I slumped down pouting as I stared at the report laying on my lap as I tried to think on how to work this. The report was on why injuries can vanish upon evolving, but some stay.
I had done some studying on the subject, but I'd need to actually talk with Pokémon who experienced this phenomenon. Future goals though.
"Bzzt, one hour till your battle!" Rotom reminded and I chuckled before I put my bookmark in and closed my notebook. I'll digitize it later.
It's time to pack now.
"Thank you Rotom." I said as I started sliding everything inside of my backpack, which I then stored inside of Haunter, he made for a good storage compartment.
I should get a sword and sometime draw it out his mouth randomly for fun against some thieves or something. That would be awesome!
"Stop and gives us your pokemon and valuables or else!" I could already imagine it, and then Haunter slowly rises from my shadow, or perhaps I reach my hand INTO my shadow and pull out a sword and fire aura beams off at them!
Could I have my own Excalibur!?
"It's go time!" I snapped myself out of my fantasies as I noticed the time and started making my way towards the arena, as I did so, I noticed the crew mates looking slightly different, more tense.
Guess that confirmed it, Team Rocket would attack soon. Guess it's time to get my egg and get the hell out of here.
Look out Telmos Belovan, I'm coming for you and your Gallade.
"Let's show them their place!" Haunter cackled before slinking into my shadow, we did like style and drama points after all.
"Let's!"
•~~~~•
I arrived at the arena with fiftneen minutes early and I already regret it. The referee was already yelling away hyping up the crowd, I appreciate the nice words, but damn if it ain't making my ears ring.
"You ready?" Cynthia asked as she walked up to me.
"Hello to you to Cynthia, I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. How are you?" I dramatically replied as she rolled her eyes at me.
"Yes, hello to you Raven. I'm glad you're doing well, I am as well." Cynthia matched my snark one for one and I grinned at her. I did love someone who could match my snark.
"To answer your question, I was born ready." I answered and she smiled sweetly at me, and fuck did my heart just skip a beat? Damn you emotions.
Can I go back to being a brooding emo in a dark room?
"Glad to hear, it would be a shame if my opponent wasn't ready for our battle." Telmos said as he also appeared, Gallade standing behind him slightly like a knight.
"I hope you're ready, we won't hold back." I said as I smiled at Telmos who smiled and strutted off to wait for the start of our battle.
"Trainers take your spots! The battle begins in five minutes!" The referee called out and I waved at Cynthia before strutting my way over to the field. I was a little shit matching the energy given off by my opponent and it fueled me.
His slightly twitching eyebrow gave away he noticed. It fueled me more.
"IS EVERYONE READY FOR THIS EPIC BRAWL-DOWN!? IN ONE CORNER WE HAVE TELMOS AND HIS GALLADE! IN THE OTHER WE HAVE RAVEN WITH HIS DIVERSE TEAM OF SYLVEON, LAPRAS AND HAUNTER! BOTH OUR FINALS CONTESTANTS, BUT ONLY ONE WILL WALK AWAY AS THE CHAMPION OF THIS TOURNAMENT AND THE EGG HERE! TRAINERS SEND OUT YOUR POKEMON!" The referee was hyping the crowed up, but it was go time now.
"Gallade, battle position." Telmos said as he pointed his hand forward as Gallade moved forward to stand in front of him.
"TELMOS HAS UNSURPRISINGLY CHOSEN HIS GALLADE! WHAT WILL HIS OPPONENT CHOOSE!?"
Loud.
"Haunter, its game time." I said as my shadow expanded forward and Haunter cackled as he rose out of it.
"None shall defeat master and I! Kakakakaka!" His cackled made a few shiver, understandable for newbies.
"AND HE HAS CHOSEN HIS HAUNTER! NOW LETS GET THIS MATCH STARTED! BATTLE BEGIN!"
"[Scary Face] into [Toxic]." Time to test the waters. Plus lowering speed is always a bonus, especially when Haunter should technically be faster already. At least from what I can tell based on Gallade.
"[Teleport] into [Calm Mind]." Not a bad way to counter, but I can't let them get too much a boost.
"Throw some shade." I called out as Haunter fired off two [Shadow Punch]'s at Gallade who just finished his [Calm Mind]. It didn't dodge and took the hit.
"Gallade?" Telmos called out and the smoke cleared out and showed Gallade standing there, mostly fine, but a few scratches.
It did actual damage, and that's all I needed to know.
"Gallade!" His pokemon called out before glowing with the familiar glow of [Life Dew]. Annoying.
"[Disable]." I called out smirking. Haunter cackled as his eyes glowed red and a spectral lock appeared in front of Gallade and locked itself.
"[Shadow Ball]." I immediately followed up with, because why not.
"Counter it with [Night Slash]!"
Gallade's hand glowed before he ran forward and cut the [Shadow Ball] with practiced precision. They had practiced something like this.
"Attack them!" Telmos ordered a moment later and i immediately called out "Hide and Seek!"
"You're it!" Haunter cackled and sank into the ground of the field.
"Watch all around you Gallade!" Telmos called out and I smiled creepily on purpose. After all, it's all about performance!
"Behind?" I asked as Gallade spun around, but Haunter cackled as he rose out of the ground below and fired off a [Dark Pulse] straight into Gallade who got sent flying into the air.
"[Dark Ball] barrage." No time like the present to practice after all.
"Coming right up master! One! Two! Three!" Haunter cackled as he kept firing off the attack at Gallade who was now falling back down to the ground.
"Gallade use [Mythical Fire] into [Protect]!" Telmos called out worriedly. Sure one of them landing would be bad, but multiple would be a very bad thing.
However this was fine, the [Dark Balls] hitting the the shield gave Haunter time to return Into the floor of the arena and avoid the suddenly appearing Gallade using [Night Slash].
[Teleport] was a nasty move, I want it. I want it so badly to troll people.
"Up? Down? Behind? In front? Inside?" I asked grinning as a shadow slowly covered the field turning it dark.
"Gallade use-"
"Attack." Is all I said as an ominous cackle responded before the entire field glowed as a [Slude Wave] suddenly appeared and slamming into our opponent. Followed up by a [Dark Ball] point blank to the chest.
"Gallade!" I smiled as the psychic fighter pokemon was sent tumbling along the ground and groaning. I wasn't happy about their pain, but the success of our plan.
"Dodge!" I immediately called out as Gallade used [Teleport] to appear next to Haunter, their hand glowing with the familiar energy of [Night Slash].
"Haunt!" Haunter was hit and flew in the sky a bit before regaining his focus and glaring.
"Only attack you'll land!" He taunted, no, he declared as a fact, and I would ensure we did that.
"Haunter, it's time to try it out. Give it your best shot!" I hollowered out to my floating ghost pokemon. "[Shadow Pillars]!"
It was a new move we had theorized up, but never actually got to test it out, so no better time then now no?
Haunter as a ghost pokemon could use shadows, he made use of them for attacks, so why not use those shadow for our own custom attacks?
Of course this wasn't exactly easy to do, but my dear Haunter was a prodigy, nothing would stop him from completing his move.
Luckily today would not be a day where the move needed more practice.
All around the shadow covered field, giant pillars of shadows arose, each at least three meters in height.
"Fall." Haunter and I said in sync before the pillars started falling, and here's the thing, the field was saturated in ghost type energy, thus disabling [Teleport] from being used as it interfered in the usage of the technique, of course I'm sure a truely trained and powerful psychic type pokemon could still get through that hindrance.
Gallade, not so much.
"Gallade use [Protect]!"
A futile effort unfortunately, it lasted for three pillars falling on the shield before cracking, four broke it, and the fith smashed hard into Gallade.
Honestly, the pillars weren't fast, Gallade could have dodged them all. However I guess neither of them thought about that particular strategy, that or possibly use a type effective move against the pillars.
"AND WE HAVE A WINNER! RAVEN INANIS AND HIS HAUNTER HAVE SHOWCASED WHY THEY ARE OUR CHAMPIONS! LETS HEAR IT FOR OUR CHAMPIONS!"
Please, can we not?
"Well done kid. Your Haunter is truly impressive. Haven't seen one this strong since Agatha's Haunter." A voice said and I glanced over to see the ships captain approaching, in his hands the egg. My prize and newest team member.
"Kakaka as expected of our greatness! Praise us more human!" Haunter cackled as he floated besides me.
"Thank you sir, we put a lot of work and effort getting where we are to now." I responded as I gently took the offered egg and held it to my chest.
"Good, a real trainer knows both he and his pokemon need to put in the effort. I won't say what's in that egg, but I'd recommend being prepared for some… interesting times." The Captain laughed as he walked off, probably back the the helm of the ship.
"A good battle, it seems we still have much to learn. Thank you for the lesson." Telmos said as he gave a small bow and then walked off.
Uh, ok?
"Imorsssive, I knew your Haunter was strong from his battles, but this was definitely impressive. He barely seemed hurt by a super effective attack landing critically." Cynthia praised as she walked up to us.
"Thank you, Haunter is as the kids say, built different." I chuckled knowing full well my generation coined that phrase, at least in my original world.
"Indeed he is." She agreed with a small laugh before she leaned down slightly to look at the egg inside the incubator clutched to my chest.
"Hm, those patterns and coloring, such a contradiction of styles." Cynthia noted and I nodded in agreement. Then again, trying to judge an egg based on appearance alone without details usually led to disappointment.
Time like this I wish I was in one of those cliche stories with a system that told me everting about the egg.
Oh well, I enjoyed the mystery, I just hope I can afford to feed the newest member of my team when they are born, otherwise… we're going hunting.
"Yes they are, I just hope I can feed them in the future." I said as Haunter finished looking at the egg and sank into my shadow. His red eyes staring up at me, I blinked for a second as I saw a second pair of red eyes in my shadow.
Oh, Giratina is such a good friend watching out and visiting. Hm, could I send him food through my shadow? Food for thought.
"Speaking of food, do you want to get something to eat?" Cynthia asked and I nodded as I followed her to the dinning area.
•~~~~•
Two hours later I was enjoying myself in my room for the moment, curled up on my bed, my pokemon all laid about the bed too, it was surprisingly durable. Koraidon's weight didn't cause any creaking.
I had also learnt something fun, I could send food through my shadow, or perhaps that was just Giratina letting it go through my shadow into his realm or something to eat it. Meh, it works, good enough for me.
"Can all passengers of the S.S. Anne please make their way to the main ball room of the ship. I repeat, may all passengers make their way to the main ball room." The captains voice said over the intercoms of the ship, though I could hear a slight trace of nervousness in it as well.
Hm? Oh! It finally begins, Team Rocket begins their operations. Why else would the whole cruise be called to one spot besides the staff, that or the ship is going down. Fun times either way and time to disappear.
"Be ready for anything that can happen." I said to everyone as I returned then to their pokeballs, I did feel reassured though as my shadow had four red eyes.
Having the second strongest being in this universe in your shadow was a real assurance.
•~~~~•
"Raven." Cynthia greeted as she walked up to me, I waved at her in greeting while looking around. I could see certain people casually fingering their pokeballs, this was definitely Team Rocket.
"Prepare yourself." I whispered to Cynthia who looked at me confused and then realization as she took a good glance around before the lights flickered off for a moment, then the sound of ripping was heard as the lights came back on.
Team Rocket members stood, clothes laying on the floor of the room as they held pokeballs in hand.
"Attention to you all, Team Rocket is commandeering this vessel. Follow our commands and you won't be hurt, don't, and we'll you won't live to see past this day." A dark voice said ominously through the speaker system followed by a grunt of pain, the captain's.
Well shit.
"Don't move or reach for your Pokemon, stay compeltly calm and you may just get to keep your Pokemon." The voice spoke again before the intercom cut off.
Team Rocket members in the ball room had released their Pokemon. A batch of mostly dark type Pokemon from Kanto and Johto, though there was a few from Sinnoh and Hoenn regions too.
Crap.
"Everyone line up against the walls, no funny business or else!" Team Rocket ordered and we all moved to the wall, I could tell someone people wanted to use their Pokemon to fight back, but seemed unsure.
"You won't get away with this!"
Wow, balls of steel kid, but sadly you are wrong, they can and will, it's not like a wild Red will appear and handle this. He's probably off on some mountain waiting for a challange.
"We already have, we're in the middle of the ocean, hours away from league assistance, no help is coming for a long time." The grunt grinned as he shot down the kids hope.
Idly I grabbed Cynthia's arm which was reaching for Garchomp's pokeball.
"No. It's to crowded and there's too many of them right now." I whispered and she growled, but lowered her hand.
Perhaps if this was Cynthia as a champion I wouldn't stop her, but currently she isn't at that level yet, just a very strong trainer who's maybe a challange for an elite four member.
"Then what do we do?" She whispered back.
"Wait a little longer." I said, and looked down acting scared as a Team Rocket grunt looked towards me, also mainly because I remember his face from the cave incident and didn't want to risk him remembering me.
That and I was watching my shadow slowly expand into other shadows.
Suddenly the boat started shaking as the sound of thunder could be heard in the distance.
I went slightly wide eye as I saw through the window behind me.
Zapdos was flying outside in a now stormy sky as thunder rained down on the ocean from the heavens. A god had appeared and they weren't happy.
"Begin the operation." The same voice said over the intercom and the grunts quickly exited the room leaving only a few to watch everyone.
"Now." I said as Cynthia tossed out Garchomp who roared and immediately began attacking. Haunter's ominous cackle was heard as the shadows rose up and began pinning down Team Rocket and their Pokemon.
Once the grunts in the hall were restrained I chose to follow Cynthia outside and we both stopped to watch as a unknown pokemon covered in blue psychic energy clashed with Zapdos who was roaring in fury.
I recognized that pokemon.
Mewtwo!
"Not good, not good at all. Fuck." I cursed and began running in a direction to try and see what pissed off Zapdos to come and attack. I noticed Cynthia behind me.
"Come on we have to hurry, we're on limited time." A voice said as I peaked through a broken window and saw some grunts and an admin ordering said grunts around.
"It's heavy sir!" One of the grunts said as he and seven others were struggling to lift a smaller sized box.
"Fuck they must have tampered with the box then. Crack it open, we'll have to risk direct contact with the objective." The admin ordered as he grabbed a crowbar and started trying to pry open the box.
"You take the admin, I'll get the grunts." I whispered as Cynthia nodded.
•~~~~•
Proton, Executive of Team Rocket grinned as he managed to pry open the box, he sweat dropped as he looked at the contents of the box.
A white egg with what looked like golden lightning bolt designs, however surrounding the egg was a bunch of heavy weights, each three hundred pounds at minimum no doubt. Glowing blue lights were visible inside as well.
"Come to papa." Proton grinning as he moved to grab the egg, but the wall was smashed open revealing two trainers, one had a Garchomp and the other a Haunter.
"Remove them at once!" He ordered and moved to grab the egg.
Operation Fusion couldn't be failed now at such a point. They were so close!
•~~~~•
I could feel the sheer aura radiating off the egg now that the cover was removed and knew why Zapdos was attacking, his egg had been stolen.
"Haunter, remove them." I ordered coldly as Haunter didn't even cackle before his [Shadow Claw] was ripping our two of their throats.
"Come on out-" the remaining grunts were crushed surrounded by shadows and dragged into said shadows. I guess Giratina was angry too.
"I need backup now! I have the package and need immediate backup!" Proton yelled into his arm as he flung a pokeball out to reveal a Crobat.
"Use sonic-"
"[Dark Ball]!" I cut him off as his Crobat was hit and sent flying into the wall painfully. We weren't going to weaken our moves to battle standards, no, we were aiming to kill.
In a mere moment I dashed forward and kicked him in the balls and Garchomp roared as she blocked a [Flamethrower] aimed right at me.
Grunts were storming into the room alongside a purple haired man, Petrel. A raticate beside him. A few other pokemon of the grunts were there.
I grabbed the egg and moved back beside Cynthia.
"Man, you're in a pickle huh Proton." Petrel said grinning.
"Shut up and get the objective!" Proton snarled out as he stood up and released another Pokemon. Weezing.
"Avoid fire attacks." I said to Cynthia who nodded as she released her other Pokemon. Spiritomb, Roserade, Milotic, Lucario and Gastrodon. Her Garchomp stood in front of them all ready.
"I'll handle this for now, you get the egg to saftey." She said and I nodded, this she could handle for sure, so I booked it out the hole we came in.
•~~~~•
I knew I had several grunts chasing me, so I made sure they would struggle following me, Haunter was destroying things to block their path and firing attacks off to stall them.
"Koraidon come on out!" I ordered as I stood on the back of the cruise. I quickly mounted onto her back and looked back, in the distance I could see Zapdos land a male storm of thunders onto Mewtwo who was sent flying through the ship and into the ocean based on the giant splash of water.
The ship was likely to sink soon.
I waved at Zapdos before I held tight onto the egg, I hoped my peaceful intentions were made clear and I didn't get struck down by a bolt of thunder.
"I will protect you." Giratina's voice came through into my head and I smiled.
Always adopt the introverts.
"Go!" I ordered and Koraidon jumped off the ship and dived down towards the ocean. I held the egg tight. I'm really glad I stored my own egg with Giratina earlier, much safer there.
Shadowy tendrils wrapped around my legs keeping me onto Koraidon as her head wings opened up and we started soaring through the air.
"You will not escape with that-" a voice tired yelling, but a blast of thunder smashed into them, all that was left was ashes.
R.I.P. bozo.
"Turn left into the fog!" I ordered and Koraidon banked left into the fog, she would be easily able to see in this dense fog and ensure we escaped.
•~~~~•
Hours passed as we had flown through the fog, eventually we had escaped it and just flew over thankfully calm oceans, occasionally we saw Pokemon swimming.
I was slightly worried for Zapdos, but he was a legendary, an original one, he wouldn't lose to Mewtwo who had yet to fully master his powers or fully come into them either.
"Finally, land." I said in relief as Koraidon cheered.
"Yay! Land her we come!" She cheered and boosted her flight speed to reach it faster, flying for hours with your guard up was exhausting no doubt.
"Land there." I said pointing towards a nice hill.
"Finally! My wings were getting tired!" She complained as she happily slowed herself down and skidded onto the ground before stopping fully.
"10/10 landing. Would fly air Koraidon again." I joked as I hopped off her back as she giggled and rubbed her cheek against mine gently.
"So this is the egg of Zapdos. The aura it emits is crazy." I said as I focused on trying to sense the raw power radiating off the egg.
"Yes it is." Giratina said as he flew out of my shadow and assumed his human form.
"You did well taking care of it and ensuring the egg got to saftey from Team Rocket." Giratina praised as he gently ran a finger over the egg. "The little one is still in perfect condition as well." He added after a moment and I smiled and gently caressed the egg.
"Now you get to witness something amazing." Giratina said smiling before he turned into shadows and slunk into mine.
"Huh?" I said before a cracking sound was heard and I froze as the egg in my hand started cracking, I quickly placed it on the ground and moved back slightly. Koraidon stood besides me with wide eyes.
"Zapdos!"
A baby Zapdos stood there now and I stared wide eye at the baby legendary before me. Our eyes locked and it moved forward and I sat down as it crawled into my lap and fell asleep.
"The little one is aware you aren't its parent, but it acknowledges you as its guardian, its caretaker. Zapdos will come by within a couple hours and retrieve the youngling, for now enjoy being its caretaker, you won't be bothered." Giratina spoke in my mind and I smiled.
"Welcome to the world little guy." I said and gently ran my finger over its feathers as it leaned into the warmth of my hand.
"He's so small." Koraidon said as she laid down beside me and I chuckled as my other hand gently scratched under her chin.
"You were much like that too once." I said as she purred under my touch.
Soon the rest of my team came out on their own and looked at the baby legendary and were cooing.
"Is he joining the team?" Sylveon asked as she looked curiously at the bag legendary who radiated power similar to her own already, if not stronger.
"No, we're merely waiting for his dad to come and pick him up. For now, let's enjoy ourselves. Haunter bring out my cooking supplies, I'll make us a feast." I said grinning, and at those words, the baby Zapdos woke up.
"Food?" He asked and I froze momentarily at actually understanding the little one, but shrugged it off as legendary stuff.
"Food." I confirmed and placed him onto Koraidon's head as she giggled and I began cooking a feast.
•~~~~•
A couples hours later with the sun starting to set, I had a grand feast ready, I also purposely took my time since I wanted to offer Zapdos some food too.
Oh, and all of us have taken to calling the baby Zap for simplicity sake.
I paused as I heard the faint sound of thunder in the distance and spotted a thunder storm.
"Looks like daddy has arrived." I said as I saw a yellow figure flying in the sky towards us, the thunderstorm left just behind it and unmoving.
I gently picked up Zap off Koraidon's head and moved forward as Zapdos landed nearby, thankfully slowly to not send everything flying away.
"Traveler, I thank you for your assistance in protecting my child, ensuring his safety. I was going to test you, but myself and it seem you worthy." Zapdos said and from his chest floated out a yellow rectangle.
The Zap Plate.
I held my hand forward and it turned into electricity and flew into my body, thankfully no pain, but I felt stronger now, and perhaps faster as well. Can't wait to experiment with this later.
"Daddy! Big Brother has been so nice and even made me food! You should try some! It's super super super good!" Zap started speed talking and I snorted in amusement.
"I did made extra if you would like some." I offered and Zapdos let a hum out before the thunderstorm in the distance faded away and he changed into a human form.
He was a fair skinned man with blonde hair with black streaks. Black eyes. He had a thunderbolt tattoo on his neck.
"If eldest brother is fond of your food, then I don't see a problem." Zapdos said as I turned around and saw Giratina in human form again eating away and I rolled my eyes.
I handed Zap to Zapdos who happily took him and held him to his chest as he took a seat and joined the feast.
Giratina handed me my own egg as I sat down besides him and I thanked him as we all started eating.
It was a good time.
•~~~~•~~~~•~~~~•
Hello everyone!
It took me six days to figure out how I wanted to go about it, the team rocket issue and all, of course things are going to start kicking off soon.
Also for those who were maybe hoping Zap might have joined the team, the answer is no. The only thing I'll say is this… Spark. If you know, then congrats. If not, sorry. Won't say more.
I won't say anything more due to spoilers and time issues right now, aka my phone is at 3% right now and about to die, so I hope you enjoyed the longer then normal chapter.
Until next time!
Bye~
-Voidy, The Pokemon Loving Insomniac