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Negrek

Play the Rain
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Sup, Chibi! Been too long since I've visited this thread. Blitz-time is always a great opportunity to get caught up, but I hope I'll be able to stay a little bit closer to on top of things over the course of 2023 at least.

Some real juicy chapters here! Has someone perhaps been doing some tasty BURN research recently? :copyka: I thought you did a nice job of describing the various forms of discomfort Jade's burns cause her--and the uneasyness of knowing that where it doesn't hurt things are really, really bad.

But prior to that, I thought there were a lot of fun little nuggets in 51, like Jade's clear and persistent unease being out and about in Indigo, remembering previous Rocket encounters there. Jade is just becoming increasingly traumatized the longer this fic goes on; makes me wonder what life will be like for her after this whole legendary mess wraps up, if there's even a chance of her living to see that--inevitable failure and all that.

I also thought Zoroark's little bit was cute, and I was tickled that we still didn't actually get a straight answer on how he and Ajia met beyond broad circumstances; Ajia really remains a mysterious character, and I'm curious to see how her early Rocket days may end up coming into play in the future... I imagine there's a reason she's been so cagey about them, and it'll be fun to see what the reason for that might be.

Chapter fifty-one also has one of my favorite things, morality plays with Mewtwo! I like how we're starting to unpack some of the tension Jade feels about the Viridian incident and see her struggle with Lugia's unrepentance. Two characters on the same side who can't agree on what's right to do... it's was very interesting to see them try to navigate that, and how Jade desperately feels like she needs Lugia to at least acknowledge the collateral damage, to give her some reason to not think of her partner as someone who would just casually murder dozens of people without a second thought. What Mewtwo's up to, what he (and Lugia?) might be willing to do despite potential "collateral damage"... it's all very interesting, and it'll be fun to see how Jade navigates that in the future. (It was also a fun detail that Jade had never actually seen Mewtwo in daylight before this chapter.) I was also going "on no, Jade, no, NO" the whole time she was considering Mewtwo's surprise text, deciding not to tell Mew where they were going, etc. Everything about that spelled bad news, Jade! Everything! I would be surprised if Mewtwo intended for them to get ambushed by Rocket there, but there were just so many red flags, lol.

It was maybe a little on the nose to have Jade thinking about the various legendaries that still needed to select chosens right before Ho-Oh goes and Chooses Starr, but I can't get too mad about the reluctant anti-hero finally definitively throwing her lot in with Team Legend. It's been a long time coming! I love how Starr's frustration here is palpable, how she more than anything is angry about this whole mess and even the notion that anyone would want to soulbond with her, would extend to her another chance, but that she does it anyway for the sake of her friends.

It did feel a little weird to me that Ho-Oh emphasized that they didn't have long before the Rockets might show up with reinforcements, but there was nevertheless time for the Choosing conversation and for Ho-Oh to actually perform the ritual. It would have been pretty bad if the Rockets showed up while they were in the middle of that, yeah? It makes sense that you'd want a situation where Jade, Starr, Lugia, and Ho-Oh can be there without e.g. Ajia getting in the way, but from a meta standpoint it felt a bit odd to me that Ho-Oh didn't delay at least the ritual itself until they were in a more secure situation, or that Starr was willing to entertain any of that legendary nonsense before they'd gotten Jade to safety.

The real highlight of 52, though, was definitely the final scene where Jade and Starr have their heart-to-heart. Starr's feelings are just so deliciously messy! It's no wonder she has such difficulty with guilt and regret; the torture was horrible for her not only in that it was traumatic the way she had to electrocute her friend, but also in that it left her with this horrible knowledge that she wasn't straightforwardly sad that she had to torture her friend, that sometimes shocking her actually felt good... It's super raw and feels very genuine, and seeing Jade and Starr work through those horrible feelings and resolve to still move forward as friends was powerful. Absolutely a highlight of the fic so far, A+.

The extra with Ho-Oh was a nice moment and good for establishing where Starr and Ho-Oh's relationship is starting from. I feel like we haven't gotten near as much of a read on Ho-Oh as we have on Lugia up until now, although that could just be because it's been a while since I've read a lot of this fic--one way or another, it's good to get a little extra screen time for them. Ho-Oh certainly has a stern demeanor, similar to Lugia but maybe a bit less cranky; it's certainly very patient with Starr here, where I think Lugia might have been more frustrated or dismissive. It'll be good to see how these two play off each other going forward!

I also thought Starr's request that Ho-Oh burn off her Rocket brand was interesting. Entirely understandable that she'd want it gone and not want one of her pokémon to do it, but it is almost like trading being marked by Rocket to being marked by a legendary. She's obviously made her choice as far as serving as Ho-Oh's chosen goes, but it feels a little different to have that choice etched into her skin!

Overall, I thought this was a strong run of chapters, and I'm happy to be caught up again! I know you were hoping to get 53 out before the end of Blitz, but if I can't do that one today as well, I guess I'll just have to circle back to this thread whenever it gets published post-event. Hope the writing there is going well, and I look forward to seeing the next chapter once you finish it!

His eyes turned in all directions, scanning the city blocks meticulously.
The phrasing here strikes me as a bit odd, the "eyes turning all directions" bit; usually I'd expect to see a character's head turning all directions instead.

23 dead, 64 injured.
You generally write out numbers at the beginning of sentences even if you normally wouldn't, i.e. "Twenty-three dead, 64 injured."

About a minute later, Lugia’s head emerged from the water, glancing around until it laid eyes on me.
Here Lugia's head is glancing around, which is a bit odd. I think something like "and it glanced around until it laid eyes on me" would work a little better.

But what if we could hear him out, and actually persuade him to join us?
You don't want that comma there.

“Would it kill you two to use the door like a normal person?”
Since it's "you two," I'd expect this to be "like normal people" instead of "a normal person."

Searing, burning pain tore across my back.
I don't think "burning" adds anything you don't already get from "searing."

What felt like minutes later,
Not quite sure what you're implying with the "felt like" minutes later... usually that construction's used to suggest that the protagonist's perception is off, e.g. if "it felt like hours" it probably wasn't close to that long. But it probably was just minutes in this case?

It was an endless torrent of ice, one after another, striking Lugia repeatedly as it held the defensive position.
One what after another?

Lugia was breathing heavily and each blow made it sink lower.
You want a comma before "and" here.

An orange glow, in the corner of my vision.
No comma here.

Starr gave Lugia a sideways glance and I felt the legend glower at her.
You want a comma before "and" here.

Starr eyes were livid.
*Starr's

Why did the damn bird have to sound so damn calm in response to everything?
I thought the repetition of "damn" here was a little odd.

How was she supposed to argue with that.
Want a question mark here.
 

Dragonfree

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Chapter 40

Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I registered the fact that we were running downstairs to confront a Rocket commander while wearing pajamas. So now embarrassment could get added to that pile of conflicting emotions.
Nice.

“I believe congratulations are in order,” he said. “You all did quite the masterful job stealing Moltres from the Kanto force.”
All according to his plan, eh?

“What do you want, Sebastian?” Ajia asked, her voice tired and exasperated. Pichu punctuated her words with a jolt of sparks.

“Wait… Stalker? He’s the one you’re all so worked up about?” a voice called out.

I spun around to see the two faces that weren’t scowling at him: Rudy gaping incredulously and Darren squinting like he was trying to put together what was going on.

“What are you doing here, man?” Rudy asked, taking a few steps forward.

“More like what the hell are you doing here,” Starr snapped.

Rudy froze, staring at her in bewilderment. He glanced back and forth between Stalker and me, waiting for answers.
Oops, kind of a significant omission there.

And then out of nowhere, Latias shot forward, stopping right in front of him and staring him straight in the eyes. “*Let my brother go!*”

Stalker stared back, unflinching. “I’m afraid that I can’t do that. I still need to utilize his strength for my plans.”

“*How is what you’re doing any different from what they’re doing?!*” she cried, voice breaking slightly.

Stalker closed his eyes in frustration. “I am not going to explain this again. I need Latios. Now do you want to hear what I have to say or not?”
I enjoy that Stalker is a person to whom "I still need to utilize his strength for my plans" is simply a reasonable response to "Let my brother go." Obviously he's not doing that, because then his plans won't work. Why does he have to explain this multiple times.

(If I recall correctly, it's established later that Latios agrees with Stalker's cause, which surely any normal person would have said instead in their defense. But Stalker just doesn't understand the relevance of that at all! That's very revealing about his character.)

“I would not have come here if I hadn’t prepared for that possibility.” The unspoken implication was clear—he knew for a fact that his life was not in danger.
Intriguing - something I didn't quite remember. My first thought was he might actually have Latios with him invisible and ready to defend him, but when Latias is invisible there's a telltale flicker that I'd presume they would recognize (and Latias might be able to sense her brother's presence as well).

<Let them try for me. I dare them,> Lugia said coldly.

Ho-oh gave the silver bird a tired look. “It’s not wise to tempt fate.”
Is this foreshadowing :eyes:

Stalker paused for several seconds, waiting until all eyes were back on him. Satisfied that he had everyone’s attention, he went on, “They’re going to reawaken Groudon and Kyogre.”
Stalker sure has an appetite for drama. Or like, commanding attention and explaining things.

“You know, I’m surprised to see all of you here together,” Stalker said offhandedly. “Or rather, I’m surprised to see the Legendaries willingly accepting help from humans. Of course, I’m sure at least some of you are here by contract. I wonder which ones.” His eyes lingered on me a little longer than they should have. I kept my expression perfectly neutral.
This suggests he previously tried to offer his help to legendaries only to get turned down, which is interesting.

“If I may interject,” a booming voice suddenly said. I looked up to see Ho-oh focusing its large, amber eyes on us. “If you wish to help your companions, you should say so.”

Starr stared up at the legend incredulously. “I don’t want to. I want nothing to do with this stupid war.”

“If that were true, you would not be here,” it said, with a rather matter-of-fact tone.

“The hell do you know?” she snapped.

Ho-oh’s expression was calm, unyielding. “My apologies,” it said, stepping back from us.
Already picking up on her loyalty.

“It’s this stupid chosen thing again, isn’t it?” she asked, her voice low and cold, but with blades of anger digging into it. “Tell me the truth. You were chosen too, weren’t you?”

There it was. She’d already guessed, so there was no use denying it.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

Starr clenched her fists, muttering various obscenities about the Legendaries. She glanced over at Ho-oh. Then to Ajia. Then screwed her eyes shut with a pained expression. “Then. I’m going with you.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off with, “Don’t say anything before I change my mind.”
I love her.

At those words, Latias slowly drifted out through the cabin’s front door, eyes glued to the floor. Several times, she opened her mouth to speak, only for the words to fail. Finally, she managed to say, “*The Magma building is on the slopes of the great volcano, and the Aqua building is off the northeastern shore. I can show them to you, but…*” Her words trailed off. She stared downward, trembling slightly. “*I should have known about this. My home region is under attack and I didn’t even know. What kind of guardian am I?*”

I blinked. “Hey, hey this isn’t your fault,” I said, gently touching her shoulder.

“*This is all so much… I don’t know what to do,*” the dragon cried, burying her face in her claws.
Aww, Latias.

While struggling just to keep my eyes open, I spotted Starr making a break for the coffee pot, pouring herself a large cup and downing it almost instantly, without even adding any sugar or anything. I wandered over to her, and she must have mistaken that as me wanting to get coffee too, because she poured a second cup and held it out to me.

“I’ll pass,” I said, sticking out my tongue.

“I’ll take it,” Rudy said, suddenly appearing from behind me.

Starr raised an eyebrow, but handed it to him anyway. “Aren’t you like twelve?”

“I’m fourteen,” he snapped, shooting a glare at her.

Starr rolled her eyes—it was clear that she didn’t really see the difference.
Still love her.

I stared at the Flygon, unsure of how I was supposed to take that. “So were you wanting to sit out or…?”

“*Who the hell do you take me for?*” Okay, never mind, I’d just failed at reading him again, that was fine.
Enjoying Jade's vague frustration here.

So that was everyone. I grabbed their Pokéballs and recalled each of them… and then found my hand frozen when Swift was the last one out.

“You’re… sure you’re alright?” I asked. It was hard to look at him without imagining that gaping wound across his neck. Even if it had only been for a few seconds… they were some of the most terrifying seconds in my life.

“*I’m fine,*” Swift insisted. “*You recalled me so quickly that I didn’t lose much blood. And it was a clean slice—easy to mend.*”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “I really don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” Wait. That almost sounded like—“Not that I’d be fine with losing any of the others, that’s not it at all!” I added quickly. “I just…”

“*I know what you mean,*” the Pidgeot said, pressing his forehead against my arm.

I exhaled slowly, wrapping my arms around his neck.
<3 Really good wholesome moment. Love to be reminded that Swift is Jade's real first Pokémon and he's really important to her. What a good birb.

This bit of conversation is very good generally - the possibility someone really could die, Jade having tried not to think about it, Swift reassuring her they all have their reasons to be there, Jade still feeling on some level like maybe they're just going along with it because she's their trainer, Swift admonishing her for risking herself by recalling him while on his back.

And with that, our surrounding melted into distorted light before immediately reforming into a rocky, sloping terrain.
Huh, I thought the noun was usually "surroundings" in the plural? Is it used in the singular as well?

Nice cliffhanger at the end. I'd forgotten the Hoenn arc started so soon after the chapter 38 battle - they've barely even gotten to rest before they're whisked away for this, and on the reread that's a lot more tangible, oof. Stalker is always interesting when he appears, and I enjoyed Starr angrily insisting on coming with to make sure Jade doesn't get hurt, and Ho-Oh taking notice of that (foreshadowing!). But I think my favorite bit here is the conversation with Swift - it's just very real and I love that sense of how close Jade is with him.

Also Starr is just good, I love her.
 

Dragonfree

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Chapter 41

Darren nodded. “Alright good.” He turned to Moltres and said, “If anything goes wrong, we’ll teleport out to you.”
My brain really wants the comma there after "Alright".

I’d keep Jet in reserve, that way I could let her out if anything happened to the other two, and she could hold off the enemy while I healed them.
Also really wants a semicolon for that first comma. First person can definitely play a bit fast and loose with comma splices but in this case I feel like it'd just add clarity?

“*I’ve been wondering something,*” Ebony spoke up suddenly, her words hesitant. Everyone turned to face her, and she pawed at the floor sheepishly. “*We’re not going to lose anyone this time, are we?*” the Houndoom asked, and my heart tore itself in half.

Rudy froze, staring at the ground with an expression I couldn’t place. Finally, he leaned forward and put his hand on her head. “We’re not. I promise.”

I gave him a sideways glance. He couldn’t promise that. I couldn’t promise that. None of us could. But pretending was the only thing we could do.
:sadwott:

An uncomfortable flicker of unease started to creep up the back of my neck. This situation… was a lot more familiar than I’d realized. An ambush in the dead of night, alarms blaring, scared rebels fleeing down dark hallways, desperate to regroup, Rockets lurking out of sight. I’d been caught up with thinking of this like another Legendary mission. Protect the orb; stop the Rockets from catching more Legendaries. But now that we were here, it was feeling a lot more like that night on Midnight—
Love her being reminded of that here.

The two electric rodents dashed after Weavile, and then Rudy and I sprinted in the opposite direction, Ebony and Stygian racing alongside us and the Magma squad following not far behind. Just had to focus on reaching the Magmas’ side of the cavern. I tried not to look at the scattered Pokémon that had fallen in the middle of the makeshift battlefield. Tried not to think about how they would have been recalled if they were able to be. Just had to keep running. I heard the familiar sound of bullets striking Protect—dammit why was that so familiar—and screwed my eyes shut, willing my legs toward the space that I’d last seen.
And more Jade trauma :copyka:

I whipped out two more Pokéballs to let out Aros and Jet (too many rocks for Firestorm and Swift, better to keep them in reserve). I turned to each of them one after another and said, “Stygian, go for a Swords Dance and then slip through their defenses with Feint Attack. Chibi, stay on the move, paralyze everyone you can. Keep your power use low, go for Iron Tail when you get an opening. Aros, Jet—if you can pull anyone away from the center lineup, do it, then follow up with trapping moves. We don’t have to beat them, we just have to break their guard as fast as possible, got it?”
I believe earlier in the chapter you used the Faint Attack spelling.

The only one who hadn’t moved was Tyranitar, who stood silently with an expression somewhere between impatience and disapproval.

Rudy stared blankly at her. “Tyrani—?”

“*That plan would take too long,*” she grumbled.

Then, before Rudy could say anything else, the rock-type broke into a lumbering run, charging straight into the center of the battlefield.

“Wait, get back, you’re just gonna be a target!” he yelled.

But the dinosaur ignored him and kept going. A few Rockets fired on her. Then upon seeing how useless that was, they started ordering their Pokémon into formation. At least, until a huge stone pillar erupted from the ground, right in the middle of that formation, forcing those on either side to back away from the center. Tyranitar didn’t waver—she just kept going, punching her own Stone Edge and shattering it to pieces, driving the Rocket’s Pokémon further to either side to avoid the hail of rocks.
Love Tyranitar just going "That would take too long" and waltzing in there with her bulletproof hide.

The still-standing fighting-types retreated, trading off for line of ghost-types, all firing off bursts of shadowy aura toward the last place they’d seen her.
Think you're missing a word in "trading off for line of ghost-types".

She let out a roar before swinging her tail at the ground, tearing our more chunks of rock to use as ammunition while Latias darted around her, deflecting as many attacks as possible.
*tearing out, presumably.

“*Fine,*” the rock-type growled. “*Worry ‘bout the others.*” She glanced over her shoulder, but she wasn’t looking at us—her gaze was firmly on Latias. The dragon’s eyes were closed, and a healing glow washed over her, mending the blackened patches of skin and feathers. Then she thrust both arms forward and the same glow poured over Tyranitar. The bleeding stopped. Cracks in the armor slowly filled…

Wait—Latias could heal others? Not just herself!

Tyranitar blinked in surprise. Then the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. She let out a roar before swinging her tail at the ground, tearing our more chunks of rock to use as ammunition while Latias darted around her, deflecting as many attacks as possible. How could it have taken us this long to realize that those two were the perfect duo in this situation?
Just a very cool, badass moment.

Trapped. All of them trapped. Aros and Jet had combined their Whirlpool and Sand Tomb into a sprawling quagmire of mud (I’d never taught them how to do that!) and held them there while the Magmas’ fire-types poured flames onto them nonstop.
TQftL ch65 energy

Tabitha hadn’t said where exactly their leader’s office was, but the first turn on the left led to a pair of large, important-looking double doors. This had to be it. I pushed the doors open to reveal a short passage with more magma tubes lining the walls. The floor was almost completely covered in scorch marks. There’d been a battle. Dark masses littered the ground all around, but I couldn’t tell what they—oh geez. I screwed my eyes shut, but couldn’t block out that smell. Charred flesh. I opened my eyes a crack. Honestly couldn’t even tell if they were Rockets or Magmas. My stomach clenched up, and I closed my eyes again until we reached the end of the hall.
t r a u m a :copyka:

Not wasting a second, Chibi leaped forward sent a Thunderbolt right at Raven
Missing a word in here as well.

“I didn’t want to do this. This is your fault,” she hissed, pointing at us. What? What was that supposed to—

A purple Pokéball materialized from the Pokédex’s transfer port. My jaw fell open. A Master Ball. Why did she have a Master Ball? We’d freed Moltres! Who—?!

She opened the ball, unleashing a burst of light. And then my stomach plummeted through the floor when that light formed into a huge, auburn beast. Blank, mindless eyes stared at us from a brightly colored face. Huge blue paws stamped the ground, radiating shimmering waves of heat.

Entei. She had Entei. The three of us had fought our way here, and now we had to fight Entei.
Lovely oh shit moment.

Maxie considered them for some time, then finally sighed and removed his glasses, popping out a multicolored stone that had been embedded in the rim.

“Take this. You’ll need it.” He walked over to Courtney and dropped the stone into her palm. She stared at it in shock, glancing up at him as though asking if he was serious. He nodded. Then she slowly curled her fingers around it, nodding softly in return. I had no idea what that was supposed to be, but it obviously carried a large importance for the two of them.
Hello Mega Stone

“We’re fine,” I replied automatically, even if I could feel exhaustion creeping up on me now that the adrenaline was wearing off. “We’ve got to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to the Blue Orb.”

“It will do no good to rush into a conflict unprepared,” he said firmly. “Take a moment to recover your stamina.”

“Team Rocket is infiltrating the Aqua base right now,” I said exasperatedly.

But Maxie was steadfast. “The Aquas won’t fall to them so easily—they’re more formidable than that.” The corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly. “Trust us—we’d know.”
I mean, sure, but mind-controlled legendaries, you guys.

This was an action-heavy chapter and I think you did a great job on it! Like chapter 38, it didn't feel nearly as long as it is. There's a great sense of strategy on all sides, with the Rockets using a specific tactic to keep up the pressure and prevent them from leaving, and how Tyranitar going in disrupts that, and how they try to counter it but Latias works well with Tyranitar; it all played out clearly and kept it interesting, compared to just having whatever attacks flying around. Really good solid battle writing. I also enjoyed the persistent trauma reminders for Jade as she moves through the base of a group under attack by a Team Rocket squad - people are dead, and none of this is pleasant.

Of course, it all ultimately comes to nothing as Team Rocket gets the orb anyway, using Entei's power to force through what would otherwise have been a loss. Darren's Alakazam true hero, though, pulling off teleporting a legendary multiple times while half-fainted; serious hats off on that, and I think you sell how difficult that is for him, which makes the teleport mechanics feel more real and grounded, too.

All in all, a really solid chapter that I enjoyed a bunch! I hope to return to catch up on reviews sooner than next Blitz, but I'll also be sure to give you thoughts on chapter 53 when it's out.
 

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So, looks like when I was giving written feedback here last, I hit chapters 37 through 47, in a sort of stream of conciousness series of reacts. I'm going to do something a little different this time. Chapters 48 through 52.5, speaking generally about the qualities of the fic and my thoughts on it.

Jade's an adrenaline junkie, and now that I've read Animorphs, that hits different. Don't get me wrong, you sold me on the PTSD girl thing already, but now that I have that stuff to make mental associations with, I can't help but imagine Jade in the future, making important decisions as a traumatised child soldier, the kinds of ways that she might end up "after it's all over". Her flight is achieved through dragon-riding and not through morphing, but I see her practicising her falls and catches and I think of all the insane maneouvres the Andalite Bandits pulled and how if you get away with only scars or less, that doesn't mean you weren't harmed in a lasting way. If you succeed, or even only survive, that's not the same as winning outright. There are costs incurred by this stuff, and some of them are subtle, hard to parse as a problem. But they're there – problems like drowning out your trauma with sheer adrenaline. Jade Arens has seen some shit, and it's fucked her up a bit, is what I'm saying.

I do love the way that Chapter 48 is basically about all the pokémon characters having fucked-up-ness of their own and agency to go with it. Turns out the trauma of being a battle clone can also do things to you, huh. Or the trauma of suddenly realising that war really sucks and not being able to process it and going kinda spare about it. I hope Jade figures out a way to deal with that, since positivity and support aren't really cutting it. Maybe Jet needs a "Marco, cope" moment of her own, I don't know. On a more positive note, I love that Skarmory went his own way to do other things, and the heft that even that small moment has in cementing positive and functional trainer-'mon relations as part of this world.

By contrast, something brighter: I do love the whole unofficial league tourney thing, especially now that I've been to a Worlds myself. I can imagine it all the better now, and I love thinking about the community spirit in this, the way this world is lived in by trainers doing their best and making things work. It's a slice of worldbuilding that does a lot of work given all the chatter that comes out of it.

Of course, not every practically-minded and helpful effort goes appreciated. Jade and Lugia's relationship still has its edges, and Lugia still has their pride, I guess? The pokéball move would be such a sensible precaution, it's a shame it's a no-go for this large grumpy bird. I was so glad to see progress made during the collaboration to learn Ice Beam, though. I enjoyed the verisimilitude and awkwardness of it, and the thrill of this ancient, perhaps complacent deity learning a new goddamn trick. I say "ancient," but this was the point we learned that their age is not timeless. Which, of course, explains their lack of understanding of the chosen pact. And their discomfort. After all, they did not themselves make that pact, one might say. Fascinating, and I am eager to learn the truth behind other peculiarities, too. And to see this partnership develop!

Mewtwo's appearances are as interesting as they are frustrating. The guy is so elusive, goddamn. I tell you, Chibi, sometimes I wish characters in this story would just give each other the full spiel about things. I'm hype as fuck to see where you'll take him in the fic, and I'm confident that I'm right to suspect that he'll be at least nominally heroic, considering that fundamentally, Legendaries as a force for good is something I fully expect you to align with as the fic continues, mind-control victims aside.

It's understandable that he might have other priorities, of course, considering just how insanely powerful Team Rocket is at this point, as we see when their most powerful assets show up to give Jade a terrible time. As always, you write battles brilliantly, and produce top-tier whump of several different kinds, of which the most on-brand for you certainly include injury and fear and disorientation in battle. Especially since you like to make it not only sever, but lasting – this burn was a real rough one to watch play out, goddamn! Never mind the PTSD and such, poor Jade is gonna look like some low fantasy mercenary veteran covered in a tapestry of scars by the time she's old enough to fucking drink, at this rate.

I gotta say, Starr becoming the Chosen of Ho-oh was so fucking good to see. It's been a long goddamn time coming, but she belongs on the fucking hero roster, and while of course I'm hugely pleased that she remains critical of herself and flawed and frustrated and snippy and snarky and all the rest, this is such a wonderful, important moment in her overall arc. I love Starr so much, as you well know, and she deserves little a god-bird patronage, as a treat. I look forward to seeing her exhibit serious Animorphs Rachel-tier competence in battle with the power of the fucking phoenix with her. That, and providing everything else she does to the team, like a healthy measure of pragmatic cynicism and excellent banter. Enough of the protestations, time for Starr to shine! I'm so fucking chuffedd every time I see that art, I swear, but the best moment in all of this development has gotta be Jade not flinching when Starr takes her hand. Bless.

And lastly, that fucking extra. Goddamn, Chibi, but I can't get enough Starr POV. There's so much to love about this, from the way Ho-oh's calmness contrasts with Starr's emotional turbulence, to the way she provokes them in an attempt to get some cathartic disapproval or even disgust from someone, to the whole thing about replacing the scar that marks her as belonging to her vicious past with a new scar, one voluntary and associated with a choice she made without that kind of coercion, a choice she made for good. I love that Ho-oh does it, not because Starr needs to suffer – because redemption isn't about penance and misery goddamnit – but because she can be free of it. I am genuinely emotional about the fucking bird sharing the burden of the burning with her, and their confidence that she will understand, one day, what they see in her. I see so much good in her after everything I've seen of her, I crave for her to see it too.

I know that the chapters to come ought to deal with the rest of the legendary patrons, and with future chosen. Presumably, starting with Darren! I can't wait to see more of them, and how different they'll be, how like people and how like gods. I'm excited to learn what the pact does, and what it's for. And what the ultimate intentions of Team Rocket, and Stalker, and Mewtwo, really are. I'm excited for more battle, more trauma, more communication. I want to see more of these characters, especially the Gorls. I want the rest of this fic, and more of everything I love about it.

Keep writing your wonderful, exceptional, remarkable fic, darling. It's real fuckin' special – as are you.
 
Chapter 53: Storm Clouds

Chibi Pika

Stay positive
Staff
Location
somewhere in spacetime
Pronouns
they/them
Partners
  1. pikachu-chibi
  2. lugia
  3. palkia
  4. lucario-shiny
  5. incineroar-starr
Thanks so much for the reviews, everyone! I'll do my best to reply to them as soon as I can, but for now I've got another chapter ready to go~



~Chapter 53: Storm Clouds~

e2KYv1x.png

I took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”

A cool breeze drifted in through the open window. Lugia’s face hung right outside, but no one outside our little circle would be able to see it. Not with Zoroark standing next to my bed, hiding us within an illusion in case anyone walked in.

Lugia’s eyes flashed blue. An itching, burning sensation swept across my back, like the raw skin was being stretched too far. I gripped the sheets, inhaling through clenched teeth while trying not to visualize the wounds ripping open. Mew hovered closely, drifting around to watch from multiple angles. Her eyes were wide, but her expression didn’t seem horrified. I could only hope that was a good sign, even if it sure didn’t feel like anything good was happening.

After what felt like ages, the pain lifted. I let out my breath, feeling winded even though I hadn’t done anything. A sensation like tingly static hung over my back. I could feel… something, but it was like the exact feeling was getting lost on the way to my brain.

<This is quite remarkable,> Mew said, tapping a paw to her chin. <I’ve never heard of anything like this being possible.>

I turned my neck so that I could look up at her. “Really? What’s so special about it?”

Mew hovered lower so that she was eye level with me. <Well, it’s simple, really. Healing moves accelerate the recipient’s own natural healing, so of course they’ll always be somewhat limited on humans. But this much damage… it was far too much to heal on its own, yes?>

“I guess so, probably,” I mumbled into my pillow.

Ajia clicked her tongue. “Huh. It’s got to be related to the chosen pact, right?”

I could feel Lugia’s eye roll, even if I couldn’t see it.

<That’s the only explanation I can think of,> Mew said. <Of course, I’ve never tried it before…> The hanging implication was obvious—she’d never needed to.

“Well hey, good to know that you could try it if I get myself into trouble,” Ajia said with a wink.

<If I am no longer needed, I am going to leave now,> Lugia said, stepping back from the window and ruffling its feathers. <I will require this one to not be seen by humans.> The seabird gestured to Zoroark, who shrugged and hopped out the window onto Lugia’s neck before the pair vanished from view.

I slowly attempted to stretch my arms out in front of me, still half expecting a sudden, stabbing pain if I moved them wrong. Then I suddenly became aware of just how much my legs ached from the effort of rotating myself to face everyone. I’d barely walked at all for the past two days.

“Can we… walk for a bit?” I asked. “I really need to stretch my legs.”

Ajia grinned. “Sure thing.”

Mew helped me out the window so I could leave without having to pass through the lobby.

Hopefully no one would notice I was gone. Ajia and I walked down the simple trail that led around the ranger station while Mew flitted overhead as a Starly. Each step felt slow and sore, but in a good sort of way, like the movement was helping.

“You’re sure the rangers don’t know what really happened to me, right?” I asked.

“As far as they know, it was a wild Pokémon attack,” Ajia said with a shrug. “No reason for them to think otherwise, yeah?”

I tapped my fingers together. “Well, your one friend already knows about us, so…”

“Who, Kari? Yeah, I guess she chewed me out a little. And my dad was a bit worried and asked me if there was anything he should know, but…” Ajia held her hands up reassuringly when she saw the look on my face. “But I told him I had everything under control—it’ll be fine, trust me.”

There was no way the rangers weren’t going to start asking questions eventually. We kept having to come to them for help, so it was only a matter of time. But I guess that was for Ajia to deal with.

I gingerly attempted to raise my arms over my head. The skin on my shoulders strained, like it couldn’t stretch that far without tearing.

“I hope I’ll be able to fly again soon,” I mumbled. It was hard to imagine flying in this state—one hard turn and I’d probably tear open all the fresh skin. And forget trying to throw a Pokéball with any force at all.

Ajia gave me a crooked smile. “You should probably take it easy for a while, yeah?”

I wanted that, I really did. But the Rockets wouldn’t be taking it easy, so how could I?

“I just don’t want to be out of commission too long, especially not with what’s coming.”

Ajia had told me about their recon mission the night that Lugia and I had been attacked. How they’d followed the Rocket trucks shipping supplies all the way to their destination—Indigo.

It all kept coming back to Indigo. Moltres’s attack. Mewtwo’s scouting. And now the Rockets’ shipment. Heck, that probably meant that the attack last month was partly to have an excuse to do construction in the area without looking suspicious.

I took a deep breath. “Okay, be honest. Do you think the Rockets could be planning their final takeover soon?”

Ajia folded her arms behind her head and hummed. “They’ve got Rayquaza now. They could definitely try. But then again, getting Rayquaza was mostly to regain the ground they lost when Mewtwo was freed. So it’s like… what have they been waiting for, you know?”

I exhaled slowly. Yeah, that was about the response I’d been expecting. Just a big pile of unknowns. But Mewtwo had said that the Rockets were targeting our leadership, and now they were building a base in Indigo, and he’d been spotted there repeatedly, and it had to all be connected.

“Have you gotten a chance to scope things out near the base yet?” I asked.

“Wellll, Zoroark and I did have a little peek around the shipping entrance. But aside from the supplies they unloaded, the place was pretty much empty. No one was stationed there besides a few security guards. It sure didn’t look like a base.”

“Maybe we could steal some supplies?” I asked tentatively.

“I don’t know if I’d go that far. It could be a trap.”

Right, yeah. That was an obvious concern.

Next shipment, though…” Ajia went on, eyes shining, “there’s a spot along their route between Cerulean and Pewter that’s pretty isolated. We could mount an ambush.”

I dared to let my hopes rise a little bit. We actually had the chance to catch them off-guard for once. I just wasn’t sure whether to hope that I’d be feeling up to taking part, or hope that I wouldn’t be. I didn’t want to sit back while others risked themselves, but…

“Well, I hope I’m back to 100% by then,” I said vaguely.

“It’s fine if you’re not,” Ajia said, even though it wasn’t.

I didn’t say anything. My head was buzzing with the same sting from back when I’d been taken off missions on the Rebellion after the… incident. It was what I’d needed, both then and now. So why did it hurt?

My brain generated the image of flying into danger again, same as I had so many times. Except this time all I could see were flames. The flames that consumed Midnight Stadium and incinerated the fleeing rebels. The flames that had nearly killed me. And now every time I moved wrong or breathed too deeply I could feel the shadow of that heat.

There was a question in my head. One that I’d wanted to ask her for a long time. I just didn’t know how.

“Did things ever… go wrong for you?” I asked, tightening my grip on my left arm. “I mean, like… really really wrong? I know it sucked when the commander left and the resistance fell apart, I’m not trying to act like it didn’t, but…”

I wasn’t sure what I was asking for. Something horrible? Something that had stuck with her, and held tight, and might never really let go? Why was I asking for something like that? I didn’t want that sort of thing for my friend. I really didn’t. I just…

I dropped my gaze to the ground, shuffling a foot against the dirt. “That was a stupid thing to ask, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, I think I get it,” Ajia said, putting a hand on my shoulder. Carefully, avoiding the burn. She paused for a bit, mulling something over. Then she said, “It was pretty early on. We got wind of some stolen Pokémon in Goldenrod, so I tried sneaking in.”

I’d heard this one before. It was all very cool-sounding. Infiltrating the warehouse, stealing assets. A lot like the time the rebels stole Pokémon from Celadon base.

Ajia shook her head with a distant smile. “I got cocky. We could’ve left at the time I was told there’d be no guards. Buut I just had to try breaking into a higher-security room, and of course someone noticed.

“Pichu ran off to cause a distraction before I could tell her not to. And I couldn’t go after her because a squad of Rockets arrived to search the room, before I could get out. I thought they’d leave after giving the all clear, but they didn’t, so I had to just… sit there, wedged behind a desk, for hours. Not knowing if Pichu had been captured, or killed, or what, and knowing that it was all my fault.”

That was… a lot less fun and cool than she’d normally made it sound.

Ajia paused heavily, like she was debating her next words. “There’s also the time that I was caught. By Starr.”

My breath caught in my chest. I’d known it had happened, of course, but neither of them ever talked about it.

“All that stuff she said, back when we confronted her in Viridian? Well, it wasn’t wrong—I kept going out of my way to cause problems for her. I was so sure that if I just made things difficult and gave her an out, she’d leave them.” She closed her eyes with an ironic chuckle. “I guess you already know how naive that was. Z pulled a quick trick that let us get away, but the boss must have punished her after that, because… well, the next time we met, she wouldn’t even talk to me. Went straight for the attack.” She winced, still smiling, but with a bit of pain under the surface.

“I always thought that if I’d just said the right things, I could have gotten through to her. But there was never an opportunity until you called me last year. My first thought was that maybe, now that it was the both of us, we’d be able to make it work.” So that was why she’d been so gung-ho about it, when I’d asked for help.

I was silent. The only sound was the birdsong from the trees. Starly-Mew had perched on a wooden fence post, preening her wing.

Ajia gave a light grin, and her normal air was back. “So, we like to joke about the old days. It makes it easier.”

Right, yeah. That made sense. I still wasn’t sure what I’d been hoping to hear, but… her words had helped.

I exhaled long and slow. “Thanks.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On my third day in the medical ward, a bewildered nurse gave me the all clear to leave. The working theory was that some uncommonly gifted Chansey or Audino must have been responsible for my recovery, but none of the healers in the Ranger Union had claimed responsibility, for obvious reasons. So, to them, it would remain a mystery.

I was glad to be out, even if it wasn’t like I’d been isolated or anything. The window had been kept open, both for fresh air and to give my team a way to visit without having to barge through the ranger base. Swift had left frequent treats on the windowsill; Firestorm had noticed this and tried to one-up him by delivering giant to-go boxes of food until I told him it was a bit much.

I wasn’t sure if he blamed himself for what happened. He said he didn’t, but I still wondered.

I stepped outside the Ranger HQ and felt the cool breeze carrying the scent of the trees. It would be autumn soon, which meant that in another month or so, it’d be the anniversary of the Rebellion’s end. Now there was a thought that was getting shoved back under the rug.

My hands gripped the wooden railing as I carefully navigated the stairs, Darren sharing the latest League gossip as he walked with me. Firestorm followed behind us, carrying all of my stuff in his arms, occasionally having to lift it higher to keep out of Weavile’s reach.

“—so then Rudy started drilling everyone on U-Turn because he’s worried about getting trapped like that,” Darren went on. “Even though I’m pretty sure Glen is the only one in the top eight who specializes in trapping. And I mean, come on—Houndoom and Tyranitar versus Gengar? They’d be better off just putting their time into practicing dodging Focus Blast, y’know?”

I rubbed the back of my head. “Does anyone on his team know it?”

“Nah, but Alakazam does. We offered to spar, but Rudy’s fixated on figuring this one out on his own, so…”—Darren shrugged—“his loss.”

I stared. “You don’t really think he’s gonna lose…?”

Darren snorted. “Nah, his team totally counters Glen’s. What he actually needs to worry about is that Mamoswine…”

And so it went. It was nice to chat about something with lower stakes than everything else. Not that I’d ever describe the League that way to Rudy.

“I still can’t believe the finals are only eight days away,” I said with a heavy sigh. There’d been so much else going on, I’d lost track of the days.

Darren hummed. “Assuming nothing goes wrong this time.”

I let out a snort. “Don’t jinx it. I’m pretty sure Rudy would lose it if something interrupted the League again.” Something about the way he’d said it made me suspect that he was expecting it. That wasn’t exactly something I wanted to think about, though.

“Anyway, now that you’re out, we should crash one of Rudy’s training sessions,” Darren said matter-of-factly. “He’ll have a harder time refusing when it’s both of us.”

I chuckled. “Sounds good. But man, it feels like I’ve missed so much. Not just with the League, but… everything.” I turned to Firestorm. “And you guys—I haven’t been training any of you.”

Firestorm let out a huff. “*We’ve been training without you. Swift’s almost got the hang of Heat Wave. You should come see. You’ll be able to join us for training now, right?*”

I smiled weakly. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to fly with you just yet.”

“*Not that type of training. Just for fun.*”

Right, yeah. Training, for normal battles. Not everything had to revolve around Rocket stuff. Plus, if we met up with Rudy and his team, we’d get to see Jet. Even if I wasn’t sure she wanted to see me.

“Hey, nerds,” a voice said.

I glanced up to see Starr leaning against a lamppost in the parking lot in front of the Ranger HQ, arms folded.

“They finally let you out?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Cool, let’s go grab food with Ajia. Real food, not snacks,” she added before Firestorm could hold up the bag with the sweet breads and mini cakes.

And, well… I couldn’t deny that I was hungry. So I told Darren and Firestorm I’d catch up with them later, and the two of us headed into town. Using Starr’s almost supernatural ability to find the best food around, we located a tiny ramen shop in the corner of a shopping center.

It wasn’t too busy now that the training high season was over. Doubly so for a touristy area so close to Indigo. Ajia was already inside, seated at a booth with Pichu on the table munching some dumplings. We placed our orders, and I found a few minutes’ welcome distraction listening to Starr and Ajia rank the Johto gym leaders, with Starr feigning outrage at all of Ajia’s picks. They kept it up after our food arrived while I buried my face in ramen. Something about eating in an actual restaurant made the food ten times more satisfying than poking at takeout in the medical ward while feeling sorry for myself.

“Feeling better?” Ajia asked with a smile that made me realize just how much tension had left me.

“A lot,” I replied between draining half of my bowl.

Ajia glanced around. There was no one else near us. Then she gave Starr a knowing look and asked, “Soo have you gotten to talk with Ho-oh?”

Starr rolled her eyes. “Only as much as necessary.”

“Aw, come on, you two are partners now!” Ajia said, putting her hands together. “You should get to know each other.”

Starr scoffed and said, “How about ‘work colleagues.’ That ought to be good enough.” Ajia laughed and elbowed her.

As much as I hadn’t wanted to at first, even I had to admit that things felt less awkward now that I’d talked more with Lugia. I still didn’t feel up to asking it about Viridian, but… at least things weren’t so tense between us anymore.

“It’s not all serious business, you know,” Ajia went on. “It’s really important to be able to work together. And Mew and I have gotten to have so many adventures. We’ve visited islands, mountains, cities, and—”

“Well, I’ll be sure to ask Ho-oh if it wants to go to the amusement park,” Starr replied with a snide grin.

“You should at least go flying together,” I piped up.

Starr gave me a look of disgust. “Ugh, no way, once was enough.”

“It’s useful, though,” I replied defensively.

“I’ve gotten by just fine with beating the crap out of enemies on the ground, thank you very much,” Starr said through a mouthful of noodles. “Not like you with your three flying-types.”

I rubbed my arm. “Technically, there’s just two of them.”

“What?” She counted them on her fingers. “Oh god dammit, Flygon. It flies, it’s in the name, that’s good enough.”

I couldn’t help laughing. It still hurt to laugh, but in a good sort of way. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed this. And I probably wasn’t the only one, what with Starr having just been chosen, and Ajia keeping tabs on a million different things with Mew.

Speaking of which… Ajia’s reply to Starr’s most recent jab at her tastes was definitely the sort of vague “uh huh” you’d expect from someone distracted by psychic conversation.

Starr snapped her fingers in front of Ajia’s face. “Hey, you awake? I was trying to say that anyone who’d rank Falkner so high can’t possibly have their head on straight.”

Ajia blinked at her as though coming out of a daze. “Right, right, sorry,” she said sheepishly. She glanced back and forth between us, putting her fingers together. “Hey so… now might be a bad time, but…”

“Let me take a wild guess,” Starr cut in, resting an elbow on the table. “Mew has more bad news?”

Ajia smiled weakly.

Starr gave her a deadpan stare. “No. I don’t care if the cabin is on fire, I want to have one meal in peace.”

I rubbed the back of my head. “I… kind of care if the cabin’s on fire.”

Ajia sighed. “Let me just…”

She retreated to the bathroom, most likely so that Mew could teleport her discreetly.

After watching her go, Starr leaned back in her seat with a heavy scoff. “Every day with the bullshit, I swear it never ends. I was hoping there’d be at least some break.”

I poked at my noodles vaguely, just for the sake of having something to do. “I mean, I’m kind of curious about it.”

Starr just rolled her eyes at that. Pichu was still chewing through a plate of fried tofu, seemingly oblivious to any concerns. I wished I could be like that.

Before long, Ajia was back. “Hey, sooo, we should probably…”

Starr groaned. “You don’t have to say it.” She shoved several large bites of noodles into her mouth before standing up from the booth, making sure to keep the disapproval plainly visible on her face.

I hesitantly stood up and followed after her, equal parts anxious and bewildered. What exactly was waiting back at the cabin? It was obviously something concerning, but not so concerning as to be cause for emergency? I wasn’t sure what to make of that. My brain kept trying to imagine something dire, like when we’d gotten the news about Viridian, but…

Not much time to wonder. We’d already paid for our food, so Ajia led all three of us outside, and Mew teleported us away. Our surroundings melted into forest, with a gray sky overhead. Cool air suddenly swept over me, and a harsh voice came into focus.

“—the same thing when I spoke to you last month, and the answer hasn’t changed.”

It was a weird scene. Lugia and Ho-oh standing near the cabin, both looking somewhat incredulous. And there, in the center of the clearing, staring up at them, was—

“Suicune,” I gasped.

The beast turned at the mention of its name, narrowing its eyes at us. I avoided eye contact, but couldn’t help stealing a moment’s glance once it had turned away. That glimmering crystal and rippling mane and ribbon-like tails. The very picture of graceful elegance. Last seen tearing through Viridian, knocking cars aside with blades of wind.

I swallowed hard and looked away. Lugia met eyes with me, and I felt a weird sense of… embarrassment? What had they been talking about?

“Is this just gonna be the official Legendary headquarters?” Starr grumbled, throwing her arms in the air. “You guys wanna put up a neon sign that says, ‘Rockets come here’?”

“I did not come here to speak with humans,” Suicune said, tossing its head.

Starr let out a scoff. “Yeah, well, you sure picked a weird place to show up if you didn’t.”

The beast did a double take. “Excuse me?” it asked, approaching her. “What makes you think that you can—”

“I would ask that you not threaten my chosen,” Ho-oh said calmly, stepping forward.

Suicune squinted up at the phoenix in confusion before a look of realization dawned. “So it’s true,” it said, glancing around at the others. “You all have resorted to consorting with humans.”

Mew tilted her head. <That wasn’t a secret. We’ve spoken about following the chosen pact for some time now.>

“I’m curious how we are meant to locate chosen candidates without consorting with humans,” Ho-oh added. “Would you have us select one from the masses, knowing nothing about them?” Its voice held a twinge of amusement.

Suicune gave Lugia a look. “I didn’t think you put any stock in things like that.”

Lugia avoided the beast’s eye. <I stand by my decision,> it said vaguely.

Mew drifted forward, tail curled around herself. <I’ve been hoping to speak with you about the chosen pact. I know you have concerns, but since we last spoke, three more—>

“We didn’t come here to talk about that,” Suicune cut in bluntly.

<We?>

The beast glanced over its shoulder impatiently. “Are you going to hide back there all day?” it called out. “You were the one who insisted that we speak with Mew.”

What? Who was it talking to?

Footsteps. Talons crunching dried grass and gravel. A golden thunderbird slowly emerged from the trees, glancing around pensively in a way that didn’t quite fit someone so imposing.

<Zapdos!> Mew exclaimed, flying over. <It’s been so long, I… I was worried.>

Zapdos nodded distantly, eyes trained on the ground.

Mew clapped her paws together. <Oh, but Moltres! They’ll want to see you! I must tell them you’re here.>

Zapdos opened its beak, but Mew was already gone. The thunderbird stared at where she’d left with a pained look on its face. Almost like… it didn’t want to?

Ho-oh let out a sigh. “I suspect this is going to be difficult.”

I had no idea what to make of that. We hadn’t seen Zapdos or Suicune all this time, and I’d always just assumed there had to be a good reason for it. Having the both of them show up now, without any warning… It felt bizarre. I mean, we really could have used their help on more than one occasion.

Mew reappeared with a flash, and she wasn’t alone. Moltres took one look at the scene and froze, staring with its beak hanging open. “So, you’re really here?”

Zapdos glanced away sheepishly. Moltres’s eyes were wide with… relief? But then it squinted, flames crackling. “Why is this the first I’ve seen of you since I was freed? It has been nearly a month.”

Zapdos closed its eyes. “I’m sorry.”

The firebird blinked incredulously, like it had been expecting more than that. “I was not looking for an apology. I was looking to know why. Why were you not a part of this group’s efforts? What have you been doing?”

Zapdos shuffled a talon against the dirt awkwardly. “I have… been avoiding the humans,” it said in a low voice.

Moltres scrutinized the thunderbird with a skeptical look. “So, you have been hiding?” it said finally.

Zapdos nodded softly.

The silence was tangible. No one seemed to know how to react to that. I couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy. Zapdos obviously didn’t want to be here, and now it had to endure all these judging looks.

Mew’s ears flattened. <It must have been painful, when Articuno and Moltres were taken. But you didn’t need to face it alone. I could have—>

“Helped?” Suicune finished, glowering at Mew. “You wanted Zapdos to forget. To forget about the pain that the humans caused, and keep their focus on your goal of making peace. Typical. Passive. Forbid us from taking action but refuse to do anything yourself.”

Moltres raised its brow. “And what has your rhetoric achieved? A year of wallowing in misery?”

Zapdos flinched. Suicune tossed its head indignantly. “Regardless. I thought it fair that you should know—both of us were approached by Mewtwo.”

“Mewtwo?” Moltres asked incredulously.

“He asked us to join him in putting a stop to the human threat.” Suicune went on. “I’m still undecided on what I think of him.”

“It seemed best to discuss it first,” Zapdos added.

Mew drifted around, looking up in thought. <Mewtwo approached us as well, but… he didn’t say he’d been trying to recruit anyone else.>

“Obviously he had his reasons,” Suicune said dismissively. “I can’t say I’m not considering it.”

“Yes, well, that’s not surprising given your actions last year,” Ho-oh said dryly.

Suicune’s nostrils flared, but it didn’t bother responding to the phoenix. Rather, it turned to Mew expectantly and asked, “What do you have to say?”

Mew tilted her head. <Hm?>

“Your reasoning. Why we shouldn’t join Mewtwo.”

<I wasn’t aware that’s what this was about,> Mew said, puzzled. <Did he tell you what he was planning?>

Suicune glanced away. “Who’s to say,” it said, impassive.

<We need to know,> Mew said, suddenly in Suicune’s face. <If he’s planning another incident like what happened in Viridian—>

“We tried to strike a blow against the enemy,” Suicune cut in, taking a step back. “And you would blame us for that?” It glanced around hopefully, like it was expecting someone to take its side. But no one came forward.

“I made my opinion quite clear that night, I believe,” Ho-oh said, unusually cold. My mind flashed back to that image of Lugia and Ho-oh locked in combat in the night sky.

Suicune narrowed its eyes. “You speak as though I was alone.” It snapped its gaze to Lugia suddenly.

The clearing went silent, all eyes on my patron. Twinges of awkward shame drifted from its mind.

Finally, Lugia looked away. <I… we had decided that taking action was better than waiting for them to come after us.> The legend paused for a few seconds, then added, <It may not have been the best decision. It was unnecessarily risky.>

Suicune took a step back. “So now even you?” It stared up at Lugia imploringly, but the seabird still wouldn’t meet its eye.

The beast glanced among all the legends. “None of you are willing to fight for our right to live as we please?” it said, and this time there was an edge of something else in its voice. Pleading?

<We have been fighting,> Mew said gently, holding both paws out. <We’ll be stronger together.>

Suicune stepped back again, shaking its head. “All you care about is the chosen pact. Entei and Raikou were taken, and I was left with no one. You saved Moltres but not Articuno. I expect you’ll save Raikou and expect me to be grateful, understanding that saving Entei is too much to ask.” It glanced over its shoulder. “Zapdos was the only one who knew what it was like. Everyone else just had empty sympathy.”

<I want to save everyone in then end,> Mew insisted. <But we may need the chosen pact to even be able to help the others.> She paused, closing her eyes. <And we need you.>

Suicune let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “So good to know that I’m one of the chosen few, that I’m necessary. I didn’t ask to be. I didn’t ask for my worth to hinge on a human.”

Mew drifted closer, her face only a few inches from Suicune’s. <Protecting the world means protecting all parts of it. Including humans.>

Suicune wouldn’t meet her eye. “Unyielding as ever… It’s no wonder Mewtwo wouldn’t speak of his aims.” Its voice didn’t hold nearly as much conviction as before, though.

Zapdos shook its head. “Perhaps I should go. It was unwise to come here.” Without warning, the thunderbird spread its wings and took off.

Moltres jolted, its flames flickering with agitation. “Wait! Perhaps I was too harsh. I just…”

Zapdos kept flying, soaring over the trees and out of sight. Moltres spread its wings to take off, but then—

A narrow spurt of bubbles shot through the air and hit Moltres on the wing in a plume of steam. The phoenix jumped backward, affronted.

“Leave them be!” Suicune snapped. “They don’t have to if they don’t want to.”

Moltres glowered at the beast, but then turned and spread its wings again. Another Bubblebeam, larger this time, but Moltres ignored it, taking to the air and soaring after Zapdos.

Lugia gave Suicune a tired look. <Why are you like this?>

“You are the one who has lost all spine,” the beast spat.

I didn’t want to be a part of any of this, and I somehow didn’t think that it would be helpful to stand here watching this disagreement. Part of me wished that Starr and I could have just stayed back at the restaurant and had Mew catch us up later.

Whatever, I was pretty sure that no one would notice if I left, and I was right. I ducked around the side of the cabin and let out a huge breath as I leaned a shoulder against the wall. Unsurprisingly, Starr joined me.

“Well, that was a friggin’ disaster,” Starr said, stretching her arms above her head. “They’re supposed to all be united against the Rockets? What a joke.”

I rubbed my arm. “Understanding the other legends better will be helpful, I think. Even if they’re… like that.”

Starr snorted. “Yeah, well, Mew’s got her work cut out for her if she wants those two to work with us.”

It had been easy to feel like we were making progress after Starr was chosen. Four down, three to go. Of course it couldn’t be that simple. Not with one of the three captured and the other two avoiding Mew for various reasons.

I winced as paws suddenly gripped my shoulder. Chibi, leaping up to his usual perch—it was just close enough to the new skin that it stung.

“*We’re following them,*” he said sharply.

I hadn’t even realized he was here. But of course he must have been watching the whole thing. He didn’t even have to elaborate. I knew what he wanted.

<Did you see where Zapdos went?> I asked Lugia.

<They didn’t fly far,> Lugia replied privately. <I suppose they probably still want to speak to the others, but aren’t sure how.>

<Can you take us there? Chibi wants to talk to Zapdos.>

<The half-legend?> Lugia paused, thinking. <I suppose that makes sense. Very well, come with me.>

Lugia gladly excused itself from the discussion and came around the back of the cabin to get us. We soared low over the forest, Lugia’s very presence creating winds that whipped the trees about in our path. I kept my eyes on the ground, searching…

There, ahead of us, in a gap between the trees—a flash of yellow. Lugia flared its wings and we zeroed in on it.

Moltres was just leaving; the firebird gave us a sideways look as we passed. Lugia landed in the clearing, and Zapdos looked up with a weary expression.

“I came here to get away from the others,” it said tiredly.

<I’m not staying,> Lugia replied tersely.

I slid down from the seabird’s back, and it spread its wings to take off again. Zapdos watched it leave, then looked down at me with a puzzled look. It had prepared itself to be harassed by more legends, but here I was, just a human. And also…

Chibi hopped down from my shoulder and padded over to Zapdos, slowing as he approached. The thunderbird stared down its pointed beak at him, tilting its head ever so slightly with intrigue.

“*Do you know what I am?*” Chibi asked, leaping onto a rock so that he could stand at least a little taller.

Zapdos still towered over the hybrid, regarding him carefully. “*You are the half-legend.*”

Chibi’s ears lowered slightly. He must have been expecting something more than that.

“And,” the legend went on, “you were also born of my essence. You hold my strength.”

The Pikachu relaxed slightly at that, though the clearing still held an air of awkward tension.

“*I’ve been hoping to see you for a long time,*” he said finally.

Zapdos let out a weary sigh. “Yes, I imagine you have wondered like the others why I have been shirking my duty.”

Chibi furrowed his brow, confused. “*That’s not it.*”

The thunderbird paused, taken aback. “That was an unfair assumption. You must have many questions for me, being the one born from my strength.” It gave an awkward chuckle. “This is rather new for me. I suppose it would be new for anyone other than Mew.”

Chibi’s eyes were steely. “*I don’t know what I should be. I don’t know what to do with your strength. I’ve been fighting the Rockets all my life. First for my freedom. Then for revenge. And now…*”

Zapdos gazed at him carefully. “Revenge?”

Chibi’s paws clenched. His ears quivered. “*They took someone from me. Someone important.*”

Zapdos didn’t say anything for some time. It gazed down at him with a look of growing understanding. “They took someone important to me too. But I suspect that you speak of something more permanent.”

Chibi looked down, nodding softly. That night on Midnight Island that we’d never forget.

Zapdos dug a talon into the earth pensively. “Who did you lose?”

“*I called him Razors.*”

“You fight for him, then?”

Chibi glanced away. “*He was tired of fighting. He wanted to live a quiet life. I called him a coward for it.*”

The silence was thick. Chibi’s paws clenched, tail trembling ever so slightly.

Zapdos let out a long sigh. “After my siblings were taken, I allowed myself to be consumed by rage and hatred, and took many human lives. Perhaps they deserved it, but I have no way of knowing.” The thunderbird paused, staring up into the gray sky. “I was afraid of what I had become, and so I retreated from the fight. I abandoned my duty, and I abandoned Mew.” It glanced back at Chibi, suddenly wistful. “The idea of a quiet life, free from the fight… it sounds nice.”

A soft breeze stirred the trees, ruffling the pointed feathers on both of them.

“You must think very little of me now,” Zapdos said quietly.

Chibi stared up at the thunderbird, perplexed. “*Why would I?*”

Zapdos turned away, taking a few delicate steps through the clearing’s dried grass. “Well, I can’t imagine I’ve lived up to whatever you imagined of me. If there’s a correct way to use the strength of a legend, I’ve hardly done so.”

Chibi’s ears flattened, and he stared downward, looking troubled. “*You don’t need to. It’s different for the legends.*”

Zapdos glanced back at him. “Is it?”

“*The Rockets used me to find a way to imprison all of you,*” Chibi muttered, his fur bristling. “*My entire existence hurts you.*”

Zapdos let out a low, ironic chuckle, waving a wing dismissively. “I’d hardly say we’re so important that our troubles should be elevated so high. But… ah, that’s selfish of me to say. If they use our power, countless others will be harmed. Not just us.” The thunderbird steeled itself. “If you want to protect others, do it for that, not to make up for what your existence did to us. We’re hardly worth that.”

Chibi gazed up at the legend, flickers of doubt and confusion crossing his face. “*I still don’t know what I should be doing with this power.*”

Zapdos fixed him with a laser focus, and for once it was so easy to see the similarity in their eyes. “Do not make the mistake of thinking that any of us truly understands what it means to be Legendary. We’ve had more time to figure it out than you have, but…” Its voice trailed off.

“We’re all just… trying to protect the world,” the legend said quietly. “Sometimes it’s not enough, but it’s all we can do. And… I have not been trying hard enough. In my grief, and my regret, I allowed myself to grow complacent with inaction. Perhaps Suicune is right.”

Zapdos let out a heavy sigh. “I need some time.” Its eyes drifted to me. “Please tell Mew that I’ll speak with her again. When I’m ready.”

I nodded.

Zapdos looked down at Chibi one last time. “And please live for yourself. That is my wish.”

Chibi stared at the thunderbird for a few moments before giving a slow nod and rejoining me without a word.

We walked off into the trees. Chibi sat on my shoulder, pensive. I could have called for Lugia to take us back to the cabin, but not yet. Right now, it was just us.

“*I always thought the Legendaries were above the rest of us,*” he said in a low voice.

I smiled weakly. “It’s pretty easy to feel like that.” I’d felt that way for the longest time. Only just recently had I started to see otherwise.

“*I thought that I had to live up to them,*” he went on. “*That I had to make up for my existence. Then I tried to figure out how to live for myself. Because it was what he would’ve wanted.*” His paws clenched my shirt. “*But I don’t know what that means.*”

I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but I found myself lifting my arm and laying a hand on the fur of his back.

He looked up at me, relaxing. “*I suppose it’s fine if I haven’t figured myself out yet. Neither have they.*”






~End Chapter 53~

Next chapter: Diplomacy
 

Negrek

Play the Rain
Staff
More legendary politics! Mew really hasn't been making a lot of friends with her methods. No doubt Mewtwo's message sounds particularly alluring to those legends who've been directly harmed by humans and who want nothing to do with any ancient prophecies. It's fun that we have these sorts of internicine conflicts splitting not only the legendary side but the Rocket one as well. I feel like it usually goes that the "good guys" are divided against one another and squabbling while the bad guys cheerfully build more rocket launchers, but no, actually, the Rockets have been hampered by power struggles and infighting at least as much as the legends thus far.

I also particularly enjoyed the detail that Lugia admits that the Viridian attack was "reckless"--true, and enough of a condemnation that Suicune's offended, but still a ways off from "actually it was maybe a little on the murdery side," you know?

It was fun to see Chibi finally meet up with Zapdos, too! And, naturally, that meeting was neither as magical or enlightening as he might have hoped. When you meet your legendary progenitor and it turns out they're the legend with low self-esteem, ouch. Although in some ways it's good that he ended up being related to a legend who's a bit more honest about their place in the world, as opposed to one that might be more inclined to talk themselves up, or really believe in some kind of legendary superiority. At least Chibi's takeaway from the encounter was positive; perhaps he didn't get a lot of direction from Zapdos, but at least he got something like permission to seek it for himself and reassurance that he isn't some kind of failure or burden.

It does seem a little odd to me that Chibi didn't say or do anything during the initial encounter with Zapdos, or that Jade didn't think of him and at least take a quick look around to see if he was there.

It sounds as though gears are turning in the background here, and we might be moving out of this period of (relative) calm... I'm curious what makes Darren seem to think the new League's going to fall victim to another disaster, but I wouldn't exactly be surprised, myself. If the next chapter's "Diplomacy," then it doesn't sound like a league-goes-down-in-flames sort of chapter, but soon! Feels like it's got to be soon. Looking forward to it!

Buut I just had to try
Büt

That was… a lot less fun and cool than she’d normally made it sound.
Just "she normally," I think.

Now there was a thought that was getting shoved back under the rug.
Oho, Jade will shove it under the rug, and I'll put a pin in it instead.

Ajia was already inside, seated at a booth with Pichu on the table munching some dumplings.
Is Pichu munching the dumplings, or Ajia?

“He asked us to join him in putting a stop to the human threat.” Suicune went on.
Comma after "threat."

Lugia gave Suicune a tired look. <Why are you like this?>
loooool

Zapdos watched it leave, then looked down at me with a puzzled look.
Could maybe get rid of one of these "looks."

The thunderbird stared down its pointed beak at him, tilting its head ever so slightly with intrigue.
"Intrigue" is a scheme, plot, plan, etc. You could replace it here with something like "curiosity," or change it to "ever so slightly, intrigued," since it does mean "to interest" in the verb form.
 
Chapter 54: Diplomacy

Chibi Pika

Stay positive
Staff
Location
somewhere in spacetime
Pronouns
they/them
Partners
  1. pikachu-chibi
  2. lugia
  3. palkia
  4. lucario-shiny
  5. incineroar-starr
Two months, not too bad, all things considered! And Chapter 55 should be coming before too long as well. We're really getting into the thick of things now. As always, many thanks to Free and Jackie for beta reading~



~Chapter 54: Diplomacy~

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Air rushed past, streaming through my hair, my sleeves. My eyes watered, squinting at the trees below, my hands clutching at feathers. Our flight path was perfectly level, the way ahead clear. So far so good. I squeezed gently with my thighs and Swift banked into a smooth, gradual turn. I leaned into it like I always would, keeping my head low and my shoulders tensed and…

A sudden jolt of white-hot pain lanced across my back. My hands relaxed just for a second, grip loosening—I felt my balance suddenly shift sideways, and—!

Swift tilted himself abruptly the other way and I fell flat on his back, heart pounding. He glanced back at me with concern, but before he could offer to call off the practice, I said, “Let’s try that one again.”

He obliged, first waiting for me to ready myself, then tilting his wings and turning left in a wide arc. I kept my arms loose, my body almost completely flat against him, now very aware of each muscle in my back making the tiny adjustments needed to keep balance. It all felt foreign, detached, like there was a degree of separation between my body and brain.

I nudged Swift again to say ‘another one,’ and he banked into another turn, sharper this time. I leaned into it, trying to stay in that sweet spot to avoid straining anything. But my torso was sliding too far to the left, and I had to tighten my shoulders, and a flare of buzzing static tore across my back. Swift evened our flight and I sank against him, breathing hard.

“It still hurts,” I gasped out, clutching his feathers tightly. But I couldn’t just sit things out today. We couldn’t afford that.

“*If it hurts, we should stop,*” Swift said, gently drifting toward the ground.

I swallowed. “Well, if all goes well, I shouldn’t even need to ride any of you today.” This just confirmed what we already knew—that I was better off with the ground squad than the air squad. And yet, it still stung.

Swift flared his wings to slow our flight, and we touched down next to the rest of the team. Firestorm and Stygian were doing a few basic block-parry drills with Metal Claw and Night Slash while Aros hurled small rocks into the air for Chibi’s target practice.

“Everyone ready?” I asked the team. My eyes lingered on Jet, who was sitting off to the side, yawning widely.

It had been two weeks since she’d trained with the rest of the team. And while she’d been sparring constantly with Rudy’s team that whole time, that was almost definitely singles training, not the chaotic multi-battling that we’d learned on the Rebellion.

The Floatzel noticed I was staring at her and gave me a look, so I’d have to say something.

“You’re sure that you’re up for this? Been practicing your Prote—”

“*Yeah, yeah, o’ course,*” she cut in, scratching behind her ear.

I wasn’t sure if I believed her. Part of me wanted to remind her what had happened to Skarmory—what had happened to her—during the last mission. But that seemed too harsh. So I just said, “That’s good,” and wandered over to where Ajia was standing next to Lugia.

She glanced at me as I approached, eyes lighting up. “Hey, check it out, I think we’ve just about got it,” she said proudly, gesturing to the legend.

I glanced up at Lugia and nodded. “Looks pretty good. Although…”—I tilted my head at the seabird’s stoic air—“the expression isn’t quite right.”

‘Lugia’ frowned. The towering legend swept its wings forward to send a rush of wind at my face, and I closed my eyes reflexively. But of course, it was fake—my hair didn’t move at all.

“I don’t think anyone but me would notice, though!” I added quickly.

Zoroark folded his illusory wings and gave a self-satisfied nod.

“Oughta fool the Rockets at least,” Ajia added with a grin. “This way the two of us can fly with Aerodactyl and no one would even see me.” And if they tried to fire on “Lugia” they’d be in for a surprise.

The mission was a two-pronged attack. While Ajia and Mew led the air squad to intercept the Rockets’ supply shipment, the rest of us on the ground would be investigating that new warehouse in Indigo. To figure out what the Rockets were doing there, and if it really was ‘just’ a warehouse, or something more involved than that.

Rudy was still clearing things with his team, hyping Fearow up along with Ebony and Breloom. Tyranitar sat off to the side, eyes half-lidded—it was pretty unlikely that she’d see any action today given how Rudy was going with the air squad. Darren was running teleport drills with Alakazam while Weavile tried in vain to hit them with Icy Wind, only to come up several seconds short each time.

“*Quit goin’ so fast!*” the dark-type hissed, panting hard with bits of frost clinging to her fangs.

“*That would defeat the point,*” Alakazam replied flatly.

The next time they vanished, he and Darren reappeared at my side. Ebony promptly bounded over and gave each of us a lick as Rudy wandered in our direction with his hands in his pockets.

“Sucks that we’re not on the same squad for this,” he mumbled.

“I can’t fly that well,” I said lamely, holding both hands up.

“And, uh, I don’t have a flier on my team anymore,” Darren added, rubbing the back of his head.

Rudy paused to think, idly kicking at the grass. “You could go with Fearow like we did in Hoenn,” he said, gesturing to the bird.

“Wouldn’t you have to fly with Moltres, then?” Darren pointed out.

A flicker of realization crossed Rudy’s face. “Maybe.”

Darren raised an eyebrow. “Soo, I take it you’re cool with the League seeing you riding Moltres? No issues with that?”

“Alright, fine, stay on the boring mission then,” Rudy grumbled, folding his arms.

“Look at it this way,” I offered, “it just means you’ll have more of a story for us when we get back to the cabin tonight.”

Rudy dug his shoe into the dirt. “I guess.”

He held out a fist, and Darren and I tapped it with our own.

It wasn’t just him. I also wanted to go back to the days when it was the three of us on the Rebellion, and everything felt more doable. But those days were long gone.

I watched as Rudy and Ajia, along with Lugia, Ho-oh, and Moltres took to the air and flew out of sight. That left me, Darren, and Starr making the final preparations before heading out on our own mission.

Just investigating a warehouse. Figuring out what the Rockets were doing in Indigo and how urgent it was. Nothing too serious.

…Maybe if I told myself that enough, it’d be true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So you guys used to just waltz right into the base back when you were on the rebel team. How do you plan to get anywhere without Sebastian’s bullshit?” Starr gave me a sideways glance.

Darren held up a finger. “I figured that’s why you’re here.”

She let out a snort. “Got me there.”

The three of us were standing in an alley across the street from a rather nondescript parking garage in Indigo, along with Chibi, Raichu, and Alakazam. Like Ajia had said, just a couple of security guards out front. A few blocks to our right was the same construction site Ajia and I had been scoping out only a few days ago. We’d been this close to a Rocket storage facility and we hadn’t even known it.

My watch beeped. Fifteen minutes since Ajia had messaged us saying that their ambush was a go. No messages since then—no news was good news in this case, but it didn’t keep me from wondering.

“Welp, guess it’s time to find out how much of a mess this is gonna be,” Starr said, cracking her knuckles. She motioned to Raichu and said, “Alright, you’re up.”

He stood at attention before dashing across the street and into the security booth. I carefully avoided watching as he dealt with the guards, and once we were sure no one else was coming, we made our way across the street. I peeked inside the booth, checked the security cameras… nothing too special. Part of me wanted to just say that this was an ordinary parking garage, except for the part where Ajia had definitely seen Rocket-owned trucks heading here.

“Yeah, this sure as hell doesn’t look like any base entrance I’ve ever seen,” Starr said dismissively. “Hell, maybe Ajia gave us the wrong place.” I was pretty sure she didn’t believe that.

I sidled past the traffic arm, followed by Starr, Raichu, and Darren. Alakazam teleported in after us, causing Starr to mutter, “Show off.”

The main floor was mostly empty, save for a lineup of trucks and shipping containers off to the left. Aside from that, the only thing of note was a service elevator on the far wall and a ramp leading underground. Nothing obviously Rocket-y at first glance. Maybe the supplies could give us a clue?

“This is the enemy’s hideout? It isn’t very well-defended.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin, whirling around to find myself face-to-face with—

“Suicune?! What are you doing here?” I blurted out.

Starr almost tripped. “God damn—giving me a heart attack, that’s what,” she snapped.

The Legendary beast stood there, framed by the entrance to the garage, mane and tails rippling as always, despite the lack of wind. It glanced around the unremarkable concrete space. “I am here for my own reasons. Your presence is irrelevant.”

“You didn’t need to follow us,” Darren pointed out. “You could have just said you wanted to come with.”

Suicune glowered at him for a few seconds, but then gave Starr and me a sideways glance. “Where are your so-called ‘patrons,’ anyway?”

“They’re intercepting the Rockets’ shipment,” I said. Then, after a moment’s pause: “You know, they probably could have used your help.”

Suicune didn’t reply. The beast padded forward, walking past without looking at us.

I let out a sigh. Alright fine, Suicune was here, I guess. Hopefully it just wanted to look around to feel like it was doing something since it hated inaction so much. I tried forcing myself to look at anything else—but there really wasn’t much else. It was a parking garage. Maybe we could check out the service elevator?

“I don’t want to be near that thing,” Starr muttered under her breath.

I glanced over my shoulder. Suicune had taken to sniffing at the trucks’ wheels and pawing at the side of a shipping container.

“Me neither,” I admitted. Having a Legendary with us was supposed to feel reassuring. That was a lot more firepower if we got into a fight. Instead, I just felt… unnerved.

“*I’ll check out the lower floors,*” Chibi said, leaping down from my shoulder and descending the ramp into darkness.

That left us with figuring out if there was anything of interest up here. While I paced around the closest shipping container, Darren took the liberty of hitting the button for the service elevator. To my surprise, it dinged, and the door slid open.

“Well,” Darren said, gesturing inside with an awkward laugh. “Where to?”

Starr folded her arms. “If there are any Rockets here, they’d be upstairs. We use that thing, we’re basically just strolling right up to their front door.”

Darren grinned sheepishly. “I was mostly joking.” He glanced over his shoulder at the shipping containers and added, “I guess for an actual suggestion, we could try cutting one of those open?”

Starr just shrugged, so Darren went ahead and let out Weavile, who drew her claws across each other with a dramatic flourish. She approached the side of the container, eyeballing it for an ideal place to cut, but then—

The crunch of metal caught my ear behind us. Suicune had just torn the lock from the back of the same shipping container and was now nudging the door open with its nose.

“Oh. Or we could do that, yeah,” Darren said while Weavile crossed her arms with a pout.

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I rounded the edge of the container and peeked inside. But there it was—in the shadowed interior, the unmistakable silhouette of an ALR.

“Alright fine, I guess there’s Rockets here,” Starr grumbled.

Suicune gave a self-satisfied snort. Then it drew itself back, gathering a blue glow in its mouth.

I blanched. “Wait, wait!” I yelled, crossing my hands back and forth. “If we destroy that thing, the Rockets will definitely know we’re here.”

Suicune tossed its head. “And why should I avoid that result?”

“I… wh…” I clenched my fingers, struggling to find the words to explain something so obvious.

“If you’re reeeally set on doing that, at least let us help you, yeah?” Darren said, sidling in between me and Suicune.

I blinked at him. “What are you doing?” I hissed.

Darren put a hand to the side of his mouth. “We’re not gonna convince it to lay off. The least we can do is make sure it doesn’t get caught, yeah?”

I paused. “Right. You’re right.” We’d done this sort of thing all the time on the Rebellion last year. That was the whole point of half our missions. So why did it make me so anxious now?

Suicune had already stopped paying attention to us. It took a stance in front of the container, inhaled deeply, and—

“I don’t like this,” Starr hissed.

A bright jet of water shot from the beast’s mouth, crashing against the machine. It toppled over immediately with a loud clang and the squealing of metal. Suicune fired another burst at its side and the cannon on top ripped clean from the base.

I stared. Suicune gave a small huff, but at the same time, it did look slightly… perplexed.

“That was way too easy,” I said in a low voice. Almost like it wasn’t even…

A piercing alarm split the air with flashing red lights along the ceiling.

Starr threw her arms in the air. “Of course. What’d I tell you?”

My eyes darted around the area, sizing it up. Too many concrete pillars, bad maneuverability for fliers. My hands flew to my pockets and I let out Stygian and Jet in a flash, then ducked behind a concrete pillar, straining my ears to hear any other sounds over the alarm. No footsteps or shouting, as far as I could tell.

“*What’s the deal, where’s the bad guys?*” Jet asked loudly.

“None yet,” I replied, squeezing my temples and willing my brain to focus. If this was a trap like Starr thought, why hadn’t we been ambushed? I kept expecting to see the elevator door opening and a swarm of Rockets pouring out, but—

Suicune let out a snarl and fired another beam, punching clean through another shipping container. This one was empty. None of these containers held anything of value, did they?

A sound behind me—the crunch of grinding metal. I spun around to see the garage door partially closed with Feraligatr holding it open, the metal bowing around her claws.

“Can we get the hell out of here now?” Starr asked, gesturing roughly to us from outside.

Right, what was I doing bracing for a fight if there wasn’t one? I jumped to my feet, motioned to Jet and Stygian, and broke into a run.

And then a bulky shadow passed behind Starr, and my stomach dissolved into nothing. That silhouette—a hulking beast with jagged spikes and smoky tail…

Starr’s brow furrowed. “What’s with that loo—”

“Entei!!” Suicune cried.

Starr whirled around, leaping back from the doorway like it was on fire. Feraligatr pushed her aside, already glinting with the white light of Protect. I skidded to a halt and lunged for the nearest pillar even as my brain screamed that there was no way I’d make it in time. In my head, I could already see it, that shimmering heat wave rippling outward from the beast before everything erupted into flames. This time it wouldn’t just be my back, it’d be everything, everything…

“*Focus!*” a sharp voice rapped.

My eyes snapped open on a yellow face, inches from mine. Chibi, standing in my lap, fixing me with a piercing gaze.

Nothing was on fire. Still no Rockets. Jet and Stygian were staring out the garage entrance, looking confused.

“Let’s go,” Starr said in a low voice, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet.

We ducked under the door and Feraligatr let go, allowing it to slowly clatter downward, now partially crumpled around the middle. Darren and Alakazam teleported out a second later. Inside, the alarm continued to sound.

Already, I found my eyes tracing the buildings, expecting to see Rockets with Master Ball cannons lurking around every corner. But there was no one else around. Just Suicune facing down Entei, right in the middle of the street. It was surreal. They could’ve trapped us if they’d wanted. What was going on?

“Where is the scum that controls you?!” Suicune barked, glancing sharply in every direction.

No one moved. We all stood staring at the pair of beasts, waiting to see who’d make the first move. Suicune’s eyes darted around, still hunting for the enemy.

And then Entei bolted, taking off down the street.

“Come back!” Suicune howled, dashing after it.

Chibi leaped ahead of me, tail twitching. “*I’ll stick with Suicune, I can deflect any Master Balls if the Rockets show up.*”

I nodded. “Go.” And he raced off after them.

“We’ll follow them too,” Darren added. “I figured we can check the side streets for Rockets while we’re at it.” He nodded to Alakazam, and the two of them blinked out of sight.

“Jade, Ho-oh’s asking if we need help, what the hell do I tell it?” Starr asked, holding a hand to her temple like she was straining to think.

Did we need help? Probably. But we couldn’t afford to let the League see us working with the legends, and this was just about the worst place for it to happen, too.

“Tell it we ran into trouble, but it’s not an emergency yet.” If we really needed them, we could call for Mew and Ajia. But not yet.

“God, I don’t want to know what counts as an emergency, then,” Starr muttered.

A loud crash echoed through the air, coming from the construction site. Starr groaned heavily before recalling Feraligatr and releasing Arcanine.

“I know you’re gonna say we should keep an eye on them,” she said, motioning for me to climb on after her.

I recalled Jet and Stygian, threw a leg over Arcanine’s back, and only had a second to grab hold of Starr before the firedog leaped forward, clearing two city blocks within seconds. Just a straight line—no twisting, swerving movements, nothing like the test flight earlier. And yet I couldn’t help flinching, expecting a flash of pain any second.

The construction site was totally deserted (had the workers heard the commotion and fled?). Arcanine ducked down behind an excavator where we could watch without being out in the open.

Fierce winds tore the air, whipping the dirt into a frenzy. Squinting through the cloud of dust, I could make out Entei leaping up the metal framework of the unfinished building. Blasts of water shot past the fire beast, some hitting nothing but air, others snapping girders in two. One cut straight through a heavy chain fastened around a huge concrete tube, sending it plummeting to the ground with an enormous thud.

Entei was just… dodging everything. Every so often it sent a rush of flames at its pursuer, but even that seemed defensive in nature, relying on the great plumes of steam from fire meeting water.

I wasn’t sure who to root for. This whole battle shouldn’t have even been happening and we had no way to stop it. The Rockets had to be nearby. This was maddening.

And then out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning split the air from above. I sank back against the excavator, cupping my hands over my ears and feeling my pulse skyrocket. Lightning, here? I couldn’t help suddenly imagining that Raikou had arrived, completing the trio. But no, that didn’t make any sense, it had to be—

I squinted up at the clouds above, my eyes locking onto a distinct, jagged silhouette rapidly descending.

“Zapdos!” I called out, feeling a rush of relief. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here!”

The huge, golden thunderbird turned at the sound of my voice, then swooped down to land in the alley next to us with a rush of air that sent cardboard boxes flying.

“I was concerned about Suicune acting rashly,” it said, looking over the disheveled construction site. “And… I was tired of hiding.”

Starr jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Yeah, well, if you could get these two to knock it off, that’d be real swell.”

“Where are your patrons?” Zapdos asked, fixing its gaze on us.

“They’re off on another mission,” I said. “We’re not supposed to be seen working with them.”

Zapdos blinked slowly, processing that. “I suppose I shouldn’t be here, then.”

“No, we really could use your help,” I admitted. “We just need to keep out of it as much as we can.”

Zapdos bowed its head. “Understood.”

The thunderbird turned to face the construction site, squinting through the cloud of dust obscuring everything. It had just spread its wings, preparing to take off, when a jagged blue beam crashed against its chest, scattering flecks of snow across the ground. What? What was…

I jerked my head upward just in time to see a second beam heading right for us. My eyes went wide a second before Zapdos spread its wing overhead, shielding us from the rush of cold air spilling out around its feathers.

“Articuno?!” I blurted out.

“Great, another one,” Starr muttered.

Zapdos retracted its wing and then, with a pained look, fired a string of lightning at the ice bird. It swerved to the side, drawing itself back for another beam. And then a jet of water shot from the dust cloud, knocking Articuno into the side of the closest building and sending glass raining down from the impact. A few seconds later, Suicune burst from the cloud of dust, a few scorch marks on its pelt, but otherwise mostly unharmed.

“I am going to free Entei,” it announced. “Will you aid me?”

Zapdos’s gaze had drifted to Articuno picking itself up from the rubble, a distant sadness in its eyes. “Your group was able to free Moltres, yes?” it said, and it took me a second to realize that it was asking me.

I took a deep breath. “Yeah, but that’s only because we tricked the Rockets. We probably won’t get a chance to do that here.”

Its face fell. “Yes, of course.”

Suicune stamped a paw, staring pointedly at Zapdos. “My element can best my sibling’s, and the same can be said of yours. We can defeat them—we can save them.”

I wanted to scream. “That’s not how it works—we’d have to destroy the Master Ball.”

Suicune looked impatient. “Well? Are you not planning on doing that eventually?”

“Yeah, but we need a plan!” I shot back. “They’re not just gonna keep the ball somewhere we can grab it.”

Suicune turned away. “Then you ought to devise that plan while we defeat them,” it said, dashing back into the fray.

I clenched my hands on nothing. Fine, I guess we’re doing this then!

Zapdos was looking at me, concerned. I rubbed my eyes and said, “Just try to keep Suicune under control. We don’t want to cause too much damage here.”

The thunderbird nodded and took wing. I watched the legends trade blows, bits of fire and lightning, water and ice shooting out of the dust storm every few seconds. But it didn’t really feel like I was seeing any of it, my mind was too busy racing, trying to process everything. Suicune and Zapdos versus Entei and Articuno, right in the middle of Indigo. Mewtwo had been showing up around here lately. People had been filming his appearances.

We needed to know if anyone was in danger. Needed to know if Zapdos should try to keep the fighting confined to a specific area. Needed to know if the Rockets were nearby. And all of that required getting a view from the air.

Starr and Darren didn’t have any fliers. It had to be me.

“I need to check something out,” I said suddenly. And then, before I could change my mind, I let out Aros and threw a leg over his back.

Starr gawked at me. “Jade, are you insane?”

“Probably.”

I tapped Aros’s side and we lifted from the ground. Just a bit of slow, smooth flying. No aerial combat, only scouting. I could handle that.

We reached an altitude that put us hovering just over the highest buildings on the block. From here I could finally see pedestrians several blocks from the construction site, some watching the battle, others running in the opposite direction. The roads nearby had all been blocked off. Several intersections held a small cluster of humans and Pokémon that I assumed were the rangers, waiting to see if the damage would spill out of the construction site. I could only hope that it wouldn’t.

And then I spotted them—two human figures on a rooftop a block away, accompanied by an Altaria and Flygon. It had to be them: the head combat execs, Raven and Ender.

A rush of anger hit me. I hadn’t seen them since the Hoenn incident. And I was tired of them always messing with us. Tired of them always being one step ahead.

I felt Aros tense up beneath me, and I couldn’t blame him. I wanted to get even with them. But was there anything to be gained from fighting them directly?

“*You’re not just going to ignore them, are you?*” Aros asked.

“No, I just…”

Come on, think. There had to be something. If we could distract them while Suicune and Zapdos took down Entei and Articuno. If we could force them to reveal that they were responsible for this, not the Legendaries. Then we’d finally have some leverage.

Aros and I landed next to Starr. “We’ve got company, up there.”

Starr glanced upward with a grimace. “Great, and here I was thinking we wouldn’t have to deal with any assholes today.”

On her order, Arcanine took a flying leap onto an overhang, then a balcony, then up to the rooftop. Aros and I followed them as Arcanine bounded from one building to the next, finally reaching the same one as the Rockets, staring them down from the opposite end of the rooftop.

Both Rockets turned at the sound of our arrival. They had more Pokémon out now—Ninetales, Nidoqueen and Xatu on Ender’s side; Gengar, Kabutops, and Honchkrow on Raven’s. So they obviously must have seen us coming.

“Long time no see, eh?” Ender said with a smirk.

“The hell are you two doing here?” Starr snapped.

“Oh, I’m sure your group would love to find out,” Ender replied smoothly. “Unfortunately, now’s not the time.” He snapped his fingers and Nidoqueen lunged, ice crystals crackling around her fist.

A flash of Pokéballs opening—my team, Starr’s team, colliding with the Rockets’ Pokémon in the center of the rooftop. Firestorm and Swift flapped to gain altitude while dodging spurts of dragonfire that flew past them. Arcanine breathed out a flurry of embers at Rapidash and Flareon, powering the both of them up. And I only just realized what that meant (and ordered everyone on my side to clear out) before the two of them unleashed a raging inferno right in the middle of the rooftop. Ender’s Ninetales promptly jumped in the center, boosting its own firepower before hitting Rapidash with a flash of dancing lights. Feraligatr retaliated with a high-pressure waterjet. Gengar nailed her with a string of lightning. Swift rained blades of wind down from above, forcing the opponents to scatter.

God, this was way too open. Too many fighters, not much cover, no room for either side to mount a defense, half of them getting in each other’s way. Pokémon were dropping left and right.

On the plus side, the lack of cover meant nowhere for Kabutops to hide. I spotted it darting in and out of the fray, and I couldn’t help tensing up. But its slashes were frenzied, shallow, nothing like the critical strike that taken out Swift that one time.

(Bloodstained feathers, only seconds to recall him, falling, falling…)

Aros was still tensed, no doubt itching to jump into the fight. But we needed him and Arcanine to stick with us, in case we needed a getaway.

Altaria and Flygon had both stuck by their trainers’ sides, so Firestorm and Swift were relatively untouched until Honchkrow and Gengar challenged their control of the air. The Rocket Pokémon had the wind at their backs now; their attacks came faster, our side fighting to keep up. Psychic pulses flew from nowhere as Xatu teleported near-constantly, Stygian doing her best to intercept. She slipped in and out of shadows, doing her best to avoid being hit, but the flames were relentless and her fur kept getting scorched. Jet stuck by her side, trying to keep the flames at bay with rushes of Waterfall, but her aim wasn’t the greatest, and Stygian kept getting splashed.

“*What are you doing?*” the Absol snapped, rounding on her.

A heavy punch from Nidoqueen caught Stygian in the side, slamming her into the concrete barrier. Jet retaliated with an Aqua Jet, but was forced to leap back when Kabutops darted in, slashing wildly.

“Jet, get out of there; Stygian, parry with Night Slash!” I yelled.

Stygian picked herself up, sickle lit. Blades clashed with a clang. The Absol danced left and right, deflecting slashes while dodging more punches.

“Aim a Dragon Pulse at Nidoqueen,” I hissed to Aros.

The Flygon went perfectly still, watching the three of them trading blows, waiting for just the right moment when his opponent was open, and then—!

A spurt of violet dragonfire shot forward, colliding with a waterjet that was fired at the exact same time. What?

“*Stay out of the way!*” Stygian snarled, and it took me a second to realize that it wasn’t aimed at us, but at—

Another waterjet shot forward, splashing into Nidoqueen’s chest. She staggered backward, but then caught herself and swung a fist crackling with sparks. A garbled screech rang out and the Aqua Jet collapsed to reveal a coughing and sputtering Floatzel.

“Jet, get out of there!” I snapped, pulse pounding. What was she doing?

A brown blur; Kabutops lunged, blades flashing. Stygian darted in, knocking the blades aside with her claws and kicking Jet out of the way. Slash, parry, slash, parry. Then Nidoqueen struck with her horn and the Absol was forced to raise a Protect, leaving Kabutops free to—

A string of lightning from nowhere! Kabutops seized up, blades dangling at its sides. Chibi? No wait, he was with the Legendaries. It was Raichu! His aim was unreal—he’d managed to hit Kabutops from clear on the other end of the rooftop.

Stygian nodded gratefully in his direction, but her stance was weak, her shoulder fur bloodstained, like she’d been stabbed. Poison Jab? That just left—

Jet was flat on the concrete. Nidoqueen’s fist was sparking. Not hard to figure out what happened there. I sucked in a breath and recalled the Floatzel, and for half a moment I couldn’t help but feel glad that she was out of the fight.

“*How hard is it not to get hit by your allies?*” Aros muttered.

“*Not hard,*” Stygian grumbled in reply.

Not hard—for anyone with multi battle practice.

Aros took that opportunity to breathe out another Dragon Pulse and this time nothing got in the way. A burst of violet dragonfire exploded in Nidoqueen’s face and she stumbled back to her trainer, looking dazed

I gave Stygian a pecha, but even aside from the poison, the jab wound was still bleeding badly. Better to recall her. Still, we weren’t doing too bad overall. Firestorm and Swift looked fine, Ninetales had just fallen on the Rockets’ side, Starr had recalled Rapidash, but Feraligatr was going strong.

Ender was glancing back and forth between the battle and… his communicator. Raven wasn’t paying attention—she was busy watching something on the ground. It didn’t even feel like they were trying. Just like half of our battles with them had been. Was this another distraction? But from what? Something going wrong with the transport mission? But we would’ve heard about it by now…

I had to check.

<How are things on your end?> I asked Lugia.

<We have completed our mission,> Lugia replied. <Ho-oh informed us that your team has encountered trouble. We are preparing to head there.>

I bit my lip. <Well, there’s definitely Rockets in Indigo, we just didn’t get very far with figuring out what they’re doing here before Suicune showed up.>

<Suicune?>

<It’s trying to free Entei.>

A pause. <Is it succeeding?>

<What do you think?> I replied, deadpan.

Lugia huffed. <I think this could be an opportunity.>

<Or it could just get the League breathing down our neck even more if you guys show up,> I countered.

A prickle of annoyance. <How long are you going to be afraid of that?>

I didn’t know how to answer that, so I didn’t.

“Lugia didn’t have anything to report,” I told Starr. “I’m gonna check with Darren quick.”

“Yeah sure, I’ll hold things down here,” Starr replied as Feraligatr swung an icy fist into Altaria’s head.

I tapped Aros’s side. “Come on, let’s go.”

“*We’re leaving them?*” he asked, incredulous.

“I’m worried about the Legendaries.”

He exhaled slowly. “*Okay.*”

I could tell he wanted to get back at the executives. Hell, I couldn’t even pretend like I didn’t want to. But not falling into their trap was more important.

Aros shot one last longing look at the battle but then vibrated his wings and took us over the edge of the roof.

“Leaving already?” Ender called out. I ignored him, and we put the battle behind us.

The construction site was a disaster. Toppled steel beams and overturned equipment. The excavator we’d been hiding behind was now on its side with one of its doors ripped off. But where had Suicune and Entei gone? They were nowhere to be seen.

A flash of fear hit me that Suicune had been caught while we’d been focused on the executives. But then a loud crash to the north cleared that up pretty quickly. I squinted at the tournament site off in the distance, where a small cloud of smoke was now billowing upward.

Man, why couldn’t this be simple… I pointed that way and Aros zipped down the street. I grit my teeth, struggling to hold on, half wanting to ask him to slow down, but knowing that we couldn’t afford to.

We reached the edge of the tournament site. Mostly empty, although the outer perimeter had gathered a modest crowd of people pointing and murmuring. As we ducked down behind a row of shrubs, I caught a glimpse of scattered bolts and flames in the gap between two stadiums. Then a waterjet crashing against the corner of a restaurant, scattering chunks of concrete across the brick path.

I couldn’t help feeling a wave of déjà vu, flashing back to when the Rockets had set Moltres on the tournament site last month. That time had been a distraction, but this time… this time I had no clue what the point of any of this was. If they were hoping to catch Suicune, they sure were doing a garbage job at it. The only thing any of this had accomplished was getting Suicune super riled up, and—

I could practically feel the gears in my head clicking into place. The Moltres attack last month. Getting people worked up against Legendaries. Luring Suicune here…

The Rockets were trying to bait Suicune into attacking the League! And then people would see it, and—

“We need to get Suicune’s attention,” I hissed.

Aros nodded before taking off again, zooming low over the ground. I held on tight, clenching my teeth as we rounded the edge of the largest stadium to find Entei bolting toward the grand staircase to the League HQ itself, Suicune in hot pursuit. Almost there… just had to focus on anything other than the pain flaring up across my back. I squeezed my hands tight, digging my fingernails into my palm as Aros whipped his tail around, sending a rush of sand right into Suicune’s face.

The beast stopped short, rubbing a paw furiously against its eyes with a snort. Then it jerked its head in our direction and my blood ran cold.

“Y-you have to stop!” I called out. “You’re destroying things!”

“It’s not as though I’m aiming to,” Suicune shot back. “There are not even any humans to be harmed, how can you possibly object?!”

I didn’t know how to explain that it wasn’t just about people being in danger. We couldn’t afford for the Legendaries to look dangerous either.

Suicune took several forceful steps toward us, and Aros recoiled slightly, flaring his wings to look bigger. But all the beast did was stare me dead in the eyes and say, “Look. I’ve nearly defeated Entei on my own. Can’t you free them now?”

“I—we can’t, not without the Master Ball,” I stammered.

“Will it ever be the right time, then?!” Suicune demanded, and the pain in its voice clenched my heart. I didn’t want to just let the Rockets get away with everything. I wanted to free Entei too!

“We can come up with a plan with Mew!” I exclaimed, words spilling out of my mouth without much thought. “We can use an illusion or something, and use that to get close without them seeing—”

Suicune let out a scoff and snapped its head back toward Entei, launching a Hydro Pump that sent the fire beast slamming into the grand stairs, cracks spilling across their surface.

“*It’s not going to stop,*” Aros said bluntly.

“I know,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes.

We had to force Suicune out of here. We had to convince it that Entei couldn’t be freed right now. But how—

We had to knock it out.

It was simple. Elegant. We had to knock Suicune out. What would normally be an absolute disaster in any other situation. Maybe I was insane.

“We have to knock it out.”

“*What?*” Aros glanced back at me incredulously. “*How?*”

I checked in every direction to make sure Raven and Ender weren’t nearby. Then I spotted Zapdos and waved my arms hurriedly to grab its attention. At this point I didn’t even care if the League saw me collaborating with a legend, we just couldn’t let the situation get any worse.

Zapdos flared its wings to land on the edge of a nearby rooftop, still watching Suicune below. “What is it?”

“This was a trap,” I said hurriedly, “but not like you’d think—they weren’t trying to catch or kill any of us, they’re trying to make you guys look bad!”

Zapdos glanced at me, perplexed. “I’m not sure I fully understand, but… you are saying we must leave?”

“Yes!”

“But then…” Zapdos looked back at Suicune, concern written all over its face.

I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for what I was about to ask. “Zapdos. You can stop Suicune, can’t you?”

Zapdos blinked at me in surprise. “Yes…” it said carefully, no doubt piecing together what I was asking.

“Please, we can’t wait any longer.” This was asking too much, I knew it, but we didn’t have any choice.

Zapdos hesitated, avoiding my eye. Conflicted emotions flickered across its face. I didn’t want to push too hard or say to get over it, but we really needed this, and—

“*I’ll do it!*” a voice called out.

I spun around to see Chibi perched on a lamppost, sparks leaping from his fur. Would it be enough? We had to try.

I nodded sharply, and he took a flying leap straight toward Suicune, unleashing a wicked blast of lightning that struck the beast point-blank. Suicune stumbled mid-lunge, eyes going wide with shock. It threw a leg out to catch itself, but then collapsed to its knees, muscles twitching.

I let out a breath. Had we done it? It was still standing, but maybe the paralysis would be enough to…

And then Suicune rounded on us. “Excuse me?!” it snarled, eyes flashing.

It drew itself back, gathering ice crystals in its mouth. My pulse pounded in my ears. Chibi sparked, struggling to call up enough power for another bolt. Aros’s wings buzzed into overdrive, ready to dart out of the way.

And then another bolt stuck from above, twice as big as the last. Suicune howled in pain, its ice attack scattering into harmless mist. The hail of lightning kept going, striking repeatedly and without mercy, and it didn’t stop until the beast had collapsed.

I stared stupidly at the sight, heart still beating uncomfortably hard as sparks flickered around the impact area. I just barely had the chance to register that Zapdos had done it when a flash of light appeared right next to the fallen beast—Alakazam! He tapped a spoon to its side, concentrated hard, and the pair of them vanished.

I blinked at where they’d left for a few seconds until Alakazam returned, this time with Darren, who ran a hand down his face with a huge sigh of relief. Then he gave me an awkward look and said, “Thaaaat’s probably going to bite us later.”

Alakazam coughed. “*That is an understatement,*” the psychic muttered under his breath.

I let out a laugh somewhere between incredulity and relief. “Doesn’t matter, at least we got Suicune out of here.”

With a whoosh of air and the clicking of talons on stone, Zapdos landed next to us, face wracked with guilt. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

I didn’t have the brainpower to come up with anything reassuring. Instead, I just said, “Can you go look after Suicune until it wakes up?”

“I can show you where we took it,” Darren offered.

Zapdos was silent for a few seconds before nodding firmly. It had just turned to leave when it paused suddenly, gazing at something with concern. I followed its eye to where Chibi was doubled over, sparks shooting out of his fur.

“*My power supply isn’t great,*” Chibi muttered.

Zapdos clacked its beak, humming. It then fired a small string of electricity from its wingtip. Chibi stiffened, feathers standing on end as the power flowed into him.

“Is that enough?” the thunderbird asked.

Chibi looked up at him gratefully. “*More than.*”

Zapdos bowed to us and then took flight, soaring low overhead. Darren gave me a small wave before he and Alakazam blinked out of view. They reappeared on a nearby rooftop, motioning for Zapdos to follow, and the next time they vanished I didn’t see them again.

So that was the end of that. We’d just lost both of the legends on our side, but… did that matter? Entei and Articuno had been hardly attacking the whole time, and if I was right, the whole point was to get Suicune to cause all the damage. Did we really have anything to fear from them now? They were just standing there on the broken steps to the League HQ, staring straight ahead with those creepy vacant eyes…

I still found my eyes tracing the edge of the stadium behind us, hunting for any Rockets lurking just out of sight. Were Raven and Ender back where I left them? Was Starr still fighting them?

“*They’re here,*” Chibi said suddenly, pointing his tail straight up.

I jerked my head upward, already expecting trouble. But instead, I saw a pair of birds soaring high overhead—Lugia and Ho-oh. And just about the last place that we wanted to have more legends showing up.

<What are you guys doing here?> I asked Lugia.

<I had already said that we intended to help,> Lugia replied, baffled by my tone.

<Well, we managed to knock out Suicune, and the Rocket legends are just standing here, so you don’t really need to come down. In fact, please don’t.>

Lugia shook its head. <What? I’m going to need an explanation. You knocked out Suicune?>

I didn’t answer. Someone was clapping slowly behind us. I spun around to see Ender and Xatu standing next to the stadium entrance, looking pleased.

“Well done neutralizing Suicune, everyone. Almost makes me wish we’d been ready to catch it.”

“I guess that was all part of your plan?” I asked tiredly.

Ender just shrugged. “You think so?” Then he tilted his gaze upward to where Lugia and Ho-oh were still soaring overhead. “Playing it safe, huh? Hmm… do you think they’ll come down here if we up the ante?”

Ender tapped something on his communicator. Chibi lunged for him, sparks coursing through his feathers, but Xatu had already started glowing, and the two teleported away in a flash.

For a few seconds, no one moved. I had no idea what to expect. What did he mean by ‘up the ante’...?

Then a high-pitched roar broke the silence, reverberating through my whole body. A flash of green, in my peripheral—an emerald serpent, spiraling out from behind the League HQ.

What? Rayquaza was right there the entire time?! Was this it? Was this the Rockets’ takeover? Right here, right now?!

<Flaunting their victory in Hoenn. Despicable,> Lugia’s voice echoed in my head, laced with cold fury. And then the seabird pitched its wings back and dove straight for Rayquaza.

<Wait, wait!> I yelled, but Lugia wasn’t stopping. This place was about to become a warzone, right on the League’s doorstop.

I tapped Aros’s side and he took us back toward the grand stadium just as Lugia landed with a screech, striking Rayquaza dead-on with an Ice Beam. Ice crystals flared up across the serpent’s body, frost spilling down the steps to the League HQ.

A flash of gray wings—Aerodactyl, fluttering around Lugia’s head. Then they vanished from view as a white haze spilled out around them. Smokescreen? No, probably one of Zoroark’s illusions. But this was way too big a commotion for him to effectively hide. Energy beams shot out of the cloud left and right. Rayquaza’s tail swept out in a wide arc. Lugia’s wings beat furiously, trying to clear away the illusory haze but just clipping right through it.

“Jade!”

I spun around to see Starr and Arcanine bolting toward us, Swift and Firestorm not far behind.

“Starr!” I called out, waving to her.

“What the hell is this?” she asked once Arcanine had come to a stop. “What happened to just stopping Suicune?”

“We did stop Suicune—then the Rockets went and started up another fight, in front of the League this time.”

Starr paused, gears turning in her head. “Don’t tell me this whole mess was just more propaganda.”

“Probably, yeah,” I muttered, running a hand down my face.

“God, I should’ve known.” She jerked her head upward to look at Ho-oh; the phoenix glanced down at us, the two of them most likely communicating.

Aerodactyl burst from the cloud of mist, flapping a few times to gain control of his flight before swooping down to meet us, Ajia waving to us from his back.

“Hey you two, Z’s keeping them busy, or at least, he’s trying—everyone okay?” she said quickly, looking rather frazzled.

“We’re fine,” Starr said impatiently. “Now how the hell do we clear this shit up before the League gets involved?”

No sooner had she said it than a loud voice filled the air, broadcasting over a PA system: “This is the Pokémon League speaking to the Legendary Pokémon at our entrance. We are asking you to stand down. Do not engage.”

<Stand down?> Lugia repeated incredulously. <Who do they think they are?>

I inhaled sharply through my nose. <Lugia, you know this whole thing looks like you guys are just attacking the League out of nowhere, right?>

<That’s absurd. Rayquaza is right there, anyone can plainly see.>

<Yeah, but it hasn’t done anything yet,> I said tiredly.

“Please cease this destruction at once,” the speakers went on as a beam clipped the edge of the League building.

Ice crystals and bits of dragonfire littered the stone walkway. Countless picnic tables had been crushed or scattered. Zoroark had completely given up trying to obscure the battle, so now we had a full view of Lugia pinning Rayquaza down, freezing it repeatedly.

“I don’t think it’s going to stop,” I said in a low voice.

Ajia glanced back and forth between the Legendaries and me, brow furrowing. “Well, at the very least, we’ve got to tell the League what’s really going on here.”

I exhaled slowly. “Yeah, alright.”

The three of us took off for the League HQ, Aerodactyl vaulting into the air and Aros sticking low to the ground, right behind Arcanine. We gave the legends a wide berth and raced up what remained of the grand staircase, dodging the large chunks of concrete scattered everywhere. And we’d just about reached the top when—

An orange blur slammed into the stairs right in our path, forcing Aros to stop short in a maneuver that sent me slamming into his back with the inertia. My vision swam. I shook my head to regain myself, finally able to see that it was a Dragonite. And for a moment, my heart froze and I was half-convinced it was Stalker’s. Until it was joined by two more Dragonite.

Three Dragonite? Who on earth—

The third one had a rider. A tall, red-haired man with a stern face and a commanding air, clad in a dark suit and—most obviously—a long, red-lined cape. My brain locked up, my voice catching in my throat.

Lance—Champion Lance.

“I believe,” he said firmly, eyeing us, “we asked everyone to stand down.”

As if three Dragonite could stand up to the Rockets’ Legendaries. But of course, the Rockets had already stood down, their legends sitting quietly on the stairs. They didn’t want to look like the threat here, even if they were the cause of it all.

Aros glanced back at me, waiting for an order, but I couldn’t move—it was like Lance showing up had completely derailed my train of thought. Until Lugia took the opportunity to nail Rayquaza with another Ice Beam, and my brain restarted.

<Lugia, we have to stand down!> I yelled as all three Dragonite launched into the air.

Lugia jerked its head toward me, frost coating its beak. <Why should we? We can’t allow them to get away with their actions in Hoenn.>

I wanted to scream. <This is like the Viridian thing all over again.>

<The Rockets are targeting your leadership, as you feared,> Lugia shot back. <They nearly killed you mere days ago. Do you really think any of that’s acceptable?>

No, of course I didn’t, but we didn’t have time to debate that.

<Please, please just let us talk to the League, alright?> I said desperately. We needed to settle this nonviolently. We had to make sure they knew we weren’t a threat.

Lugia’s mind crackled with frustration. <This is a pointless risk. But alright.>

I felt its presence fade, and I could finally breathe.

The Dragonite trio were hovering in a low circle overhead. Lugia glared first at them, then at the Rockets, before spreading its wings and taking off.

Articuno and Entei were still sitting calmly at the foot of the shattered stone stairs. Rayquaza had picked itself up from where it had been frozen and was now coiled up like a docile snake. I couldn’t help feel a prickle of anger—how dare the Rockets have them act all innocent now.

Ender reappeared next to the legends, delicately running a hand down Articuno’s feathers. He turned to face us and said, “Excellent performances, everyone.”

“Why the hell are you happy about this?” Starr snapped, glowering at him. “Do you really think you look like the good guy here?”

Ender shrugged innocently. “As far as I can tell, we haven’t done anything more than defend our property.”

“Are you for real?!” Starr slid down from Arcanine’s back and marched toward him, already drawing back a fist. He didn’t bother teleporting away. He didn’t need to—a Dragonite stepped in front of Starr before she got within five feet of him.

“We’re putting a stop to this right now,” Lance said, and the tone of his voice made it very clear that we didn’t have a choice. “Both sides are invited inside to come to an understanding.”

“Come to an understanding?” I blurted out. With Team Rocket? How on earth…?

He fixed his eyes on me, and I couldn’t help flinching. “You and your allies have access to the power of the legends, don’t you?”

I didn’t want to answer that. But it wasn’t like there was any point in lying. Lorelei of the Elite Four already knew.

“Who exactly does the League want to speak with?” Ajia asked carefully.

“There’s no need for everyone to be present,” Lance said. “Who do you want to represent you?”

Starr looked like she was two seconds away from leaving. But then she glanced back and forth from me, to Ajia, to Lance and said, “I think I’m gonna want to hear this,” in a low, cold voice.

Ajia made eye contact with me, and I nodded. So she turned to Lance and said, “Looks like it’s going to be all three of us.”

He gestured toward the League HQ. “Alright. This way.”






~End Chapter 54~

Next chapter: Checkmate
 
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Sinderella

Angy Tumbleweed
Staff
Location
In Guzma's Closet
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. sylveon-shiny
  2. gothitelle
  3. froslass
  4. chandelure
  5. mimikyu
MORE REVIEWS FOR CHIBI!!!!! My critiquing chops are a tad shot right now but I'm gonna do my best for 6 and 7, even though all I really want to do rn is scream, gush, and scream some more, because these were some CRAZY fucking chapters (despite the complete and total lack of a cameo from Lelouch of Code Geass, but I suppose it is what it is)

Alright so first off, I liked the little cuts back to the past with these chapters, getting to see more of Jade's relationships with both Starr and Aija. I am STILL convinced Aija's daddy is Giovanni, something about that little exposition of "wow your parents are finally letting you have people over" AND Jade remembering how big of a house she has, that just really screams Giovanni-esque. Watch me be completely wrong, I'm gonna look REAL stupid lol

Still also sussing Aija; not hard, but WTF IS SHE DOOOOIIIINNNNGGGG I NEED ANSWERSSSSSS

Also I liked the worldbuilding in those parts too. Just the little bit about Aija being like "I'm doing well in my online classes" like I was wondering how "traveling the world" and "getting a good education" worked but that makes sense, they have like remote online learning for those out and about. It seems like that would be a lot to juggle from a personal standpoint LOL but yeah if these trainers really wanna do the thing I guess you do what you gotta do, yo

Jade getting on the ship just felt........too easy. Like in the sense of "that was too easy so now something really fucking bad is gonna happen" and ofccccccccc I was RIIIIIIGHT. Not just any bad, though, it's "Rocket has infiltrated the whole crew and planted BOMBS" bad. This is either gonna end miraculously okay or EXTREMELY bad and I don't know where I'm settled yet, but so far nothing is looking particularly good. Like, if the whole crew actually is just straight up Rockets? Thats a fucking wrap yo. Also, I'm really interested in that little tidbit about "Stalker" having been a problem in Team Rocket ranks previously???? But it was multiple people??? Did some Rocket grunts try to stage a revolt in the past and now this 🤤 Dreamy Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love 🤤 is back to try it again with the same name as like, a show of dick size? The level of INTRIGUE I have right now.

Also I wonder if there was like a rhyme or reason to who these grunts were initially grabbing for questioning. Cuz clearly who they had in the interogation Chibi and Jade overheard had no idea wtf was going on but the kid Jade spoke to on the way on the ship did. A fine mix of both for good hiding? Did Stalker just think of everything? Aside from yk, the ship being threatened with bombs? We love a thorough king.

I really liked how easy its become for Jade to talk to Chibi now. I audibly squeed when she went to get Swift and Firestorm and could p much understand their entire sentences, THE UNLIKELY COMPANIONSHIP IS HELPING HER LEARN POKESPEECH!!!!!! Will she be able to take the test and actually pass?? Will that matter in two chapters when everything inevitably goes horribly wrong?? More at 11.

I was really happy Jade managed to seemingly find some crew that were actually crew and not with Rocket, but I'm still SLIGHTLY wary just because I'm a paranoid hoe and will always be braced for the worst. But, I have high hopes that everyone is actually being called to evacuate and things won't end as horribly as I'm anticipating??? Maybe??? And Jade wil reunite with Chibi, right?? Because all of this temporary conflict to advance toward the bigger plot issue and will resolve itself in order to advance the bigger plot issue RIGHT??????????????? I'm stressed can you tell 😂

Anyway yep. I'm having a great time here and i'll be back for some more raging ADHD thoughts later

Line by lines with no rhyme or reason:
Call me Chibi.*”
*roll credits*

“My room!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet and bursting into a sprint to catch up with Chibi while grabbing the card key hanging from my neck. “It’s room B120!”
GURL DON'T SAY THAT OUTLOUD THATS DEF GONNA BITE YOU IN THE ASS

“And I’ve been doing fine with my online homework. So, y’know, I might keep going another year.”
Ohhhhhh how neat, you do online school while you're traveling!!!

I really was getting better at Pokéspeech, wasn’t I?
YES YOU ARE, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU OMG

Most of the Rockets had pulled out guns and were preparing to run after Chibi, but then—
Okay I'm applauding you for using firearms in the Pokemon world, BASED ASF

[Initiate countdown sequence?] the screen asked. Wrong one, wrong one, go back go back—
man what if she just accidentally pushed yes :copyka:

I held the bomb in my palm delicately, scrolling through the unit list to get an idea of how many of these things there were. Five, ten, fifteen…god, there were eighteen bombs scattered around this place.
<insert closeup of sweaty man face meme here>

I swallowed hard before gently sliding the bomb into a cargo pocket and jumping to my feet. I didn’t have a choice—I had to get them all. Or at least… as many as possible before I was caught.
Idk gurl I feel like putting a bunch of bombs in your pockets isn't a good idea but also what else is she gonna do, hold them in her bra like a normal woman??? (that was a joke)

“*What’s going on?*” Then his eyes widened as he realized that I’d been gone. “*Where did you go?*”
SHE UNDERSTAND HIM SO WELL

“*What? Is that why you were so quiet last night? Why didn’t you tell us?!*” Firestorm demanded. I’d never heard him speak with that much conviction.

“I didn’t want to drag you guys into this mess and wind up getting you hurt,” I managed to say as I hastily shoved all of my belongings into my backpack, just in case I never got a chance to come back here.

“*Pokémon are… they’re supposed to protect their trainer,*” Firestorm muttered. I ignored him.
I marked this because I would have expected Swift, who's been with Jade a lot longer, to have also chimed in on this little altercation.

“Chibi! Are you there?!” I shouted, hoping my voice wouldn’t grab any unwanted attention.
Narrator: It did, in fact, grab unwanted attention

And then a crushing pain gripped my chest when I saw what one of the Rockets held under her arm: the burned and beaten form of a spiky-furred Pikachu.
OH MY FUCKING GOD HE'S FUCKING DEAD

the fox lunged to the side, eyes radiating with a creepy red aura and tails swaying rhythmically behind it.
Ohhhhh I loved this way to describe a Pokemon using Hypnosis!!

Without warning, the Charmander was engulfed in light. I blinked, staring in awe as his body doubled in height and completely changed in shape. Limbs stretched outward, heavy claws bursting from their tips. His face stretched into a dragonish snout, a single horn sprouting from his skull. The light faded, revealing deep crimson scales…
LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOO FIRESTORM EVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“I… my pockets are full of bombs. I’ll activate this. So don’t try anything.” Words were coming out of my mouth, but I wasn’t sure I was the one saying them.
Casually becomes a suicide bomber :copyka: Jade please don't you have so much to offer

Automatic timed detonation activated.
GOD FUCKING DAMMIT

Something nagged at the back of my mind—the sky wasn’t like that before.
I too have strange feelings about the sudden rain but I might just be Stupid(TM)

The room was silent for several seconds. I had no idea if they were going to listen to me or not until then the captain stood to his feet. And I couldn’t help letting out a long, slow breath when I heard him say, “Gather all the passengers at the emergency stations. Send someone with this device to check the lower decks and report back to us the instant they can confirm anything. If that’s the case, we must be prepared to abandon ship.”
THANK FUCKING GOD THERES ACTUAL CREW ON THIS DAMN SHIP (MAYBE)
 

unrepentantAuthor

A cat that writes stories.
Location
UK
Pronouns
they/she
Partners
  1. purrloin-salem
  2. sneasel-dusk
  3. luz-companion
  4. brisa-companion
  5. meowth-laura
  6. delphox-jesse
  7. mewtwo
  8. zeraora
As always, many thanks to Free and Jackie for beta reading~
Always a pleasure!

Okay, let me be the first to leave a posted review on Chapter 54~ The thing that had me the most excited (and anxious) after this one was the indication that the League's framing of the conflict is one in which Team Rocket are not clearly the 'bad guys' and our protagonists are very much not the 'good guys'. There were hints and indications here and there, but it's dread-inducing to have Lance essentially go "you can't fight them" at this juncture. Goodness knows I wasn't expecting him to join the fight – despite his GSC activities – but what an oof.

Meanwhile, we get to see more Legendary callousness and arrogance, seeing the conflict as a dead simple "identify the bad guys and destroy them" scenario, unafraid of traps and unable to comprehend the problem of bad optics. Suicune truly does come off as a child in this one, and it makes me wondere if the true value of the Chosen is in having them as PR agents and 'morality pets'.

Can't wait to see where that goes. We're in the thick of it now...
 

HelloYellow17

Gym Leader
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. suicune
  2. umbreon
  3. mew
Well SHEESH, this chapter is pure insanity and nonstop action! It flew by so quickly, too! Lots of ups and downs this chapter, as I had several moments of thinking “Hey, they’re in the clear and about to esca—oh, nevermind. Oh hey, now they’re good! Ah wait, I was wrong again.” 😂


Firestorm stared up at me for several seconds and then turned away, nodding distantly. Part of me wished I had his conviction. Or Rudy’s. I wasn’t the only useless one here, but I was the only one who had given up on being able to help. The realization burned.
Oooh I really liked this paragraph because it’s such a nice insight into who Jade is as a character. She’s practical and very normal in every sense of the word; she doesn’t have any particular standout talents (that we know of so far, anyway), she struggled in school, and she doesn’t have a thirst for adventure and risk like Rudy does. But the best part is that she’s painfully aware of this! She knows she isn’t special, knows that pretending to be a hero isn’t going to magically save anybody, and she knows that she and her Pokémon are utterly outclassed here. In this moment, I can’t quite tell if she’s exasperated with Rudy and Spencer, or if she’s actually jealous of their reckless fearlessness. Perhaps a bit of both!

“Razors was your best guy? Awesome, that means we’re in charge now,” Spencer said, standing up. “Tell the pilot to land this thing and let us off. And also get us pizza,” he added as an afterthought.
Lol. Spencer has his priorities in order.

Spencer’s eyes widened with panic. Then he practically shoved me aside as he dove behind cover right before an earsplitting bang tore the air. Had—had Tyson just—?

“He shot at me?” Spencer blurted out, picking himself up from the floor, completely stunned. “I—I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but… yeah, I wasn’t ready for that.”
HEYO, another person who has guns in their fic :coolbat:

Honestly it makes sense that these ruthless criminals would have additional man-made weapons to back up their Pokémon. The fact that this guy has no remorse when shooting at kids says a lot about his line of work and just how far they’re all willing to go.

“Alright, sounds like you’ve got it under control. Typhlosion, you be his copilot, m’kay?” Despite Spencer’s bright tone, Typhlosion understood the serious intent behind the request, and released his hold, still keeping a menacing eye on Tyson.
Hahaha okay I love Spencer. 😂 Also?? Homeboy is the MVP this chapter. Like dang, he’s got some solid battling sense and it’s pretty cool to see him square off against this Rocket guy with the help of Nine.
The flash of light took the form of a huge striped firedog—taller than any of us. The Arcanine tossed its head with a proud look upon noticing the attention, ruffling its thick, fluffy mane.
GOOD FLOOFY FIREDOG LET’S GO

I love Arcanine so much, and I always get so excited to see it in fics! I especially loved the Intimidate/Flash Fire standoff that came later, and how Spencer clued in to utilize his Arcanine’s Flash Fire.

Oh also, the art for this chapter is freaking SICK, yo. What an action shot! I love it!

The ending of this chapter is a huge :rowlanxiety: though. It’s going to be exciting to see how they fight their way out of this one! …or if they fight their way out, anyway :copyka:
 

Negrek

Play the Rain
Staff
Finally back for Chapter 54! Feels like we're building towards something big here, and hopefully towards some revelation about what's going on with Mewtwo. :eyes:

I continue to enjoy the conflicts within the Legendary side of things, how they all more or less have the same interests but very different ideas about how to achieve them and what ought to be done about humans more generally. It's not at all surprising when you consider that they're all immensely powerful creatures used to acting independently and with very different domains/perspectives, but it just keeps causing problems! I wonder to what extent Team Rocket is aware of those divisions and intentionally playing the different groups against each other; who knows if they were trying for that here, or they happened to get lucky with the legends that showed up? One way or another, it seems like the legends will need to come together and work past their differences or face being picked off one by one. But at least at the moment, it's hard to imagine how they'll overcome their differences.

One thing I find myself wondering is how normal pokémon will end up playing into all of this. It's human vs pokémon, which thus far has mostly been human vs legendary pokémon... But what do all the wild pokémon, all those with trainers, think of this conflict? Outside of pokémon aligned with their trainers, we haven't really seen their perspective at all, and I'm curious whether it will end up being important.

Speaking of pokémon, the consequences of Jet's absence from the team certainly comes to the fore here. I'm sure there'll be some fun fallout from that later.

Definitely intrigued to see how the conversation with Lance plays out--obviously Lorelei already stated that their power to stop Team Rocket is limited, which is perhaps why they're putting pressure on a bunch of kids not to let the legends cause problems instead, but they can't be too pleased about a criminal organization mind-controlling superweapons, either. I expect TR to completely outmaneuver the kids when it comes to diplomacy, but I'm also curious whether Lance is going to have low patience for their bullshit nonetheless. If he's the type, in this continuity, to bust into the Ecruteak base and hyper beam some dudes, then it's hard to imagine him having a lot of patience for TR, even if he can't just tell them to fuck off entirely for political reasons. One way or another, there surely have to be people sympathetic to the legends in the League, even if their hands are a bit tied in how they express it...

I wouldn't be surprised if Team Rocket were hoping that Mewtwo would show up, too, given that they must know he's been in the area. If they wanted to paint the legends as violent, destructive, and generally scary, they couldn't do much better than getting him into play! (Maybe he'll cause trouble during next chapter's negotiations, heh.) Looking forward to how this all resolves!

Alright fine, Suicune was here, I guess.
Tenses are always weird in internal monologue that's presented as part of the (past-tense) narration. This would really sound best as "Alright, fine, Suicune's here, I guess," but keeping it past tense I think it should be "guessed."

- I was kind of surprised nobody asked Suicune what it was up to when they met it in the car park (though I imagine they would have gotten a brush-off anyway). Depeding on what it's planning, it seems like they might want to scrub the mission or at least change their plans, if what Suicune had in mind would interfere with it. No surprise that's exactly what happens, heh.

I yelled, crossing my hands back and forth.
I think I get the gesture you're going for here, but the description sounds a bit odd. Nor do I know that there's an elegant way to convey that motion specifically, heh. Something in the vein of "waving my hands" might work a little better.

My eyes snapped open on a yellow face, inches from mine.
I think "to" would sound better than "on" here.

My hands flew to my pockets and I let out Stygian and Jet in a flash, then ducked behind a concrete pillar, straining my ears to hear any other sounds over the alarm.
This sentence wants another comma before the first "and:" "my pockets, and I let out Stygian"

We ducked under the door and Feraligatr let go, allowing it to slowly clatter downward, now partially crumpled around the middle.
This one also wants a comma before "and:" "under the door, and Feraligatr let go"

I squinted up at the clouds above, my eyes locking onto a distinct, jagged silhouette rapidly descending.
The word order here strikes me as a little funky. It's tricky because there are a lot of descriptors here, but if you wanted to keep all of them, I think "distinct, jagged, rapidly-descending silhouette" would sound better.

But it didn’t really feel like I was seeing any of it, my mind was too busy racing, trying to process everything.
Two sentences here: "But it didn't really feel like I was seeing any of it. My mind was too busy racing, trying to process everything."

- When Jade insisted that she had to be the one to go scouting, I was unclear why Aros couldn't have taken one of the other kids instead. I forget whether this situation has come up before--maybe you need specialized flight practice with a pokémon before you can ride it safely?

I tapped Aros’s side and we lifted from the ground.
Wants a comma: "I tapped Aros's side, and we lifted from the ground."

Aros took that opportunity to breathe out another Dragon Pulse and this time nothing got in the way. A burst of violet dragonfire exploded in Nidoqueen’s face and she stumbled back to her trainer, looking dazed
Both these sentences want commas: "Dragon pulse, and this time;" "Nidoqueen's face, and she stumbled." The period at the end of the sentence is also missing!
 

K_S

Unrepentent Giovanni and Rocket fan
Blitz review
Prologue (1/3)

Hi chibi here for the blitz review, figure i'd poke at a long fic and may i say kudos with staying with this tale twenty years i wager its going to be a ride heck of a ride.

Laughs. I'm imagining lugia in a nest of coral arranged like a blanket, a crude do not disturb sign, with a jellyfish nightcap just willing the noise to go away... For five ...more... millenia..

But nah they cant hit snooze or else the plot doesnt happen.

And ralicanth, cheery embassaey of " you cant sleep this off" has served as an alarm clock and then some.

A council, this will be interesting.

Seems like an anti appocolyptic slant. From a gathering that couldn't cook ramen as a group much less save everyone. Especially since saving translates to "partner with a smelly human" and if Lugia who is canonically the nicer legend is gritting his teeth i can't imagine the other six members are going to be more mature.

So we flip from legends to school kids. I feel for Starr. She's getting uprooted and the resoning seems dodgy at best and i think a lot of it isn't being spoken of. Poor Jade's got a case of losing his best friend and a glimpse into adult matters that arent his buisness but rattling his world. And we cycle from that loss to the dim hope that maybe, someday, they'll be reuinited. Curious to see shes already got a ponyta... And the mon listed speak of Elm aka johto... But they're in Viridian? Well i saw Viridian mentioned and visiting so i am guessing a bit. The back and forth, from the mock punch to the last moment awkwardness felt very real for the cast.

It'll be curious to see how this all links together later.
 
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K_S

Unrepentent Giovanni and Rocket fan
Blitz review
chapter 2

So we're starting in the middle of a chase. During a fire no less, that adds a load of desperation on the p.o.v. as well as the persuers.

And theyre being persued by a jeep? Yeah that bike is not going to save them but its giving them hope i guess? And with the cut off its over amd the chaser is a compitent auto equiped team rocket...

Yeah this kid went from the fire into the lava pit fast. Kiddos panic attack feels both justified and very real... So entie was Rocoets victim of the week, hopefully itll get away. But why are these grunts taking the kid to viridian... Unless theyre making the mostake of taking them to thier boss..

While i get swifts a bird wondering which type he is. Even in gen one theres a few options.

Even if this doesnt end in them encountering gio theyre getting way too much information to be safe to keep around. And i kinda wonder if these grunts haven't realized that yet.

Sounds like theyre chasing red here. Though children soldiers seems a bit extreame considerong minors go out in journeies maybe not that extreame per canon. Well so much for hoping entie would be spared. And interdivision fighting oh joy.

Also love how the kids like... They caught a literal god and are treating it like a book report. One and done.

And theyre dragging her in deeper. The further she goes with them the more likely shes going to be offed when they get the data shes holding... The situation is very much a catch 22 fornher odds of survival. Nut shes got however long it takes to get to celedon to plot escape routes at least.

And now divested of her starter, money, and i.d. jades problems are getting worse. Spenser and his typhlosion are definitly proof that rockets parinoia isnt unfounded. Rudy further proof.

Jades reaction to rudys anmouncment of "i got a starter" tells tales as to where thier mind is still at. Definitly wrong priorities amd all that, glad Spencers got his head on right at least.

Well easy sabatoge. Release all the pokemon in the crates. But yeah wait until landing. Glad jade got her charmander back and shes only taking the bare minimum supplies. I'd of suggested all out looting.. Wonder if one of the guys will think of it.

Snorts and jade is channeling tje pokemon professor here just a bit. Oak would be proud. But we got a our pokemon whisperer with half her team up and running. Wonder where swift went?

I think the kids found some legends. Wonder which ones.

Nice a zapdos chu. Not nice tyson cjecking on the goods and realizomg hes now a hostage holder of three. And it figures Rocket has controls on the projects. I wonder what the scyther was mixed up with and how bad its going to go.

Considering its movong faster then sight probably not very good.
 

K_S

Unrepentent Giovanni and Rocket fan
Chapter 3
blitz review

We got a scyther verses a zapchu. I suspect this is going to go bad. For tje scyther. And i hope one of these rescues is is going to be a parachute type that knows protect.

If the mon had gone after the kids this would have gone so different. As it is i suspect were gunna have a case of quick k.o.

Thats a smart squirtle. I guess not all the caught mon are going to be gung ho. So so much for my idea about a stampede escape route.

Jade gently trying to talk firestorm down:
You are level five. Razor is level eighty... Please no.

Ots a good thing jades pokewhisperer status is not kicking in right now i imagine zapchu is screaming swears around lightning bolts.

You know the battle and scuffle is amusing but i suspect the long term consequences of these kids becoming known to Rocket and tjier parents, friends, ect getting traced back to be used as leverage is not being considered. And with the merger mon being used Rockets got very good reason to be paying attention to who these kids are.

Rudy is a person after my own heart. Yes start with surf but everytjing else is also fair game.

Pikas wearing out. Amd he's checking out despite Jades rescue attempt to lure him over fitting but problematic. Wait zapchu is provokong a electabuz? is it looking for a power boost or... Guess he was but he used it to fry the wall?

Wonder if chu bailed before it got sealed up. Regardless tyson is going to kill them and the kods probably have rewards on thier heads at this point. Even though they are control crashing they are far from safe since the piolets could overpower the firetype. Or have mon. Or reach weapons...

As for jade introing her new mon to her established pidgy partner... That was cute but its back to buisness. Trying to figure who knows what about that (entie made?) fire.

Guys, hes radio'd for pick up, reinforcments, and leaving now with a mon herd is probanly the safest route. Whip out those flamethrowers and bail.

And they finally cotton on... Headdesk...
Well at least they got transport if arcanime cam carry everyone. Amd getting zapchu to tag along (unwillingly) migjt save thier bacon later.

Thier escape and tail end of the chapter in a nutshell.

Jade:
We'll escape on the titan dog (jeeps appear)
Well we will escape on the bird (raichu makes kfc)
Arceus help?
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. quilava-fobbie
  5. sneasel-kate
Heya, took a little longer than expected, but I’m sliding right in with my end of things for our review exchange, plus a small bonus thrown in since I felt like going on a bit longer:

Chapter 5

January, 5 years ago

“So, are you finally gonna tell us what you’re upset about?” Ajia asked, breaking the tension that had followed us ever since school got out.

Starr let out a frustrated sigh. “Ajia, I thought I already said I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Ahh, sorry, I’ll stop asking,” Ajia replied, holding her palms out.

Huh, I didn’t remember this flashback scene the last time I remembered reading Chapter 5. I wonder if that’s something you added as part of your rewrite of the first five chapters or else if it’s just been a long while.

The three of us were walking to Ajia’s house. She lived closest to school, so we usually hung out at her place. My house was too far to walk. And I’d never even seen where Starr lived.

Um… yeah, have you ever considered that there might have been a reason for that, Jade?

Starr’s arms were folded. Her face looked like she was arguing with herself in her head. “Alright fine, it’s Lexx,” she finally said. “That little worm stole my report card.” She glowered at Ajia like it was somehow her fault.

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Yeah, okay Starr. I know what your family life at home is like, so color me very skeptical.

“Has he done anything with it?” Ajia asked patiently.

Starr paused to think. “Well, no. But he’s obviously planning to use it as blackmail or something.”

Starr, if you want people to believe your story about Lexx, you need to not obviously stop to coach yourself on details there…

Ajia put a hand to her chin. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

“I wasn’t asking you to,” Starr replied quickly. “Besides, he’s
my brother, not yours.”

Huh, maybe she did get her report card stolen after all. I mean, I still doubt it’s the main driver of Starr’s mood, but still.

“That just means he might listen to me,” Ajia pointed out with a sly grin.

Starr let out a snort. “I swear it’s like you’re the only person he listens to sometimes. But of
course my parents always go easy on him.”

Boy does that hit different considering what her dad’s relationship with his children is in official media.

“Was the report card really that bad?” I asked curiously.

Starr had to tilt her head to look up at me. I was walking on top of the brick wall that ran along the sidewalk, so I was way taller than her.

The look Starr gave me said that she wasn’t too happy with my question. But then she made a face like she didn’t care and said, “Well, if you really need to know, I didn’t pass math or writing.”

Oof. That was pretty bad.

I wonder if this was foreshadowing that Starr was going to wind up and going on a journey, since if she’s just casually blowing off her schooling at this age…

“Don’t give me that look,” Starr said, rolling her eyes. “Are you really doing that much better?”

“I’m passing most of my classes,” I replied defensively. Not Pokéspeech. But that class was impossible anyway, so it basically didn’t count. I don’t know how
anyone managed to pass.

Ah yes, the joys of “tonal” languages. As someone who studied one, I can feel her pain there.
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The wall stopped when we reached the end of the block, so I jumped down and landed next to Starr. We were almost the same height, even though she was older than me.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter,” Starr went on. “When we get to Ajia’s place, I just want to hang out and watch shows and pretend I’m an only child.”

I shrugged. “That’s fine with me.”

Whelp, I suppose I should take the under on Starr’s grades having ever gotten better from this point in time if that’s her reaction to getting a report card with multiple failing grades on it. ^^;

Ajia elbowed Starr. “Seriously, do you want me to talk to Lexx? I hate to see my friends fight. Even if they’re related,” she added with a wink.

Starr let out an exaggerated groan. “Ajia, when are you gonna learn that I don’t want you to
fix things all the time?”

Ajia laughed. “Sorry, sorry.”

This is going to get echoed in a later chapter at some point, and probably in a dramatically less cute fashion. I can already tell.

A few seconds passed. Starr rubbed her arm, glancing away. “But like… you wanted to help, I’m not gonna stop you or anything.”

Ajia’s face lit up. “Sure thing.”

Ah yes, those characters who will swear up and down that they don’t need your help, and then turn around and instantly accept it. It was nice to have a refresher on the way that Starr ticks, and I’ll definitely be keeping that one in mind.

Today

“All in all, great job today, everyone. I’d say we’ve graduated to top class as far as not-getting-killed-by-Rockets goes,” Spencer said, stretching widely and flopping to the ground.

We were resting in a small, shaded clearing in the woods some twenty minutes west of the crash side, after Spencer’s Pidgeot had proven too sore to make the full journey back to Viridian—especially with two passengers. Still, none of us protested the chance to stop and catch our breath after the harrowing escape. I hadn’t moved from the spot I’d collapsed onto after sliding down Aerodactyl’s back, utterly numb. It would have been nice to just lie there with the wind rustling the leaves and watch the sky slowly melt into red as the day drew to a close. I still had too many thoughts swirling through my head to appreciate it, though.

Rudy: “Shouldn’t we be trying to get further from here in case those Rockets-?”
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Jade: “Rudy, we’re twenty minutes out in the woods without a direct line of sight to the sky. I think that we’re good right now for having gotten away from the Rockets.”

“And as an added bonus, check it out,” Spencer added, sliding his backpack down from his shoulders and opening it to reveal… Pokéballs. Lots and lots of Pokéballs.

“The other stolen Pokémon from the plane,” he went on, grinning broadly. “I only had a few seconds, so I pretty much just dumped ‘em all in while we were looking for the healing items. No clue where any of ‘em came from, but I figure I can drop them off at a ranger station so they can get back to their homes or trainers or whatever.”

Jade: “Geez, that’s a lot of Pokéballs. You’re sure that you got all of them, Spencer?”
Spencer: “... All the ones that I could grab, which is better than nothing?”
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The other Pokémon—I’d completely forgotten about them after all the fighting for our lives. At least something good had come from us needing to return to the plane.

Rudy: “I mean, I’m pretty sure there were a lot of others that Spencer didn’t manage to-”
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Jade: “Rudy, seriously. Stop ruining the moment.” >_>;

“So, Jade… you’ve really got to tell me how you got mixed up with those Rockets in the first place,” Ajia said, giving me a sideways glance—or at least, what looked sideways, given that I was sprawled out on the grass looking up at her. It was hard to tell with everything upside-down.

Jade: “I… didn’t listen to my family’s bird and didn’t cut and run to heal the half-dead Charmander I found in the woods and went to go and spectate Rockets fighting with Entei.” >_>;
Rudy: “Technically, I don’t think that’s canon anymore. But close enough, really.”

I couldn’t help letting out a laugh. “Me? What about you?! How did you even know we were there?”

“I asked you first,” Ajia replied with a playful smirk.

Oh, come on. That wasn’t fair.

Jade: “Seriously, I already gave an answer, so out with it, Ajia.”

I sighed, unsure of how much I wanted to say about it. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw something I shouldn’t have. That’s really all it was.” Okay, so that wasn’t the whole truth. Still, I wasn’t exactly sure if I wanted to bring up my conversation with the Charizard trainer—not because he told me to keep it a secret, but because I was afraid of the reaction I’d get.

Ajia raised an eyebrow, looking confused. “They kidnapped you just because you saw them doing something? That seems like a waste of time. A big organization like Team Rocket shouldn’t care if some random kid saw them doing something. It’s not like you could do anything with that info.”

Jade: “In my defense, the Rocket who kidnapped me was an idiot who brought me straight back to their local base and then fired a loaded gun inside a moving plane. Repeatedly.” >_>;
Rudy: “Probably. Some of that stuff might have also gotten retconned since the guy writing these things read our story, but the point is that they’re Rockets, so are you really questioning their ability to be boneheaded and petty?”

I paused. “Well… it wasn’t just ‘something.’ I saw them trying to catch Entei.”

That got a noticeable silence out of everyone. Rudy sat up immediately, eyes wide and jaw hanging.

“You actually saw Entei?” he finally said.

I nodded blankly, unsure of what else to do.

Jade: “So, uh… obviously this is really, really bad at the moment, but I take it from your silence that you didn’t know that this was going on, Ajia?”

“Entei. As in, Legendary beast, Entei? Makes volcanoes erupt, and all that?” Spencer said incredulously.

Jade: “Did I stutter?”
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“Has anyone ever captured a Legendary before?” Rudy asked with an awed look.

Almost immediately, Ajia replied, “No. Never.”

Jade: “And now Team Rocket has. Great. I didn’t feel like sleeping tonight, either.”
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I closed my eyes, feeling miserable. “They succeeded. They actually caught it. There wasn’t anything I could do.”

Ajia gave me a weird look, like she found my words completely bizarre. “Well, come on. It’s not like you could have done anything.”

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Jade: “Gee, rub it in, why don’t ya?” >_>;

I couldn’t have done anything. It was the same way with the Rocket situation we had just been in. In both cases, I’d been powerless.

“What would you have done in that situation?” I found myself asking, not entirely sure why.

“Huh? That’s… what kind of question is that?”

Translation: She wants to know how strong you’ve become and wants a piece of the action, Ajia.

I sighed. “Never mind. It was stupid, forget it.”

“Scary organization that tried to kill us now has an ultra-powerful fire-breathing weapon. I hope I’m not the only one bothered by this,” Spencer remarked.

Jade: “Okay, yes, but we avoided dying horribly at the hands of Rockets for like 3 chapters in a row, and can we just take a moment to appreciate that before we lose our heads about them having an Entei to push around right now?” ^^;

I didn’t really know what to say to that so I just stared up at the sky. It was almost night—pinpricks of starlight had begun shining above us. If we didn’t get back to Viridian soon, I’d have a world of explaining to do. The idea of returning home after all of this felt strange and foreign.

Isn’t Jade already going to have a bunch of explaining from the absolute state of her clothes from getting thrown around and in a plane crash over the past three chapters, from the smell of Typhlosion soot on her, and the fact that she’s now got a Charmander and a part-thunderbird Pikachu with her?
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“Even if you saw them going after Entei, I still don’t get why they cared so much,” Ajia went on, apparently still trying to figure out the missing link in my story. “It just seems weird that they had to kidnap you even if you didn’t know all that much about them.”

Jade: “Again, the Rocket who made the call wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck.” >_>;
Rudy: “I mean, he had enough one to pull that fast one on us with that ADS-B transponder communicator on the plane…”

“Can… can we not talk about this anymore?” I asked, looking away. “And in any case… what about you? You never said how found us there.”

“I saw the Fire Blast from the air. It was pretty hard to miss, actually.”

Jade: “... Okay, yes, I guess that would be hard to miss, but why were you even there, Ajia?”
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I gave her an incredulous stare. “Um. You just happened to be flying by and see us?”

Ajia chuckled slightly. “Okay, okay, I already knew you were in trouble. I heard about the situation from a friend. It’s kind of a long story, though.”

Ajia: “Also, seeing a plane abruptly go dark on Flightradar24 kinda helped confirm that I was where I needed to be.”

I raised an eyebrow. “We’ve got time. And does this have anything to do with the fact that you’ve fought Rockets before?”

She considered the question for a bit and then nodded. “I don’t want to end up dragging you into that mess, though.”

On the one hand, Jade would be well advised to take Ajia’s warning, on the other hand, it would be a really short and underwhelming story if she did, so… ^^;

I couldn’t help staring. “I’m already involved in this Rocket mess after today, so what’s the difference?”

“Jade, be glad that what happened today didn’t pull you in too deep,” she said, suddenly looking very serious. I blinked, a bit taken aback by the sudden tone shift. My brain still had a hard time accepting the fact that she was used to situations like this.

Ajia: “Seriously, Jade. Take the hint.” >_>;
Jade: “I’m sorry, but what on earth am I supposed to do for the next 50 chapters if I’m just sitting around at home? Bore the audience to death with me just barely passing Pokéspeech classes?”
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Ajia paused, seeing the look on my face. “I’m sorry. It all happened a long time ago.”

I didn’t say anything. It was kind of obvious that she didn’t want to tell me anyway, and I couldn’t help feeling annoyed, even if she had a good reason.

Which will be shown in loving detail at some point in the future. I can already tell.

“So… what are you going to do now? Were you on a training journey before this all started?” Ajia asked.

Rudy: “I mean, I was on one-”
Ajia: “I wasn’t asking you, Rudy. Go back to being quiet in the background.” >_>;

“Eh… not exactly… I still don’t have a trainer’s license, so—”

“You don’t?” she asked, looking confused. “How did you get a Charmander, then?”

“He’s, uh… not mine. I found him in the woods before I ran into the Rockets.”

“Which is completely unfair, if you ask me,” Rudy interjected.

Ah yes, Rudy has his priorities in order right about now.
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“Yeah, yeah,” I said exasperatedly. “Y’know, I’m… kind of surprised you chose Squirtle as your starter.”

Rudy folded his arms with an overly sulky expression. “Yeah. Thanks a lot, Dad. He specifically requested a water-type for the job. He thinks me and Ebony aren’t responsible enough to travel on our own without starting a wildfire or something.”

I mean, considering how you got talked into sneaking aboard a Rocket jet to try and pull a jailbreak gambit and then waited for the plane to take off... yeah, your dad was right, Rudy.

His dad was probably right about that, but I didn’t dare say so out loud.

See, Rudy? Even Jade agrees with me on this one.

“So, think we’re ready to head off now?” Ajia asked, standing up and stretching. “Back to Viridian, right?”

I hesitated. After the events of today, the idea of returning home like nothing had ever happened felt… strange. Going to school, doing homework, knowing that the legends were in danger? Sure, maybe I was too weak to do anything about Team Rocket now. But wasn’t that what the Charizard trainer was aiming to change? How could I go home and do nothing after hearing what he’d said and seeing the proof right in front of me?

I mean, that’s easier than you think, Jade, just go:

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Which as lame as it sounds, it could work… until the Rockets start coming around to take care of loose ends. ^^;

I hadn’t wanted to get involved because I didn’t think I could make a difference. Now I wanted to join because of that. Maybe I was just insane.

Also, you were foreshadowed as far as Chapter 1 as having a skewed sense of judgment with regard to taking risks and are in that “young and think you can conquer the world” phase of life.

“Hey Ajia, can I talk to you about something for a bit?”

“Sure?” she said, looking a bit puzzled when I stood up and walked away from the clearing. I guess it was kind of weird that I wanted to talk about it in private. But I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone to begin with, and I’d known Ajia the longest, so it just felt right.

Ajia: “Jade, I swear, if this is more about wanting to go and fight Rockets…”
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Jade: “Look, just hear me out on this first, Ajia.”

“What is it?” Ajia asked once we were a good distance from the others, who were now looking rather confused.

I took a deep breath before pulling the card out of my pocket and handing it to her. “I want to know what you think of this. I’m honestly considering joining a group working against Team Rocket.”

- Ajia takes the card -
Ajia:
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Something flickered in her eyes when I said that, though I couldn’t quite figure out what. “So you really want to fight the Rockets, huh? Even after what I said.”

I nodded. Much to my surprise, she just smiled and shrugged. “Hey, if you’re set on trying to help stop them, I’ll stop trying to talk you out of it. I’d be lying if I said I regretted my decision to get involved way back when. It’s been hard… but it’s worth it.

I can already tell that those words are not going to age well later on in this story. Or else at a bare minimum, enough is going to happen that Ajia and the rest of the signups over the next few chapters are going to seriously question if it was worth it.

Ajia proceeded to read the card several times, repeating certain bits out loud to herself as though trying to discover some hidden meaning that I’d overlooked.

This is… really vague. Possibly just to protect the leader from being found out. It doesn’t even say where you’ll be going… I guess you’re supposed to learn that in Vermilion. Overall, it’s suspicious, but I don’t think it’s a trap.”

“A trap?” I said blankly. The thought hadn’t really occurred to me.

Ajia: “... Jade, not that I’m one to be shooting down others who want to make a difference, but are you sure you know what you’re getting into if you’re just now considering the possibility that this could be a trap?” -_-;

She nodded. “There’s always the possibility, but that’d be very unlike the Rockets. What would they gain by going and finding a bunch of kids, pointlessly feeding them info, and then killing them? No, I think it’s real… though I can’t say I know what the motives are.”

The irony is that they actually wind up attempting to do almost exactly this over the course of the chapters immediately following this one, minus the ‘feeding them info’ part.

The motives? What other motive could there be other than stopping Team Rocket for its own sake? Before I could ask, Ajia said, “Who exactly gave this to you? The leader of the team, or someone working for them?”

“Um, I’m pretty sure he was the leader. Tall guy, college-aged… er, I’m not very good at describing people.”

Ajia paused, deep in thought. She considered something for a few seconds and then said,

Make sure he gives you more info before you commit to anything. And I hope you’ll get to train for a while before actually fighting any Rockets,” she said. “Then again, only an idiot would throw newbie trainers against them and expect anything good to come out of it. So depending on how good the training is… this could actually be a really good opportunity. But do you need to get a license first…?”

Yeah, Stalker totally recruited Ajia back in the day. Though that actually makes me wonder just how long he’s been at his gambit for trying to take down Team Rocket from the inside?

I clenched my fists. “I failed the test again, so I can’t. But I don’t care. I’ve wanted to be a trainer ever since you left. Heck, even before that, back when Starr left. So… I’m doing this, with or without.”

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We’ll have a good fifty-plus chapters to find out! :V

Ajia’s expression faltered for just a second. But then her face split into a wide grin. “I don’t know whether to tell you that’s a bad idea, or tell you that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard you say.” I couldn’t help laughing slightly. “So I guess you want to go to Vermilion now?”

I paused. This was it.

“Yeah. To Vermilion.”

Jade: “Since really, if the Rockets weren’t going to let me go back to normal life after seeing Entei, they’re definitely not letting me do that now after being involved in one of their planes crashing and embarrassing one of their tougher grunts. ^^;


As we walked back to the clearing, my head already felt lighter. This was real. I’d made my decision.

“So Jade, mind telling us what your ultra-secret talk was about?” Rudy asked with a bit of a laugh.

I took a deep breath and said it: “I’m starting my training journey.” Somehow, saying it out loud made it feel all the more real.

Rudy: “Really, that’s what you’re worried about right now, Jade? You don’t even have a license!”
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Jade: “I won’t need one for the sort of journey I’m going on.”

Rudy stared at me, taking a few seconds to process my words. “…Wait, seriously? Hey, I told you it was a good idea! But seriously, this is kind of out of nowhere. What changed your mind?”

Jade: “Well, I got kidnapped, shot at multiple times, and survived a plane crash all in a day, so it kinda puts everything in perspective.” ^^:

I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. I repeated that excuse in my head, but it wasn’t the whole reason. This crazy plan was my choice, and he didn’t need to be involved. I kind of already knew he’d want to be involved if I told him.

“I guess you could say that all of this—everything that happened today—changed my mind.”

I mean, yeah. I figured that that would wind up coming up, even if it’s obviously not the full story behind what’s going on in Jade’s head.

I glanced around the clearing, eyes falling on where I had placed the limp experimental Pikachu. His back rose and fell lightly with each breath, but there was no sign of him waking up any time soon.

I didn’t know what to do with him at this point. It seemed cruel to just leave him here where a predator could find him out cold. And even if it had been for his own reasons, he had helped us.

Jade: “... Or a Rocket could, for that matter. Though say… it’s not feasible to microchip Pokémon in this setting, right? Since if so… er… well, we’re probably not anywhere near as safe and alone as we thought we were all this time.”
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“Well, he destroyed his Pokéball, so I guess I’ll just have to hold him again,” I said, picking up the hybrid as gently as possible.

“Wait a minute… you’re gonna keep that thing?” Rudy asked, staring wide-eyed at Pikachu with a mixture of incredulous fear and envy.

“Of course not,” I replied. “I’m just going to hold onto him until he wakes up, then explain the situation to him. He’ll probably leave afterwards.” At least, I hoped so.

>laughs in old SerebiiForums banner art

Yeah, good luck with that one, Jade. The story’s not letting you off from being stuck with Chibi that easily.

Ajia put a hand to her chin thoughtfully. “Well, it couldn’t hurt to put him in one temporarily, could it? Just to move him safely?”

I wasn’t too sure how I felt about that, but… it was probably best, so I nodded. Ajia grabbed a Pokéball from her bag and tapped it against Pikachu. His body flickered red for a moment, but nothing else happened.

Ajia tilted her head. “Huh. Does he already have a Pokéball?

Oh, so that’s how this setting handles what attempting to catch someone else’s Pokémon with a Pokéball looks like.

“No, I’m sure he destroyed it.” That should have broken the link. Then again, his Pokéball had been jet black. I’d figured it was just a cosmetic thing, but maybe it was special. A ball to contain hybrid Pokémon?

Right, that’s a thing. Though I suppose it does make sense that TR would want to try to keep their experiments out of the clutches of shorts-wearing shin-kickers who wound up getting cosmically lucky. I actually don’t remember whether or not they did the same thing with the Mewtwo of this continuity, or if the implication is that a separate team handled his creation / made him before such failsafes started being implemented.

“Well, I guess you’ll have to keep holding him, then,” Ajia said with a shrug.

She climbed up onto her Aerodactyl’s back and strapped herself into its flight harness, prompting the reptile to stand up and stretch its wings. I climbed on behind her, taking care to hold Pikachu as best as I could while still keeping a firm grip on the Aerodactyl’s straps.

Aerodactyl: “*Um… that thing is going to stay asleep through the entire journey, right? Since I saw what it did to all those Rockets back at the plane crash.*”
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“Leaving now, huh?” Spencer asked. “Take care! Nice fighting with you, or… alongside you, I guess.”

It wasn’t like I had done much, but his words still made me smile. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t shown up.”

Jade: “Well, I mean, intellectually, I suppose I do know what I’ve done, but I’d really not like to think about that too hard since it would mean this story would be really short and unpleasant.” ^^;

Aerodactyl launched from the ground, and we were off. The air was dusky and cool, and the wind whipped at our faces and through our hair as we flew onward. I lost track of how long we flew, but the sky had deepened into navy by the time I spotted city lights reflecting off the sea in the distance. Finally, the winged reptile swooped low over Vermilion City, landing in front of the Pokémon Center. I let myself down from its back slowly, my hands now sore beyond belief from all the flying we’d done today. It was difficult just holding Pikachu now—I had to constantly shift his weight between my arms.

Wait, just how close were they to Vermillion City all this time anyways? Since this feels like it couldn’t possibly have been more than an hour at most.

Ajia dismounted Aerodactyl to stand next to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. “So, this is it. Staring your journey… it’s a pretty big step! Glad I got to see it.”

I rubbed the back of my head. “Yeah, it’s… pretty wild.” I wasn’t sure when it would start to feel real.

For roughly two chapters before TR blows up a ferry you’re on, so… yeah. Enjoy the honeymoon period while it lasts, Jade.

Ajia snapped her fingers. “Hey, let me give you my new Pokégear number, alright? In case you need anything.”

She grabbed a pen and notepad from her bag and quickly scribbled onto a blank page before tearing it out and handing it to me. I took the paper, and my brain immediately conjured the image of failing and needing to call Ajia to get a lift back home. I did my best to force it from my head. None of that. It wouldn’t do any good.

Look, hon, I haven’t exactly read that far into your story, but by the point I got to, I’m pretty sure that you couldn’t go back home short of putting your entire family into a witness protection program.
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Ajia climbed back onto Aerodactyl’s back and waved lightly to me. “Good luck. I hope things work out for you. I mean it.”

Aaaaaaand Ajia jinxed her.

I waved. “Thanks, Ajia.”

And with that, they were off, soaring into the night sky and out of sight.

Jade: “... Actually, I wonder if this was really the best idea given that she has actual experience dealing with Rockets while I have no idea what I’m doing besides the instructions on this card.” .-.

So now it was time for me to figure out how to handle myself on my own. Though I suppose I wasn’t on my own—I did have my Pokémon.

And then it hit me. I had made this decision without even thinking about the fact that I still had a confused Charmander that wasn’t even on my team. I pulled out Firestorm’s Pokéball and rolled it around in my palm. I’d have to tell him what had happened eventually… and apologize for taking him here without his consent. No sense putting it off. A flash of white light formed into the flame-tailed lizard, who glanced around, looking puzzled.

Jade: “I mean, the alternative was leaving him to either die or be snatched by Rockets, so he can’t be that mad at me, right?” ^^;

“*Are we safe now?*” he asked.

I nodded. “We’re far from your old home, though. I’m not sure what you want to do, but—”

He cut me off with, “*Aren’t you my trainer now?*”

Jade: “... Wait, you’re actually going to honor me catching you while you were half-dead in a forest?” .-.
Firestorm: “*I mean, you also healed me and taught me how to barf up giant fire kanji afterwards, so even if it wasn’t exactly something I agreed to at first, I think we’re even.*” ^^:

I blinked stupidly at him. If I’d been expecting anything, it wasn’t that. “I guess? I never properly captured you, but…” I trailed off awkwardly.

Firestorm swished his tail and said something to do with not caring about formalities like that.

Firestorm: “*Though I don’t suppose you have another one of those tee-yem thingies handy, since boy was that last one a real trip.*”
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Jade: “Yeah, I wish. In retrospect, it was probably kinda dumb for us to not steal everything that wasn’t nailed down in that Rocket plane, wasn’t it?” >_>;

Well, that wasn’t my only concern… Sure, it was nice to know that he was apparently pretty on-board with the whole having a trainer thing. But the whole point of battling a Pokémon to capture them was to prove yourself. To prove you could make them stronger. I didn’t know if I could do that for him.

“You know I’m not a real trainer, right?” I asked.

Firestorm: “*Doesn’t your world define schoolchildren who stand around in their shorts on random routes talking about how comfy and easy they are to wear as ‘trainers’? I think that you’re doing fine on that front, really.*”
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He paused to consider this. Then he asked if I’d be traveling and battling, or something like that.

“Well, yeah, but…”

“*Doesn’t that make you a trainer?*”

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I opened my mouth to speak, but then stopped. His words played on repeat in my head. He wasn’t worried about formalities. Why was I so worried?

I mean, you should be worried right now, Jade. If not necessarily about disappointing Firestorm and more that you’re about to leap headfirst into an endeavor that you don’t remotely understand the full implications of.

“I… guess it does.” I was a trainer now. I had to get used to that idea. And even if I didn’t feel like I could make him stronger now… maybe we’d both get stronger together.

Firestorm: “*Oh! Oh! I know what I want to learn next from you and those spinny machines! Draco Meteor-!*”
Jade: “Firestorm, that’s a Series 9 TM. Even if you could use it, I’m not sure if those are even going to exist in this setting for another decade.” >_>;

A veil of anxiety still hung over my head, but underneath it all, I couldn’t help feeling excited. Though this wasn’t the way I wanted it to happen, I was now a Pokémon trainer. An illegal one off on a mission to join a secret rebel team, sure… but a trainer nonetheless.

A cool, salty ocean breeze ruffled my bangs as I strolled down one of Vermilion’s coastal walkways, shopping bags in hand. I had put it off as long as possible, but eventually I’d needed to buy more clothes, no matter how much I hated clothes shopping. Would have been nice if I’d somehow known to grab some spare outfits when I left home. Of course, I’d had no way of knowing what would happen; I’d only planned on riding around town while Rudy finished his chores. It was almost crazy how something so small had led to all of this.

… Wait, with what money? Didn’t the Rockets clean Jade out as part of kidnapping her?

“*You guys spent way too long in there,*” a voice piped up from my feet.

I glanced down at Firestorm. “You said the same thing when we went to the library.”

“*Libraries are boring,*” the Charmander replied matter-of-factly.

“Well, I wasn’t just buying clothes—I got some snacks too.” That seemed to satisfy him.

Firestorm: “*Where on earth did you even get this money anyways?*”
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Jade: “... From the Fire Blast TM we stole? That had to have been worth a decent chunk of change selling it, right?”
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It was a good thing I’d held onto that Fire Blast TM—apparently the Series 5 discs were reusable, which made them more valuable than others. Pawning it off the second I got to Vermilion had managed to land me 20,000 pyen—probably far less than it was actually worth, but I wasn’t in a position to argue. I had spent well over half of it within my first two days in Vermilion, but hopefully I wouldn’t need to buy anything more than food for the remainder of my time here.

Yeah, this is definitely another one of those bits that is written reflecting a very “early internet” era, since my immediate thought upon reading this at first was “should’ve used Craigslist/eBay, bro”.

I paused just long enough to stuff the bags into my new backpack before continuing down the road alongside the bay, occasionally shooting a glance out over the horizon. I couldn’t help staring wide-eyed at the endless stretch of sea that surrounded half the city—it was so much more open than the hilly, forested setting I was used to seeing around Viridian.

“*I want to go see the gym tomorrow,*” Firestorm said.

Jade:
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Firestorm: “*Oh come on, I thought you were supposed to be a trainer! Going to Gyms is the most trainer thing ever!*”
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Jade: “Okay, first off, even if there wasn’t a meeting that we needed to make, there’s no way that we’d make it past the first couple trainers in Lt. Surge’s gym like this.”

I gave him a sideways look. “I don’t think they’ll let us participate in any of the training since I don’t have a license.”

Jade: “Also, that too.”

“*Just to watch.*”

“Alright, I’ll see what we can do.”

I was going to say “wouldn’t they card her at the door”, though I suppose Max in the anime does spectate a ton of Gym battles in spite of not training any Pokémon of his own.

Firestorm rambled on a bit about some fights he’d seen in a gym some time ago. I managed to catch… some of it. Something about a Sandshrew and some trick involving water? He was a lot more talkative now. Which meant getting more practice at Pokéspeech, whether I liked it or not. I still had to ask him to slow down or repeat himself a lot. He wasn’t very good at remembering it.

>fights he’d seen in a gym some time ago

Oh, so Firestorm had a trainer at some point in the past. I’m not sure how I forgot that detail, though it explains a lot about how he already knows so much about trained life and is so “meh, whatever” about how he was caught.

I felt a slight pang in my chest as we walked past the Pokémon Center and its promise of a roof and a bed. Those things were for licensed trainers—without being able to receive the trainer’s discount, I’d have gone broke within days. I’d had no choice but to settle on… much cheaper arrangements.

Oh, so it’s like the same shtick that state colleges do for tuition for state residents vs. out-of-staters. Though I wonder how much of a differential there is between the trainer/non-trainer rate for using Pokécenter facilities in this setting.

And so, we made our way down the now-familiar trail to the trainer’s campground that sat amidst the grassy hills of Route 6. It had the basic rest stop amenities like water pumps and bathrooms, but otherwise left food and shelter up to the trainers. It was there that I’d set up the tent that I bought the first night I arrived. The training high season had just started, so camping supplies were pretty cheap and thankfully didn’t require a license to purchase. That was at least one thing that had gone in my favor.

Jade: “In retrospect, I probably should’ve looked around for more options to sell that TM than just going to the first pawn shop I could find, since boy is this a downgrade even from finding a cheap motel.” >_>;

I set down the shopping bags next to our tent and then, on a whim, decided to glance inside. Pikachu wasn’t there. And I couldn’t remember seeing him this morning, either.

“Did either of you see Pikachu today?” I asked cautiously. Given his intimidating air, it felt weird just calling him ‘Pikachu,’ but I couldn’t think of what else to call him.

I mean, at least it’s not “Birdface”, which would be an accurate description of Chibi there.

“*Told you that he doesn’t want anything to do with us.*” Firestorm said dismissively.

“*He’s probably still training out in the field,*” Swift added. He looked down, pawing at the ground. “*I’m worried about him.*”

Firestorm looked puzzled. “*Why? He doesn’t care about us.*”

Firestorm: “*Wait, I’m sorry where did you come from again?*”
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Swift: “*Look, I was the one who helped find your charred body in the woods and we didn’t exactly go back home at any point since the plane crashed. I realize that I didn’t exactly get a lot of screentime since then, but seriously.*” >v>

Swift didn’t answer. I felt a bit relieved that Pikachu hadn’t decided to take off, but I couldn’t figure out why. Why did I care if a random Pokémon that wasn’t even on my team just decided to up and leave one day? It wasn’t like he’d said a word to any of us; he hadn’t even agreed or disagreed to staying with me.

Because he’s crazy-powerful in spite of his moody persona and you’re faced with the prospect of taking on Team Rocket with a team that would probably crash and burn against a 1-badge Gym team without him? ^^;

“Well, I hope he’s okay,” I murmured. There wasn’t much I could do about it now, anyway.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and said, “C’mon, I need to heat up some water,” while motioning for Firestorm to bring his tail over. I grabbed a cheap kettle that I’d bought from a thrift store for 100p and proceeded to fill it with water so I could make a cup of instant ramen. Getting good food for Swift and Firestorm meant that I had to save money somewhere. But it wasn’t like I didn’t eat ramen all the time back home anyway.

Ah yes, living campfires, a trainer’s best friend in the field for getting hot food in a hurry.

While his tail flame heated the kettle, Firestorm took the liberty to dig through the shopping, shoving bags of clothes to the side until he located the bag with the snacks. He asked me a question, but I didn’t catch it. I made the usual motion for him to repeat it, and he did, but I still couldn’t make it out. I thought about letting it go, but he seemed to want an answer, so I just… made the same motion again.

Firestorm: “*Again, can I have a snack? Though if you’re this unbothered by me already getting my claws on the bag…*”
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Firestorm gave an exaggerated sigh but repeated it again, slower this time: “Char’ charmann’der charmann ‘charr?”

Okay, sharp cutoff on the first syllable. Then full syllables, a trill, a sharp pause, tone shifting up, then back down. Then the verb, then the first syllable repeated with that trill at the end, that switched the tense, so—

…All that effort just to get that he’d asked if I could buy more cookies next time.

For reference, if you want to sell the sense of intonation, you could always break out the Pinyin diacritics, since hey, they do already provide a way of rendering 5 tones on their own.

“Sure, whatever,” I said exhaustedly.

Firestorm gave me a bewildered look.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Sorry, it’s not you, I just… really wish Pokéspeech was easier. I don’t know how everyone else hears those pitch changes so easily. I swear it’s like trying to hear a dog whistle or something,” I grumbled.

Jade: “Boy would my life be easier if this was a setting where you guys all were commonly literate, since seriously, how on earth do you get by on a language without phonemes?
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“*You’ll get it,*” Swift said, bumping his forehead against my arm.

I gave him a weak smile. “I know. I’d just like it to not take another three years.”

“*Years?*” Firestorm asked, looking genuinely puzzled. “*Why would it take years?*”

Firestorm: “*At least for me, I had my Pokéspeech down pat within weeks after hatching.*” ^^
Jade: “Gee, rub it in, why don’t ya?” >_>;

I sighed. “Humans aren’t like Pokémon; our brains don’t just ‘pick up’ languages like that.” I snapped my fingers to emphasize the point.

Jade: “Also, again. Your language literally doesn’t distinguish phonemes. The closest thing that human languages have are novelty tongue-twisters.”
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Firestorm blinked, absorbing that thought. “*Well, if you can’t hear the sounds,*”—I motioned for him to slow down— “*why don’t you try making them? You humans can make any sounds you want, right?*”

I shook my head. “That’d be even harder. It’s a lot easier for humans to learn how to hear the sounds than to actually make them, and that’s saying something.”

Firestorm: “*Also, what’s a ‘phoneme’ and why are you so hung up about it anyways?*”
Jade: “Look, let’s just say that if humans named ourselves in the same way you Pokémon do, there’d literally be over 800 different sounds in it. Our languages literally don’t work in the same fashion as yours.” >.<

It was impossible to appreciate just how different Pokéspeech was from human speech were before diving into it firsthand. It hadn’t made a lick of sense at first. How could a tiny handful of syllables make up every word in an entire language? How could every Pokémon species use an entirely different syllable set to make the exact same words? ‘Char’ alone could mean a dozen different things. But eventually they’d trained us to ignore the sound itself, and notice only the way it was said.

Ah yes, such is life when speaking “Lion-Eating Poet in the Stone Den”: the Language.

I’d been awful at it for the longest time. Even fumbling through slow and awkward conversations with Firestorm would have been completely unthinkable a year ago. I still wasn’t sure what had kept me going at it. Shame? Spite? Or just not wanting it all to be for nothing?

I mean, sunk cost fallacy is a pretty common motivator for people to stick things out in contravention of all good sense, so that’s what my money is also on myself.

I poured the now-boiling water into the ramen cup and was waiting for it to cook when a sudden flash of light drew my attention to the left. I jerked my head to see scattered bolts of lightning coming from a field to the north, twisting wildly into the air. Was that…?

Jade: “I mean, I suppose it could be someone else’s freaky Zapdos-eyed Pikachu that just lit up those bushes in the background?”
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I stood up and stepped away from the campsite, out into the tall grass, glancing in every direction until—there! The experimental Pikachu, darting around the grass as though tangling with an invisible opponent. Part of me suspected that he’d already defeated all the willing combatants on the route and scared away all the unwilling ones.

Would Chibi have even had any willing opponents after casually dropping the first taker? Since you’d think that word would’ve gotten around really fast about the freaky-looking Pikachu with unironically god-tier strength strutting around.

“Pikachu!” I called out, feeling rather silly. “Hey, Pikachu!”

He didn’t give any indication that he had heard me at all. The hybrid simply continued ducking and weaving throughout the grasses in a very precise and streamlined motion, occasionally leaping out and slicing his tail through the air.

Ah yes, I see that Chibi putting those Zapdos hunting instincts to good use.

“You know, I heard when you snuck into the tent last night to steal food. You could have just asked.”

Not a word. Not even a look. His spiky fur stood on end as he leaped forward and tail slammed the dead remains of a tree, unleashing a wave of electricity from the impact and scorching the trunk even more than before.

Jade: “You can at least give some acknowledgement that you heard me, you know!” >:(

“Seriously, I know I’m not your trainer but could you at least give me a reason you haven’t left yet? I have no idea what to think about you!”

The rodent’s breathing was starting to grow heavier from the intense training. With each wave of sparks that leaped off his fur, he let off a narrow string of lightning straight along the ground. Compared to his previous moves, this was a lot more precise and controlled.

Chibi: “*Seriously, lady. Buzz off. I’m clearly in the middle of something here.*” >_>;

“You know, in a few weeks, I’m gonna be leaving to join a group fighting the Rockets! Are you going to follow me then too?”

His movements faltered. It was only for a moment, but he definitely paused before leaping back into the tall grass and out of sight. I waited several seconds, but didn’t see any more signs of his training.

“Ugh, forget it,” I muttered, trudging back to the campsite.

Jade: “In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have expected him to be excited about the prospect of running into Rockets again.” >.<

“*How’d it go?*” Firestorm asked.

“Like you said, he doesn’t want anything to do with us,” I said in a low voice.

Jade: “Which really wasn’t what I wanted to hear given how we’re sorely underleveled as a team without him, but…” -_-;

I finished my ramen before climbing inside the tent and flopping down onto my sleeping bag. My eyelids started to droop and my muscles went limp, even though it was the middle of the afternoon. I’d felt similarly exhausted throughout the past few days too. Maybe it was stress—I didn’t really know.

The wind swept against the tent as I looked out toward the sky. Twelve more days in Vermilion…

Jade: “... In retrospect, I should’ve gone home to mooch off my parents before bouncing for Vermillion closer to the actual day I was supposed to show up, huh? Probably would’ve had the time to sell that Fire Blast TM properly, too.” >.<

My footsteps dragged as I walked down the boardwalk for what felt like the hundredth time. I paused to lean against the railing and pulled out the card I had been given, which was now frayed from just how many times I’d pulled it from my pocket.

Jade: “I sure hope that I don’t have to show this thing to get in, since at this rate, I’m not sure if there’s going to be a card left in a couple days.” ._.;

The card said to meet at Vermilion harbor prior to June 16. Well, I’d been here for seven days now, and I hadn’t seen that Charizard trainer yet. I wasn’t sure how I’d ever spot him. Vermillion was a huge city. A popular stop for both tourists and trainers alike. The harbor was always crowded. My best bet was just… hoping that he’d find me somehow. Even if that didn’t feel too promising.

Which only portends good things for how the actual process of fighting Rockets is going to go when this is the best plan Jade’s come up with in a full week. /s

And so, every day at noon, we walked up and down pier 3, waiting for a meeting that might never come. It felt pretty weird hanging around there. Pier 3 was mostly full of fishing boats, and crowded with sailors and water-types. I stuck out pretty badly, being the only kid around.

Swift rode on my shoulder, looking in every direction, taking in the details of the ships and sea just like he had the first day we walked here. Every so often Firestorm cautiously glanced over the edge of the pier and shivered at the sight.

Swift: “*Jade, you do realize that it’d be more time-efficient for me to do a flyover and come back and tell you if I saw any sign of the Charizard trainer, right?*” >v>
Jade: “Look, we can’t risk missing him because he happened to wear a hat for once, alright?”

I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if I didn’t meet the Charizard trainer in time. Would I miss my chance? Would I have to call Ajia and tell her that I’d failed? Return home to my boring life knowing what I now knew? I didn’t want to consider that. But every time I visited the pier, those thoughts wouldn’t leave me alone.

Words that will not age well within the span of like 15 chapters, at most. I can already tell.

“Looks like another bust,” I mumbled. “C’mon, let’s go get lunch.”

Swift wasn’t paying attention, staring straight up at the sky. I squinted through the midday sun, struggling to make out a figure soaring overhead. A flash of orange… a Charizard?

“Hey!” I yelled, waving. It did look similar to the one that the trainer had ridden. Maybe…

Jade: “Okay, in retrospect, maybe I was overestimating how much subtlety that Charizard trainer would display coming into town.”

The fire lizard glanced down at me, then pitched its wings back to dive downward so rapidly it almost looked like it was going to plunge into the water. But then, at the last second, its wings flared outward and it swooped up to land on the pier right in front of us.

A couple of fishermen working nearby looked up, annoyed. A Golduck with them told us to clear off, and the Charizard replied something to the effect of, “*Won’t be long.*” Then it turned around and leaned forward in a clear invite for me to climb on its back.

Jade: “Um… do you happen to know a guy who happened to be around any forest fires in the past week, or…?”

I blinked. “Oh, right, uh… you guys mind going in your Pokéballs for this? I don’t want anyone to give you trouble for hanging around here.” It was mostly directed at Firestorm since Swift could just fly away.

Firestorm just shrugged, so I recalled the pair and climbed onto the Charizard’s back. As wings unfurled on either side of me, I reached for something to hold onto… and then suddenly realized that it wasn’t wearing a riding harness. No choice—I clasped my arms around its neck, ready to hold on for dear life. But the takeoff was smooth compared to Aerodactyl’s instant vaulting into the air. Just a few graceful flaps and we were off, calmly, lazily riding the wind with the ocean glimmering far below us.

Charizard: “*I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this when people do this in the movies all the time.*” -_-;
Jade: “Yes, and people also ride motorcycles without helmets in the movies all the time. Then they try doing that in real life, crash, and die or else pick up TBIs they have to live with for the rest of their lives.” >_>;

We headed east of town where a maze of trails twisted their way around rocky, pockmarked hills surrounded by fields. Charizard flared its wings and we gradually lost speed before landing near a patch of forest.

“It’s good to see you.”

Oh, hello, Stalker.

I turned at the sound. There, at the edge of the trees, stood a tall, cloaked figure wearing a dark mask that completely covered his face. My heart caught in my chest. Finally. It had to be him—the one I’d met in the forest that day.

“I assume you’re here to learn more about the rebel team?” he asked.

“What’s with the mask?” I blurted out as I slid down from Charizard’s back.

Stalker: “What can I say? I’m not very photogenic.”
Jade: “You realize that human brains are wired to have trouble recognizing human faces as long as the region around the eyes is obscured, right? I’m pretty sure that this is some major overkill right now.” >_>;

He tilted his head. “That’s right, you saw my face back then,” he said distantly. “I hadn’t been planning on picking up any recruits that day, so I didn’t take care to hide my identity. Everyone else I approached only saw me in this.”

It felt a bit strange being stared at by someone whose face I couldn’t see. Then again, even without being able to see his face, I still couldn’t help feeling like I was being x-rayed. Just like when I’d looked into those icy blue eyes of his back then.

I mean, he does want to size you up and gauge how effective you’ll be at actually fighting Rockets, Jade.

I glanced around at the fields surrounding us. “Why’d we have to meet way out here anyway?”

“There could have been Rockets staking out the pier,” he replied simply, like he’d had the answer ready. “Even if they couldn’t see my face, they could still have targeted you. Charizard will drop you off at the Pokécenter so you won’t be followed,” he said, gesturing to the fire lizard.

“Huh…” I hadn’t thought of that. It was the sort of thing I’d have to start thinking about if I didn’t want to get captured again.

Jade: “Though now that you mention it, would they really have not noticed a friggin’ Charizard landing on a public pier or in front of a crowded Pokécenter?” >_>;

“First of all, I need to make sure you’re willing to go through with this.”

His words were like a sudden splash of water in my face. A reminder that I’d come here to sign up for something deathly serious.

I mean, you are only going to be going toe-to-toe with a mafia that’s already almost killed you on at least 3 separate occasions, Jade, so… yeah. This isn’t exactly a game where you get to do things over if things go south.

“I, well… after you first told me about it, I wasn’t so sure,” I admitted. “That was because I didn’t think I could do anything, but…” My voice trailed off. I wasn’t exactly doing the best job at selling myself.

The masked trainer considered me for some time. “I don’t want anyone joining because it sounds interesting and then quitting after they realize that there’s danger involved,” he said, his words slow and deliberate.

Of course, I’m not going to throw you into the fire until you’ve been trained. But one way or another, this is going to test your resolve.” His voice was cold. Even though he had probably said this same thing to all of his potential recruits, for some reason I felt like a perfect target for it.

I’m… not going to think too hard about what Stalker’s attrition rate for his recruits must be if he thinks that risk-hungry teenagers are ideal candidates for his plan to topple Team Rocket.
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And yet… I’d already been through danger with Team Rocket, and I still wanted to do this. That had to count for something, right?

Stalker: “I mean, only you can answer that question for yourself. Though hey, it’s good enough for me.”
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I took a deep breath. “I… I can’t just ignore what happened that day. I want to be able to make a difference.” I hoped he didn’t notice the slight quiver in my voice.

A few seconds passed. “Alright,” he said, pulling a small, stiff sheet of paper out of his coat and handing it to me. I took it and skimmed the text. No way… this was…

Jade: “Oh thank goodness, he didn’t notice it.”
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“This is a boarding pass for the S.S. Anne?” I said, staring blankly at him.

He nodded. “That’s where I’m having the recruits gather.”

My eyes slid back to the paper, as if expecting it to evaporate. “You’re really just giving tickets to everyone who’s joining the rebel team?”

“I told those in charge of the ship that I wanted specialty invites for the Pokémon trainer’s party on board and then bought eighty of them.”

Jade: “I’m sorry, but isn’t a public luxury liner going to be the definition of a surveilled place? I thought that this was supposed to be some secret gathering or whatever.” -_-;

I gawked at him. “Holy crap, you must be rich.”

“I wouldn’t be starting something like this if I weren’t prepared,” he said simply. “Still, I spent most of my extra funds on the tickets and renting the stadium we’ll be using as headquarters.”

Jade: “
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I’m sorry, you rented a what now?”

“Which is where…?” I asked.

“That’s classified until you arrive.”

I hesitated. “But then… how will we get there without anyone knowing? Couldn’t we be followed?”

Jade: “Since, again. Luxury liner with a crapton of cameras on the boat and at the ports it leaves and arrives at.” >_>;

“I’ve arranged for an invite-only event onboard the ship. Anyone who completes it will be teleported to the headquarters in secret.”

“You mean like a test?”

“That’s the idea.”

Staker: “And yes I know about the cameras. Trust me, I’ll have ways of dealing with them.”

A test… I already found myself wanting to know what kind of test, but something told me he wasn’t going to say. But that wasn’t the only question I’d had…

“You said you were recruiting beginning trainers,” I began, “but why? Why not more experienced ones? Wouldn’t they stand a better chance against Team Rocket?” My mind drifted back to the way Ajia had battled. If we had someone like her with us…

Because older trainers would either laugh this idea off as being ridiculous on its face or else nope out understanding the full implications of what it involves while teenagers by and large are gullible and prone to thinking they’re invincible?

He paused, mulling the question over. “I suppose I just preferred having a blank slate to work with. I want to train you all from scratch in the battling style that will be most useful for our missions, instead of forcing an experienced trainer to relearn everything.”

Which sounds like a more circumspect way of making the above point, just saying.

I… guess that made sense. It still seemed a bit weird, but I didn’t feel like I could say anything against it.

“It sounds like I’ll be seeing you with the others. Charizard will take you back to the city now.”

This was it. This was really happening.

I mean, you could technically get cold feet and blow off the S.S. Anne, but… yeah. You’ve very obviously already made up your mind for where you want to be, Jade.

“Yeah. I guess I’ll see you later, then,” I said, climbing onto Charizard’s back once more. But before it could take off, a random thought struck me. “Hey! What’s your name?”

He paused to consider the question. “I suppose you guys will need something to call me…” He turned away, and the last thing he said before Charizard lifted off was, “Stalker.”

Aaaaaaand there’s our name drop. Well, not really since IIRC, Stalker’s real name is ‘Sebastian’ or something like that, but that’s a ways away in this story.

Stalker… dodgy name for someone who wasn’t exactly free of suspicion himself. Still, when going against Team Rocket, it probably wasn’t best to reveal too much. So as much as I wanted to know more, I’d have to be patient.

Jade: “I just hope that this isn’t going to be ‘50 chapters’ patient, just saying.” >_>

I gazed out over the harbor as Charizard flew, my thoughts swimming with both anticipation and anxiety, and the realization that I was now definitely bound to this crazy, spur-of-the-moment adventure. I had long since given up my opportunity to return home and put things right from the moment they had first gone very wrong in the forest that day.

But that didn’t matter anymore. There was no turning back now, and in a weird sort of way, I didn’t mind.

Charizard: “*I mean, if you’re genuinely unsure about this, you do have until the S.S. Anne leaves port-”
Jade: “No turning back at all.”

And let’s just go on and throw in that Extra as a bonus for this review:

Chapter 5 Extra

What was I doing? Why did I think this was a good idea again?

I like how these questions can apply to most of Jade’s decision-making in the story up to this point. :V

My shoes repeatedly tapped the carpeted floor of the Vermilion Pokécenter while I continued my staring contest with the videophone. I was lucky the center even had a videophone. Lots of places didn’t carry ‘em since pretty much every trainer had a Gear these days. For years, I’d stubbornly insisted I didn’t want one if I couldn’t be a trainer, but I was kind of wishing I hadn’t done that now.

Aha, so this story is set sometime before cellphones in Pokéworld became ubiquitous like they did in reality… so sometime before the analogous events to B2W2 in this setting at the latest.

But that was beside the point. I couldn’t just leave on an impromptu journey off to fight Rockets who-knows-where and expect it not to bite me in the rear if I didn’t call home first. The last thing I needed was for my face to be on every missing kid list in Kanto.

I do wonder if Jade should’ve more explicitly been shown rationalizing the decision to not go home at all for a week after everything that happened with the Rockets up to this point given that “it’ll risk bringing the Rockets home”, “it’ll tempt me into backing out”, and “I wouldn’t have the time to make it to Viridian and then back to Vermillion” would all be plausible internal reasons to have Jade do what she does, but I didn’t recall her really broaching those lines of thought beyond her “I can’t go back to normal after all of this”.

That was what motivated me to finally put the coins into the console and dial my home phone number. The seconds that ticked by with the dial tone seemed to drag on for an eternity. Twice I fought back the urge to slam the end call button. But no, I had to do this.

Jade: “I mean, technically, I don’t. But it wouldn’t exactly be smart to get mom and dad wrapped up in Rocket business trying to track me down.”
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And then my mom’s face appeared on the screen, flushed with worry that immediately melted into relief.

“Jade! I was starting to worry. You know I don’t mind you going out biking all day with Rudy, but I’d like a check-in if you’re going to be—” She paused, frowning. “Are you… in a Pokémon Center?”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

Jade’s Mom: “Okay, Jade. What happened?” >:|
Jade: “Um… well…”
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Why? To make this phone call. It wasn’t as if I could stay here without a license. But that wasn’t much of an explanation. So I steeled myself as hard as I could and opened my mouth to say the five words I’d been practicing for the last hour which suddenly felt impossible to actually say:

“I’m going on a Pokémon journey.”

Jade’s Mom: “Jade, you don’t even have a license!” >_>;
Jade: “I’m… working on that part right now? It’s not like I need to be at home to take it, right?” ^^;

There it was. I’d made my decision hours ago, when talking to Ajia, but saying it now made it feel that much more real.

My mom raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

I nodded, forcing my face to look way more confident than I felt. “Yeah.”

Jade: “(She’s… still giving me that look right now, isn’t she?)” ^^;

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” she asked in that calm, parental, “I’ll humor you even though you have no idea what you’re saying,” kind of way.

“Well, uh… we both know I’m never gonna pass the test. So, I decided that the best way to learn all that stuff was to experience it myself in the real world. So that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Jade: “(Dammit, was that seriously the best I could think of?!)”
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My mom gave an exasperated sigh. “Alright, that’s a good joke, but I’m coming to get you now. Which Pokécenter are you at? It better not be the northside one, you know I don’t like it when you and Rudy bike over there.”

“I’m, uh, in Vermilion City.”

The amusement slowly faded as it dawned on her that I wasn’t joking, and had already taken this idea way further than I should have for just some dumb joke.

Jade: “Look, mom. I’ll at least try to pass the trainer test sometime, alright? Just not right now!”
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“Are you serious? You don’t even have any Pokémon for protection, and—”

“Yes I do!” I immediately shot back.

My mom paused, processing what I’d just said. “You took Swift, didn’t you?”

Jade: “Technically, he followed after me, but… yes?” ^^;

I nodded eagerly, glad to have proven my point.

She sighed. “Having a Pidgey doesn’t make me that much more comfortable with you being on your own.”

“I’ve got a Charmander and a Pikachu too.” Did I? Did I really have a Pikachu? He was unconscious. I was sure he’d run off the instant he woke up. And yet…

Jade’s Mom: “Jade, you don’t have to lie to me to try and make me feel better. It’s obviously not working.”
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Jade: “I’m serious! I really do have a Charmander and a Pikachu right now! (Even if the latter’s probably off in his own little world at the moment…)” >_>;

Mom frowned. “How did you catch them?”

“Rudy gave me a Pokéball,” I said. “And plenty of kids travel around with a Charmander for protection, so it’s not a big deal.” Wow, I sure sounded a lot more confident than I felt.

Firestorm: “*That’s… not how things went at all, though-*”
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Jade: “(Firestorm, you’re not even supposed to be here right now! And seriously, just play along otherwise this journey’s going to be really, really short.)” >_>;

“Well, it’s nice that you don’t think so, but yes, Jade, this is a big deal.” And there it was. The inevitable shutdown that bypassed everything.

“I’m gonna be hanging out with a bunch of other kids!” I immediately protested. “It’ll be safe because there’s a lot of us and we’ve all got Pokémon.” God, I sounded like a twelve-year-old, and I knew it, but I almost didn’t care. Almost.

Narrator:
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Jade: “(Yes, yes, I know that, but mom doesn’t, okay?!)” >_>;

“How did you meet all of them?”

I paused. “There was this one kid who’s really good at training, and he’s been gathering this big group to help train all of us.”

I mean, she’s technically not wrong there?

‘Kid’ was maybe not the best way to describe the Charizard guy, who was clearly at least eighteen or nineteen. Sure sounded a heck of a lot less dodgy, though.

I see that Jade came to much the same conclusion.

My mom exhaled slowly. “Jade… it’s one thing to spend the day away from home, but this is a little more extreme than that. Have you really thought this through? Where will you sleep? How will you buy food? I can’t exactly put money in a trainer account if you don’t have one.”

I mean, obviously not, otherwise at a bare minimum, she’d have sold that Fire Blast TM on whatever the in-setting analogue to eBay is. ^^;

I clenched my fists, willing myself not to back down. “I’m just gonna be camping out with the rest of the kids at the trainer grounds, so I don’t need to stay in the Pokémon Center.” Well… it was just gonna be me at the campsite for now… but the other kids that he’d recruited would be here soon, right? “And, and for food, I’ve got my birthday savings.”

Actually, the Rockets had stolen all my money, but it wasn’t as if I didn’t have a plan to replace it—that TM I’d stolen from them was pretty valuable, after all.

I can only imagine how hard Jade would be banging her head against a wall if and when she figured out that she sold off that Fire Blast TM for less than a third of what it retails at normally.

She folded her arms. “And what if you get caught?”

I paused. That hadn’t occurred to me yet, but… “I’d just get sent home and put on probation, right? I’d be no worse off than I already am.”

Hey, it wasn’t as if I didn’t remember anything from the League unit in class. Just not enough to pass the test.

Yeeeeeeeah, I think you’re going to be doing things that will go well beyond “get put on probation” territory in pretty short order when you’re going undercover in a mafia, Jade. Not that mom needs to know that at the moment.

My mom put a hand to her face, still struggling with the enormity of this revelation. “How… how did you even get to Vermilion?”

“Ajia gave me a ride. And that’s where the training group is meeting up.”

“Ajia’s in on this too?” she asked with a weary look. “I was expecting Rudy, but I thought she was a better influence than that.” My mom sighed deeply, taking off her glasses. “Well, I’m glad you’ve at least put some thought into all of this. But there’s a right way to do it, and this? This isn’t it.”

I mean, she’s not wrong. But doing things and thinking them through later has kinda been the guiding principle for most of the cast in this story, which is pretty on-brand for more daredevil-y teenagers.

“What is the right way, then? Waiting until I’m old and I can’t even do it because I’m too busy with adult stuff?”

Oh geez, now the emotions were rushing to my face. I could feel my cheeks heating up and a prickle at the corners of my eyes.

Knuckling down and passing your trainer’s exam properly? Though this story is fundamentally at odds with doing things the right way, so…

My mom’s face relaxed. “Jade. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to go on a Pokémon journey when you’re a kid. It’s probably one of the most important parts of growing up. But you’ve got to get your license first.”

“I’m never gonna get a license if I just stay in Viridian and fail the test every year. Doing it for real is a way better way for me to learn all this stuff firsthand,” I insisted.

I mean, just how hard could that test really be if Rudy managed to successfully pass it?
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For several seconds, neither of us said anything. I couldn’t tell what my mom was thinking. Her expression didn’t give any indication.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you so serious about anything in your life.”

Well, I suppose we have an answer as to why Jade has been failing all of those trainer’s exams for her license there.

Of course I was serious about it. I’d wanted this ever since Starr left. Wanted it even more when Ajia left. With each passing month, the odds of being able to go on a journey felt more and more distant. And now, with the opportunity to join the anti-Rocket team handed to me on a silver platter, I could actually learn from a master trainer, and have the chance to put those skills to use actually helping save Legendary Pokémon. I could stop wasting my time at home and actually make a difference in the world.

Not that Jade doesn’t actually wind up accomplishing a lot of this, but… yeah. There is no way that this isn’t going result in tears at various points in the story, since boy are those some deeply rose-colored glasses over her eyes.

“I always thought, if getting your license meant so much to you, you would have…” My mom shook her head, ignoring that thought. Then she fixed me with a hard stare. “Do you know where the nearest League office is?”

I sat up straight. “I could look it up on the internet.

I like how Jade thinks of this and not selling her Fire Blast TM through Not!eBay/Craigslist, since… yeah, she could’ve done a lot better than 20Gs for that TM.
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“If I let you go through with this crazy plan of yours, you can’t just train Pokémon illegally forever. You can only do this if you go take the exam and get your license the moment you think you’re ready.”

My heart jumped into my throat. “Yes! Definitely!”

Jade:
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“And that doesn’t mean just putting it off forever, either. I know how you can be.” What was that supposed to mean? “I want to see you with a license by your fifteenth birthday, otherwise you’re coming straight home, you hear me?”

Jade: “(Okay, note to self. Get that license together before my birthday otherwise my face really is going to wind up on milk cartons at the supermarket.)”
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I nodded even more vigorously as my entire body suddenly felt lighter than air. This was real. This was actually happening. I was starting a Pokémon journey. Finally.

I can already tell that this moment is going to read a lot harsher in hindsight at some point down the road.

My mom’s expression softened, just a bit. “You know, I would’ve preferred if you’d told me this plan before you’d just gone and done it,” she said, shaking her head.

Jade would have never been allowed to leave the house again until adulthood and y’all likely would’ve picked up sticks for a different region, since… yeah. Mafia problems be like that.

“I wasn’t planning on dropping it out of nowhere like this,” I admitted. “It just sort of… happened. And before I knew it, I was… out here.”

“Just don’t expect me to cover for you if the League sends your butt back to Viridian, alright?” she added, bringing back the hard stare. “You get put on probation, that means no license until you’re sixteen, got it?”

I nodded.

Jade: “(I mean, it wasn’t like I was going to pass the trainer’s exam before I was sixteen at this rate, so…)” ^^;

“And I want updates on how your training is going. This is supposed to be a learning experience, isn’t it?”

I grinned. “Sure, I can do that.”

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Only good things™ can come of this, I’m sure.

“Lastly… stay safe, alright?”

Lol, good luck with that one, Jade.

And for the first moment since I’d scored this victory, I felt my face falter just a bit. “Safe.”

My mind flashed back to the moment that had kickstarted all of this. Kidnapped. Fighting for my life aboard a Rocket jet. And now I was becoming a trainer solely to learn how to fight back against the Rockets, which would no doubt involve even more deadly situations. It was probably the least safe thing I could imagine. But to stop them from capturing the Legendaries and taking over our entire region… it was worth it.

“Yeah. Of course.”

I like that this ending line happens a chapter (or it might’ve been two) before Jade goes through being on a ship as it’s bombed at sea. Like I kinda gathered that she knew all along that she didn’t have a realistic hope of staying safe on her new journey, though boy did it wind up aging like milk.
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Well, I didn’t get through as much of this story as soon as I thought that I would, but it’s still as much of a ride as I remembered it even after the overhaul of Chapter 5. It’s mostly a setup chapter to tee up the next arc, though considering how things had been a rollercoaster of near-death experiences for the past 4 chapters, it kinda made meta sense that Jade would get a moment to catch her breath. Especially since the peace and quiet here goes out the window starting in the very next chapter.

The characterization is the main star of the show here, especially in the Chapter 5 Extra where in spite of mostly being a dialogue, the little touches regarding the expression Jade’s mom has and the way we get to see the wheels in Jade’s head turning as she rationalizes things to herself go a long ways in selling who they are and what to expect from them, which will be fun to see how things change as time goes along in the story. I kinda wish that we’d gotten to see a bit more of Swift, but eh. He’ll have more opportunities down the road.

I don’t have too many criticisms about this chapter beyond some scattered typos that I caught and marked up during my readthrough. I do wonder if Jade got herself taken for a ride a bit too easily for that Fire Blast TM since if she could think of:

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to settle an argument with her mother about handling that trainer exam which she will totally do and not just blow off well past her 15th birthday™, you’d think that she’d have also consulted it to get an idea of what a fair price would be for that Fire Blast TM would be online if not outright sell it through an online marketplace, but I suppose that can ultimately be brushed aside as teenagers being teenagers. Stalker’s gambit to meet Jade in the boonies I wonder if it was a bit undercut by having a very big, very fiery winged chariot spirit her to and fro in a city, but I suppose Chars were mentioned in passing as being common among Kanto trainers earlier, and it wouldn’t be the first region with Ride Charizard chilling around, even if some sort of explicit mention of context in a sentence or two would’ve sold things a bit better for how Stalker’s Charizard pulling Uber duty was ultimately not much of an attention-grabber.

But those quibbles ultimately are minor things, and if you feel like they need to be resolved, probably can be addressed with a small handful of sentences. And they didn’t really detract all that much from the experience and the amount of polish and care that went into it.

Kudos, @Chibi Pika , and I’ll be looking forward to coming back to this story again sometime. If ideally a bit sooner than the wait from the last time I reviewed it. ^^;
 
Chapter 55: Checkmate

Chibi Pika

Stay positive
Staff
Location
somewhere in spacetime
Pronouns
they/them
Partners
  1. pikachu-chibi
  2. lugia
  3. palkia
  4. lucario-shiny
  5. incineroar-starr
Many thanks for the reviews! And now, the extremely-long overdue Chapter 55. Gonna try to be more on the ball with Chapter 56, ouch. ><;



~Chapter 55: Checkmate~


Footsteps echoed off the walls. A stifling air of tension hung over all of us—me, Starr and Ajia. Raven and Ender were walking alongside us, and I could not get over how surreal this felt. Some part of my brain couldn’t process the fact that we were heading into a meeting with them and not, like, some sort of life-or-death battle. We were in a League office, so it wasn’t as if they had the upper hand here. They (probably) couldn’t do anything to us. Still, it was awkward and uncomfortable.

Lance had handed us off to a League employee, who led us to a meeting room. The door opened, and everyone—Rocket and chosen alike—funneled inside.

“Please wait here. A representative from the Elite Four will be along shortly,” the League employee said before shutting the door.

The silence was biting. We were standing here with the people who’d tried to kill us on multiple occasions. And that was supposed to be okay?

I tried to find something to look at that wasn’t the two Rockets. My eyes drifted from the blank TV screen mounted on the far wall to the many office chairs surrounding the meeting table, to a couple of potted plants and a desk calendar on the side table that was set to September 12th. I wasn’t sure if that was current—the days since my stay in the medical ward had all sort of blended together.

Most of our Pokémon were waiting outside, but I spied Pichu occasionally peeking out of Ajia’s bag. Or at least, who I assumed was Pichu, but very well may have been Mew.

Ender glanced back and forth at our group, looking vaguely amused. “Now now, there’s no need for hostility,” he said, holding both palms out disarmingly.

Ajia raised an eyebrow. “Really? How many times has your group tried to kill us?”

He shrugged. “Not as though we can do that here.”

Starr hadn’t said anything since we arrived. She was just leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, fixing her hateful gaze on some particularly offensive spot of carpet.

Ender smirked. “So, Astrid, how’s the rebel life treating you?”

“Fuck off.”

He put a hand to his chest in mock offense. “Language.” Then he sidled over to her. “It’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to chat, hasn’t it? Executive to former executive. I can finally say that I understand how hard it is, running the combat unit. The responsibility must have been too much to bear, especially at your age,” Ender said dramatically, draping the back of his palm across his forehead. “Really, I try not to speak ill of the boss, but what was he thinking?”

It looked like it was taking Starr’s every effort not to punch him in the face.

“I realize we might have our differences now, but… I can’t help but wonder if we’d still be standing on the same side, had things gone a little differently. Hard as it may be to believe, I only ever wanted to help.”

Starr let out a rough snort. “Yeah, that’s a laugh. All you ever did was drop hints that I wasn’t fit to be executive while pretending that’s not what you were doing.”

Ender shook his head. “Just a bit of constructive criticism. Let’s be honest, you didn’t exactly handle the Ajia situation very well.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the back of a chair as he peered at her. “And we all know how you got your position…”

Starr’s fists trembled. I grabbed her arm and said, “Ohhkay, let’s just… let’s just sit over here,” while tugging her over toward a couple of office chairs. Starting a brawl in the middle of a League office was not going to look good on us.

“God, it would be easy to break his nose,” Starr muttered under her breath.

“I’m sure it would,” I said dully. “Which is exactly why we’re not doing that.”

I sat myself into a chair while Starr flopped unceremoniously into the one next to me, kicking her boots up on the table.

Ender had taken the seat opposite of us, idly adjusting his gloves. “In any case, it sounds like the League wants all of us to play nice from now on, so let’s leave the unpleasantries in the past, shall we?”

“I’m… not sure if that’s possible,” Ajia said, giving him a skeptical look. “Even if we ignored all the… everything. You should know by now that we’re dedicated to saving the legends.”

Raven exhaled sharply at her words, but didn’t say anything. Ender gave her a knowing look before turning back to face us. “So catching those things is the main point of contention, mm?” he said airily, as if this were new information. “Well, it’s not as if that was our idea.”

I raised an eyebrow. “If it wasn’t Team Rocket’s idea, then whose was it?” Was he trying to imply that someone else was responsible for starting the Legendary-catching thing?

Ender put a hand over his mouth like he’d just realized something scandalous. “Oh, this is just delightful. You never told them?” he asked, giving Starr a sly look.

Starr rolled her eyes. “Look, I was never into all that propaganda shit. You two are the nutjobs that actually believed in that.”

I glanced between the two of them. “Believed in what?”

Starr glanced away awkwardly.

Ender still had this look like his birthday had come early. “Well then. I suppose it’s high time you all learned what this is really about.” He put his fingers together. “Do you know why Team Rocket has been capturing the titans?”

“What?” I asked. Why the Rockets had been catching Legendaries? “Literally what other reason is there other than becoming too powerful for anyone to stop you?”

Ender waved a hand dismissively. “I mean yes, obviously the leverage will make our operations easier, make no mistake. But catching them will benefit more than just us in the long run. We can’t let that kind of rampant power go unchecked.”

There it was again, that excuse. “That doesn’t make any—how on earth can you justify everything you’ve done with them?”

Raven stood bolt upright, almost knocking her chair over. “Because it’s worth it to get those damn things under human control,” she hissed, slamming a fist against the table.

I gaped at her. “W-what?”

Why did they keep talking like that? Like catching the Legendaries was something they had to do. Something… important. It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. It was just a power play from a criminal organization… right?

“Of course it’s easy for you brats to act like we don’t have a reason for doing this,” she said, looking absolutely murderous.

Starr rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that crap. Buncha pretentious ‘saving humanity’ nonsense.”

Ajia took a deep breath. “That’s why you’ve been trying to get the Legendaries to look bad on the news, isn’t it? So that more people would support your ideals?”

Ender tapped his forehead. “All in the name of spectacle. People have to understand the kind of destruction those monsters are capable of. Then they’ll want to see that power contained.”

This was all so completely backwards, I could hardly find my voice. “I, you… it’s not just spectacle—what about Hoenn!”

“Oh? I suppose you’re referring to Sootopolis being gone. Remind me again…”—Ender paused, grin widening—“aren’t you the ones that unleashed the primals?”

I recoiled backward in my seat. “Wh—we only did that because you awakened them in the first place!”

Ajia gave him a searching look. “Were you hoping that we’d do that?”

“Truthfully, no,” he said, holding both palms up. “We thought the ensuing show of Groudon versus Kyogre would be more than sufficient. But seeing them restored to their true glory—a horrific level of power most people could never conceive of… truly magnificent.”

We’d helped them. We’d helped them. We’d—

No. No it would have been worse if we hadn’t. Groudon and Kyogre would’ve been caught. It wasn’t for nothing.

“We—the city had been evacuated,” I stammered, feeling the blood rush to my face.

Ender clapped his hands together. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, you did a fantastic job. Leveraging connections with the Ranger Union and the Hoenn Champion himself? Truly remarkable. But it’s honestly naive to think that no one was killed.”

Starr slammed a fist to the table. “You caused that whole—!”

More people would’ve been killed if it hadn’t been for us!” I exclaimed. I was getting too heated. I needed to calm down. But how could he just stand there and say things like that?

Ender shook his head. “Still doesn’t change the fact that the entire country saw that kind of raw destruction unleashed,” he went on. “They’re going to want to see it kept in check. The League already wants to see it kept in check.”

I gave him a skeptical glare. “And what makes you think the League is going to trust Rockets with that?”

A wide, sadistic grin spread across his face. “They commissioned us to do it.”

I blinked stupidly at him, feeling like the floor had dissolved under me. He was lying. Or I’d misheard him. Or something.

I whirled around in my chair to face Starr. “What is he talking about?”

She glanced away. “That was before I was even born, alright? I don’t know the full details.”

“But is it true?” I pressed.

She put a hand to her temple. “Maybe?? It’s not something I ever wanted to think too hard about, okay?” Her face was anxious, annoyed, but not surprised. This wasn’t the first she’d heard of the idea. And Ajia… Ajia looked surprised, but focused, like she was piecing things together—like anything about this made sense.

I spun back around to face Ender, my face hot. “What do you mean the League commissioned you? When? Why??

“Oh, it was long before either of us joined Rocket,” Ender said casually, gesturing to himself and Raven. “Twenty years ago, I’d say. Even boss Giovanni hadn’t taken command yet. No, it all started because a company called Silph went and made a little ball that could dethrone the gods. Kind of funny to think about, really.”

I was speechless.

“Master Balls didn’t exist twenty years ago,” Ajia said plainly, her voice somehow still measured. “They’re a recent invention.”

Her words jolted me back into reality. Right, she was right, I was sure of it. There’d been all that public outcry, we’d talked about it in social studies, held mock debates, people had cheered when they were banned commercially…

But then Ender had an answer ready for that, too: “Maybe not in their current form, no—back then, it was just prototypes. But naturally, it was relevant to Rocket’s interests. A ball strong enough to capture any Pokémon without fail? Invaluable for acquisitions. But the oh-so-powerful Legendaries couldn’t have something like that existing, now could they? Couldn’t risk losing that top dog position, eh?”

“Of course they couldn’t,” Raven muttered viciously.

I stared at them, struggling to piece together the order of events in my mind. Something didn’t add up. “I… I thought the Legendary project was a recent thing. Entei was the first.”

Ender gave me a sideways glance. “Technically, Latios was the first. I see Shepard kept that little detail under wraps. Isn’t he supposed to be close with you lot?”

My face burned. So even the Rockets thought that much. Even they knew about the way he’d used us.

“But you’re right that the Legendary project is a recent thing, yes,” Ender went on, leaning back in his seat. “Ultimately, none of those attempts twenty years ago were successful. All it really did was sow the seeds of catching the titans as something that could be possible one day. And here we are.”

There was still so much I wanted to know, needed to know, combined with the fact that I didn’t want to hear it from him, I wanted to hear it from the League. Anything he could say would just be designed to prove his point.

(But would the League’s explanation be any better? I wasn’t too sure anymore.)

Ajia was still giving Ender a searching look. “What exactly are you hoping will come from this?” she asked. “You guys already caught Rayquaza. Isn’t that all the leverage you needed?”

He leered at her. “Not even close. It’s only just beginning.”

A chill came over me. I didn’t like the sound of that at all.

My ears caught the sound of footsteps from the other side of the door. Ender glanced over his shoulder and said, “Ah, I believe they’re ready for us.”

The door opened, and two people entered. The first was Lorelei, looking a lot less patient than she had the last time we’d seen her. And the second was… him.

Giovanni entered the room, looking slick and professional, as always. Completely in control of the situation, like this was a particularly amusing detour in the middle of his day.

Starr stood bolt upright, staring at him with an expression between outrage and horror, fists shaking. I reached out and grabbed her hand, felt her tense up. Her fingers gripped mine so tightly I was sure they’d go numb. Slowly, I pulled her back into her chair.

“Hello, Astrid,” Giovanni said calmly.

Starr’s eyes lit up with fury. “That’s not my fucking name,” she spat through gritted teeth.

Giovanni ignored her and took a seat at the head of the table while Lorelei remained by the door, gripping her arm and staring firmly at the wall.

“I’ve been busy negotiating with the League. This”—he gestured around the conference room—“is merely to communicate our expectations to you, the ones who have so charitably volunteered as speakers for the legends.”

“Tell them yourself,” Starr spat.

“Gladly,” Giovanni replied, his gaze steely. “Will they be joining us? Or are they too important to lower themselves to a civilized discussion with lesser beings such as humans?”

I squeezed Starr’s hand tighter, willing her with every fiber of my being to not say something she’d regret, especially not with Lorelei in the room. Please don’t, please don’t, please don’t…

“I didn’t imagine so,” Giovanni said, folding his hands in front of himself. “And that’s why I’m here to settle this little misunderstanding. You three seem to be operating under the assumption that my organization capturing those beasts won’t benefit everyone in the region.”

“In what way,” Starr laughed.

He gave her a look. “You can’t pretend as though you’re unaware.”

I averted my eyes. Somehow the idea of talking to him was a lot harder than talking to Raven or Ender, even though the latter two had very directly tried to kill me on multiple occasions. Still, it didn’t quite feel like they were so far above the rest of us the way that he was. So I tried keeping my eyes on those two instead, but that wasn’t a big improvement.

“Let’s get right to the point,” Giovanni said, casting an expectant look toward Lorelei.

She closed her eyes. “The Department of Pokémon Affairs has reached a decision. The guardians will be expected to prove that they are not a threat—this means making themselves accountable to the League and allowing their powers to be regulated.”

“Wait, they’ve already decided?” I blurted out.

Giovanni turned his gaze to me, and I immediately wished I hadn’t said anything. “Did you believe that they were going to solicit the opinions of a handful of children?”

I didn’t say anything. Being addressed by him directly made me want to melt into the floor.

Giovanni leaned back in his seat. “That’s not to say that I’m not impressed that you managed to curry favor with the legends. Of course, I’m assuming that they simply realized the potential usefulness of human pawns. That’s presumably why they saw fit to select children for their army. Not too different from Shepard, in that regard,” he said casually, and hearing the chosen pact compared to what Stalker did was like a sudden slap to the face.

Ajia took a deep breath, carefully considering her words. “What happens if the Legendaries don’t submit?”

Giovanni eyed her. “They’ll be deemed noncompliant and be apprehended accordingly.”

“By Team Rocket,” she replied flatly.

“I have offered my organization’s services to the League, yes,” he said, gesturing to himself. “As a token of goodwill, they will of course be given access to the legends’ power to ensure protection in the event of an attack.” Giovanni turned to face Lorelei. “With your specialty… Articuno, perhaps?”

That he could say that so casually. Gifting a Legendary as a token of goodwill. Lorelei just nodded distantly, her expression difficult to read.

“There’s still quite a bit left to hash out,” Giovanni went on. “We have a fair number of assets to recover from our rogue Johto branch, for instance. I’m afraid that will be occupying most of my time, though I intend to have forces remain available to assist with any attacks, if need be.”

This was unbelievable. It was like nothing we said mattered. Why even have us here if everything had already been decided?

Ajia gave Lorelei an imploring look. “You have to trust me—the Legendaries aren’t a threat. This whole mess is Team Rocket’s fault.”

Lorelei exhaled slowly through her nose. “We can’t have another Viridian,” she said simply.

My throat clenched up. What happened in Viridian wasn’t okay. But that didn’t make any of this okay either! And part of me wanted to scream that, but the other half couldn’t handle Giovanni’s gaze, so the words just died in my throat.

“For too long, mankind has lived under the shadow of implicit threat of destruction at the hands of the so-called legends,” Giovanni said, his voice pressing in on me. “It’s baked into our very history and way of life. Even the existence of the training pact necessitates the threat of divine retribution.” The words were laced with a heavy irony. “So you can quibble all you like over who provoked who, but it will only lead to more incidents like Viridian. No different than when they attacked humanity twenty years ago.”

A bewildered “what?” fell out of my mouth before I could stop it.

Giovanni glanced in my direction and my eyes slid away from his. “I was expecting the ambassadors of the gods to be a little more informed on things.”

“You’re referring to when Silph started developing the Master Ball?” Ajia asked, brow furrowed. “That never should have been allowed in the first place.”

Lorelei adjusted her glasses with a sigh. “The Master Ball was intended for use in neutralizing unruly wild Pokémon in a humane manner. It had massive utility in both saving lives and preventing property damage.”

“The rangers already do that, and they don’t have to break the pact to do it,” Ajia cut in, her voice uncharacteristically cold.

Giovanni gave her an amused look. “I suppose you’d say that those who break the pact deserve what’s coming to them?”

“That’s not it at all.”

He closed his eyes, smirking, and the expression was uncannily familiar. “The legends must have believed so. The mere idea of such an equalizer was unacceptable, judging by how swiftly they moved to neutralize the threat.”

My chest tightened. So that was it, then—Legendaries had attacked humanity twenty years ago. Trying to convince the League that the legends weren’t a threat was a losing battle, and one that had been lost before we’d even been born.

“And that’s why the League made a deal with Rockets?” Ajia asked, glancing between the adults.

Giovanni nodded. “Of course, those beasts are rather formidable. Many of our agents never returned from the field. So the project was retired until recently.”

Starr folded her arms, glaring at the wall. “In other words, you targeted the Legendaries, knowing it’d fail and get the fallguys killed, and then you’d have an excuse to go after them for real. Real classy.”

“This was inevitable,” the boss said, as if nothing were more true. “We can’t have that kind of power looming over our shoulders.”

An inevitable conflict, years in the making. Some part of me still refused to believe that the Legendaries had started it, but then, was I really prepared to know for sure? And… did it even matter at this point?

Lorelei cleared her throat suddenly. “Do you mind if I speak to them alone?”

Giovanni eyed her, his expression difficult to read. She stared right back, her eyes steely.

“I’ll make it clear that the decision is final,” she added, her tone perfectly neutral.

After several seconds of silence, Giovanni closed his eyes with the faintest trace of an accommodating smile. “Very well.”

He calmly stood up and walked out the door, closely followed by Raven and Ender. Once they were gone, it was like I could suddenly breathe again, that overwhelming pressure finally gone.

Lorelei shut the door and turned to us. “I understand that you’re upset, but—

“You can’t seriously think you can negotiate with him,” Starr immediately cut in.

“I’m not any happier with this arrangement than you are,” Lorelei said sharply. “I wanted the guardians to be held accountable, not to have to make deals with… with someone like him.” Now that I was paying attention, I could see just how exhausted her eyes were behind her glasses.

“But you—you’re part of the Elite Four,” I said lamely. “Can’t you refuse?”

She sighed and shook her head, and I had the feeling that I’d said something incredibly naive. “The Elite Four doesn’t make the rules, we just carry them out. It’s out of my hands.”

“Whose hands is it in?” Ajia asked earnestly. “We’ll talk to them. We’ll explain what’s going on.”

Lorelei rubbed her temples. “The department isn’t going to reverse their decision just because a handful of teenagers want them to.”

“The boss probably paid them all off anyway,” Starr grumbled, folding her arms.

“What if the Legendaries spoke to the department directly?” Ajia asked quickly. “There has to be some kind of compromise.”

Lorelei gave her a hard look. “Do you believe they’d willingly offer to be held accountable to humans?”

I made eye contact with Ajia, feeling my heart sink even lower. There was no way they’d all agree to that. And judging by Lorelei’s face, she’d already known that was the case.

She took a seat near the head of the table—a different seat than the one Giovanni had taken. “This isn’t the way I wanted it to happen. But you kids seem convinced that even making the guardians accountable to anyone is a bad thing, and…” She sighed deeply, removing her glasses before giving us a sympathetic look. “Think of the good we could do with access to the legends’ power.”

“They should have a choice,” Ajia said firmly, clasping her hands on the table.

Lorelei gazed at Ajia. “They should have a choice in whether or not they decide to use their great power to save people? And if they decide not to?”

A moment’s uncertainty flickered through Ajia’s eyes. Then it was gone. “That power belongs to them in the first place. We don’t have any right to make that decision.”

“And they do?”

“They were born with it,” Ajia insisted. “What about Pokémon? They’re stronger than humans, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t get to use their power how they want.”

“Pokémon and humans live side by side, as equals,” Lorelei said plainly. “The guardians stand alone, higher than either. For eons, we’ve revered them as the protectors of the world. Now it’s easy to see that we could use their power to do so much more. Reverse natural disasters, perform rescues, shape the land in ways that would benefit both humans and Pokémon.”

I didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t that any of that stuff was bad. It just… it didn’t seem right to force…

“This is the situation we’re in,” Lorelei said, holding both palms up. “I’d prefer for it to not involve that group, but starting a war with them is out of the question. And there will always be people seeking that kind of power.”

“None of this would be happening if we just left the legends alone. Can’t… can’t we just do that?” I asked in a low voice. I wasn’t even sure I believed it would help, I just wanted to say something.

“Did you think this conflict was unprecedented?” Lorelei asked, her voice suddenly cold. “Throughout history, wars have been fought to win the favor of legends, to control them, to use them. These recent conflicts here in Kanto aren’t even the worst of it. Magma and Aqua in Hoenn. Trying to use the power of the legends. Galactic in Sinnoh. Trying to use the power of the legends. And it’s not just our part of the world. Kalos. Unova. Always Legendaries.”

“Is that supposed to make it okay to break the training pact, what, just because you feel like it?” Ajia asked, now visibly frustrated.

Lorelei surveyed Ajia closely. “I’m curious… what makes you believe the pact was ever intended to apply to legends?”

I had no idea what to say to that. It wasn’t something that had ever crossed my mind. Ajia looked equally taken aback.

Lorelei stood up, pacing in front of the meeting table. “Think about it—the training pact was created to give humans and Pokémon a means to navigate each other’ worlds. It’s an ancient law that transcends nations and peoples. But the legends live above the laws of either human or Pokémon. They are beholden to no one. They can kill on a whim, and no one can hold them accountable. Why should we accept that as the natural order of things?”

“That… makes it sound like no matter how they use their power, it’s wrong of them just to have it,” I murmured.

Lorelei sighed, idly running her fingers through the table plant. “Maybe it is.” She paused, shaking her head. “Regardless, the Department of Pokémon Affairs has already made their decision. The League is required to carry it out.”

“You mean make Team Rocket carry it out so you don’t have to get your hands dirty,” Starr said with a sneer.

Lorelei’s gaze turned icy. “The official stance of the League is that the Legendaries need to ally themselves with humanity or they’ll be considered a threat and be apprehended. That’s the end of it.”

“They already have allied themselves with humanity,” I said desperately, already knowing that it wasn’t going to help.

Again, the look I received made me feel like I’d come off as unbearably childish.

“Forgive my skepticism, but I don’t think we can trust a handful of teenagers with the power to level a city block,” Lorelei said dryly.

“Yeah, and the Rockets are that much more trustworthy,” Starr scoffed.

Lorelei pinched the bridge of her nose. “I think we’re done here.” She reached for the door and swung it open.

Starr was the first one out, standing up so roughly that her chair hit the wall before striding out. I followed after her, trying to stand as tall as I could to offset how small I felt. Ajia was the last one out. She lingered at the door, opened her mouth like she had something more to say. But in the end, she just turned and followed us out.





~End Chapter 55~
 

SparklingEspeon

Back on Her Bullshit
Staff
Location
a Terrace of Indeterminate Location in Snowbelle
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. espurr
  2. fennekin
  3. zoroark
Hii, I noticed while scrolling the forums there was an update on this??? So I decided to stroll by and drop a quick review while I’m out here in the tall grass :p

I’ll be honest I Do Not remember where this last left off except that Jade and co were taken in and in talks with the League I think? Which sounds right enough for what we cover here that I’ll just roll with that.

Finally, some glimmers that Things Aren’t Right about this situation… a lot of stuff is lampshaded here, particularly that things are way bigger than Jade is able or willing to comprehend right now (and that maybe her friends, in addition to the Legends, are keeping things from her…), and also that no matter what they are objectively being used as pawns by the Legends, and it’s not likely that’s going to end well for them. Unsubtle glimmers of this have definitely shown up throughout the fic as well; iirc Ajia’s been overtly hiding things for a while, but it’s nice to see it finally come up. I feel like Jade has sort of been coming at this from a desperate optimist’s angle, when really that’s going to blind her to the full gravity of the situation (as opposed to someone like Giovanni, who squarely fits the “just because you’re correct doesn’t mean you’re right” extreme of the scale and is basically universally acknowledged as scummy by everyone in the room). Interested to see how Juicy that gets in the next chapter, given they’re all in a pretty crummy spot.

We also get some broader reveals about the plot, though admittedly nothing that feels too out of bounds – of course Team Rocket would have some kind of constructed reason for justifying that they’re going around and capturing massive beasts, otherwise who would actually buy into it beyond the upper brass. This kind of does feel like a situation where No-one Is Right (assuming all the information here is to be believed, which it very well might not be! That silph info hella vague…). Team Rocket very blatantly wants to capture the legendaries for power, despite what they say; the league is very practical and subservient to the human desire to beat the shit out of anything stronger or potentially a threat to it; the legends have been shown time and time again to be a far cry from infallible yet willing to lord themselves over everyone else and assign Judgement™ (even acting out of fear/cowardice, which is what I assume Silph was); and Jade and her friends mean well but are kind of acting out of naivete here, with the sole exception of Ajia who is either Indoctrinated or Keeping Things.

You listed Animorphs as one of the large inspirations previously iirc, and it’s definitely coming through strong in this chapter – you can really feel the scope and age of the situation, how Unprepared they all are for it, and how it doesn’t feel like there’s an ending filled with anything short of messiness, grief, and trauma, but somehow they’re going to have to find a way through it.

Overall, great chapter! It feels like we’re in the thick of it right now so it’s hard to really find footing for a broader review, but sooner or later things will move forward… looking forward to the next chapter, and good luck with your writing!

~SparklingEspeon
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. quilava-fobbie
  5. sneasel-kate
Heya, so this week my priorities for reading where racking up repeat bonuses and working my way down my hitlist of authors to review before RB5 ended. While I already got to this story earlier on in Review Blitz, I had a good time with it, and figured that it was as good a use as any to throw a long weekend evening at it.

Chapter 6

Ah yes, this arc. Time to jump right into things and see how fast things go sideways which, IIRC is by the end of the chapter after it comes out that there’s a bomb aboard the ship:

February, 5 years ago

“Alright, I admit it, I’m lost.”

A groan came from the phone. “Are you serious, Jade?”

No, considering what we’ve seen of Jade thus far in this story, I completely buy that she’d get lost without much effort during her adventures while back in grade school. o<o

I screwed my eyes shut, not wanting to look at the phone. I knew she’d be upset.

Starr let out a frustrated sigh. “How did you even… didn’t you get a ride?”

Wait, Jade had a phone back then? Is the idea that she doesn’t have it now because it was with the rest of the stuff the Rockets yoinked off of her? Or is she using a videophone from a Pokémon Center here?

“I rode my bike,” I mumbled. “I thought it would be cool if I found my way by myself, so I told my mom I didn’t need a ride because it wasn’t that far, and then…” My voice trailed off.

Starr didn’t say anything. It was a good thing she couldn’t see my face burning with embarrassment.

Well, scratch that about the videophone part. Though boy is this a blast from the past, since it’s been a long time since phones weren’t able to do video chats from right out of the box.

“I was excited to finally get to see your house,” I added quietly. “It sounds really nice.” She had a huuuge TV and a pool and a million snacks.

“I gave you the address—can’t you just look it up on your phone?” Starr asked.

Oh, never mind, Jade did have a modern-style phone back in the day… or a Galapagos phone. That’s also very much a possibility depending on how ‘Japan’ your rendition of Kanto and Johto in TLC is.

“I don’t have my own phone, remember?” Mom said I was too young for one. Usually I didn’t care, except for right now.

Starr was quiet for a while. “Are you calling from the Pokécenter or something?” she finally asked.

That’s what I’d like to know, really. Even if that was my reflexive assumption there.

I paused. “Yeah.”

Aaaaand confirmed. Though I wonder whether or not Jade’s location should’ve just been revealed in description, or if this was a very deliberate choice to specifically zero in on wherever the pay phones in the Pokécenter were.

“Alright. I’ll be there in five minutes.” And then the call ended.

I blinked in confusion. She was coming here? And so soon? I wasn’t sure what to make of that, so I just went outside and sat down on the bench. It was a cold day. Another reason why trying to go by myself was a dumb idea.

Can’t tell if that’s a sign that Starr was out and about that day, or if she borrowed something from daddy’s fleet of vehicles.

Five minutes later, I heard a clip-clop sound coming from down the road and looked up to see a Ponyta trotting toward me. And Starr was riding on its back.

Well, I suppose that would explain how she made it over so fast. Though that now makes me wonder if you can be ticketed for speeding while riding a Pokémon in TLC’s world.

“Whoa!” I called out, jumping up from the bench. “Where’d he come from?”

“He’s my mom’s,” Starr said as Ponyta stopped in front of me. “I go riding with him twice a week.” Right, she
had mentioned getting riding lessons before.

I’ve now got the mental image of Starr in a horse jockey outfit, unless if Pokémon riding courses are usually more generalized than specific species families.

I reached out and ran my hand down Ponyta’s neck. His fur was warm. I was a bit worried about getting too close to his mane, but the flames were just a warm tickle. It felt nice compared to the cold air.

Ah yes, ‘dex fluff in action. And as good a sign as any that our pony friend here is well-trained.

“Sorry to make you come get me,” I mumbled, glancing away.

Starr rubbed the back of her head. “Look, don’t worry about it, okay? You ready to eat
way too much popcorn and candy?”

I brightened a little. “Yeah!”

I’m surprised that Starr’s allowed to bring visitors to her parents’ house considering her dad’s line of work and who he is, unless if mom was living separately already. .-.


Starr gave Ponyta a pat on the neck, and he took off down the road at a trot. I followed them on my bike, finally starting to feel better.

“It’s really cool that your parents finally let you have friends visit,” I said. I’d never even
seen her parents.

Starr glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. “They’re not home.”

Oh, well. That would explain how Starr was able to pull this off. I wonder how frequently she was able to manage these surprise sneakovers back in the day…

Today

The S.S. Anne was huge. It towered over everything else around it, which was saying something, as the rest of the cargo ships that frequented Vermilion harbor were the biggest I had ever seen. (Not that I’d ever been to a port town this large before, but still.) I had to crane my neck upwards just to get a look at the uppermost deck and the orange-rimmed smokestacks rising from the top.

Oh lordy, so it’s essentially one of those giant Carnival Cruise Lines abominations with like 5000 people aboard, huh? .-.

I’d been standing in line for the S.S. Anne for about half an hour and still found myself staring at the ship. But then again, it was mostly to distract myself from the anxiety of having to stand in such a large bustling crowd. Adding to the anxiety was the experimental Pikachu, who stood at my heels with an indifferent sort of expression like he was trying to pretend he wasn’t following me, even though he clearly wasn’t here with anyone else.

Jade: “Wait, why on earth do I just have you standing around like this when there’s hundreds of people around who can notice you and ask questions?”
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Chibi: “*Because I can’t go into any of your Pokéballs.*” >_>;
Jade: “... Right, that’s a thing. I don’t suppose you’d be down for hiding in a backpack-?”
Chibi: “...”
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Jade: “Should’ve figured, really.”

I was kind of afraid to question him at this point, as I couldn’t afford any unpredictable reactions with all these people surrounding us. Honestly, I didn’t even know if someone stepping on his tail would be enough to send him into a violent rage. It was a valid concern given how often people were shuffled between lines, getting bags checked and Pokémon registered and ID cleared and—oh crap.

It hit me like a brick to the forehead. I had no ID on me whatsoever. No Pokédex, no passport, no anything. This single realization managed to instantly shove any vague concerns about Pikachu clean out of my head. What would they even do if they encountered someone trying to get on board with no ID? I couldn’t possibly be arrested for that, could I?

My eyes immediately flew to the security staff. And then, if it were possible, my stomach melted into even more of a black hole. I was carrying Pokémon inside Pokéballs without a license. That was definitely illegal. But if I left now, staying in Vermilion would have been entirely pointless. This had felt like my one chance to get out into the world and do something.

Chibi: “How on earth is this just occurring to you now?! We’ve been waiting here for a full week!” >.<
Jade: “Look, I’m 14, okay? I don’t normally think about these things!” >_>;

“Boarding pass?”

Oh crap, now I was done for. I hadn’t even noticed that I was now first in line. For several seconds I just stared at the woman at the check-in stand, completely unsure of what to do, or if it would even make sense to run away now before they could find out I had Pokémon without a license.

To anyone watching, the dread on my face probably looked ridiculous. My legs seemed to move without me telling them to. One step, then another, and I was at the check-in booth. At this point I didn’t know what else to do but hand my ticket to the woman behind the stand. She paused slightly before looking it over, apparently a bit confused by my behavior.

“Ah, specialty invite. You’ll be joining that line over there.” She pointed off to the right, at a much smaller line in front of a different entry staircase onto the ship.

Jade: “Wait, whaaaaa…?”
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Chibi: “*Human, don’t question it and just move along before someone pulls you aside for questioning.*” >_>;

I blinked stupidly, unable to do anything but take my boarding pass back from her and mutter a distracted, “Thanks.”

My footsteps were somewhat shaky as I wandered away from the main registration lines and down the pier toward the separate check-in booth. I glanced down at the boarding pass in my hand, vaguely recalling how Stalker had mentioned that it was a specialty invite. Still, with my luck, this had probably only delayed the inevitable ID check. I craned my neck to get a better look at the people in the front of the line, and if they needed to show ID, but I couldn’t quite tell from this angle.

I actually don’t remember whether or not Jade needed to play Sneakman to get around an ID check or if Stalker just took care of that in advance. Guess I’ll be getting a reminder in pretty short order.

The people in this line were almost all my age or younger. But while I felt awkward and out of place, everyone else was chatting excitedly about the upcoming trainer’s party. They didn’t have to worry about being found out, or sent back home. That’s what it meant to be a real trainer.

>or younger

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Boy is Stalker’s gambit messed up when you stop and think about it. Especially since it’s strongly implied that a good chunk of these kids don’t leave the S.S. Anne alive after it gets bombed.

…Were any of them recruits for the rebel team? Would I see them after we arrived at our destination, wherever that was?

After several minutes, I reached the front of the line. The uniformed man at the check-in booth gave a welcoming smile, and I attempted to look like I wasn’t dreading what would happen next as I set my boarding pass on the table. The attendant scanned it into a machine and then typed something for a bit.

“Are you a Pokémon trainer?” he asked.

This was it. The moment of truth.

“…Yes?” I said tentatively, wincing.

Jade: “(... That came out a lot less convincing than I thought it would, really.)”
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“I’ll need to have the Pokémon you’re bringing onto the ship recorded here.”

I paused. I hadn’t been expecting that. “Er, Charmander, Pidgey, and Pikachu.”

The man typed a bit more, and then a small printer next to the computer spat out a plastic card. He hooked it onto a cord and handed it to me along with an instruction booklet.

“This is the card key for your room and we request that you wear it at all times during your stay. Welcome to the S.S. Anne.”

Lol, not even a card check. Brilliant. So that’s how Jade made it through security, even if I assume that Stalker probably paid these guys off to half-ass things unless domestic ferries in Kanto just aren’t checked in general.

And that was it. That was all it took for me to be admitted onto the ship. My mind was frozen in a stupefied shock as I slowly walked away from the check-in booth and approached the giant metal staircase that led up into the ship.

“They… they didn’t check ID?”

I didn’t even realize I had said it out loud until the kid behind me in line said, “Yeah, specialty invites aren’t pre-registered or anything, so they don’t need to.”

This… was also how Team Rocket snuck that bomb aboard, wasn’t it? Since while it was undoubtedly handy for the gang, that feels like a really big security hole for this ship.
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I jumped a bit at his voice, as I hadn’t been expecting a reply. Then I immediately had to banish the look of intense guilt from my face as I turned to face him. He was a small and skinny kid, maybe twelve or thirteen, with straight, dirty-blond hair that fell to his ears and light blue eyes. He gave me a bit of a searching look, like he was trying to figure something out.

What did you do?”

I stared blankly. “Huh?”

“You just have this look like you did something wrong.” He laughed slightly. “What is it? Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

Ah yes, time for Jade to fess up about being a lawbreaker to a middle schooler.
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Great, just what I needed—some random kid interrogating me. I racked my brain for the best explanation that wouldn’t give anything away.

“I just… thought they’d do a Pokéball inspection, and right now I don’t have one for my Pikachu.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s a trainer’s party, they don’t mind if Pokémon are out and about, so long as they’re not too big. Weren’t you paying attention when they announced all of this?”

Jade: “Er….” ^^;
Blonde Kid: “Yeah, I’ll just take that as a ‘no’ there.” -_-;

No, I really hadn’t. I had been too busy wondering if my Pikachu was going to kill anyone or not.

“By the way, I like your Pikachu. He looks cool.”

Jade: “Thanks? (Also, how is he seriously the first person to notice you all this time?)”
Chibi: “*(I’m sorry, but why are you complaining about this?)*” >_>;

I didn’t bother to point out that he wasn’t actually mine, as my previous statement had sort of made it seem like he was. And really, what else could I say? No, sorry, this isn’t my Pikachu; he’s a violent half-Legendary genetic experiment that sort of just decided to follow me around.’?

IMO, Jade’s hypothetical quote works better set apart from the surrounding narration. Single quotes might be a handy way of doing that.

The kid raised an eyebrow. “You’re kind of weird, you know that? I’m guessing you either you have a lot bothering you or you just don’t like talking. Try to have fun at the party, m’kay? I’ll see ya later.” Here he lowered his voice to a whisper and said, “Or maybe at the place where we’re all going, yeah?”

Ah yes, there’s Jade’s first indication that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.

I blinked, unsure of how to respond. We had just reached the top of the staircase and were now taking our first step into the S.S. Anne. The kid gave a light wave before walking off. I waved absentmindedly, still caught off guard by what he’d said. So that confirmed it—there definitely were other recruits here.

Jade: “Also, how was he more calm and collected about all of this? He didn’t even look like he’d graduated middle school!” .-.

I took several slow, uncertain steps into the main entry lobby, immediately floored by how massive it was. I never really had any expectation for what the inside of a cruise ship would be like—it was a lot like a fancy hotel lobby, with bright red carpet and massive circular staircases winding their way up past rows and rows of elaborate wooden banisters. At the far end of the room, several uniformed crew members were standing on a podium and directing the passengers around. The room had to be filled with nearly a thousand people already, and there were still others entering from the registered passenger entrance to the left. It didn’t seem like we’d be able to leave the room until everyone had finished boarding, so I found the nearest staircase and walked up to the second level so there’d be more room in the entrance.

Oh, so it really is like one of those Carnival Cruise Lines behemoths. Makes me wonder if there was also tackily-colored water slides and mini-theme park jammed aboard here.

After about twenty minutes, a voice finally rang out over the intercom. “Welcome to the S.S. Anne! We all hope you enjoy you have a fun and relaxing stay on our inter-regional cruise, no matter where your destination may be. We will now take a moment to relay the mandatory safety briefing before leaving port. This ship is specially designed to accommodate and entertain Pokémon trainers, and as such…”

I mean, we know that they have a section of the deck set aside for battles, but that makes me wonder if given how big this ship is implied to be, if they’ve got an on-ship Contest circuit.


For the rest of the hour, the crew explained the rules of the ship, gave a brief rundown of what events would be taking place, and demonstrated what to do in an emergency—where the exits were located, how to use the personal flotation devices, stuff like that. Finally, after what felt like forever, the crowd was dismissed and we were free to roam about the ship. Almost immediately, life returned to the crowd as everyone in the lobby began chattering excitedly, making their way to the doors that led to the rest of the ship.

I take it that the S.S. Anne’s operator doesn’t do self-mustering for passengers, since in my own personal experience, a lot of this actually happens after initially arriving at cabins for the first time.

I had no idea where I wanted to start. The idea of participating in one of the many trainer’s events just felt awkward since I wasn’t a real trainer. I mean sure, they probably wouldn’t check ID since it wasn’t an official tournament or anything, but it still felt weird. I’d have to shake that feeling if I ever wanted to learn how to battle, but it didn’t want to leave.

Should’ve gone and challenged the shin-kickers in shorts on the nearby Routes for the week leading up to this, Jade.

I unfolded the info booklet and browsed the list of events. Even if I couldn’t work up the nerve to enter any of them, they would at least be entertaining to watch. My eyes settled on the special event starting tomorrow morning. Apparently, there would be an exclusive challenge open only to invite holders. Would that be when we found out more about the rebel team?

Jade: “... In retrospect, I should’ve stopped and asked blondie for more details, since he seemed like he had a much better idea of what was going on than I do.” -_-;


As I read, I couldn’t help glancing down at Pikachu more often than before. He was staring intently into the crowd on the floor below us. Every few seconds his ears twitched.

I sighed and forced myself to look away. Come on, enough already. Everything was going to be fine.

Chibi: “*Aaaaaaand you jinxed it. Nice going, human.*” >_>;

Everything was not fine.

Lol, that quickly, huh? I’d completely forgotten about that. :P

My heart was pounding and my breath racing as I charged away from the battle I’d been watching. I kept my pace to a fast walk to avoid looking suspicious, despite the fact that I wanted to scream.

Pikachu had stayed by my side the whole time while I got food and browsed a shop—why had he disappeared now?! Just when I’d gotten comfortable and thought I could watch a battle all the way through without checking on him every thirty seconds. Had he seriously just been waiting for a chance? But really, he could have left at any time—whether I saw him do it was irrelevant. So why now?

Because he’s literally been wandering off to do his own thing since day one of you stuck with him? Did you really think that he was going to stop even after being at sea?
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What was I supposed to do? My violent, unstable Pikachu was now loose because I was an idiot with no Pokéball for him. I didn’t even want to think about what they’d do if a trainer’s Pokémon attacked someone on board the ship. It was stupid for me to even bring him with me—what on earth had I been thinking? Granted, it wasn’t so much that I was keeping him as that I was afraid to tell him to leave. But that fact didn’t really make me feel any better.

See that’s the funny thing, Jade. You kinda weren’t thinking, which has kinda been a trend for your decision-making up to this point. o<o

Alright, I had to find Pikachu now. Where could he have gone? My fingers were almost a blur as I unfolded the info booklet and skimmed the map of the S.S. Anne, desperately hoping for a clue. The ship’s entry level was the middle deck, on the same level as the restaurants, shops, lounges, and dance room. Just above was the Pokémon Center, small arenas, contest hall, spa and suites. The lower decks held the engine room and all of the basic cabins and none of this was helpful, argh.

Dang, a Pokémon Center and a contest hall on this boat. This place really is like one of those “city at sea” cruise ships.

I folded up the booklet and shoved it into my bag before storming off in a hurry, attempting to navigate the crowded halls. I found my way back to the main lobby pretty quickly and took a turn for the front of the ship—that seemed like as good as any place to start.

Working my way through groups of passengers, I scanned all of the shops and training areas one after the other, stopping just long enough to get a good look at each one. It quickly became obvious that between all the trainers and the sheer number of areas, if he was trying to hide, there was almost no chance of finding him. I could only hope that hiding wasn’t his goal. Then again, I didn’t want him out in the open where it’d be more likely for someone to run into him either.

Jade: “I swear, if it turns out that he’s been in the cabin all this time…” >_>;

This never would have happened if I’d just told him to go be free in the wild. I’d been afraid to say it the whole time. But did I even have a reason to be so afraid? He hadn’t attacked me or anything yet. I just didn’t know.

At some point I made a wrong turn and found myself near the back of the ship, in a hallway devoid of passengers with only the occasional crewman walking past. I was about to turn around when it hit me. All of the areas I had searched were packed with people. And yeah, I’d been most worried about him hurting someone, but… what if he was avoiding people after all?

I mean, it would explain how he hasn’t blundered into a fight with some trainer’s more meatheaded starter at this rate.
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My brain latched onto that hope and wouldn’t let go, so I pressed on toward the back of the ship, passing scattered crew members as I went. I glanced down each hallway branching off from mine one after the other, most of them leading towards lounges or souvenir shops. I didn’t see him anywhere.

“So much for that…” I muttered, turning around in all directions. I was just about to head back; it was my only option at this point, but then—

I caught a glimpse of yellow out of the corner of my eye and spun around. Standing at the edge of a doorway was a Pikachu—the very spiky-furred hybrid Pikachu I was looking for.

Jade: “Where on earth have you been?!
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“There you are!” I called out, running towards him and feeling more relief than I had in a long time. His eyes flickered in my direction but otherwise he didn’t seem concerned with my arrival.

My footsteps slowed as I neared him, and it struck me that I’d have to do something about what had happened. Not later, now. I’d been putting off talking to him, and it couldn’t wait. Even if I was dreading his reaction.

“We need to talk. Now.” Even as I forced my voice to sound firm, I couldn’t help wincing. There was no way he wouldn’t hate being ordered around. But this wasn’t a situation where I could afford to seem weak-willed.

Yeeeeeeah, this seems like a terrible idea considering how much of a mood this guy has along with just how powerful he is. But the chapter art is what it is, so I’m sure it’ll work out in the end.

The hybrid glanced at me over his shoulder, looking more annoyed than angry. “*Does it have to be now?*”

I stared at him incredulously. “Kind of, yeah!”

Chibi: “*Ugh, fine. What is it?*”
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My fists were clenched, my heart pounding. Part of me still expected him to get angry, to lash out. But he didn’t; he just gave me a hard stare for several seconds, then turned his back to me. I stood blankly, not sure what I expected him to do next, but he didn’t move. Was he… waiting for me? Hard as it was to believe?

Hesitantly, I knelt beside him. “Alright, so…” How exactly was I supposed to start this? I still felt uneasy around him, but the fact that he hadn’t done anything yet made it hard to put into words.

“I honestly have no idea what to think of you. I don’t know why you’ve stayed with me. I don’t know if it’s safe to have you around other people, and I’m constantly worried that you’ll, like, attack someone.”

Jade: “So. Uh… please don’t do that? Since just saying, if I get in a situation where I get carded, this is going to be a really, really short journeyfic.”
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His fur bristled, and I half expected him to whirl around and snap at me. But he didn’t, so I kept going: “There’s no reason why I should assume you aren’t dangerous to bring around people. And… I can’t have you with me if I don’t know what to expect,” I finished somewhat awkwardly.

Jade: “And… you’re probably super-offended about all of that right now, but look, I have a point, okay?
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For the longest time, Pikachu didn’t give any indication that he was even going to reply. Finally—without looking at me—he said, slowly and meticulously,

*I didn’t give you a reason for staying with you because I hadn’t decided why. I don’t owe you a reason. So you can stop acting like I’m some kind of mindless, raging monster.*”

I blinked. “Wh…” A wave of guilt hit me, but then… no. No, I had to be firm on this. Even though I was already starting to question myself.

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Since just saying, this is probably your cue to ask what on earth is going on, Jade.

“I wasn’t trying to treat you like one, it’s just… you haven’t given me any reason to think that you’re not. All I’ve got to go off is what you were like on the plane.” Violently lashing out at everyone around him and trying to break a window to kill us all.

“And besides,” I went on, “if you’re going to be staying with me, then I want a reason. You can’t just follow me around forever without my say-so.”

Chibi: “*Need I remind you that I’m the one with the Zapdos powers while you’re the squishy human here?*”
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Jade: “No, that really won’t be necessary, thanks.”
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Again, he spoke slowly, with a deliberate emphasis on each word: “*You’re not in control of me. Why should my actions concern you?*”

[ ]


“What? It doesn’t have anything to do with control. If you’re with me, then I’m responsible for you, that’s why. Why on earth would I think that I was in control of you?” The idea was almost laughable.

I kinda wonder if this part should’ve had some focus on some internal reaction from Jade’s end, especially if Chibi’s response was unexpected.

At that point, he finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. I had no idea how he felt about my words until he said, “*You’re strange.*”

Jade: “(I can’t believe that I’m the one being called strange by the genetic experiment here.)” >_>;

I stared blankly. His piercing, hawk-like eyes stared back. I was just about to come up with a reply when he continued, “*Or maybe I just need to learn more about humans. You’re not all the same.*”

I really had no idea how to respond to a statement like that.

Um… yeah, considering the humans that this guy has been around all this time… he has quite a bit of learning to do, yes.
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“*I still don’t have a reason for why I followed you, but…*”—he closed his eyes—“*what you saw of me on the plane… that wasn’t normal.*”

Jade: “Oh thank goodness...”
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Chibi: “Look, I thought that you said that you were going to stop treating me like a dangerous monster here!” >_>;

I exhaled slowly. Alright. That was a good sign. And it did match up with what I’d seen of him the past two weeks. He’d been cold and elusive and aggressive… but he hadn’t actually attacked anyone. So even though I had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth… I still felt like I could trust him more now. At least a little bit.

Must be those Zapdos genes in action, since that does sound an awful lot like a bird of prey gazing down on a would-be target.

“Well… thanks for that… Pikachu,” I told him.

His ears twitched. “*Don’t call me that.*”

I hesitated. “Do you want me to call you number nine like the Rockets—”

“*Anything but that,*” he immediately cut in. “*And I do have a name. I only ever used it with… But that doesn’t matter now… Call me Chibi.*”

And there’s our namedrop. Though in retrospect I’m a tad surprised that Chibi doesn’t like being called Pikachu. I suppose that’s a sign that he’s internalized that he’s become different from normal.

I couldn’t help cracking a smile. Chibi? The name sounded sort of… small and cute. Not really fitting for his personality.

I mean, it helps that the name literally means ‘small’. Though I wonder what the meta story was behind how Chibi got his name anyways.


He glared a bit at my reaction. “*What’s so funny?*”

“Nothing, nothing,” I said, not wanting to ruin the moment, since it must have taken some amount of trust for him to be willing to tell me his name.

Yeah, I can only imagine how much of a:

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face Chibi would have at a snickering explanation of what his name means semantically.

“*So, you’re going to show me the world outside of Team Rocket.*” It was a statement, not a request.

“I… guess I am?” I said with a bit of uncertainty.

Chibi nodded. “*Alright then.*”

Chibi: “*I mean, just saying, I thought that I was doing just fine at that so far…*”
Jade: “I’ll help speed it along more?” ^^;

I stood to my feet, a wave of relief washing over me. “Well… should we attend the party now? You’d get to battle—and it wouldn’t be for your life or your freedom or anything,” I added with a half-smile.

The Pikachu’s expression hardened. “*That would be nice. But there’s something you should know. The reason I left—I saw someone I recognized.*”

Jade:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5vd5cE3n0M

“I’m sorry, what? As in you saw a Rocket here on the ship?”
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It took several seconds for the implication to sink in. “But… you were created by…” My voice trailed off. He’d never been around any humans other than Rockets, had he.

“*What’s more…*” he continued. “*I overheard some kids reporting that their friends had gone missing.*”

Jade: “Was it really too much to ask for the first day as part of this secret team to not go seriously sideways right off the bat?” >_<;

I stared at him in disbelief. They’d found us. The Rockets had found us before we’d even gathered together as a team. Before we’d even started training to oppose them.

“You… you can’t be serious,” I finally managed.

Chibi: “Look, ‘Jade’, is it, right? For the two weeks that you’ve known me, do I seem like the unserious, joking, type?” >_>;
Jade: “No, and that’s what I was afraid of.”
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“*Come on,*” Chibi said, turning to walk further down the hallway. “*Before you found me, I was searching for them. I want to find out what they’re doing here.*”

That… sounds like a terrible idea given that they might still have your Pokéball, but you do you, Chibi.

It was obvious he was going to look into this with or without me. My legs were on autopilot as I shuffled after him, my mind still reeling with shock. It didn’t seem possible. He had to have made a mistake. But I didn’t dare question him as I followed—I could only desperately hope that we wouldn’t find anyone.

The hybrid walked several yards ahead of me, stopping at each corner to glance in all directions before motioning that it was safe to follow. His expression was wary, but calm and collected at the same time—it had the effect of calming me, in any case. Chibi knew what he was doing. I had to put my trust in that.

Don’t make me break out the Bubsy reaction image again, Jade.

And then the Pikachu’s ears stood bolt upright. His eyes focused with laser intensity onto a supply closet before he bounded over to press a black-tipped ear against it. Not more than a second later, he motioned for me to join him. My stomach twisted into a knot instantly. This was it. No losing my cool now. I cautiously tiptoed forward and put my ear to the door as well.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about! I’ve never heard of anyone called Stalker and I don’t know anything about any rebels!” a voice cried out. A young voice—couldn’t have been any older than thirteen.


“That’s what everyone we’ve asked has said. Why should we believe you?” This one was a lot older. Mid-thirties at least.

Ah yes, our first real sign in this story that things are going to go places™ later on in the story.

“Because it’s the truth!” The voice was now growing desperate. “I’m just here for the trainer’s party! Why else would I be here? And if there really are dangerous rebels hanging around, then shouldn’t everyone know about it?!”

So they were interrogating passengers. This had to be why Chibi overheard some kids reporting missing friends. How many Rockets were elsewhere on the ship, kidnapping more trainers?

Chibi: “You probably don’t want to know, Jade.”
Jade: “Yeah, I figured.”
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Several seconds passed. I could almost hear my heart thumping, and part of me was afraid they’d hear it through the door. Footsteps paced back and forth inside the room, until finally—

“Knock her out, Machoke.” The voice was dripping with disappointment. I winced as I felt the dull thud of an impact vibrate across the floor.

A second Rocket, younger than the first, sighed. “This is the fourth kid who’s had no idea what the hell is going on. Starting to think this is a lost cause.”

The first one chuckled. “Don’t let any executives hear ya say that.”

I was going to ask why they didn’t just root through the kid’s belongings and phone to try and find any signs of coordination or messages from Stalker, but then I remembered that these are low-level Rockets, and the last one we saw in this story unwittingly compromised a relay base and almost depressurized his plane trying to deal with the cast, so…
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“There are hundreds of trainers on board for the party,” the second countered, sounding frustrated. “Even if the rebels are here, what’re the odds we’d find one? We can’t possibly question everyone without giving ourselves away.”

I mean, it sure is a good thing that you’re not going into the security room either here on this ship or from the ferry terminal and reviewing any CCTV footage for known associates of Stalker, just saying. Since considering how Jade was acting at security, you’d think that she’d stand out a bit. ^^;

“Yeah, but it’s not like we can just pass up this opportunity. You should’ve seen it—the head execs were freaking out when they heard that the guy organizing this was going around calling himself ‘Stalker.’”

The younger Rocket gave an unimpressed snort. “Yeah, that narrows it down. Wasn’t it all but proven that the original Stalker was multiple people? I mean, I know that all happened before I joined, but—”

Jade: “(Wait, multiple people?! Nobody said anything about that!)” O_O;

“That’s just the point. We have no idea who it is, and that’s why we can’t afford to ignore him. Whoever it is knows about the revolt. He could be a deserter. He could be the former commander. Do you have any idea how important that is? If there’s even a chance we could get him, or any of the others working with him, we can’t ignore it.”

I have to wonder just how many bodies Stalker knows are buried on Team Rocket’s end if they deem it appropriate to bomb a giant cruise ship just for the chance at taking him and a known gathering of his out.

The revolt? Former commander? Tyson had mentioned something like that at the Viridian base, but I hadn’t paid it any mind at the time.

Chibi nudged me with his elbow. “*So you and the rest of the potential recruits aren’t their concern,*” he whispered. “*They’re trying to flush out the leader, or anyone in his group.*”

Jade: “(Chibi, can you not say that so loud right now? Those Rockets are right there.)” >.<

“Huh. Well, from all the times I talked with him, it seemed like he was doing this alone. I don’t even think he’s on the ship right now.”

“*That’s good for us. They can’t act too suspiciously or else risk tipping him off and losing their chance to get him. But they can’t just do nothing. They’ve got the disadvantage here. And if I know the Rockets, they wouldn’t have started this mission without a fallback in case things didn’t go as planned.*”

Jade: “(I’m sorry, but how do you know this again-?)”
Chibi: “*(Jade, I’ve literally spent my entire life with Rockets. Trust me, I know how they operate.)*” >_>;

Just then, I heard a buzzing sound like a text message alert, followed by one of the Rockets rummaging through a pocket. A few seconds passed in silence. Suddenly, the older Rocket let out a low whistle. “Well then! Looks like one of our teammates caught one!” My heart jumped into my throat.

Chibi: “...”
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“Really? Did they get any info?”

“…Doesn’t look like it. Sounds like the rebels were kept in the dark about everything. The kid doesn’t know the leader’s real name, where they’re going, what they’ll be doing. Can’t really say I’m surprised.”

The younger one groaned. “So this was all for nothing?”

Older Rocket: “Hardly, all those rebels are right here on this ship. We just need to… take care of them.”
Jade: “(I really don’t like where this conversation is going right now.)” ._.

“It’s too early to say that. Once we get everything set up tonight, the leader will have no choice but to reveal himself. And if he doesn’t, we can just end the threat anyway. Now come on, let’s meet up with the others.”

Huh, I forgot that these two already started talking about their ability to just nip things in the bud so soon.

Chibi leaped back from the door at once, jerking his head in the opposite direction and taking off for the nearest corner. I scrambled to my feet as quietly as I could and jumped after him, ducking out of sight the instant before the door swung open.

Now that I got a good look at the two Rockets, I couldn’t help but stare—both of them were dressed as crew members. No wonder Chibi was the only one to notice them. And with a sinking feeling, it hit me—I wouldn’t be able to warn the crew that Rockets had infiltrated their ranks. How could I know that the person I reported it to wouldn’t be a Rocket themselves?

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Chibi was fixated on the two Rockets now walking away from us. I gave him a puzzled look, but he just nodded sharply to himself. And then without warning, the hybrid shot forward in a blink, unleashing a blast of lightning at the older of the two. I didn’t move from my spot on the tile floor. I could only stare in horror as the man gave an awful, garbled cry and sank to the floor instantly.

The younger Rocket spun around with a look of terror, but the hybrid didn’t even hesitate. He lunged forward and—no, no I couldn’t watch. But the sound of the man’s screaming still gripped every inch of me.

Damn. Ice cold.

Jade: “Chibi?! What the hell?!
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Chibi: “*I’m sorry, but did you seriously expect I was just going to let them walk away? Also, they have communicators on them. Assuming that I didn’t fry them too hard, you can use that to flush out their buddies.*”
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Several seconds passed. Hesitantly, I opened my eyes a crack. The Rocket was cowering against the wall, and—what on earth was Chibi doing?

“Chibi?! What—?” My words just died.

Snerk. I completely forgot that that was actually roughly where things were headed in this story.

“*Tell me your mission!*” he demanded. The experiment was standing on the Rocket’s chest, holding a brightly glowing tail right up to his neck. The young man was shaking all over, eyes wide and pleading.

“W-what do you want from me?!” he yelled. “I’m just a grunt!”

Chibi hesitated slightly, raising an eyebrow in confusion. After several seconds, realization crossed his face. He turned to me and called out, “*Translate for me!*”

“What?”

Ah yes, one hovercraft full of eels coming right up from Jade there.

“*Come on, we need this information!*” he shouted.

I stared at him weakly, my brain too muddled to work out what he meant. Translate? Because the man didn’t know Pokéspeech?

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words felt hollow and lifeless. “What’s your mission?”

Grunt: “Why do you sound like a robot right now?” O_O;
Jade: “Look, just answer the question before the zap-happy experiment fries you again.” >_>;

The Rocket gave a frantic glance between Chibi and me, but didn’t say anything. Chibi glared before shooting out a wave of sparks, causing the man to jerk backward and shout, “Our mission is to identify the rebels and their leader!”

“*And how do you plan to do that?!*” Again, I repeated the question.

The Rocket stared at him, sweat dripping down his face—he was clearly afraid to say too much. Chibi pressed his tail harder against the man’s neck until it was nearly digging into the flesh. God, I had no idea what move that was, but he probably could have ended the man’s life right there.

Chibi: “*It’s Iron Tail, for reference.*”
Jade: “Wonderful. And I’m sorry, but why aren’t we going with your communicator idea again?” ._.
Chibi: “*Because that wasn’t canon, and I need this right now.*”

“W-we were gonna use explosives to hold the ship hostage and force the rebel leader to reveal himself,” the Rocket finally stammered out in one breath.

Well, somebody must be new, given that he’s breaking much easier in interrogation than Tyson did back in Chapter 3.


I jumped upon hearing hurried footsteps echo from the other end of the hallway. Was it just the crew coming to investigate the commotion, or was it more Rockets? Or both?!

“Um, Chibi, I think we need to—”

“*I hear them,*” the Pikachu said. He had just pulled a small, red and black cell phone from the man’s pocket with the label “R-com” inscribed on the front. Chibi slid the device across the floor to me, and I caught it. He then gave one last look at the captive Rocket before slamming the flat of his tail into the man’s temple and running off.

Chibi: “*See? I did remember the communicator after all. Happy?*”

I sat there frozen, still too stunned to work through what I was supposed to do. Chibi stopped running and turned back towards me with an exasperated look on his face. “*It’s only a matter of time before the others figure out what happened here. We need to go somewhere they won’t find us!*”

I shook my head, trying clear the haze of panic and just think straight, for the love of crap! Somewhere they couldn’t find us… somewhere they couldn’t—

“My room!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet and bursting into a sprint to catch up with Chibi while grabbing the card key hanging from my neck. “It’s room B120!”

Jade: “Boy I sure hope they don’t have a mole in the security room, otherwise that shelter’s gonna be really short-lived.”
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“*I saw the stairs this way!*” he called out.

We continued to race down the hallway, turning a corner leading to the elegant staircases nearest the main event room and bolting down them. I couldn’t hear if any footsteps were after us with all the battle sounds from the trainer’s party. Either way, we had to keep running. I jumped two or three steps at a time, desperate to catch up with Chibi while constantly throwing frantic glances over my shoulder.

Boy are these two lucky that the seas they’re going over are apparently fairly smooth, since this would be a really bad time to get hit by a sudden wave that made the ship rock right now.

We reached the right floor and didn’t waste any time sprinting down the hallway lined with cabin rooms. Just a little bit more, and—there it was! I held my card against the scanner on the door handle, unlocked the door, threw it open, and bolted inside with Chibi before slamming it shut behind us.

I stood there, doubled over and panting hard and trying to work through if we were safe or not. This was insane—we weren’t supposed to be in danger on this ship. How did they find us already?!

I mean, y’all were just camping out in the boonies for two weeks. All it’d take would be one invitee to run his mouth off to tip off that something was up.
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My brain was too wracked by frustration and stress to think logically at this point. I threw my backpack to the floor and stumbled toward the bed, now completely lightheaded. I had no idea what to think about all of this, least of all if I should do anything or not. The whole thing was insane, and I just wanted to pretend I had never found out about it.

I vaguely realized that I’d been staring at Chibi since we got to the room. I tried to convince myself that I had no reason to be afraid of him anymore. We’d sorted things out. And now I couldn’t stop shivering just from being in the same room as him. I needed to say something—anything. For about the millionth time that night, the words wouldn’t come.

Jade: “I… uh… you’re not going to go around casually electrocuting Rockets like that on a regular basis, are you?”
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Chibi: “*Define ‘regular basis’.*”

“*I know what you must think of me,*” he said.

I almost jumped. The hybrid gave me an incredulous look, and I immediately tried to rearrange my face into one that was less freaked out.

“I… just… that was kind of brutal back there.”

Chibi: “*Meh, those two will live. Probably. Maybe. Look, the point is that you shouldn’t worry about it, especially when one of them had his Machoke deck a human teenager.*”

His expression hardened. “*They were Rockets. I did what I had to. I’ve always done what I had to.*”

Oh, well that’s a positive sign for how many people Chibi’s put in the ground in the past.
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I sighed. He did have a point. I didn’t like it, but it was a point. But then…

“…Does that include what happened on the plane?”

I had no idea why I said it. His eyes widened—I tensed up, expecting him to lash out. But I was completely unprepared to see him turn away with a tortured look, body quivering.

Yeeeeeeeah, looks like somebody hit a nerve there.

“*Don’t bring that up. Again. Ever.*”

“I… I’m sorry?”

Chibi continued to face the wall, his expression torn. Slowly, he forced his eyes shut. “*Why did I think he would have wanted…?*” He shook his head sharply. “*Never mind.*”

Jade: “Chibi, are you sure you can’t tell me-”
Chibi: “*Drop. The. Topic. Jade.*”
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He didn’t say anything else after that, so it seemed best to give him a moment. His words still echoed in my mind, however. He’d done what he’d had to. Opposing Team Rocket and living through it would sometimes mean striking back at them violently. I didn’t have any reason to be bothered by that… and yet it still bothered me.

I mean, even from where I got up to in my readthrough of this story… yeah, things are only going to go downhill from here for your childhood innocence, Jade.
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I clenched my teeth, feeling stupid—it was the sort of thing I’d have to get over during my time on the rebel team. Ajia had done it. It only made sense that I’d have to as well.

Ajia…

“Ajia!” I exclaimed, bolting upright and whipping my wallet out of my pocket to grab the small, torn piece of paper she’d written her Pokégear number on. In an instant, I grabbed the phone off the bedside table and punched in all the numbers before realizing that I didn’t have a dial tone.

Can’t tell if that means that Jade forgot to dial an extension, or if comms on the ship are down.

Instead, a recorded voice said, “We thank you for staying aboard the S.S. Anne. If you would like to place outgoing calls during your trip, please register your bank card or trainer’s license, and you will receive the bill at the end of your—”

I slammed the phone back on the receiver and buried my face in pillows. “Great. There goes my only hope.”

- Chibi lifts up the Rocket Communicator and gives it a slight shake -
Chibi: “*Ahem. You technically do have a way of putting calls out.*”
Jade: “Wait, but will that even dial normal phone calls?” .-.

“*Don’t tell me you plan on hiding in here all night,*” Chibi said, leaping onto the bed. I detected a bit of scorn in his voice.

“What else am I supposed to do? If I leave, they’ll find me. I’ll be captured, killed, whatever, end of story.”

He gave me a piercing stare. “*You don’t honestly think you can just ignore Rockets being on this ship when it’s filled with potential enemies against their cause? They want to hold the ship hostage with explosives. But you said it yourself—the rebel leader isn’t here. What do you think they’ll decide to do when they figure that out? Leave and go home? Or teach him a lesson by ending the threat right here and now?*”

Chibi: “*So… yeah, either deal with them now, or later. Pick your poison.*”

Almost as if on cue, the R-com in my pocket vibrated, making me jump. I retrieved the device and tapped the main button, causing the screen to light up with a new text message.

“Primary mission potentially compromised. All agents meet at the rendezvous point immediately. Secondary mission to commence at 0300,” I read aloud.

Chibi nodded. “*Thought so. Do you still think you’ll survive the night even if you hide in here?*”

Jade: “We could pull a fire alarm and force an evacuation of the ship?” ^^;
Chibi: “*And then the Rockets would just set the bomb off and sink it. Seriously, Jade. There’s no avoiding this and we both know it. So why not take things into our own hands?*”

I shivered at his words, unwilling to look him in the eye. “What am I supposed to do to stop them?”

“*Anything. Whatever we can.*”

I raised an eyebrow, both incredulous and hesitant. “Are… you saying you’ll help me?”

“*If I’m with you, then I’ll be helping you. Simple as that.*”

Jade:
5f0.gif

“I mean, after what I saw you do in the hallway-”
Chibi: “*Jade, they have a bomb on board. Maybe don’t judge me too harshly until that’s dealt with, huh?*”

I paused, taken aback by how straightforward he was being now. “I… wasn’t sure if you’d get angry if I asked for help. You were pretty angry about the idea of me being in control of you.” In retrospect, it made sense. He was raised by Team Rocket. Had he ever had a choice in anything at all?

The Pikachu scoffed. “*It’s only fair. And besides, humans have their uses. Even if I don’t need one to battle well.*”

Huh, implying that this isn’t the first time that Chibi’s partnered with a human? Since that was a really particular phrasing there.

He didn’t need a human to battle well? What was that supposed to mean? It was just sort of a basic fact that humans were better at strategic thinking. But I guess he wasn’t exactly a normal Pokémon.

I took a deep breath. “Alright, so we’re going to stop them.”

Jade: “Even if I have no idea how we’re going to do that, but not getting blown up and drowning at sea afterwards is kinda a good motivator for figuring something out.” ^^;

Chibi paused slightly, but then nodded.

We were going to stop them. I repeated it again in my head, but it still felt fake and it was hard to ignore the fact that I just plain really didn’t want to do this. I had agreed to join the rebel team knowing that my life would be in danger, but now that it actually was, I couldn’t handle it.

Boy does that bit age terribly in not even a chapter from here

Chibi’s words still echoed in my head, though. No matter what, I had to do something. If I was killed while trying to stop this (I went numb just thinking about the fact that it was a very real possibility), then it didn’t matter, because if I didn’t do anything, we’d all be doomed. Yes—I kept telling myself that I had no choice. No matter what, I had to do something.

“So the mission begins at 3am,” I said, swallowing hard just to get the words out. “That’s when we’ll make our move.”

Jade: “Though I really, really hope that it’s not just going to be us against all those Rockets since… yeah, I’d really, really like to not take on god-knows-how-many Rockets with a bomb just between the four of us.”
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Chibi turned to face me, his expression softening. *Then I suggest you get some sleep.*”

Jade: “We’re not even going to ask someone for a phone to borrow to call Ajia?”
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Chibi: “*Jade, we don’t even know whether or not we were sighted back there. Seriously, this is the safest route for us. Just get some sleep so you’re not a zombie when it’s time for that rendezvous.*” >_>;

Alright, made it to the end, and boy did things heat up quickly. Like I remembered that the bomb plot was a thing really quickly during the S.S. Anne arc, but I forgot that it was this quickly. The chapter does a really good job at giving the audience a firmer grasp on Chibi’s character, and does a good job at building a sense for things to inevitably blow up (har har) in the story.

As for criticisms… beyond a couple typos that I spotted, I suppose I have some quibbles about the Rockets’ strategy for trying to break into Stalker’s network, but… they’re low-level Rockets, who’ve always not been the sharpest tools in the shed canonically, so it’s reconcilable easily enough along those lines. I do wonder if Jade gave up on trying to call Ajia a bit soon versus deciding to pop out and check with a neighbor or something if they could call a few hours later or something. Like it could be something as simple as “no, it’s not safe to assume that we can come out of this room at all until it’s time to crash the Rocket rendezvous”, but I do feel that point would benefit from being explicitly laid out in a sentence or something somewhere.

But all-in-all, I thought this was a really well-done chapter @Chibi Pika . This will probably be the last of Legendarian Chronicles I get through for Review Blitz, but I’ll have to make a point of coming back to this story… hopefully a bit sooner than my last gap in reading. ^^;
 

Negrek

Play the Rain
Staff
Delighted to see another chapter! And what a chapter it is, too. Lots of big reveals, and some even bigger questions raised... Feels like a real "point of no return" within the story, really.

Having Giovanni show up here was a killer twist, and he continues to be loads of fun whenever he's in a scene. While he's suffered some setbacks, he still radiates confidence and control, and his contempt for and utter lack of fear of the chosen kids oozes through in everything he says. What really makes him so effective, I think, is in how the characters all react to him; nothing says "power" like somebody who puts the whole room on edge just by walking through the door. Poor Jade just struggles to say ANYTHING when the guy's in her vicinity. It's going to be so satisfying to see that suave demeanor crack later on in the story when he inevitably loses control of things. It sounds like he's going to be a pretty big player in upcoming events, although I imagine he'll mostly stay behind the scenes, and I'm super here for it.

And in turn, this sure was a rough chapter for Starr! Bad enough that she had to put up with Ender, Raven, and Giovanni in quick succession, but it sounds like she knew a couple of things she almost definitely should have mentioned to the rest of the group earlier. I believe her that she didn't pay much attention to all the political stuff, but damn. I don't think Jade/Ajia will blame her much for not bringing it up earlier, but not everyone may be so forgiving.

Meanwhile, the argument Giovanni and Lorelei present here is interesting, albeit not really coherent, not that a lot of political arguments are, of course. On the one hand, some accountability for the legends would fairly self-evidently be a good thing, I think--"we'll flatten a city if we get pissed off at you, and there's nothing you can do about it" isn't a great spot for humanity to be in. I could see that sort of defense argument working pretty well with other gym leaders and members of the League. But of course the proposal here sounds a lot more like subjugation than accountability; Giovanni and Lorelei obviously see the legends as resources to be used, which leads to weird comments like the one about Galactic and the Hoenn teams, a kind of, "if we don't make their powers our own first, someone else will!" sort of position. (Oh no, it's the Sokovia Accords!) (Also wild: "Starting a war with them is out of the question," referring to Team Rocket, but instead they're talking about starting a war with creatures that can cause hurricanes, aaaaaaa) It was pretty frustrating not to have anyone point out that there's a big gap between "legends answer to no one" and "mind-control master balls," but of course the kids have been caught off-guard and terrified by Giovanni, not that they were likely to make amazing negotiators to begin with. It's a really frustrating, heartbreaking scene as they struggle with a decision that, as Lorelei emphasizes, has already been made without their input. If only they could have somehow gotten representatives from the legends into the Pokémon Association meeting... though at this point I wouldn't be surprised if some legends maybe went behind others' backs and did try to do something that had an influence on that meeting. Perhaps Mewtwo/his former commander friend were involved? And whatever they attempted Did Not Help. Perhaps there's still some hope if the right legends can be connected to the right people in power, because surely they can't all be on board with giving the Rockets this much power if absolutely nothing else, but at best the window of opportunity must be closing very fast.

I wasn't super surprised that Team Rocket's been operating with at least the tacit approval of the League, although I'm not totally clear if they've actually been hired to capture them at this point or not. I'm most intrigued by this "incident" that occurred twenty years ago that everyone seems very cagey about... it seems really weird that Jade etc. wouldn't have already heard about such a thing, since it's apparently such an important political consideration. Maybe it was hushed up for some reason (such as concealing the development of Master Balls)? But it would be pretty hard to cover up a legendary attack if it did enough damage that it alarmed people to such an extent. Perhaps it's something that could have been passed off as a natural disaster or something, idk. One way or another, it certainly seems like the legends are going to have some real explaining to do when the kids get back to them.

Side note, it was a little odd to me that Ender and Raven don't say anything at all after Giovanni shows up. Makes me wonder what their role in the meeting was supposed to be.

Couple small sentence-level things:

Or at least, who I assumed was Pichu, but very well may have been Mew.
This sentence reads a little funky to me. Maybe something along the lines of, "Or at least, I assumed it was Pichu, but it very well may have been Mew"?

No it would have been worse if we hadn’t.
Should be a comma after "No."

All in all this was a fun chapter! Whole lotta tasty reveals, but also some nice character moments as well. I wonder how much more we'll be seeing of Lorelei (and perhaps the other elites) from this point forward. Looking forward to chapter fifty-six!
 
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