looked up. It was true.

“So then it’s concealing something,” said Starbuck. “And there might be a secret lever or catch nearby that would move it aside and open a trapdoor of some sort?”

Jane looked at the pillar.

Then she gave it a shove, and it tipped over, revealing an opening underneath.

“Or perhaps something even simpler,” she said, looking down.

They looked down. A steel ladder led down into a dark basement.

“You first, Major,” said Starbuck.

Jane sighed.

“As you wish,” she said.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lisa stepped off the ladder last, and they looked around the basement corridor.

She opened her pokeball, and Ampharos emerged. It bleated, and its Flash illuminated the dark hallway.

“You’d think Electric Pokémon would live above ground,” said Shadow. “Closer to the sky, where they could gain energy from storms.”

“Maybe the temple isn’t all natural stone,” said Lisa. “It might have some enchantments in it, making it a sort of enchanted lightning rod. For all we know, the temple might even have once been an ancient generator of sorts, feeding energy to the Pokémon that lived here.”

“It was,” said a voice.

“Huh?” said Jane, as they looked down the corridor.

The voice was cheery, male, and had a slight accent.

“Yes, just follow my voice,” it said. “I’ve been expecting you…”

They walked down the corridor, slowly and carefully. As they did, they heard other voices coming from ahead. Small, high-pitched voices.

They walked into the chamber, and saw about a dozen small Pokémon. They were each about two feet high, yellow, with jagged black stripes on their bodies, which were capsule shaped. On the top of their “heads” were horn-like protrusions shaped like outlet plugs.

“Elekid,” said one of them.

“Elekid!” said the others.

“A swarm of Elekid!” gasped Shadow. “I’ve never seen so many of them in one place before!”

“I have,” said Lisa. “The breeder who sent me my Chimchar once had a mated pair of Electabuzz, and they had a great many offspring that he…”

“Uh, guys?” said Starbuck.

He pointed up, towards a very large, and very beautiful mural on the wall.

It depicted a cosmic scene, full of planets, moons, and stars. In the center of the scene was a large, majestic Pokémon that was clearly Arceus.

Below him to his left and right were two other impressive Pokémon. Both appeared to be Dragons of some sort, that appeared to be sculpted out of metal. The one to his left was blue, stood on four legs, and had sharp spires all over its body. The one to his right was purple, stood on two legs, had two arms, had a streamlined head, and a long tail.

“I know those Pokémon!” exclaimed Lisa.

She quickly took out her journal and skimmed through it.

“Dialga and Palkia…” she said. “Two Pokémon representing the concepts of Space and Time. Arceus was said to be their sire.”

“Really?” asked Jane. “Which one is which?”

“Uhm…” said Lisa.

“Before she could answer, a door below the mural built into the stone opened, rotating. It made a complete turn, revealing an alcove with a throne.

Sitting on the throne was another Pokémon. It at first resembled a big Electabuzz, but more muscular and shaggier. It had a rounded head with two short antennae, and two upward-pointing tails growing out of its back.



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“What is that?” asked Shadow.

“It’s an Electivire,” muttered Jane. “The rarely-seen evolution of Electabuzz, and a very powerful Electric Pokémon. It first became well-known when Gary Oak used one at…”

“Ah-hem!” said the Pokémon, standing up.

It looked at her and crossed its arms.

“You seem very smart,” it said. “Despite the common joke that the term ‘military intelligence’ is an oxymoron. A pity that you are not supposed to be here.

“Only those whom Arceus has chosen are allowed into the sanctums of the Guardians. Known enemies definitely aren’t. You seem to have conned them into letting them in here.”

“Enemies?” asked Starbuck, turning to Jane.

“I didn’t force them,” said Jane, nervously.

“Perhaps Starbuck and his partners would like to know of your CO’s previous orders,” said Electivire.

“Wait, don’t…” replied Jane, nervously. “They really don’t need to know that…”

Electivire raised its eyebrow.

“In that case, Major,” it said, “perhaps I’ll give the Zap Plate to Starbuck for free…”

“Seriously?” shouted Starbuck.

“Yes, seriously,” said Electivire. “But before I do, there will be a battle…”

He pointed to Jane.

“ME?” said Jane, stepping backwards.

“You’ll either agree to it, Major, or I’ll tell them everything,” said Electivire. “In fact, I even know things about your CO that you don’t. Things that would cause scandals so vile, that your whole family will be ashamed to associate themselves with the military…”

Jane looked it in the eye.

“I don’t respond to threats…” she sneered. “And I think you’re bluffing…”

Electivire crossed his arms.

“Starbuck,” it said, “her family is working under Brigadier General Maxwell R. Volmer, who works in an R&D department at Fort Glade. Five years ago…”

“ALL RIGHT!” screamed Jane. “So you weren’t bluffing!”

She hung her head.

She hadn’t expected this. All her adult life, she had been taught that military secrets were safe. Who could eavesdrop on closed doors in top-secret military compounds when the army’s most vital plans were being made?

Apparently, Arceus could. It was her own fault for doubting that he could. Arceus was an honest-to-goodness deity. Barriers constructed by mortals could not conceal things from him. He likely knew about Volmer’s plan as soon as his mind conceived it.

“You have little control over civilians,” said Electivire, “and practically none over the servants of Arceus. We know your plans, and we don’t like them.”

“Fine,” muttered Jane. “If you keep quiet, I’ll battle you…”

“Jane…” cautioned Lisa. “You sure you’d rather not let him tell us? You do realize it will be a Dare?”

“You think that scares me?” asked Jane. “Pokémon Dares originated in the army. Soldiers used them to prove how tough they were.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Electivire.

Sparks enveloped its hand, and three pokeballs appeared on it.

“Choose your first Pokémon, and hope it’s a strong one.”

“This is a no-brainer, fellah,” said Jane, taking one of the pokeballs off her belt.

She threw it.

“Go, Golem!”

The pokeball burst open, and one of the most familiar powerhouses of the Pokémon world appeared. More a spherical boulder with arms, legs, and a face than anything else, it stood six feet tall, more than the average Golem.

Electivire chuckled.

“And I’m supposed to be scared because you came with a Ground Pokémon?” it said. “I’m well-prepared for such things…”

It threw a pokeball of its own.

“Go, Lanturn.”

In a shower of sparks, a much smaller Pokémon appeared. This one looked like dolphin of some sort, with a single antenna on its head, topped with a glowing, golden orb.

“Crap…” muttered Jane.

“An Electric/Water Hybrid,” said Shadow. “That IS pretty prepared.”

“Lanturn, Aqua Ring,” ordered Electivire.

Lanturn glowed, and a veil of water surrounded it.

“What does that do?” asked Starbuck.

“It lets Lanturn heal itself gradually,” said Lisa. “Not many Pokémon can use it.”

“Your Pokémon may be part Water,” said Jane, “but it’s still part Electric! Golem, Earthquake!”

The Elekid in the temple ran for cover as Golem slammed its fist into the ground, shaking the whole room. Lanturn screamed in pain as the shockwaves ripped through it…

But then, debris started to rain from the ceiling, and cracks started to form on the walls.

“JANE!” shouted Starbuck. “Are you out of your mind? Using Earthquake underground? You’ll kill all of us!”

Electivire grinned.

“Heh…” chuckled Jane, nervously. “I, uhm… Didn’t think of that…”

She looked at her opponent.

But Electivire clearly did, she thought. It knows that Earthquake is a devastating attack against Electric Pokémon… So it purposely made the arena underground to discourage trainers from using it!

This guy is smart…

Lanturn picked itself up, and the Aqua Ring glowed with energy.

“Hydro Pump,” ordered Electivire.

Lanturn opened its mouth, and shot a powerful blast of water at Golem. It would have been very hard for it to miss a target that big, and it didn’t. Golem sputtered, and took three steps backwards.

“Crud…” muttered Starbuck. “That really hurt it.”

“Uh, Starbuck?” asked Shadow. “Why do you care? Why do you want Jane to win? We’ll get the Plate either way, and it would serve her right is she loses.”

“True,” said Starbuck. “However, if she loses, she has to take the penalty for losing the Dare, which might hurt her badly.”

“So?” asked Shadow. “She doesn’t deserve it?”

“Well, yeah, she does,” replied Starbuck. “However, if that happens, we lost our ride back to town…

“AND, we also lost any chances of getting some answers from her once this is over. So I suggest we support her so that becomes possible.”

Jane grit her teeth.

Maybe I’ll surrender and accept the penalty now… she thought.

She paused.

No, damn it, NO! Having to do this is humiliating enough. If I can’t win, I’ll lose the pride I have left…

Curse you, Volmer…

“Golem, Double-Edge!” she shouted.

Golem charged, ramming into Lanturn with its shoulder. Lanturn shrieked and tumbled backwards.

“Real smart,” sighed Shadow. “Using Double-Edge when Golem is already wounded.”

“Of course it’s smart,” said Jane with a grin. “Golem’s Rock Head Ability protects it from the recoil damage.”

Lanturn got up, and the Aqua Ring glowed with energy again.

“Amusing,” said Electivire, “but it can’t protect it from this. Lanturn, Brine.”

“Eh?” said Shadow.

Lanturn blasted an even more powerful jet of foamy water at Golem, striking it directly in the center. Golem screamed, and fell on its back with a crash.

“No way…” muttered Shadow. “There’s a Water attack even stronger than Hydro Pump?”

“Brine is normally slightly more than half as powerful as Hydro Pump,” said Starbuck. “But if the Pokémon you use it on is injured enough, its strength doubles.”

Jane quickly recalled Golem.

“Jane better hope she has a stronger Ground Type,” chuckled Shadow.

Actually, I don’t, thought Jane. But I know how to use what I have…

She threw another pokeball.

“Go, Bastiodon!” she shouted.

The pokeball opened, and a new Pokémon leapt out. Starbuck remembered this Fossil from the last time he encountered Jane (although whether it was the same Jane or not, he had no way of knowing). It was a four-legged Rock/Steel with a large, horned plate on its face.

“Lovely,” said Starbuck. “And just how is that going to do any better than the one you used against me?”

“This one is older than my sister’s Bastiodon,” said Jane.

“Then that wasn’t you?” asked Starbuck.

“Excuse me?” said Electivire. “We’re in the middle of a battle here?”

The Aqua Ring around Lanturn glowed again.

“Hydro Pump again.”

“Wait for it…” said Jane.

Lanturn blasted its bolt of water at Bastiodon, striking it directly in the faceplate…

“NOW!” shouted Jane. “Metal Burst!”

An explosion of metal shards burst from Bastiodon’s face, stabbing into Lanturn. Lanturn screamed its name, and tumbled backwards.

Electivire looked dumbfounded as it looked at the fallen Pokémon.

“That Fossil isn’t bad for a test subject,” it said, as it recalled Lanturn.

“Test subject?” asked Lisa.

“I’ll tell you guys later, okay?” shouted Jane.

“But since you apparently brought out your big guns,” said Electivire, “I’ll do the same.

“I choose Manectric!”

It threw a new pokeball, and in a blast of electricity, a new Pokémon appeared, and let out a long howl. It was a large wolf with blue and yellow fur, and crested fur on its head.

“Bastiodon,” said Jane’s Pokémon, sizing up its foe.

Manectric looked Bastiodon in the eye. Its eyes narrowed.

Okay, it’s likely not gonna fall for the same trick twice, thought Jane. So I’ll go on the offensive…

“Attack! Iron Head!”

With all the subtlety of a bulldozer, Bastiodon charged at Manectric, head-first.

“Thunder Fang,” ordered Electivire.

“Eh?” said Jane.

Manectric leapt up, and made a 180 in mid-air. Bastiodon stopped short, and the next thing it knew, Manectric sunk its fangs into its shoulder blade. Bastiodon roared as electricity coursed through it.

“Shake it off, Bastiodon!” shouted Jane.

Bastiodon apparently had a better idea than that. It quickly rolled over. Manectric yelped as the Fossil crushed it under its side.

Then lightning flashed, and a fierce Thunder struck from the ceiling. Bastiodon screamed in pain and rolled off.

“Manectric,” said Manectric, getting up.

Jane’s eyes narrowed.

“Bastiodon…” she said. “Giga Impact.”

Bastiodon looked at its foe. It started to charge, and its faceplate glowed with energy. Manectric started to panic.

Sparks flew as the attack struck, and Manectric flew backwards, landing at the feet of its master.

“Looks like I win that round, fellah,” said Jane.

“True,” said Electivire, “but while you won, your Pokémon clearly did not.”

“Huh?” said Shadow. “What does he mean?”

They all looked at Bastiodon. It was groaning in pain, and it seemed like moving was taking effort.

“Aw, crud…” muttered Starbuck. “Manectric’s Static Ability. Bastiodon can barely move now.”

Jane sighed.

“I’m pulling my Bastiodon out of battle,” she said.

She recalled Bastiodon.

“Not the wisest choice,” said Manectric. “The same thing may well happen to your next Pokémon.”

It threw its third pokeball.

The Pokémon that appeared was one that each human in the room recognized, but not one that they had ever seen in person. Ash Ketchum had seen this Pokémon more than once, and he had many chances to own it, maybe. However, he needed the cooperation of another Pokémon; that he didn’t have, and forcing it on the Pokémon in question was something he’d never dream of doing.

“Raichu!” chirped the small Pokémon.

“Amazing…” said Lisa.

“Oh, please…” laughed Jane. “I got a Pokémon that can handle that…”

She threw out another pokeball. A huge shape started to loom over the arena.

“And it’s bigger than yours…”

It stood seven feet tall, and five feet wide, armored all over. It had a long tail and a crested forehead under two long horns.

The Aggron roared, but the Raichu didn’t seem intimidated at all.

“Bigger isn’t always better,” said Electivire.

“Say…” said Starbuck. “Anyone notice a pattern with Jane’s Pokémon?”

“They’re all Rocks?” asked Shadow.

“I think it goes a little farther than that,” said Starbuck, rubbing his chin. “All of them have armor of some sort… Much like military vehicles.

“Add to that Electivire’s previous statement that Bastiodon was a test subject, and…”

They all looked at Jane.

She sighed.

“I said I’ll tell you later!” she shouted.

And I mean it, she thought. Volmer will never find out, and I’m going over his head and asking for a transfer if I survive this. He got me into this mess… If the public finds out about this, he can get himself out of it.

“Aggron, Iron Head!” she ordered.

“Raichu, Thunder,” said Electivire.

Aggron charged at Raichu, causing the floor to tremble. Electricity flashed from Raichu’s cheeks, and energy blasted at the titan. If it hurt Aggron, it did its best to ignore it, and slammed into the much smaller Pokémon, sending it tumbling backwards.

“Raichu, Volt Tackle,” said Electivire.

“Volt Tackle?!” said Starbuck, Lisa, and Shadow at once.

“Raichu…” said the small Pokémon, as its eyes started to glow with pure light.

“Aggron…” muttered the giant, nervously.

Electricity started to flow from Raikou’s body like a generator. It leapt at Aggron, and its skeleton showed though its hide as the mighty shock tore through it.

Aggron fell on one knee, and started panting for breath. Raikou was pretty winded too.

“Volt Tackle…” said Lisa, with a shudder. “The most powerful Electric attack known…”

Aggron slowly got up.

“And it looks like Aggron still has some fight in it!”

“Iron Tail!” ordered Jane.

“Aggron…” muttered Aggron. It swung its tail, and it slammed into the small Pokémon like a bat hitting a baseball. Raichu was thrown across the room, landing on the other side with a splat.

“Raichu…” said Raichu, angrily, getting up.

Then Aggron trembled in pain. It held its chest.

“Now what’s wrong with it?” asked Shadow.

“Same thing that happened to Bastiodon,” said Starbuck. “Static. That seems to a weakness in Jane’s Pokémon. All their moves are physical attacks.”

Raichu leapt up, and a Thunderbolt flashed, striking the behemoth. Aggron groaned, and crashed to the ground.

Jane sighed, and recalled it.

“My last Pokémon…” she said, holding her fourth pokeball.

She threw the pokeball.

The Pokémon that appeared was another big one. About six feet tall, it looked like a big pachycephalosaurus; the same bony skull, although this one had a crown of horns. It stood fully upright, unlike the true dinosaur likely did, and had a course, pebbly hide.

“Rampardos?” said Shadow, in shock.

“That is one colossal Fossil,” chuckled Starbuck.

“Oh, the Static will just get this one too,” muttered Shadow.

“No it won’t,” replied Lisa. “Rampardos’s Mold Breaker Ability will cancel it out.”

“That’s right,” said Jane, “and by the way, as for your assumption that my Pokémon only knew physical attacks…

“Rampardos… Use Flamethrower!”

Rampardos roared, and blasted a gout of fire from its jaws. Raichu screamed, and collapsed, its fur singed.

Electivire grinned, and recalled Raichu.

“I’m almost glad you did that,” it said.

“Elekid,” cheered the Elekid. “Elekid, Elekid, Elekid!”

“That means I get to take you and your last Pokémon down personally!” it laughed. “And I haven’t gotten into a good brawl in ages.”

“Be careful,” said Jane, with a sinister smile. “It’s hungry, and it might just have you for lunch…”

“Oh, I think not,” chuckled Electivire. “It’s a dinosaur with armor and horns. That means it only eats plants.

“But until it finds some… It can eat THIS!”

Electivire skidded towards the huge Fossil, moving like a blur. Before Rampardos could get out of the way, it delivered a savage kick to its gut. Rampardos roared.

“That was a Low Kick!” shouted Lisa.

“That’s bad!” exclaimed Shadow. “Rock Types are weak to Fighting moves… AND, Low Kick does more damage to heavy Pokémon! Rampardos must weigh a ton!”

An Electivire clearly knew that, thought Jane. I have to end this fast…

“Rampardos, use Head Smash!” she shouted.

“What?” said Electivire.

Rampardos charged at its foe like a bull. It clobbered Electivire in the chest, and the Electric Pokémon tumbled over, bouncing on the ground before falling on its back.

“Head Smash?” asked Shadow. “What’s that?”

“It’s a move like Double-Edge, only even more powerful,” said Lisa.

“Does that mean Rampardos takes recoil damage?” asked Shadow.

Rampardos was holding its head and groaning.

“I guess so…” muttered Lisa.

“Your Pokémon is on its last legs,” said Electivire, as it lifted its hands.

Electricity started to form in both of them.

“Time to end this…”

A blast of powerful electricity shot at the Fossil…

No-one could see much. It had caused a great deal of smoke.

When it cleared, Rampardos was still standing, surrounded by a bubble of force.

“Eh?” said Electivire. “It used Protect?”

“What?” asked Jane. “You think I’m so focused on offense that I never thought to teach it a defensive move?”

“Uh…” said Electivire.

“Flamethrower!” shouted Jane.

Rampardos blasted fire from its jaws, and Electivire hollered in pain as it was burned by it. It fell to its knees, and didn’t get up.

“Enough…” it said, through low gasps. “I yield…”

It looked at Jane.

“A deal’s a deal…” it said. “I won’t tell them about what you’re working on…

“But perhaps, Major… Perhaps it would benefit you if you came clean with them…

“I see the anger in your eyes… And that anger is not directed towards me, or towards them… The anger is towards the travesty that your position has become, and your inability to change it.”

It waved its arm, and a golden-yellow Plate appeared in the air next to Starbuck. Starbuck took it.

Electivire sighed again, as four Elekid helped it up.

“The walls of this temple are warded by magic,” it said. “Cellular phones and listening devices do not work here… No outside force can eavesdrop on any conversation held in these walls unless Arceus allows it.

“Keep that in mind…”

The throne behind it moved aside, and the Elekid helped it as it walked through the opening. Then the rest of the Elekid followed, and it shut.

They were alone.

“Jane?” asked Starbuck.

“Okay, Conrad, okay!” she said. “Just promise me one thing… No matter who you tell about this, keep my name out of it!”

She held up the pokeball, and recalled Rampardos. She sat down.

She didn’t speak for about a minute.

“General Volmer is a man with high expectations,” she said. “His imagination ran wild at times.

“You saw my Pokémon… Now imagine, just imagine them in a wartime situation…

“Bullets, shells, almost any form of artillery just bounce off their chests. They can run down enemy troops, and crush any fortification. An armored Pokémon would be able to take out anything short of a tank!”

“Indeed,” said Lisa.

“Imagine, if you will,” said Jane, “an entire infantry composed of Pokémon like the kind I had here. Human soldiers given training as Pokémon trainers, directing squads of Pokémon on the battlefield… It would be an unstoppable force.

“And Pokémon are the ideal soldiers. They don’t question orders or complain about them. They cost much less to feed and equip than human soldiers. And best of all, they can be carried in your pocket! A typical soldier wearing a flack jacket and all his equipment is usually carrying seventy pounds of gear… A specialized soldier could carry Pokémon, and would be able to carry an army on his back!”

“No way…” said Starbuck.

“I believe the correct term would be… Way,” said Jane. “Volmer has been engaged in an approved Pokémon breeding project for years. My sisters and I have been assigned to train the resulting Pokémon and see if they can react as well to typical military situations as humans can.

“So far, the results are not very promising…

“But Volmer knew from the start that there’d be a problem…

“What happens, when one country gets a powerful weapon?”

“Other countries try to make a better one,” replied Lisa.

“Exactly,” said Jane. “That’s what the Arm’s Race was all about. Volmer knew that as soon as an army of Pokémon was perfected, other countries would start experimenting with them.”

She sighed.

“So now… Volmer is pursuing another unauthorized project, which will make his proposed army of Pokémon impossible to top.”

She looked Starbuck in the eye.

“He wants to… ‘recruit’ Arceus to serve as its general.”

Starbuck looked at her.

Then he started to laugh softly.

“He wants to… ‘recruit’ Arceus,” he chuckled. “I take it from the way you said that, he wants to capture Arceus…”

He laughed again.

“And just how is this supposed to be accomplished? How does he plan to capture the God of Pokémon?”

“I asked him the same thing,” muttered Jane. “His reply was that Arceus is still a Pokémon, and that any Pokémon can be captured if one knows how to. But exactly how he plans to do it, I have no idea.”

“Thanks for the info, Jane,” chuckled Starbuck. “I think we’d best head back to town…

“Mom, Shadow? A word?”

He pulled them aside.

“I wasn’t going to let her know this,” he whispered, “but I think this is a concern.”

“You actually think Arceus can be captured?” asked Lisa.

“Let’s look at the facts,” said Starbuck. “We aren’t the only ones who want these Plates. The Plates lead to Arceus. That means someone else wants to reach Arceus, either Rocket or an ally of theirs.”

“So what do we do?” asked Shadow.

“We keep looking for the Plates,” said Starbuck, “and every time a member of Rocket Reborn shows up, we beat him good, and then hold him upside-down and shake him until some information comes out.

“This story just keeps getting more dangerous, and I’m starting to think that the reason dad is missing is because he found out more than he should. He likely found out some secret that he wasn’t meant to know.

“And frankly, I’m scared. We’re finding out new secrets every day. And if we find out the one he found out, we might come closer to finding him…

“Or we might be the next ones to disappear without a trace…”



Coming up next:

The group continues, more determines as ever, towards the Bunglewood. But on the way, they meet a familiar face – Jamie Grant, the trainer who is determined to find Shaymin. And wouldn’t you know it… He thinks he’s found a way to find Shaymin! But even if the spirit of nature is found, can it offer any advice?

The chapter is called “Shillelagh”, coming up next.

[Shuppet Master]

Wow, my user character is going to make a reappearance and tie up any loose ends! ^_^

Also, great chapter. I liked how Jane was made to squirm and her big revelation. Her CO wants to make a Pokemon army with Arceus as the leader, huh? This means we now have new enemies.

Loved the battle. Armored Pokemon fossils vs. Electric types. One problem, though, you accidently called Raichu Raikou a couple times.

Keep it up, but don't strain yourself.

[Jeff]

Maybe this is just me being a grammar nazi, but I noticed you referring to the "arm's race". I'm pretty sure you meant "arms race" (a race related to arms) as opposed to "arm's race" (a race belonging to an arm). It's a small mistake, but I thought I'd point it out.

Other than that, it's gotten more interesting now. We now know about another villain and his motive and it seems to be a pretty twisted one. Anyway, keep up the good work!

[Dark Sage]

Hello everyone. First, an announcement.

After three months of red tape and numerous complaints by me and the other security guards, the power at my job site has been fixed. This means that I can use my computer at work, and write more often, enabling me to work on both my fanfics at once. Thus, “Storming Heaven’s Gates” is back from its hiatus, and will be updated more often.

Now, a word about this chapter.

This chapter features the legendary Shaymin. Now, fans of the game who are awaiting Shaymin’s release know that, for a Legendary, it is not very formidable. However, in the storyline of this fic, Shaymin is supposedly a powerful nature spirit who can cleanse the world of pollution.

Thus, I have taken liberties with this Pokémon, making it more powerful than it is in the game, and giving it one or two powers that it doesn’t have there. I hope there are no complaints. Remember, this is a fiction, not the game.

So lets move on.



My name is Jamie Grant, and I’ve been a Pokémon trainer all my life. I’ve looked at the world, and I look at it with disgust.

Mankind has been given this world to rule, and what has he done to it? Deplete resources and strip the forests bare. Pollute the sky with smog and smoke. Befoul the rivers with toxic waste. Hunt its creatures to extinction. If Mother Earth is a living creature, as some philosophers believe, then humans are like viruses, and our cities are tumors growing on her body, causing her great pain.

This led me to the best theory I could come up with… The three Mirages of Sinnoh created the Twisting to punish humanity. By turning Pokémon savage, it is their way of enacting revenge on mankind for the rape of our planet.

I am one trainer, but I have a goal… I know I can help, if I only find Shaymin. They say that Shaymin can undo the harm that man has done to the world, clean up the foul mess we have created and make the planet bountiful again. Then, perhaps the Mirages will have mercy and lift their curse.

After years of searching, I finally have the means to find this Pokémon… But I can’t get there alone…

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



Shillelagh

After leaving Jane and sending the Zap Plate to Percival for safekeeping, Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa ran into trouble. The next train back to Blueberry Cove was crowded, and the only seats left were in business class, which cost about double as much as the normal seats. Starbuck wondered just how long Percival was going to keep paying their expenses if it cost this much. He kept reminding himself of the divine rewards that they would get if their quest succeeded as he paid for the tickets and put the receipt in his backpack.

At least the ride back to the city was comfortable. And once they finally got back to the Pokémon Center in Blueberry Cove, they started to make plans.

In order to get the Dread Plate, according to Brother Edmund, they had to first have the Grass and Insect Plates, which they did. Then, they had to go back to one of the places where they had found one of them.

Going back to Darcaven wouldn’t have been wise. Seven was probably still looking for them. So the best bet would be to go to Lord Gilette’s mansion in the Bunglewood.

Choosing Pokémon was a problem. They needed some that could help win the Dread Plate, and thus be useful against Dark Pokémon, and they also needed some that could help fight off Roserade and her minions if they were still there. The Twisting was likely controlling them at this point.

Once they were sure they were ready, they set their alarms, and turned in, ready to leave for the long drive in the morning.

* * * * * * * * * *

Riding shotgun on a motorcycle isn’t very fun, especially when you aren’t used to it, as Lisa was quickly finding out. After a five-hour long ride that had started at six in the morning, they still had about an hour to go before they reached the forest. Lisa’s butt was hurting, and her back was sore. She was definitely getting too old for this.

She was able to stretch her legs a little when Starbuck and Shadow stopped to gas up their motorcycles.

“Son…” she sighed, “I really need a break… How about we stop for a bite to eat?”

Starbuck was about to object, but then he heard his stomach grumble. He realized that he had only eaten a pretty paltry breakfast himself.

“I’m pretty hungry too,” said Shadow.

Starbuck sighed. He looked around, and saw a fast food place down the highway.

“Okay…” he said. “We’ll stop for a burger. But try to order something filling.”

* * * * * * * * * *

As Starbuck brought the food to his table, he was startled as his path was blocked by a youth his age covered with scars.

“Remember me, Starbuck?” he said with a laugh.

“Huh?” said Starbuck.

Slowly it came to him.

“Jamie?” he exclaimed.

“The one an only!” laughed Jamie. “I’m back, and I’m ready to take the step into the great beyond!”

Starbuck sighed, and placed the food on the table.

“I take it the writing on the Meadow Plate led you to something?” asked Starbuck. “So did you catch Shaymin?”

“Not yet,” said Jamie, “but it told me how to find him. Or rather, how to find Flower Paradise, the place where it lives.”

“Well,” said Shadow. “Enlighten us.”

Jamie pulled out something that was stashed on his backpack. It was a wooden walking stick made of black, shiny wood with a knob on one end.

“It’s a stick,” said Shadow, with a frown.

“It’s not a ‘stick’!” replied Jamie. “It’s a shillelagh.”

Starbuck and Shadow looked at each other.

“What’s a… shillelagh?” asked Shadow.

“See…” said Jamie. “In Ireland, a shillelagh is a walking stick that doubles as a weapon. It’s made from either blackthorn wood or oak – oak in this case – which is then smeared with butter and hung up a chimney to cure. Some shillelagh – not this one, though – are hollowed out and filled with lead in the hitting end, making it weigh more than the standard two pounds.”

“So why do you have a traditional Irish weapon?” asked Lisa.

“Because, this is an enchanted shillelagh!” exclaimed Jamie. “The druid who made it told me that he crafted it from the branch of a tree that had fallen off after it had been struck by lighting during the Summer Equinox. It can transport people and Pokémon to magical places where nature spirits live.”

He held it forward. They could see that it was covered with strange runes.

“That sounds like the story of how Roy Hobbs made his bat in The Natural!” said Shadow, with a scowl. “How do you know this guy wasn’t just a con artist who wanted to steal your money?”

“Because he didn’t make me pay him anything,” replied Jamie.

“He gave you a magic walking stick?” asked Starbuck. “For free?”

“Technically, I’m borrowing it,” said Jamie. “He was about to go off on some druidic meditation journey into the wilderness where he could only bring the clothes on his back. He said I was free to use this until he gets back in three weeks.

“Anyway, he told me that this can transport us to Flower Paradise…”

“Us?” asked Starbuck. “How did we get involved?”

Jamie sighed.

“Okay, okay…” he said. “In order to do this ritual that will take us to Flower Paradise, I need three Pokémon who do not have the Twisting, each one belonging to a different trainer. I’m only one trainer.

“I need your help…”

Starbuck sighed.

“If I may play devil’s advocate…” said Lisa.

“Look, mom,” said Starbuck. “We know how you feel about Legendary Pokémon. But we really don’t have time for side trips.”

“Starbuck, we might learn a few things,” said Lisa. “One theory that I’ve developed in recent years is that all Legendaries are connected to Arceus in one way or another. You might say that among Pokémon, they form a celestial hierarchy, with Arceus at the head.

“If we’re going to find Arceus, we may need to find some Pokémon that have inside information.”

Starbuck sighed again.

“Okay…” he said. “But Jamie… If there’s a Pokémon battle involved, you’re the one who’s fighting.”

“That was my plan all along,” said Jamie.

“Now can we eat first?” asked Starbuck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Their watches were at noon as the four trainers stood outside the restaurant. Next to Jamie was Sheba, his Lucario. Starbuck’s Blaziken was next to him, and Shadow’s Magmortar was next to her.

“Okay, now what?” asked Starbuck.

“Let’s see…” said Jamie, looking at a notepad. “All three Pokémon must be holding the shillelagh at one time…”

The three Pokémon held out their hands, and he handed them the walking stick. They closed their fists around it.

“Now, I just gotta read this… Let’s hope I don’t get it wrong…”

He started to say something, something in a language that the others didn’t understand. Lisa assumed it was probably some old Celtic language. As Jamie spoke, it started to cloud up overhead…

Then, lightning struck, and everything went dark.

* * * * * * * * * *

The four humans and three Pokémon opened their eyes. The first thing they noticed was the warm summer breeze on their face.

They sat up, and beheld pure beauty. They were in the most lovely garden they had ever seen. As far as the eye could see, there were fields of fragrant blossoms and flowering trees under a sapphire-blue sky full of puffy clouds.

The place wasn’t uninhabited. Butterfree and Mothim flew among the flowers. Sentret and Furret hopped among the grasses. Despite the arrival of the intruders, the Pokémon seemed carefree and happy.

“Nice place…” said Shadow.

“We’re in Flower Paradise!” said Jamie. “Oh, Shaymin has to be here somewhere…”

“Oh, it is indeed,” said a voice. “And it wants to know why you’re here.”

Everyone turned towards a hill to their left, and saw an old man in a blue robe and hood. Most of his face was covered by the hood, but his full beard was visible. He carried a shillelagh similar to the one that Jamie had.

“Who are you?” asked Starbuck.

“I am a philosopher,” said the man. “I’m one who studies the world and what lies beyond it. I plumb the mysteries of life, trying to understand fully one’s place in it.

“I came to Flower Paradise a long time ago so that I could meditate undisturbed, free from the burdens of civilization. Shaymin was happy to accommodate me.

“Now I’ll ask you again… Why are you here? And what do you want with Shaymin?”

“Well…” said Jamie. “I… I need his help. I want him to help clean the world, so I can convince the Mirages of Sinnoh to undo the Twisting.”

The philosopher rubbed his chin.

“You think the Mirages caused the Twisting?” he asked.

He sat down on the rock next to him.

“I think you’re misinformed, young trainer. I know a thing or two about the Mirages of Sinnoh.”

“What?” asked Jamie. “What do you know?”

Lisa quickly took her pocket recorder out of her satchel, and turned it on.

“The three Mirages,” said the philosopher. “The Lake Legends… Why would they harm humanity? They were created to help them. Harming humans goes against everything that they stand for.

“Pokémon are older than humans. Many say that Arceus created the universe after all. But one thing is definite. Arceus was not the one who created humans.

“They evolved independently, perhaps by an experiment of some other gods. How that happened is a question for other theorists.

“But anyway, Arceus saw this new race, these humans, and in his great wisdom, he realized that they and Pokémon could not remain separate. He saw in mankind incredible curiosity.

“Primitive man saw the ancient Pokémon… They gave the creatures names based on the sounds they made. They were confounded by the ‘Ka-bu-to’ and downright frightened of the ‘Air-o-dac-til’. And as man continued to evolve, so did Pokémon, and Arceus decided to aid the process.

“He sired an egg. Now, no-one is sure who his mate was, if he even needed one. The important thing is, he sired an egg. The most powerful Dragon Pokémon in the world protected it, while a Fire Pokémon kept it warm.

“Eventually, it hatched, not into one Pokémon, but three.

“When humans first saw these three Pokémon, they named them as they did all such creatures… After what they heard when the three of them spoke in their own language. The names they were given were Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. But these Pokémon could speak in other ways besides Pokémonese. After observing humans for a while, they started to speak in the primitive language that men understood.

“Uxie, its eyes ever closed, always pondering the secrets of the universe, granted mankind the intelligence to rise beyond a primitive state. With its guidance, men were able to make fire, work metal, and develop written word.

“Mesprit, a being who might laugh one minute only to cry the next, gave emotion to humans. It taught them the value of joy, and how to temper it with sorrow. Humans began to create the traditions that are rooted in both love and sadness. Marriage was developed, as was mourning for the deceased.

“Azelf, whose frail form hid an iron will, gave mankind willpower of their own. It enabled them to brave the dangers that they previously hid from in fear. It taught them not to fear the night. And it gave them the potential to take steps into greater accomplishments.

“These three beings spread their messages around the world, and were well-received. And once they were sure their plan had worked, they started appearing to humans less and less, until they faded from sight.

“Some say that these three Pokémon, known as the Mirages, because they are so rarely seen, hide in some concealed location. Possibly, they are still tired from their epic tasks. One thing is for sure… Their little heads hold great secrets, and it is possible that, given proper incentive, they have more to share with humans than they did so long ago.

“Jamie… The Mirages never wanted to destroy humanity by creating the Twisting. If anything, they want to save humanity from the Twisting.”

Jamie bowed his head.

“Then I guess capturing Shaymin will give me nothing…” he said, sadly.

“Shaymin!” said a voice.

Everyone looked down. A small form had appeared at the philosopher’s feet. It looked like a small hedgehog, with grass on its back, and a flower on each side of its head.

“That’s Shaymin?” asked Starbuck.

“Really?” said the philosopher, turning to the small Pokémon.

He turned to the trainers.

“Shaymin says not to give up,” he said. “It says that it is sure that Arceus can be found, and the Twisting can be ended. It even believes that the Lake Legends may help at some point.”

“Oh?” asked Jamie, getting interested.

“And Shaymin wants to give you all a gift,” continued the philosopher. “A token of its admiration of you for wanting to end the Twisting. But before it does, it wants a battle. After all, it doesn’t get many chances to battle while living here.”

“All right!” laughed Jamie. “Sure, Shaymin, I’ll battle you!”

The little Pokémon hopped in front of the philosopher.

“Only one Pokémon, young trainer,” he said.

“Then I’ll do it with my best Pokémon,” said Jamie. “Get ready, Sheba!”

The Lucario stepped up to face Shaymin. The two Pokémon looked each other in the eye.

“Ready?” said Jamie. “Battle!”

Shaymin quickly made the first move, moving fast for a small Pokémon. It spit a seed of energy at Sheba, and Sheba groaned as an aura of green flames surrounded it. It took some steps backwards and held its chest.

“What kind of move was that?” asked Shadow.

“I think it was Shaymin’s Seed Flare move,” said Lisa. “A move that only Shaymin can do.”

“Shake it off, Sheba!” shouted Jamie. “Use Dragon Pulse.”

Sheba put her hands together, and formed a pulsating ball of blue flames in them. She threw them at Shaymin, and the small Pokémon closed its eyes as they hit it.

“Shaymin,” it said, opening them.

It was hard to see whether the attack had hurt Shaymin or not, but clearly, the battle was well-joined.

“Sheba, use Extremespeed!” shouted Jamie.

Sheba ran forward in a blur, and punched the smaller Pokémon. Shaymin did a backflip, and fell on its feet. It shook its head, and looked at Sheba.

Then it closed its eyes, and out of nowhere, a blizzard of leaves shot towards Sheba. Sheba cursed in Pokémonese as they cut and stung at her.

“Whoa,” said Shadow. “That was Leaf Storm. Shaymin isn’t fooling around.”

“Sheba, use Aura Sphere,” said Jamie.

Sheba put her hands together again, and this time formed a sphere of crackling energy. She threw it at Shaymin, and this time, Shaymin sweat and strained under the impact.

Then Shaymin’s eyes glowed. It started to levitate off the ground.

Before everyone’s eyes, it started to change shape.

“What’s happening?” asked Starbuck.

“Shaymin has found a worthy opponent,” said the philosopher. “So it is showing its other form. Its more powerful form. Behold Shaymin’s Sky Form!”

In a flash of light, Shaymin had changed into a completely different Pokémon. It was half-again bigger than it was before, and now looked like a white dog with wing-like ears, and a red crest on its back. It hovered in the air, with a determined look on its face.

It didn’t waste any time. It concentrated, and shot a pulsating Energy Ball at Sheba. Sheba cried out in pain.

“Dragon Pulse again, Sheba!” shouted Jamie. “Use all you’ve got!”

“Lucario!” shouted Sheba. She fired a Dragon Pulse at her foe, and then another, and then a third. Shaymin dodged the first two, but the third hit it dead center. Shaymin groaned a little.

Then Shaymin’s eyes glowed again, and its whole body started to glow with green energy…

Then the whole ground erupted in a mass of thick, ropy, thorny vines. They all shot towards Sheba. Sheba started to fight them as they battered and bludgeoned at her.

“Frenzy Plant…” gasped Shadow. “The most powerful Grass attack known…”

Sheba broke free of the entangling vines, and shouted her name in rage.

“Looks like Sheba just got her second wind,” said Lisa.

“Sheba, Blaze Kick!” ordered Jamie.

Sheba erupted in an aura of fire, and leapt at Shaymin. Her kick connected, and Shaymin gave a cry as she fell to the ground.

Sheba fell on her back, as Shaymin started to change back to its normal form. The battle seemed to be over.

“SHEBA!” shouted Jamie, running up to his Pokémon. “Sheba, are you all right? Speak to me!”

Sheba sat up.

Then something happened that none of them expected.

The Lucario DID speak to him.

“Yes, Jamie,” she said, in a clearly female voice. “I’ve never been better.”

Jamie gasped.

“Sheba, you can talk?” he said. “But how?”

“Your gift, of course,” said the philosopher. “Your Lucario has been given the power of human speech.”

Jamie didn’t know what to say. All he could do was hug his favorite Pokémon lovingly for a few minutes.

The philosopher turned to Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa.

“Shaymin says that each of you will get this gift too,” he says, “for one of your Pokémon, and for them, their gift will manifest after their next battle.”

“We… We don’t know what to say,” said Starbuck.

He looked at Shaymin.

“Thank you.”

“Shaymin!” said the Pokémon.

“You can thank us by leaving Flower Paradise in peace,” said the philosopher. “Leave this place unspoiled by humans, and untouched by man.

“And good luck on your quest. We are optimistic about your chances of success.”

Before the four trainers knew it, they were back outside the restaurant.

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa watched as Jamie got on his bike.

“So what are you gonna do now, Jamie?” asked Starbuck.

“I dunno,” replied Jamie. “I’ve been on a quest to find Shaymin for so long… And now that I found it, and it told me that my theory was wrong, I have to look for another reason to train Pokémon.

“I have a Pokémon with a great gift, and hopefully I’m going to be able to use it to my advantage. I’m not going to waste it like James and Jesse did with Meowth.

“The world is a big place… Maybe I can discover some secrets that have been hidden from everyone.

“But anyway… Keep working on what you’re doing. I may not have been able to heal the world of the scars put on it by man, but I now know that one scar can be healed. If you guys think you can cure the Twisting, more power to you.”

He started the bike, and started to head off.

“Starbuck?” asked Shadow. “Do you really think we can cure the Twisting?”

Starbuck looked at her. He remembered what she had said when she agreed to come on this trip. She didn’t think the Twisting could be cured. She was coming because she wanted to go out with a bang.

“Yes, Shadow,” he said. “Yes, I honestly do.

“Why? Are you starting to become less of a skeptic?”

“Maybe…” she said. “Maybe I have to be more optimistic myself… Stop being so glum…”

“Stop wearing the leather biker-girl outfit…” said Starbuck.

“Hey, I like my outfit!” replied Shadow. “It sends a message to men: Don’t bite me, or I’ll bite back!”

She chuckled.

“You just love your bad girl image, don’t you?” asked Starbuck.

“Yeah,” said Shadow, “but maybe saving the world would give me an even better one…”

“Trust me,” said Starbuck, “being seen as a hero is much better.”

“Well then…” said Shadow. “The Dread Plate?”

Starbuck nodded.

“The Dread Plate,” he said.

With Lisa hanging onto her son, they sped down the highway towards the Bunglewood, where they hoped to find the next part of their quest.

As they did so…

Jessica and five members of Rocket Reborn were arriving at the edge of the Spires.



Coming up next:

The quest to obtain the Plates continues. Starbuck faces the Guardian of the Dread Plate in a dangerous Pokémon battle with special rules, where Dark energy threatens to consume him with every blow that his Pokémon take. It’s a chapter called “Dark Matter”, coming soon.

[Shuppet Master]

This chapter features the legendary Shaymin. Now, fans of the game who are awaiting Shaymin’s release know that, for a Legendary, it is not very formidable. However, in the storyline of this fic, Shaymin is supposedly a powerful nature spirit who can cleanse the world of pollution.

Thus, I have taken liberties with this Pokémon, making it more powerful than it is in the game, and giving it one or two powers that it doesn’t have there. I hope there are no complaints. Remember, this is a fiction, not the game.

I don't think you have to worry about complaints from me. To be honest, Shaymin, Manaphy, Jirachi, Celebi, and Mew are all weaklings in the game, but have very esoteric backgrounds, so what's not to say that they refuse to show their true power to humans?

I liked that whole thing, it was nice to see my character again, and how you handled the whole thing was pretty good.

Nice debut of Shaymin's Skye Forme. Sadly, we STILL won't get Shaymin when Pokemon Platinum comes to the states. I hope we get a ticket or something like was done for Latios in the old days. I really want a Shaymin, even if its Skye Forme is a Grass/Flying type which dies to ice attacks.

So, Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie are made to help humans? I guess with their titles, it makes sense. Sorry for putting that crackpot theory in my character. Nice gift Shaymin gave the gang, but I'd be careful - having Pokemon talk too tends to require you to make a lot of dialogue.

I'm so glad you can update this fic now, I like it a bit better than Soul of Silicon.

[Dark Sage]

You might say that I’m pretty familiar with the Pokémon that my parents own. One Pokémon that mom has had since long before I was born is her Shiftry.

She captured it as a Seedot shortly after she met dad. Even in this early form, it helped her a great deal, and quickly evolved into a Nuzleaf. Eventually, mom got into a Pokémon battle with a real lout who wanted to humiliate her, and he wagered a Leaf Stone. Mom defeated him and his Wailord, and she used the Stone to evolve Nuzleaf into Shiftry.

Despite being called the Wicked Pokémon by whoever made the PokéDex, mom’s Shifty is anything but. It used to baby-sit me and my friends when I was a toddler. I never knew it to be anything but friendly.

The problem is, right now, I’m facing another Guardian, and it happens to be another Shiftry. I have a feeling that it might be a lot stronger and smarter than the one I know…

And it seems to be a great deal more wicked.

CHAPTER NINETEEN



Dark Matter

The Spires.

That was the name for the mountain range in the wildest part of Toreen. It was a rocky wasteland full of stony peaks and volcanic mountains. The latter obscured the sky with smoke and soot.

Pokémon lived here, mostly ones who were tough enough to survive such hostile conditions. Rock, Steel, and Fire Pokémon mostly. They weren’t friendly to trainers, and were incredibly dangerous to any who tried to hunt for powerful specimens.

It was here where Team Rocket had built the Enclave. Not having learned their lesson after creating Mewtwo, the facility was built in an attempt to use genetics to create the perfect male and female, whom they would name He and She.

But, as in the case of Mewtwo, this experiment was seen as a blasphemy by the gods, and it was doomed to failure. They did indeed create the perfect female, but She possessed a beauty that was so overwhelmingly striking, any who saw her was struck dead. Unable to do anything, Team Rocket evacuated the Enclave, leaving She behind…

Until Gestalt found her. Gestalt made a deal with the lonely creature, offering to transform her into a Pokémon so that those who saw her wouldn’t die upon doing so.

But just prior to this, Starbuck’s father came to the Enclave to confront Gestalt. She pitied two of Ishmael’s friends who had been captured and were facing transformation themselves, and gave them a small amount of aid that enabled them to escape. Gestalt still transformed her, into a powerful Charizard, and exactly what became of her after Gestalt died, no-one knew. Ishmael hoped that all of Gestalt’s victims took his advice and found trainers they could befriend, to make their new lives easier.

The ruins of the Enclave were far away from this part of the Spire, where two all-terrain vehicles drove into a rocky valley.

Jessica got out, followed by Leo, Kitsune, and Sofia. Also present was a much older man, and a younger one. The older man was a Pokémon researcher named Dr. Douglas Dugan, who was not only an expert in Pokémon, but also mythology and ancient cultures.

The younger man was named Tony Denmark, and he was a guide and survivalist who had been to the Spires before. He was an expert when it came to exploring and navigating dangerous locales, as you could tell from the equipment he wore.

“Well, mates,” he said, “say hello to the Spires!”

“Spires, say goodbye to Kitsune,” muttered Kitsune, turning around.

“I’ll drive,” added Leo.

“Oh, come on, people!” snapped Jessica. “There’s nothing to be afraid of!”

“We’re going to a temple to hunt Legendary Pokémon,” replied Sofia. “I’d say there was plenty to be afraid of.”

“Stop acting like big babies,” said Jessica, with a grin. “Sure, the Pokémon we’re going to hunt may take offense at being hunted, and if the trainer who does so fails, she may be dragged to some horrible Hell that was created to punish such folk…

“But… As I already told you, I will be the only one actually fighting the Legendary Pokémon, so I’m the only one who need worry about that fate.

“Leo, Kitsune, Sofia… You three take care of any wild Pokémon that get in our way. Capture any you like, I don’t care…

“Dr. Dugan, take good notes, and do anything I need done that requires what you have.”

“You got it,” said Dugan.

“And Tony,” said Jessica, “you lead the way…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Deep in the Bunglewood, Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa were at a spot where they had been before. They were standing in front of Gilette Manor.

“Uhm… Quiet, isn’t it?” asked Shadow.

It certainly was. The place looked deserted, and even more decrepit than it had last time.

“People, let’s not chicken out,” said Starbuck. “Mom, you got the Pokémon antivenin?”

“Yeah, Starbuck,” replied Lisa, “but last time, there were a lot of Roselia in there. I just hope I have enough.”

“I hope so too,” said Starbuck, opening the rusty, old gate.

He tried the door, and it crumbled into pieces when he touched it. He carefully looked inside.

The place had changed since the last time they had been here. All the plants and shrubs that had overgrown the place had been cleared out by someone… Or something…

And there wasn’t a Pokémon in sight…

“Nothing…” muttered Shadow. “This place is even more of a wreck than it was last time.”

“Let’s try the garden,” said Shadow. “You know, where we had the Pokémon battle with Roserade.”

The garden wasn’t hard to find, and they found that the place was not only deserted, it was in shambles. The statues had been smashed, and the formerly well-tended plants had all been cleared out.

The one structure that remained was the fountain. The large water basin with the nude, marble statue of a woman, pouring water from a vase in her right arm.

“Something happened here,” said Starbuck. “Something bad…”

“That it did,” said a voice.

Everyone looked up.

Sitting on the statue, was a Pokémon that had clearly not been there before. It was obviously a Shiftry. It looked at them.

“Roserade and her followers are gone,” it said. “Soon after you left, this mansion was invaded by henchmen of the Twisting. They tried to fight, but were quickly overcome by its evil power.”

“What happened to them?” asked Starbuck, getting nervous.

“The Twisting has either imprisoned or enslaved the Guardians once they became unprotected,” replied the Shiftry. “I assume they exist in whatever dark realm that the Twisting calls home, serving its whim…”

“No…” said Starbuck.

“If you’re feeling responsible, you should,” replied the Shiftry. “The plan has been set into motion, and if it fails, not only will the Twisting not be stopped, but it will gain more power than before…”

The Shiftry gestured, and a ball of blackness appeared in its hands.

“So, if you want the Dread Plate, you must endure a battle in which no mercy will be shown…”

It hurled the ball at the three trainers, and they screamed as an aura of dark fire surrounded them…

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck looked around.

He was in a clearing in a dark, deep wood, full of twisted, dead trees. Surrounding him were a cluster of Seedot and Nuzleaf, looking at him with glowing eyes.

The Shiftry was in front of him, sitting on a chair that had been carved out from a dead stump. Starbuck could now see that he was wearing a leather strap of some sort around his shoulder. Presumably, it was a bandoleer to carry pokeballs.

“Human,” he said. “You’ve reached the point in your quest where a Pokémon Dare is not sufficient. To earn the Dread Plate, you must agree to a contest with far more dangerous stakes.”

“What do you mean?” asked Starbuck.

“Look around,” replied the Shiftry with a grin. “Is my home not a nice place?”

“Not exactly…” muttered Starbuck.

“Too bad…” replied Shiftry. “Because if you lose, you’re never going to leave.”

As Starbuck pondered what he meant, he looked around.

“Where’s mom and Shadow?” he asked.

Shiftry gestured, and Lisa and Shadow fell from above, falling on their behinds.

“Hey, Starbuck…” groaned Shadow, rubbing her butt. “Where are we?”

“I’d say some sort of pocket dimension…” muttered Lisa. “This whole deal is getting more and more complicated…”

“Fine…” said Starbuck. “I assume we use four Pokémon?”

Shiftry nodded.

I’m prepared for Dark Pokémon, thought Starbuck. I just need to watch out for any surprises.

“Then let us begin,” said Shiftry, as a pokeball appeared in his hand.

Starbuck threw his first pokeball.

“Donphan, go!” he shouted.

The pokeball opened, and Donphan leapt out. He stamped his foot forward, and the ground shook.

“And I choose Houndoom,” replied Shiftry, throwing a pokeball of his own.

The pokeball opened, and it disgorged one of the most famous Dark Pokémon, the black, horned hound with a fiery side to it.

“Houndoom, strike with Beat Up,” ordered Shiftry.

“Huh?” said Starbuck.

Houndoom leapt at Donphan, and then struck at it with its horns. Then, it quickly struck three more times in rapid succession. Donphan grumbled under the blows.

“I’ve heard of Beat Up,” said Lisa. “It’s a powerful Dark move if used at the right time. It deals one hit for each conscious Pokémon on the user’s team.”

“Donphan, attack with Slam,” said Starbuck.

Donphan bull-rushed Houndoom, and head-butted knocking it over, but Houndoom quickly got up.

“Houndoom, Nasty Plot,” said Shiftry.

Houndoom glared at Donphan with a fierce look. Evil thoughts started to fill its head.

It’s powering up it’s Special Attacks, thought Starbuck. That clearly means Fire. I’d better take it out quickly…

“Rollout!” he shouted.

“Donphan!” shouted Donphan. The Ground Pokémon curled up into a ball, and started to roll towards the Dark one.

“Houndoom, Flamethrower!” ordered Shiftry.

Houndoom exhaled a blast of fire from its jaws, knocking Donphan out of its Rollout with a scream. Donphan teetered in place for a minute.

It shook its head to clear it for a second, and then looked at Houndoom. It growled.

“Donphan, Giga Impact!” shouted Starbuck.

Donphan charged at Houndoom, causing the ground to tremble. Houndoom howled, as the huge Pokémon rammed into it, causing it to topple.

Donphan struggled to catch its breath…

Then Houndoom slowly got up. The Dark Pokémon bore its fangs.

“Houndoom, Crunch,” said Shiftry.

The Seedot and Nuzleaf cheered as Houndoom sank its fangs into Donphan’s leg. It was too much for Donphan. It shrieked, and collapsed.

Starbuck sighed, and recalled Donphan to its pokeball.

“Donphan has fallen,” said Shiftry. “And your punishment begins.”

Before Starbuck could question this, vines started to grow out of the ground, and started to entangle his leg.

“Starbuck!” shouted Shadow.

“Get back!” shouted Starbuck.

The vines covered Starbuck’s whole leg, and then solidified, turning into a hard, woody, bark-like coating. Even worse, Starbuck’s leg was rooted to the ground.

“What’s going on?” gasped Starbuck.

“As your Pokémon lose, your limbs and body will become overgrown,” replied Shiftry. “If you fail as a trainer… Well, perhaps you’ll be a better tree…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Jessica and her group hiked up a rocky slope, high above the valley where they had stopped.

“There,” she said, pointing upwards.

At the top of the slope was a ruined temple of sorts, with a design built into its walls that could best be described as “cosmic”.

“That is the temple where that foolish cabal once attempted to summon the powerful Pokémon that the scrolls we found spoke of. Since then, this place has been known as a place of power for the Alpha Pokémon…

“And it is here where we can summon forth both Dialga and Palkia, and ensnare them to do our bidding!

“We’re about to become figures in history, people… Prepare…”

“Couldn’t we have done that by going into politics?” asked Leo.

“Oh, shut up,” said Sofia.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Starbuck!” shouted Lisa.

“You can’t help him,” said Shiftry.

Starbuck reached for another pokeball.

“I choose Hitmonlee!” he shouted.

The pokeball burst open, and the Fighting Pokémon with powerful legs appeared. It made some warm-up kicks.

“Get him with Hi Jump Kick!” shouted Starbuck.

Hitmonlee leapt into the air, and darted forward, foot-first. It kicked Houndoom right across the muzzle. Houndoom howled in pain.

“Houndoom, Flamethrower again,” said Shiftry.

Houndoom exhaled another gout of flame. Hitmonlee sweat as it blocked it with its arm.

“Now, Mega Kick!” ordered Starbuck.

Hitmonlee’s foot slammed into Houndoom again, and Houndoom whimpered in pain. It slumped to the ground, out cold.

Shiftry gestured, and recalled Houndoom.

“Not bad…” he said. “But I’m far from done…”

He threw another pokeball.

“Meet the Disaster Pokémon. I choose Absol!”

The pokeball opened, and a new Pokémon appeared. It looked like a large wolf of some sort, with snowy white hair, and a crescent-shaped blade on its forehead.

The two Pokémon stared at each other…

“Absol, Double Team,” said Shiftry.

Absol blurred, and then it turned into a whole team of Absol, each one staring Hitmonlee down.

“Think that will stop Hitmonlee?” asked Starbuck, as he rubbed his leg (finding no feeling in it, which worried him). “Hitmonlee, Mind Reader!”

Hitmonlee’s eyes glowed, and then they centered on one of the Absol. It knew that this was the real one.

“Get ‘im!” shouted Starbuck. “Use Hi Jump Kick!”

“Absol, Sucker Punch,” replied Shiftry.

Hitmonlee leapt towards Absol as the clones vanished. It hit the real one, but Absol hit back, with a wave of dark energy. Both Pokémon fell backwards and groaned.

Slowly, both of them got up.

“Absol, Psycho Cut,” ordered Shiftry.

No! thought Starbuck. A Psychic attack!

Absol’s crescent glowed, and a blade of mental energy slashed at Hitmonlee. The fighter groaned, and muttered its name.

Hitmonlee held its chest, groaning in pain.

“Hitmonlee, try to use Brick Break!” said Starbuck.

“Hitmonlee,” said the Fighter.

It rushed at Absol.

“Absol, use Me First,” said Shiftry.

Starbuck gasped. As Hitmonlee tried to punch its foe with its Brick Break attack, Absol leapt up, and started to deliver one of its own. Hitmonlee staggered backwards from the blows.

But it quickly recovered its footing, and clenched its fists. It slammed its own Brick Break into the Absol, and the Dark Pokémon howled. Shiftry’s eyes widened.

“Quite a powerful Fighter you’ve got there,” he said. “What exactly do you feed it?”

“Lot’s of protein and carbs,” replied Starbuck. “And it isn’t wise to let your guard down! Hitmonlee, Blaze Kick!”

Hitmonlee leapt up, and kicked Absol with a foot that was shrouded in flames. Absol gasped, and collapsed, unconscious.

Shiftry frowned, and recalled Absol.

“You are indeed a good trainer,” he said. “Now it seems I must resort to my stronger Pokémon…”

He threw out a pokeball.

“I choose Sharpedo!”

The pokeball opened, and the vicious, shark-like Pokémon leapt out. It glared at Hitmonlee and gnashed its teeth.

“Terrific…” muttered Starbuck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jessica and her group walked into the main room of the temple, which seemed to have been destroyed in a powerful conflagration that had destroyed everything that could identify the foolish cabal’s faith and intentions. Whatever ritual they had done, they clearly had made a mistake in doing it.

“So just what did these guys do that wiped them out?” asked Sofia.

“Well,” said Dr. Dugan, “without a single survivor, all we really know we know from hearsay. But here’s the most likely theory.

“The cult was a group who was searching for great power through forbidden magics of some sort. By some means, they constructed this temple, and used a powerful ritual that summoned a Legendary Pokémon. It might have been Dialga, or maybe Palkia… Or maybe neither. It might have been Giratina, or someone else entirely.”

He chuckled.

“Heh, heh, maybe it was Arceus himself, although I personally don’t believe so.

“Anyway, the Pokémon they summoned got angry, and the wards they constructed couldn’t hold it back. The Pokémon utterly destroyed them, and went back to its home realm.”

“But I have come prepared,” said Jessica.

She took a long rod out of her backpack. The Nexus Rod that Kitsune had gotten from the vault on the Isle of the Dread.

“The Nexus Rod can be used at midnight to summon either Dialga or Palkia at this location, depending on whether I channel the power of the Adamant Orb…”

She held it forward, revealing the white jewel on one tip.

“…or the Lustrous Orb.”

She turned it around, revealing the other jewel.

“Now, once one of them is summoned, regardless of what happens, the other cannot be summoned until the next midnight.

“Thus, I planned ahead. I only brought five Pokémon…”

She pointed to her belt.

“Thus, if I capture one of them, I’ll be able to use it against its brother tomorrow night when we do this again.

“Dr. Dugan… Which of the two is stronger?”

“Well, uhm…” said Dugan. “Both Dialga and Palkia were rarely ever together in any stories, but based on the few myths where they were, I’d say that Dialga is the stronger of the two.”

“Fine then,” said Jessica. “I’ll summon Palkia first, then. With it on my team, it will be a potent weapon against Dialga.”

She looked at her watch. It was ten o’clock.

“Two hours to midnight, people,” she said. “Keep alert… The night may have eyes…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Sharpedo, thought Starbuck. And me without Luxray OR Ludicolo…

“Hitmonlee, use Hi Jump Kick!” he shouted.

“Hitmonlee…” growled the Fighter.

It leapt up in the air… It kicked the shark right below the jaw…

Then, it landed, and howled in pain. It held its foot.

“Sharpedo’s Rough Skin ability,” said Lisa, shaking her head. “Physical attacks are going to hurt Starbuck’s Pokémon immensely.”

“At least that attack seemed to hurt Sharpedo,” added Shadow.

“Sharpedo, Payback,” said Shiftry.

Then Hitmonlee screamed even more, as a slash of dark energy hit across its chest.

It fell on its back, and was out.

Starbuck nervously recalled Hitmonlee. Then, Shiftry gestured, and the vines started entangling Starbuck’s other foot. Starbuck watched, horrified, as his whole lower body turned into the trunk of a tree.

“STARBUCK!” shouted Shadow. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine…” said Starbuck nervously. “All I really have to worry about are gypsy moths…”

“It takes a strong man to make jokes in such a situation,” replied Shiftry. “Can I get you anything? Juice? Soda? Miracle Grow?”

The Seedot and Nuzleaf surrounding them laughed.

Starbuck took a new pokeball from his bandoleer.

He had not used this one in a battle since he had captured it right before meeting Leo for the first time. He had only trained it a little.

But he had studied the career of Ash Ketchum very carefully. He knew that Ash had won a very difficult battle in the Indigo League Championship using his Muk, a Pokémon that he had not really used before.

He had also won the Orange Island Championship with a Tauros on his team that he had not used before.

Both times, he had attributed his victories to beginner’s luck, although perhaps the skill he possessed as a trainer had a little to do with it.

Could beginner’s luck work for him? This Pokémon had a Type advantage over Sharpedo, even if it probably didn’t have Level advantage…

It was worth a shot.

“I choose… Skorupi!” he shouted, throwing the pokeball.

The pokeball opened, and the small, scorpion-like Pokémon emerged.

“Hmm…” said Shiftry, looking at it. “Interesting…”

“Skorupi!” chirped the small Pokémon, as Sharpedo looked at it.

“Skorupi, use Pin Missile,” said Starbuck.

Skorupi launched a volley of sharp spires at the large Water Pokémon, and Sharpedo groaned as the Bug Attack stabbed into its flesh.

“Sharpedo, Skull Bash,” said Shiftry.

Sharpedo started to concentrate, lowering its head.

“It’s going to take a minute for it to use that attack, Skorupi!” called Starbuck. “Use Pin Missile again!”

Skorupi launched another volley of spikes, and Sharpedo groaned again.

Then Sharpedo’s eyes glowed. It launched itself at Skorupi like a missile.

“Skorupi!” shouted Starbuck. “Get out…”

Then Skorupi scurried to the side. Sharpedo missed, and wound up eating the dirt.

“Never mind,” laughed Starbuck. “Try to use Poison Fang!”

Skorupi rushed up to the stunned Sharpedo, and sank its fangs into its side. Sharpedo hollered.

“All right!” cheered Shadow. “That bite poisoned it!”

“Yeah, but Sharpedo’s Rough Skin hurt Skorupi too,” added Lisa.

Sharpedo got up, and glared at Skorupi. It groaned, feeling fatigue from the poison running through its bloodstream.

“Sharpedo…” it groaned.

“Use Brine,” ordered Shiftry.

Sharpedo opened its mouth, and blasted a stream of salty water, drenching the small arachnid. But Skorupi hung on, even though it was soaked.

“Pin Missile one more time!” shouted Starbuck.

Once again, Skorupi fired a volley of sharp spikes at Sharpedo, and this time, it was too much for the shark. It collapsed, and didn’t move.

Shiftry frowned, and recalled the Sharpedo.

“Yes!” cheered Shadow. “He brought Shiftry down to his last Pokémon!”

“Don’t get too excited,” replied Lisa. “Don’t you remember what a Guardian does if it’s down to its last Pokémon?”

“Oh yeah…” muttered Lisa.

Shiftry sat up, rising off his throne. He glared at both Starbuck and the much smaller Pokémon, and his eyes glowed with feral light.

“This is bad…” said Lisa. “I know from experience how powerful Shiftry can be. The one I have is one of my best Pokémon!”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Mrs. Conrad,” said Shiftry.

It adjusted the strap around its shoulder, and Starbuck saw that it held a leather sack of some sort.

Then he pointed with his leafy hand, and a wave of energy shot at Skorupi. Skorupi screamed.

“That’s Extrasensory!” gasped Lisa.

She was certain of it. She had seen her own Shiftry use it plenty of times.

Remarkably, Skorupi still stood. It gasped for breath.

“Try Pin Missile, Skorupi!” shouted Starbuck. “He’s part Dark and part Grass! It will hit him hard!”

Skorupi needed no more prompting. It fired its best Pin Missile yet, and Shiftry grunted as the spires stabbed into its woody hide.

“Hurts…” he said. “But you’ll need more than that…”

Then Shiftry put his hands together, and blasted a powerful Dark Pulse at the small scorpion. Skorupi screamed, and then collapsed.

Starbuck sighed, and then recalled Skorupi.

Only one Pokémon left, he thought, taking his last pokeball. Let’s hope he does the job…

Then the vines grabbed and entangled his other arm. He closed his eyes and sweat as the bark-like covering formed around it and half his upper torso.

Not waiting to see if Shiftry would stop there, he threw his last pokeball…

With a roar, Blaziken leapt out.

“Blaziken!” he exclaimed.

“I brought this guy to handle Roserade if she attacked us,” said Starbuck. “I figured he’d do pretty well against Pokémon made of flowers. But he works pretty well against ones made of wood too.”

“That remains to be seen,” said Shiftry.

Then he looked Blaziken directly in the eye, and his eyes glowed green.

“Blaziken!” shouted Starbuck. “Look away! That’s his Torment move!”

It was too late. The annoying attack had taken hold of Blaziken. The Fire Pokémon’s eyes narrowed, and his mouth fixed into a scowl.

“Lovely,” said Lisa. “So long as Torment lasts, Blaziken can’t use the same move twice in a row.”

“Then I’ll use a powerful one now!” shouted Starbuck. “Flamethrower!”

“Huh?” said Shiftry.

It took him by surprise, as he wasn’t expecting Blaziken to move so fast. The wave of flames hit him in the chest, scorching him.

“ERGH!” he grunted, falling on one knee.

Shiftry looked at Blaziken in anger, and then reached into the pouch. He pulled out, of all things, a large acorn.

“You’re going down,” he said.

The acorn glowed with energy, and then he hurled it, hitting Blaziken right between the eyes. Blaziken groaned, and staggered backwards.

“No fair!” shouted Shadow. “Since when are weapons allowed?”

“That was a Dark attack called Fling, I believe,” said Lisa. “A Pokémon needs ammunition to use it.”

“I’ve got more where that came from,” said Shiftry. “But first…”

He gestured, and a powerful Leaf Storm struck the area. Blaziken staggered backwards, as the sharp leaves stabbed into his skin.

“ENOUGH!” shouted Starbuck, as the storm subsided. “Blaziken, give him a Brick Break of your own!”

Blaziken’s eyes glowed with fire, and it rushed at Shiftry…

Shiftry’s fist glowed with Dark energy, and he clocked Blaziken on the chin with a Sucker Punch. But it only seemed to make Blaziken madder. He tore into Shiftry, slamming his fists into the Dark Pokémon’s trunk-like hide.

Shiftry let out a roar, and Blaziken was thrown off by another Extrasensory.

Blaziken got up, and flames surrounded him. He was clearly very angry.

“Oh… no…” muttered Shiftry.

“Flamethrower!” shouted Starbuck.

Shiftry let out a scream as the powerful Fire attack engulfed him, and he was thrown with a splat against the tree behind him.

“Nuzleaf!” shouted a Nuzleaf, as it and another Nuzleaf ran up to him.

“Ergh…” muttered Starbuck.

And then the woody bark that was restraining him crumbled into dust.

“Well…” he said, taking a deep breath. “I guess I won…”

Shiftry slowly nodded. A Nuzleaf gave him something out of a bottle.

“Thanks, Blaziken,” said Starbuck.

“You’re welcome,” replied Blaziken.

Everyone was shocked, including Blaziken.

“You can talk?” asked Starbuck.

“It appears so…” said the Blaziken, looking at himself.

“Shaymin’s gift,” muttered Lisa. “It manifested in Blaziken, after he battled, just like that philosopher said it would.”

“And I am impressed,” said Shiftry. “You are quite deserving to take the quest further…”

Three Nuzleaf ran up to Starbuck. Two of them were holding another Plate, which was colored grey. Starbuck assumed it was the Dread Plate.

The other was carrying an amulet. The three Nuzleaf handed the two objects to Starbuck.

“What’s this?” asked Starbuck, taking the amulet.

“A gift,” replied Shiftry.

“Some gift,” said Shadow. “It’s broken.”

True enough, the amulet seemed to have once been a disk of some sort, that had been broken in two.

“The Guardian of the Mind Plate has the other half,” replied Shiftry. “He and I are opposites, so we were both entrusted with one half.

“Find him. One of you challenge him for the Mind Plate. If you are victorious, he will relinquish the Mind Plate, and the other half of the amulet.

“Once whole, the amulet will lead you to the Guardian of the Stone Plate.

“Be warned, of all the Guardians, he is one of the most powerful. But he has information, young Conrad. Information you have been wanting for a long time…

“Information… about your father…”

“WHAT?” shouted Starbuck. “He knows where dad is?”

“I do not know,” replied Shiftry. “All I know is that he has information.

“One final warning… You have defeated one of the servants of the Twisting. The second may show up soon. Remember, these creatures can wear the bodies of other trainers, so this threat may come from anywhere.

“Now go. And don’t worry about us. The Twisting cannot reach this realm. You can only save the Guardians who have fallen victim to it if you destroy the Twisting…

“I only hope you can…”

Then the dark wood faded away. In the next minute, the three trainers were outside the Bunglewood, near Starbuck and Shadow’s bikes, under a starry sky.

“Dad…” muttered Starbuck. “Where are you?”

* * * * * * * * * *

As Starbuck, Shadow, and Lisa drove to the nearest Pokémon Center, the clock moved to midnight…

In the temple at the Spires, Jessica held the Nexus Rod in front of her, chanting an ancient spell as her henchmen looked on.

Slowly, a portal of purplish, shimmering energy started to appear in front of her… They all heard a low growl, as two glowing eyes appeared in it…



Coming up next:

Will Jessica capture Palkia? Whether she does or not, both Arceus and the Twisting take notice next chapter, and new troubles begin for both parties involved. And Starbuck continues his quest, heading for Nutmeg City, where Shadow meets the Guardian of the Mind Plate in a very odd battleground. “Perchance to Dream” is coming up next.

[Dark Sage]

Happy Holidays folks. Like I do every Christmas, I’d like to share my favorite Christmas carol with you. But since I learned my lesson about plagiarism already, I’ll give due credit to the original artists.

So, here’s Snoopy and the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsmen. Enjoy.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

The news had come out in the First World War,
The bloody Red Baron was flying once more.
The Allied command ignored all of its men,
And called on Snoopy to do it again.

Twas the night before Christmas, at forty below,
When Snoopy went up in search of his foe,
He spied the Red Baron, and fiercely they fought,
With ice on his wings, Snoopy knew he was caught.

Christmas bells, those Christmas bells,
Ring out from the land,
Asking peace of all the world,
And good will to man.

The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights,
He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight,
Why he didn't shoot, well, we'll never know,
Or was it the bells from the village below?

Christmas bells, those Christmas bells,
Ringing through the land,
Bringing peace to all the world,
And good will to man.

The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine,
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines,
Snoopy was certain that this was the end,
When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend!"

The Baron then offered a holiday toast,
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host,
And then with a roar they were both on their way,
Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.

Christmas bells, those Christmas bells,
Ringing through the land,
Bringing peace to all the world,
And good will to man.

Christmas bells, those Christmas bells,
Ringing through the land,
Bringing peace to all the world,
And good will to man!

Poor Snoopy… Seems he can never win…

Happy holidays. Stay tuned for a new chapter of Storming Heaven's Gates, coming soon. And be here on January 1st for the premiere of my new fanfic. It’s gonna be a blast.

[Shuppet Master]

I tend to hear this song quite a few times on my favorite station every holiday season. Thank goodness it's only one month a year.

No offense, though - this is a pretty good song.

Happy holidays to you, Brian, and may you get everything you wanted. (I screwed up the Secret Santa thing, sadly - I am getting lax in writing fanfiction due to going back to Pokemon after so long thanks to The Speed Gamers and their Pokemon marathon. Right now, I've completed the Elite 4 on Pearl, but not after losing almost everyone to Cynthia's uber team and using up all my potions and revives.)

[Jeff]

We have a radio station here that plays all Christmas music from mid-November to the end of December and I hear that song all the time on it.

Merry Christmas, and as always, looking forward to the next chapter!

[Dark Sage]

Dreams. They are funny things. Most scientists say that everyone has them, even though not everyone remembers them.

It’s different with animals. Not all of them sleep, for one thing. Insects don’t sleep, and fish don’t seem to do so either. (Sharks and related fish literally cannot rest. If they were to ever stop moving, they would sink.) Most animals do sleep in some form, but I once recall reading that only mammals have dreams, because they are the only animals that experience the REM stage of sleep, the deepest part of the sleep cycle where dreams occur.

Pokémon may be a different story, however. It is probable that they all dream, whether or not they resemble mammals, reptiles, fish, insects, or creatures that do not fit the description of any class used to identify normal animals. Unless a Pokémon has the Insomnia ability, it can sleep (and putting one to sleep is a good way to capture one) and two infamous Ghost attacks called Dream Eater and Nightmare suggest that Pokémon do dream. I myself was once attacked by a nasty Gengar who knew Nightmare, but I was lucky enough to wake up in time and fight it off.

Anyway, there’s also a theory that says if you die in a dream, you die for real. This cannot be proven, of course, but I might experience this fate firsthand if I don’t win the Pokémon Dare that I just got into.

The Mind Plate represents the power of Thought, and in this realm of dreams, simply pinching myself won’t let me wake up…

CHAPTER TWENTY



Perchance to Dream

Jessica was a mess. Her hair was singed, her clothes were torn, she had bruises on her arms. Palkia had definitely not wanted to go quietly.

Her Pokémon were also exhausted. Her Hypno had used Hypnosis until its eyes were blurry. Her Scizor had False Swiped so much, its claws were starting to dull. And she had used eleven Heavy Balls.

But she couldn’t argue with success. She held in her hand the eleventh one, and it contained her prize. Palkia was hers.

She chuckled.

“The Spatial Pokémon…” she said. “The first piece of the puzzle… Mine at last!”

“Now calm down boss,” said Dr. Dugan. “Calm down… You don’t want to get all megalomaniacal…”

“True…” replied Jessica. “But this is only a start…”

She picked up the Nexus Rod.

“Dialga cannot be summoned now until tomorrow night, which is fortunate. My Pokémon and I have to heal. But when I do summon it, I’ll have the ideal weapon.”

She looked at the pokeball containing Palkia again.

“All right!” she said. “Everyone… Send out your strongest Pokémon to guard us while we make camp. We’ll all need to be well-rested for tomorrow.

“Destiny awaits…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Jessica did not know it, but it was not that simple. She had just captured a Legendary Pokémon of incredible power. And doing such things are never without repercussions. When such things happen, powerful entities take notice.

The night was not over for this group of trainers…

Two hours later, the exhausted members of Rocket Reborn were sleeping soundly in their sleeping bags. Five Pokémon – Kitsune’s Ninetales, Leo’s Rhyperior, Sofia’s Nidoqueen, a Hariyama (that one was Tony’s) and a Feraligatr (which was Dugan’s) kept vigilant watch.

Then all five of them heard a sound.

A glowing portal started to open, similar to the one that Palkia had come out of.

They bravely stood ground, ready to face it, knowing that the sounds of a fight would wake their masters, and they would be joined by more Pokémon.

But then, as quickly as the portal came, it was gone.

Had they been imagining things? Should they awaken their masters?

No, what would they do then? They couldn’t speak the language of humans.

They didn’t realize that the Nexus Rod was gone. They hadn’t seen the mysterious intruder come in and take it, because the intruder had literally frozen time from its point of view, allowing it to do everything it needed to do in what everyone viewing perceived to be a fraction of a second. It had taken the Nexus Rod and was gone.

* * * * * * * * * *

The night was still not over for the sleeping trainers. One hour later, a dark shape crept into the temple. The five Pokémon took notice, but the dark presence simply gestured, and they cowered in fear. Had they not succumbed to the Twisting, they may have been able to face it, but they had long ago.

The dark force went straight to Kitsune, guided by a beacon that had been planted in her soul recently.

Kitsune’s eyes snapped open.

She got up, and looked at herself.

“Not bad,” she said, in a far more sinister voice. “It will do, I suppose…”

“Ninetales?” said Ninetales, meekly, looking at its trainer.

Kitsune looked around.

“That trainer has Palkia,” she said. “Best not mess with her just yet…”

She felt the air.

“And Dialga has been here recently too… Strange… It came, left, and did nothing?

“Bah! The gods are fickle beings…

“Well, let’s see what sort of Pokémon you have, Kitsune…”

She looked at her pokeballs.

She grinned. This was indeed a lucky find.

She pointed the empty one at Ninetales.

“Time to come to your new master, Ninetales,” she said.

Ninetales panicked. It turned to try to run, but it couldn’t escape being drawn into its pokeball.

Kitsune grinned, and walked out of the temple.

* * * * * * * * * *

Morning rose over the spires. Jessica angrily waited as Tony hiked back to the temple.

“Well??” she asked when he got there.

“My Skarmory did a full aerial search of the area,” replied Tony. “She’s nowhere in sight. But she didn’t take either of our vehicles, which puzzles me. I don’t know how she intends to walk back to civilization.”

“Kitsune stole the Nexus Rod…” growled Jessica. “Is there anyone in my organization who isn’t a traitor?”

“Not me, boss,” replied Leo.

“Regardless,” said Jessica, holding up the ball containing Palkia. “Kitsune will suffer the same fate that is awaiting Mandy. But I think I’ll go look for Mandy first… She and I go further back, after all.

“After all, with Palkia on my team, I’m more powerful than I ever was before. And there may be other ways to summon Dialga. I’m very patient, after all…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The day wore on, and the other side of this conflict, the son and wife of Ishmael Conrad and the former’s sometime rival, rode into the quiet berg of Nutmeg City.

“So, let me get this straight,” said Shadow, as they surveyed the area. “In order to find the Mind Plate, we have to check into a hotel, and… sleep there?”

“Well, Brother Edmund said so, but it’s a specific hotel,” replied Starbuck. “He called it The Sleepy Slowbro.”

“I’ve yet to see a Slowbro that wasn’t sleepy,” replied Shadow.

“Well, actually, they’re just slow,” replied Lisa.

They asked around town, and were eventually directed to their destination. They were relieved to see that it wasn’t some fleabag. It was a very old bed and breakfast, with a plaque that said “Est. 1776” on the cornerstone. Clearly, this was an old building, but it seemed very fancy. Over the doorway was a sign with the name of the hotel, and a picture of – what else? – a Slowbro.

“I hope we can stay without a reservation,” said Lisa, as they walked in.

The inside of the hotel was quaint, and full of antique furniture. Starbuck walked up to the front desk, and rang the bell.

“Coming, coming!” said a voice from the other room. After about a minute, a man in a formal suit with a bow tie who looked to be in his mid-sixties rushed in.

“And what can I do for you folks?” he asked.

“Uhm, we’d like two rooms for the night,” said Starbuck, “if that is possible, that is…”

“Well, yes it is,” said the man. “But, one question… Are you folks Pokémon trainers?”

“Why, yes,” replied Starbuck.

“Ah,” said the man, scratching his head.

“Is that a problem?” asked Shadow.

“No, no,” replied the man. “I’ll gladly put you up for the night if you desire… But I must warn you… Whenever any Pokémon trainers sleep here, they tend to have unusual dreams.

“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Hank, by the way…”

Starbuck lifted an eyebrow.

“How unusual?” he asked.

“Well, let me tell you an odd story about this hotel,” said Hank. “Have a seat, this may take some time…”

The three trainers sat down as Hank started to explain.

“It was built in 1776 by a retired sea captain named Walter McMathew. He intended to use it both as his retirement retreat, and his source of income.

“Now, Walter was known for two things. One, for being a fencer of great skill. He could use a rapier better than any other swordsman of the time.

“He was also known for being a Pokémon trainer who specialized in Psychic Pokémon. His constant companion was a Gardevoir that was stronger and smarter than the average specimen. He had raised it from a Ralts, apparently…”

Starbuck let out a long sigh…

“Eh?” said Hank.

“My… dad has a Gardevoir that he’s very close to,” replied Starbuck. “But please, continue.”

“Well, old Walter got older,” continued Hank, “but Gardevoir always stayed by his side. She couldn’t speak the human language, but she always listened to him. Walter never married, as he knew he could never find a wife who could be a better companion than that Gardevoir.

“Eventually, Walter grew ill. Gardevoir maintained a constant vigil by his deathbed, holding his hand, and shedding tears.

“When he finally died, Gardevoir stayed to mourn for about an hour. Then the attendant went to get someone to move Walter’s body, and when she came back with the undertaker, Gardevoir was gone. She had disappeared without a trace.

“Everyone who knew Walter searched the whole town for days, but no-one ever found her. Most assumed she had simply Teleported away…

“But long after Walter was put to rest, Pokémon trainers who slept here reported dreaming of Psychic Pokémon, often Gardevoir, and often its two pre-evolution forms. What it meant, no-one knew…”

Starbuck looked at Shadow and his mother with an odd look.

“We’ll take your two best suites,” he said, quickly.

* * * * * * * * * *

The hotel was expensive, yes, but Starbuck could simply sign the bill to Percival’s name if this panned out. He just hoped it did. Bed and breakfasts do not serve dinner, so they went to the Pokémon Center to have that.

“I dunno, Starbuck,” said Shadow. “I always have trouble sleeping in new places, no matter how nice the place is. Pokémon Centers I’m used to, but fancy hotels…”

“We just have to try to relax,” replied Starbuck. “This is an odd task to say the least, but we can manage.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy was sitting on a park bench in Blueberry Cove. She glanced at a pouch by her side.

She sighed.

Starbuck said that her parents were living in Canalave City. If she was smart, she would take the next boat to Sinnoh and leave everything behind.

So why wasn’t she?

As she was thinking this, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Hi, Mandy!” laughed Jessica.

Mandy leapt up, and assumed a fighting stance.

“You’re not gonna take me alive this time, bitch,” said Mandy.

“Really, Mandy?” asked Jessica. “You forget who I am. I could have just snuck up behind you and wrapped a gag covered with chloroform over your mouth if I wanted to do things quick. Or something far more lethal…

“I’m offering you another chance…”

She held up a pokeball.

“A chance for a rematch, and another Pokémon Dare.”

Mandy looked around. She saw that several folks had appeared where there had been none before. Likely, they were working for Jessica.

Her escape routes were all cut off.

“Fine…” she said. “I accept…”

They both grabbed a pokeball…

* * * * * * * * * *

At this time, Lisa and Shadow were brushing their teeth in the bathroom provided in the room they had been given.

“Any tips on how we can fall asleep faster?” asked Shadow.

“Just calm down, Shadow,” said Lisa, as she wiped her mouth. “If you’re really having a hard time sleeping, you can have that Gengar of yours try Hypnosis.”

“Not sure if that’s a good idea…” muttered Shadow.

“Then let’s just do our best…” replied Lisa.

In the room next to theirs, Starbuck had just laid down. He closed his eyes.

Then, sleep overtook him…

He started to dream… And what odd dreams they were…

He dreamed he and Blaziken were on board the Flying Dutchman, both of them dressed in pirate regalia, holding cutlasses and fighting off Davy Jones’s demonic crew. One by one, they defeated the ghostly pirates. Then they came face to face with the captain… A fiendish looking creature with the body of a man, a head that resembled an Octillery, and the claws of a Kingler.

Starbuck and Blaziken gave each other a thumb’s up, and rushed at the evil pirate…

Meanwhile, Lisa dreamed as well. She dreamed she was dressed in a leather jacket and fedora, with a bullwhip and pistol strapped to her belt, and was wandering through a dark temple. Carefully, she made her way to an altar where a golden idol shaped like a Pikachu sat.

She looked at the idol careful… Then she lifted a bag full of sand. She reached for the idol slowly, while lifting the bag… Then, in one smooth motion, she switched them.

She smiled…

Then she heard a loud clicking noise… Followed by a rumble…

Shadow’s concern that she would be unable to sleep turned out to be a wasted concern, because she was snoring loudly. She dreamt that she was dressed in armor and a flowing cape, wearing a sword by her side, and riding a swift Rapidash. She rode up a hill, and a savage-looking Salamence flew overhead with a roar. She leapt off her mount, and drew her sword, ready to fight the beast…

And then, it and the Rapidash vanished…

In two flashes of light, Starbuck and Lisa appeared beside her. Starbuck was still wearing the pirate outfit, and Lisa was still dressed in her explorer’s outfit.

“What?” shouted Lisa. “What are you two doing here?”

“I don’t know,” said Starbuck. “I was having a really wacky dream… Mom, when was the last time I saw Pirates of the Caribbean?”

“Not sure,” said Lisa. “I’m just glad I was brought here… I was about to be smooshed. You’d think I would have learned a lesson from Indiana Jones.”

“People, I don’t think we’ve woken up yet,” said Shadow. “Look!”

She pointed to her clothes. Starbuck and Lisa looked at theirs.

“Odd…” said Lisa. “Somehow, our dreams have overlapped… I didn’t think that was possible…”

Starbuck looked at himself, and then at his mother and rival.

“Pirate, knight, explorer…” he said. “Anyone see the common thread? We were all dreaming of roles as adventurer heroes…”

“A dream that Walter McMathew had almost all his life,” said a voice.

Everyone turned in the direction where the Salamence had come from.

“That’s it,” said the voice, which was clearly male, and seemed formal. “Just follow my voice…”

The three trainers walked down the grassy knoll, and saw something that defied description.

Lying in a meadow, was a huge Dragonite, twice the size of most of its species, fast asleep. Sitting on the huge Pokémon’s shoulders was a Gallade, who seemed to be the one who had called them.

“You…” said Starbuck. “You must be…”

“The descendent of McMathew’s Gardevoir,” replied the Gallade. “And the Guardian of the Mind Plate. My ancestor was a powerful Psychic, who had abilities far beyond those of most Gardevoir. She knew how to transverse dimensions where the power of Thought held dominance.

“So when McMathew died, she found a way to come here… The land of dreams, where sleepers can experience their subconscious desires and fears. And it is in this realm where Arceus entrusted her with the Mind Plate.”

“And you want me to battle you for it?” asked Starbuck.

“Not you, young Conrad,” replied Gallade. “I want to face someone who is more acquainted with the special powers of Pokémon that are not elemental in nature…

“I want to battle Shadow…

“In a Pokémon Dare…”

“Uh…” muttered Shadow. “Sure, I can do that… But… I don’t have my Pokémon with me! How can I battle you?”

“Simple,” replied the Gallade. “Your Pokémon are also asleep, and they are dreaming their own dreams. Whenever you need a new Pokémon, simply call for one of them.”

“Any Pokémon at all that I own?” asked Shadow, with a suspicious look. “Kind of seems like an unfair advantage…”

“Yes,” replied Gallade. “But, as for me, I can request help from any Psychic Pokémon that fits a certain criteria that is also dreaming. So I have a large selection as well.

“Like the battles you have previously fought with the other Guardians, we will use four Pokémon apiece.”

“And that Dragonite?” asked Lisa.

“Oh, him…” replied Gallade, looking down. “I wouldn’t wake him up if I were you. He’s the defender of this realm, and he only wakes when there’s a threat.”

“No threat!” said Starbuck, as he threw his cutlass away.

Lisa followed suit, taking off her whip and gun and tossing them aside. (Not that she even knew how to use either, but she didn’t want to risk the anger of a Pokémon that big.)

“Good,” said Gallade. “Then let’s begin…”

* * * * * * * * * *

There had only been a few times in Mandy’s life where she had truly been afraid. Not much scared her. She had been Queen of the Battle Girls, after all. She had crawled through caves full of Ghost Pokémon, battled packs of Houndoom in the dead of night, and fought her way past dangerous Cacturne that had been preying on travelers in a barren desert.

Now, however, she was truly scared.

She wouldn’t have been scared if she had simply lost a Pokémon Dare. She was more than used to taking the punishment that came with losing such a contest. She prided herself on being tough.

She wouldn’t have even been scared if she had simply lost one to Jessica, despite the fact that she knew from experience that Jessica was utterly without mercy.

So why was she scared?

Because, she had lost a Pokémon Dare, to Jessica, and the Pokémon that had sealed Jessica’s victory was a Pokémon that Mandy had never even heard of, not to mention the biggest, meanest-looking monster she had ever seen. It was more than twice the size of her Garchomp, and as Garchomp itself had discovered, much, much stronger…

“Speechless, huh?” gloated Jessica. “I gave you another chance, Mandy, I let you go, and offered to start over. But you made the same dumb mistake you did last time… You underestimated me.

“Remember those chains I used to restrain you when we made the deal? Those are going to be a permanent part of your accommodations once I get you back…

“Assuming of course, you survive this…

“Palkia! Punish her with Spatial Rend!”

Palkia lifted its huge claw, and it glowed with uncanny energy.

This is it… thought Mandy. The end of the line… Mum… Dad… I’m so sorry… I wasn’t able to…

Then something clicked in her. Everything started to slow…

Was something calling her?

Not even knowing what she was doing, she reached for the pouch by her side…

* * * * * * * * * *

In the realm that only sleepers could access, Shadow faced the Gallade, who had not come down from its perch on the sleeping Dragonite.

So I can call on any Pokémon at all that I own? she thought. Okay, let me think… He’s using Psychic Pokémon… Psychics are vulnerable to Ghost, Dark, and Bug attacks…

I don’t have any strong Bugs… Gengar is my strongest Ghost, but it’s part Poison, so it might be a liability…

So…

“I call out… Houndoom!” she shouted.

In a sparkle of energy, Houndoom appeared in front of her, as if by magic.

Gallade narrowed his eyes. His expression was hard to read, seeing as he didn’t truly have a mouth.

“I choose Wobbuffet,” he said.

In another sparkle of energy, a Pokémon appeared before him – one of the most underrated Psychics known. A large, blue, oblong, rubbery creature with a plain expression, stubby arms, four stubby legs, and a black tail with eyes on it.

“Interesting choice…” muttered Starbuck.

“Mmm,” said Lisa. “A Wobbuffet can ruin an opponent’s plans quickly. This could be bad.”

Shadow looked at it nervously.

And I’ll bet its Shadow Tag Ability still functions even with these odd rules, she thought. I won’t be able to switch out…

Best make the most of it…

“Houndoom, run up and Crunch!” she ordered.

Houndoom howled. It dashed up to Wobbuffet, and clamped its jaws on its arm. Wobbuffet barely even seemed to notice.

“Wobbuffet, use Counter,” said Gallade.

Wobbuffet glowed, and Houndoom shrieked in surprise as it was hit by a wave of energy that threw it off the Psychic.

“Like I said, bad,” replied Lisa. “Whatever Houndoom hits it with, Wobbuffet can hit it back twice as hard. And Wobbuffet can take far more punishment than Houndoom can.”

Shadow thought for a minute.

“Houndoom, Flamethrower!” she said. “If we burn it, we may be able to beat it!”

“Houndoom!” exclaimed the hound. It exhaled a stream of white-hot flames at the Psychic. Again, Wobbuffet barely flinched.

“Wobbuffet, Mirror Coat,” said Gallade.

Wobbuffet’s skin shone like a reflective surface, and Houndoom howled as another wave of energy struck it.

“Houndoom…” it panted, getting up. “Houndoom…”

“Wobbuffet,” replied Wobbuffet.

“Houndoom!” shouted Houndoom. “Houndoom!”

“Oh, this could get ugly,” said a voice next to Starbuck.

Starbuck turned, and saw Blaziken standing there.

“You!” he said. “You were in my dream… I wasn’t imagining things, you’re sharing this dream too…”

“Yes, and I was a little worried when you disappeared,” replied Blaziken. “But don’t worry, I managed to fight off Jones on my own.

“And it seems Houndoom is getting rather upset…”

Starbuck turned to the fight, where the two Pokémon were still yelling at each other.

“Care to translate?” asked Starbuck.

“I think Houndoom just called Wobbuffet a ‘coward who couldn’t start a fight if its life depended on it’. And Wobbuffet responded by saying that it wouldn’t start a fight, but it was more than willing to finish one. And that made Houndoom even angrier.

“Dark Pokémon tend to have such nasty tempers…”

Shadow was listening, of course, and then a light went on in her head.

Nasty… she thought. Maybe…

“Houndoom!” she shouted. “Stop arguing and listen to me! Use Nasty Plot!”

Houndoom did stop. It started to concentrate, and its eyes glowed with energy. If it was truly asleep and dreaming right now, nightmares were starting to fill its head.

“Eh?” said Gallade.

“Wobbuffet?” said Wobbuffet.

“Be ready to use Mirror Coat again,” said Gallade. “That move boosts Special Attacks…”

“Nasty Plot again,” said Shadow. “And keep using it until I tell you otherwise!”

Houndoom started to glow with a dark, scary aura. It started to mutter words that you would recognize as obscenities even if you didn’t know Pokémonese.

“Ugh, such language!” exclaimed Blaziken.

“Yeah, but I see Shadow’s strategy,” replied Lisa. “She’s powering up Houndoom’s Special Attack power as far as it will go. If it works, Houndoom might be able to knock Wobbuffet out with one single blast, before it ever manages to use its Mirror Coat.

“And there’s nothing Gallade can do to stop it,” added Starbuck. “Wobbuffet can’t make any offensive moves unless its opponent does.”


Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:


Gallade’s eyes narrowed. It knew that they were right, and it was getting nervous. Wobbuffet was pretty nervous as well, as Houndoom started to glow with more and more intensity…

“Houn…doom…” growled Houndoom.

“Okay, enough!” shouted Shadow. “Let him have it with a Fire Blast!”

“No choice!” shouted Gallade. “Use Destiny Bond!”

“Huh?” said Shadow.

Then Wobbuffet’s eyes started to glow with eerie light…

“HOUNDOOM!” screamed Shadow. “STOP!”

But it was too late for Houndoom to stop. It was too full of rage. The intense blast of flame shot at its foe, and Wobbuffet screamed. Then Houndoom shuddered as the powerful curse of Destiny Bond struck it just as Wobbuffet collapsed…

Both Pokémon were out cold.

Shadow watched, as both Houndoom and Wobbuffet shimmered with silvery energy, and then vanished.

“What happened to them?” she demanded.

“They woke up,” replied Gallade. “As most folks do after a very intense dream, but they will be fine.

“The score stands tied one to one. And you are quite clever…”

He gestured, and another Pokémon shimmered into view in front of him.

It brought to mind a pig; one that was purple that stood on its hind legs, but a pig nonetheless. It had two orbs of some sort on its forehead, and one on its stomach.

“Grumpig,” it said.

“Ho boy…” said Lisa.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mandy rushed into the Pokémon Center and slammed the door behind her. She slumped to the ground.

What had just happened? Why was she still in one piece?

Slowly, she went over what had happened a half-hour ago, right before she had started running without daring to look back…

She had lost a Pokémon Dare to Jessica, who had effortlessly beaten her Garchomp with a giant, incredibly powerful Pokémon that she had never even heard of, which Jessica called “Palkia”. Since she lost, Jessica was permitted to attack her once with that Pokémon, as per the rules of the Pokémon Dare. And Mandy doubted that she would survive the “Spatial Rend” as Jessica had called it, which was an attack that Mandy had never heard of.

What happened next confused her a lot, and it made little sense to her even now. Some… voice or something had told her to take the Heaven’s Pipe out of the pouch by her side. She quickly did so. Not knowing what to do then, she held it up, as if to use it as a shield. As if it would have helped much…

To her utter shock, it did. Palkia didn’t strike. It stopped its attack in mid-swing, and then got down on its knees. It was as if the Heaven’s Pipe held some sort of religious significance to the huge Pokémon.

Of course, Jessica was enraged at her Pokémon’s apparent disobedience. She started yelling at it, but it refused to attack Mandy. And Mandy wasn’t going to stay around to find out if it would or not. She turned and ran. Two of Jessica’s goons tried to stop her, but she kicked them over and ran past them. She was glad that the years in Jessica’s prison hadn’t caused her fighting skills to slip. And she ran until she had reached the Pokémon Center, a place where Jessica probably wouldn’t try to attack her.

She looked at the Heaven’s Pipe… What was this thing? She was getting a pretty good idea of why her parents had told her never to give it back to them. What was so special about it that a Pokémon that powerful was compelled to kneel before it?

One thing was for sure… She would hang onto it until she knew she was safe. It had protected her from Jessica’s big monster once, so maybe it would do so again.

She considered her options. It was very, very tempting to take the next boat to Sinnoh and find her parents, and leave Toreen and Rocket Reborn behind forever… She really didn’t want to be sent back to Jessica’s prison, and be chained up for the rest of her stay there…

She looked at it again…

Starbuck needed it for some reason… Did he know its secrets?

“Mom… Dad…” she said, as she started to cry. “Why did you send this to me?”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Are you going to choose a Pokémon, or are you going to just stare at mine?” asked Gallade.

“Oh, fine!” shouted Shadow. “I choose Weavile!”

In a shimmering aura of energy, Weavile appeared in front of her.

“Be careful, Weavile!” she warned. “That guy likely has Thick Fat, so Ice attacks aren’t gonna do much good…”

Grumpig and Weavile glared at each other.

“Grumpig…” grunted Grumpig.

“Well, Weavile definitely has speed on its side,” remarked Blaziken. “I’ve yet to see a Grumpig beat any speed records.”

Weavile made the first move, and rushed at its foe, bearing its claws. Grumpig groaned a little as two Night Slashes swiped across its ample gut.

“Payback!” ordered Gallade.

“Grumpig,” snorted the hog.

Then it grabbed Weavile by the arms, pinning them to its sides. Apparently, it was somewhat fast after all, and its strength was considerable.

As Weavile struggled, Grumpig slammed its forehead into Weavile’s. Weavile staggered backwards, clearly stunned.

“Humph…” muttered Blaziken. “If I were a Psychic, I’d prefer using my head for what it was made for – to think.”

“Grumpig tend to have pretty thick skulls,” replied Lisa.

“While it’s stunned,” ordered Gallade, “Power Gem.”

Grumpig gestured, and the pearls on its forehead and belly started to glow. Then, a barrage of shimmering gemstone shot at Weavile, pelting it. Weavile winced in pain as the Rock attack made deep scratches on its skin.

“Weavile!” it shouted. “Weavile!”

“Oh dear…” muttered Blaziken. “Weavile just called it a fat pig…”

“Grumpig!” shouted Grumpig back. “Grumpig…”

Everyone turned to Blaziken.

“It just said it is a pig,” replied Blaziken, “and it thinks Weavile is being juvenile.”

Starbuck shook his head.

“Weavile is Twisted,” he said. “Grumpig likely isn’t. Gallade can likely call Pokémon who aren’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if arguments like this happen all the time when a Twisted Pokémon fights a non-Twisted one.”

“Weavile, calm down!” shouted Shadow. “Fight it… Please…”

“Weavile?” asked Weavile, looking at its master.

“That’s right…” said Shadow. “I know it’s making you angry… But we’re trying to fix it… I promise you… Once it’s over, you won’t be angry any more…”

Weavile paused.

“Weavile…” it grumbled.

“All right,” she said. “Try Metal Claw!”

Weavile bore its claws again, and rushed at Grumpig, making a deep cut across its torso. Grumpig hollered, and fell on its behind.

“Grumpig…” it said, getting up.

“Bounce,” said Gallade.

“Bounce?” asked Starbuck. “What’s that? Is that an attack?”

What happened next would have almost been humorous, unless you saw it from Weavile’s end. Grumpig leapt up, and then fell on its behind…

…only to bounce up, propelling itself skyward. Everyone looked up…

Weavile tried to look up, but it did so too late. Grumpig crashed down, booty-first, crushing Weavile underneath it. Weavile let out a scream of pain, and fell flat as Grumpig bounced to the side again.

Then Weavile vanished slowly, just as Houndoom had.

Great… thought Shadow. No more Dark Pokémon… I’m gonna have to go with my Ghost…

“I call on Gengar!” she shouted.

With a cackling laugh, Gengar materialized in front of her.

“Well, this fight will be about even in terms of Type,” said Lisa. “But Gengar still has the advantage in speed.”

“Gengar, Shadow Ball!” ordered Shadow.

Gengar let out a cackling laugh, and a bolt of eerie darkness shot towards Grumpig. It tried to shield itself, but it cringed as the ghostly energy burned it.

“Grumpig, use Zen Headbutt,” ordered Gallade.

Grumpig glowed with Psychic energy again, and then shot towards Gengar, head-first.

“Sucker Punch!” shouted Shadow.

Gengar laughed again, and socked Grumpig with a ghostly fist as it flew towards it. The Zen Headbutt still connected, and Gengar was pushed backwards a few feet, but it took the wound with a chuckle.

Think I can take this guy out now… thought Shadow.

“Night Shade!” she commanded.

Gengar’s eyes glowed with a haunting energy, and it seemed to double in size. Grumpig squeaked in fear, and took a step backwards…

And then it collapsed. It slowly vanished as the other Pokémon did.

“Boy, that’s the last time I’m bringing home the bacon…” muttered Shadow.

“Very funny…” said Gallade. “You are indeed powerful…

“So I’ll send out a Pokémon that will truly test you…

“I call forth Bronzong!”

A sound wafted over the meadow that sounded like a low bell ringing. The Dragonite shifted in its sleep, startling the humans. Would it wake up?

They were relieved to see it fall fast asleep again. However, they were all surprised to see the Pokémon that appeared.

It didn’t resemble a creature at all. It looked like a large jar, made of metal and etched with ancient runes, two of which at the bottom suggested eyes. A downward-pointing u-shaped bar was on the top, which extended halfway down the body of the creature. It was about four feet tall, and floated in the air, motionless.

“What the…” said Starbuck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, an intruder had broken into the Blueberry Cove Department Store.

Having disabled the security system, Kitsune wandered through one of the floors holding a flashlight. She looked around at the merchandise, taking note when she saw what she was looking for.

“Lawn care products over there…” she said. “Nice… Home appliances over there… That covers three of what I need…”

She chuckled.

“Oak, Birch, Elm, Rowan… So many geniuses in the world of Pokémon research…

“Charon was definitely not one of them. He was a fool. Likely why he’s in jail now.

“But… He did know a great deal about one species in particular…

“And now, thanks to my host, I can use that knowledge to set a deadly trap once Starbuck comes back here…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Mom, have you ever heard of Bronzong?” asked Starbuck. “I don’t think a PokéDex was included with my current attire…”

“I never saw one in person,” replied Lisa. “But I do believe that Lucian of the Sinnoh Elite Four has a Pokémon called Bronzong. I think he specializes in Psychics. If I had to guess, I’d say that this was a Psychic/Steel hybrid.”

And that’s bad news, thought Shadow. Its Psychic vulnerability to Ghost attacks will be cancelled out by its Steel resistance to them.

Well, I’d best make due…

“Night Shade!” she shouted.

Gengar laughed again, and the phantom attack struck the odd Pokémon. It was impossible to tell just how much damage it had done, however, because if Bronzong was even capable of changing its expression, it didn’t do so.

“Gengar still seems to have the speed advantage,” said Starbuck.

“Steel Pokémon tend to be pretty slow,” replied Lisa.

“Gyro Ball,” ordered Gallade.

Bronzong glowed with pale white energy, and an orb of the same energy started to form in front of it…

“Gengar?” said Gengar.

The orb shot at Gengar, and the Ghost winced in pain.

“Oh no, I’ve heard of that attack!” said Lisa. “Gyro Ball does more damage to fast Pokémon than it does to slow ones! It’s actually taking advantage of the fact that Gengar is faster!”

“Gengar…” muttered Gengar.

“Calm down,” said Shadow. “Close in, and give it a Shadow Punch.”

“Gengar,” it said.

The Ghost flew up to the odd Pokémon, and Bronzong didn’t even try to evade it. Gengar hit it with a shadowy fist. Again, whether it hurt Bronzong or not, it was impossible to tell.

Gengar’s side of it, on the other hand, was much easier to interpret. It howled, and shook its hand in pain.

“Really smart,” said Gallade. “Telling it to punch something made of solid metal. It may have been a good move for a Fighter, but not the best idea for anything else.”

“Gengar…” snarled Gengar.

“Oh, now he did it…” said Blaziken. “He made Gengar mad.”

Then Bronzong’s “eyes” glowed, and eerie energy rippled through the air. Both Starbuck and Lisa had seen Shiftry use Extrasensory enough times to recognize it. Gengar didn’t like it at all. It clutched its temples, and closed its eyes in an agonizing grimace.

“GENGAR!” snapped the Ghost. A more powerful Night Shade covered the field, striking Bronzong, and this time Bronzong actually reacted. It shivered, and fell back a few feet, wobbling.

“Bronzong, attack with Flash Cannon!” shouted Gallade.

“Bronzong,” said the Pokémon, as it rose up, trying to get the high ground. It glowed with the same energy that proceeded the Gyro Ball, and then shot a similar burst of energy, but one that was more like a beam than a sphere. Gengar grunted again.

“Gengar, let him have it with Dark Pulse!” ordered Shadow.

Gengar frowned. Then it grinned again, and a wide blade of dark energy radiated from its center. Bronzong groaned a little…

“Bronzong…” it said.

“Gengar…” said Gengar.

The two Pokémon looked at each other for a second. Then Gengar grinned.

It floated up to Bronzong and gave it a shove. Then Bronzong collapsed on the ground.

Shadow laughed.

“Looks like it took your Bronzong’s mind was as dense as its body!” she laughed. “It took a few seconds for it to realize it was beaten!”

“Not funny…” said Gallade.

Bronzong vanished like the others had.

“Well…” said Shadow. “Choose your last Pokémon…”

“Really, Shadow…” replied Gallade. “Don’t you realize by now how this system works?”

Gallade stood up, and then leapt off of the Dragonite, doing a flip in mid-air. He landed in front of Gengar, and bore his two bladed arms menacingly.

“Oh…” said Shadow. “Yeah…”

“Okay, this is not good,” said Blaziken.

“How so?” asked Starbuck.

“I’m a Fighter,” replied Blaziken. “I tend to know a lot about them. Gallade are both Fighters and Psychics, a unique combination. They share the impressive Physical Attack power of Fighters with the resistance to Special Attacks that most Psychics have.”

“Just great…” replied Starbuck. “Most of Shadow’s Pokémon use Special Attacks.”

Gallade looked at Gengar with a piercing glance, and moved its feet slowly, taking a stance similar to a fencer holding a rapier…

“Gengar…” said the Ghost, nervously.

Gallade flashed its blades, and knives made of energy surrounded it in a shimmering circle.

“Gengar, that’s Swords Dance!” shouted Shadow. “Strike now! Use Shadow Ball! He’s still vulnerable to Ghost attacks!”

“Gengar!” yelled Gengar. “Gengar!”

It fired a blob of inky blackness at Gallade, but Gallade was apparently ready. It simply ducked aside, and the projectile missed.

Then Gallade leapt up, its right blade glowing with red energy. It made a slash across the Ghost’s torso, and Gengar hollered.

Gengar collapsed to the ground, with a large swipe burned across its face.

“That was a Psycho Cut!” muttered Lisa. “A nasty Psychic attack…”

Gengar slowly vanished.

Now what? thought Lisa.

Okay, let’s see… If it’s like most Psychics, its regular Defense is probably pretty bad…

Hey, I got it! I’ll use my own Gallade! Fight fire with fire, after all…

“I choose…” she shouted.

Then, before she could finish the sentence, a Pokémon appeared in front of her.

To her horror, it was not her Gallade. Far from it.

It was the Shroomish she had caught Macintosh Forest.

“HUH?” she said.

“Shroomish!” it squeaked.

Gallade raised an eyebrow.

“Quite an interesting choice…” he said.

He lifted his blades.

“Wait!” shouted Shadow. “Hold it! Time out! I didn’t…”

“Shroomish!” shouted the Shroomish.

It rushed towards the Gallade as fast as its little feet could take it.

“Well, whether Shadow wanted to bring Shroomish here or not,” sighed Lisa, “it seems that Shroomish sure wanted to come…”

“Heaven help us,” muttered Starbuck. “This could be a very short battle…”

Shroomish charged at Gallade, showing a ferocity that looked almost humorous for a Pokémon so small. No one knew what it was planning.

What’s it gonna do? thought Starbuck. Bite him on the foot?

Gallade was apparently amused by the attempt. It gave Shroomish a kick, knocking it over, and causing a small cloud of yellow dust to rise.

“We are doomed!” muttered Starbuck.

Then Gallade started to cough.

“What’s going on?” it gasped. “Something…”

It coughed again. Then it started to look sick… Its face even started to look a little greenish…

“I do not believe it…” said Lisa.

“What?” asked Starbuck. “What happened?”

“Shroomish’s Ability!” shouted Lisa. “Its Effect Spore! It was released when Gallade kicked it and…

“Good lord, Gallade is Poisoned!”

It certainly looked that way. Gallade was clearly in pain.

Shroomish looked at its trainer.

“Shroomish?” it said.

“No, no, you’re doing great!” shouted Shadow. “Now use… Uh… Use your strongest move, whatever it is!”

Shroomish turned to Gallade, and spit a seed at him. Before Gallade could react, the seed exploded, and he was knocked off his feet.

“That’s Seed Bomb!” exclaimed Lisa.

“Seems that Shadow caught a live one…” added Starbuck.

Gallade got off of its feet, and he was clearly angry.

“You little pizza topping reject…” he grumbled. “C’mere, you…”

He rushed at Shroomish, with his blades flashing. Shroomish’s little feet moved quickly, and it dodged most of them. Eventually, though, one mighty Slash landed, and Shroomish tumbled backwards.

“Shroomish!” shouted Shadow.

Then Shroomish simply bounced back up. Its cap was a little worn, but it seemed okay.

“Shroomish,” it said.

Then it glowed with an aura of verdant energy, and Gallade cringed as the energy was literally sucked out of him.

“Giga Drain now?” gasped Starbuck. “How many more tricks does this little guy have?”

“Clearly, this Shroomish has been resisting evolution for a long time,” added Blaziken. “Shadow may well have a Breloom on her hands soon.”

Just hearing this filled Shadow with more joy than she had felt in a long time. It was her dream, after all… Raising a Breloom of her own, just like the one who had taken care of her at the orphanage so many years ago…

Gallade got up, panting for breath…

“This ends now!” he roared, in rage.

He lifted his left blade, and it glowed with pure, Psychic energy. Clearly, he was planning one mighty Psycho Cut…

Then he stopped. He held his stomach with his other arm.

Then he collapsed on his face.

“Whoa…” said Shadow. “I guess the poison finally got to him…”

“Uh, did I win?” asked Shadow. “What now?”

Then the Dragonite snored loudly, and rolled over in its sleep again. Gallade glowed with golden energy.

He opened his eyes, and sat up.

“Congratulations,” he said. “That is certainly one savage Shroomish… And one that loves you a great deal.

“Young Conrad… When you awaken in the morning, the Mind Plate will be on your bedside table… Along with your other prize.”

“Other prize?” asked Starbuck.

“The other half of the amulet, of course,” replied Gallade. “The one that will lead you to the Guardian of the Stone Plate.”

Then Starbuck remembered.

“And he knows something about my father?” he asked, anxiously.

“Yes, but I don’t know what,” replied Gallade.

“Oh, and one other thing…

“This dream may be over… But young Conrad… You will have one more dream before the sun rises, where you will meet someone important… Pay close attention to everything he tells you, for your choices of actions at this point are all vital.”

Then the three humans, Blaziken, and Shroomish all felt incredibly sleepy. As Gallade watched, they shimmered out of sight, leaving the realm of dreams.

Gallade stood up. Slowly, the Dragonite opened its eyes, and sat up. It had clearly only been pretending to sleep. Gallade knelt before the huge Dragon.

“You did well,” it said, in a deep, commanding voice.

“Yes, my lord,” said Gallade. “But… I realize it isn’t my place to question your decisions, but I worry about what is about to happen. If the past is any indication, Dialga’s proposal may not be as noble as it claims.”

“I am quite aware of that,” replied the Dragonite. “I am certain that Dialga will obey the letter of the orders it has been given. Whether it obeys the spirit of them is not a concern, at least not at the moment.

“After all, as a human proverb goes, drastic times call for drastic measures…”



Coming up next:

There is much to do before Starbuck and party go in search of the Stone Plate. Shadow doesn’t have much time to rest before she has to battle again, as the heroes are lured into a trap set by Kitsune, who, as you have probably guessed by now, has been possessed by the second of the Twisting’s servants. Magmortar returns, and there'll be a bunch of Pokémon that Shadow has not yet used in this fic. And how does Dialga figure in this? More is coming up, in a chapter called “Wave of Destruction”, coming up next.

[Shuppet Master]

SQUEE! GALLADE IS THE PSYCHIC GUARDIAN!!!!

Sorry about that fanboyish moment, but I <3 Gallade! It's become my favorite Psychic Pokemon.

Anyways, great battle - that Shroomish coming out of nowhere and using its trait and moves to win the battle are awesomesauce.

Poor Mandy, Jessica lost her precious Nexus Rod and took it out on her, but luckily the Heaven's Flute stopped a murder from happening. Hopefully Jessica will come to her senses and not get drunk with Palkia's power.

So, Dialga stole the Nexus Rod, eh? Looks like we have an interesting happening here.

I liked how you did the Mind Plate test, dreams are part of the mental process, so it makes sense. I can't wait for the next part(which, if you don't get it uploaded before New Year's Day, will take a while because of that Yu-Gi-Oh fic you plan on doing).

EDIT:

Jessica was a mess. Her hair was singed, her clothes were torn, she had bruises on her arms. Palkia had definitely not wanted to go quietly.

Her Pokémon were also exhausted. Her Hypno had used Hypnosis until its eyes were blurry. Her Scizor had False Swiped so much, its claws were starting to dull. And she had used eleven Heavy Balls.

But she couldn’t argue with success. She held in her hand the eleventh one, and it contained her prize. Palkia was hers.

Maaaaan, I know how it feels to try to capture a Legendary Pokemon w/o the Master Ball - when I had my character, DJ Pip, from the current game I am playing, Pokemon Pearl, try to capture Palkia, he escaped the Dusk Ball twice and did a nasty number on my Drapion - and I didn't HAVE any sleep moves! I can guess it's a lot harder in the animeverse because they are very powerful. Anyone who has seen The Collector try to capture Lugia knows how tough those guys are. I didn't even think that the Pokemon were suffering.

Let me just say, capturing Giratina in Pokemon Platinum is NOT going to be easy. <_<

[Dark Sage]

Poor Mandy, Jessica lost her precious Nexus Rod and took it out on her, but luckily the Heaven's Flute stopped a murder from happening. Hopefully Jessica will come to her senses and not get drunk with Palkia's power.

Happily, Mandy escaped near-certain doom. However, whether her escape will prevent Jessica from becoming drunk with power, only time will tell. After all, we all know what happened to the Iron Masked Marauder...

Maaaaan, I know how it feels to try to capture a Legendary Pokemon w/o the Master Ball - when I had my character, DJ Pip, from the current game I am playing, Pokemon Pearl, try to capture Palkia, he escaped the Dusk Ball twice and did a nasty number on my Drapion - and I didn't HAVE any sleep moves! I can guess it's a lot harder in the animeverse because they are very powerful. Anyone who has seen The Collector try to capture Lugia knows how tough those guys are. I didn't even think that the Pokemon were suffering.

Let me just say, capturing Giratina in Pokemon Platinum is NOT going to be easy. <_<

Yes, Heavy Balls would be great to have in Diamond/Pearl/Plantium, but sadly, you can't get them. Giratina will certainly be a tough capture in Platinum, because he's a Ghost and cannot be False Swiped. (Although, I believe that you fight him at a point where you do not have access to that move anyway.) On the good side, I believe that Cynthia completely heals your Pokemon before you fight him. My advice - bring a lot of Dusk Balls, because the Torn World is very dark. However, the key piece of strategy in trying to capture a Legendary is, save the game before trying.

[Jeff]

Great piece of advice, it's worked ever since the RB days. I caught Giratina with a Dusk Ball in Diamond, and man it was no easy task. I was actually sitting in the waiting room during my brother's orthodontist appointment, and was almost on the verge of screaming out loud!

As for the chapter, it's one of my favorites so far. Shroomish popping up was a big surprise and invoked a "how is she going to get out of this one" feeling. “Now use… Uh… Use your strongest move, whatever it is!” was one of my favorite quotes from this chapter. And then there's Gallade, also one of my favorite pokemon. Keep it up!

[Shuppet Master]

False Swiped. (Although, I believe that you fight him at a point where you do not have access to that move anyway.)

You haven't done what most Pokemon players do in Diamond/Pearl - visit the Veilstone mall. False Swipe(TM52) is a buyable TM in the Veilstone Mall, which is obviously accessible long before you face Giratina.

And yes, I always save my game before trying to capture a legendary. Usually because I want to see if I can get good IVs for it.

[Dark Sage]

You haven't done what most Pokemon players do in Diamond/Pearl - visit the Veilstone mall. False Swipe(TM52) is a buyable TM in the Veilstone Mall, which is obviously accessible long before you face Giratina.

I know that False Swipe is obtianable in the Veilstone Mall. However, there aren't many Pokemon available at that point that can learn it, if any.

[Dark Sage]

Things are getting very serious.

A few days ago, Starbuck battled Leo, who had been possessed by an agent of the Twisting who called itself Darkness. This incredibly evil and callous being was able to inflict Leo’s Pokémon with an advanced form of the Twisting called Stage Two, making them far more dangerous.

Starbuck won, but Darkness warned that he was only one of three. He told us that two more of the Twisting’s servants were lurking out there somewhere. And as we feared, now that we’ve come even closer to our goals, the second one has made its move.

Even worse, it seems to know secrets of the Pokémon world that most folks don’t know. I’m up against someone who not only has Pokémon that are in Stage Two of the Twisting, but who has planned a battlefield to adapt to its ace Pokémon…

I can only hope I can manage to adapt as well…

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE



Wave of Destruction

Long after the odd dream where Shadow won the Pokémon Dare, Starbuck slept into the night, sleeping soundly on the queen-sized bed in the comfortable, climate-controlled room.

At around four AM, however, he dreamed again…

* * * * * * * * * *

Starbuck was in darkness. Uncanny darkness. He couldn’t see an inch past his face. He held his hand in front of his face, but he couldn’t see it.

Where was he?

Then a realization came to him.

He wasn’t alone.

There was a presence right in front of him. A being of great power. He didn’t need to see it to know it was there.

A chill ran down his spine. Some huge creature was right in front of him, and he was defenseless. Did it know he was here?

The answer became a definite “yes” as two large, glowing eyes appeared in front of him, which seemed to stare right through him. Starbuck almost screamed.

The creature didn’t attack – at least not right away – so he gained a little more courage…

“Who… Who are you?” he asked.

The creature looked at him for a few seconds. Then it answered.

“I am Dialga,” said a voice coming from the eyes. “The Temporal Pokémon”

The voice was deep and commanding, and impossible to ignore.

“Temporal Pokémon?” asked Starbuck. “You… you control time?”

“Time began when I first drew breath,” replied the ancient Pokémon. “With my brother Palkia, who set the spatial boundaries, the universe was formed.

“Now, I come to you in a most dire hour, because a mutual enemy threatens us both.”

“Mutual enemy?” asked Starbuck. “You mean… Jessica?”

“Indeed,” replied Dialga. “Her hunger for power has caused her to capture my brother. Even now, he is her unwilling pawn. With Jessica controlling Palkia, you stand no chance.”

“What can I do?” asked Starbuck.

“The item that the Gallade gave you will lead you to the Guardian of the Stone Plate,” replied Dialga. “It is located in a far-off and desolate place.

“Once the Plate is yours, I will meet you there. Bring your Pokémon and prepare to battle like never before.”

“I’m leaving you something that will make it possible for you to find me. It is a relic that is the rightful property of Arceus, but evil forces stole it several years ago. One of Jessica’s henchmen won it from its guardian, and I had to steal it back.

“But be warned… Once Jessica knows you have this, she will try to take it back. Every minute my brother exists as her unwilling servant, she becomes more drunk with power, and her greed for more of it grows. Be on your guard…”

The eyes started to vanish.

“Wait!” shouted Starbuck.

The eyes reappeared.

“Uhm…” he continued. “If you control time… Can you see the future?”

The eyes narrowed.

“No,” said the voice. “I cannot, due a self-imposed limit on my power which I cannot remove. Nor would I want to. Only Celebi can violate the temporal flow in such a manner as to travel through its boundaries.

“I’ve met that annoying pest so many times over the eons… Each time, I have no way of knowing how many of our previous meetings have occurred to his point of view. I doubt even he remembers where his true point of origin is. Or should I say, when it is.

“He mocks my powers with his time travel abilities.”

“Uhm…” muttered Starbuck. “Well, he kinda… Saved my dad’s life…”

“So he did,” replied the voice. “But with my brother in your enemy’s hands, it will take a great deal more than a Heal Bell at the right time to save yourself…”

The eyes vanished…

Starbuck woke up with a start.

The sun was rising in his window.

He looked at his bedside table. On it was a new Plate, colored peach, clearly the Mind Plate, and a small piece of stone that looked like the second half of his amulet.

He reached for the first half of the amulet, and put it on. Then he held the other piece to the broken part, and the two pieces fused together in a small flash of sparks.

Suddenly, he saw a place in his mind. A cavern in a dark mountain range, full of volcanoes…

“The Spires…” he said.

There was something else on the bedside table. Clearly, this was what Dialga had put there. It was the Nexus Rod, although Starbuck didn’t know its name.

He picked it up, and looked at it. He was amazed at the sheer size of the diamond that was on one end, and the peal that was on the other. Such perfect gems… They were clearly worth a fortune…

He got control of himself quickly. If Jessica didn’t sell this, it must have had far more value than the price of the stones…

* * * * * * * * * *

After a quick shower, he met his two companions for breakfast in the hotel’s dining room. Lisa’s Munchlax was under the table, eating the croissants that she gave to it.

“So let me get this straight…” started his mother. “Dialga spoke to you in a dream…”

“Yup,” said Starbuck.

“And it said that Jessica caught Palkia…” continued Lisa.

“Yup,” said Starbuck.

“AND, it wants to battle you after we find the Stone Plate?”

“That’s what it said,” replied Starbuck.

“Did it give a reason why?” asked Shadow.

“I’m guessing that it wants to save Palkia,” replied Starbuck, “but I’d have to defeat Jessica to do that, but it thinks that it would have to help me beat Jessica now that she has Palkia.

“It makes sense. If Jessica does have a Pokémon as strong as Palkia, she may be unbeatable… Unless her opponent had a Pokémon of comparable power.”

“So why does it want to battle you before it joins you?” asked Shadow.

“I have no idea,” replied Starbuck.

“Pride,” replied Lisa. “Dialga is a god, Shadow. The gods have pride. Far more than any mortals do. No matter what the consequences, a Legendary Pokémon will never call a mortal its master without a battle. Dialga is no exception.”

“And just how do you intend to capture Dialga?” asked Shadow. “Pardon me for saying, but isn’t Dialga super-tough?

“Even Ash Ketchum knew his limits. He met a lot of Legendary Pokémon in his day, but he was never crazy enough to challenge one of them…”

“I think that his Pikachu defeated Articuno once,” corrected Starbuck.

Shadow let out a nervous laugh.

“Of course!” she said. “Articuno is what? The spirit of the north wind? I’m not saying that beating him wasn’t an accomplishment for Ash. But this is Dialga! The Lord of Time! I’m pretty sure that he’s a little higher up the ladder on the rankings than Articuno!

“And being the Pokémon who controls time might make him more dangerous than any other Pokémon… Time can be a force of destruction, you know… After enough time passes, mortals die, buildings crumble, whole mountains erode into dust…”

“Actually,” said Lisa, “according to mythology, Dialga has never been regarded as a destructive deity…”

She opened her notebook.

“If Dialga represents anything, it’s change.”

“Change?” asked Shadow.

“Well, it’s kind of how things evolve over time,” explained Lisa. “Like how an infant grows into a child, and then into a man…

“In fact, some say that Dialga was the one who introduced Pokémon evolution. Pokémon evolving into new forms, like a Bulbasaur evolving into an Ivysaur and then into a Venusaur, is a process that occurs over a period of time, a concept that Dialga is said to watch over closely.

“Still… Dialga likely is very powerful…”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” said Starbuck. “Until then, we have to ship the Dread Plate and the Mind Plate to Percival, and then find a way to get to the Spires.”

“Uh, Starbuck…” muttered Shadow. “Aren’t the Spires full of Rock, Steel, Fire, and Dragon Pokémon of the most ferocious types?”

“Yeah, and that reminds me…” replied Starbuck. “Everyone should choose their best Pokémon…

“It’s not gonna be easy…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“The Spires?!” shouted Percival.

“Keep your voice down, Percy,” said Starbuck, as he spoke to Percival over the video phone, “the Center is kind of crowded.”

“Conrad,” said Percival, “I realize this whole endeavor was my idea, but I hesitate to take risks on the basis of visions that you receive from some knick-knacks you get from talking Pokémon!

“Are you certain about this? Need I remind you of what your poor father found when he went there back when that awful Gestalt was making his vile plans…”

“More than certain,” replied Starbuck. “You want the rest of the Plates found, don’t you? And Gestalt is dead, by the way. He turned into a pile of sludge.

“And if I can find more info on my dad in the process, I’m willing to take any lead.”

“Fine, Conrad, fine,” replied Starbuck. “I’ll trust your intuition for now…

“But do be careful… The last thing I want is to tell the other investors that we need to spend money on a search and rescue mission, or God forbid, a search and recovery one.”

Starbuck hung up.

Then he was startled as the phone rang. His name was on the screen.

He turned it on.

“Mandy?” he said.

It was indeed Mandy, and she looked scared out of her mind. Tears were running down her cheeks.

“Starbuck…” she cried. “You gotta help me… Jessica is after me… She’s gonna kill me if she finds me this time…”

“Where?” shouted Starbuck. “Where are you?!”

“I gave her the slip…” said Mandy, through tears. “I’m hiding in the Blueberry Cove Department Store… But I don’t know how long I can stay here…

“You gotta come fast!”

Then she hung up.

“Mom! Shadow!” shouted Starbuck.

Lisa and Shadow ran to the phone area.

“Change of plans,” said Starbuck. “We gotta drive to Blueberry Cove fast and get Mandy out of trouble.”

“She’s in trouble?” asked Shadow.

“I’ll explain on the way!” added Starbuck. “It’s a good hour’s drive there, and I don’t know if she has that long!”

* * * * * * * * * *

After driving above the speed limit and running several red lights, the trio managed to get to Blueberry Cove in forty-five minutes.

The Blueberry Cove Department Store stood in the center of town, a tall, ten-story edifice that held everything you needed, whether you were a Pokémon trainer or a homemaker.

Starbuck knew that something was amiss as soon as they entered. Two security guards were lying on the floor, unconscious.

He looked around. It was the same with everyone. Every customer, every worker… Everyone was unconscious.

“Whoa…” said Shadow. “If Jessica did this, she must have had one serious mad-on…”

Starbuck looked around.

“Something’s awfully familiar about this…” he said. “I can sense it…”

He started to walk forward.

Then a loud screech echoed through the whole building. The three of them covered their ears.

They recognized that sound, of course. It was kind of hard to forget.

“The voice of the Twisting!” shouted Lisa.

“Third floor…” said Starbuck.

He walked towards the escalator.

“Third floor?” said Shadow. “That’s where the home appliance department is…”

“And it’s where that sound came from,” replied Starbuck. “Jessica may not be behind this after all…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The third floor of the Department Store had one wing dedicated to appliances, and one to lawn care. Like the other floors, customers were sprawled on the floor, unconscious.

“Be on your guard,” said Starbuck.

“Behind you, Starbuck,” said a feminine voice.

The three turned around, and saw Kitsune standing there with a grin on her face.

“Who’s that?” asked Shadow.

“Doesn’t matter,” replied Starbuck. “Whoever it is, she’s possessed. Apparently, Darkness came back for a rematch.”

Kitsune smirked and shook her head.

“No, Darkness is gone,” she said. “But he was only the first…

“I’m the second of the three servants of the Twisting… You may call me Destruction…”

“Where’s Mandy?” demanded Starbuck.

Destruction shrugged.

“Beats me,” she chuckled. “But since Darkness was able to capture her before he fought you last time, I was able to form a phantom of her appearance and voice pretty well… I figured that you’d come rushing here if she called you begging for help, seeing as you were so intent on saving her last time.”

“All right, fine…” said Starbuck, with his eyes narrowing. “You want to fight? I’ll send you crying back to your master just like I did with Darkness…”

“Starbuck, wait!” said Shadow.

“Huh?” said Starbuck.

“She’s not stupid, Starbuck,” replied Shadow. “She knows everything Darkness knows. She wants you to fight her. She’s probably prepared to correct all the mistakes that he made.”

Destruction smirked slightly.

“I’ll battle her,” said Shadow.

Starbuck stepped back.

“Be careful, Shadow,” he warned. “You remember the Stage Two moves, right? If Darkness could teach them to Pokémon, I’ll wager that she can too.”

“And I have far more surprises than that,” replied Destruction. “But while I’m more than willing to have a Pokémon battle, I don’t care about it going on long. Why not only four Pokémon each total?”

“Whatever you say,” said Shadow.

“Then let’s get started!” laughed Destruction.

She lifted a pokeball.

“My host has had this Pokémon the longest… I call forth Ninetales!”

She hurled the pokeball, and it opened in an explosion of flame. Ninetales emerged.

“Ninetales?!” shouted Starbuck. “That was dad’s starter!”

“Calm down, Starbuck,” said Lisa. “This trainer and her Pokémon are just as much victims as Leo was.”

“Funny you should use that trainer’s starter,” said Shadow. “I brought along mine!

“Go! Empoleon!”

She threw her pokeball, and it opened, revealing a Pokémon that stood over five feet tall. The final evolutionary form of the Piplup family, this Pokémon was the emperor penguin of that group, combining Water and Steel in a lethal combination.

“All right!” shouted Shadow. “Wash that Ninetales away with a Hydro Pump!”

“Empoleon…” growled the Pokémon.

A high-pressure jet of water shot at the Fire type, and Ninetales sputtered.

Ninetales shook itself, shaking droplets of water from its fur.

“Flamethrower!” ordered Destruction.

Ninetales breathed a burst of flame from its mouth at the hard-to-miss target. Empoleon shielded itself with its flipper, but it sweat a little.

“Lovely,” said Starbuck.

“Water and Steel is a powerful combination,” said Lisa, “but it does have weaknesses, one of them being that the Steel cancels out the Water’s resistance to Fire attacks.”

“But I’ll bet that Water attacks will still hit Ninetales pretty hard!” replied Shadow. “Attack with Aqua Jet!”

Empoleon’s eyes glowed like orbs of watery liquid. It made a rush at its foe, ramming Ninetales in a blast of water. Ninetales hollered and tumbled over.

“Flamethrower again,” ordered Destruction.

Ninetales leapt up, and shot a spiral of fire from its mouth. Empoleon grunted and shielded itself with its flipper again.

“This is weird,” said Starbuck. “Destruction is barely even trying very hard.”

“We’d best not take it for granted,” said Lisa. “She’s probably getting set to use one of those Stage Two attacks.”

“Empoleon…” said Shadow. “Bubblebeam!”

Empoleon blasted a wave of bubbles from its beak with the speed of a machine gun. Ninetales tumbled over, and then collapsed on its back.

“Or… maybe not…” said Lisa.

Destruction held up the pokeball, and recalled Ninetales.

“Easy come, easy go,” she said.

She chose another pokeball.

“I choose… Miltank!”

The pokeball burst open, and Kitsune’s Miltank leapt out, quickly forming a fighting stance to face the much bigger Pokémon.

“Okay, I’ll admit that that’s… original,” said Starbuck. “But not exactly what you should use against an Empoleon.”

“Miltank, use Body Slam,” ordered Destruction.

Miltank let out a loud grunt, and threw itself against the huge penguin, ramming against its thick torso. Empoleon flinched a little, but it retained its footing easily. Then it simply pushed Miltank away with its flipper, and Miltank fell on its behind.

“Tell me something,” said Shadow. “Do you know anything about how Pokémon work at all? Let me spell something out for you… Normal attacks like Body Slam aren’t very good against Steel Pokémon, because Steel Pokémon are made of, well, steel!”

Destruction just glared at her, in a way that made her blood run cold.

“Empoleon…” muttered Empoleon.

“If that’s Pokémonese for ‘she’s creeping me out’,” said Shadow, “I agree with you…

“Get that Miltank! Metal Claw!”

Empoleon lifted its right flipper, and it shimmered with a metallic gleam. Miltank screamed as it made a slash like a knife across the smaller Pokémon’s torso.

“Stop your whining!” said Destruction. “It’s just a scratch!”

“Miltank…” whimpered Miltank, getting up.

“This is not good,” said Lisa.

“I know,” said Starbuck. “These Pokémon realize that this isn’t their real trainer… But something is compelling them to obey anyway. I have no idea what…”

“What do you think?” asked Destruction. “I serve the Twisting, and any Pokémon who has succumbed to the Twisting is easy for me to control.

“Every Twisted Pokémon is linked back to the source by an invisible cord…”

“So the Twisting is aware of everything that happens to every Twisted Pokémon?” gasped Lisa.

“Well, no,” said Destruction. “Not all the time, at least. If it wanted to become aware of every single action being taken by every one of its victims, it could do so for a short time, at the cost of a great deal of energy.

“But as far as I’m concerned, I can use that link to force any Twisted Pokémon to obey, no matter what its preference.

“Ultimately, all Pokémon who fall under my master’s sway will owe allegiance only to him…”

Shadow stared at her.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Focus Blast,” replied Destruction.

“Huh?” said Shadow.

Then Miltank put its hoofs together, and a blast of pure energy shot at Empoleon, striking when it was completely off-guard and knocking it over.

“You dirty…” shouted Shadow. “Your Pokémon sucker-punched mine when it was distracted!”

“That’s what it gets for letting its guard down,” said Destruction.

Empoleon got up, its eyes burning with anger, and brushed itself off.

“Empoleon…” it growled.

“No more kid gloves…” said Shadow. “Empoleon… Hydro Cannon!”

Starbuck and Lisa were just as shocked as Destruction likely was, as a blast of water twice the intensity of Hydro Pump shot at Miltank, throwing it fifteen feet backwards and sending it crashing into a display of mesquite grills behind its trainer.

Miltank was soaked, and so was Destruction. The cow Pokémon was seeing stars, and the possessed trainer was looking at Shadow with a look of hate.

“Shadow…” said Starbuck. “Where… Where did you find someone to teach it Hydro Cannon?! That’s the strongest Water move known!”

“It’s a long story,” muttered Shadow.

Destruction held up the pokeball, and recalled Miltank.

“At least Shadow is winning,” said Lisa. “She’s taken down two of Destruction’s Pokémon, and she still has all of hers!”

“And we still haven’t seen even one Stage Two attack!” replied Starbuck.

He paused.

“And that worries me…”

Destruction held up a third pokeball, and it opened. Kitsune’s Medicham leapt out, and formed a fighting stance.

“Okay, now you’re getting somewhere,” said Shadow. “But I think it may be too little, too late.”

“We’ll soon see,” said Destruction. “Medicham, take it down with Hi Jump Kick.”

“Medicham!” cried the Fighter. It leapt up into the air, aiming a kick at Empoleon’s face. The penguin tried to dodge, but Medicham pulled off a difficult trick, changing direction in mid-air, and landing a kick directly at its torso.

It was finally too much for Empoleon. It collapsed on its back.

“It’s okay, Shadow!” shouted Starbuck. “You’ve still got three Pokémon left!”

Shadow closed her eyes, and recalled Empoleon.

She took another pokeball.

“Go get ‘em, Kabutops!” she shouted.

She threw the ball, and it burst open, disgorging the tall, armored Fossil with a triangular head and scythes for hands.

“You never told me you had a Fossil Pokémon!” exclaimed Starbuck.

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” replied Shadow.

“Now who’s being foolish?” asked Destruction. “In case you didn’t know, Fighting attacks can smash through Rock Types with ease.”

“But Dark Attacks rip through Psychic Types just as well,” replied Shadow. “Kabutops, use Night Slash!”

Kabutops growled, and raised its blade, which glowed with Dark energy. Medicham grunted in pain as the Fossil slashed across its chest with the weapon.

Medicham held the wound, with sweat pouring down its face.

“Medicham, use Force Palm,” said Destruction.

Medicham grunted, and got up close, directly in Kabutops’s face. It started slamming its palms into the Fossil, and Kabutops staggered backwards.

“Kabutops…” it said.

“You okay?” asked Shadow.

“Kabutops…” said the Pokémon, nodding.

“Then give Medicham all you’ve got!” ordered Shadow. “Clobber it with Ancientpower!”

“Kabutops…” mumbled Kabutops.

It started to concentrate, and its eyes glowed red. Then, stones started to rip out of the floor.

“Medicham…” said Medicham, with a hint of fear.

“Kabutops!” shouted Kabutops. An avalanche of stones cascaded down on Medicham, and the Fighter screamed as it was buffeted by the torrent of rocks.

When the dust cleared, Medicham was lying unconscious under a pile of stones, covered with bruises.

“Destruction is down to her last Pokémon!” shouted Starbuck. “And Shadow hasn’t even given her a chance to use any Stage Two moves!”

Destruction made an evil grin as she recalled Medicham.

“Fools,” she said. “Those first three Pokémon didn’t even know any Stage Two moves. I saved them all for my fourth Pokémon.

“I’ve saved the best for last, and it’s a special Pokémon that I guarantee you’ll never forget. All this preparation, my whole goal in luring you to this specific floor in this specific building, was to prepare for its onslaught of powers.”

Well, Shadow, thought Shadow. This is another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into…

Destruction threw her last pokeball.

“I choose Rotom!” she shouted.

In a burst of electricity, the Ghost Pokémon made entirely out of plasma appeared from out of the pokeball. It grinned at Shadow.

“Oh no…” said Lisa. “Kabutops is part Water…”

“Not to worry,” said Destruction. “This Rotom knows no Electric attacks.”

“Then I win,” said Shadow. “Kabutops still knows Night Slash, and Dark attacks cripple Ghosts.”

“You’re too simple minded!” laughed Destruction. “Rotom, go! The lawn mower, now!”

At first, Shadow and her two allies thought that Rotom was abandoning the fight. But then, they saw it fly to the lawn care area, where it dove into a standard power lawn mower. The appliance started to glow with eldritch energy.

“What’s it doing?” asked Starbuck.

“Rotom have the ability to possess and control machines,” replied Destruction. “And by possessing certain ones, they can obtain new powers.

“New powers that I’ve augmented with Stage Two powers!”

Then, in a flash of light, the lawn mower completely changed, turning into what looked like a Rotom shaped like a lawn mower. It grinned widely, and then flew back to Destruction’s side.

“This might be bad…” said Shadow.

“Kabutops, try Night Slash!” shouted Shadow. “That thing’s still a Ghost… At least I think it is…”

“It’s not going to give it a chance this time,” said Destruction. “Rotom, use Leaf Storm!”

Rotom emitted a noise that sounded like a lawn mower starting its engine, and then a blizzard of grass and foliage shot out of its mouth at Kabutops. Kabutops screamed.

“A Ghost using a Grass attack?” gasped Starbuck, in disbelief. “That’s crazy!”

“And Kabutops is in trouble,” muttered Lisa. “Leaf Storm is incredibly powerful, and Kabutops is part Rock, and part Water…”

Kabutops was gasping for breath, but miraculously, it managed to stay on its feet.

“You made a mistake,” said Shadow, grinning. “Kabutops survived, and Leaf Storm has a dire price – your Pokémon’s ability to use Special Attacks is lowered, dramatically.”

“I didn’t make a mistake,” replied Destruction.

“So you say,” said Shadow. “Kabutops, use Night Slash!”

Kabutops growled, and charged at the demented lawn mower.

“Rotom, mow it down with Evil Seed!” ordered Destruction.

“Evil Seed??” shouted Starbuck.

“It must be one of those Stage Two attacks!” exclaimed Lisa.

It sure appeared that way. Rotom’s eyes glowed with green light, and it blasted a cloud of black, serrated leaves from its mouth. Kabutops screamed again as they left gashes on its armored shell.

Finally, Kabutops collapsed, not having reached Rotom at all. Rotom started to glow with a sickly green aura.

“Evil Seed can only be used after a successful use of Leaf Storm,” explained Destruction, “and if it itself is successful, the Pokémon using it gains back the loss in its Special Attack power that it sacrificed to use the earlier attack, along with a little extra.”

“No fair!” shouted Starbuck.

“I doubt that any of the Stage Two moves can be defined as ‘fair’, Starbuck,” muttered Lisa.

Shadow frowned, and recalled Kabutops.

“Maybe so,” she said, “but I still have two more Pokémon…”

She threw another pokeball, and Magmortar appeared. It let out a roar.

“In case you didn’t know,” she said, “your Rotom’s Leaf Storm will barely scratch a Fire Pokémon.”

“Well then,” said Destruction. “I guess then it’s switcheroo time.

“Rotom, washing machine! Go!”

Then Rotom glowed, and it rose off the ground. The lawn mower fell to the floor, with Rotom flying out of it. Rotom flew towards the home appliance section.

“Now what?!” shouted Starbuck.

“Lawn mowers are far from the only machines that Rotom can possess and draw powers from,” replied Destruction. “Team Galactic’s resident scientist, Pluto, discovered a total of five. There may be more… Who knows?

“Heh… He had made friends with a Rotom when he was a child. But poor Pluto… He could never hug his friend. If he tried, he’d get the shock of his life. But he did do lots of research on Rotom, and found the secrets of how they possessed machines. And it was easy for my master to learn how exploit those secrets.”

Rotom dove into a washing machine, and it started to glow just like the lawn mower had. Then it turned into a large cross between a Rotom and a washing machine. It would have almost looked funny if its trainer wasn’t so serious.

The Wash Rotom landed in front of its trainer. Shadow guessed what this meant – it knew Water attacks now. She only hoped that it also didn’t mean that Rotom was now a Water Type.

“Magmortar, you have to try to strike first!” she shouted. “Use Lava Plume!”

Whether a Ghost was fast enough to outdraw its opponent depended on how heavy it was most of the time. Members of the Gastly family, who were made entirely of a gaseous substance, were incredibly fast, while a Dusknoir was made of very thick ectoplasm, and was rather slow due its excess weight. Rotom was made almost entirely out of energy in its normal form, so it was nearly weightless, making it pretty fast. Now, however, it was carrying around an appliance that weighed almost a ton. So, given that it also presented a pretty big target, it was no surprise that Magmortar’s Lava Plume struck it squarely.

The Ghost groaned in pain.

“You’ll pay for that…” muttered destruction. “Rotom… Hydro Pump.”

The door on the front of Rotom opened, and a blast of sudsy water shot out, soaking Magmortar. The fiery Pokémon hollered as the onslaught of water and soap stung it.

Magmortar fell on one knee, and struggled to catch its breath.

“Get up!” shouted Shadow. “Try to use Flamethrower!”

Magmortar pulled itself up, and pointed its hand. It shot a fiery stream at the mad washer, scorching its hull.

“Rotom, Vengeful Rain,” said Destruction.

Rotom’s eyes glowed with evil light, and the water inside it switched to spin cycle. Clouds started to form on the ceiling…

“This isn’t good…” said Lisa.

Then a downpour of vile rain fell from the clouds. Magmortar screamed in agony, and the three humans screamed too, trying to shield themselves from the rain. It burned like some sort of acid!

Shadow looked up. Magmortar was lying on the ground, groaning, with smoke pouring from several wounds.

“One Pokémon left, Shadow,” chuckled Destruction. “Then my master will finish what I started…”

Shadow nervously recalled Magmortar.

She had three Pokémon left… But which one to use?

She looked around. This floor was full of machines… Dryers, stoves, grills, air conditioners, bug zappers, refrigerators, microwaves, and countless others. Which ones did Destruction intend to use to house Rotom’s three other forms? This creature had planned well… Clearly, Rotom’s ability to possess machines and gain powerful attacks from doing so enabled it to gain Type advantage over almost anything.

Which of her three Pokémon to use?

Then she remembered how Starbuck had triumphed using little Skorupi against that Shiftry’s Sharpedo. And how a similar situation had recently done it for her.

She held up a pokeball.

Maybe it’s time for a little more beginner’s luck, she thought. After all, what have I got to lose?

She threw the pokeball. It opened.

The small Pokémon emerged. It was Shroomish.

“HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!” laughed Destruction. “If you wanted to surrender, you could have just told me!”

“Shroomish!” said Shroomish, angrily.

Then Destruction stopped laughing. Her eyes narrowed.

“I think you’d better take that back, you little runt…” she said with a scowl.

“Shroomish!” said the Shroomish.

“She can understand it?” asked Starbuck.

“Maybe Darkness and Destruction are Pokémon,” replied Lisa. “Or they once were, at one time…”

“You are asking for it, you slimy salad garnish,” growled Destruction. “Rotom, oven! Now!”

Rotom rose into the air, and the washing machine fell to the ground with a crash. The Rotom flew to a small oven, and dove into it.

“No…” moaned Starbuck. “That will clearly teach it Fire attacks… Shroomish will be burned to a crisp…”

Rotom rose again, this time resembling a cross between a Rotom and a stove.

But then, Shroomish started to glow with golden light.

“What’s happening?” shouted Shadow.

“Good lord…” said Starbuck. “It’s happening, Shadow! Shroomish is evolving!”

The glow completely engulfed the small mushroom, and it started to grow, turning from the size of a cat to four feet tall. It took shape, becoming humanoid, with a beaked face, a mushroom cap, taloned hands and feet, and a long, knobbed tail.

Shadow wept tears of joy.

“Shroomish…” she cried. “You’re a Breloom!”

Breloom turned to her.

“Uh huh,” said the Pokémon. “I’ve been able to evolve for a long time now…”

“You can TALK?” screamed Shadow.

Breloom nodded.

“Shaymin’s gift…” muttered Starbuck.

“I’ve been able to evolve since before we met,” continued the Pokémon. “But I wanted to find the right trainer first. I hoped you would fit the bill.”

“Have I?” asked Shadow.

Breloom nodded again.

“All this is so cute, it’s disgusting!” growled Destruction, crossing her arms. “I’m killing this before it has a chance to spread!

“Rotom, sauté that mushroom with Overheat!”

Rotom started to burn with super-intense flames. Its eyes glowed like the fires of Hell itself.

“Breloom…” said Shadow, nervously.

“Don’t worry,” said Breloom.

It concentrated, and an aura of pure energy surrounded it, just as a blast of flame shot at it from the Rotom. The blast was halted by the Protect that Breloom emitted.

“No, NO!” shouted Destruction. “That wasn’t supposed to happen!

“Try Overheat again!”

Rotom whined a little bit, but it started to power up again.

“Breloom, try to Protect again!” shouted Starbuck.

“You got it,” said Breloom.

“This is risky,” said Starbuck. “Protect fails if you use it over and over again.”

“Yeah, but I see Shadow and Breloom’s strategy,” said Lisa.

“Overheat is very powerful, but like Leaf Storm, it drains the user’s ability to damage its opponent using Special Attacks. I’m guessing that Destruction made up for this with a Stage Two Fire attack that will boost it. But, if Destruction wants Rotom to use its Stage Two attack, it will have to successfully use Overheat first, just like the requirements for Evil Seed and Vengeful Rain.

“But if Breloom keeps avoiding it, Rotom won’t succeed, and will get weaker and weaker, until its flame finally goes out, and even if it succeeds, the Stage Two attack will be pathetic when it finally manages to use it.”

Once again, Rotom blasted a wave of flame, but it was much weaker than the first. And once again, it was absorbed by the Protect.

“Breloom, attack with Seed Bomb!” ordered Shadow.

Breloom pointed its fingers, and a barrage of seeds shot at the Ghost, exploding on impact. Rotom groaned in pain.

“It’s still standing,” said Breloom. “We got time to fix that?”

For the first time, Destruction looked scared.

I’m going to lose… she thought. Well, maybe I can do something to hinder these do-gooders after all…

She reached down on her belt, and hit a button on a beeper that was stored there. She had turned it off after she had stolen Kitsune’s body and left the Spires, but now that it was on again, it was emitting the signal again.

She pointed her pokeball, and recalled Rotom. The oven fell to the ground with a crash.

“You’re giving up?” asked Starbuck.

“Uh huh,” replied Destruction. “I won’t face the indignity of defeat. And you won’t see me again.

“But beware… If you should dare challenge my master, you will have to get past the third of his servants first, and you’ll find him deadlier than myself and Darkness combined.”

Then she threw her head up, and let out a silent scream. A dark shadow fled out of Kitsune’s mouth…

Destruction had fled, and had released Kitsune, but not before telling its host a great deal. It knew Kitsune would be in big trouble soon.

“Ooh, spooky,” said Breloom.

Shadow rushed to her Pokémon and hugged it.

“Can’t believe I forgot my camera,” said Starbuck.

Shadow blushed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Only five minutes had passed, and everyone who had been unconscious was starting to recover. Officer Jenny had been called in, and she and a group of medics were helping everyone. Kitsune had not yet regained consciousness. Jenny had handcuffed her, however.

“Gee,” said Jenny, looking at Kitsune. “If what you say happened to her is true, I’m kinda gonna hate having to arrest her…”

“Arrest her?” asked Starbuck. “What happened here wasn’t her fault…”

“She’s a Kunoichi, Conrad,” replied Jenny. “An assassin. And I recognize this one. She’s listed as a suspect in at least five cases, and the prime suspect in one of them.”

“She’s so young…” said Lisa.

“Youth helps a Kunoichi a great deal,” replied Jenny. “Deception is a big part of their methods.”

At that point, Kitsune’s eyes opened, but they didn’t notice it.

“Anyway,” said Jenny, “this is really gonna look weird on the police report. Three pieces of merchandise were destroyed, the owner of the store will likely want someone to pay for them, and I really don’t know who they’re gonna send the bill to. I mean, if it weren’t for the security cameras…”

“Uh, Jenny?” said Shadow. “Where did she go?”

Jenny spun around.

Kitsune had gone. The handcuffs were lying on the floor.

* * * * * * * * * *

To any Ninja, male or female, there was no greater shame than capture by the constabulary. Thus, any trained Ninja could escape in the hardest of circumstances. Kitsune had worked her way out of the handcuffs, slipped past Jenny and the rest of the police, grabbed her Pokémon and equipment, made it out of the department store, and was now running as fast as she could. Not five minutes had past since she woke up, and she was now ten blocks away; only now they had just realized that she was gone.

She stopped for a minute to catch her breath. She was now in a construction site. Fortunately, no one was there.

I’ll lay low here for a while, she thought. They won’t find me if…

Then she heard a loud roar.

She looked up, and saw a huge Rhyperior looming above her.

She tried to turn and run, but found her path blocked by a Nidoqueen.

She tried to run in another direction, but a Hariyama and a Feraligatr blocked her path.

She saw their trainers in the shadows around her. Her eyes slowly moved from side to side, and she drew her katana from its sheath.

The sword wouldn’t do much good against Pokémon this powerful, but hopefully, taking out their masters would scare them away.

Then Jessica walked out of the shadows, smiling.

“Hello, Kitsune,” she said, with a hint of bile.

Kitsune frowned, and lifted the sword. She didn’t feel like explaining herself, and knew that Jessica likely wouldn’t listen.

Then, with a mighty roar, Palkia rose behind Jessica.

A look of incredible terror crossed Kitsune’s face, and the hand that held the hilt of the katana started to tremble.

Then she dropped the weapon.

“A wise choice,” said Jessica. “You have a lot to answer for, Kitsune…”


Coming up next:

It looks like it’s all over for Kitsune. Or is it? Next chapter, Jessica starts to prepare for an eventual confrontation with Starbuck, as the journey into the Spires begins in earnest. But it won’t be easy. The chapter is called “Amazing Race”, and it’s coming soon.




Before I sign off, here are game statistics for the two Stage Two attacks that were used in this chapter.


EVIL SEED: Type: Grass; Cat.: Special; Att.: 140; Acc.: 80; PP: 5

Can only be used the round after the user successfully uses Leaf Storm. If successful, user’s Special Attack rises three stages.


VENGEFUL RAIN: Type: Water; Cat.: Special; Att.: 120; Acc.: 80; PP: 5

Can only be used the round after the user successfully uses Hydro Pump. Severely Poisons target.

[Chris 2.1]

The story is coming along nicely DS but I have to be honest in my critiscism. The fic, specifically the battles, which seem to encompass most chapters, are so technical and picky it's very difficult to enjoy them. Type advantages, references to the anime, a seeming knowledge of everything encompassing every aspect of Pokemon all lead the fic to feel like a transcript of an in-game battle or a Poke-wiki.

Look at the previous chapter graphologically; all there is is lines and lines of text. No deep description, no insight in character development. It's just reams and reams of information, and a lot of it is already assumed by your audience. When you include characters saying "ooh wow a fossil Pokemon" or "oh but grass > water" it just seems so patronising, because we know this already.

If you can work on your narrative, you'll be able to carry the plot along fine. Otherwise, this could belong in GameFAQs.

[Dark Sage]

You raise a good point. And I'm trying to work on it.

There are many upcoming elements to the story that I'm planning that will add a lot of character development, but I haven't gotten to them yet. I'm trying hard to make the battles more interesting too - that's one of the reasons I gave Blaziken and Breloom (and one other Pokemon yet to be revealed) Shaymin's gift and let them talk.

I will say that I have more time to work on this now, so maybe I won't feel pressed to finish a chapter when I write one. I'll do my best to try not to make the battles seem wooden in the future. (Not to give anything away, but when Starbuck actually meets Dialga in person, the conflict will not be a Pokemon battle in the traditional sense. It will be something very different. After all, Dialga is a god. Gods should not be treated as normal Pokemon captures.

[Jeff]

It's weird, just earlier today I was thinking about this fic and was upset to see it on the second page and not a post in it since December. So of course I'm glad to see a new chapter, and I'm also glad to hear what's coming up. Sounds exiting.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

I agree with Chris on the whole wooden battle thing. This story has great potential and has already been great so far, although some points are boring me. The routine has come a drag, you should spice it up a little. Battles are just one attack after the other and just waiting until the other one falls. You should implent strategies, not just attacks, maybe even something with the arena. Combining attacks is great to give a fresh look to a pokemon or his skills. Perhaps you should ASB for a while again?

I do know that you're going to do alter things in the future, so that's ok. I do hope to see this continued and not be left out in favor of Shadowchasers.

Keep it up.

[Shuppet Master]

Nice update! I noticed that all the Pokemon blessed with Shaymin's gift are part-fighting. Coincidence, or something more?

Poor Kitsune - now that Jessica has Palkia, nobody can oppose her. I hope Starbuck wins against Dialga. I want to thank you again for making my user character interesting.

[Dark Sage]

Nice update! I noticed that all the Pokemon blessed with Shaymin's gift are part-fighting. Coincidence, or something more?

It isn't a coincidence. Shaymin had a good reason for giving this gift to Fighters, other than the fact that all three trainers had Fighters that were special to them for some reason. (Blaziken is the son of the Ninetales that was Ishmael's starter, Breloom is a Pokemon that Shadow has wanted for years... But there is a bigger reason.)

And it does indeed seem that Jessica has become somewhat mad with power, recently. The cause of this is more than simply ego, as you'll find out soon.

By the way, I just got Pokemon Platinum. It seems that the character whom I called Pluto is referred to a "Charon" in the American version, most likely to avoid copyright violations. (Although I do not think that Disney owns the rights to that name, which was used for long before they were using it.) I'll continue to use the name Pluto when referring to the character, however. If I have to reference any other character that appears in the game, I'll use the American name. (I might reference Looker eventually - he's an interesting character, if only to let us know that Officer Jenny isn't the only cop in the world of Pokemon.)