With Zephyr allowing a birds eye view of the streets of Saffron, I could see that the invasion of Silph Co. Tower was not restricted to just that building. Team Rocket grunts were on the streets in large groups, with people being robbed and chased off. I saw more than a few trainers battling against the tide of Team Rocket.
Surprisingly, I also caught sight of a number of Team Rocket grunts fighting against Team Rocket grunts?
I had no idea what that was about.
Was it a case of them developing morals? I snapped a few pictures on my Xtransceiver, glad that it was night so that Zephyr could easily pass overhead without people noticing us.
Part of wanted to dive in and take the fight to them on the streets. To get into the thick of things.
But, as bad as it was on the streets, it would only get worse if Team Rocket got a hold of a Masterball. If they could claim and wield so of the strongest pokemon around, like with the ga chanics, then theyd beco the power-running Indigo.
Even if the Master Ball didnt fully ta the pokemon captured within, the captured pokemon could beco a nuclear option with a trainer being sent to capture a pokemon like Empress or, or Arceus forbid well Arceus which I wasnt actually sure was even possible.
A more likely and imdiate example would be Moltres, Articuno, or Zapdos.
Releasing such pokemon within a City would cause untold devastation and allow Team Rocket much more power than they already had.
They were already surprising with how openly they were attacking Silph Co. let alone people in Saffron.
Zephyr began to rise, and I turned my attention to the roof of Silph Tower that we were closing in on. I glanced around and frowned. Seen Don? I asked Zephyr. Id released him just after wed taken flight, and hed run interference for .
Zephyrs head twisted around, and he hooted in one direction. I glanced that way and found Don grappling with a trio of Fearow. A few monts later, there was only one Fearow flapping away frantically while Don screeched in victory.
I turned away. Right, hes doing what he needs to then, I said. As we got closer to the tower, a swarm of Golbat rose from the ground after us, only for Zephyr to sweep his wings and force a downdraft with Tailwind.
The Golbat slowed long enough for to whistle.
Don turned his attention away from the fleeing Fearow and noticed his next victims.
Screeeeee! he screeched as he plumted towards them.
The Golbat broke around him and stopped chasing us. Zephyr reached the top of the tower and landed quickly. I hopped off, and with a practised snap of so clasps his saddle was taken off, allowing him full mobility.
Keep the skies clear Zephyr! I ordered. And keep Don pointed at foes as much as you can! I called after him.
Honchkrow, Skarmory, join them! cried another voice from the shadows of a tower. I glanced over and found Karen striding out of the shadows.
Karen, I said with a nod.
Brock, she replied.
Janine, said Janine from behind Karen, causing to grin as Karen jumped to the side.
Shit! Arceus! Whered you co from? Karen swore.
Janine smirked, and a tired sigh sounded out behind her as a much older man stepped around a set of air conditioners. I have to admit, its much funnier when youre not on the receiving side, he said before bowing his head. Hello! Im President Boris! Thank you for coming to my aid and securing my escape avenue! he said, straightening up with a pleased smile.
Karen and I shared a glance. Uhm I think theres been a miscommunication as to why were here, I said neutrally.
Janine coughed. Apologies President; a misdirection needed to be employed with how you were dithering in your office. If you hadnt been willing to leave with , I would have been forced to drag you, she said with a scowl.
I could only imagine that a smaller girl like her would have had a much tougher ti sneaking around with a knocked-out man.
The President blinked. But then you lied? he said, stepping back.
Janine shook her head. No, your safety is still a priority for , but we will not be escorting you any further.
Before the man could even co to terms with this, an Arbok appeared behind him. It tapped President Boris on the shoulder, and he whirled around, only to have a cloud of gas blown gently into his face.
He crumbled, and Janine caught him. She then released a pair of Golbat that grasped the man by the shoulders while a crobat flitted about in an orbiting position.
Our group watched as the president of Silph Co was unceremoniously flown to safety.
I raised a hand. Isnt he going to be angry with you? And shouldnt we keep an eye on him? I said.
Janine shook her head. I have secured his Keycard, which is what is actually needed. As was ntioned, a skilled enough Ditto can get through the rest of the security features.
I humd and nodded, while Karen grinned. He will also serve as a golden Magikarp if they try and hunt for him, nice one girly! said Karen.
Janine shot Karen a look that promised further jump scares. I decided then and there not to stand too close to Karen.
Erika and a few friends are joining the fight in the streets; Ive noticed there is so infighting between each other. Whats that about? I said, prompting us to move along.
So of that is our doing, Janine said. We have tapped so of our plants to stop the fighting from spilling out too much, while others pretend to keep with Team Rockets orders.
Karen frowned. Only so of them?
Janine nodded. Sotis, evil can perform good. She brought up her transceiver and displayed a video link that showcased the streets around Silph Tower with Team Rocket mbers fighting each other. Only four of the groups shown are due to us, she said. She then flicked to other video feeds of trainers fighting off Team Rocket.
I frowned as I spotted so familiar faces. Go back, I said firmly. Janine did so, and I sighed as I recognised one of the faces.
Damn it, Humphrey, you better stay safe I said before waving to her to show the other angles. I found videos of Bugsy, Mia and Silly Mouse, Gary, Ash, Misty, and Forrest all entangled in battles.
I had half a mind to drop back to the street level, but it looked like Forrest was fine. If anything, he was beating back more than his fair share of people with his Onix and Beldum fighting well together.
Interestingly enough, I also spotted what looked like a rather frazzled Jessie, Jas, and owth leading a group of won to safety.
Evil can do good indeed, I thought as I shook my head in disbelief.
Don swept through the video feed showing Forrests group, and I could see Forrest perking up and looking around for . I shot off a quick ssage to Forrest before hardening my heart.
Sabrina was trusting us to handle this situation. I needed to trust in Forrest and his friends, despite my big brother instincts demanding I drag him out of the fight.
Forrest had the training. Instead of hovering over him, I instead asked him to keep Don pointed in the right direction.
Whats happening inside the tower? I asked.
Janine switched to the internal feeds, and I saw people tied up. Team Rocket mbers patrolled hallways with pokemon. A few areas showed security groups forming a resistance that Team Rocket was trying to crush.
I frowned as a pair of Rocket Grunts suddenly appeared behind the Security group, only for a ninja to appear and engage the pair in a pokemon battle, turning the ambush into a counter-ambush as the security caught onto the threat.
I saw the ninja flash sothing at the security detail, and the group relaxed and returned to their original fight.
Youve got ninjas in the Tower? I asked.
Janine nodded. Weve infiltrated the tower, but it is not a complete infiltration. Were having issues getting around, and were having to save various groups such as this along with hostages where we can make it a much slower process.
I nodded, only to pause as I registered another pair of Grunts Teleporting. They arent using psychic pokemon I said with a hint of worry.
Janine grimaced and flicked through the video feeds to another that showcased the room that had been dedicated to teleportation pads. A technician that had been fired apparently ran to Team Rocket. The man had enough knowledge to redirect the teleportation pads to other areas within the building. This has made it much more difficult to advance as we are being cut off or finding ourselves ambushed.
Janine glanced away as though ashad of what she had to say next. Father has beco bogged down. The Vice Presidents choice of hiding spot was unorthodox and therefore relatively clever, but it has made extracting him much more difficult than it should have been. By the ti we worked out what was going on with the Teleportation pads, Team Rocket had claid the tower.
Ah, I said, rembering the ranting and raving Technician that had been dragged out of Silph Co. Tower. I considered the layout of the building and realised that we, having arrived on top of the tower, had the best chance to stop the mobility of Team Rocket.
So we need to get down two levels, then? I asked.
Three, you didnt get the chance to look at the top level, which houses the Presidents office. The second highest is still the Master Ball Research Lab.
I nodded. And the building is rated for calamities, right? I said.
Janine nodded. No building is allowed to be built more than two stories without being up to building code! she said, with a strange zeal in her words. I decided to ignore that.
What are the floors made of? I asked.
Reinforced materials and pokecrete! You cant break through them, Brock, Janine said firmly.
I humd. I severely doubted that, but I wasnt going to argue right now. And the glass isnt glass, so we cant punch through from the sides, she said.
I waved her off. I know that. I suppose Agatha doesnt want to reveal herself just yet?
No, shes maintaining radio silence... not that she can communicate with us.
She wont be able to because shes incorporeal, Karen said, speaking up for her ntor.
I crossed my arms. Soooo were going to have to go in hard and fast? I said. Karen perked up at this, and Janine twitched.
I was actually thinking we need to get as close as possible first; I can sneak in, and then you can co in, she said.
I humd. Or I can dress up like a Rocket Grunt? I said reaching into my travel bagwhich I never left ho withoutto pull out the Team Rocket uniform Id stolen a while ago.
Karen raised an eyebrow, but Janine perked up. Yes! Two of us fighting in close will work out!
I nodded and began to get changed. Janine blushed, and Karen wolf-whistled. I rolled my eyes, knowing they would have seen as much skin simply by going to the beach.
When I had my Rocket outfit I rolled my shoulders and adopted a thuggish leer. Alright, lets go, I said walking towards the stairs.
Sabrina could feel the power thrumming through Xatu.
Xatu, the pokemon most capable of glimpsing the future, had a potent ability that one had to be extrely careful about if you already possessed psychic potential.
Witnessing the future was like balancing on a knifes edge while lifting the heaviest of loads. You needed to be extrely careful. Despite that, Sabrina knew it was worth the risk.
She had long known that today was important.
Today would determine so much in such a short space of ti on many levels. But it was more than that. Her premonition had told her that, and Xatu had only further reinforced her suspicions.
She didn't fully understand what would happen or how events would play out, but she knew a mont would arrive.
A mont with her at the centre of it all.
In the books shed read on psychic abilities, seers had terd this a nexus of fate, or shatter point.
Sothing important was about to happen, and she knew she was in the right place.
For now, she simply committed to the fight, knowing this was part of the buildup. Shed scouted Will and strategised for this match.
So far, her expectations matched the reality of how Will had attempted to use Jynx against her.
It had been extrely versatile against Brock, but it would not have the sa impact against her.
Against Brock, it had been novel and new.
Against her, it was nearly a month old, and she had more than enough ti to prepare for it. She'd considered all the variations in her team. Stantlers evolution had caused her to re-evaluate her team, but she eventually determined that despite his evolution, Wyrdeer had not made it into her strongest team.
He would make it into her top twelve, but hed need to go a long way to make the top six.
No, the true surprise had been that Girafarig evolved after shed followed up on one of Brocks comnts about unique moves being factors in evolution.
Shed carefully reviewed all of her pokemon and discovered a few outliers. Of these, Twin Beam had stood out for Girafarig.
Twin Beam, which could be used by both heads, and enough mastery of the move had resulted in Girafarig evolving.
More than that, Farigiraf had demonstrated so unique abilities that Oak had quickly discovered when she reached out to him.
Armoured Tail. A skill where the missing reverse head still kept its eyes to the rear, despite where it might be looking.
It allowed Farigiraf to intercept any moves that typically would strike it in the flank. Attacks could still slip through, but any move that relied on sudden acceleration, such as Quick Attack, Extre Speed, or Aqua Jet to be denied. Professor Oak had surmised that there was perhaps more to this innate skill of Farigiraf but that would take more ti to tease out.
Shed decided she knew enough about her pokemon though, and decided to copy Brocks initial plan with the reveal of an unknown pokemon.
Unlike Brock after the Moltres incident, Will could not simply match her with a dicham. That would not work against her and to deter such options, shed chosen to have Xatu on her team today.
It would neutralise dicham and Exeggutor wonderfully.
Will had to be aware of this, which was why hed sent Jynx out. He planned to lock her choice of pokemon and give him more freedom later in their match.
Sabrina planned to make it a costly lockdown. Shed endured Jynx, she knew what would co next.
Will shifted. His hand ran across his options and Sabrina was more than happy to have Xatu contemplate the future.
Xatu relaxed into the flow of ti, her pokemons inner eye opening as she stilled, preserving her energy. Sabrina could see snippets of how connected they were.
Brock cuddling her.
Alakazam fighting with Wills Alakazam.
Brock with an armoured fist reaching towards
The last almost broke her connection, as she felt her mind stutter as she ntally rejected what had been foreseen.
Xatu, however, caught her emotions and showed her that the first image had been deliberately shown first. While the sequence of images might make the layman consider them sequential, that wasnt how visions of the future could work. They could be disjointed and confusing.
Sabrina allowed herself to relax. She would trust in Xatu. Xatu knew what she was talking about. A feeling of amusent wafted from her pokemon.
Sabrina settled herself and refocused her pokemon.
Will made his selection. A pokeball rose in mimicry of her earlier feat, to reveal his Starmie.
As expected.
Sabrina commanded her Xatu, and her pokemon glowed.
Then, Xatu vanished in a flash of light, appearing next to Starmie even as the starfish pokemon unleashed a bolt of Thunder where Xatu had been.
Xatus wings lashed out and stabbed into the ground, even as a large, sickly purple orb built up in front of it.
Thunder! Will shouted hurriedly.
With a flex along their connection, Sabrina committed her pokemon to the attack with Shadow Ball.
Shadow Ball slamd into Starmie even as it sparked up and unleashed a close-range attack. Both moves were super effective, and both pokemon were rocked by the hits.
Xatu erged the victor, however, with her wings embedded into the ground with steel Wing. smoke wafted off her form as she glowered at Starmie.
Ice Beam! Will said, selecting a much better option. Starmie unleashed the attack only for Xatus Future Sight attack to slam into it, knocking it off balance and into the dirt.
Sabrina and Xatu, with their minds together, both knew this was the perfect mont to strike. Xatu unleashed yet another Shadow Ball before Will could respond, and this ti Starmie faltered.
Sabrina allowed herself a little smirk as Will growled.
Hed so far played his hand very close to her predictions.
With Jynx and Espeon fairly injured and now down one pokemon, Will wouldnt feel confident in bringing out Exeggutor. That ant he would have to bring sothing stronger.
Sabrina flicked her eyes towards her viewing box.
She could see her mother and father, along with the observers. Mother was arguing with them, rather redundantly, in Sabrinas opinion, for not demanding that the match be cancelled. Sabrina didnt want the match to end.
She knew what was going on outside of the stadium, and it might be seen as selfish on her part, but she didnt want to leave. She wanted to beat Will. The Mayor, could, of course, formally request her assistance, but he didnt yet know himself.
Team Rockets speed in taking the tower was working against them there.
That, and the Mayor liked to put his transceiver on silent and off his wrist when he watched Sabrina fight.
A habit that had gotten him into trouble before, but one that Sabrina was thankful for tonight.
Sabrina was glad that no such order had yet been given.
Will, as he had demonstrated against Brock, would slip away if granted the chance.
Sabrina hadnt predicted Team Rocket attacking Silph Co. which in itself was worrying, but that did not an Saffron was undefended.
Saffron was currently hosting no less than seven Gym Leaders, two Elite Four, three trainers that Sabrina foresaw as being future Gym Leaders, a small horde of bored but well-intentioned trainers, and Karen.
While she would certainly help, she didnt think she would add enough to turn things decisively.
If anything, she was better here, acting as a focal point for Will, and Team Rockets Legendary to run interference. The better she did the more more that pokemon would be forced to intercede on Wills behalf.
Unless they were rely using Will as a patsy?
Possible, but unlikely, especially with the Jynx. The Jynx that shed surmised was not, in fact, Wills pokemon. It was too focused on denying a trainer the ability to withdraw their pokemon.
Sabrina turned her eyes away from her mother and locked eyes with her father. Has anyone inford Surge? she projected to her father.
He stiffened for a mont before shaking his head. Sabrina avoided rolling her eyes. Despite being a skilled Psychic her father always resorted to speaking with his mouth first.
No, not yet, he said.
Do so; he will be inconsolable if soone doesnt inform him and he misses out on beating down Team Rocket. With that done, Sabrina turned her attention to sending her mother calming waves of reassurance that all was well. Her mother cald instantly.
Her seeming defeat in the argunt worried the auditor more than the arguing as he seed to think her mother had given up on the League.
Oh! My baby is down there! but shes so strong! Oh no, should she be out there with her friends? Whats happening!? Oh blast it! I should have kept training with my Kadabra!
It didnt stop her mother from fretting.
Sabrina ntally shot both Jenny and the auditor quick ssages of Im alright with the situation as it stands. I can trust in my friends to handle the situation.
Both of them jolted and whirled around in surprise. Its like theyd forgotten her earlier display.
With that done Sabrina turned her attention to the ssage Brock had left her.
Gotta go, bad guys turned up, sorry! Love Brock.
She telekinetically tore it down, folding it up and putting it in a bag she had in her viewing box. She could use that later, and if any more people noticed it Brock was liable to beco embarrassed when asked about the note hed left for her.
Sabrina made a ntal note to tease Brock about the love hearts hed drawn on the ssage.
Perhaps shed bring it out during her press conference after the match?
She accomplished all this in a handful of monts. People often underestimate the speed of thought, and as a psychic, she could think very quickly indeed.
Xatu projected her amusent back to Sabrina, and Sabrina inspected Xatu.
Her pokemon was hurt, tired, and not in a good position.
Sabrina raised her hand as Will selected his next pokeball. I withdraw my Xatu! Sabrina said, using her voice specifically for this.
Will faltered at the announcent, and Sabrina allowed herself a smile. She wasnt going to give Will the ti to get a free move off by withdrawing her pokemon as she had.
There would be no chance for him to finagle the rules. With this call and interruption, she also remained the sole pacesetter for this match.
Xatu wasnt likely to be able to get another move in, not against what Sabrina knew was coming next.
The referee from the League raised his flag. Sabrina withdraws her pokemon from combat! Xatu is unable to battle! The match is now one to one! he announced.
A murmur of surprise broke out from the crowd, and Sabrina could feel how their minds warred with the idea of not getting everything she could from Xatu.
Sabrina knew that wasnt going to play out well for her. So instead, she nodded to her pokemon and Xatu vanished in a teleport to appear next to her mother.
Take care of Xatu, she projected to her fretting mother.
ntally, Sabrina nudged her father to look after her mother. He should have been on top of that, but sadly, he could beco hyper-focused on what was right in front of him.
He took so much looking after sotis.
Still, with Xatu up there to be cared for, her mother would have sothing to do with her anxiety instead of cycling through a negative ntal loop of thoughts that had been getting rather loud.
With her mother cald, Sabrina turned her focus back to the battlefield as her next pokeball rose up and shot forward.
Go, Espeon, she said with a small jut of her chin to antagonise Will. Sabrina knew he saw the gesture as his lips thinned conspicuously.
Will, much to her annoyance, clapped his hands and inhaled. Sabrina hissed in surprise, and Espeon, feeling her annoyance, lashed her tails side to side in a frenzied manner and yowled angrily.
It shouldnt have been so annoying to see.
Indeed, other trainers had begun adopting it more this year after facing Brock, which made it seem charming as they emulated Brock.
Brock himself always said it was rely a thod of controlling anxious thoughts, but Sabrina had seen it in her own familys training manuals as a thod of clearing the mind for allowing better focus before attempting a psychic exercise.
But seeing Will copy Brocks technique was not sothing Sabrina wanted.
Sabrina tossed her hair in agitation as Espeon growled again. When Will released the technique, he had a much calr expression.
Sabrina resolved to crush him once more to herself, and Espeon nodded in agreent as her small pokemon shifted from foot to foot.
Will smirked, obviously knowing what hed done.
Go, Slowking, he said with his annoying smirk.
Sabrina inspected the newly arrived pokemon. So, that was his next play was it?
Sabrina readied herself to give the next order. As she did so, she hoped Brock was doing alright.
Surprisingly, the stairs themselves werent patrolled. When I exited the stairs three stories down, I encountered a pair of guards that started to glare at only to relax.
Why are you using the stairs? said one suspiciously.
Thinking quickly, I blinked back at him. My superior said to? I tilted my head and took a shuddering breath. You an I didnt need to run up six flights of stairs?
The guards shared a look and laughed at my expense.
I ntally fist-pumped as my deception worked.
Ah, organisational bullying; you could always be counted on as an excuse to make people lower their guard.
One of the guards waved on and pointed at the fully operational elevators. Weve got control of them, but I think your boss wants you to be sent through the pads. Go see the nerd; make sure you praise him as well, 'cause otherwise, he might send you into the sewers! he said with a smirk.
I nodded quickly, pretending to be worried as I moved into the room. With my gaze sweeping over the room I spotted clusters of Team Rocket Grunts sitting around waiting for a man in a lab coat. Off to the side, a group of tied-up scientists and technicians glowered as the man ranted at his computer.
thought you knew better than ! he said as he hit a button, and another pair of Rocket Grunts were sent off with a flash of light. You couldnt fathom my intellect, you smooth-brained Priapes!
I moved up to the hostages and looked them over. None of them looked injured. Scared? Yes. But then again, the ones that didnt look scared were the ones that were more heavily tied up, with looks of abject fury on their faces despite the gags. I calmly untied a few without anyone really noticing what I was doing.
Sotis I find that not drawing attention can be as simple as not acting in a guilty manner. I had zero guilt untying them, miming for them to be quiet as I raised up my cap. Their eyes widened, and after I had three of them fully untied, I motioned to untie the others.
Hey! What are you doing? scread soone as a hand dropped onto my shoulder.
I glanced up at a giant of a man. Oh, Im providing a distraction, I said with a smile.
The man blinked, processing my words. I felt his hand clench down harder, but with my Rock aura, I was easily able to stand and punch him in the gut.
He folded around my fist easier than Suzies bedsheet, sinking to his knees with a loud wheeze. I stood and grinned as other Team Rocket Grunts pulled out their pokeballs.
Shit! Thats Gym Leader Brock! Howd he get here? Who cares? Take him down!
I tapped my own pokeballs. Selene, Shin, Gawain, and Shrek appeared before .
Defensive actions team! I ordered.
The Grunts around grinned at ; they must have been scenting blood in the water. All of them turned and started to close in on . The few technicians and hostages that had freed themselves stood to glower back, but that wasnt enough to deter Team Rocket.
They completely missed Karen waltzing in and chopping both the door guards in the throat while they were looking at . Her pokemon team was released with a sweep of her hands. I was interested to notice eight pokemon appear around her.
While this was going on, a wave of attacks splashed against the Protect and Barrier in front of my pokemon. I didnt mind, and neither did my Pokemon, as we held out a few monts more.
I saw a flicker of movent and shifted my attention. The scientist, who had been ranting and raving about his brilliance, suddenly found himself wrapped in rope as Janine shot a thumbs up. I grinned as her pokemon team also appeared around her in set positions.
I clapped my hands together and caused a loud clap to echo through the room. In the ensuing silence, I spoke up. Alright team! Weve distracted them long enough! I shouted.
So Rocket Grunts snorted in derision. Oldest trick in the book! one even said.
Others couldnt help themselves, and they looked behind them. Shit! We got trouble!
This caused a wave of confusion to ripple through the ranks of Team Rocket.
I pointed straight forward and smirked darkly. Attack! I shouted, and my pokemon switched from being on the defensive to attacking in a heartbeat.
The cluster of Rocket pokemon, nurous as they were, were taken by surprise by the sudden shift in aggression.
They fell in droves, Ekans and Arboks were hurled into the clusters of Rocket Grunts, forcing them to beco tangled and tripped up.
Janines pokemon exhaled smog that had the Grunts coughing and gasping for their breaths. Karens pokemon shot forth and rather than relying on tricks they simply overpowered any pokemon sent against them.
To the pads! shouted one Grunt.
He led a wave of Grunts away with a flash and the hostages that Id rescued growled in annoyance. Theyll warn the rest of the building that were free and youre here!
I clicked my tongue. Thats not ideal, but not unexpected. I looked over the group. We need to get you to safety; is there any chance we can calibrate the teleportation pads to deposit you on the ground floor?
The scientists quickly nodded. We can; we hadnt listened to Harveys claims as they were only theoretical and highly unethical. He wanted to force the testing early, which was extrely risky, but with the number of Rocket Grunts going back and forth, we have enough indicators and data of it working to do it ourselves.
Another technician stepped up. We can do more than that! We could detach one of the pads and then set it up in the foyer! Send the police up here!
I considered that for a second, only to feel sothing fall on my head.
I looked up and frowned. Hey Janine. Are buildings that are up to code supposed to crumble like that?
Janine appeared at my side and glared at the slightly broken section of pokecretea highly prized super material, shed saidused for most buildings that were typically the most expensive part of building anything big.
No, they are not, she growled, like the crack in the roof offended her. She levelled a look at the n. Explain this violation of building code! she snapped.
The n stepped back with their hands raised in surrender. I dont know anything about that! said one. We had nothing to do with the construction! the other said.
A polite cough saw Janines wrath snapping towards the intruder, a noise escaped her causing the older man to falter.
I blinked in surprise. Did she just growl?
The man licked his lips. The top three levels were recently added, and I think the President might have... finagled so cheaper options for these levels, he shrugged. I cant say that Im surprised... Shortcuts have always been the new presidents preferred choice.
Janine snarled, and her hand whipped up. For a mont, I thought she was going to strike the man. Instead, her transceiver appeared, and her fingers blurred as she wrote out a ssage, or rather, what looked like a short report. The OHSA and Building Standards Commission will hear about this! she said, snapping a few pictures of the roof.
Karen snorted. Youre a hoot short stuff. Only you could care about poor building standards when terrorist action is occurring.
This matters! Janine said.
I coughed. It might actually be a stroke of luck for us.
There is nothing fortunate about shoddy building practices, Brock! Janine snapped, apparently unable to see the positives of this situation.
I rely grinned and pointed at the roof. Whats directly above us? I said conspiratorially.
Janine blinked, her mind refocusing on our actual objective and I nodded. Heres my plan, I started to say, laying out what I was thinking.
Sabrina narrowed her eyes. So, hed brought Slowking out against her?
Agility: Sabrina commanded her Espeon. Espeon vanished in a blur of speed, and Will gestured.
His pokemon raised its arms, and a small box appeared in front of it. Sabrina knew precisely what that could be, and she had her answer ready.
With a flex of her mind, Espeon appeared close to Slowking, the gem on her forehead glinting before a red flash of light shot into Slowking.
Will staggered as the move he was attempting was Disabled.
He shook his head but smirked. Psychic Terrain! he said, causing Sabrinas good mood to sour. He must have tried for Trick Room earlier in a gambit to force her hand.
So, he had a modicum of talent that didnt rely on trickery and sponsors, she thought to herself as Slowking slowly ford up the next cube.
Sabrina narrowed her eyes, and Espeon crouched. Sabrina channelled her energy and fed it into her pokemon to empower the blast as much as she was able.
From Espeons mouth, a dense beam of energy blasted forth as Espeon unleashed a close-range Hyper Beam straight into Slowking.
Slowking was blown back and out of the battlefield.
When he landed, he blinked dolefully, rose and trotted up to the edge while Espeon regathered her scattered aura that was what actually caused a pokemon using Hyper Beam or Giga Impact to beco exhausted after using it.
Sabrina could only glower as the obviously weakened Slowking ford up the Psychic Terrain onto the battlefield.
Sabrina instantly felt sothing lightly touching the field psychically, empowering it from afar while bolstering Wills Slowking. Espon herself buckled as a slight weight was added. Sabrina wanted to rage at the interference that only she could feel.
She raised her eyes to find Will now looking much more confident and self-assured.
Sabrina rely flicked her hair once more. Fine, if that was how he wanted to play things, Sabrina would simply put her confidence in her friends... and Karen, in finding and engaging the Legendary while its focus was on her.
Slowking glowed red despite Will not touching his pokeball. Which, in truth, wasn't required for psychics, but the thod was different enough to make it appear like it was performing Baton Pass.
Sothing that Slowking couldnt learn.
So, do you stand by your claims that you just used Baton Pass? she said, speaking for the first ti throughout the match to just Will. She needed to buy herself and the others so ti, she could feel an itch forming in her mind. Soon, it said to her.
Will tilted his head as the pokeball he had been holding out disgorged his Alakazam. For so people, perhaps that would be a challenge, but I have taught my pokemon many abilities, he said.
Sabrina allowed a few monts to pass without comnt or action as she and Will locked eyes. People around the stadium began to lean forward, straining to hear every word they said.
For them this was a tense mont. For Sabrina, this was a delaying tactic.
Hmmm, yes, so people, Sabrina said, knowing that Will would never be such a person. She instead had her Espeon begin to move now that her energy had regathered.
Espeon leapt to the side just in ti to avoid Wills Alakazam as it teleported behind her. Sabrina barely needed to note the vanishing and reappearing Alakazam; this was a tactic all of her pokemon were extrely well versed in. While it was difficult, it wasnt impossible to overco.
At least it would have been, were it not for the interference slowing Espeon while bolstering Will. Still, the movepool of Wills Alakazam was relatively known.
Espeon dove into the ground and hid with Dig, leaving Will to impotently glower at the hole. When he raised his gaze at her, Sabrina raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
He snorted and waved a hand, bolstering his Alakazam with Calm Mind.
Sabrina allowed herself a smile as Espeon appeared only a mont later, with stars forming around her to unleash Swift upon her foe.
Alakazam vanished in a Teleport only for the stars to pause midflight and then snap back onto their target.
Excellent. Continue the attack, she projected to her pokemon.
Espeon strode forward, stars forming around her as Swift was unleashed upon Alakazam.
Alakazam countered by forming Barriers where it could. Alakazam continued to step back slowly, as though it were being forced back.
Sabrina held in her scoff. She could see what was coming easily enough.
Alakazam was continually pressured until it was in a corner of the battlefield. It appeared like it was about to be forced out. Sabrina made a chopping gesture like she was committing Espeon forward to end the exchange.
Espeon hopped forward only to leap backward as Alakazam appeared behind her with his spoons flashing out with dark energy. Foul Play, how predictable. With Espeon moving as quickly, she should have been able to evade the blow, only for the pressure placed on Espeon to cause her to falter.
Foul Play lashed across Espeon in a glancing blow, and Sabrina clenched her jaw as pain flashed through the bond.
Sabrina didnt allow it to cloud her mind, however, and she ordered Espeon to dodge.
Espeon responded, despite the pain, flipping through the air to avoid a follow-up attack.
From there, it was Alakazams turn to pressure her pokemon back into a corner that was all too close, thanks to Will leading them there earlier.
Thankfully, she only had to Dig to evade Wills ambush. She rather enjoyed his faltering expression.
Hed forgotten she had that option.
Once again, Espeon popped up, this ti in the middle of the battlefield, where she flashed a red light, returning with Baton Pass.
In her place, Farigiraf appeared with a shake of his long neck. Both sets of eyes locked onto Alakazam, who lifted his chin in challenge.
Will eyed the pokemon and the dark outer head. With a flick of his eyes, Alakazam Teleported first to the left and then to the right.
Farigirafs eyes tracked the movent, and Will paused to consider his options.
Sabrina used his hesitation against him to let her pokemon perform Calm Mind. Will clicked his tongue as Farigiraf glowed with strength.
Will gestured, and Sabrina felt energy build up around Alakazams spoons. Sabrina had spent more than enough ti around Alakazam to know precisely which move was about to be unleashed.
With a flex of her will and a small boost of her own energy, Farigiraf matched Alakazam with his own Psybeam.
Both moves slamd into each other and a clash ensued. Both sets of eyes on Farigiraf narrowed as they committed themselves wholly to the attack. Alakazam leaned forward and Sabrina felt the power in both Psybeams grow.
Sadly Alakazams attack grew more.
It overwheld Farigirafs attack and blasted straight into her pokemons chest hurling it into the back wall where it struggled to rise.
But rise it did.
On trembling legs, Farigiraf rose, conviction to continue filling the bond and Sabrina found herself re-evaluating her newest Elite. This was more heart than she had been expecting. Farigiraf strode back onto the battlefield, determined to fight on.
Alakazam straightened and sniffed haughtily, but Sabrina could see the way its limbs quivered.
Ah, that move had cost Alakazam, she thought to herself. Interesting.
She sent a plan to Farigiraf and her pokemon wholeheartedly agreed. She smiled coyly. Care to try that again? she said with a challenging lift of her head.
Will sniffed and gestured and once again Alakazam prepared to unleash a powerful Psybeam.
This ti Sabrina punched forward, her glee at baiting Will matching that of her pokemons as it unleashed a Hyper Beam straight at Alakazam.
Alakazam went from cocky arrogance to frightened in an instant, and Sabrina didnt need to see Wills face to feel the sudden fear that exploded out of him as he realised shed baited him into another exchange, not understanding what her Farigiraf was capable of.
Alakazam dropped the Psybeam assault and raised his spoons. It shouldnt have had enough ti. And yet it raised Protect, the pokemon interfering bolstering its efforts to raise a shell just before the beam slamd ho.
Emotions of shock and elation surged through the crowd, laced with Wills fear that he hadnt been quick enough. Only to die away as Alakaam erged unscathed but extrely tired from the exchange. Sabrina let herself smile with amusent.
Farigiraf had done well. I withdraw Farigiraf from battle, he is too tired to continue, she announced, halting Will from getting a vindictive counterattack in while her pokemon was exhausted.
His lips flickered into a grimace, his face reflecting the sourness of his mind before he adopted a mask of stoicism.
Hmmm a cheap shot there Gym Leader, he said patronisingly.
And sothing which you fell for, she said, pokeball rising to return her pokemon. Will inspected his own exhausted Alakazam and flicked his fingers, Ally Switch once more working as it shouldnt, Sabrina noted.
With her own proximity, Sabrina could now feel how wtwo interlaced his own energies to bolster the move and allow it to overco its shortcomings to make it more like Baton Pass.
Sabrina stared at Will when Exeggutor appeared on the field. He raised his chin and Sabrina sniffed. With a flex of her power, another pokeball was thrown forth.
Her own Exeggutor, much taller and more vibrant thanks to Erikas support, glowered at Wills.
Multiple eyes locked on each other and Sabrina shared her plan with the multitude of minds that made up Exeggutor.
Exeggutor surged into action, its mouth open as seeds began to fire straight at its counterpart.
Sludge Bomb! Will ordered, falling back on verbal orders with his pokemon.
Sabrinas pokemon sidestepped the danger of the move and continued to pepper Wills Exeggutor with a seemingly ineffective move, only for the seeds to suddenly sprout and reveal themselves to not be Seed Bullet but rather Leech Seeds being planted.
Again! Will ordered, forcing Sabrina to have her pokemon leap to the side, duck low and then skid forward. Her ntal link with her pokemon allowing her to guide her pokemon with a deftness unmatched by others.
The crowd cheered at the show of dexterity from the typically lumbering pokemon as it evaded a rain of poison.
Sabrina waved her hand, and from the fronds of her pokemons canopy purple power wafted out towards the enemy Exeggutor. Unlike Sludge Bomb, Posionpowder wasnt as easy to evade and soon Wills pokemon was being sapped from both poison and Leech seed.
Tch! Will barked as he returned his pokemon.
Sabrina didnt hesitate to have her pokemon plant itself into the ground with Ingrain, a move that had required Erika herself to teach Exeggutor.
Will worked his jaw back and forth, only for his frustration to build as the Psychic Terrain flickered. Sabrina tilted her head as she felt the weight slip off her.
The attention that wtwo was giving to their battle had waned
What was Brock doing?
I marched up the stairs, Rocket shirt thrown off and through the stairs once more. This ti when the Rocket Grunts saw , they moved to attack, only for Janine and my pokemon to launch from behind to intercept them.
The fight was short, sharp, and sweet.
It still caused a lot of noise and when I looked up I wasnt surprised to see two white-suited Rocket Executives rounding a corner with six other Rocket Grunts. The woman was tall, thin and silver-haired. She matched the description of the woman who had fought with Koga and Agatha when they encountered wtwo.
The other was a hulking brute of a man. His eyebrows were thick enough to cast his eyes into shadow such that it looked like he glared out at the world while his arms swung back and forth.
Well, well, my dear Orm, it seems the Grunts were correct and we have been entrapped, said the woman we knew to be Cird.
Around her, Starmie, Arbok, Arcanine, Banette, Persian, Nidoqueen, and a Raichu appeared.
Hrn, said Orm, each hand fisting around a trio of pokeballs. Lets get rid of them, he said. Around him, a Jumpluff, three Hoppip, a Vileplu, a Sunflora, and a Shuckle appeared.
I did a double-take. That hadnt been the type of pokemon Id been expecting from the guy who looked like he wrestled Slaking for fun.
I swept across the pokemon and frowned. Youve been expecting , havent you? I said eying the Grass specialist.
Cird snorted. It was obvious that you would stick your nose into matters far beyond your understanding! Orm! she said snapping her fingers. Orm grunted and gestured with his hand, causing his Grass type pokemon to bristle in preparation.
I nodded. Hmmm Grass type, my weakness, I said with a smile.
Orm nodded. Obviously! Team! Vine Whip!
Team! Brace! I shouted causing my pokemon to lock down and kneel for what was to co.
I grinned as Cirds eyes narrowed while Orm committed to the strikes.
As they charged forward the floor gave way underneath them as Berthas fist ripped through the weak material. With a swipe of her hands, the floor opened up and the floor below suddenly revealed itself.
Shin glowered at the Grass-type pokemon and I only had to point for him to unleash an Ice Beam upon them.
Tch! Bannette! Get down there! Cird ordered. She then snapped her fingers at the others.
Orm, held out a hand. Countermand that! he said with a glower.
He eyed my pokemon both in front of us, and underneath us shooting up. Retreat, Hes going to bring the floor down on us! he said before turning and lumbering away as quickly as he could.
I huffed, annoyed that hed correctly guessed what I was planning. Bertha, do it, I said leaping down to her. Bertha thrust her fist into a nearby support pillar. Her fist clenched upon the pillar and then shook.
The floor above us collapsed, but I rely waved to Jormungandr, who was already laid out in a loop around our group. Janine glowered up at the collapsing floor. This! This shouldnt be possible! she said as she held up her transceiver.
Are you recording this? I said to Janine. She nodded and I raised a finger before deciding to just ignore it. Karen howled with laughter as Janine steadfastly docunted the OHSA violations in progress.
The laughter stopped when the collapsing floor suddenly stopped collapsing and instead began to hover as a blue glow surrounded everything.
The debris lowered gently to the ground and a number of Rocket Grunts, along with Cird, and Orm were revealed with so of their pokemon.
I wasnt looking at them, however. My gaze was raised to the pokemon hovering in front of the locked vault that was the only segnt of the floor above us that hadnt collapsed.
wtwos helt looked back, offering nothing of how he might feel or where he was even directing his attention.
Janine swallowed loudly, her transceiver held up recording the first sighting of wtwo.
I swallowed and wet my suddenly dry lips.
Id suspected wtwo was here, and Id been proven right.
It didnt make sense for Team Rocket to act this brazenly. Not without sothing that made it worth the absolute chaos theyd release with this assault.
For that, they needed a sure thing, which ca in the form of wtwo. My estimation of the dark inhibitors around the Masterball creation lab went up a few more notches.
Karen rely stepped forward, her gaze locked on the Legendary pokemon. So, youre the pokemon that injured my ntor? She cracked her neck while glaring up at the hovering pokemon.
Cird laughed. Oh, you petty fool! Do you think your little trick will stop us? We dont even need to fight, with Agent M here! she crowed gleefully.
I pursed my lips and directed my gaze up at the floor that housed the Presidents penthouse office. Sha about the top floor, I said conversationally. Selene drifted up next to as Cird frowned.
What are you Cird began to say even as Orm looked up.
He was the only one to notice Titan and Empress burrowing through the final floor, causing it to crumble above Team Rocket.
Agent M, or rather wtwo, had all of a mont to realise how much danger he was in before Empress tackled him out of the air, dark energy radiating off her.
He slamd into the ground with Empress roaring her rage right into his helt. Titan landed next to her and both of them detonated the Dark Pulse theyd been holding, to help them remain hidden.
Id suspected wtwo was here and Id planned accordingly.
Was it being pressured? Whatever Brock was doing, it seed to be working, as wtwo's attention vanished for a mont before returning, albeit greatly weakened.
Sabrina checked her energy levels and resolved to pull back on the amount of energy she committed to the fight, knowing that she would need it soon.
Sorry. She ntally apologised to Exeggutor. The multitude rely bobbed their heads, eyes forward as Will inspected the Psychic Terrain.
He growled before releasing Slowking once again.
As Brock had ntioned, Slowking appeared to be in better health than when it had returned. Regeneration through withdrawal was an interesting quirk, one that her own Slowking did not possess.
Will waved his hand and Slowking began to channel the needed cube in his hands.
Sabrina countered by unleashing Leaf Storm.
Exeggutors leaves whipped as glowing green leaves shot forth and slashed into SLowking cutting through in a furor. Slowking failed to react. It completed the Psychic Terrain, repowering the faltering field only to blink and yawn in pain as it toppled over.
When it hit the ground its eyes closed as unconsciousness claid it.
Slowking is unable to battle that makes it two all! proclaid the referee.
Sabrina felt the anticipation build in the crowd. They knew as well as her that she still had pokemon to play, while Will was being forced into a corner. His pokemon fatigued while she still had options.
A feeling of anticipation swept over her and Sabrina felt herself stir and glance up at the Viewing box where her Xatu was, staring towards Silph Co.
Soon, her pokemon projected to her.
Sabrina nodded and prepared herself to fight as hard as she could.
Her influence on the shatter point was building, and like a man caught in the flow of the river, she would need to act quickly to determine the outco.
Will sent back out his Exeggutor.
Sabrina raised her chin in defiance. Stand your ground! she said aloud to make Will commit. This wasnt it. This wasnt the mont.
It would be soon, though.
Sludge Bomb! Will shouted.
Sabrina reached forth, projecting her next order for Psyshock to her pokemon.
Exeggutor lashed out and his foe stumbled back even as the super-effective move landed. Both Exeggutors blanched as poisons took effect.
Then Wills pokemon stumbled further as green energy wafted off it towards Sabrinas Exeggutor.
Sabrina crossed her arms and committed herself and her pokemon.
Exeggutor drained the ground around him even as he continued to unleash Psyshock after Psyshock at his opponent. The interference and weakening of her attacks began to falter more and more.
Will continued to barrage her locked-down pokemon with Sludge Bombs that hamred at her pokemon. Despite that. Her Exeggutor held on, fighting on until the mont he saw Wills Exeggutor collapse.
Then he gave Sabrina a pained look as he began to tremble. Sabrina inclined her head. You have fought well, rest now, she said projecting the pride she felt in her pokemon. With her permission. Exeggutor allowed himself to topple.
Sabrina returned him, and felt her spine tingle in anticipation.
Like the static of a storm heralding the lightning, everyone unknowingly leaned forward in their seats.
Sabrina raised up her Greatball before her and nodded. Go, Alakazam, she said, announcing her intentions to all.
She hoped Brock could keep wtwos attention, as she needed all her focus for the part to co.
Shit! When did Brock get two Tyranitars?" scread a Grunt as he was clutching onto a wall.
Agent M! Get up and fight! roared Cird before she pointed her pokemon at us. Team! Rip and Tear!
Her pokemon promptly went wild. Lunging at the nearest pokemon with fang or claw turning the tower into a proper battleground.
I was suddenly extrely glad that wed evacuated all of the people who had been with us before wed enacted this plan.
Chaos filled the room as suddenly pokemon were lunging and moves were flying.
Janine, Karen and I reacted. Shin and Gawain work with Janine to take out those Grass type pokemon! Gawain stay wide! I barked before chopping my hand to Shrek.
Take out that Persian! I called as it fired off a Swift at Janines Muk which was trying to minimise.
Gengar! Back up Brocks pokemon! Take out that Legendary! Karen roared. Houndoom push them back!
Brock move! Janine shouted, causing to react.
I ducked into Berthas kneeling form to evade a Blizzard that tore through where Janine and I had been standing monts before.
Janine? I said peering around Berthas form to see a Glalie glaring at from one of the Grunts.
Jormungandr! I said pointing at the pokemon. Jorm twisted and slapped his tail into so rubble, unleashing a Stone Edge that was intercepted by a Machoke.
The Machoke tried to close on Jorm only for Janine to intercept it with a Venomoth whose wings were glowing with light.
I turned my head in ti to catch wtwo exploding out of the crater that Empress had smashed him into.
His eyes glowed through the cracked helt and Empress was clenched in a Telekinetic grip that she struggled against.
Dark Pulse! I shouted at her. She exploded once again with dark energy and wtwo had to zip back to evade the attack. Gengar appeared with a Shadow Ball overhead.
Titan! Box him! I shouted, making Titan keep wtwo on the back foot as much as we could. Another Gengar appeared and I grinned, knowing that had to an Agatha was nearby.
I felt a chill race up my spine and without knowing why I channeled Dark energy and spun.
Two large arms swept towards as a Banette materialised behind .
Its grinning visage lood large as it closed with . I knocked one fist away with only my bare fist, causing it to almost falter as it carried through with the other.
A cane intercepted the fist aiming for my kidney, and a wizened old voice spoke. Oh my, Brock, that was nearly a bad ending for you there! Agatha cackled.
I exhaled. Thanks for the save. Banette twisted and tried to leap away, only for Agathas shadow to distort.
From the shadow, an arm appeared to latch onto Banette.
Oh, no little one, youre not leaving so soon, Agatha said as her shadow gained red eyes. Banette was dragged into the shadow, and from there I could only watch as Agathas shadow undulated and writhed as though a fight was playing out.
A roar tore away from the strange sight and back to where wtwo had raised a tal pillar and swung it telekinetically to bat away Empress from closing once more with him.
Titan threw himself into the pillar to help his mother, forcing wtwo to give up and hover upwards.
Agatha tutted. That wont do, ti to join the fray properly, my sweets! she said.
Floating in the air behind wtwo, another Gengar appeared, along with a Mismagius. In the fights taking place on the ground, a Froslass appeared and swept in with an opening Icy Wind to turn things more in our favour.
I only peripherally noticed this however, as I kept my gaze on the main threat, which was wtwo hovering above us.
I saw him turn his head back and forth, assessing the situation. The glow of his visor shifted and a robotic voice sounded out. Orm, Cird! Salt the earth! said a voice that I just knew had to be Giovanni.
Orm reacted by having his pokemon suddenly unleash huge amounts of pollen into the air, while other pokemon began wafting it towards us.
I and Janine stiffened, knowing how this combination move could be used even before the Arcanine on their side inhaled.
Surf! I ordered all of my pokemon capable of it.
Bertha, Shrek, and Shin all unleashed the move together but stayed on our side of the wave, which we used as a shield against the resultant explosion.
Team Rocket, when they erged, were slightly worse for the wear but theyd gained so breathing room. Get that vault open! said the voice of Giovanni.
wtwo turned his head to said vault and suddenly a white burst of energy manifested itself in his hands.
Brace! I shouted as wtwo unleashed a Hyper Beam straight at the vault.
Dark energy erupted from the room as it burst, knocking wtwo back. The Gengar that had been attacking him redoubled their efforts. Karen twitched and suddenly her pokemon unleashed their own moves on the staggered Legendary.
I decided to add my own powerhouse to the equation. Empress! Unleash! I shouted.
Empress blinked once at , before rembering what that command ant.
She inhaled and wtwo twitched towards her, as so psychic instinct warned him of what was to co.
His armoured form snapped into a protective curl as a Protect ford around him.
Empress unleashed her own Hyper Beam and a bright light filled the room, making most people shield their eyes.
I didnt though. I pointed and continued to shout orders that couldnt be heard, but my pokemon knew what to expect. More of Team Rockets pokemon went down and the noose slowly tightened on them.
A crack began to form in one of the windows, and a mont later it burst outward.
When Empress finished unleashing her Hyper Beam I wasnt surprised to find wtwo had endured through the use of Protect. It spoke volus that hed weathered the storm of hits from other pokemon but when Empress had gotten a clear shot at him, hed known to use Protect straight away.
Titan stepped close to his mother, his fist raised to ward off any potential threats while she regathered her energy. If wtwo hadnt been in the air I might have suggested having him follow up in his mothers wake with a Giga Impact.
Honestly I wasnt ga to risk him getting into a charge and not accidentally being thrown over off the tower. It was too great a risk and all too probable. If Empress's Hyper Beam could break the windows, the sa would be true of Giga Impact.
I chopped a hand forward. My pokemon reacted, with Jormungandr unleashing a wave of Dragonsbreath while Hydro Pumps and Stone Edges leapt forth.
wtwo swept his hand and they all clashed with each other causing a cloud of dust to obscure him for a mont.
Once again, I felt a chill race up my spine, and this ti when I turned, I found not another Banette but rather wtwo reaching out and grabbing by the throat.
He was much faster than Banette, and while I raised a hand to hamr a punch into his side he rely ignored the hit. I suddenly felt like a child in the grip of a pro wrestler.
You! snarled a robotic voice as we rose into the air.
I stared into the helt and was surprised to see that part of it was no longer there. An eye stared out, but instead of anger, only blank emptiness t my gaze.
My pokemon cried out in shock, only for wtwo to evade them. He turned and held his arm with hanging, my back facing towards the now destroyed window with nothing but a free fall awaiting should wtwo throw .
I called up my dark energy and snapped a kick, only for his tail to catch the blow
Youve interfered for the last The robotic voice started to say, only for light to explode from behind .
What?! squawked the voice.
At first, I thought it was one of my pokemon coming through with a surprise attack. Selene being the most likely, but then a mont later I felt a Psychic power sweep past , and I stiffened.
I recognised that feeling.
Sabrina?
Sabrina knew her window of opportunity was coming, every part of her being knew this.
Will glowered, his attention flickering to the Psychic Terrain that would help hide how he was being bolstered while she was being suppressed.
She was gambling her fate now, knowing that a mont would arrive where she would be able to flip the table and dominate this match.
Wills Alakazam appeared and both pokemon locked eyes. Sabrinas pokemon straightened, while Wills tossed its head, its moustache and skin marred by the earlier fights.
This shouldnt have been an equal match.
It all ca down to the interference she had been feeling pressuring her for most of the match, a faint touch. A sensation that was just slightly off.
She needed a mont of true inattention, where she could be guaranteed to able to focus on herself and Alakazam.
As if hearing her plea, a powerful blast of energy rippled across the night sky tearing the final dregs of wtwos attention away from the match.
Like a cot racing across the night sky, it flashed brilliantly.
People in the crowd shifted and a mont of fear poured through them, wondering what had caused such an attack.
For Sabrina however, it was a signal.
Now, it said to her.
Now was her mont.
She clenched her fist and focussed herself entirely upon her old friend.
Around her, psychic energy began to build rapidly. Her hair whipped about as psychic energy built to a crescendo.
Without wtwos attention on her, she could weave her energy through the bond without interference.
Alakazam raised his spoons and from the base of one, where a small, seemingly insignificant gem was attached, a bright glow began to form.
What is this!? Will snarled as he staggered back at the feeling of power that began to emanate from Sabrina and her Alakazam.
Sabrina felt her awareness expand slightly.
She felt Erika fighting alongside Flannery, Brawly and Roxanne through the streets wiping clear the blight that had been Team Rocket.
She felt minds, familiar and new, struggling throughout the city.
She felt Janine in the tower of Silph Co. Fright sweeping through her as she felt Sabrinas mind touch her own.
Sabrina felt her power grow again, like a heartbeat growing in tempo within the next mont and she felt Agatha and Karen.
And she felt Brock as he was snatched up by wtwo.
A pokemon that held no anger, no guile.
His mind was empty of thoughts and emotions so very much like hers had once been, through no fault of his own.
Sabrina could feel Brocks fear and her heart ached with worry.
Please. Dont hurt him. She thought as her power grew again. wtwo turned and a feeling of curiosity washed across her.
What are you? What.. is this feeling? He asked.
Sabrina smiled, projecting herself fully, and in doing so allowed her bond to deepen with Alakazam even further..
When she spoke she did so with not just her mind but also her mouth, microphones all about the stadium catching her words as Alakazams glow reached its peak.
This is the power of friendship, she said, answering wtwo as she reached up to the sky for the stars and beyond.
Brock had once ntioned during their journey that was where the limits of friendship lay.
She thought hed been being facetious.
Now she understood.
Her power blossod.
She felt herself grow as she never before.
Shed trained with Alakazam but the feeling of the power radiating through them had never been this strong.
Perhaps it was the emotions, perhaps it was the urge to be more. Perhaps their connection was more unified than ever before, but the result was that her power expanded throughout the entire city.
She felt herself washing through peoples minds and perhaps for the first ti, they felt what it was like to experience her sense of empathy.
Wonder and awe filled her. Around Saffron people turned without thought to the stadium, their mouths open and tears pouring down their cheeks.
Those who were her enemies flinched and cowered, like Rattata caught in the light that her mind gave off; they began to scurry and flee, knowing they were not welco.
wtwo alone stood tall. Beautiful, wtwo said to her, with all the wonder of a child discovering the joy of a field of flowers during a sumr day as emotions more complex than anything it had ever experienced were shared freely.
Sabrina smiled and reached out to wtwo.
Beautiful, said a deep, resonating voice.
Yeah, she is, I agreed. I blinked as I realised that hadnt been the robotic voice but rather the deep, resonating voice of wtwo himself speaking. I turned from the light and saw wtwo openly staring at the pillar of light.
What this? What is this? Feeling? he said in open wonder.
... I floundered; I had no idea what to say to that. What was he feeling? Could you put down gently so we could talk about it? I decided, trying my luck.
wtwo blinked and his gaze shifted to . ... yes? he said as though unsure of himself.
He released his grip and my heart lurched only to settle as I floated back to the ground.
wtwo! What are you doing? Destroy them! snarled the robotic voice of Giovanni. His helt sparked and wtwo twitched.
wtwo shook his head and then stiffened. I will not! barked wtwo.
A robotic hiss sounded through the speakers before the voice spoke properly. Retreat now! barked the voice.
wtwo stiffened.
Now Agent M! snarled the voice.
wtwo glanced at where I knew Sabrina was, in the stadium before twitching again. Then he stiffened, and a roboticness appeared in his movents as his arm raised and the Team Rocket group in the room with us was lifted away.
The Group from Team Rocket soared through the open window and began to flee. Empress snarled at this and lunged to the edge, where she unleashed another Hyper Beam at their backs.
I could only stare as her attack was evaded, despite how she tried to force it on target. When she ran out of energy, Titan dragged her away from the edge, where she collapsed from overexertion.
I sat down as my own legs gave out from underneath .
wtwo had been about to I shuddered and put my hands out to support myself. I shook my head and repressed what I knew my mind wanted to think about.
I couldnt deal with that right now. I instead needed to focus on other issues. Like clean up.
I started checking over my pokemon and fellow Guardians. We all okay? I said.
Karen grunted her eyes, locked onto the retreating forms of wtwo and Team Rocket. Agatha nodded, her eyes sweeping the room looking for sothing, only to click her tongue as she nudged aside a piece of rubble to reveal a destroyed Masterball.
I felt my inner child wail in despair at the loss of the overpowered pokeball even as the adult within sighed in relief. That's good; that should allow things to settle down for a while.
Janine swallowed. What just happened? wtwo was about tothrow you off the building.
I nodded grimly. Yeah, Id have needed to think quick if he had eh? I said darkly.
I shook my head and sighed looking to the arena, a smile on my lips. Sabrina saved us, I said, knowing it was true. I could still feel her radiating power, even from here.
How though? Karen said, her head snapping away from tracking the night sky. Shes in the stadium! It doesnt make any sense!
She went ga, I said like that explained everything.
Only Agatha reacted with a hitched breath, while the others rely looked more confused.
I chuckled and decided to let Agatha determine where to go from here. I was spent. I instead turned to Selene, Think you can get back to the show? I said, waving a hand towards the stadium.
Leaving us to do the clean up Brock? Agatha said with an arched brow.
I smirked. I learnt my lesson from the last big incident, I said with a grin before I returned my pokemon and vanished into a Teleport.
There was no way I was missing Sabrina beating down Will, just to help with paperwork.
Sabrina felt herself smile as Brock was lowered back to the ground at her and Brocks urging.
Sabrina felt sothing begin to lock down in wtwos mind, shutters he had no control over that had to be implanted into his subconscious, causing the emotions he was experiencing to be locked out.
Sabrina made sure to slip in a few small, wonderful mories of how good the world could be, before his mind fully closed off.
To use her friend, Erikas taphor, she planted a few small, delicate seeds.
Sabrina could feel through her awareness as wtwo was ordered away. Giovanni suddenly growing fearful of losing not just his chance at a Masterball, but also his strongest tool no doubt.
As this played out in Silph Tower, Sabrina directed her physical gaze upon the cringing form of Will.
Sabrina knew this smile would not ever be considered friendly by those who saw it. But she would be forgiven as she directed it at a single person.
Will could only stand in fear.
His mind was just barely capable of grasping how out of his depth he was.
With her power, Sabrina could punch through the ntal defences he possessed and leave him a gibbering child.
A younger, lesser Sabrina, might have done that. But that Sabrina would never have built the bonds necessary to achieve this power in the first place.
What are you? he said.
I am your vanquisher, Sabrina said as the light around Alakazam died away to reveal his hovering form. Where once two spoons were. A host now hovered around his head like a halo. His moustache had grown into a beard and his forehead glead with the Alakazite.
Sabrina and ga Alakazam nodded then and from the spoons, beams of energy shoot forth, racing into each other to form a more cohesive, singular beam.
Wills Alakazam Teleported away only for the beams to break off and suddenly jerk about like they were stars from Swift rather than Psybeams being unleashed.
Thats not possible! Will scread. Get out of there Alakazam!
Sabrina shook her head. You fail to understand the power my pokemon now possesses; you are a small Magikarp that thought itself large in its pond, now you co into the ocean and fail to understand the depths, she said as her Psybeam clipped the fleeing Alakazam.
Alakazam went down only, for the other strands of the Psybeam attack to slam into it and blast it out of the arena. The barriers around the edge flared at the impact but didnt break.
Will grit his teeth. This isnt how it was supposed to go.
Nothing is supposed to go anywhere. The future is not completely fixed, it can always change, Sabrina said. She could feel how this resonated with all the people that could feel her power at that mont.
Oddly, it seed to resonate the most with the youngest around Saffron.
Will considered his next pokemon and Sabrina could see how his mind scrambled for so thod of salvaging this disaster. You must have had help! This must be interference!
The referee shook his head. Despite this never being seen before, it is still valid. It is rely a mid-match evolution an evolution never seen before, he muttered, staring at Sabrina.
Wills fist clenched and Sabrina saw him decide to attempt sothing else. Sabrina decided to not let him ruin her victory.
So, this is how you react when you are defeated? Will you run now? It says a lot about a man who cant dig deep, she said, gladly slapping him in the face with how Brock had fought back to get a draw.
You will never be worthy of being one of the Elite Four, let alone Champion, Sabrina declared.
Will felt himself go still, as possibilities and chances suddenly seed go up in smoke for him.
Sabrina had no sympathy, he had burned those bridges himself. A flicker of slyness raced through him as he eyed Alakazam hungrily.
Ah, she could feel his thoughts without delving into his mind, he was that rattled.
She almost laughed. He thought he might one day be able to match her.
He reached for his next pokeball, his intent to drag the match out and learn as much as he could about this ga-evolution clear to Sabrina.
She smiled. The Will that stood before her would never achieve ga evolution.
Go Jynx! Will commanded, his senses focussed on her and Alakazam. She could almost feel how he couldnt begin to feel the bond even as she pushed more energy through it.
Disable, she thought to her pokemon as Jynx attempted to use Perish Song on her. Jynx gagged as the move was denied. With that taken care of, Sabrina went for the kill.
Alakazam flashed in close to Jynx and unleashed a close range Psybeam that hurled Jynx into the air. Jynx spun through the air and Sabrina, without looking, pointed right at it to unleash another Psybeam and end the exchange.
Jynx hit the ground with an audible whump. It did not get back up, and Will swallowed loudly as he returned it.
Sabrina raised an eyebrow as he delayed in his final choice.
The crowd didnt mind, they were more than happy to observe the new form her Alakazam had taken on. Flashes of light flicked from them as more and more people took pictures. Sabrina could feel the jubilant mood soaring through them, along with the confused awe.
Without intending to, she had touched their minds and let them feel true psychic energy for what would have been, for most, the first ti in their lives. It would make many of them wonder, she had no doubt.
Go Espeon, Will said sullenly as the countdown began to end.
Sabrina smiled as she felt Brock reappear in the viewing box with her parents.
Sabrina didnt hesitate to use Psychic to lift Espeon up into the air. Will broke Alakazams grip with a dark move only for Sabrina to snap her hand forward and Alakazam to unleash a Hyper Beam that tore through the sky and ended the match.
Espeon landed with a finality to it. No one was surprised when it opened an eye as through her connection, Sabrina reassured them that she and Alakazam were perfectly in control.
The referee raised his flag for the final ti and the crowd around her drew in breath as jubilation began to thrum through them, unleashing as the referee shouted the result for all to hear.
Espeon is unable to battle! The score is now Six to three! Sabrina is therefore the victor!
Around her, the crowd rose to their feet and roared as one.
Sabrina felt her powers slowly begin to wane as the ga-evolution dispersed. Despite that, she revelled in the feeling of the crowd as they cheered for her and her pokemon.
Brock lowered his ntal shields and offered up his love, and Sabrina felt herself lock this mont into mory stronger than any before it.
She might not have the ga-evolution trading energy through her, but shed never felt so alive.
She stared up at the crowd, where in the past shed have been overwheld by the mass of noise and thought, now she could feel, and not be swamped.
She raised her hands out wide and basked in the mont of her victory.
Will and Team Rocket had thrown everything they could, and despite that, she, and her friends, had erged triumphant.
She eyed Brock, now she just had to get him down to her for the kiss shed promised when she won, and the mont would be perfect.
User Comments
0 comments from readers