Chapter 13:Clash of the Titans
Seven miles from the coast of Whirl Islands.
"What do you mean that the cruise is surrounded by- I thought we had SONAR systems up and active to several kilometres in every distance?" Lance thundered into the Pokenav. "How the hell could this even happen?"
"We do not know sir." The voice over the phone answered. "The SONAR had been working with cent percent precision. It was almost like the submarines just…"
"Just what, sailor?" Lance yelled.
"Teleported." The man said, his voice weary and trembling.
"That is not possible." Lance denied the argument. "Are you seriously suggesting that some psychic just teleported a dozen submarines at exactly two hundred metre radius from the St. Anne, from a distance of at least several kilometres away, while the St. Anne was in motion?"
Silence prevailed for a while before the answer came. "….Yes."
"Damn it. Get the protections active and functional. I'm sending support." Lance hit the button and cancelled the call.
This was not supposed to happen. Ever since the cruise ship set sail, Lance and his team of Ace Trainers had maintained a constant eye on the cruise, following them all the way from Vermillion. Ace Trainers were always there before the cruise reached a city, and stayed back after the cruise left it. Lance himself had been monitoring the entire movement with the precision of a well-trained Pidgeotto from Day One.
"Send the emergency deployment squad number 17 to the ship. We need evacuation as fast as possible." He dictated.
"Sir, the Anne has its own defenses managed by sailors. With Elite Four and Steven being there, isn't it… too much overreaction for us to deploy number 17?" One of the higher administrative officers asked.
"If what I fear is correct, then even number 17 wouldn't be enough to get us out of this mess." Lance muttered, more to himself than to the officer. "Get me Steven on the phone."
"Connecting, sir."
Silence.
"Sir, Steven is on the call."
"Connect me to him." Lance ordered absently, staring at the screen in frustration, as a single BEEP followed his order, as the connection was set up. "Steven, any updates?"
"We are getting the passengers get their stuff while the defences are raised. The guests have already left, and now only the trainers and the cruise staff are left."
"Well that's good a start as any." Lance muttered. "Any developments on how this was made possible?"
Steven's voice seemed to crack. "Lance, hear me out first, but we have reasons to believe that the armoured pokémon is involved in the situation, and we- I have Intel that it is in league with Team Rocket."
Lance felt his knuckles turn white.
"Lance?"
"…."
"Lance, do you copy?"
Lance controlled himself. "Do what you can. Reinforcements arrive in fifteen minutes."
"Got it."
"And Steven….?"
"…." Steven waited for the next part.
"Good luck."
"Thanks. You too."
Back on the ship.
It was unrecognizable. An hour ago, the deck was peaceful and empty, while the majority where inside the Banquet Hall, enjoying the party within. With the sudden blaring of the emergency signals, everyone had panicked, and would have caused further commotion if not for the super-powered psychic blast from Steven's Metagross that literally stopped everyone in mid-air.
Steven Stone stood on the elevated platform, his charismatic party-self replaced by the cold, calculating bastard who had once reigned over the Throne of Hoenn. "I'll say this one time." He replied in a slow, but no less stern voice. "The cruise is under attack by some malicious forces, but there is nothing to worry. The St. Anne is well-prepared for defending against such attacks, and you have me, former Hoenn Champion and current Deputy Champion, alongside the current Sinnoh Champion and members of Kanto and Hoenn Elite Four. The guests have already been deported to safety, and soon the same will be true for everyone else. Now, as I see now, I see over two hundred and fifty strong trainers with powerful pokémon in front of me." He paused. "Is there anyone in the audience who thinks that these… terrorists, whoever they may be, stand a chance when two hundred and fifty trainers and the Elite are standing together to face them? Answer me?"
Not a single person made a noise.
"Now I am going to let you all off the psychic traps." Steven explained slowly, as if talking to an incredibly slow child. "As I mentioned, the cruise is well-defended. All we want, is for you, to get back to your rooms, pack your bags, and return back here in the Banquet Hall. As the Deputy Champion, can I expect this much from the future trainers and Masters of all regions?"
Ash had to give it to him. Steven Stone had a way with words. In less than a few seconds, Metagross let go off his psychic power, as the people slowly walked out of the Banquet Hall, towards their respective rooms. Even from inside the hall, the sounds of people still panicking were audible.
"Well, that was the best we could expect, I guess." Steven murmured, glancing at Ash who was standing with Metagross floating beside him. Harrison similarly, was ready with his Houndoom, Misty with her Kingdra and Cynthia, as expected, with her formidable Garchomp.
"I might have won the Champion's position but I still have much to learn." Cynthia mumbled, as she watched Lorelei talk to some of the naval officers about the defenses of the cruise.
"Ash, Harrison, can I expect you to fight?" Steven asked.
"You need to ask?" Ash retorted with slight anger. Harrison simply nodded.
Steven activated his now-ringing Pokenav. "Lance is calling. Can I expect you guys to handle it while I make the call?"
"Sure." Cynthia nodded in agreement.
Making good use of his time, Ash made sure that all of his pokeballs were fastened into his belt. He would need all of them, should the matter really go that bad. He simply hoped that he wouldn't be facing the psychic this time.
Within the next fifteen minutes, many of the trainers had been back. By the look of it, it was clear that most of them hadn't bothered with their stuff, merely put everything they got close into their trainer bags, put their belts and raced back to the Hall. Some of them even had their pokémon out.
Cynthia took a step forward. "If you have water-types or flying-types at hand, get them ready. Worse comes to worse, get yourself on your pokémon and get out of here. Those who do not have water-types or flying-types, join groups with those who do. If it falls short, do not worry." She cleared her throat. "As I said, do not worry. We have water-transport available in case it is needed. Those who wish to battle against these terrorists, please step forward, and follow my command."
Several dozen people stepped forward. Ash could see many familiar faces in them. Meanwhile, Steven gad returned back to the Hall. "I just had confirmation from Champion Lance. Ace Trainers and the Champion himself are arriving any time now." He paused, looking at the front row of trainers, with their pokémon ready for battle.
"We have a teleportation deployment service going on with twenty Alakazam in action." Steven turned towards Harrison and Misty. "Can I trust the two of you to make sure that the evacuation goes on without a hitch?"
"We'll try our best." Misty croaked.
Harrison nodded again. "Don't worry."
"Very well." Steven turned towards the crowd. "The teleportation service will transport twenty people every two minutes to the nearest city. Please follow- Harrison and-"
"Misty!" Misty shouted her name out.
"Misty to the evacuation points. This is for those who cannot help us fight the terrorist, that is." Steven finished.
Personally, Ash thought it to be terribly cunning. By calling in to the bravado of the trainers, Steven made the evacuation look like cowardice, and nobody wanted to look like a coward. It would really help matters much, but at least, it would decrease the tension over the evacuation.
"We need a group of people on the deck with me and my group. The rest of you need to stay here with Lorelei and Glacia. The ship staff will handle the rest. Is that clear?"
The crowd answered in a cacophony of voices.
"Ash, Cynthia. We need to get the other passengers who are still in their rooms to safety. Can I trust you on that?"
Ash nodded. Cynthia looked ready for battle, her Garchomp growling.
"Get on it." Steven commanded, as Ash and Cynthia instantly left the Hall from the other doors.
"The psychic defenses are raised on all sides already. While the ship is moving, it will be difficult for them to get on board." Lorelei observed.
Almost as if in answer to her statement, the entire ship hit a halt, the sheer inertia making everyone drop to the floor, save the occasionally floating psychic type.
"I guess the ship isn't moving anymore." Lorelei deadpanned.
On the deck.
Several steel ropes with piercing heads punched through the metal body of the cruise from all sides, holding the humongous cruise ship in place like a captive held by ropes to prevent it from fleeing. More than a dozen submarines floated up on all sides, before stationing themselves to a fixed distance from the cruise, as dozens of Umbreon, Magnemite, Goldbat and Weezing flooded the cruise's deck, protected from the incoming attacks of the sailors' pokémon via psychic shields created by Alakazam standing on the turbines.
In a matter of seconds, the deck was swarming with Team Rocket grunts, who had knocked down several sailors from their positions, taking the deck of the cruise under their control. Someone detonated an explosion on the top, as the entire set of stairs leading to the Banquet Hall exploded into smithereens, trapping the passengers inside the Hall, with no option of getting outside, except to break through the ship walls, all the while having the risk of suffering fire from the Rockets' pokémon.
One of the Rockets stood at the front of the broken staircase, and lifted his hood. "Attention, my dear friends. This is Team Rocket Executive Proton, speaking." His voice was getting amplified by the Crowbat flying in front of him. "In exactly five minutes, this entire ship will be blown to bits. Those of you planning on resisting us from taking away your pokémon and valuables, kindly avoid doing so. I'm sure your friends and family wouldn't want your mangled remains to float in the sea."
Silence pervaded for the next couple of seconds. Despite the refined cruelty and deceptively smooth tone, there was no doubt that he wasn't kidding.
"As of right now, I have twenty five hyper beams locked on to the Banquet Hall, where I am assured that you all are hiding. Imagine what might happen should I order the beams to fire all together."
Proton laughed. A cold, cruel laugh.
"And then launch the attack all over again on-"
The rest of his words were punctured by a resonating blast of white light from deep beneath the broken staircase, literally evaporating two Rocket grunts standing there, and almost including Proton had he not instantly leapt to the right, avoiding the beam, which hit his Crowbat in the face, hurling it all the way to the ocean, before it fell into the calm waters.
The Crowbat never rose up again that night.
From the newly created zone, Steven Stone walked out, his Metagross behind him, a psychic shield fluttering in his front, as he stared at the Team Rocket Executive on the floor. "You were saying?"
Proton snarled. "Attack!"
Steven smirked. "Flash! Full power!"
And the world got enveloped in blinding white light.
The sea was in turmoil. Despite the complete calmness in which they were all sailing during this while, the sea had suddenly taken a dangerous turn, as angry waves lashed against the cruise from all sides, as if the waters were themselves angry at the cruise being stationary instead of in motion, causing further turbulence inside the ship. Rain and loud thunder joined in as well, as Ash and Cynthia, both wet in the rain, climbed out of one of the side-windows, and jumped down onto the main deck from a side, hoping to avoid any altercation with the rocket grunts.
"This way, the other one might have Rocket members," Ash suggested, as he looked up, and found two pairs of sharp jaws rushing towards his face, before a dragon pulse shot past his left ear, slamming into-a Goldbat, Ash realized—as the creature flattened onto the floor, incapacitated with a single stroke from Cynthia's Garchomp.
"You were saying?" Cynthia asked, an impish smile on her lips.
"That way." Ash replied without hesitation.
The duo dashed through the rain, with Garchomp and Metagross flying above them, as they entered into the basement that led to the second floor where the residential quarters were. A single disable from Metagross made one of the grunts fall off from his position up on the roof, while Garchomp swept another off by a sharp kick.
The area inside was brimming with Rocket agents, with the trainers being held hostage, and being forced to give away their pokeballs or be killed.
"We have a hostage situation here." Cynthia whispered, pulling Ash behind, as the two slid into the extremely narrow zone between the two corridors. "I'll get in from the front, you go around to get them from the other end of the wing. Can you do that?"
"But what about leaving you-"
"I am a Champion. I can handle some grunts, Ash." Cynthia retorted back, still in whispers. "Now, can I do what I asked or not?"
"…. Sure."
"Kay." Cynthia took a deep breath, turning to face the corridor just next to her, as Garchomp dropped to her side.
"Take Metagross with you. A disable attack will be safer considering the hostages."
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, turning back. "You are giving up your most versatile-?"
But Ash had already sprinted past her to the other end.
"Damn you, Ash." Cynthia whispered, turning towards the steel behemoth. "Go in, use disable at full power. Garchomp, I need you take down whoever standing, especially ghost or dark types, and get the hostages out. Is that clear?"
Garchomp growled in agreement, as Metagross used a full-powered Meteor mash to smash through the doors, entering into the main lobby.
The moment he smashed in, a succession of shadow balls shot out from the Umbreon pack standing guard inside, but before they could hit him, Garchomp flew in, deflecting each and every attack before throwing an overpowered dragon rage at the Umbreon pack, followed by a quick disable from Metagross.
Cynthia walked in, as she stared at the now clear territory. "That was easy."
On the other side of the residential quarters, Ash found himself staring at a dozen agents with a multitude of pokémon within, standing guard. For one second, he cursed himself at having left Metagross outside with Cynthia.
No point complaining when I have a job to do.
Ash plucked out his pokeball. It was time to start wrecking things up. "Unleash your power, Gyarados!"
A soul wrenching roar resounded across the entire deck as the humongous sea serpent slammed into the lobby, literally smashing his way past the rocket agents who did their best to jump out of its way.
"Hyper beam on those present!" Ash commanded, as the supercharged beam slammed down a couple of Umbreon and Goldbat, banishing them away before they could return an attack.
"Stand guard, Gyarados." Ash commanded, raising a finger. "Target anyone wearing those dresses," he pointed at the dark blue uniforms the Rockets were wearing, "disable with extreme prejudice."
Gyarados roared with agreement.
Making sure that the entrance was clear, Ash summoned more pokémon as Rhydon and Pidgeotto appeared next to him. "We are under attack. Target anyone wearing those dresses." Ash pointed out. "Don't hold back!"
Rhydon's expression twisted into a maniacal grin, as the battle-happy pokémon began his rampage, slamming everything apart as he went racing ahead.
"Pidgeotto!" Ash commanded, "Stay by my side and protect-"
The rest of his words died in his throat as a massive shock wave slammed him against the opposite wall, as Ash dropped down, his temples bleeding with fresh, red blood that trickled down his face. Another bomb detonated, as two-thirds of the cruise's residential quarters were literally blown apart.
For two minutes, it was just his ears buzzing, his ears bleary and his head tearing itself apart in a massive headache. Somehow, Ash got himself up, using the walls as support, as he heard his familiar rock-type return back towards him, grunting and anxious. Above him, he could hear Pidgeotto screeching madly.
Several layers of concrete broke apart from the top right that moment, only to be banished away by a single tail sweep as Gyarados came rushing in, roaring in desperation.
"Thanks, Gyarados." Ash mumbled somehow, wiping off the blood seeping down his face. It felt hot, wet and all total sick, but somehow he controlled himself. He had friends to save, his pokémon to take back, and finally, fight back and survive the night.
"Rhydon, hold me." He muttered, before his legs almost gave away as he landed on Rhydon's tough hide, the rock-type making sure to hold him up. Gyarados coiled protectively before throwing in another hyper beam towards the submarines, catching one of their attacks midway and neutralizing it.
The attack on the cruise had begun in earnest.
Back on the deck, Ritchie, and a handful of trainers were actively fighting against the grunts while Steven alone was handling Executive Proton and around ten more grunts and their pokémon. The charismatic person on the stage had been replaced by the Steel-Master, as his Metagross, Skarmory, Aggron and Aegislash literally devastated through the Team Rocket crew and pokémon. Aggron alone was handling seven Houndoom, holding two of those fire-types by their heads and smashing them into each other. Skarmory on the other hand, was targeting the Magnemite in the air, her steel wings a little more than barely a blur in the air. Metagross was consistently firing powerful hyper beams at any pokémon or grunt he could find, while Aegislash was vanishing from one point to another, taking down one psi pokémon after another.
Only to be replaced by more and more pokémon to take up the mantle. Seriously how the hell were Team Rocket able to control and command so many pokémon at once? Steven was sure that he had at least incapacitated seventy pokémon in the last ten minutes, and yet more kept on coming.
"Did you seriously think that you could take over St. Anne?" Steven asked coldly, as Metagross raised a psychic shield to counter Proton's Houndoom who had thrown a flamethrower at him.
"Take over? You must be mistaken, Deputy Champion." Proton sneered. "This ship, this is a dead man's land. You are all going to die," he drawled out the last line before bringing out a whip and slashing it in Steven's direction. Strangely enough, it passed through Metagross's shields and lashed Steven on the knee, severing deep enough for the former Champion to yelp in pain.
"Like it?" Proton sneered. "Layered with the blood of dark types. Works wonders against psychic shields."
Metagross reared back to strike Proton but the Executive had already pulled back, throwing in a Drapion to lead the fight. He laughed as he glanced towards the incoming ships from all sides. "And now, the other Executives have arrived, Deputy Champion. Time to say your good bye."
Metagross however, was far from done yet. He slammed a powerful meteor mash onto the ship's deck, the shock waves enough to lift Proton off the floor, before a powerful psychic threw him off the deck.
"Thanks, Metagross." Steven replied, standing up despite the pain. "Must have severed a tendon. This is going to hurt real bad tomorrow."
He looked at the cruise all around, especially towards the part that had just blown up. "If there is a tomorrow, that is."
Inside the Banquet Hall, Executives Ariana and Cassidy, who had arrived alongside Proton, were facing an angry Lorelei and her pokémon, who were lashing out angrily towards their own. The other trainers were fighting against the grunts, though with the poison spray from the dozens of Weezing, there were several who had fallen on the ground, poisoned by the gases, as they screamed, holding their burning throats.
"Deugong, Aurora Beam. Milotic, Water Pulse!" Lorelei commanded, the latter attack literally blasting open one of the walls, carrying several Weezing with it. 'Blastoise, Poliwrath, use hydro cannon, full power!"
"Dodge that Weavile, and kill that Blastoise." Cassidy yelled, leaping to her left to escape a full powered ice blast that would have frozen her.
"Hyper beam!" Lorelei roared.
"Supersonic!" Ariana returned. "There is no escaping this, Elite four Lorelei. The Indigo League will be no more after this night."
"Over my dead body." Lorelei snarled, plucking out more pokeballs. "Beartic, Abomasnow, freeze them with Blizzard."
Where the hell is Lance when you need him?
Three kilometres away from the present location of the St. Anne.
"Don't waste it, Champion Lance. You aren't going anywhere, tonight!" Executive Pierce snarled. "The ones at the ship will have to do it without your help."
"I'll be there, and you will be arrested." Lance snarled back, his fingers on his pokeballs. Dragonite had been having a hard time against the plethora of pokémon surrounding him from all sides. It was time to bring out the big guns.
Especially that Hydreigon. Lance thought bitterly. The dark draconic species from Unova was a real beast to deal with. Even Dragonite was having a hard time with it. Of course, it was easy to see that the beast was primal, untrained. But somehow, Team Rocket had infused it with all kinds of offensive attack moves—TM's obviously—and made it into a substantial threat.
Lance quickly recalled Dragonite. His starter had taken a number of hits from that beast of a Hydreigon, which needed to be dealt quickly. The attack had proved to be a much greater threat than he had estimated.
At least the Ace Team will reach there in time.
How… noble of you. A strange, unfamiliar voice reverberated all around him. Thinking about saving the ship even at the cost of your own life. Then again, you are the Champion, after all.
Lance stood agape, at the entity that had suddenly appeared in front of him. Levitating in the air, around twenty feet away, was a humanoid creature. Its entire body seemed to be enveloped in some kind of armour, while he could see a single cord-like structure connect its brain to its backbone, as if the entire spinal cord had been modified into that structure. From the posterior, a rather thick tail-like protrusion extended out like an extended bulb-shape.
"You…" Lance breathed, "-are that armoured pokémon."
Mewtwo, the voice reverberated once again. The surprising thing was, it seemed that despite being telepathically generated, the voice was audible, and could go as loud as Mewtwo wished it to be.
"Mewtwo." Lance repeated.
Congratulations. Mewtwo returned. You are the first person aside from my partner that I have deigned to share my name with.
Lance passively noted that even the Executives and their pokémon, even the Hydreigon, had stopped the battle to hear Mewtwo speak. Clearly, whoever this partner was, he was quite high up in the hierarchy, if not the Head of Team Rocket himself.
"Why me?" Lance asked, keeping his voice as casual as possible. Reaching the ship was still on the back of his mind, but getting out of the situation had a higher priority right now. Especially with the Executives around him.
And humble too? I suppose you will give me a fair challenge.
'If you want a challenge, I'll give you one later." Lance answered firmly. "Right now, I have more important priorities at the stake."
Hmm… interesting. I suppose you have a point. That means… you will have to be kept alive, to get me a decent challenge in the future… Mewtwo pondered with an almost bored tone. Power plays are so… weird. His triangular slits in the armour above his eyes glowed bright blue, and suddenly, all of the Ace trainers were levitated in the air, all of them gasping as if someone had just grasped their throats tightly and raised them up.
"Stop." Lance gritted his teeth.
The bluish shade turned deep red before vanishing all together, as several heads fell off from their bodies, the Ace trainers now decapitated, fresh, red blood sprouting out of their necks, as they hung lifelessly in the air. Almost instantly, Hydreigon was automatically summoned into its pokeball which dropped to the ground as Pierce started screaming his lungs out, before falling down to the ground, seemingly lifeless, just as the trainers, though there was no blood on his person.
What… kind of monster is this? Lance shuddered, gnashing his teeth, as his fingers etched closer to his pokeballs.
I am not a monster, Champion Lance. I am just… ahead of the curve. Mewtwo raised his head. Look around you. There is no one to disturb us, right now. Give me the battle, a one-on-0ne, and I will let you leave. Try resisting me, and you shall join your mates in the afterlife.
Lance considered it. There was no way getting out alive against the…. Mewtwo's wishes. He would have to play the game according to his rules. "One on one, and you let me go. Do you agree to that?"
Mewtwo tilted his head. I am not the one with everything to lose, Champion.
"Very well," Lance lifted his pokeball to call upon one of his strongest battler. "Go, Charizard!"
The roar that accompanied the proclamation was enough to send weak-hearted men into cardiac arrest, as Lance's Charizard, the ten-foot tall behemoth landed on the ground, his nostrils sprouting flames as he regarded his contender for the battle predestined to happen.
I asked you for a battle, and you give me these… toys to waste my time on?
Lance didn't rise to his taunt. "Charizard, use dragon rush, and show him your power."
Charizard let out a soul-wrenching roar, before a draconic aura surrounded him, as he literally vanished, before appearing two feet away from Mewtwo and unleashing a scorching, ravaging twisting beam of draconic energy out of his mouth, aiming for Mewtwo's face, who just levitated, without any shift in body language, as the super-powerful beam of liquid destruction arrived mere inches away from his armour-
And stopped.
Just like that.
"But- but how?" Lance gasped, not sure how to believe the fact that the psychic had simply stopped the dragon breath midway, allowing it to congregate together into a single, condensed sphere. The more Charizard gave out, the smaller the sphere seemed to get. What was initially several feet thick beam of bright orange, was now condensed into a shining blue, and a little more in size than a ping pong ball.
Draconic energy. It is a wonderful thing, really. Too bad I cannot harvest it in this stage. Even I… it seems, am not omnipotent. How… irritating.
Lance however, had enough. It was beyond his comprehension how someone—anyone, could have made a joke out of his Charizard's attack like that. Was there no end to this pokémon's power?
"Charizard," he replied tersely. "Use Blast Burn!"
Charizard let out another roar, before it got enveloped by a fiery crimson color, before lifting off the ground, as it transmitted the highly corrosive blast burn energy towards Mewtwo, hoping that the attack would destabilize Mewtwo's hold on the draconic energy, and perhaps the explosion would be enough to annihilate this… psychic.
Mewtwo smiled. After all, body language was important. His partner had taught him that.
An explosion did happen. One that sent Lance flying several feet, hitting his head against a rock, as blood oozed out. Blurry-eyed and somewhat lacking in coordination, he stood up, only to watch in sheer horror as Charizard floated in air, catching his own throat, trying to desperately lash out but in vain, as Mewtwo floated in front of him, without a single movement.
I have to agree, that was an impressive attack. Impressive, for a lower species. Though I must say, I am quite… bored with this. You are not worth it, not now at least.
"Please… please…." Lance pleaded, as Charizard was making noises no Charizard ever, should be making.
A one on one battle, Champion, and this… is my victory.
All of a sudden, the tail flame went 0ut with a poof, as Charizard hung, lifeless in the air, before getting unceremoniously dropped on the ground.
"You… you monster…" Lance raged, blood from his injury covering the majority of his face, as he rushed towards his fallen friend. There was no sign of injury, yet no sign of life in him. "I'll… I'll kill you."
I understand, Champion. It must feel bad, very bad indeed. To know so desperately that you are right, yet to fail, all the same. Mewtwo spoke softly. You did nothing to me, but I took away a pokémon from you. Thus…
I must give something back.
There was a soft explosion as one of the fallen pokeballs on the ground burst open, releasing the Hydreigon, which fell upon its knees, before beginning to screech in unspeakable agony, before condensing into bright light, which got sucked into Charizard's pokeball.
And now I have compensated for that. Farewell, Champion. I hope the next time we clash our powers, you will have something better for me to waste my time on.
And then, there was silence, as Lance Wataru, Champion of Kanto and Johto, hugged the dead remains of one of his oldest friends, began to howl in sorrow, his voice shrieking in the middle of the empty grassland.
Back on the St. Anne.
The cruise ship was already in tatters, fires burning at several places, the residential quarters destroyed with at least several dozen people, hostages and grunts alike, all dead. Steven and Glacia were fighting on the main deck against six Executives, while Lorelei was in the main Hall, aided by Jon Dickson and a few others, fighting against Executives Cassidy and Ariana, who were indeed, giving her a hard time, considering the number of times they tried to use the other trainers as scapegoats for diversionary tactics.
Meanwhile in the residential quarters, Ash found himself facing a Rocket Executive. His head was bleeding, and the throbbing headache certainly didn't help matters, but there was no way he would allow a cold-blooded murderer, the likes of which was standing in front of him to win. No matter the cost.
"Gyarados, hyper beam!" Ash yelled, past caring about the consequences now.
"Magmortar, use fire blast!" Butch roared in return, as the volcanic pokémon threw out a blazing torrent of hot, scorching flames which literally overwhelmed the hyper beam, striking hard at Gyarados, who fell down onto the ground, groaning.
"Gyarados, return." Ash gritted his teeth. "Rhydon, annihilate that Magmortar. Pidgeotto, use twister!"
"Heeh!" The madman grinned. "Magmortar, throw some spice into that twister. Flame thrower!"
Ash watched with horror as Pidgeotto's twister shifted into blazing fire tornado, one that Magmortar was able to direct towards the main deck, before Rhydon intercepted him, catching his fiery arms in a battle of close combat. Unfortunately for Rhydon, Magmortar had other ideas, as he belched out scorching balls of lava through the cannon-like protrusions that were his arms, straight towards Rhydon, pushing him back, before sending a powerful fire blast, enough to lift Rhydon up and throw him off the deck.
"Rhydon!" Ash screamed, returning him back in mid-air, when a fire-blast sent him flying, hitting the wall, as he coughed, and throwing out blood.
"Magmortar," Butch grinned. "Scorch him nice and good."
Magmortar grinned nastily as he belched out two streams of hot fire in Ash's general direction, said flames reaching almost inches close to him when-
Two twin torrents of water extinguished the flames, before going ahead to slam into Magmortar in the chest, making the beast roar in irritation and pain.
"Don't worry, Ash." It was Harrison. "I'll take care of this from here on. Metagross, get Ash to safety."
Ash felt a bluish aura engulf him as he was lifted off from the ground, before he slowly felt a hard surface to land on. The shiny black color, coupled with the complete flat surface made him realize where he was.
He was lying on Metagross's head.
"Metagross." He croaked.
I am here, human Ash. I will take care of everything.
Thank you…
Butch gnashed his teeth. "I don't want to play this game. Magmortar, burn them all. Use fire blast!"
Only that Blastoise and Metagross were ready for it.
"Hydro Cannon." Harrison commanded, as Blastoise let out his most devastating attack, slamming into Magmortar before he had even prepared his attack properly. Meanwhile, Metagross had already covered the distance between them and slammed his most powerful Meteor Mash into the volcano pokémon's chest, literally lifting him off the deck as another fresh set of twin torrents came slamming into the fire-type, sending him straight into the ocean.
"Magmortar!" Butch yelled. Turning to Harrison, he snarled. "I'll make you pay for this."
"Send me the bill." Harrison smirked, as Butch looked confused, only to look in horror as a shining claw slammed into his left arm, the sheer momentum sending him off the deck, into the water just like his pokémon.
"Great punch!" Harrison waved a fist in the air, smirking at Metagross who just hummed, as Ash pushed himself upwards, able to sit now, that Metagross had used his psychic powers to remove all traces of headache and pain from his mind. It would have effects later on, but presently, it would save his life.
"Are you okay?" Harrison asked, concerned. "That attack must have seriously hurt."
"I'll live." Ash croaked. "Thanks for coming to save me, but what are you- shouldn't you be with Misty?"
Harrison scowled in frustration. "The teleportation deployment stopped working after the first three times. Somebody raised a psychic wall all around the ship. No psychic is able to go in or out."
"Damn!" Ash exploded. "What happens then?"
Harrison's expression brightened. "Misty is helping the trainers get away through underwater means. She had the bright idea to create psychic bubbles, around groups of three trainers, and then latch the trainers onto her Gyarados. She is helping them get away through underwater." He paused. "It's not safe to fly outside now, especially with the attacks going on."
"Genius." Ash laughed, coughing out more blood, much to Harrison's concern. "Don't worry, I'll survive. We need to get to the deck. Where's Cynthia?"
"She's is clearing the lower basement. She told me to get you, and defend the pokémon center against-damn!"
Ash turned around as another detonation happened, this one close to the pokémon center. He turned back in sheer horror, but Harrison had already sprinted ahead.
Metagross.
Right on.
"Where the hell is Lance?" Cynthia screamed, as she leapt to the side, just in time to avoid a poison-sting attack from an enraged Drapion. Garchomp swung past her, slashing the poison-type with his fin, before throwing a dragon pulse right on its face, as the dragon held Cynthia in his arms and leapt off the ground, arriving right in time to deflect a shadow ball that would have hit Steven from the right.
"Thanks." Steven breathed, his knee still hurt and bleeding like hell. The man looked like he had suddenly aged by ten years, as he dodged another burst of lightning from an attacking Magnemite before Skarmory banished with one of her countless steel wings.
"Did Lance send any message?" Cynthia asked, directing Garchomp to help Skarmory and Metagross.
"Not yet. Lance and the Ace Team are unresponsive, and off the grid. Besides, the psychic barrier is preventing all kinds of communication." Steven replied, his voice hoarse.
"Are you ready to finally surrender, Steven Stone?" Proton, who had a cut right across his face, snarled at him.
"You wish." Steven shot back.
Proton laughed aloud. A cold, cruel laugh filled with refined cruelty. "Your Champion has been dealt with. Lance, cannot come for anyone's help."
Steven's eyebrows widened. "You lie!"
"Do I?" Proton sneered. "Very well. I suppose if my words cannot convince you, see for yourself, the sight of your own annihilation." He brazenly pointed high up in the night sky, as the Elite trainers followed his direction.
There, levitating in the night sky, was a humanoid creature, with his bulb-like tail waving softly in the night breeze. Despite the shadow, Steven could make out the shroud of armour all around the entity, as it watched the ship from its vantage point.
"The armoured pokémon." Steven breathed with raw desperation, fear and helplessness. Did Lance… did this pokémon kill Lance?
The shock of seeing the armoured creature gave Proton the opening he wanted. Swirling his whip, he lashed out towards Cynthia, aiming to decapitate her, only for a sudden blur to push her aside, as the whip stuck flesh, making the interrupting entity fall down on the ground, groaning in agony. The part where the whip had struck him had literally scorched his flesh.
"Ash!" Cynthia screamed, recognizing who had just saved her life. "Garchomp!" She snarled, but no command was needed. Proton was still grinning devilishly, before his grin faltered, as a thin line of blood was visible on his neck, which then fell off, rolling on the floor, as his body stood lifeless, before joining its fallen part. Both Cynthia and Steven were too shocked to notice what had happened, though Metagross's eyes glowed a soft blue before turning pitch dark like always.
"Shiro…." Ash coughed, as Cynthia tried to get him up. His leg was bleeding, as were the countless injuries on his person. If nothing was done, the boy would die. However, it was only because of Metagross's powers that he retained his capacity to think and make judgements, ignoring the pain of his scarred and scorched limbs.
"Ash, why did you-?" Cynthia all but shouted.
"You are… Champion." Ash coughed, before somehow managing to stand up, leaning on her, before looking up, as his face went pale. Somehow, in the depths of his mind, he knew who it was he was staring at.
We meet again, young one. Your brave spirit still shines, even brighter than last time.
Ash spitted out blood from his mouth. "It's the psychic… the armoured pokémon."
Cynthia's Garchomp however, had other ideas. The draconic creature let out a howl, gathering an immense amount of draconic energy into its maw before releasing it all in the form of an orange mass, one that would reach high up in the air before releasing its most devastating attack.
Draco Meteor.
Mewtwo watched with curiosity as the orange blob shot higher and higher into the atmosphere, before slowing down, before it finally settled in the air, hovering for a while, as it changed color into one of blazing silver, as it fractured into several blobs, one that looked like tiny meteors, which were projected towards Mewtwo. With a lazy thought, Mewtwo simply redirected the attack down towards the water, taking out a couple of Team Rocket submarines as well.
They were after all, inferior, pathetic. Worms in the face of the superior species.
Draco meteor. Interesting attack. Mewtwo's voice, amplified exponentially spoke to them. After all, when the Lord speaks, everyone must be given the chance to listen. I believe I am an attentive student. Let us see how good I learnt that attack.
His lips twisted into a tiny smirk, as he channelled his assimilated power, one that he had slowly, diligently, gathered within him over the past couple of months, shaping them into draconic energy, as he recreated a vast orange globule in the sky, at least a hundred times larger than Garchomp's had been. Then, he allowed the orange blob to slowly levitate up in the sky, go higher and higher, before it stopped.
Then, it slowly morphed into a silvery white color, its light enveloping the moon in sheer intensity.
I love this part about meteors. The purity of them, Boom, the end… start again. The world made clean for the new man… to rebuild.
The brimming vortex of draconic energy then burst open with a single explosion, as countless Draco meteors shone in the night sky, ready to fall upon the St. Anne, and send it to its doom.
Ash stood on the deck, his arms somehow on Cynthia's shoulders for support, his eyes gazing in untold horror as he witnessed hundreds of Draco meteors high up in the sky, almost at the verge of finishing their trajectory upwards before they would fall down onto the St. Anne.
No one, no one will be able to stand against that much power.
No one.
Human Ash? A rather familiar voice entered into his troubled mind.
Metagross? Ash could somehow hear Pidgeotto screeching, as the avian flew around him. Even the Rocket grunts and their pokémon had stopped, staring in awe as the cataclysm that was about to fall down upon them from above.
This was the end.
The avian and I would like to tell you, as hopelessly optimistic as it might sound, that we would follow you into Distortion itself. Do not fear.
Ash laughed. He didn't really know what distortion meant, but guessed that it would be something akin to the pokémon idea of a Hell.
The abomination's power shines greater than a Legendary. Metagross spoke again.
Legendary.
Like Articuno, whose single ice beam had literally smashed against Derrick's Metagross's powerful attack? Yeah… legendary, all right.
Something floated up in Ash's mind, something that he had once known, but almost forgotten. Something… from a distant, half-remembered dream.
Only a pseudo-legendary has any chance against a Legendary…
A pseudo-legendary? Ash wanted to laugh. His situation was hopeless, hilariously so. He had Metagross. Steven had one too. Cynthia's Garchomp added a third. Still, none of them were anything more than insects before this titan of immeasurable strength. Such power could only be faced by….
The words died in Ash's throat, as a half-remembered conversation, one that he had had, with the researcher, in the dead of the night back on the shores of Cerulean Sea, rose in front of his mind.
"What is this… big deal about true names, anyway?" Ash asked a somewhat annoyed researcher, who wanted nothing better than to dispose the topic.
Bill frowned. "You realize this is under the contract, right? Under no conditions, is this information to be revealed to anyone. If you do, you will lose your mind forever."
"I… understand."
Bill scowled. "I don't think you do. However, you are my associate and I owe you. So, against my better judgement, I will share the details with you. See Ash, just like you and me, every pokémon in the world, have names, and names, have power."
"I don't understand." Ash frowned in confusion.
"Knowing someone's name gives us a form of… power over that person. Of course, we humans lack that much spiritual essence to use the power of names, but pokémon, whose essences are far deeper, stronger and pure, are able to do so. Like Dragonite for example, there are so dozens of them out there, but every one of them have a unique name."
"But… names are recurring. I bet there are lots' of Ash's and Bill's around."
Bill laughed. "True, but if you notice, every person utters his name in his own unique way. No too Bill's will say their name the same way, there is always a difference, no matter how insignificant, but there is. Nevertheless, as I said, we lack the spiritual essences to be tied to the concept of names, though some… people do, although they are quite… rare in human history."
"Who are they?"
"They are called, Aura Guardians. Practitioners of the Aura. It is told that an Aura Guardian can reshape his own aura to imitate a 'pokémon move' at will."
Ash digested that fact with great difficulty.
"Pokémon however, have their own unique names, and for the betterment of everyone, such names are usually… hidden from human kind. I have been…extremely lucky to come across an ancient scripture that contained the true name of the last of the fallen dragon kings."
Ash sat agape, still unsure of what he was hearing was truth or mere fiction.
"It is believed, that calling out the name of a pokémon, the true name that is, will make that pokémon appear before you. However, beware, that for anyone to know a pokémon's name is a grievous insult to said pokémon, since it means you… hold a power over it. Under most conditions, using a pokémon's true name will often result in the pokémon getting summoned, and then killing you for the mere transgression alone."
Ash's eyes were wide as saucers.
"I should not need to tell you why not to speak the King's name aloud."
Ash could only bob his head in reply.
Metagross… Ash's voice broke, as an overwhelming mundane feeling gripped his heart.
Human Ash?
If I die, and you manage to survive, make sure that you, and my other pokémon, go with Shirona. Ash smiled. For some reason, he had stuck with Shirona, since that was the name he had embedded his memories with the Champion over the last few days. She is a Champion, and will make you all as strong as you want.
Metagross stayed silent.
A thin smile spread on Ash's face, as he slowly uncoiled his arm from Cynthia's shoulder, and before the girl could even realize, to her horror, of what had just happened, Ash slid off from his position, a foot away from the waters, leaping into the sea.
"Ash!" Cynthia screamed.
There was no reply. Only the dark waters reflected Cynthia's shocked face back at her.
Mewtwo stood floating in his position in the sky waiting for the Draco Meteors to finish their upward trajectory. There was no hurry, and if it were up to him, he would stop Time itself to savour this moment to the fullest. So many people, so many… Elite trainers, so many pokémon, powerful and weak… so many hopes, so many fears…
All of them unanswered, as if like the omnipotent Creator simply didn't care about their fate.
Mewtwo smiled. Sometimes I think… maybe I am the Creator myself.
The thought interested him. Mew. The guardian of Kanto, was closer to the concept of the Creator, since all pokémon were supposedly created from Mew, including… himself.
Mewtwo frowned. He would have to arrange a meeting between himself and his creator. It would be… interesting.
He looked down at the ship, his eyes observing the little child he had met before, back at the power plant. Just like back then, the child's inner essence glowed with bravery, despite being in the presence of his own doom, the child did not run.
But wait.
Why am I getting the feeling of… resignation from him? Did I judge him wrong? Is he also like those countless worms… who appear brave in the beginning, but then reveal their true selves when the pain begins?
A feeling of disappointment rushed through his very being.
Mewtwo decided he didn't like it.
The kid slid into the water, sinking into its very depths.
Little kid? Did he… give up? I didn't think he had it in him.
The herd of Tauros had given up. The psi pokémon had given up. The ghosts would soon follow the trend. Champion Lance had given up. The ship's population, had given up.
Did you just join up with them, little one? I thought you were brave. Different.
Mewtwo had been rather… impressed with the kid when he had met him back at the power plant. Not because of his bravery. Bravery had little interest to him. Nor did his diligence, his arrogance, his hope or his aptitude to battling concern Mewtwo in the slightest.
No. There was something else in the kid. Something that… endeared, for lack of a better word, Mewtwo to him.
Ash Ketchum was a void. A walking, talking, breathing…. Living source of purposelessness.
Just like I had been, back there after killing my creator. The moment… when I was free of my…
Strings.
Ash Ketchum… the boy felt just as purposeless back then. Training his pokémon to make them powerful, make them achieve their own ambitions was a way to go. It wasn't a means to an end, but at least, it gave him a drive to pursue the path he was on. To have the best, the most powerful team in the world. A simple, immature dream, but a dream nevertheless.
There is something… beautiful about your own lack of purpose fuelling your ambition.
A dream that would ignore him from his own state of purposeless existence. A dream that would perhaps, allow him to find the why of his own existence.
Just like I am.
He looked down at the dark waters. It had been three seconds since the boy had sunken into the depths.
Is Ash Ketchum… gone?
Mewtwo decided he didn't like it. He wanted the boy back, if solely for curiosity's sake.
He hindered his own power. It was, as unfortunate as it was, too great to pull the boy from the water, without literally tearing him into two halves. Power was after all, a brute tool, one that had to honed and shaped into focus and precision.
Someday I will master my own power.
He concentrated on an infinitesimally small fragment of his own psychic awareness, one that was still under his absolute command, to get the boy back.
It was unnecessary.
The entire area was being engulfed in some kind of draconic mist. Mewtwo felt that he would succumb to it for a moment. It was like that Charizard's power, only magnified by several hundred-fold. Only if he had the ability to harvest this power in this state….
Wishes… they never come true. They have to be made to come true.
An immensely powerful tectonic wave shocked the sea, shattering several of the submarines into pieces, as well as some parts of the already tattered St. Anne. With a sudden force, something lifted Ash Ketchum upwards, literally throwing him off from the waters as his body hit the deck, sprouting water from his mouth, as the boy, still somewhat conscious, looked up with something like…
Hope?
The sea parted, as a titan of antiquity rose from its depths. Its body draconic, its height larger than anything anyone had ever comprehended, its power more than what Mewtwo could have imagined anyone, even his own self, to ever have, rose from the depths of the sea.
Is that a… a Dragonite?
The mythical creature of antiquity let out an angry roar.
Mewtwo looked back at the boy lying on the deck.
Did you summon that ferocious creature to battle me, Ash Ketchum?
The slumbering dragon had felt the tremors, tasted the raw power that could only belong to a legendary, shine on the world above the dark waters. For one moment, the last of the fallen kings had thought that perhaps, the Dark God had risen again, to bring about that annihilation that he had promised upon the world.
Then he felt it.
A whisper.
A dying wish. One that wasn't muttered out of ambition, but out of hope. Out of…
Out of a wish for salvation.
A name.
An… Sah…. Lohn…
And the King felt it. The person who had summoned it was the same person who had faced him the previous time, and learnt his true name. However, the blight hadn't summoned him out of ambition, but for something entirely opposite.
Salvation.
And the King rose. After all, he was a Dragonite. And Dragonite were helpful, aiding sailors lost in the sea, helping the ship-wrecked to return back to their loved ones.
The fallen king rose up from the dark waters, as he witnessed the falling meteors… draconic energy, he realized- the abomination was channelling reshaped, draconian energy to suit its own sinister purposes.
That, would not do.
King Dragonite let out a roar, giving a sideward glance at the drenched human-ling who had summoned him, now lying on the deck, surrounded by his friends.
And the King's judgement began.
Not a single person or pokémon, friend foe alike, uttered a single noise. All of them were literally gawking at the Dragonite- if that was a Dragonite, let out an earth-shattering roar, before sending a single Hyper Beam into the atmosphere, the sheer power and size of which managed to literally shatter a majority of the falling draconic bombs with a single strike. Confident that the humans and pokémon on the ship would be able to deal with the rest, the fallen king turned to stare at the abomination, one who wielded the unfathomable power of a Legendary, and yet, his actions were that of the lowest scum imaginable.
With another howl, the king sent hurling a burst of pure power—a dragon pulse that was yards wide, towards Mewtwo, who shockingly enough, had to hold his hands forward to stop the powerful attack from reaching towards him, as he began to use his true power. However, Dragonite was far from done. He released a quick hyper beam, one just as powerful as the previous one, in quick succession with the overpowered dragon pulse. The abomination might have been able to somehow hold back the dragon pulse, but when the hyper beam slammed into the condensed draconic energy, nothing on earth, legendary or not, was able to contain the explosion that happened, as shockwave powerful enough to tear the St. Anne into pieces came lashing out of it in all directions.
The Rockets had, expectedly, departed from the destroyed ship as quickly as possible. With the advent of this… creature of antiquity, neither the Executives nor the Grunts could have an idea about what would possibly happen. Mewtwo's lackadaisical behaviour towards them certainly didn't help matters. In a matter of mere minutes, the entire crew of Rockets had somehow scrambled their way out of St. Anne, returning to whatever submarines were still present and functional- the Executives teleporting away now that the psychic shields held in place by Mewtwo were no more.
The absence of the psychic barrier was immediately felt by the trainers on the ship, was teams of Alakazam appeared out of nowhere, ready to continue their task of teleportation deployment, as they were ordered to do. While Misty and the psi pokémon on the ship had transferred quite a number of people already, it was time for the Wailord teams t0 be set loose.
Five Wailord appeared on the water, as the remaining people began to slowly scramble onto them, hoping against hope that the mythical creature would somehow end that omnipotent pokémon, which had been, a moment ago, ready to end their lives with a single strike.
Steven, Harrison and Lorelei were helping the crowds get over to the Wailord group that floated on the waters, ready to deport with the people-trainers and sailors alike. Glacia had suffered from some injuries but none that wouldn't heal in a day or two. Cynthia hadn't moved from her position beside Ash, whom she had taken up on a higher ground, just to ensure that the idiot didn't pull out any new suicidal tricks under her watch, though she couldn't help but wonder what Ash had done to get that creature come to their aid.
Maybe Steven knows something, given the way he was staring at him. She thought to herself.
"Cynthia, a little help please?" Glacia asked, pinching her left arm to stop it from bleeding where the cut had been quite severe. 'It looks like it cut through the vein. I'll need some medical aid."
"But…"
"Go." Ash croaked. "I'll manage fine." He opened his eyes slowly, staring at Pidgeotto zooming on top of his head in the air, and at Metagross much higher up, helping Garchomp take care of the remaining Draco meteor attacks that were falling towards them. "I have Pidgeotto with me. I trust her with my life."
He thought he heard a screech from his favourite avian after that comment.
"Don't you start on any funny ideas. Mister." Cynthia glared at him, before letting him down on the deck- or whatever remained of the deck anyway, considering the entire ship was shattered and in parts—shades of its past splendour floating on the still waters of an indifferent sea.
He looked towards the other end of the night sky, where the King Dragonite was giving Mewtwo a really hard time, the psychic actually having to use his powers to defend and attack against someone of the King's stature and power, like any other normal pokémon.
Welcome to earth, asshole.
Ash could have sworn he had a feeling of amusement flit through his mind.
Only if the entire thing had ended with the feeling.
After withstanding all that it had, the St. Anne, while a magnificent specimen, was after all, a machine. And like every machine, it too, had its own limits before it broke down to pieces. The next shockwave that lashed against its machinery after Mewtwo and the Dragonite clashed- a shadow ball against a dragon pulse to be exact was too much for it to hold on, for any longer.
The St. Anne gave up.
The ground beneath his legs suddenly gave up with an indiscriminate creak, as Ash felt himself fall down, down towards the broken piece of machinery. There was no water, no raging fires or anything—just broken pieces of metal and equipment. One that would, literally tear him apart. Ash hit his back against the sharp side of the broken deck, rendering him almost unconscious as he fell down towards the metal pit.
The last thing his semi-comatose mind registered was the sound of Pidgeotto screeching in agony.