Chapter 380: Team Rocket's End
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Kanto Airspace, Team Rocket Airship]
The colossal, jet-black airship, a stark silhouette against the pale morning sky, groaned under the immense strain. Below, the sprawling urban tapestry of Vermillion City shimmered, unaware of the impending disaster.
But disaster was being averted, inch by agonizing inch, by the sinuous coils of a legendary Pokémon. Rayquaza, its emerald scales gleaming faintly, wrapped its massive body around the ship's hull, acting as a living anchor, gradually but forcefully arresting its momentum.
The airship, rather than hurtling towards Vermillion, began to settle, veering towards the less populated outskirts of Viridian City. Inside the rattling behemoth, the air was thick with the scent of ozone and the metallic tang of fear.
Azure, a figure whose calm demeanor belied the impossible odds he faced, stood alongside the young, empathetic trainer Yellow and the formidable Psychic Pokémon, Mewtwo.
Their immediate peril wasn't just the crash; Carr, a ruthless Team Rocket operative, had laced the ship with ten Forretress, each a ticking time bomb set to detonate upon landing, ensuring destruction.
*CRACK*
A door to the cockpit burst inward, splintering with a sharp crack. Mewtwo, its purple eye glowing with urgency, floated through the debris. It commanded, its telepathic voice ringing in their minds, 'We must disembark immediately!'
Azure shook his head, his eyes grim as he replied, "We can't, Mewtwo. If these Forretress detonate, even after a controlled landing, the blast radius could severely damage Viridian City. Not to mention…"
He added, his gaze flicking towards a distant section of the ship, "Silver and Giovanni are still on board. We can't abandon them."
He turned to Yellow, a silent plea in his eyes as he asked, "Yellow, I need your help."
Her determination shone through her usual gentle nature. She affirmed, her gaze unwavering, "Anything, Azure!"
The airship lurched violently, tipping sharply as Rayquaza strained against its bulk, slowing its descent but pushing it further off kilter. Mewtwo considered, its brow furrowing, it replied dismissively, 'While I agree with your sentiment, Azure, what precisely do you propose? We are moments from the city limits.'
Azure declared, his voice cutting through the chaos with a newfound resolve, "I have a plan. I'll handle the steering. Mewtwo, I need you to use Future Sight combined with Miracle Eye in your Mega Form Y to pinpoint every last Forretress hidden on this ship."
He reached for his belt, releasing two Poké Balls. He hurled them out.
*Pop*
A mischievous, shadowy Gengar shimmered into existence, followed by a sleek, intelligent Eevee. Both were determined as they saluted. Then, with a soft hum, he released the rest of his team.
*Pop*
Arcanine, its fur matted with exhaustion, materialized with a low growl. Dragonite, despite its immense power, looked weary, its scales dull. The metallic sheen of Scizor was dimmed, and even Pikachu, usually a boundless fount of energy, sagged slightly. They had all fought tirelessly in the preceding battles.
*SHIII*
Azure closed his eyes for a moment, a faint, almost invisible emerald aura emanating from his core – the Viridian Force. He extended his hands, a gentle wave of warmth washing over his partners.
The exhaustion visibly receded from Arcanine's posture, Dragonite's scales regained their luster, Scizor straightened, and Pikachu's cheeks sparked with renewed vigor. Eevee nuzzled his leg, and Gengar chuckled softly, "Gengar! (The A-Team is back together! What's your order, captain!)"
Azure told them firmly, his voice filled with trust, "I'm relying on you all to assist Mewtwo and Yellow."
Pikachu chirped, Eevee spun happily, and the rest of the team roared or chittered their assent, ready to follow his command. Mewtwo, observing Azure's unusual healing ability, felt a surge of renewed strength within itself.
*SHIII*
It shimmered, its form contorting and expanding in a flash of blinding light. Yellow gasped, her eyes wide as the legendary Pokémon transformed into its Mega Y state, its slender frame now almost ethereal, its psychic power radiating visibly.
In this heightened form, its abilities were amplified beyond imagination. It closed its eyes, focusing its immense psychic energy. Mewtwo's voice resonated in their minds, instantly detecting the hidden threats using its combined Miracle Eye and Future Sight, 'Three – at section, near the cargo hold!'
Pikachu, with a battle cry of "Pika-PI! (On it!)", launched a devastating Thunderbolt. Eevee, nimble and quick, dodged a stray Iron Tail, countering with a powerful Swift.
Gengar, a dark blur, phased through the steel plating, delivering a crippling Shadow Ball. In a flurry of coordinated attacks, the first three Forretress were swiftly incapacitated, their metallic shells dented, their explosive charges rendered inert before they could respond.
Mewtwo continued its relentless detection, its gaze sweeping through the ship's structure, identifying the remaining threats, instructing them, 'Seventh, eighth, ninth – various locations on the mid-deck!'
Yellow, her heart pumping with adrenaline, took charge. Her voice, usually soft, now rang with authority, taking control of Azure's Pokémon temporarily, "Arcanine, Extreme Speed! Scizor, Bullet Punch! Dragonite, Dragon Claw!"
The Pokémon, bolstered by Azure and Yellow's restorative energy, sprang into action following their commands. Arcanine became a fiery streak, Scizor a metallic missile, Dragonite a force of nature.
*Poof*
Explosions, muffled and contained, echoed through the ship as the Forretress was annihilated before they could complete their deadly commands. Mewtwo's telepathic cry was sudden, laced with a new urgency, 'The last one! It's in the airship's armory!'
Azure's blood ran cold. The armory – packed with volatile weaponry, munitions, and experimental devices, as he thought, 'If that Forretress detonated there, the entire airship would be obliterated in a catastrophic chain reaction, Viridian City be damned. There would be nothing left to land.'
*RIP*
Without a moment's hesitation, Azure tore off his shirt, a simple fabric that concealed his muscles from years of Gravity Training. He knotted it around the airship's steering wheel, binding it tight, hoping it would hold for a few crucial moments.
He yelled, his voice strained above the groaning metal, "Mewtwo! Use your powers! Tell the others to stay put! We'll go and stop this Forretress ourselves!"
Mewtwo, understanding the gravity of the situation, relayed the command. Pikachu, Eevee, and the others hesitated, but their unwavering trust in Azure compelled them to obey, remaining in strategic positions to secure the rest of the ship.
Azure and Mewtwo sprinted through the rattling corridors, the emergency lights casting an eerie glow on their determined faces. They burst into the armory, a cavernous space filled with ominous racks of weapons and ammunition crates.
There, amidst the volatile arsenal, was the tenth Forretress, its metallic eyes wide with primal fear. It spun, preparing to retaliate, but Azure noticed the subtle tremble in its shell, the hesitancy in its movements.
It was scared. Using an Explosion would mean its own end, a sacrifice it was clearly unwilling to make without coercion.
Azure shouted, his voice resonating with an unusual empathy, "Your trainer isn't here, Forretress! Carr can't command you now! You don't have to listen to his orders! You don't have to die!"
The Forretress paused, its internal processors whirring, a choice, a chance for freedom. But the ingrained command, hammered into its very being by Carr, was absolute. With a shuddering gasp of metallic parts, it began to glow, the unmistakable precursor to an Explosion.
*SHIII*
But it was too late. Before the light could fully engulf it, Mewtwo's eyes flared. A wave of raw psychic energy slammed into the Forretress, a perfectly executed Disable, freezing its movements, stopping the explosive charge dead in its tracks.
Then, a soft, purplish glow emanated from Mewtwo, washing over the Pokémon. The Forretress's metallic eyes drooped, its body slacked, and it slumped gently to the floor, instantly put to sleep by Hypnosis.
Azure let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He walked over to the slumbering Pokémon, a genuine smile touching his lips. He murmured, his voice soft, "You did well, Forretress. You executed your orders, yet you didn't have to kill yourself."
*SHEAR*
Just then, a sharp tearing sound echoed from the cockpit. Azure's shirt, weakened by the strain, finally gave way, snapping completely. The airship, momentarily freed from its improvised pilot, lurched violently, swerving out of control.
*THUMP*
But below them, Rayquaza, despite its immense effort, had succeeded. With a final, herculean push, the legendary dragon gently lowered the massive craft. The airship settled with a soft thud onto the Viridian City outskirts, far from any residential areas, almost completely unharmed.
/////
[Kanto Region, Viridian City Outskirts, Airship]
The danger had passed. Azure recalled his entire team, except for Mewtwo, who floated silently beside him. As they exited the airship, the morning sky above them was suddenly filled with vibrant flashes of color.
*Fwp*
*Fwp*
Red, astride a majestic Aerodactyl, soared through the clouds. Blue, riding the lightning-crowned Zapdos, streaked across the sky, while Green, atop her fiery Moltres, descended like a phoenix.
*THUD*
They landed gracefully, their legendary Pokémon recalled in a flash of light. Blue exclaimed, his relief palpable as he rushed forward, "Azure! You're alright!"
Azure chuckled helplessly. A weary but genuine sound replied, "Thanks for coming, guys. Looks like everything's handled."
He offered a grateful smile to Yellow, who was swaying on her feet, barely conscious, as he thanked her genuinely, "And thank you, Yellow. I couldn't have done it without you."
Her eyes fluttered, and with a soft sigh, she promptly drifted off to sleep, utterly exhausted from the ordeal. Azure looked up at the sky, a private smile gracing his lips. Invisible to everyone else, a playful Mew zipped through the clouds, its tiny, mischievous form winking out of existence as quickly as it appeared.
Mewtwo, however, felt a strange pull. It looked up at the spot where the legendary Pokémon had been. Mewtwo thought, a complex mix of emotions swirling within it, 'Mew.... It came... it sensed my presence.'
The ancient, primal distress Mewtwo had felt in its past, the yearning for a source, was subtly eased. An eyelash, a fragment of life, had given it roots, a connection, a place to trace its origins back to.
Blue reiterated, a rare genuine warmth in his voice, "Glad to see you're in one piece. You gave us a scare, you idiot."
Azure sagged tiredly, replied exhausted, more tired now that the immediate threat was gone, "Thanks, Blue, Red, Green. Your timing was perfect, as always, even if we managed to wrap things up."
Red, cradling the sleeping Yellow in his arms, looked at her with concern. Green, ever the pragmatist, spoke up, "You know, this reminds me. That empty Pokédex, the one that survived the Trainer Tower battle? She deserves it."
Red nodded, understanding immediately. Gently, he adjusted Yellow in his arms and carefully slipped the sleek device into her jacket pocket.
With that simple act, Yellow, the girl with the special connection to Pokémon, officially became a Pokédex holder. Green mused, looking around at the gathered heroes, "This feels like a proper Dex Holder reunion, doesn't it? All six of us together again. I've heard rumors of two more holders in Hoenn. Maybe we should track them down, and the two from Johto, too. Imagine what we could accomplish..."
But Azure's guard had never truly lowered. His instincts, sharpened by years of navigating treacherous waters, screamed danger.
He shifted subtly, his eyes scanning the periphery. From behind the airship, a figure emerged, limping heavily.
It was Sird, her cloak torn, her face etched with pain and dirt from her fall, but her eyes burning with an unholy intensity. She rasped, her voice a dry whisper, "I must say. I'm genuinely surprised at how long you Dex Holders manage to last. Especially you, little Yellow. To have such a unique ability, communing with your Pokémon to increase their strength."
Blue scoffed, eyes narrowing, grabbed his Poke Balls from his belt, and prepared to utter coldly, "You'd never understand, Sird. You only measure strength in numbers, in power you can control."
Sird's lips twisted into a sneer, a flicker of understanding dawning in her eyes as she replied bitterly, "Ah, I see it now. It's not just the strength of their Pokémon. It's their bonds with each other, with their partners. That's why you are all so resilient."
A dark chuckle escaped her, though it devolved into a painful cough as she continued, "A pity. Such power, wasted on childish ideals. I suppose I should simply... get rid of you all. Though…"
She admitted, swaying on her feet, "I'm far too weak to even stand right now."
Her gaze, however, settled on Azure with a chilling intensity as she said coldly, "But your interference, Azure Sky, has been particularly irritating."
She pulled a Poké Ball from her tattered cloak, its design unusually dark and sinister. She hissed, her eyes gleaming with malice, "I may be weak, but I still have my orders. Organism No. 2 Core, isn't it? I intend to steal it from your possession."
*Pop*
As the Poké Ball clicked open, a strange, ethereal light erupted, lancing directly at Azure. He was utterly spent, his Viridian Force depleted, his legs heavy, his mind reeling from the day's strain.
He couldn't react, couldn't move. But his friends could.
Red, still cradling Yellow, repositioned himself. Blue and Green, their expressions grim, moved in unison. And Mewtwo, its Mega Form Y still active, roared, 'Delta Shield!'
*SHIIII*
Mewtwo commanded, drawing on a technique learned from its harrowing battle with Deoxys. A shimmering, iridescent barrier of psychic energy materialized, encompassing the entire group.
*WOM*
Just as the light struck the shield, a new shadow detached itself from Azure's own. Marshadow, the Gloomdweller Pokémon, materialized in a flash of spectral energy, its fists glowing. It hissed, adding another layer of impenetrable defense to Mewtwo's shield, "MARSH!!! (Protect!)"
*CLANG*
The light flared, then dissipated harmlessly. When it faded, Sird was gone, leaving nothing but a lingering scent of smoke.
Blue cursed, slamming a fist against his thigh in frustration, and yelled, "Damn it! She got away! Probably used her Starmie's Teleport."
Azure, witnessing the combined efforts of his allies and his hidden protector, felt a profound sense of peace. He had thwarted Sird, secured the airship, captured both Deoxys's and protected the city. He had won.
With a final, weary sigh, his consciousness finally abandoned him, and he slumped forward completely. Green, swift, and gentle, she caught him, her earlier exasperation replaced by a tender concern as she cradled him, as she thought, 'You big idiot… trying to do this solo could've asked for our help…'
Rayquaza, sensing its Trainer was safe and its duty fulfilled, let out a triumphant roar that split the night sky, "Graaao!! (My job here is done!)"
*Zooom*
With a graceful, powerful surge, it uncoiled its immense body from the airship and ascended, disappearing into the stars, returning to its celestial domain. Mewtwo, observing Rayquaza's departure, smirked faintly, a knowing nod of its majestic head.
It reached into a pouch on its belt, pulling out a sleek Rotom Phone, a gift from Azure. It thought, a hint of satisfaction in its glowing eyes, 'I know how to call Rayquaza again for assistance…'
Suddenly, two more figures emerged from the airship. Silver, limping slightly but otherwise intact, and a much more formidable, albeit unconscious, Giovanni.
Red exclaimed, his voice lacking its usual competitive composure, "Giovanni!"
Blue, ever direct, voiced the obvious question, "What are we going to do with him now? He doesn't look in the greatest state."
Green internally fumed at this. She wanted to spend more time with Azure to ensure he was fully cared for after saving them all. But duty called. She was a member of the International Police.
With a regretful sigh, she gently handed Azure over to Blue. She stated, her playful demeanor replaced by a steely resolve, "I'll handle this. Giovanni is under arrest by my authority of the International Police!"
She held up her badge, a flash of official identification. Blue's eyebrow quirked, asking, "You work for the police? Since when?"
Green playfully stuck out her tongue, but her expression remained firm. Silver, seeing his father's state, but also the opportunity for justice, stepped forward. He said nervously, his voice quiet, "I'll go with Green… Giovanni needs medical attention, and… I need to see this through."
With a final nod, Green called for her Moltres, which landed elegantly. She and Silver ascended, taking the unconscious Giovanni. The fiery bird took flight, heading towards more official channels.
Just as they vanished into the night, Professor Oak arrived in his jeep, accompanied by the formidable Lorelei of the Elite Four and the wise Ultima. They had witnessed the chaotic final moments of the airship's descent.
Seeing the Kanto Dex holders and the now-safe Azure, they smiled. Professor Oak praised, "Excellent work, children. We'll take Azure back to Pallet Town. He needs proper rest."
As they carefully helped Blue load the unconscious Azure into the back of the jeep, Red looked at the colossal airship, now a grounded behemoth on the outskirts of Viridian City. He wondered aloud, "What are we going to do with the Team Rocket Airship?"
Mewtwo, floating thoughtfully near Azure, turned its gaze to the vessel. Mewtwo mused, a faint smirk playing on its lips, 'Azure would probably want to keep it. He did say he needed a new place to live.'
With a shared laugh and a profound sense of accomplishment, the heroes of Kanto returned home to Pallet Town, the moon a silent witness to their triumph, and the looming airship a testament to their extraordinary day.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!
And as a special thanks to the readers who read this to the end of the year, I'll be posting 3 chapters to celebrate! Hope you all have a good end of the Year!