The tides had turned. Completely.
In a matter of minutes, the absolute dominance of Team Rocket had suffered a staggering reversal.
And the kicker?
It wasn't because their Pokémon lost a fair fight—it was because their core command ship had been jacked!
Not only stolen, but turned against them by the enemy!
Hun stared in disbelief. He hadn't just failed to predict this; he hadn't even considered it a physical possibility.
This... this makes no sense!
Even if an intruder managed to break in, the standard procedure was to blow the ship up.
Navigating a massive fortress like this wasn't something you did on "fighting spirit" alone!
"Attila! Attila!"
Hun screamed into his comms, trying to reach his partner. Unfortunately, Kashiwagi had already used Porygon's digital wizardry to sever their internal communications at the source. All Hun got in return was the cold, mocking hiss of static.
...
Soon after,
The high-tech "Gravity Nets" used to restrain the Dragon-type Pokémon suddenly flickered and died.
Controlled by the ship's main system, they were designed for "idiot-proof" poaching.
But with Porygon at the helm, the "idiot" was now Team Rocket.
The nets deactivated, and a flood of liberated Dragon Pokémon surged out of the open hangar doors like a living tide, roaring their freedom as they scattered across the battlefield.
Panic spread through the Rocket grunts like wildfire.
They scrambled toward each other, trying to find safety in numbers.
"Hahaha..."
Elder Aoyagi, who had been at his physical limit, slumped to the ground. His Mega Altaria looked down with concern, but he waved it off with a weary, triumphant grin.
"It seems I still underestimated that boy!"
"What are you all standing around for?! Don't let him scare you!" a Rocket grunt barked, regaining his nerve.
"As long as we take these old geezers hostage—AGH!"
A blood-curdling scream cut him short. Kashiwagi wasn't just watching; he was listening. And he didn't take kindly to "hostage" talk.
『Taking hostages is wrong. That's a very dangerous thought process you have there. As a warning, have a few extra Volts.』
ZAP!
"ARGH!"
CRACKLE-ZAP!
"AGHHH!"
...
...
The grunt, already foaming at the mouth and sprawled on the dirt, twitched violently as wisps of white smoke drifted off his body—looking for all the world like his soul departing for the afterlife.
His partner Pokémon took three steps back, sweating bullets, whisteling, wearing an expression that clearly said: I don't know this guy. Never seen him before in my life.
The surrounding Rockets and their Pokémon gulped in unison.
A collective shiver ran down their spines. Looking up at the hovering airship, they began to wonder... who exactly were the villains here?
Normally, you attack the Pokémon, right? Who goes straight for the Trainer?!
And more importantly, why was he so good at the torture part?!
...
The intercom crackled to life again.
『I don't like repeating myself. Please, be sensible. It'll save us all a lot of unnecessary pain. Three strikes and you're out, and my patience is wearing thin.』
『Mr. Hun~ Special Agent Hun! As one of the two leaders on-site, surely you weren't thinking of sneaking away by yourself?』
Hun, who was mid-stealthily changing into a generic Rocket flight suit, froze.
With the ship's internal status unknown and Attila MIA, the tactical choice was to retreat, preserve himself, and break his colleagues out of prison later.
Retreat was the logical move.
Seeing his cover blown, Hun didn't hesitate. He yanked the valve on his Rocket jetpack!
WHOOSH—!
He rocketed into the sky, adjusting his thrust to hover in mid-air.
He reached for a Poké Ball, aiming the recall beam at his Mega Steelix.
He had specifically positioned himself in the ship's "blind spot."
But as the red light shot out, a silver shadow—massive, imposing, and far larger than any Steelix should be—erupted from the ship.
With a roar that shook the clouds, the giant swung its cable-like body, coiling tightly around the Mega Steelix!
It was a [Wrap]!
The red recall beam hit, but shattered harmlessly.
You can't recall a Pokémon that's "bound" by an enemy move. His plan was dead in the water.
"How is that even POSSI—!!"
Hun's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He had never seen a Steelix this big. Even without Mega Evolving, Kashiwagi's Steelix was at least three sections longer than his own Mega!
Trapped in the colossal coil, Mega Steelix couldn't even budge. The harder it struggled, the more its rainbow crystals groaned and cracked under the pressure.
『Fire Fang!』
"STEEL-IXX!"
The colossal Steelix unhinged its massive jaws and clamped down hard on its Mega counterpart!
CLANG—!
BOOM!
The sound of grinding metal echoed through the heavens. Orange flames erupted from between the silver teeth, exploding into a shower of brilliant, lethal sparks!
Technically, a Ground-type move would have done more damage, but Kashiwagi's Steelix wasn't in the best position for a Dig or Earthquake. Besides, against a Mega Steelix whose health had been chipped away by Mega Altaria, a Fire Fang was more than enough to close the curtains.
"Hooo...uuh..."
Mega Steelix groaned as the rainbow light faded. It reverted to its base form and went limp, completely unconscious.
...
Inside the bridge, Kashiwagi watched the screen with a satisfied nod.
Once upon a time, his Steelix had been the one trapped in a bind by Brock's Steelix due to a lack of finesse.
Since that day, they had practiced the art of the "Constrict" relentlessly. Today, that debt was paid in full on Hun's head.
While Kashiwagi was overjoyed, up in the air, Hun was gnashing his teeth so hard they might have snapped. Realizing he couldn't save his Pokémon, he turned to flee.
But perhaps because he hadn't seen field action in a while, he was... slow.
Just as slow as his partner Attila.
The arrogance of being a "Rocket Special Agent" had left them riddled with openings. Even in his escape, he wasted nearly thirty seconds hesitating.
He didn't try to free his Pokémon, and he didn't charge the ship for a 1-on-1 showdown. He just... lingered.
And that gave Mawile all the time she needed.
As Hun ignited his thrusters to ascend, Mawile blurred out of the hangar bay like a pink-and-black streak. She zipped past him, delivering a single, devastating punch that turned his jetpack into scrap metal.
BANG!
The pack exploded in a puff of smoke. Hun spiraled out of the sky, hitting the dirt with a dull thud. Out cold.
The remaining Rocket grunts looked at their fallen leader, then at the ship's cannons pointing directly at their foreheads.
"..."
Finally, they looked at the surrounding Draconid people closing in with vengeful eyes.
Trembling, they raised their hands in the air.
Without their tech, they were nothing. And every single one of them knew it.
『Hands behind your heads. Flat on the ground. That's it. Cooperation is good for everyone's health.』
Kashiwagi directed them from the speakers, his gaze sweeping over the bruised and battered remnants of the "elite" squad. He couldn't help but flash a bright, winning smile.
『As you can see, your superiors have already volunteered to test the consequences of resisting. I don't recommend a second opinion.』
Next up...
A little bit of "urban exploration" on this high-tech airship.
Who knows? There might be some special loot hidden in the wreckage.
...
...
The Team Rocket invasion had officially ground to a halt.
The village was a mess of tangled nets, residual static, and the fading echoes of sonic blasts.
Many Pokémon were nursing injuries from the high-tech weaponry, but thankfully, the human toll was light.
While the people of the Draconid tribe are notoriously hardy, even the strongest warrior's stats drop once they hit their golden years.
Recovery takes longer; stamina wears thin. To give the Rockets an ounce of credit—and I mean only an ounce—they hadn't targeted the elderly villagers directly.
They weren't total monsters. Just mostly.
"Kashiwagi, we owe you a great debt for this."
The Dragon Elder approached Kashiwagi, who was currently busy applying a Super Potion to a weary Swablu.
The Elder's voice was low and sincere.
"Just doing my part, Elder,"
Kashiwagi replied with a smile, standing up. He checked the Elder's breathing—it was steady now, the coughing fit had passed.
A wave of relief washed over him. When he'd first arrived and saw the Elder collapsed in someone's arms, his heart had nearly stopped.
If he had been even a minute later... the regret would have been unbearable.
"Nonsense. I'm not that fragile yet," the Elder shook her head, looking out over Meteor Falls.
Despite the brave words, her eyes were heavy with contemplation.
They had thought their "old bones" were enough to protect the village. They never expected Team Rocket to turn their home upside down with a single ship.
Even with Kashiwagi's help... nobody wants to go through this.
Looking around, there were no cheers. Just the heavy sighs of people who had looked into the abyss and barely blinked back.
Perhaps... it's time we took the next step, the Elder thought.
...
Suddenly, a cluster of dark shadows streaked across the horizon. The dragons of the Dragon's Den were back.
The latecomers descended in a frantic, desperate rush, diving toward their homes.
It was only when they found their Trainers safe and sound that the tension finally snapped.
Like a giant family reunion, smiles finally began to break through the gloom.
The "Village Guard" trio was among them, frantically searching for their families.
Almost every dragon capable of flight had mobilized the moment news reached the Den, but by the time they arrived, there was no enemy left to burn.
The Rocket grunts had been unceremoniously put to sleep and piled into the center of the village like a mountain of laundry.
Elder Aoyagi, Aggron, and a stern-looking group of Dragon Pokémon stood guard over them.
The airship itself was parked just outside the village.
It was simply too massive to fit anywhere else, so they left it there for Officer Jenny to haul away later.
...
When Hydreigon arrived, he didn't stop to look at the wreckage. He blasted straight for the house, only to find shattered glass and an empty room. His Trainer and his friends were gone.
His three heads moved in sync, jaws dropping open in visible panic. He was about to fly out and start a frantic search when he spotted a Galarian Corsola chilling on a rocking chair nearby.
"Hydrei-g-o-n!"
He practically threw himself at the Corsola, his three heads babbling at once.
He was desperate for a scent, but the village was currently a cocktail of ozone, smoke, and Rocket exhaust. He couldn't smell Kashiwagi anywhere, and he was losing his mind.
Corsola, acting as the world's gloomiest signpost, extended a misty tentacle and pointed toward the village square.
Hydreigon took off like a heat-seeking missile. His large central head swung back and forth frantically until, finally, he spotted a familiar figure kneeling beside a Flygon.
In Hydreigon's eyes, Kashiwagi wasn't just standing there—he was practically glowing.
"Hydrei-g-o-n!!"
The dragon was nearly in tears. He charged with such momentum that Kashiwagi had zero time to react.
The two of them—and several very confused Flygon—ended up in a tangled, rolling heap on the ground.
Once the world stopped spinning, Hydreigon began licking Kashiwagi's face with all three heads, whining and howling like a stray puppy that had finally found its way home after years on the street.
He was shaking with excitement, refusing to move an inch.
"...Sigh."
Kashiwagi lay flat on his back, pinned by several hundred pounds of affectionate dragon. He let out a helpless laugh.
"I really can't do anything with you, can I?"
He knew the feeling. If the roles were reversed and he'd heard the Dragon's Den was under attack, he'd probably be even more of a mess.
For example, he might have considered Hydreigon's condition as the standard for whether Team Rocket members would be left with their bodies intact.
Exaggerated emotion is just proof of how much they care.
He was happy that he was so beloved by his Pokémon, and Hydreigon was so concerned about him.
"Good boy... Such a good boy,"
Kashiwagi murmured, gently stroking Hydreigon's head.