Pokemon: Elemental Legacies

[Jirae]

Chapter 15

"Wow, there's so many people here!" Elissa marveled. It was now morning again, and the streets of Evolution City were packed with people and Pokemon.
"That's right! Today is the annual Evolution Festival!" Ron explained. "All the merchandise in the stores is marked down, raffles are held throughout the day for free Pokemon eggs and evolution stones, and there are all kind of other activities!"
"Wow, that sounds like fun!" Tatiana exclaimed. The group waded through the flood of tourists and residents alike, making there way to the Gym, only to find a closed sign on the door.
"I'm sorry, were you going to challenge the Gym Leader?" Came the voice of a young boy. The group had huddled around the door, and Bobby turned around first, as he was closest to the source of the voice. The boy was even younger than Spencer, probably no more than ten. An adult male was walking with the boy, presumably his father.
"Yes, we were." Bobby answered. "But we see that it's closed today."
"Yeah, sorry about that." The boy replied. "But I wanted to play some of the festival games today, so we closed down the Gym for the day."
"Wait a minute...I recognize that voice." Dan said, turning around from a conversation with Tatiana. "Dave? Dad?"
"Dan?" The boy replied, equally shocked.
"Do you know him?" Tatiana asked.
"That's my brother!" Dan exclaimed. "I haven't seen him for a few years, when my dad and him went on a research trip! They said they were going to Kanto!"
"Well, as I'm sure you know, Olemenun is a secret region." Dan and Dave's dad responded. "So I'm wondering, what are you doing here?"
"He got top four at the Triregional Championships, so my dad like, invited him!" Tatiana explained. "Maybe you know him, his name is Professor Pine."
"Oh! So you're Professor Pine's daughter!" Dan's dad understood. "He's one of the most respected people in Olemenun!"
"So, wait, dad, are you the Gym Leader?" Dan questioned.
"Haha, nope. Maybe a few years ago, but I've retired now." Dan's dad replied. "Anyways, nice to meet you all. My name's Eric."
"Nice to meet you, too." Bobby replied, shaking his hand. "I'm Bobby." He turned to Dave. "So, if you're dad's not the Gym Leader, why did the Gym close because you wanted to play games?"
"Well duh!" Dave exclaimed. "I'm the Gym Leader!"
"You?!" Dan asked in disbelief.
"Surprised?" Dave asked, a wide grin on his face.
"Yes, I was quite surprised myself." Eric explained. "But he's amazingly skilled with the Eevees he received from the Pokemon Breeder, Ricky."
"So, Dan, are you going to battle me?" Dave questioned.
"Uh, sure, I guess...when you're Gym's open." Dan replied.
"Well, since it's you, you can battle me right now!" Dave decided. "Beating you is going to be way more fun than some festival games! And since I gave the Gym trainers the day off, you won't even have to battle them!"
"Uh...cool, I guess." Dan said as Eric unlocked the door to the Gym.
"I'll come and like, cheer you on!" Tatiana exclaimed, following Eric, Dave, and Dan into the Gym.
"I think I'm going to check out the Dojo." Matt informed.
"I'm going to check out the festival!" Elissa proclaimed.
"I think I'll see if Ricky needs any help cleaning up the Breeding Center." Ron decided.
"I'm going to see if Professor Pine has discovered anything yet." Bobby concluded. "We'll all meet back up here in an hour or so."

"Alright. You know the rules." Dave stated. "If you win, you get the Eon Badge. Since I only have three Pokemon, this battle will be three three."
"Fair enough." Dan said, agreeing to the rules. "I'll use these three." He placed Mosstone, Flyrant, and Eevee's Pokeballs in the top three slots of his staff, signalling that they would be the three Pokemon he used.
"Let's start this, then!" Dave exclaimed. "I choose you, Vineon!" Dave's first Pokeball opened to reveal the tan skinned, green tailed grass type evolution of Eevee. It's leaflike tail and ears waved in the air, a faint green aura visible around it.
"I'll start off with Flyrant!" Dan shouted, releasing the fly Pokemon. "Flyrant, use Gust!" The fly Pokemon flew up and began to flap its wings, sending a blast of wind at the opposing Vineon.
"Vineon, Razor Leaf!" Dave commanded. Vineon sent sharp leaves flying out at Flyrant, but the leaves and Vineon were both blown away by the gust of wind.
"Flyrant, follow it up with a Psybeam!" Dan ordered. Flyrant circled Vineon from the air, launching a beam of psychic energy from its eyes.
"Vineon, Magical Leaf!" Dave commanded. The two attacks passed eachother in the air, both hitting their targets. The two Pokemon continued to exchange attacks, but Flyrant had a type advantage, and Vineon was the first to be knocked out.
"Good job, Dan!" Tatiana shouted.
"Alright, Vineon, return!" Dave exclaimed. "Let's go, Flareon!" The familiar fire Pokemon emerged from its Pokeball, tail ablaze. "Flareon, Fire Spin!" Flareon spewed a flame from its mouth, which hit the ground beneath Flyrant, expanding and spiralling upward. Flyrant was burned by the vortex, and also trapped.
"Flyrant, hit it with a Psybeam!" Dan ordered. The bug Pokemon once again shot a psychic beam out from its eyes, striking its new opponent.
"Flareon, it's weak!" Dave shouted. "Finish it off with Bite!" Flareon leaped up, jumping through the vortex of flame and biting Flyrant viciously on its way. It landed on the other side of the twister as the fire began to dwindle, the defeated Flyrant falling to the ground.
"Flyrant, return!" Dan exclaimed. "Go, Mosstone! Rock Throw!" Mosstone appeared out of its Pokeball, flinging a large rock from nowhere at the Flareon. The rock slammed into Flareon, sending it skidding across the tiled floor.
"Flareon, get back up and use Ember!" Dave commanded. The Pokemon got back on its feet and ran back toward Mosstone, pelting it with a small burst of flames.
"Mosstone, Rock Throw again!" Dan ordered. Mosstone continued to hurl rocks at the Flareon, weakening it more and more each time, until eventually, it was defeated.
"Flareon, return!" Dave shouted. "Jolteon, let's go!"
"Then I'll be making a switch, too!" Dan responded. "Mosstone, return! I choose you, Eevee!"
"Oh, you've got an Eevee too." Dave commented.
"Yeah, Ricky gave it to me." Dan replied.
"Well, don't think I'll go easy on it just because it's an Eevee!" Dave exclaimed. "Jolteon, Double Kick!" Jolteon dashed over to Eevee, rapidly kicking it twice with its hind legs. Eevee flew across the ground, badly damaged by this super effective attack.
"Eevee, use Quick Attack, but keep running so you can dodge his next attack!" Dan suggested. Eevee began charging forward quickly, slamming into Jolteon as it passed by.
"Nice try, but it won't work!" Dave shouted. "Jolteon, use Quick Attack and catch that Eevee!" Jolteon began to run even faster than Eevee, catching up to it and tackling it to the ground. From the two attacks combined, Eevee was left extremely weak, and probably wouldn't be able to survive another hit.
"Alright, Eevee! This might be your last move, so make it count!" Dan exclaimed. "Bite!" Eevee once again dashed forward, baring its teeth as it made contact with Jolteon. The attack was a critical hit, but it still wasn't enough to bring the evolved Pokemon down.
"Alright, Jolteon! Finish it off!" Dave commanded. "Quick Attack!" Jolteon once again ran forward, ramming into Eevee and knocking it to the ground, unconscious.
"You did your best, Eevee!" Dan reassured. "Return! Now, Mosstone, let's finish it up!" He sent the grass Pokemon out once again, confident that it would be able to finish the job Eevee started. "Rock Throw!" Mosstone pulled a rock out of nowhere again, chucking it at Jolteon. The rock collided with the Pokemon, damaging it considerably.
"Jolteon, it's a rock type, use Double Kick!" Dave exclaimed. Jolteon ran toward the Mosstone, preparing to strike with its hind legs.
"Mosstone, get out of the way and attack it with Rollout!" Dan ordered. Mosstone began spinning around in circles, rotating on its point, and got out of Jolteon's way just in time. It quickly turned around, spinning back toward Jolteon and slamming into it. Now it was Jolteon that was one attack away from being knocked out.
"Jolteon, try Double Kick again!" Dave commanded. Jolteon once again attempted to strike Mosstone with the kicking attack, but to no avail. Mosstone spun out of the way, and continued its Rollout attack, delivering the final blow to Jolteon. The electric Pokemon fell to the ground, defeated.
"Jolteon, return!" Dave shouted.
"Like, good job, Dan!" Tatiana exclaimed, giving Dan a hug. Dave walked over to Dan, handing him a small peice of metal shaped like an Eevee's head.
"Here is the Eon badge. In addition, I'd like you to have this." Dave said as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a familiar disclike object. "This Hidden Machine contains Fly. It will allow you to fly back to cities you have previously visited. Also, I don't have a Technical Machine to offer you, like most Gym Leaders, but I do have this." He pulled another object out of his other pocket, which he revealed to be an evolutionary stone. The magnificent stone shone in all colors of the rainbow, and Dan could see his reflection in it.
"I've never seen this stone before." Dan commented.
"No, you probably haven't." Dave replied. "This is the Eon stone, given exclusively to trainers that defeat me. This stone can be used once to evolve Eevee into any of its eight forms."
"Wow, cool." Dan remarked. Suddenly, he began to notice out of the corner of his eye that Mosstone had begun to glow. It grew larger, and several appearance changes occured. The moss covering connecting its body to its hands began to split, some running down its body, some enveloping the top of its hands. The hands became unconnected to the body, merely floating around it. A growth began to grow out of the top of it's torso, forming an almost square block of rock above it that was the width of its torso. In addition, a disc formed between its torso and the toplike point that it stood upon. The glow faded, revealing the details of this new Pokemon. Moss covered the top of its hands, the top of the disc, and the top of the block that had formed above its torso. Though its real face was still in the same place, a carved, statue esque face was etched into the block.
"Congratulations." Dan's Pokedex alerted. "Your Mosstone has evolved into Mosstatue."
"Awesome!" Dan exclaimed, marveling at his newly evolved Pokemon.
"Well, I guess you guys are going to go meet up with your friends now, huh?" Dave asked, a hint of sadness in his voice, presumably because his brother was leaving already.
"Nah." Dan said, smiling at his younger sibling and putting his hand on his brother's forehead. "They're probably not done with their business yet. We can stay for lunch."
"Yay!" Dave exclaimed. The three children walked through the door that connected the gym to Dave and Eric's house, where Eric was already microwaving lunch.

"You are a highly skilled trainer!" The head blackbelt, a man in his thirties, exclaimed. Matt had easily defeated almost all the trainers in the dojo, and was now facing down its leader. "I will be your final challenge! If you can defeat me, you will receive a special Pokemon, already ready to evolve!"
"Sounds good to me!" Matt accepted.
"To show how strong your bond with your Pokemon truly is, this will be a two on two fight!" The blackbelt explained enthusiastically. Matt began to grab two Pokeballs, but the blackbelt laughed, interrupting him. "Hohoho! Only one Pokemon!"
"But you said this would be a..." Matt began.
"Yes! Two on two!" The blackbelt confirmed. "You and your strongest Pokemon against me and mine!"
"What? I can't fight!" Matt exclaimed, shocked.
"Nonsense! Anyone can fight!" The karate master informed. "I will go easy on you! You may even use that staff you carry your Pokemon upon as a weapon!"
"Alright...just don't kill me, or knock me unconscious, or anything." Matt said hesitantly. "Let's go, Spiritao!" The ghostly fighter Pokemon emerged from its Pokeball, ready to fight.
"I call upon you, my partner and my friend! Hitmonorris!" The blackbelt exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball into the air. The Pokeball opened up to reveal a brown humanshape Pokemon. It had a large torso, somewhat like Hitmonlee's, but with muscly abs like a Machamp. It wore a black karate belt seperating its torso from its legs, and had two muscly, flexing arms, the same color as its torso and legs, protruding from its body. Its legs were large, but somewhat thin like Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee's, and it's unshoed feet strongly resembled a humans'. Above its torso was a reasonably humanlike head, with eyes and mouth showing a stern expression. Slightly darker brown hair topped the head, and connected to a short beard around its mouth.
"What is that thing?" Matt asked, surprised at the new Pokemon.
"This is Hitmonorris!" The karate master explained. "The strongest evolution of Tyrogue! Only through intense training can this evolution be achieved!"
"Do you think you can handle him, Spiritao?" Matt asked.
"I will do my best." Spiritao replied, telepathically communicating with Matt as it had only done a few times before.
"Now, we fight!" The blackbelt declared as the other trainers moved to the sides of the room. Both he and his Pokemon adopted a ready stance, waiting for Matt and Spiritao to make the first move.
"Alright, Spiritao, Shadow Punch!" Matt commanded. Spiritao dashed forward, its fist glowing with ghostly energy.
"Hitmonorris, Counter!" The blackbelt ordered. Hitmonorris grabbed hold of Spiritao's fist at exactly the right time and began swinging it around in circles, lifting it into the air. It then let go, sending the ghost Pokemon flying back toward Matt.
"Well, since I'm in this fight too...!" Matt realized. He ran over to where Spiritao was flying, and caught his Pokemon before it hit the ground.
"Thank you." Spiritao thanked telepathically. "Now let's do this!" Spiritao got back up and once again flew toward its opponent.
"Alright, Spiritao..." Before Matt could finish his command, he realized that the karate master had snuck up on him, and a punch was now flying at him. As soon as he saw this out of the corner of his eye, his reflexes kicked in, and his staff blocked the attack perfectly. "Shadow Punch!" He finished, not even fully realizing what had just happened.
"Hyah! You must learn to think on your feet! You must deliver Pokemon commands while battling at the same time!" The blackbelt continued to swing punches at Matt, which Matt was doing nothing but dodging.
"Spiritao, I need to concentrate on my fight! Just use the strategy we've been using!" Matt shouted over to his Pokemon.
"Yes sir." Spiritao replied telepathically. It continued to throw punches at Hitmonorris, but the other fighting type was able to block them with ease.
"Hitmonorris, Roundhouse Kick!" The karate master commanded while he continued to barrage Matt with punches. "Stop dodging and fight me!"
"No way, I know I don't stand a chance!" Matt replied. Meanwhile, Hitmonorris attempted to deliver a roundhouse kick to Spiritao, but went through its gaseous form and missed, leaving its guard down. Spiritao took advantage of the oppurtunity and attacked with a Shadow Punch.
"Okay, Hitmonorris! Barrage of Roundhouse Kicks!" The blackbelt ordered. Hitmonorris began sending roundhouse kicks flying rapidly out at Spiritao, and several connected with the Pokemon's head. To Matt's surprise, the blackbelt began doing the same thing, with the same power and swiftness of his Pokemon.
"Woah!" Matt exclaimed, barely dodging a kick. "You could kill me!"
"Of course not!" The karate master replied with a laugh. "I am going easy on you! Fight back, or I won't!"
"You're crazy!" Matt shouted. "Why did I agree to this?" He looked to his staff with his peripheral vision, still remaining vigilant for attacks. "Well, if he wants me to fight back..." Matt swung his staff upward, blocking a kick. The impact of the wood hitting the foot caused both trainers to slide back a few feet.
"There! You have fought back!" The master exclaimed. "Now that you have, I will fight for real!"
"What? No!" Matt shouted. "You'll kill me!" The black belt now began throwing his punches and kicks faster and stronger, and Matt was barely able to evade. Suddenly, a kick caught him off guard, and he was knocked to the floor. A fist came flying down at him, but he managed to roll to the side just in time. He looked over his shoulder to see that the punch had actually cracked the gym floor, and that this was for real. He continued to dodge a series of attacks, never having time to get back on his feet, and eventually rolled fairly close to where Spiritao and Hitmonorris were fighting.
"Master, this isn't good, I'm getting tired, and he's not even breaking a sweat!" Spiritao informed Matt. Matt finally got onto his feet and put his back to Spiritao's, an enemy on either side of the duo. The martial artist and his Pokemon ran inward, preparing to deliver their signature roundhouse kicks once again.
"This is it...Spiritao might be able to dodge this, but I won't..." Matt said to himself. "I'm sorry, Spiritao..." The kicks came flying inward, and somehow, matt and spiritao both ducked just in time. Matt then proceeded to quickly get behind the karate master, whacking him in the back with the staff. The black belt went flying into his Pokemon, knocking them both to the ground as Spiritao moved out of the way.
"How...how did I do that?!" Matt wondered, shocked.
"You got lucky, punk!" The martial artist said in a manner completely unlike his previous speech, getting back up and facing Matt. "Noone disrespects Rocko in his own dojo!" The man and Pokemon ran toward Matt and Spiritao, punches ready. Spiritao gracefully dodged his incoming punch, while Matt blocked his. He sidestepped, placing his staff where he had stood before. The punch connected with the staff as Matt continued to turn, moving the staff with him and turning a block into another strike from behind.
"How am I doing this?" Matt questioned in his thoughts. "This is insane!" The master charged toward him again, but once again Matt sidestepped, striking the attacker with the staff. Almost uncontrollably he continued to swing the staff, continuosly hitting the black belt and wounding him severely. He looked over to see that Spiritao had been blessed with a similar comeback, and was firing Shadow Punch after Shadow Punch at its opponent. In the middle of this, Spiritao began to glow, changing form as its attacks continued. It grew to about Matt's height, and a large, flowery shape appeared on the top of its head. The glow faded to reveal that the flower on its head was a light purple lotus flower, fully in bloom with its yellow center visible. A glowing talisman like the one on its head was now on each of the Pokemon's fists, as well. The newly evolved Pokemon delivered its final attack, a full power Night Shade that sent the Hitmonorris flying away, obviously defeated. Almost simultaneously, Matt swung his staff down hard upon the defenseless karate master. A crack was heard as the staff split the master's skull, drawing blood from the unconscious or dead martial artist's forehead.
"Holy crap." Was all Matt could say. He looked in disbelief to see that he had probably killed this man. He looked around the room to see frightened trainers scampering toward the door.
"Your Spiritao has evolved into Lotushade." His Pokedex beeped, though he wasn't really paying attention.
"Crap! He actually beat the head master!" One shouted. "We have to tell the boss, we have to tell the boss!" The martial artists all left the building, leaving Matt and his Pokemon alone with their defeated opponents.
"What...what just happened?" Matt asked.
"There is only one possible explanation." Lotushade answered. "We must talk to the others immediately."
"Alright, let's go." Matt said. Before he left, he noticed a table with a Pokeball sitting upon it, presumeably the one that was going to be given to him. He took the Pokeball from the table as the two left the building, not noticing the Team Rocket hat one of the trainers had left behind.

[Jirae]

Chapter 16

The rest of the group had already met up and joined Dan for lunch inside Eric's house by the time Matt and Lotushade got there.
"Guys!" Matt shouted, slamming open the door to the Gym. "Where are you?"
"We're in here!" Dan yelled from the kitchen. Matt identified the source of the noise and entered the room, panting for breath after running.
"What happened to you?" Bobby asked.
"Hey, look, his Pokemon evolved!" Elissa pointed out.
"Guys, something really weird just happened." Matt explained. "The dojo leader just tried to kill me and Spiritao!"
"What?! Are you okay?!" Elissa questioned, concerned.
"I'm fine, but, that's what's weird." Matt replied. "I shouldn't be. That guy should have killed me."
"Like, what do you mean?" Tatiana asked.
"I...I was knocked to the ground, about to die," Matt answered, "When suddenly, I felt this feeling...like my hand was on fire...and then, the next thing I knew, I had dodged his attack and hit him with an attack of my own!"
"Your...hand was on fire?" Bobby asked, intrigued as if he knew something about it.
"Yeah, it felt like it." Matt responded.
"Did you, by any chance, notice something...different...about your staff?" Bobby questioned.
"I wasn't looking at it." Matt replied.
"I think...I think this is what Michael's note was talking about." Bobby suggested.
"What do you mean?" Dan wondered.
"Do you remember what he said? 'This is the true power of the staves'..." Bobby answered. "I think...there's another reason why Professor Pine gave us these staves. I think they have...special powers, or something..."
"Did you say staves?" Eric asked from the adjacent room. "With special powers?"
"Yes, I did." Bobby replied. "Do you know anything about it?"
"Well...it's an old legend, here in Olemenun." He walked back into the kitchen, a dusty book in his hand. "Take a look." He handed the book to Bobby, pointing to one paragraph in particular.

'The shamans created eight staves, which they gave Giovanni I and his six administrators.
The red staff, given to Administrator Charles, could control the power of fire and seal away the fire element.
The blue staff, given to Administrator Jill, could control the power of water and seal away the water element.
The green staff, given to Administrator Ryan, could control the power of plants and seal away the grass element.
The purple staff, given to Administrator Lauren, could temporarily control minds and could seal away the psychic element.
The orange staff, given to Administrator Hank, bestowed its wielder with unbelievable fighting skills and could seal away the ground element.
The gray staff, given to Administrator Derek, could summon storms and could seal away the lightning element.
And Giovanni himself was given the black and white staffs that could destroy and create life respectively and could seal away the dark and light elements.'

"What? What does this mean?" Bobby questioned, rather confused.
"Well, most people discredit this legend, they say it's prepostorous." Eric replied. "Among other things, they find it impossible to believe that Team Rocket were actually good guys once."
"But...the staves that it talks about, six of them are the same colors Professor Pine gave us!" Bobby exclaimed.
"Yes...and if your friend Matthew here was able to defeat Rocko...I think this is the only explanation." Eric responded. "His orange staff, reacting to the life or death situation, bestowed him with amazing martial arts skills...and from what you told me about the note that this Michael kid left at the scene of the break in, I'd say he very well could have been using his gray staff."
"This is unbelievable...we need to talk to Professor Pine!" Bobby decided.
"Eric! Are you there?" Came a familiar voice from the living room.
"Well, I think that's him right now on the videophone!" Eric exclaimed. "You guys wait here for a minute. I'll call you when I know what he wants." He walked into the other room, closing the door behind him.
"Everybody quiet." Dave whispered. "I do this all the time." He snuck up to the room, putting his ear to the door and motioning to the others to join him.
"Professor Pine! To what do I owe this honor?" Eric asked.
"Eric...I think we may have a problem." Professor Pine replied. "I've already contacted all the other professors, and they have no idea what to do...and, being the leading authority on the legends of the Pokemon world, you may be my last hope."
"What's the problem, sir?" Eric inquired, even though he already knew.
"One of the eight staves of sealing seems to have activated." Professor Pine answered. "But not normally. In all the previous legends, the staves have only activated in life or death situations...but I don't think that was the case here. This time, the staff's power was forcibly used to break into a building."
"You guys can come in here, I know you're there." Eric shouted over to the door. The door opened, and the group walked in, following Dave.
"Oh! I see you've already met the staff wielders!" Professor Pine exclaimed as the group appeared in the background on the videophone.
"Yes. After all, as I'm sure you knew, one of them is my son." Eric responded.
"Of course, of course." Professor Pine replied with a sigh. "Robert...I'm sorry I haven't phoned you back yet, but I've been trying to find out how Michael was able to force the staff into activation."
"So you already knew that he had used his staff?" Bobby asked.
"Yes...I'm sorry that I didn't tell you." Professor Pine answered. "I just didn't want you to do something irrational."
"Well, while you were busy talking to other professors, Matt's staff activated as well." Bobby informed Professor Pine.
"What?" The professor asked, shocked. "Did he do it by force as well?"
"No." Matt answered. "It just activated on its own, right when I was about to die."
"Oh, my..." Professor Pine responded. "But who would try to kill you? Was it Michael?"
"No, it was some karate master dude." Matt replied. "I think he said his name was Rocko."
"Let me do a check on that name." Professor Pine said, typing in something in a nearby computer. After a brief pause, he began to speak again. "Well, well...it seems as though this Rocko person was employed by Team Rocket."
"What?" Matt asked in disbelief.
"Yes...recently, they've been recruiting more and more members that are either skilled Pokemon trainers or skilled fighters themselves." Professor Pine explained. "Have you had any previous encounters with Team Rocket?"
"Yes!" Bobby replied quickly. "There's six of them wearing weird gloves that keep attacking us, in almost every town! They call themselves the 'Team Rocket Elemental Six' or something like that."
"...That's not good." Professor Pine responded. "If the Elemental Six are after you...that would mean that he knows that you have the staves..."
"Who? Who knows?" Bobby wondered.
"Team Rocket's leader..." Professor Pine replied. "Noone knows his true identity...all anyone knows is that he is the most brilliant leader Team Rocket has had since Giovanni I..."
"But why would he want these staves?" Dan inquired. "Even if they do have special powers, they can't be all that destructive..."
"It's not the elemental powers that he's after." Professor Pine answered. "He wants them for their other power...the power to release the seals that bind the eight elemental Pokemon...if he releases them, it would mean chaos for the entire world..."
"Wait, you keep talking about eight staves." Bobby pointed out. "But you only gave us six."
"That is correct." Professor Pine replied. "The other two staves were lost a long time ago...noone knows their current whereabouts."
"Hmm..." Bobby thought. "Well, what do you want us to do now? If Michael has the power of one of these staves, he might know about these elemental Pokemon that you're talking about."
"Yes...he probably does." Professor Pine agreed. "I knew I shouldn't have given him that Vuldusk..."
"What do you mean by that?" Dan questioned.
"Well, when I gave you all your Pokemon, I may have mentioned that Vuldusk were supposed to be extinct." Professor Pine answered. "The reason for this was...well, trainers would wander into their nests and go crazy...Vuldusk and its evolutions are able to manipulate human emotions such as rage and jealousy and use them to corrupt people...Vuldusk's power probably led Michael to discover the power of the staves, and due to the manipulation of his rage, he was probably able to activate it..."
"But, Michael didn't seem like he was angry or anything." Elissa commented. "He just didn't talk much, and acted like he was better than other people, and stuff."
"No...he had to be angry about something." Professor Pine insisted. "Overconfidence alone wouldn't be a strong enough emotion for Vuldusk to manipulate...there had to be some source of anger or depression."
"Well, if we can't figure it out, we're just wasting time." Eric decided. "We need to track him down."
"Yes, Eric is right." Professor Pine agreed. "You must continue your journey. Keep an eye peeled for him, and if the Elemental Six attack you again, call me."
"We will." Bobby replied. "Goodbye, Professor."
"Good luck." Professor Pine said.
"Bye dad!" Tatiana exclaimed. Bobby shut off the machine and walked toward the door.
"Let's go." He said, opening the door as the group followed him.
"Wait! I wanna go with you!" Dave exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Dave, but you're too young." Eric told him. "And, if you leave, we'll have noone to run the gym."
"Aww, man..." Dave complained.
"Good luck, guys." Eric wished the good luck and waved as they left. "Keep in touch!"
"We will!" Dan replied. "Bye!"

"I don't like having to just sit here and wait to find out if they were successful..." Professor Pine said to himself as he paced his laboratory. "There's got to be something I can do to help them out..."
"You'll do no such thing." Came a female voice from the laboratory door. "You're coming with me." Professor Pine turned to see a blonde haired woman with a Pokeball in each hand standing in the doorway.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing in here!" A lab assistant exclaimed, getting up from his seat.
"Seviper, Zangoose, I choose you!" The lady shouted. A shiny Seviper and a shiny Zangoose emerged from the Pokeballs, hissing and snarling at the lab assistants.
"Psytage, help me out!" Professor Pine exclaimed, releasing Psytage from its Pokeball.
"Porygon, go!" An assistant joined in. The other assistants followed his lead, each one sending out a Porygon, Porygon2, or PorygonZ.
"Deal with them!" The woman commanded, opening up a large bag she had been carrying with her and throwing the handfuls of Pokeballs inside. An army of Ekans, Arbok, and Seviper faced down the Porygon evolutions, hissing and ready for battle.
"Psytage, attack!" Professor Pine commanded. Psytage let out a Psybeam, blasting the shiny Seviper but barely harming it at all.
"Pathetic!" The woman mocked. "Zangoose, Crush Claw!" The shiny Zangoose ran forward, slashing at Psytage with a sharp claw. Psytage fell backwards onto the ground, greatly damaged by the attack.
"Psytage!" Professor Pine exclaimed, concerned.
"Seviper, Poison Fang!" The woman ordered. Seviper lunged out, biting into Psytage with its venomous fangs and knocking it out. Professor Pine looked around the room to see that the assistant's Pokemon were no match for the other snake Pokemon, either.
"Now you know your place!" The woman taunted. "And that place is working for Team Rocket!"
"T-Team R-Rocket wouldn't w-want anything to do with m-me!" Professor Pine stuttered out of fear as he backed into a corner. "The other professors are m-much smarter!"
"You know very well what we want you for." The woman replied as she walked closer to him. "Tell us where the staves are!"
"W-What?" Professor Pine asked in shock. "But...the children said that Team Rocket was chasing them..."
"What was that?" The woman questioned, as if she hadn't quite heard him. "Some children have the staves?"
"Like you don't already know!" Professor Pine responded with a shaken confidence. "They told me the Elemental Six were already after them!"
"The Elemental Six?" The woman inquired. "...those idiots! Why would the boss send them instead of me...?!" The woman paused and looked to the ground, an angry expression on her face. "But what about the black and white staves?!"
"I couldn't tell you their location even if I wanted to...which I don't, by the way." Professor Pine answered.
"What do you mean?" The woman asked harshly.
"I gave them to a good friend of mine a long time ago...before I knew the power they posessed." Professor Pine replied. "He's always been a bit of a rare item collector...but I can't guarentee that he hasn't lost them since then, he does tend to forget things sometimes..."
"Tell me where he lives!" The woman demanded.
"A-Advachi Town!" Professor Pine responded, once again frightened by the woman's tone of voice.
"Thank you for your cooperation, professor." The woman said. "Oh, and just so none of you go babbling to the authorities about this...Tangela, use Vine Whip!" She threw another Pokeball which opened up to reveal a Tangela, which immediately proceeded to wrap everyone in the laboratory up with vines. The woman then returned her Pokemon to their Pokeballs and exited the lab, releasing a Pidgeot and flying away on its back.

"This place is like a desert..." Elissa commented. The group had been traveling through Route H for a while now, and had not yet come across any new wild Pokemon.
"Hey, what's that?" Dan asked, pointing to a large dust cloud in the distance. The dust cloud appeared to be following a long strip of yellow things, but the group could not make out the details from where they stood.
"Let's see if the Pokedex can identify them." Bobby suggested, pulling out his Pokedex. Sure enough, an image appeared on the screen. It looked like a small yellow stegosaurus, with slightly darker yellow spikes running down its back and tail that appeared to be roughly shaped like lightningbolts.
"Spargo. The Stegosaurus Pokemon." The Pokedex informed. "Spargo often travel in packs, and strongly dislike Zaplet and its evolutions. When a pack of Spargo and a group of Zaplet meet, a battle is sure to ensue."
"Kinda looks like a stampede, doesn't it?" Matt wondered aloud. The group was getting closer and closer as they spoke, and it did indeed appear to be a stampede.
"We should probably get out of the way." Bobby suggested. The group ran off behind some rocks, where they were sure they would be safe from the swarm.
"Ah!" Tatiana exclaimed, pointing to a small, brown, catlike Pokemon on the path they had been walking on. "Look! That poor little Pokemon is going to get trampeled!" She instinctively ran out onto the path, extending her arms. The brown cat Pokemon, whose long tail and stout ears appeared to be made of a soily clay, looked around, confused.
"Tati!" Dan shouted, trying to stop her. "Get back here or you'll be trampeled!" Tatiana cradeled the Pokemon in her arms, and it did not try to attack. She looked back to Dan upon hearing this and then looked to the stampede, which was getting closer and closer every second.
"Ahh!" She exclaimed, paralyzed in fear.
"I won't be able to get to her in time!" Dan realized, as the rock the group had hid behind was quite a ways from the path.
"Gritty, grit!" The catlike Pokemon meowed, pressing the buttons of the Pokeballs on Tatiana's staff. Dolphice, Munchy, Poishare, and Bouldiurn appeared as Noot crawled down to join them. Even though the Pokemon were outnumbered, a look of confidence was upon all their faces, the cat Pokemon included. The six Pokemon charged forward, ready to attack.
"Sparr!" One of the Spargo cried. The stampede descended upon Tatiana and her Pokemon like a massive wave, some of the Pokemon running past her and others running right at her. The ones that ran at her were welcomed with a barrage of icy beams, poisonous fangs, slamming tails, firey vortexes, water bursts, and ground shaking attacks.
"Tatianaaa!" Dan yelled, reaching his arm out in vain, unable to do anything else. Electric sparks flew out of the seemingly endless dust cloud surrounding the place where Tatiana stood, bolts of lightning flying everywhere. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a burst of light blue energy shot upward from the center of the cloud, expanding outward until it consumed the entire stampede and dust cloud. Spargo were sent flying into the air, above the domelike shape the energy created, falling back down to the ground as the light faded away. There, amongst the field of defeated Spargo, was Tatiana, still sitting on the ground, surrounded by Munchy, Bouldiurn, and four new Pokemon. One Pokemon resembled the cat Pokemon from before, but was now taller and proportioned more like a Delcatty. Its tail had now split into two, which both hung down next to eachother and touched the ground. It's feet now appeared to be made of the dark brown claylike substance that its tails and ears were, which faded into its lighter brown skin. Another one of the Pokemon looked like a larger Poishare, but with sharper fangs dripping with purple poison, sharp purple ears, and a deeper purple shaded coat of toxic spores. The third new Pokemon, an evolution of Noot, had grown larger, but was still only about two feet in length. Small blue bumps now lined its stripes, with small black holes in the center of the bumps. Finally, Dolphice's evolution had changed drastically from its previous form. It was no longer a dolphin, but was instead a large orca whale. It was a dark blue with a white belly, with light blue stripes like Dolphice's running along its body in an organized pattern. It slammed the ground with its large tail and flippers, opening its mouth wide. It's eyes were actually in the center of the white eyespots on most orcas, and the light blue scar still adorned its right eye.
"Gritty has evolved into Cruscat! Poishare has evolved into Toxabbit! Noot has evolved into Newater! Dolphice has evolved into Glorca!" Tatiana's pokedex announced, even though Tatiana was still too zoned out to hear it.
"Tati! Are you okay?!" Dan shouted, running over to Tatiana, crossing the field of defeated Spargo. She made no response, as she was still paralyzed by the shock and fear of death. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began to shake her vigorously, trying to snap her out of this state.
"Wha?" She asked groggily, finally coming to her senses.
"You're alright!" Dan exclaimed with a sigh of relief, putting his arms around her and hugging her.
"What happened?" Tatiana asked. "And why do my Pokemon look different?"
"It's not important right now." Dan assured her. "All that's important is that you're still alive.
"I wish I could say the same for these Pokemon." Bobby interjected.
"What do you mean?" Dan questioned.
"These Pokemon aren't knocked out." Bobby answered. "They're dead."
"Dead?" Dan asked. "But..."
"No wonder these staves aren't supposed to be activated..." Matt commented. "Their power...it shows no mercy."
"Which is exactly why we have to find Michael." Bobby decided. "And fast."
---
Author's Note: For those that care, one edit had to be made to this chapter for it to be suitable to all ages. When the woman is speaking to Professor Pine, and says "...those idiots!" , there was originally a word beginning with D that went before the elipses. Just thought I'd let you know, in case anybody cared.

[Jirae]

Chapter 17

"It's beautiful..." Elissa remarked as the group approached Sparkiban City, where they would find their next gym badge. It was dusk, and the city's lights had all been turned on. The city had more lights than an average city, however, and the entire town looked like a giant lightbulb. Shining white lights adorned everything from buildings to benches to trees, and even trashcans. Several of the larger buildings also had brilliant colored lights forming pictures of Pokemon on them.
"You'd think it was Christmas!" Tatiana exclaimed, equally amazed by the beauty of the glowing city.
"I picked up a guidebook when we were at the Kaimone Shopping Centre." Dan informed. "It says that Sparkiban City is completely powered by the Gym Leader's Pokemon!"
"Seriously?" Bobby asked, amazed. "He must be a really strong trainer if his Pokemon can power an entire city, especially one with this many lights!"
"The guidebook also says that Sparkiban is home to two popular tourist attractions, the Denryel Power Plant and the Sparkiban Internet Cafe." Dan explained. "Whoever isn't getting the badge should definitely check those out."
"Well, me and Tatiana are the only ones who haven't won a badge yet." Elissa stated. "And since this is obviously an electric type gym, Tatiana's Glorca and Newater will be at a disadvantage, so I should battle the Gym Leader!"
"Yeah, but my new Pokemon is completely resistant to electric attacks!" Tatiana argued, referring to the Cruscat that had let her capture it after the incident in Route H.
"Well so is my Lesard!" Elissa replied. "And my Psytage is a little resistant, too!"
"Hey, let's not fight about this." Dan intervened, reaching his arm around Tatiana's shoulder. "Let's just flip a coin or something, okay?"
"Good idea." Bobby agreed, pulling out a quarter. "Elissa, heads or tails?"
"Heads!" Elissa decided. Bobby flipped the coin into the air, grabbing it as it fell back down and placing it on the back of his wrist, covering it with his other hand. He moved his hand to reveal that the coin had landed on heads.
"Yay!" Elissa exclaimed.
"Aww..." Tatiana sighed, a sad look on her face.
"Hey, it's okay, that just means you'll get to spend the day with me." Dan reassured her.
"Yeah, you're right." Tatiana said, hugging Dan.
"We'll go to the Power Plant." Dan decided.
"I guess I'll check out the Internet Cafe." Matt volunteered.
"I'm going to ask around town to see if anyone here knows about Michael or the Elemental Six." Bobby said.
"The Gym Leader's my friend, so I think I'll go with you, Elissa." Ron decided.
"Wow, you have a lot of friends, don't you?" Tatiana asked.
"Hah..." Ron chuckled. "Well, when you do as much traveling as I do, you meet lots of people."
"Alright, I guess we can just meet up at the Pokemon Center for dinner or something." Bobby suggested.
"Sounds good." Dan concurred.

"Woah, this place is even brighter than the city!" Elissa exclaimed as she entered the gym. Bright white lights lined the walls, ceiling, and even the floor of the gym.
"Welcome to the Sparkiban city gym!" The Gym Leader, a boy several years older than Elissa, welcomed from the other side of the room. "My name is Sean, and I'm the Gym Leader here!"
"Is it true that your Pokemon power this city?" Elissa asked.
"It is!" Sean replied. "The Power Plant is powered by my Pokemon, and it provides power to the entire city."
"Wow, that must need a lot of Pokemon!" Elissa guessed. "There are so many lights in this place!"
"Yes, I've got over fifty Pokemon running the Power Plant." Sean responded. "Oh! Ron, good to see you." He said, noticing Ron standing by Elissa.
"Nice to see you too, Sean." Ron responded.
"So, are you here for a Gym battle?" Sean asked.
"Yeah, I am." Elissa replied.
"You'll have to beat the Gym Trainers first." Sean informed her. The Gym Trainers walked out from a door in the back of the room, going to their places in the gym.
"No problem." Elissa said to herself. "Time for me to get my first gym badge."

"Geez, this place is like geek central." Matt said to himself as he entered the Internet Cafe. Desktop computers lined the walls, and laptops were built into all the tables. At the far end of the room was a counter where two women in snazzy red and yellow uniforms stood, a wall of items and pokeballs behind them. What was strange about this place, however, was that even though almost all the computers in the room were turned on, the majority of the people sitting at them appeared to be asleep.
"Welcome to the Sparkiban Internet Cafe!" One of the ladies behind the counter welcomed him.
"Hey, shouldn't all these computers be off if nobody's using them?" Matt asked.
"Oh, but people are using them!" The other woman replied.
"No they're not." Matt said, turning to the people at computers. "They're all sleeping."
"I'm assuming this is your first time here?" The first lady asked.
"Well, yes, it is, but..." Matt began to answer.
"Look at their heads." The woman interrupted him, pointing to one of the people sitting on a sofa, facing a laptop computer. "See the helmets they're all wearing?"
"Yeah." Matt replied, still unsure where the employee was going with this.
"They're all playing a virtual reality game." The woman explained. "It's really simple. First you get a User Key..." She pulled out a small keyring with a blank green plastic badge on it. The badge had a small metal peice on one end of it that looked like it could be plugged into a computer, and the thickness of the badge indicated that it might have computer chips inside of it. "Then you enter your ID number into the computer, and you can start playing! Then, when you're done, the system records your progress onto your User Key."
"Once you enter your key and put on the helmet, you'll feel like you're in the virtual world." The other lady continued. "Once you enter the world for the first time, you'll get to choose between two virtual Pokemon. Then, you can fight wild Pokemon or other trainers on your server, racking up points each time you win a battle."
"These points are also recorded onto your User Key, and can be redeemed for prizes up here." The first employee finished.
"Sounds awesome." Matt responded. "I guess I'll take one User Key, please." One of the women plugged the blank key she had been showing Matt into a computer behind the desk, taking a photo with the computer's built in camera. Meanwhile, the other lady asked Matt for his name and other information, which she typed onto the computer. In a matter of minutes, the data was stored, and a sticker of Matt's photo was stuck to the key for identification.
"Thank you very much." Matt thanked the women as he took the User Key. He walked over to an empty sofa, placing the nearby helmet on his head and connecting his key to the computer.

'Welcome to Sparkiban World.' Flashed in front of Matt's eyes as he began to enter the virtual world. A loading bar below this text slowly progressed to 100 percent, and then the screen went black for a few seconds. When the black faded, Matt appeared to be in a field of some sort. He looked at himself and at the surroundings, and saw the he looked just the same. Other people were scattered across the field as well, and looked just like normal trainers.
"Choose your Pokemon." Came a loud, booming voice from behind Matt. He turned to see two Pokemon floating in the air behind him; one he recognized, and one he didn't. On his left was a Porygon, and on his right was a small, transparent purple Pokemon surrounded by electricity. The new Pokemon's body was shaped like a square, and appeared to be made out of data. A yellow pixelated mouth and two pixelated happy eyes smiled at Matt as the electricity surrounding the Pokemon formed small spikelike jolts on all sides but its front.
"That one." Matt decided, pointing to the unfamiliar Pokemon.
"You have chosen Webrowse." The loud voice informed him. The Porygon faded away, and the Webrowse floated toward him, following him as he moved rather than entering a Pokeball.
"Alright, Webrowse, let's go get me some points!" Matt exclaimed as he ran toward the tall grass in the field where the wild Pokemon would be.

"Woah, there's like, nobody here." Tatiana noticed. She and Dan had just arrived at the Denryel Power Plant, and were walking deeper into the brightly lit plant, looking at the walls. The walls were all made out of glass, and behind them were various electric Pokemon, all in seperate cubicles, sending electricity through wires attached to them.
"Hey, I thought I heard something down that hall!" Dan exclaimed, pointing to a corner up ahead. "Let's check it out!" The two trainers ran around the corner and down the hall for a little while before they stopped, realizing where the noise had come from. They had reached the back of the power plant, and a large generator rested against the wall. The wires from all the Pokemon's cubicles connected to it, and it was covered with gauges and flashing lights. Between them and the generator was a middle aged man in a suit, on his back on the floor, trying to crawl backwards with his hands and feet. The reason for this became apparent when Dan and Tatiana looked up to see a very familiar face standing in front of the man.
"Michael!" Dan shouted as he and Tatiana approached their old friend.
"Why if it isn't the two lovebirds!" Michael replied as his gaze shifted from the man on the floor to the staff wielding trainers down the hall. "You have no idea how I've been dying to see you again!"
"Can it!" Dan retorted.
"Why did you break Ricky's house?!" Tatiana questioned. "And what are you doing to that poor man?!"
"I think I'll be the one asking the questions here!" Michael responded, swinging his staff out into plain sight. "Are you going to give me your staves, or are we going to have to do this the hard way?"
"Give you our staves? You're insane!" Dan answered.
"Allow me to remind you of your surroundings." Michael said as a maniacal grin grew on his face. "I know that Eric read you the story of the eight staves. So I'm sure you know that I have the power to control electricity!"
"That's a bad thing, isn't it..." Tatiana asked rhetorically.
"This was a trap!" Dan realized.
"Very good! You're quite smart for an idiot!" Michael replied. "I knew that at least one of you was going to visit the power plant! And you're lucky you got here when you did! I was just about to shut off the entire city's power supply to lure you here!"
"Wait...if he shuts off the power supply, then..." Dan began to think aloud.
"What? What's the problem?" Tatiana wondered.
"The internet cafe where Matt is." Dan answered. "It's known for its virtual reality game. And if the power went out...all the people who were logged into the game would..."
"I can hear you, you know!" Michael interrupted. "And as much as I'd love to fry your little friend's brain, I need this old man's key to unlock the surge protectors! So...since I'm sure you'll try to protect him...I'll just have to fry yours first!" Michael thrusted his staff behind him into one of the cubicles, shattering the glass. The Pokemon inside appeared to be an evolved form of Spargo, as it was a larger yellow stegosaurus. It's spikes now strongly resembled lightningbolts, and it had a lightningbolt spike above each of its eyes. Small storm clouds floated around its legs, but it was still apparent that it had feet.
"Steg?" The Pokemon cried, confused as it looked around its now open cubicle.
"Let's see how you like this!" Michael yelled, raising his staff into the air. It began to glow, and electrical energy flew from the stegosaurus Pokemon's cell to it as if it were a lightningrod. Michael then waved the staff in front of him, shooting out a bolt of lightning at Dan and Tatiana.
"I hope this works!" Tatiana exclaimed, raising her staff out in front of her. It too began to glow, and the floor tiles cracked open as water flew upward like a geyser. The bolt hit the water and was carried upward, disappearing as it hit the thunderproof ceiling.
"I should have known!" Michael commented. "No wonder those Spargo didn't kill you in Route H...the blue staff activated!"
"How did you know the Spargo attacked us?!" Dan demanded.
"Fool, who do you think provoked them?" Michael answered with his own question. "Now time to finish what those Spargo started...because unlucky for you, water conducts electricity!" Michael waved his staff once again, sending a much more powerful bolt of lightning toward Tatiana and Dan. Tatiana responded once again by bringing forth water from below the ground, but this time the lightning attack spread throughout the entire column of water, sending smaller bolts flying everywhere, some of which barely missed Dan and Tatiana.
"Ahh!" Tatiana exclaimed, falling onto the ground, scared by a bolt that landed in front of her.
"Tati, are you okay?" Dan asked, looking down at his companion and then back at Michael. "I swear, if you hurt Tatiana again..."
"You'll do what?" Michael mocked. "Your staff hasn't activated yet! You don't stand a chance!"
"I might not, but my Pokemon do!" Dan replied. "Vineon, I choose you!" He threw one of his Pokeballs into the air, which opened up to reveal the grass Eevee evolution.
"Vine!" The Pokemon cried, ready for battle.
"Fool!" Michael shouted. "Do you really think a weak Pokemon like that can stand up to the staff that sealed a vastly superior creature?" He waved the staff a third time, sending out a bolt of lightning that crashed into Vineon, sending it flying across the floor.
"No! Vineon!" Dan exclaimed.
"Now to destroy your little girlfriend!" Michael shouted with a tone of rage. Electricity shot forth from his staff, breaking the glass of several more Pokemon cells. The staff absorbed the energy of these Pokemon as well, and began to glow with incredible power. "Let's see you try to block this with water!"

"Well! I must say, I'm impressed that you made it all the way to me." Sean congratulated Elissa. "But I'm afraid this is where your little winning streak ends."
"We'll see!" Elissa retorted confidently.
"Go ahead and heal your Pokemon on the machine over there." Sean offered, nodding his head toward the familiar machine. Elissa walked over to the machine, healed her Pokemon, and walked back to face sean.
"I'll start things off!" Sean began. "Let's go, Elketric!" His Pokeball opened to reveal a Pokemon that resembled a bright yellow elklike Pokemon. Electricity flowed between its two pronged antlers as it looked up to the ceiling, letting out a cry.
"I'll start with Systripe!" Elissa decided, sending out her zebra Pokemon.
"Elketric, hit it with a Thunderbolt!" Sean ordered.
"Systripe, counter with Psybeam!" Elissa commanded. The two attacks passed eachother in the air, and both hit their targets.
"Don't give it time to recover!" Sean exclaimed, taking advantage of Elketric's speed. "Spark!" Electricity flowed through Elketric's body as it charged forward to strike Systripe with an electrically charged tackle.
"Systripe, Reminiscant Headbutt!" Elissa shouted. The psychic Pokemon welcomed the incoming lightning type head on, ramming into it with a physical attack of its own. Both Pokemon were knocked back by the force of the collision, and were both severely weakened.
"Finish it off with another Thunderbolt!" Sean ordered.
"Systripe, you can do it! Reminiscant Headbutt!" Elissa exclaimed. Systripe charged headfirst into the blast of lightning, continuing to charge despite tremendous pain. It finally connected with its target, slamming the elk into the wall. Both Pokemon fell to the ground after this, defeated.
"Let's see how you like this! Elketric, return!" Sean taunted. "Kuadtana, I choose you!" The new Pokeball opened, revealing a tall, humanoid Pokemon. It was covered in white fur and had a menacing wolflike face. It had four arms and two legs, and at the tips of the arms, instead of claws, were sharp, swordlike blades. Electricity crackeled around these blades as it swung them around with masterful control.
"Systripe, you did a good job, return!" Elissa exclaimed. "Let's go, Psytage!" Psytage emerged from its Pokeball, emitting a psychic energy as it recognized the fighting dual type of its opponent.
"Kuadtana, Slash!" Sean commanded.
"Psytage, Psyco Cutter!" Elissa ordered. Both Pokemon rushed forward, clashing in the center of the battlefield. Kuadtana slashed at Psytage with all four blades, landing several hits, but was quickly knocked away by slicing psychic energy.
"Follow it up with a Thunderbolt!" Sean continued.
"Block it with Psybeam!" Elissa quickly exclaimed. Both Pokemon launched blasts of energy that collided in air, and both Pokemon suffered backlash damage. It was apparent, however, that Kuadtana was outmatched purely due to its type.
"This is our last chance, Kuadtana! Slash!" Sean commanded.
"You can knock it out with this move, Psytage!" Elissa encouraged. "Psybeam!" Kuadtana ran forward, swinging its bladed arms, but was directly hit by the psychic beam and fell to the ground, not even making it to its target.
"Kuadtana, return!" Sean exclaimed, returning his defeated Pokemon to its Pokeball. "Stegostorm, your turn!" He threw another Pokeball into the air, which opened to reveal a large stegosaurus Pokemon, even larger than the ones in the power plant. Its massive tail was covered in lightningbolt shaped spikes, and small spikes had formed going down the center of its forehead, between the larger spikes above its eyes. It now levitated above the ground, its legs fading into a floating storm cloud, and no feet were visible. Lightning shot from the stormcloud, keeping it at balance above the ground.
"Alright Psytage, give it a Psybeam!" Elissa shouted.
"Stegostorm, use Electrolevitate and dodge it!" Sean ordered. The intensity of the bolts flowing from the stormcloud increased, and the Stegostorm was pushed upward by this action. The Psybeam now shot right through the field of lightning, missing the actual Pokemon.
"Fine! Just aim your Psybeam higher this time!" Elissa suggested.
"Stegostorm, Discharge!" Sean commanded. Waves of electrical energy eminated from the floating Pokemon, disrupting the Psybeam and hitting Psytage. Though the attack wasn't very effective, Stegostorm was obviously the stronger Pokemon, and this attack managed to knock Psytage out.
"Psytage, return!" Elissa exclaimed. "Let's go, Lesard!"
"I know what you're thinking." Sean stated. "You think that I won't be able to hurt that ground type, and that its ground attacks will do extra damage to an electric type like Stegostorm, aren't you?"
"What if I am?" Elissa asked.
"Fine, go ahead and try it." Sean replied. "But I think I'll prove half of your theory wrong right now! Stegostorm, Slam!" The floating dinosaur zoomed forward on its stormcloud, ramming into the small lizard Pokemon and knocking it back across the ground.
"Lesard, shake it off! Use Mud Bomb!" Elissa ordered. Lesard got back on its feet and launched a large ball of mud at its opponent, which didn't fly nearly high enough to hit the levitating stegosaurus.
"And there goes the other half!" Sean exclaimed. "Remember that first attack I used? Electrolevitate prevents my Stegostorm from being hit by ground type attacks!"
"This isn't good..." Elissa commented.
"Stegostorm, that thing is obviously one of her weakest Pokemon!" Sean decided. "Hit it with another Slam, and you might be able to knock it out!" Stegostorm complied, rushing forward once again and slamming the Lesard. Sure enough, the weaker Pokemon tumbled across the ground, defeated.
"Lesard, return!" Elissa exclaimed. "Alright, Psychoir, I'm counting on you!" The psychic Pokemon appeared from its Pokeball, letting out a beautiful noise.
"Good! Something I can hit with my electric attacks!" Sean noticed. "Stegostorm, Discharge!"
"Psychoir, Psychic!" Elissa commanded. The two indirect attacks interfered with eachother in the air, but both managed to partially hit their targets.
"Try a Thunderbolt!" Sean suggested.
"Psychoir, don't give up!" Elissa encouraged. "Counter it with Light Beam!" The beam of light collided with the beam of electricity, dealing damage to both Pokemon just as the previous collisions had.
"Try a Slam!" Sean ordered.
"Psychic!" Elissa commanded again. The Stegostorm dashed forward once again, but was blown away by the powerful Psychic attack.
"This can't be...her Pokemon's stronger than mine!" Sean realized.
"Hit it with another Light Beam!" Elissa followed up. Psychoir waved its arms once again, letting loose another beam of light. The beam slammed into the already flying Stegostorm, sending it right into the wall. The unconscious Pokemon fell to the ground, and Sean returned it to its Pokeball.
"Alright, I choose you..." Sean began. Suddenly, the power shut off completely, and the entire gym went dark.
"Uh...what happened?" Elissa wondered.
"Something must be happening at the Power Plant!" Sean realized. "We've got to get over there, now! Everything in this city depends on that plant!" Elissa followed Sean out the door and began running down the path, which was now illuminated purely by moonlight.

The two arrived at the plant just as several other people from town got there, and were shocked by what they saw. Gigantic roots and vines had infested the building, and were sticking out of windows and holes in the roof.
"What...the...hell?" Sean asked as they approached the scene.
"Elissa!" Came Bobby's voice from the crowd. Elissa turned to see Bobby and Matt running toward her, stopping when they reached her and catching their breath.
"Guys, do you know what happened?" Elissa asked.
"I'm not positive," Bobby answered, still catching his breath, "But I have a pretty good idea. Let's go." The three of them walked into the front door, ignoring the policemen telling them to stay back. The group entered the plant, making their way through a maze of vines as they examined the destroyed machinery and dead Pokemon. They finally reached the back of the Power Plant, where they saw exactly what Bobby had feared. There, pinned to the main generator by constricting vines, was Michael, his staff lying on the ground. In front of him was the source that all the vines traced back to, Dan's staff, suspended in the air by its owner's unquivering hands. Dan appeared to be unconscious, as he did nothing, and his eyes appeared blank. Behind Dan was Tatiana, still on the ground, encased in a protective cage of vines.
"Dan!" Bobby shouted as he, Matt, and Elissa ran up to their two companions. Elissa began trying to move the vines so Tatiana could escape, Matt attempted to shake Dan out of his comatose state, and Bobby walked up to Michael, an annoyed look on his face.
"What's this all about?" Bobby asked as he approached the immobile trainer strung to the generator.
"Another staff activated." Michael responded with an unusual tone. He sounded almost like he had tried to break free but given up, and had now accepted defeat.
"Gee, do you think so? Really?" Bobby asked sarcastically. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count." Michael replied, an equally sarcastic tone in his voice.
"You know, you're unusually calm for someone that's trapped and is facing down the people he just tried to kill." Bobby commented.
"Simple reason for that." Michael said, returning to his usual tone. "I'm not trapped." Suddenly, he extended a leg that had appeared to be bound just as tight as his other limbs, pressing the button of one of the Pokeballs on his staff. The ball opened, revealing a large vulture Pokemon, obviously the evolution of Nightture. It now looked even more menacing and evil, and its feathers were a pitch black. Atop its head now were five feathers, all of which glowed with the same evil aura as they always had.
"Duskarrion, get me out of here!" Michael commanded. The vulture Pokemon began slicing the vines with wing attacks, breaking its master free. Michael got on his Pokemon's back as it flew out one of the many holes in the roof, disappearing into the night sky.
"He got away?!" Dan asked with frustration as he walked up behind Bobby. "No! That jerk!" Dan punched the wall, obviously very angry. "He almost killed Tati...I'll never forgive him! We've got to catch him!"
"Don't worry. We'll catch him soon." Bobby ensured.
---
Note: Reminiscant Headbutt, Psycho Cutter, and Electrolevitate are moves that were introduced in Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl, and are only approximate translations by Serebii, so their names may change in the english version of the games.

[Jirae]

Chapter 18

"Hey, you kids shouldn't be in here!" Came a policeman's voice from the vine covered wreckage.
"Sorry, officer." Bobby responded as the officer approached them. "But our friends got trapped in here."
"Got trapped? Are you kidding me?" The group looked to see the man that Michael had been tormenting, standing up and brushing off his pants. "That one boy with the green stick is the one that caused this mess!"
"Is that true, kid?" The policeman asked.
"I don't know." Dan replied, as he had blacked out when his staff activated.
"It's absolutely false, sir." Bobby interjected. "The guy who's fault this is left already."
"You saw him." Dan added, talking to the man who had blamed him. "He was cornering you even before we got there."
"He did cause me trouble," The man replied, "But it was definitely you that made these vines to destroy my Power Plant."
"Your plant?" Sean asked as he walked up behind the man. "Don't fill these kids' heads with lies."
"Oh! Sean, I didn't see you there!" The man exclaimed, backing off a bit.
"The boy's innocent, officer." Sean vouched for Dan. "You're looking for a brown haired boy carrying a gray staff, like the ones these children are carrying."
"We'll put up the wanted posters immediately." The police officer responded. He immediately turned and left, the other man soon following.
"Why did you help me?" Dan asked. "And how do you know Michael?"
"Your friend here told me all about it on the way over here." Sean explained, referring to Elissa. "And any friend of Ron's is a friend of mine."
"So, are we going to finish our battle?" Elissa asked Sean.
"No." Sean replied. "I have to see if any of my Pokemon survived the incident, and you guys need to go catch Michael. Besides, you've more than earned this." He extended his hand, revealing a small peice of metal shaped like a small tower with a lightningrod extending from it.
"Thank you very much." Elissa thanked him.
"Here, have these, as well." He handed her two disclike objects. "This Technical Machine contains Thunder, and this Hidden Machine contains Rock Climb."
"Thanks." Elissa thanked once again.
"Now go." Sean told her. "You'll have to take Route I to the Darkomu forest, the largest forest in the world...after you make your way through there, you will walk down Route J, which will take you to Balankou City. There, you will find your seventh badge."
"Thanks again for all your help." Bobby said as the group began to leave the city, heading down the Route I path.

"Wow, this place turned from a desert to a forest pretty quick." Elissa commented.
"We're not even to the Darkomu Forest yet." Bobby reminded her. "This is still Route I."
"Hey, look there!" Tatiana pointed to a small, green, moving object in the underbrush.
"Looks like some kind of camouflaging Pokemon..." Dan guessed, pulling out his Pokedex.
"Tricerower. The Triceratops Pokemon." The Pokedex informed. A more clear picture displayed, showing a light green triceratops with dark green toes and horns. Small green and yellow flowers topped its three horns and its tail. "Tricerower are herbivorous Pokemon that spend most of their time hiding in the brush to avoid predators. The flowers on its horns contain extremely sweet honeylike substance, however, which attracts many bug and flying type Pokemon."
"I'm going to catch it." Dan decided. "Let's go, Twistone!" Twistone emerged from its Pokeball, rocks swirling about it. "Hit it with a Gust!" The Tornado Pokemon let out a blast of wind, which hit the wild Tricerower directly in the head, getting its attention.
"Trice!" The Pokemon cried as it began to charge toward Twistone.
"Knock it back with an Air Cutter!" Dan commanded. Twistone shot out a slicing wind which sent the oncoming Pokemon flying back onto the ground, damaging it significantly. The persistant Pokemon got right back on its feet, shooting razor sharp leaves at Twistone and doing a little damage.
"Finish it off, Twistone! Use another Gust!" Dan ordered. Twistone once again blasted the grass Pokemon with wind, finally knocking it out. Dan threw an empty Pokeball, successfully capturing the defeated Pokemon.
"Good job, Dan!" Tatiana cheered. "Hey, look!" She pointed to Twistone, who had begun to glow and grow larger. The number of rocks circling the growing tornado Pokemon increased, and every single rock became shaped like a fist.
"Congratulations. Your Twistone has evolved into Tornoulder." Dan's Pokedex announced as the glow faded.
"Awesome!" Dan exclaimed.
"Zurooo!" Came a avian caw from the trees. A small red bird descended from a low branch, flapping its bright red wings. It had a long yellow beak and two short yellow legs, and a feather made completely of fire atop its head.
"Blezuro. The Pea**** Pokemon." Bobby's Pokedex informed as he pulled it out. "Blezuro have very strong claws, and even able to carry a young man in them while flying. Blezuro's wings, however, are not strong, and it can only fly for about five minutes before needing to rest. It is able to combust the feathers on its wings to deliver firey attacks, which are especially powerful from the sky."
"It must have been after that Tricerower!" Bobby guessed. "It's mad that we stole its lunch! But that's okay, because I'm about to capture it, too!" He threw Shoink's Pokeball into the air, releasing the electric pig Pokemon. "Let's hit it with a Spark!" Shoink ran forward, slamming into the flying type Pokemon with an electrified tackle.
"Blez!" The wild Pokemon retaliated with an Ember attack. Shoink rammed it with a Spark again, weakening it severely.
"Alright, you're mine now!" Bobby exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball. The ball wriggled around the ground several times but finally dinged, signalling that the Pokemon had been caught.
"Alright, let's keep going." Matt said. "We've still got a ways to go if we want to get to Balankou City tonight."

"We're looking for someone who would know the whereabouts of two staves!" The Team Rocket woman announced as she walked into the center of Advachi Town, followed by a battalion of Rocket grunts.
"Huh? What's she talking about?" A random bystander asked.
"Would someone kindly guide us to Professor Pine's friend?" She asked in a faked pleasant tone. "Otherwise, we'll just have to destroy this pretty little town of yours!" She snapped her fingers, and the grunts began to send out various Pokemon, mostly of the Dark, Poison, and Normal types.
"What's going on?" Mr. Catalano wondered as he walked out of his house and noticed the commotion at the edge of town.
"Sir, I think they're looking for you!" A young boy informed him. "They said they're looking for the rare item collector, and that's you, isn't it?"
"Why, yes, it is." Mr. Catalano replied. "But why are they looking for me?"
"Something about black and white staves." The boy answered.
"Hey! That's him there!" A Rocket Grunt exclaimed as he and two other grunts turned the corner to see Mr. Catalano talking to the boy.
"I'll battle these guys, I just got my first Pokemon a few days ago!" The boy told Mr. Catalano. "I'll hold them off, you go get help in Treemor Town!"
"Thanks, kid." Mr. Catalano thanked the boy. "See if you can hold them there while I go get something from my house!" He dashed back indoors, and the boy nodded his head as he grabbed two Pokeballs from his belt.
"Let's make this a two on two battle!" The boy declared.
"Hah, hah...you're on, kid." One grunt said. Two of the three grunts stepped forward while the third went back around the corner, presumeably to report back to the woman in charge. "Go, Poishare!"
"Let's go, Hazoud!" The other grunt added.
"Ok! We've got to protect Mr. Catalano!" The boy exclaimed. "Funambite, Windock, I choose you!" Shortly after the battle began, Mr. Catalano came back outside and quickly ran for the Midowood Forest, black and white staves in hand.

"This is a really weird forest." Bobby noticed. "Different parts of it look completely different."
"Yeah, like right there! There's like, a corn field in the middle of this forest!" Tatiana pointed out.
"I doubt it." Matt disagreed and pulled out his Pokedex, pointing it at one of the cornstalks. Sure enough, the Pokedex displayed a picture. It appeared to be an ear of yellow corn, its green stalk opened up around it. The stalk split up to form leafy arms, and its roots formed legs at the bottom of the corn. Three sections of the corn had their kernels taken off, and in the sockets created by the absence of kernels were two eyes and a mouth.
"Mazica. The Corncob Pokemon." The Pokedex explained. "Mazica like to fold themselves up and hide among regular stalks of corn to avoid capture. When attacked, they spray seeds and corn kernels from their mouth."
"I'm going to catch it." Dan volunteered. "Let's see what you can do, Tricerower!" He released his new Pokemon from its Pokeball, wasting no time ordering it to use Razor Leaf.
"Cah!" The Mazica responded with a Bullet Seed, barely damaged by the grass attack.
"Hit it with a Take Down!" Dan commanded. Tricerower ran forward, slamming into Mazica. The force of the impact was so powerful that both Pokemon flew backward and took damage, though Mazica took significantly more than Tricerower. Mazica responded with another Bullet Seed, but Tricerower used Take Down again, severely weakening the wild Pokemon.
"You're mine!" Dan exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball. The Pokeball rolled around several times, but eventually dinged, showing that the Pokemon had been caught.
"Good job, Dan! You've caught like, two Pokemon since we left town!" Tatiana cheered.
"Yeah, next time I'll let you catch the Pokemon." Dan promised. The group continued to walk through the forest when they came upon a very young girl being attacked by a Pokemon.
"Stay away!" The girl shouted as she backed away.
"Dew!" The Pokemon cried. It looked like a small, green, almost humanshape Pokemon with leaves for hands, feet, and head. It shook violently, scattering shining dew around the girl.
"Dewleaf. The Morning Plant Pokemon." Dan's Pokedex explained. "Dewleaf are always covered in a light coating of morning dew, and use it to perform a variety of attacks."
"Hey, now's your chance to catch a Pokemon, Tati!" Dan suggested.
"Yeah! I will!" Tatiana agreed. "Bouldiurn, I choose you! Use Fire Spin on that Dewleaf!"
"Diurn!" Bouldiurn cried, launching a vortex of fire that ensnared the wild Pokemon.
"Leaf!" The Dewleaf exclaimed, shooting out a Razor Leaf attack from within the vortex. Many of the leaves were burned to a crisp by the fire, but some struck the Bouldiurn, doing a bit of damage.
"Hit it with a Rock Throw!" Tatiana ordered. Bouldiurn launched a large rock at the trapped Dewleaf, landing a critical hit and damaging it severely. "Alright, this is my chance!" She exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball. The Pokeball hit the Dewleaf, successfully capturing it.
"Good job, Tati!" Dan congratulated her.
"Thank you!" The little girl thanked Tatiana. "My name's Christina."
"Nice to meet you." Tatiana said. "I'm Tatiana."
"I was on my way back to Balankou City." Christina said. "If you take me there, my sister will probably give you one of her Pokemon eggs!"
"Alright, let's go!" Tatiana exclaimed. The group continued to walk through the forest for about an hour, and finally found the exit.
"That was a huge forest." Matt commented.
"We're almost to Balankou." Christina informed the group. "Just need to go through Route J."
"This place looks almost like it could be part of the forest, too, if it wasn't so wide and open." Bobby noticed.
"Ahh! It's a ghost!" Christina pointed down the path. There, floating above the path, was a Pokemon with a blue body and arms, with white designs resembling a uniform of some sort. It had no legs, but instead faded into an illuminated blue mist. Not only did this mist give off light, but the pair of angelic wings sprouting from its back did as well. It's face appeared to be covered by a white mask with an odd yet majestic face design carved into it.
"Serafimask. The Guardian Pokemon." Matt's Pokedex explained as he pulled it out. "Serafimask are known to protect smaller Pokemon from evil using a sword of light that they can conjure in their hand."
"Something like that might be useful against Michael or the Elemental Six." Matt thought. "I'm going to capture it! Lotushade, I choose you! Use Shadow Punch!" Lotushade floated forward, throwing a fist surrounded by ghostly energy at the Serafimask. Serafimask said nothing as a blade of light appeared in its hand, counting the attack. It proceeded to go on the offensive, slashing at Lotushade with the light sword.
"Just keep countering it and using Shadow Punch!" Matt commanded. The two Pokemon continued to fight, each landing several blows. Lotushade delivered one final punch that sent Serafimask flying into the air and back to the ground, defeated.
"Pokeball, go!" Matt exclaimed, throwing an empty Pokeball at the wild Serafimask. The Pokeball was successful, and Matt captured the Serafimask.
"Good job." Christina said. "And look, we're almost to Balankou!" She pointed to the nearing city at the end of the path.
"Alright, let's go!" Bobby responded, beginning to run toward the city.

"I finally got enough Mumrot to perform the ritual." Brandon said to himself as he walked around the dimly lit room. "This is becoming harder and harder to accomplish..." The room was empty except for candles lining the walls and a pentagram drawing on the ground. In the center of the pentagram was Paris' dead body, surrounded by a large circle of Mumrot.
"Per vox of obscurum, per vox of nex, addo vita tergum ut is quisnam has cado! Recro Paris!" Brandon began to chant. Green orbs of energy began to float from the Mumrot to Paris' body, causing it to levitate above the ground. As all the energy drained out of the Mumrot, they fell to the ground, becoming nothing but a pile of bandages and dust. Paris' body began to absorb the energy, and when the process was done, he drifted back down to the ground and opened his eyes.
"How much time has passed?" Paris asked as he stood up, acting completely unsurprised that he was alive again.
"About a week." Brandon answered.
"Have the punks that killed me been to your Gym already?" Paris questioned.
"The group has." Brandon replied. "But the boy that killed you was not with them."
"...did they tell you where he went?" Paris inquired.
"No. I think that they were looking for him themselves." Brandon responded.
"Well, we'll have to catch up to them and see if they found him." Paris decided. "Where do you think they are by now?"
"Probably somewhere around Balankou City." Brandon guessed.
"Perfect. Let's go." Paris said.
"We don't have any flying Pokemon." Brandon pointed out.
"Then we'll just have to get that punk Gym Leader from Hanaero Town to help us." Paris replied."

"Tess!" Christina exclaimed as the group walked into a house nextdoor to the Gym. "I want you to meet some people!" Christina walked around the house, looking for her sister, then came back to where the group was standing.
"She must be over at the Gym." Christina guessed.
"Let me guess, she's the Gym Leader." Bobby predicted.
"Yep!" Christina answered. "How'd you know?"
"Just a hunch. We've met quite a few relatives and friends of Gym Leaders already." Bobby replied.
"Well, let's go see her nextdoor then!" Christina exclaimed. "I'm sure one of you was going to challenge the Gym anyways, right?"
"Yeah, I am!" Tatiana responded. The group walked out the door and headed for the Gym, where they would get their seventh badge.
---
Note: Rock Climb is a move that was introduced in Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl, and is only an approximate translation by Serebii, so its name may change in the english version of the games.
Note: "Per vox of obscurum, per vox of nex, addo vita tergum ut is quisnam has cado! Recro Paris!" Is latin for "By the power of darkness, by the power of death, bring life back to he who has fallen! Revive Paris!"
Note: When Paris says "...did they tell you where he went?" , a word beginning with D was originally before the elipsis, but was removed to make the story appropriate for all ages. Just thought somebody might want to know.

[Jirae]

Chapter 19

"Christina, good to see that you're back from the forest." Christina's sister, the Gym Leader, who was not much older than Christina herself, said as the group walked into the gym. The gym walls, ceiling, and floor were painted black and white, with peices of material looking like yin-yangs hanging from the wall.
"Tess, these people saved me from a wild Pokemon!" Christina exclaimed. "I promised them that you would give them a Pokemon egg."
"I'd be happy to." Tess responded. "But I can't leave the gym until we close for the day. In the mean time, would one of you like to challenge the gym?"
"I would!" Tatiana volunteered.
"Alright then." Tess said. "First, you'll have to beat the gym trainers, as always."
"Sure!" Tatiana agreed as she walked up to the first gym trainer.
"In this gym, we do things a little differently." The trainer informed her. "Even though it's only one person against one person, we each send out two Pokemon at a time."
"No problem." Tatiana replied. "Cruscat, Dewleaf, I choose you!"
"Togepi, Sneasel, go!" The trainer exclaimed. "Sneasel, Icy Wind!" Sneasel began waving its arms, causing a cold wind to blast forth and strike Dewleaf.
"Cruscat, use Magnitude!" Tatiana commanded. Cruscat stomped the ground, causing shockwaves to ripple out and hit both opponents. "Dewleaf, Razor Leaf!" Dewleaf shot a Razor Leaf at Togepi, damaging it further.
"Togepi, Metronome!" The trainer ordered. Togepi began wagging its fingers around. Suddenly, a Flamethrower shot forth from its hands, blasting Dewleaf and doing severe damage. "Sneasel, Slash!" Sneasel dashed forward, slicing at Dewleaf.
"Cruscat, Magnitude! Dewleaf, Razor Leaf!" Tatiana exclaimed. Cruscat once again shook the ground, knocking out Togepi and damaging Sneasel further. Dewleaf followed by shooting another Razor Leaf, finishing Sneasel off.
"Good job." The trainer congratulated Tatiana as he returned his defeated Pokemon to their Pokeballs. "You can go battle the next trainer now."

"Alright, same as the last guy." The trainer informed Tatiana. "Mimox, Magicorn, I choose you!" The trainer threw two Pokeballs into the air, revealing two Pokemon that Tatiana had not seen before. One looked like a magnificent red treasure chest with gold lining. It opened to reveal teeth lining its edges, and evil glowing eyes in its center. The other was a brilliant, pure white unicorn with a waving, velvetlike purple mane running down its back. It had one large horn at the front of its head, with two smaller horns behind it.
"Alright! Cruscat, Newater, let's go!" Tatiana exclaimed.
"Magicorn, Headbutt!" The trainer commanded. The unicorn Pokemon ran forward, ramming its head into Cruscat.
"Cruscat, counter with Take Down!" Tatiana ordered. Cruscat recovered from the attack and ran back into Magicorn, sending it back to the other side of the field. "Newater, Aqua Jet!" Newater charged forward, blasting water behind it to make it charge faster. It rammed into Magicorn, striking it with a water propelled tackle. It then returned to its side of the field, waiting for the next attack.
"Mimox, Crunch!" The trainer exclaimed. "Magicorn, Horn Attack!" Both Pokemon lunged forward, Mimox opening and closing down on Newater as Magicorn jabbed Cruscat with its horn.
"Newater, finish Magicorn off with Aqua Tail!" Tatiana commanded. "Cruscat, hit Mimox with a Mud Slap!" Newater dashed forward, slapping Magicorn with a powerful blast of water surrounding its tail as Cruscat kicked the ground, flinging mud at the partly steel type. Magicorn fell to the ground, defeated.
"Magicorn, return!" The trainer exclaimed. "Illuminox, I choose you!" He threw a new Pokeball into the air, which opened to reveal a red bull-like Pokemon. Its hooves and horns glowed, and light emitted from its nostrils and the bright ball on the tip of its tail. "Mimox, use Crunch again!" Mimox lunged forward once again, chomping Newater with a dark attack.
"Cruscat, Magnitude!" Tatiana ordered. "Newater, Bubblebeam!" Cruscat stomped the ground again, causing seismic waves to hit Mimox. Mimox, having low health to begin with, couldn't handle this particularly strong second ground type attack, and fainted. Newater shot a beam of bubbles from its mouth, striking the bull Pokemon.
"Mimox, return!" The trainer shouted. "I choose you, Obsidark!" The trainer finally called upon a Pokemon familiar to Tatiana, the dark and rock type that Michael had. "Illuminox, Take Down! Obsidark, Rock Throw!" Illuminox charged at Cruscat, inflicting severe damage but taking recoil damage as well. Already weakened from the previous battle, Cruscat fell, defeated. Meanwhile, Obsidark hurled a large rock at Newater, who agiley avoided the attack.
"Cruscat, return! Go, Dewleaf!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Newater, Bubblebeam again!" Newater fired another stream of bubbles from its mouth at the rock type, doing a considerable amount of damage.
"Illuminox, Illuminated Headbutt!" The trainer commanded. Illuminox rushed forward, and its skull began to glow as it rammed into Newater. The attack left Newater dazed and confused, but not unable to launch yet another Bubblebeam, which hit Obsidark again.
"Dewleaf, let's finish off the Obsidark with Razor Leaf!" Tatiana ordered. Dewleaf sent razor sharp leaves flying out at Obsidark, striking it and knocking it out with the third consecutive super effective attack.
"Illuminox, use another Illuminated Headbutt, but this time on Dewleaf!" The trainer exclaimed, lacking a fifth Pokemon to send out. Illuminox charged forward, but was interrupted by a Bubblebeam that sent it off course. Dewleaf then continued the onslaught with another Razor Leaf. Tatiana's two Pokemon continued to team up on the single opponent, and eventually managed to defeat it.
"Very good." The trainer congratulated as he returned his last Pokemon to its Pokeball. "Only about five more trainers to go!"
"This could take a while." Tatiana realized.

"Thank you once again for your cooperation." Paris said in a fake polite tone, obviously having forced Jefferson to give him and Brandon a ride.
"A-anytime." Jefferson replied, shaken. "Let's go, Mimikeet." He was standing next to a bird Pokemon about half his size, which appeared to be an evolution of Coparrot. It now had a white body with a long blue tail, and maginifcent, long, green, blue, and white wings. It puffed up its yellow chest as it squawked, and the long yellow feather atop its head bobbed up and down in the wind. It stretched its wings out wide as Jefferson grabbed ahold of its back, and it began to fly into the sky, back toward Hanaero Town.
"Think he'll tell anyone?" Brandon asked.
"Nah. I think I scared him out of even thinking about doing that." Paris replied as he began to laugh.
"There's two places in this town that they're likely to be." Brandon informed his friend. "The Gym and the Cathedral. I'll check the Gym, you look around the Cathedral. If they're not there, wait for me, and I'll make sure they go there."
"Got it." Paris agreed, and the two split ways in the center of the town.

"Alright! We can't screw up this time!" Kyle exclaimed. The elemental six had gathered near the edge of Balankou City, and was now discussing their latest plan to take the staves.
"With our new Pokemon, we can't lose!" Aaron added.
"So where will we ambush them?" Omar asked.
"Ambush? Nonsense! We will fight them head on, with dignity!" Kyle replied.
"But isn't that dangerous?" Alex asked.
"Not when we've got an army of grunts backing us up!" Ryan responded. He motioned to a large group of people in Team Rocket uniforms who walked forward on command.
"Yes sir!" One grunt exclaimed, raising his hand to his head and saluting.
"Grunts! You will hide inside the cathedral until the signal is given!" Ryan ordered.
"Yes sir!" The grunt responded, saluting again. The large group walked past the elemental six, heading for the church.
"Isn't that an ambush, though?" Alex questioned.
"Yes, but we're not ambushing them!" Kyle answered. "The grunts are! We will meet them face to face, and lure them to the church!"
"Oh, that's a good plan!" Twitchy agreed with a twitch. "Let's do it!"
"Alright! I've obtained inside information that they're currently at the gym!" Ryan informed the rest of the group. "Let's go!" The six marched forward, heading for the gym.

"Congratulations on making it this far." Tess congratulated Tatiana. "Please, heal your Pokemon before we begin our battle." Tatiana walked over to the machine and healed her Pokemon. No sooner did she start to walk back to the battlefield then the door of the gym opened, revealing the elemental six.
"We know you're here, little staff holders!" Ryan taunted. "There!" He pointed across the gym to where the group was standing, near Tess.
"The elemental six!" Bobby exclaimed as everyone in the gym turned to face them.
"Who are they?" Tess asked, as it was obvious that the group knew them.
"They're Team Rocket operatives." Bobby replied. "They're after these staves of ours."
"So Team Rocket still seeks the staves of sealing, even to this day..." Tess responded.
"Huh?" Matt asked. "How do you know about...?"
"Everyone in this town knows the legend of the staves." Tess replied. "Long ago, when this city was a mere village, it was home to the great shamans that created the staves. To this day, our people strive to maintain balance between good and evil."
"I don't suppose that means you know the whereabouts of the black and white staves, then?" Bobby wondered.
"I'm afraid not." Tess answered. "The staves have not been in the possession of this city's people since they were created."
"Hey! We're right over here! Stop ignoring us!" Kyle stammered.
"Oh, yeah. Almost forgot about you guys for a second." Dan said, intentionally trying to provoke the egotistical Team Rocket members.
"Why you little!" Aaron shouted, drawing a Pokeball from his belt.
"The cathedral!" Ryan whispered sternly, stopping Aaron from throwing the ball.
"Sorry." Aaron apologized.
"You will follow us if you wish to battle!" Kyle informed the group.
"And why would we want to battle you? You're the ones that want something from us, remember?" Bobby asked rhetorically.
"Agh! Crap! You're right!" Kyle exclaimed, acting frustrated. "Well...how about...because we've got a hostage!" Suddenly, he reached out behind the wall near the doorway, pulling Christina into the frame of the group's view. Christina had went back to the house for a snack several minutes earlier, and had been captured by the elemental six on her way back to the gym.
"Christina!" Tess yelled. "Let her go!"
"If you want to see the girl again, you'll fight us at the cathedral!" Ryan informed.
"Why? Why don't you just fight us here?" Dan asked, somewhat provokingly.
"Be-because!" Twitchy stuttered and twitched, trying to think of a good reason. "Because there are pretty windows there!"
"Like my hair!" Omar added randomly. Without another word, the elemental six took Christina and ran, heading for the church where the grunts were waiting to ambush the staff holders.
"We have to save Christina!" Tess exclaimed, beginning to run toward the exit of the gym.
"It's obviously a trap!" Bobby told her.
"I don't care! Me and the gym trainers can more than handle those crooks by ourselves, you can come if you want to!" Tess replied. She and the gym trainers ran out the gym door, following the elemental six.
"Well, we don't have much of a choice but to follow them." Elissa commented.
"Yeah, what if there are like, more people waiting in the cathedral?" Tatiana suggested.
"She's right." Dan agreed, putting his arm around Tatiana's shoulders. "We've got to follow them."
"Alright. Fine." Bobby finally agreed. "Let's go."

"Hey! guys!" Came a familiar voice as the group continued to walk through town.
"Huh?" Matt wondered as the group turned to the source of the voice. Brandon came running up to them, stopping to catch his breath once he reached them.
"Hey! You were the Gym Leader in Spirrei Town...Brandon, right?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah." Brandon replied. "Hey, could I get you guys to come to the cathedral with me?"
"We were just heading there right now." Matt answered.
"Great." Brandon responded. "Mind if I join you?"
"Sure, you're welcome to." Bobby replied. "Let's keep going." The group continued to run toward the church, now with Brandon alongside them.

The cathedral was a rather large building, but only had an antechamber, two small staricases leading up to the balcony level, and the main room. Tess and the gym trainers were in the antechamber when the group arrived. The trainers paced about as Tess tried to open the doors, obviously locked.
"What's up?" Bobby asked.
"The doors are locked." Tess replied.
"Why don't you just like, bust them open with your Pokemon?" Tatiana suggested.
"I didn't think of that." Tess answered. "I guess I'm so angry that I'm not thinking straight. Disastruct, come on out!" She threw a Pokeball into the air, revealing a somewhat large white quadruped with a black face and tail. Black horns like Absol's stuck out of its body and head, one on each side of its head and three on each side of its body, all pointed forward. A menacing look was on this Absol evolution's face, and the black oval above its face now had two horns sticking out of the top of it.
"Disastruct, Slash!" Tess commanded. Disastruct slashed at the door with the blades extending from its head, slicing the wood door to tiny fragments. The group entered, following Tess and her Pokemon. The room was huge, and magnificent stained glass paintings lined the walls. There was one main aisleway with rows upon rows of pews, as well as a side aisle on each side of the pews. A large golden organ rested upon the back wall, and the altar stood in front of it. There, on the center platform, in front of the altar, was the elemental six and Christina.
"Let Christina go!" Tess yelled.
"They actually came! They walked right into our trap!" Twitchy exclaimed with a twitch.
"Shh! They're not supposed to know its a trap!" Kyle shushed him.
"We already knew." Bobby interrupted, having heard them.
"Then you really are idiots!" Alex claimed. "Coming here even though it was a trap!" He then turned to Ryan, and whispered. "Wait...what's the trap?"
"Grunts! Let the ambush commence!" Ryan shouted, answering Alex's question and initiating the attack at the same time. Grunts appeared from behind structural columns, side altars, from behind doors, and from under pews. Some even jumped down from the balcony. The group, having walked into the center of the main aisle, was now completely surrounded.
"I'd say it's about fifty or sixty to fourteen." One of the gym trainers calculated.
"Please. They're Team Rocket." Dan replied. "Compared to them, we each count as ten people."
"Attack!" Ryan commanded. The grunts threw Pokeballs toward the group from all directions, nearly flooding the room with Pokemon. Meanwhile, the elemental six stood back, thinking it unnecessary to send out their own Pokemon.
"Hey, you know what this reminds me of?" Elissa asked. "That battle on that airplane!"
"Yeah, you're right." Bobby agreed. "And we won that, so we'll definitely win this!" He threw Ignalion's Pokeball into the air, releasing the lion Pokemon. The other four staff wielders followed, sending out their starter Pokemon's evolutions.
"Freezeon, let's do this!" Ron exclaimed.
"I don't know why you're limiting yourselves to one Pokemon each." Tess commented. "I'm going all out on these guys! Blissey, Umbreon, Shineon, I choose you!" Two familiar Pokemon and one new one joined Disastruct in defending Tess. The new Pokemon, Shineon, had a sleek, shining white body, much like several of the other Eevee evolutions. It's legs, its nearly round tail, and its oval ears were made completely of light. It's forehead had a glowing yellow star design upon it, and it had two bright yellow eyes. The gym trainers also sent out their Pokemon, a variety of dark and light types. The grunt's Pokemon began to charge, closing in on the group. The group's Pokemon fought back, unleashing a fury of attacks upon their assailants. Despite their disadvantage in numbers, the group's obviously stronger Pokemon appeared to be dispatching all of the grunt's Pokemon with ease.
"You know, even doing as well as we are, there's way too many of them." Matt pointed out. "We should send out our other Pokemon."
'Yeah, he's right." Bobby agreed. "Blezuro, Flamoose, Dieselio, Shoink, Scabattle, help us out!"
"Tricerower, Vineon, Noctolith, Tornoulder, Grounoo!" Dan called, releasing his other five Pokemon.
"Like, let's go, guys!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Munchy, Newater, Bouldiurn, Cruscat, Dewleaf!"
"I choose you! Serafimask, Tyrogue, Averoul, Monkick, and Sanone!" Matt added, throwing his Pokeballs into the air.
"Okay, guys! Let's see what you've got!" Elissa shouted. "Pyrit, Eevee, Systripe, Psytage, Lesard, come on!"
"Hah, you guys haven't even seen most of my Pokemon yet." Ron noticed as he reached for the twelve Pokeballs on his belt. "I'll only send out five more for now. Dodrio, Fearow, Castform, Porygon2, and Articonda!" Ron threw five more Pokeballs out, revealing four familiar Pokemon and one new one. The new Pokemon, Articonda, was a snake with a white body with an icy blue splotch pattern on its scaly skin, between six and seven feet long. It stood, coiled up, bearing large iciclelike fangs. The new Pokemon joined the fray, fighting off more and more of Team Rocket's Pokemon every minute.
"They're blowing through those grunts pretty fast." Kyle noticed. "Maybe we should kick their butts personally."
"Yes...it looks like the grunt's Pokemon are weakening them." Ryan agreed. "Let's finish the job ourselves. Go, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Dugtrio, and Sandspike!" Ryan sent out his three previous Pokemon as well as a Hitmonlee, a new addition to his team.
"Yeah! Good idea!" Alex added. "I'll use Diviso, Fearow, Disastruct, and Weavile!" He released two of his old Pokemon, one new Pokemon, and a newly evolved old Pokemon.
"Let's do it!" Twitchy exclaimed with a twitch. "Gyarados, Golduck, Starwii, Qwilfish, go!" Twitchy, like Ryan, sent out three old Pokemon and one new addition.
"Ok, Ninetales, Flareon, Jolteon, and Smeargle! Let's wipe the floor with these guys! All out offensive!" Kyle ordered his Pokemon as he released them from their Pokeballs.
"This time, we'll finally get revenge!" Aaron said confidently. "Skarlord, Vystab, Pumctus, Hitmontop, let's beat Dan!" Two of Aaron's Pokemon had evolved into Pokemon completely new to the group. Pinsir's evolution, Vystab, had grown larger, but its torso shape had not changed much. Two black spike designs now appeared on its brown body, starting at its shoulders and pointing down on both its front and its back. It's mouth, in between the two arrows on its front, was now filled with rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth. It had larger, slightly more muscular arms and legs, and ivory spikes jutted out from its shoulders. The two ivory horns upon its head had now grown disproportionately large, and had to wrap around the corners of its head to fit. Consequently, they stuck out diagonally to the side rather than straight up. They were covered in many more spikes than Pinsir's were, and the spikes were also larger than before. Cacnea's evolution, on the other hand, looked nothing like it. It's head was a large, round, orange pumpkin with an evil jack-o-lantern face. It's torso, a regular cactus shape, extended from the bottom of the pumpkin. Two branchlike arms extended from the sides of its torso, with poisonous purple flowers for hands. Pointy cactus needles stuck out all over the place on the Pokemon's torso and arms. From the bottom of its torso, a mass of green roots covered in poisonous thorns stetched out as it floated above the ground.
"I better not mess up my hair." Omar declared. "Espeon, Noctolith, Bouldiurn, Togetic, let's do this!" The elemental six's Pokemon joined the fight, putting up even more of a challenge for the group's Pokemon.
"Brandon, why aren't you helping?" Dan asked the Spirrei Town Gym Leader, who was just standing in the center of the group.
"Oh, I uh..." Brandon struggled to find an excuse. "My Pokemon are all too weak for this. I'm only the fourth Gym Leader, after all." Almost immediately after this, Brandon spied Paris in the balcony, behind the wave of grunts. He nodded, indicating that Paris should attack.
"Hey, everyone, miss me?" Paris yelled, attracting everyone's attention. "This time, I won't be the one getting killed!" He threw Pokeballs into the air, releasing a Toxabbit, a Dieselio, a Grounoo, a Bouldoo, a Freezoo, and a Pokemon that appeared to be an evolution of Hazoud. It was a larger cloud of gas, but it was now a mustardy yellow color and had evil red eyes.
"Paris! How did you..." Bobby began. Before he finished, he turned to Brandon, realizing how Paris had been brought back to life.
"Sorry guys." Brandon apologized. He pushed his way out of the group and through the crowd of grunts and Pokemon, making his way to the door that led to the antechamber. When he got there, he released his own Pokemon; an Averoul, a Pyrit, a Sanone, and three Mumrot.
"This isn't good." Bobby realized.
"It's only two more opponents." Matt reassured.
"No. Look at our Pokemon." Bobby pointed out. The sheer number of attacks that the Pokemon had withstood was taking its toll, and almost all of the Pokemon were on the brink of fainting.
"I will do the honors and finish you all off!" Paris shouted. "Grounoo, Bouldoo, Freezoo, combine your Eye Lasers!" The three Pokemon shot beams of red light from their eyes that converged near the edge of the balcony. The much larger combined laser shot down, aimed at Dan's Pokemon.
"No!" Dan exclaimed, knowing that he wouldnt be able to recall his Pokemon to their Pokeballs in time.
Shing!
In a flash, before anyone knew what had happened, the laser was reflected back at the slime Pokemon. It hit the balcony, causing the edge of it to crumble and fall, crushing some of the Rocket grunts below and causing Paris and his Pokemon to fall to the ground. Dan looked up to see a man over seven feet tall, completely cloaked in a black robe, towering in front of him. In front of the man was a much shorter, completely grey, humanshape Pokemon, holding a red and white umbrella by its metal handle.
"You okay?" The man asked, a tone of triumph in his voice.

Note: Aqua Jet and Aqua Tail are moves that were introduced in Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl, and are only approximate translations by Serebii, so their names may change in the english version of the games.
Note: Illuminated Headbutt is a new attack designed for the Hydrogen/Oxygen project (currently just this story). You won't find data for it on Serebii or anything like that.

[Jirae]

Chapter 20

"Who...are you?" Dan questioned, still in shock from what happened.
"My name is unimportant." The man replied. "What is important right now is that we win. Carname, Spindril, Tyzer, Elketric, help Umbrellad out!" The man threw four Pokeballs into the air, revealing three new Pokemon and a familiar one to assist the grey Pokemon with the umbrella. The first of the new Pokemon, Carname, was a small tyrannosaurus, proportioned like a child rather than a fully grown one, and had a very short, undeveloped tail. It was a bright yet deep red in color, and had a yellow circle on top of its head. It let out a roar, and the claws on its hands and feet began to glow as if on fire. The second Pokemon, Spindril, looked like a rather large brown spinning top. Two curved, scythelike silver blades stuck out on opposite sides of a shallow black crevice that went all around the circular shape of the Pokemon, and they whirred all around it as it spun. It had two angry black eyes above this crevice, and had no mouth. Third was Tyzer, a Pokemon that looked like a white tiger with jagged black stripes. Its red eyes glowed as it beared its long fangs, made of ice, much like its claws. It whipped its two tails around as four short spikes made of ice rose from its back. The man's five Pokemon lunged out in different directions, joining the fight and making short work of every enemy Pokemon they faced.
"Woah. He's good." Bobby noticed. While the group's Pokemon were able to take down their opponents in three or four attacks, the cloaked man's Pokemon appeared to be knocking out their opposition in one or two. With the help of this new ally, the group eventually won, leaving nothing but trainers and a room of fainted Pokemon facing them.
"No! We-we...We lost! How did we lose?!" Kyle asked in disbelief.
"This isn't good! The boss will have our heads for sure!" Aaron exclaimed.
"No! Not my head! My pretty hair is on my head!" Omar added.
"We have no choice! We must retreat once again!" Ryan informed the rest of the Team Rocket members. "But mark my words, staff holders, next time the staves will be ours!"
"In your dreams!" Elissa mocked as the Rockets returned their Pokemon and threw smoke bombs, disappearing.
"So. That just leaves you guys." Matt said, reffering to Paris and Brandon.
"Let's get out of here!" Paris shouted as he got up from the rubble of the collapsed balcony.
"You have been allowed to live too many times already." The cloaked man remarked, catching Paris' attention. "It's about time someone takes you out for good."
"What?!" Paris thought, turning his head slightly.
"Behold my strongest Pokemon! Duskarrion, kill that man!" The man reached into the hood of his cloak, presumeably reaching for a Pokeball worn on a necklace as many modern trainers wore. He threw the Pokeball into the air, revealing the large vulture Pokemon that Michael had had at the Power Plant. The vulture flew forward, extending its talons and clawing at Paris' skull. The Pokemon continued to attack, bringing its victim to the ground.
"Stop it!" Brandon exclaimed, trying to pull the bird off Paris himself, as his Pokemon had all been defeated.
"Dusk!" The Pokemon cawed, turning and digging a claw into Brandon's chest, on the side opposite the heart. Instead of continuing to attack like it had with Paris, it merely flew away, landing on the cloaked man's shoulder.
"You should probably get that treated at the Pokemon Center. Fast, if you want to live." The cloaked man said matter-of-factly. Brandon got up, clutching his chest, and ran out the door. "As for your friend...Carname!" The small tyrannosaurus Pokemon let loose a Flamethrower attack, completely incinerating Paris' body.
"You...how...why..." Dan said, incapable of even forming a question.
"No need to thank me." The man interrupted him. "The staves must be protected."
"Protecting the staves? Are you from this town?" Tess inquired. "I don't think I've seen your face...or, well, your cloak, before."
"No. I am not from this place." The man replied. "And I must be going now."
"Wait!" Bobby exclaimed. "Where did you get that Duskarrion? They're supposed to be extinct!"
"Endangered, not yet extinct." The man answered. "A few are still alive. This is one of them."
"We know that a few still live." Bobby told him. "One of our frien...no...enemies...has one. And we were told that they have the power to make their owner evil."
"Duskarrion and its younger forms merely have the power to manipulate negative human emotions." The man corrected Bobby. "If a trainer has no negative emotions, there is nothing to be manipulated."
"No negative emotions? You just killed a man!" Dan exclaimed.
"A man that was already dead many times." The cloaked man replied. "What I did, I did in for justice and the common good."
"Can't argue with him there." Matt agreed.
"Until our paths cross once again...farewell." The man said, returning all his Pokemon except Duskarrion to their Pokeballs. He walked out the door of the cathedral and boarded his Pokemon, flying away.
"So, uh...we should probably clean this mess up." One of the gym trainers suggested. The fight had left pews broken, carpets ripped, and columns crumbling, not to mention the fallen balcony.
"We'd be happy to help you out." Tatiana volunteered.
"Alright. Let's go get our Pokemon healed at the Pokemon Center so they can help us." Tess decided. "And on the way back, we can stop at my house and get that Pokemon egg I promised you. Which of you should I give it to?"
"What kind of Pokemon is in it?" Tatiana asked.
"Well, I think I'll give you a Togepi egg." Tess replied.
"A light type...I think Elissa should have it." Bobby suggested.
"Yeah, I agree." Matt agreed.
"Alright, Elissa it is!" Tess exclaimed. "And...Tatiana, was it? After we're done cleaning this place up, we can have our battle!"
"Sounds good!" Tatiana confirmed.
"Hey, look!" Dan pointed to the group's Pokemon, which they hadn't been paying attention to since the incident with the cloaked man. Shoink, Tricerower, Monkick, Newater, and Dewleaf had begun to glow with the light of evolution. Shoink grew larger and fatter, and became more like a large swine than a pig. Its tail grew larger and fell to the ground, heavier than before, just like the rest of its body. The glow faded, and several designs like lightningbolts wrapped around the Pokemon's body, with a dark thundercloud design on the top of its back. Electricity flowed between its lightningbolt shaped ears and around its feet, which also had lightningbolt shaped growths sticking out of their backs. Tricerower grew larger as well, and shrubs now sprouted out around its legs and tail. Several dark green streaks on its body were revealed as the glow faded, and its flowers had grown more mature as well. Monkick's hands and feet continued to grow, and its tail shrunk to a point where it was nearly nonexistant. It took on the features of a gorilla more than its previous monkey-esque form. The glow faded to reveal a red headband and two red armbands. Newater grew larger, stopping at a length of about three feet. Small white cannons sprouted out of the holes at the center of the dots on its back, and water shot out of these new growths. Dewleaf grew larger, and its body puffed up like a round bush or shrub. Its arms and legs became partially enveloped by this, so they appeared shorter. It's head became round and shrubby as well, and snow coated the top of its head and body.
"Shoink has evolved in Electwine!" Bobby's Pokedex informed.
"Tricerower has evolved into Tricerub!" Dan's Pokedex added.
"Monkick has evolved into Gortial!" Matt's Pokedex chimed in.
"Newater has evolved into Gunewt! Dewleaf has evolved into Snobush!" Tatiana's Pokedex told her.
"Awesome!" Bobby exclaimed.
"Congratulations to all of you." Tess congratulated. "Now, let's go heal our Pokemon."

"Alright, are you ready?" Tess asked Tatiana as the group walked back into the gym. Cleanup had taken quite a while, and it was already dark outside.
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Tatiana agreed.
"Just like the rest of the trainers in this gym, this will be a double battle." Tess informed Tatiana. "I'll start with Umbreon and Shineon!"
"Bouldiurn, Cruscat, I choose you!" Tatiana responded.
"Umbreon, Faint Attack!" Tess ordered. "Shineon, Illuminated Headbutt!" Both Pokemon ran forward, and Shineon began to glow as Umbreon disappeared. Umbreon reappeared behind Bouldiurn, striking it with a dark attack, while Shineon slammed into Cruscat with a light attack.
"Cruscat, Magnitude!" Tatiana commanded. "Bouldiurn, Rock Throw!" Cruscat slammed the ground, sending shockwaves out that hit Umbreon. Meanwhile, Bouldiurn hurled a large rock at the dark Pokemon telepathically, damaging it further.
"So, you're teaming up on one of my Pokemon, huh?" Tess noticed. "Well I can do that too! Umbreon, Faint Attack! Shineon, Illuminated Headbutt!" Both Pokemon dashed forward, hitting Bouldiurn with their respective attacks.
"Just keep attacking Umbreon!" Tatiana exclaimed. Her two Pokemon attacked again, weakening Umbreon severely.
"Let's finish it off with a Faint Attack!" Tess ordered. "And Shineon, you can hit the Cruscat with Illuminated Tackle!" The two Eevee evolutions ran forward for a third time, attacking again. Umbreon's faint attack managed to knock out Bouldiurn, while Shineon's attack weakened Cruscat further.
"Cruscat, finish Umbreon off with a Take Down!" Tatiana commanded. "Glorca, let's go! Hit Shineon with an Aurora Beam!" Cruscat rammed into Umbreon, knocking it across the field and rendering it unconscious as it hit the wall. Glorca emerged from the Pokeball, launching a rainbow beam at Shineon and hitting it with the ice type attack.
"Umbreon, return! Disastruct, come on!" Tess exclaimed. "Shineon, use Light Beam! Disastruct, Slash!"
"Glorca, counter the Light Beam with an Aurora Beam!" Tatiana immediately responded. Shineon shot a beam of light out at Glorca, which was countered in midair by an Aurora Beam. The two blasts hit eachother and caused a small explosion, doing no damage to either Pokemon. Meanwhile, Disastruct ran forward, but was caught off guard by the explosion and was sent flying off course.
"This is your chance, Cruscat! Hit it with a Slam!" Cruscat ran forward, slamming into the Pokemon that was already flying across the room, changing its course and sending it into the back wall.
"Disastruct, get back up and use Razor Wind!" Tess ordered. "Shineon, protect Disastruct while it prepares to attack!"
"We've got to stop it from attacking!" Tatiana informed her Pokemon. "Glorca, attack Shineon with an Aurora Beam! Cruscat, run in around Shineon and hit Disastruct with a Slam!" Glorca shot out a rainbow beam again, causing Shineon to instinctively counter with a Light Beam. Meanwhile, Cruscat ran around the concentrating Shineon, knocking Disastruct into the air once again.
"Disastruct, launch the Razor Wind! Shineon, hit Glorca with an Illuminated Tackle!" Tess commanded. Disastruct did a flip in midair, launching the Razor Wind attack as it landed back on the ground, on its feet. The attack hit Cruscat, dealing massive damage and knocking it out. Shineon ran forward, slamming into Glorca with a light type attack.
"Glorca, finish Shineon off with Aqua Tail!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Snobush, come on out and use Razor Leaf!" Glorca slammed its tail down, taking out the nearby Shineon in one swoop. Snobush appeared from its ball, launching a wave of leaves that sliced at Disastruct.
"Alright, Shineon, you did good! Return!" Tess shouted. "Go, Blissey! Use Egg Bomb! Disastruct, use Slash!" Blissey pulled an egg from its pouch, hurling it at Glorca. The egg exploded, doing quite a bit of damage. Disastruct sped forward, slashing at Snobush.
"Glorca, Aqua Tail!" Tatiana commanded. "Snobush, Powder Snow!" Glorca slammed its tail down once again, dealing severe damage to Disastruct. Snobush began shaking, causing snow to fly out and damage Disastruct.
"Blissey, use Egg Bomb! Disastruct, use Slash!" Tess ordered. Both Pokemon attacked Glorca, leaving it with very low health.
"Glorca, finish Disastruct off with Aqua Tail!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Snobush, hit Blissey with a Razor Leaf!" Glorca slammed its tail down once again, knocking out the dark Pokemon. Snobush launched out razor sharp leaves again, hitting Blissey.
"Blissey, Egg Bomb!" Tess commanded as she returned Disastruct to its Pokeball. Blissey threw an egg at Glorca again, knocking it out.
"Glorca, return!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Munchy, let's go! Use Super Fang! Then use Razor Leaf, Snobush!" Munchy dashed forward, biting Blissey and cutting its HP in half. Snobush followed up by launching a wave of leaves, damaging Blissey further.
"Blissey, use Softboiled!" Tess ordered. Blissey broke one of its eggs, causing a light to flow out and heal it.
"We have to take it out before it can heal itself!" Tatiana explained. "Munchy, use Crunch! Snobush, use Razor Leaf!" The two Pokemon attacked, leaving Blissey close to being knocked out but not quite defeated yet.
"Use Softboiled again!" Tess commanded. Blissey healed itself again, but it was obvious that if the two Pokemon continued to attack, it would be defeated.
"Just keep it up! You'll get it eventually!" Tatiana encouraged. Sure enough, Snobush and Munchy continued to attack, eventually knocking Blissey out.
"Blissey, return!" Tess shouted. She walked over to Tatiana, opening her hand to reveal a small badge shaped like a Yin Yang. "Here. The Yin Yang Badge." She explained. "And here. This Technical Machine teaches Yin Yang Blast. And this Hidden Machine teaches Surf."
"Thanks." Tatiana thanked her, accepting the gifts.
"You guys should go. I'm sure that if you stay here, Team Rocket will come back again."
"Yeah. And we've got to keep looking for Michael." Matt added.
"Michael?" Tess inquired.
"Yeah. He's got the grey staff." Bobby replied. "He left us a while ago, and he's been up to no good."
"Then you must find him!" Tess exclaimed. "If someone with one of the staves turns to evil...it could mean chaos for the entire world. You must go!"
"We will. Thanks again for your help in the cathedral." Bobby thanked her. "Let's go, guys!"

"Alright, so, at the end of Route K is the Neverending Chasm." Dan explained, reading the guidebook. "There are two ways to get past this long canyon. You can take the Chasm Guide's private jet, which runs once a day, or you can go through the series of caves that run through the mountains that surround the canyon."
"Well, we should probably take the jet, if we can." Matt pointed out, even though it was obvious.
"Yeah." Bobby agreed. "But we'll deal with that when we get there. We've still got a ways to go in Route K." The group continued to walk through the route as it became increasingly mountainous. Suddenly, a Pokemon dashed into the group's path, eager to fight. It appeared to be a blue and white wolf, and upon further examination, its flaring fur appeared to be fire. This firey fur flared all over its body, including its legs, its forehead, and its tail. It beared its fangs, snarling at the group.
"Wolflame. The White-Hot Pokemon." Bobby's Pokedex informed. "Wolflame's fur burns with an intensely hot flame of over ten thousand degrees farenheight. It attacks by flaring up its fur and burning everything around it.
"I'm going to catch it!" Bobby claimed. "Electwine, let's go!" He threw the electric swine's Pokeball into the air. "Just don't touch it! Use attacks that aren't physical, like Discharge!" Electwine took this as a cue, using a Discharge attack that hit Wolflame. The wild Pokemon responded by running forward, biting at Electwine with a Fire Fang attack. Electwine launched a Discharge once again, this time paralyzing its foe. Wolflame attempted to attack again, but was held back by its paralysis.
"Finish it off, Electwine! Use Thunderbolt!" Bobby ordered. Electwine shot a bolt of lightning from its head, shocking the Wolflame and taking it down. Bobby immediately threw a Pokeball, capturing the defeated Pokemon.
"Good job!" Elissa congratulated.
"Alright! Let's keep going!" Bobby exclaimed.

"He already left? Aww, man!" Tatiana said, disappointed. The group had arrived at the Chasm Guide's hangar, but a sign on the door said that he had already left for the day and would be back tomorrow.
"I guess we can wait here, there's a Pokemon Center right nextdoor." Matt suggested.
"No. We don't have time to lose." Bobby replied. "We've got to find Michael, so we've got to go through the caves."
"Bobby's right." Dan agreed.
"Alright...let's like, get going then, I guess..." Tatiana suggested, leaning on Dan's shoulder.
"Okay, everybody, don't let your guard down." Bobby informed the group as they walked toward the cave entrance, which was very close to the hangar. "This looks like exactly the kind of place where Team Rocket might ambush us."
"Yeah, but we'll beat them again anyways!" Elissa exclaimed confidently. "So let's go!"
---
Note: Even though I've had Pokemon use it several times before, I never really mentioned, Light Beam is, of course, a move made up for this story. So is Yin Yang Blast.
Note: Aqua Tail is a D/P move, name is an approximate Serebii translation, yada yada yada. Same with Fire Fang.

[Jirae]

Chapter 21

"Excuse me! I need to see the Gym Leader immediately!" Mr. Catalano exclaimed as he slammed open the door to the Treemor Town gym.
"What is it?" Spencer asked, walking over to where Mr. Catalano stood.
"I'm being followed by Team Rocket!" Mr. Catalano replied. "There are a whole bunch of grunts and they were being ordered around by some lady! They said they wanted these!" He indicated the staves.
"Hey, those look kinda like the things that those kids were carrying." A gym trainer pointed out.
"Kids?" Mr. Catalano inquired.
"Yeah...six kids came by here to challenge me to a battle...it was a few weeks ago." Spencer explained. "They all had things like those, but they were different colors."
"Those must be the kids Pine was telling me about..." Mr. Catalano thought. "Do you know where they are now?"
"Well, if they're as strong as they seemed when they battled me, I'd say they're probably making their way to Mizaqua City right now." Spencer guessed. "My brother's the Gym Leader in the next town, and his flying Pokemon can probably take you there.
"Thanks a lot." Mr. Catalano thanked Spencer. Suddenly, the door to the gym burst open as the Team Rocket lady and several grunts entered.
"That kid didn't even stand a chance!" The grunt that had fought the kid in Advachi Town remarked. "You'll have to do a lot better than that!"
"You should get going!" Spencer told Mr. Catalano. "We'll take care of these goons! Flyrant, Scabattle, Sawmite, Pinsir, Flamant, Widdowail!" He threw six Pokeballs into the air, revealing the four familiar Pokemon and two other Pokemon. One looked like a two foot long and proportionally tall red ant, with small fires on the tips of its antennae. Its black legs appeared to be made of charcoal, and sparks flew as it clicked its jaws together. The other looked like a large round spider, suspended high above the ground on eight long legs. The red hourglass mark of the black widow was upon its back, and its many eyes glared at the Rocket members.
"You think you can stop us with your little bugs?" The woman mocked. "I'll squash you all! Seviper, Zangoose, I choose you!" The two shiny Pokemon emerged from their Pokeballs, ready to take on all the Pokemon in the gym by themselves.
"What are those? I've never seen those Pokemon before!" Spencer exclaimed.
"They're from a different continent." Mr. Catalano explained. "Team Rocket exists in many different countries, not just Olemenun. These Pokemon are from the region of Hoenn."
"Hoenn? I've never heard of that." Spencer said.
"I don't have time to explain. Just hold them off, please!" Mr. Catalano replied.
"Yeah! Leave through the back door and run to Hanaero Town!" Spencer agreed. "We'll hold these guys off!" With that, Mr. Catalano ran out the door, and the two shiny Pokemon lunged forward, eager to start the battle.

"This place is really big." Elissa pointed out. The group was being led by her and her Systripe, who was using Flash to illuminate the dark caverns.
"You know, I've heard rumors that there are some rare fossils buried in the walls of this place." Ron informed the group. "We should be on the lookout for those." The group continued to walk through the cave until they eventually came to a dead end.
"Looks like we went the wrong way." Bobby noticed. "Let's turn around and look for another..."
"Wait." Ron interrupted him. "Elissa, can you shine Systripe's light on this wall?"
"Sure." Elissa replied. Systripe walked over to the wall, revealing four glimmering objects sticking out of the rock. Ron carefully removed them from their places, one by one, brushing dust off of them. They all appeared to be fossils, each with a different design on them. One looked like a shell, resembling a fishlike head. Another looked like a buglike thorax or body. The third looked like a small horn. The final fossil was larger than the others, and looked like a long tusk.
"This last one's stuck." Ron commented, trying to remove the long tusk fossil from the wall. As he pulled, the rock began to crack around the fossil.
"Hey, uh, you might want to be careful..." Matt began, but it was too late. Ron yanked the fossil from the cave wall, not noticing that the wall was beginning to crack and weaken more and more.
"That wall's going to collapse!" Bobby exclaimed, pointing to the weakening structure. "And who knows how much of the ceiling it'll take down with it! We've gotta get out of here!" The group turned and ran from the collapsing wall, trying to remember which direction they had come from, confused by the multitude of paths leading from the corridor they were in.
"Wait...if the ceiling fell, we'd probably all be caved in right now..." Elissa realized as the group ran. "Guys, wait up!"
"Like, what is it?" Tatiana inquired.
"Look." Elissa pointed back to the wall. It had indeed collapsed, but the ceiling hadn't gone down with it. There, behind where it stood, was a dark new path. "It wasn't a real wall at all."
"Let's check it out!" Matt suggested. The group walked back over to where the wall, and signs that it was indeed a hidden passageway were obvious. As they entered this new path, they noticed that it looked much more carved out. It almost looked like something large had tunneled through the rock, creating this path as it went. The group continued down this path until they came to a large room, so large that the other side wasn't visible.
"What is this place?" Bobby asked rhetorically as the group admired the room. It was large and round, as if whatever had made the path had just coiled around in circles, rising as it went, until it made a circular room with a dome top.
"I take it you've figured out that this place wasn't created naturally." Came a familiar voice from the center of the room, where it was too dark to see. The snapping of fingers was heard, and suddenly, lights positioned all around the ceiling of the room turned on, completely illuminating the place. There, in the center of the room, was Michael, standing atop the Pokemon that had created the manmade path and room. The Pokemon was a large white worm, coiled up. Its body, including its head, appeared to be one long flexible segment. It had no eyes, but had a large gaping mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Uncoiled, the Pokemon would definitely be well over thirty feet long. Michael was standing atop the Pokemons head, staff in one hand, Pokeball in the other.
"Michael!" Dan shouted. "It's time for me to get revenge for the Power Plant! You almost killed Tatiana!"
"As much as I'd love to kill you and your girlfriend right here and now, corpses are of no use to me." Michael replied. "And besides, you're not who I'm interested in this time." He threw the Pokeball into the air, revealing his faithful Duskarrion. He hopped on the bird Pokemon's back and flew a few feet above the worm Pokemon. He waved his staff, ordering the large Pokemon to attack. The worm lunged forward, drilling into the ground and barely missing the group, causing the ground they were standing under to rumble.
"Woah!" Tatiana exclaimed.
"Let's get this started, shall we?" Michael taunted, taking the other four Pokeballs from his staff and throwing them into the air. They opened up to reveal Obsidark, Umbreon, Ninetales, and Hazough, the evolution of Hazoud that Paris had had.
"Let's do it then! Six on six!" Bobby accepted, sending out Ignalion. The other four staff holders sent out their starter Pokemon as well, and Ron sent out Freezeon. "Everbody stay together!"
"Yeah...together's just not going to work." Michael responded. "Seperate them." Obsidark began hurling boulders at the trainers, causing them to scatter slightly. Ninetales and Umbreon dashed forward, attempting to attack the trainers with the staves. Ignalion and Freezeon got in their way, engaging their fellow quadrupeds in battle. Mosstatue began throwing rocks of its own, countering Obsidark's boulders. Psychoir began launching psychic attacks at Hazough, who responded with poison gas attacks. Glorca fired Aurora Beam attacks at Duskarrion, who gracefully dodged them all. Meanwhile, Lotushade searched the ground, trying to figure out where the worm Pokemon would resurface.
"Alright, they've seperated enough." Michael noticed. "Tunnelurm, now!" The ground below Elissa began to rumble, and a hole broke open in the ground. She fell into the hole, alone without any Pokemon.
"Obsidark!" Michael shouted. He dove into the hole while riding Duskarrion, and Obsidark covered the hole up with boulders afterward.
"Elissa!" Bobby exclaimed. "Why would he take her?!"
"He wants her staff to activate." Dan replied. "That's why he fought me and Tati at the Power Plant. He must need all the staves to activate, for some reason..."
"That means he's going to like, try to kill her, or something!" Tatiana realized. "We've got to save her! Glorca, get rid of those rocks!" Glorca attempted to attack the rocks, but Obsidark countered by slamming the whale with a large boulder.
"Alright...if we've got to get through his Pokemon first, so be it." Bobby decided. "But we have to rescue Elissa!"

"He-hello?" Elissa asked as she looked around the area. It was dark, and she had no Pokemon to illuminate the cavern. The only light was the little bit seeping through the cracks between the boulders, and that wasn't even enough to see past her own feet. "I'll just use Systripe's Flash attack...no, wait, he's still up there with the others...maybe Psytage can..." She reached for Psytage's Pokeball, but found nothing on her staff.
"I've taken your Pokeballs." Michael's voice informed her from an undetectable location. "You're going to have to fight. Alone."
"But I can't-" Elissa began.
"Oh, but you can!" Michael interrupted. "If you couldn't, you wouldn't be of any use to me. Now, Tunnelurm, attack!" The large white Pokemon's front end appeared seemingly out of nowhere, crashing into the ground near Elissa.
"Ah!" Elissa exclaimed, jumping out of the way.
"Duskarrion! Your turn!" Michael ordered. The vulture Pokemon followed by swooping forward, clawing at Elissa but barely missing her.
"Wait...wasn't he riding it before?" Elissa noticed.
"Quite the astute observation!" Michael replied. "So I'm sure you know what's coming next!" Suddenly, the glow of lightning illuminated Michael, who was standing about fifteen yards away from Elissa. His staff was charging a bolt of stored energy, which he released by swinging the staff out in Elissa's direction. The ball of energy flew forward quickly, and Elissa's attempt to sidestep was blocked by the tunneling worm Pokemon.
"Only one option!" Michael informed Elissa as the attack drew closer.
"No! I don't know..." Elissa began. Suddenly, in a flash, the white worm was in front of her, taking the attack. As soon as she realized what had happened, she looked to her hand to discover that her staff was glowing with an eerie purple light. A mostly transparent purple hand reached from the tip of her staff to Tunnelurm, and the Pokemon's entire body glowed with the power of the mind control.
"I trust you remember the legend?" Michael asked rhetorically. "Your staff has the power to control minds...temporarily, of course. You'd best make use of your new ally before it turns on you again!" Almost as if this was a cue, Duskarrion swooped down behind Elissa, aiming a powerful gust of wind at her.
"Block it!" Elissa commanded. The mind controlled Pokemon agilely moved around to the other side of Elissa, blocking the hit.
"Shall we try two at once?" Michael taunted. He launched another bolt of electricity, while Duskarrion flapped its wings, delivering another gust. Tunnelurm formed a circle, completely surrounding Elissa and absorbing both of the blows.
"I don't know...shall we?" Elissa replied, remembering just how powerful the legend foretold the staves to be. She concentrated on the staff, and another hand extended from its top, grabbing ahold of the bird Pokemon.
"Wha-what?! No!" Michael exclaimed, realizing that both his Pokemon had now turned against him.
"Time for me to go on the offensive." Elissa decided. She waved her staff forward, ordering both Pokemon to attack. Tunnelurm lunged and Duskarrion swooped, both aiming for their former master.
"Ungrateful fools." Michael said, as if completely unfazed. He held his staff above his head, gathering a large amount of power within it. As the Pokemon grew near, he discharged the power, causing severe damage and knocking them back past Elissa.
"But I thought you..." Elissa began.
"You thought I was actually afraid that you might win? Please." Michael responded. "You've just begun to realize the true power of the staves, while I've been using it for weeks!"
"Fine...if I can't beat you with your Pokemon..." Elissa realized, "I'll make you kill yourself!" The two hands controlling the Pokemon retracted and combined into one large hand, which flew forward at Michael.
"You know, relinquishing control on those Pokemon was a bad move." Michael taunted, remaining critical even as the hand drew close. "They're not quite dead yet. Always make sure an enemy is dead before you take your eyes off them." Duskarrion emerged from the darkness behind Elissa, grabbing her staff with its claws and pulling it from her grasp. The hand reaching toward Michael evaporated as the vulture Pokemon flew the staff back to its owner.
"No!" Elissa shouted, reaching out in vain as Tunnelurm whizzed past her, joining Michael and Duskarrion.
"Don't worry, foolish one. Your staff will be returned to you." Michael informed her. "If I was able to use any staff but my own, I would have stolen them all as soon as I discovered their power. Unfortunately, once you all received your staves, they became bound to you."
"Then why did you want the staff to activate? You just said you can't use it!" Elissa questioned.
"All will be revealed in time." Michael answered without answering. "In the mean time, I'm through with you." He threw the staff back, and it landed a few yards in front of her. "I advise you not to pick that up until I'm gone, or I'll be forced to actually hurt you." He boarded his flying Pokemon and flew out behind Tunnelurm, who was digging open a new hole in the ground leading back to the chamber where the other trainers were.

"Hey! There he is!" Dan shouted, pointing as Michael resurfaced from the ground alongside his digging Pokemon.
"Where's Elissa? What did you do to her?!" Tatiana questioned.
"Hey now, let's not make me sound like that sleaze of a Gym Leader." Michael responded. "I did not harm her. In fact, all I did was add a new power to her ****nal! You should be thanking me!"
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, somewhat confused.
"Oh, I see you managed to beat my other Pokemon." Michael noticed, changing the subject. "Congratulations." He pressed the buttons on his Pokeballs, returning Tunnelurm, Obsidark, Umbreon, Ninetales, and Hazough to their Pokeballs. "Farewell...next time we meet, you shall be my target, Bobby." Duskarrion flew up, exiting through a hole in the ceiling that the group had not previously noticed.
"Elissa!" Tatiana yelled down the hole Michael had emerged from. "Can you hear me?"
"I'm right down here!" Elissa replied.
"Tornoulder, bring her back up!" Dan ordered, releasing the half-flying type Pokemon from its Pokeball. Tornoulder hovered down the hole, returning shortly after with Elissa sitting atop one of its large rocks. The Pokemon gently set Elissa on the ground, and Dan returned it to its ball.
"Where are my Pokemon?" Elissa asked. "Michael took all my Pokeballs!"
"Psych!" Psychoir alerted her, as it hovered over, holding five Pokeballs and an egg in its arms.
"Thank you." Elissa thanked her Pokemon, returning it and Systripe to their own Pokeballs, which were among the five.
"Michael dropped them as he was flying out that hole." Matt explained. "Lotushade and Psychoir caught them...but I think the egg cracked a little from the force of it."
"Huh?" Elissa wondered, examining the egg after she put the Pokeballs back on her staff. Sure enough, there was a crack, but it appeared to be growing larger by the second.
"I don't think it cracked from the fall..." Elissa guessed. "I think it's hatching!" She held the egg out in front of her as the crack went all around the shell in a circle, finally opening to reveal a small head. Tiny arms and legs poked out as well, revealing a Togepi.
"Toge! Toge!" The Pokemon chirped, waving its arms around.
"Awesome!" Elissa exclaimed, hugging her new Pokemon.
"We should get out of here, before anything else happens." Bobby suggested.
"Yeah. Let's go." Dan agreed.
"Look! I think I see a light at the end of that path!" Matt noticed, pointing to a tunnel on the other side of the room. The group returned their Pokemon and walked through the tunnel, eventually reaching the exit.

"Fresh air at last!" Matt exclaimed, taking in a deep breath and stretching his arms.
"Well, it looks like the next stretch of our journey is going to be a water route." Bobby noted.
"What makes you say that?" Matt asked, his eyes closed while he yawned. He wasn't being sarcastic, he just hadn't seen the vast expanse of water laid out in front of them. "Oh. That's why." He realized as he opened his eyes.
"Like, leave the transportation to me!" Tatiana exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball into the air. Glorca appeared in the water, and all six people got on its back. It began to swim across the sea route, and the trip was uninterrupted for a while.
"Well, it's about time we see a Pokemon." Matt said as the group approached a small blue Pokemon in the water. It looked remarkably like a Plesiowave, but was considerably smaller and not as evil-looking. The other main difference was that it only had two flippers, as opposed to Plesiowave's eight.
"It's so cute!" Tatiana exclaimed as she pulled out her Pokedex.
"Plesquirt. The Tiny Wave Pokemon." The Pokedex explained. "Unlike their evolved forms; Plesplash and Plesiowave, Plesquirt are completely docile and timid. They usually travel in packs to help fight off predators, but are usually tragically devoured by their own kindred, as Plesiowave will eat anything in its territory, including former friends.
"That's horrible!" Elissa remarked.
"You do realize that's the pre-evolution of the thing that almost killed us all when we first got here, don't you?" Bobby asked Tatiana.
"I don't care! I'm going to catch it!" She replied. "Bouldiurn, I choose you! Use Psywave!" Bouldiurn emerged, hovering in the air as it hit the wild Pokemon with a psychic blast. Plesquirt countered with a Water Gun, but it didn't appear to do much to the stronger Pokemon.
"Hit it with another Psywave!" Tatiana commanded. Bouldiurn sent forth Psychic waves once again, which were countered this time by a Water Pulse. The two Pokemon continued to attack until Plesquirt became tired and weak. Tatiana threw a Pokeball at the weakened Pokemon, successfully capturing it.
"Good job, Tati!" Dan exclaimed, hugging her. Tatiana returned Bouldiurn to its Pokeball, and Glorca continued forward. A short while later, the group came upon yet another new wild Pokemon floating above the water. Its body looked like a large water droplet, about two feet tall, surrounded by a transparent mistlike substance. It had a snickering expression on its face, and had two hands that looked like white gloves floating near its body.
"Condrop. The Water Droplet Pokemon." Elissa's Pokedex explained. "Condrop are thought to be responsible for many out-of-body experiences occuring in areas where they are found. Victims describe feeling as if there mind has been literally seperated from their body for a split second. Fortunately, Condrop are very slow, and victims of these attacks are usually able to get out of range after the first shock."
"Wow." Elissa thought. "I'm going to try and catch it! Psytage, I choose you!" Psytage appeared from its Pokeball, spinning around, ready to fight. "Hit it with a Thunderbolt!" Psytage launched a Thunderbolt attack, striking the water type Pokemon and damaging it significantly.
"Con!" The wild Condrop responded, retaliating with a Confusion attack that didn't do much damage to the psychic type Psytage.
"It must be a half Psychic type too...hit it with another Thunderbolt!" Elissa ordered. Psytage emited a bolt of lightning once again, leaving its target considerably weakened. The Pokemon made another attempt at a Confusion attack, but didn't inflict much damage at all.
"Now you're mine!" Elissa exclaimed, throwing a Pokeball at the weakened Pokemon. The attempt was successful, and Elissa returned Psytage to its Pokeball. "Alright! I caught another new Pokemon!" She exclaimed happily.
"And look! We're almost to Mizaqua City!" Matt informed the group, pointing to buildings that weren't very far away. As the group drew closer, it became apparent that this city was actually built on the water rather than on an island of land. Rather than being built on floating logs like Hoenn's Pacifidlog Town, these buildings appeared to be floating on large chunks of ice, connected by smoothed out frozen paths. At one edge of the town, there was a large mountain that looked to be made completely out of ice, with a large cave entrance carved into it.
"Wow, this place is beautiful!" Elissa exclaimed, admiring the buildings, which were almost as shiny as the ice. The group dismounted Glorca on a small island of snow at the edge of the city, and Tatiana returned the surfing Pokemon to its Pokeball.
"Excuse me, would you kids happen to know a man by the name of Matt Catalano?" A woman in a blue dress asked as she approached the group.
"Yeah, we met him back in Advachi Town..." Dan recalled.
"Please, could you come with me to the Pokemon Center? It's quite urgent." The woman replied.
"Sure thing." Bobby agreed. The woman began walking across one of the icy paths as if it wasn't slippery at all, and the group followed, discovering that it actually wasn't.
"I wonder what Mr. Catalano wants?" Tatiana wondered aloud.
---
Note: Yeah, you've got to wonder where the Pokeballs magically come from when you hatch a Pokemon egg. Since I don't want to reveal Gamefreak's conspiracy secret that explains this absurd phenomenon, I took the easy way out and said it doesn't have a Pokeball. Note that the last sentence was mostly sarcasm, there is no big secret. Gamefreak probably can't explain it either.

[Jirae]

Chapter 22

"Children! I'm glad to see that you're okay!" Mr. Catalano exclaimed as the group walked in the door of the Pokemon Center.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Dan asked, assuming that Mr. Catalano didn't know what was going on with Michael.
"Well, I was afraid that maybe Team Rocket had come after you, too." Mr. Catalano replied.
"Team Rocket came after you?" Bobby questioned, surprised. "Was it the Elemental Six?"
"The who now?" Mr. Catalano responded. "No...there weren't six. It was one woman, commanding a legion of grunts. She must be an administrator..."
"A woman? What Pokemon did she use?" Bobby asked, rather suspicious.
"Let's see...I think she used a pair of shining Pokemon. Seviper and Zangoose, Pokemon from the Hoenn region..." Mr. Catalano explained.
"You don't think that's..." Matt began to wonder.
"I'd say it is." Bobby replied. "It must be the woman from the plane."
"The plane?" Mr. Catalano inquired.
"When we first arrived in Olemenun." Bobby explained. "A woman with a shining Zangoose and Seviper, and a lot of snake Pokemon. She hijacked the plane and sent it crashing into the sea."
"Has she come after you since then?" Mr. Catalano asked.
"No. But six other administrators have." Dan answered. "They're after the staves that we're carrying." He was about to explain the significance of the staves to the best of his knowledge, but Mr. Catalano interrupted him.
"Same reason that the woman was after me." Mr. Catalano informed. He moved to the side a little, revealing the black and white staves.
"Those are...the other two staves!" Tatiana exclaimed.
"Yes. Professor Pine entrusted them to me many years ago." Mr. Catalano explained. "He knew that Team Rocket would eventually come looking for the staves, and knew that keeping them all in one place would be much too dangerous. It'd be too easy for Team Rocket to get them all."
"So then...you guys have known more than us all along." Bobby concluded.
"Yeah. We didn't to reveal too much to you children until we had to." Mr. Catalano responded. "Me, Eric, Professor Pine, and the Balankou City Gym Leader's family...before you kids came along, we were the only ones that knew about the staves...except Team Rocket, of course."
"So then...are you able to use the power of your staves?" Elissa questioned.
"No. Though I carry the staves now, they have already bound their powers to another." Mr. Catalano replied.
"Who?" Tatiana wondered.
"Team Rocket's leader." Mr. Catalano answered with dismay. "Sir Jacob XII."
"But...if Team Rocket's leader had the staves at one point, how do you have them now?" Bobby asked. "I would think he would have gone through a lot to protect them..."
"Oh, he did." Mr. Catalano responded. "The black and white staves were the only staves kept guarded by Giovanni I's family. His administrators' bloodlines eventually led to folk who would do anything, even sell the staves, in order to make a quick buck. And those six staves were eventually collected by the Professor."
"But if his administrators' staves were bound to them too, why were we able to use them?" Dan wondered.
"Well, the staves remained bound to those administrators and their families for quite some time." Mr. Catalano answered. "But eventually, each of their bloodlines ended, and the staves' powers became dormant once again. Giovanni I's bloodline never ran dry, so the black and white staves remain bound to his family, even to this day."
"And what about the black and white staves? How did you like, get those?" Tatiana inquired, interested in this story.
"You see, your father, Daniel's father, the Balankou Gym Leader's parents, and myself...we were quite skilled trainers back in the day. In fact, we were the founders of the organization known as the Elite Trainers Union." Mr. Catalano explained.
"The Elite Trainers Union?" Dan questioned.
"Yes. Its members are scattered throughout the regions in teams of five..." Mr. Catalano began, "..and you know each of those teams as the Elite Four and the Champion."
"No way! My dad was one of the like, founders of the Elite Four?" Tatiana asked in disbelief.
"Yeah." Mr. Catalano replied. "In fact...he was the first ever Champion, right here in Olemenun."
"Why didn't he ever like, tell me about this?" Tatiana wondered.
"We try to keep it a secret." Mr. Catalano answered. "Now that we've retired from our Pokemon Trainer careers, we don't want too much publicity."
"And yet Professor Pine became a Professor." Dan interjected.
"Well, he always did like the spotlight." Mr. Catalano responded, "But even he decided that if he was going to get attention, it wouldn't be because of his position in the Elite Trainers Union. So, once we recruited new members, the five of us quit."
"So...what does this have to do with Team Rocket?" Bobby asked.
"Well, like I said, we were very skilled trainers." Mr. Catalano replied. "When Gregory and Martha - the Gym Leader's parents - told us the legend of the staves and how we couldn't let them fall back into the hands of Team Rocket, we knew that we were the only trainers strong enough to get the staves out of evil's hands. Apparently, one of the high ranking Team Rocket officials was also a member of their family, the Balance Clan, and had informed Jacob XI, the current leader's father, of the staves' power. Naturally, Jacob XI was after the staves that had been lost, and we had to stop him. We went to Team Rocket's headquarters, where we fought six trainers, each using a different type of Pokemon..."
"The Elemental Six?" Matt guessed.
"Probably not the same ones that have been chasing you." Mr. Catalano responded. "Their parents, perhaps. Anyways, despite it being five against six, we defeated them, and entered Jacob XI's chamber. Unfortunately, he knew we were coming...and had prepared."

"Finally..." The young Eric, in his early twenties, sighed, relieved that the battle was finally over. The five trainers stood on one side of the room, all thirty of their Pokemon lying unconscious or severely weakened in front of them. On the other side of the room, the six Team Rocket administrators had returned their Pokemon and ran back through the door on the other side of the room, to their leader's chamber. "Randy, Matthew, are you guys okay?"
"We're fine." Professor Pine, also in his twenties, replied. All of his Pokemon except Psytage had fainted, and he was returning them to their Pokeballs.
"What about you guys?" The teenage Mr. Catalano asked, turning to Greg and Martha.
"Not good." Greg replied. "I think one of those attacks might have hit Martha...she's bleeding pretty badly." A small gash was ripped in the woman's shirt, over the side of her stomach. Her skin was also cut there, and blood was flowing out.
"Bliss...ey..." Martha managed to mutter.
"Blissey?" Greg wondered. "What do you..."
"Of course!" Randy exclaimed. "One of those Team Rocket members...he had a Blissey! If we can go in there and threaten him until he helps us, his Pokemon will be able to heal her!"
"Alright. We don't have much time. Let's go." Eric said. Everyone returned their fainted Pokemon to their Pokeballs, leaving nothing but Randy's Psytage, Eric's Vineon, Matthew's Steelix, Martha's Togekiss, and Greg's Disastruct.
"Toge! Togekiss!" Togekiss chirped, flapping its wings.
"I know you want to help." Greg responded to Togekiss. "But you don't know any healing moves...and you know you can't use Metronome in hopes that it will heal someone. It's just way too risky."
"Kiss..." Togekiss replied with a frown.
"We're wasting time." Eric interrupted. "If we want any hope of saving her, we have to go."
"You're right. Let's go!" Greg agreed. He hunched Martha over his shoulder and carried her as the group of trainers and Pokemon walked to the door and opened it, entering the leader's chamber.

"Well, what do you know." Jacob XI, who was about the same age as the other trainers, said. "You've walked right into my trap."
"Trap?" Randy asked. The group looked around the room, only to see that the six administrators had healed their Pokemon, and had the good trainers surrounded.
"Well, crap...this isn't good." Matthew noticed.
"Please!" Gregory shouted to the administrator with a Blissey. "Please, have your Blissey heal my wife!"
"Why would I do that?" The administrator, a spanish woman with long black hair, wondered. "You're our enemies! Besides, I'm too busy keeping my hair pretty." She pulled a hairspray can out of nowhere and began to spray her hair, no longer paying any attention to the man with the bleeding wife.
"Now then. Shall we get down to business?" Jacob XI asked. "I know you have the other six staves. Give them to me, and we'll heal her."
"What?!" Randy exclaimed, surprised.
"The choice is yours. I mean, you're outnumbered, so if you say no, we'll just beat you and your remaining Pokemon up and take the staves anyways." Jacob XI informed them. "So, if you think about it, there really isn't much of a choice here at all."
"Yes...there is." Gregory replied. "Togekiss...it's up to you."
"Toge." Togekiss agreed. It began to wave its wings in a circular motion, and they began to glow with a white light. Suddenly, intense blasts of energy began shooting out from Togekiss in every direction, knocking out all the Pokemon in the room, friend and foe alike.
"Sir, there's a blast heading right for you!" One of the administrators alerted their leader.
"Black and white staves! Combine your power!" Jacob XI exclaimed, crossing the staves in front of himself, one in each hand. The blast appeared to hit him, but when the light cleared, it became apparent that it had hit something else. There, in front of Jacob XI, was a shield of blood, which was being continuously drained out of the cut in Martha's body.
"No!" Gregory shouted in a mixture of concern and disbelief.
"Was that really necessary?!" One of the administrators themselves asked Jacob XI, for even these executives of Team Rocket couldn't help but be disgusted by the grotesque display of power that their leader had performed. Without saying a word, Jacob XI returned the staves to his sides as they stopped glowing, and the blood splashed onto the floor.
"Martha!" Gregory yelled, running over to his wife, who had lost at least a gallon of blood.
"Kiss!" Togekiss chirped, alarmed, as it ran over to its master.
"She's lost way too much blood. There's nothing that even a Blissey could do now." Randy commented.
"If you're quite finished squabbling over the loss of your comrade," Jacob XI interrupted, "Allow me to remind you that your attempt at winning was futile. So, since you've shown absolutely no cooperation, or care for the well-being of your friend, we'll just do this the hard way." He raised the black staff above his head, preparing to attack.
"No...I won't forgive you for this..." Gregory muttered. "Disastruct...attack!" He held a max revive above his head, returning his fallen Pokemon to consciousness. The dark type immediately dashed forward, slashing Jacob XI directly in the stomach. Unprepared for the attack, Team Rocket's leader fell back off the platform where he stood, the black and white staves dropping from his hands.
"Sir Jacob!" One of the administrators exclaimed, rushing to his side.
"Togekiss, now!" Gregory commanded. Togekiss flew forward, grabbing the black and white staves before the administrators had a chance to. Meanwhile, Disastruct continued to slash at Jacob XI unmercilessly, not stopping until it was sure its enemy was dead. Gregory finally returned his Pokemon to its pokeball as the group ran out the door, carrying the staves and Martha's dying body with them.

"Team Rocket killed my mother." Came Tess' voice from the Pokemon Center door. She walked in, taking a seat at a table next to the one the group was sitting at.
"Tess!" Elissa exclaimed, surprised by the Gym Leader's appearance. "What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Catalano called me." Tess answered. "He said that it was finally time to discuss with you how grave a danger you are in." Shortly after she said this, Jefferson came down the escalator from the top floor of the center.
"I just got off the phone with Spencer." Jefferson informed Mr. Catalano in a solemn tone. "Team Rocket completely destroyed his gym. They tied up all the other trainers and stole their Pokemon, but he managed to escape on his Flyrant. He's in town now, and he's just buying some things at the PokeMart before he heads over here."
"...if only I hadn't retired, I could've stopped Team Rocket by myself!" Mr. Catalano replied. "Your brother wouldn't be in this mess..."
"It's not your fault." Jefferson interrupted him. "Don't be so hard on yourself." Spencer walked in the door, taking a seat next to his brother.
"I got here as fast as I could. Sorry if I'm late." Sean preemtively apologized as he walked in the door, not long after Spencer.
"No, you're not late at all." Mr. Catalano responded.
"Wait, why is he here?" Bobby questioned. "He doesn't know about the staves too, does he?"
"No." Mr. Catalano answered. "But we figured that if you're going up against Team Rocket's highest ranking members, you'll need all the help you can get. Randy, Eric, and Eric's younger son are also on their way here."
"Hey Dan, what's up?" Dave asked as he walked in the front door, followed by his father and Professor Pine.
"Hey Dave." Dan replied as his brother sat down next to him at the table.
"Dad!" Tatiana exclaimed, running over and hugging her father.
"See? Tatiana gives her father a hug when she sees him. Why aren't you more like her?" Eric joked, emphasizing his unseriousness with a chuckle as he walked over to where his sons were sitting.
"Excuse us for our lateness. Miss Megan was trying to decide what to wear." Came the voice of the woman who the group had met when they arrived in town. She walked into the Pokemon Center alongside a young girl, roughly Tess' age, who was wearing a blue dress similar to the one the older lady was wearing.
"This is Megan, the Gym Leader of Mizaqua Town." Professor Pine introduced the young girl.
"Wow, the two final Gym Leaders here are little girls." Matt remarked, provoking a sharp look from Megan and Tess. "Who would've guessed."
"Now then, we're all here." Mr. Catalano explained. "As I'm sure you're all aware, Gym Leaders Paris and Brandon will not be joining us today."
"Why not?" Dave wondered, as he had not heard the news of what had happened.
"When we were in Balankou Town, in the church, Team Rocket, Paris, and Brandon all ambushed us." Dan informed his brother. "Some really tall dude in a black robe came in and killed Paris and hurt Brandon."
"Well now, that's probably not one of the best descriptions of myself I've ever heard." A deep, familiar voice said from the corner of the room. Everyone turned to see the cloaked man leaning against the wall, tossing a Pokeball into the air and catching it repeatedly.
"You!" Dan exclaimed. "Where did you...? When...?"
"How I got here is unimportant." The man answered Dan's half-formed questions. "What's important is the same thing that was important the last time we met. That we defeat Team Rocket."
"Excuse me, who are you?" Professor Pine questioned the man.
"That's the guy that saved us in Balankou Town!" Elissa responded to Professor Pine's question. "His Pokemon were really strong!"
"Then it would definitely be good to have his help in our battle against Team Rocket." Eric concluded.
"Hey, how do you guys even know that Team Rocket is going to attack us here?" Bobby asked.
"Because I told them to." Spencer replied. "The woman with the shining Pokemon fell right into our trap. I told her where we were all going, but made it sound like it was because I was afraid she'd hurt me if I didn't. What I was really doing was leading her to our ambush."
"Let's just hope she took the bait, and was smart enough to bring the Elemental Six with her." Mr. Catalano added. "If we can back all of Team Rocket's top administrators into a corner at once, their leader will have no choice but to face us."
"When will we know if they like, decided to come or not?" Tatiana wondered.
"Right now." Professor Pine answered, pointing to the front door. The woman and the Elemental Six walked through the door, quickly noticing the large group of people.
"Well, what do you know? The little kid wasn't lying!" The woman exclaimed.
"This time we're going to take you down for good!" Matt taunted.
"I don't think so." Ryan replied.
"We'll be waiting on the roof of our headquarters." The woman informed. "It's that really tall, locked, 'abandoned' building in town. Honestly, you'd think somebody would've been smart enough to search a building like that."
"Later, losers!" Aaron exclaimed as the Team Rocket administrators walked back out the door they had come from.
"Alright." Bobby said, "It's time to finally stop Team Rocket, once and for all."
---
Note: Togekiss is the evolution of Togetic. It's in Diamond/Pearl. There's a sprite on Serebii.
Note: The human body contains roughly 6 quarts, or 1.5 gallons, of blood. So, by losing a gallon, Martha lost about 2/3 of the total blood in her body.
Note: When Tess says "Team Rocket killed my mother", there was originally a word starting with B and ending with D in that sentence, but it was omitted to make the story more appropriate for all ages. When Mr. Catalano says "...if only I hadn't retired", there was originally a word beginning with D before the elipses, which was omitted for the same reason. Just thought people might want to know.

[Jirae]

Chapter 23

"It's locked, just like she said." Professor Pine informed the group. Everyone from the Pokemon Center had gathered outside an old, abandoned-looking building near the center of town, presumeably Team Rocket's headquarters.
"So then let's break it open." Matt suggested, sending out Gortial. The gorilla Pokemon made quick work of the door, blowing it wide open with one strong punch. The creaky old door slammed the ground, and the group walked in, discovering quickly that the inside of the building wasn't much different from the outside. It was old, rusty, and broken down, with rafters hanging from the ceilings and wallpaper peeling off the walls. The room they entered appeared to be a lobby of sorts, with a broken television set facing rows of chairs that had been knocked over in one corner and a dusty old desk in another. A staircase was mounted against the back wall, and several Rocket grunts were walking down it when the group arrived.
"Hey! These must be the punks that the admins told us about!" One grunt said to the others.
"If we bag these suckers, we'll get promoted for sure!" Another exclaimed.
"Let's get 'em!" A third shouted. The grunts ran down the stairs, facing the group in the lobby.
"It's going to take more than five low level grunts to stop us." Sean remarked. "Leave these guys to me. Electwine, Stegostorm, Kuadtana, Elketric, Psytage, Internele, go!" Sean sent out five familiar Pokemon and one new one, which appeared to be the evolution of Webrowse, the Pokemon that Matt had used in the Sparkiban Internet Cafe. It was larger, and its body was now more circular. Two smaller circles of similar purple data orbited its body, outside of its electric field, and were also surrounded by electricity. The circling orbs appeared to be connected to its main body by thin lines of data, and each one had a small rectangular slot on its front side.
"Widdowail, I choose you!" One of the grunts exclaimed, sending out his own Pokemon. The other grunts followed, sending out various Pokemon of their own.
"You guys go! There are probably tons more grunts where these came from!" Sean shouted to the group. The group snuck around the lobby-turned-battlefield and ran up the stairs to the next floor of the building. The second floor appeared to be a Pokemon Center of sorts, and the healing machinery was hooked up in the back of the room. Unlike the rest of the building, however, these machines appeared to be functional, as if Team Rocket was using them.
"There they are!" A Rocket grunt exclaimed as several grunts appeared from various places in the room, such as plants and desks. They each sent out several Pokemon, rather than one each.
"Leave these clowns to us!" Spencer volunteered, sending out his six Pokemon.
"Yeah, you guys go ahead. We'll meet up with you on the roof!" Jefferson added. He sent out his Tornoulder, Mimikeet, Fearow, Dodrio, Skarmory, and Peablez, the evolution of Blezuro. It was larger, now about five feet tall, and its wingspan had grown as well. The firey feather on its head had grown as well, and its body was now a deeper red with hints of brown. It spread its wings, showing many beautiful shades of red as its feathers set themselves ablaze with fire. Once again, the remaining group headed up the stairs, making their way to the third floor, which looked like an abandoned PokeMart. Several grunts popped out from behind the empty shelves, sending out their Pokemon.
"These ones are mine." Dave announced, stepping up to fight and sending out Vineon, Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Espeon, and Freezeon.
"I don't have any Pokemon to fight with, but I'm going to stay here with Dave to make sure everything goes alright." Eric informed the group. "We'll catch up with you later."
"There are too many grunts for you to fight alone. I'll help." Megan interjected, throwing six Pokeballs into the air. The balls opened to reveal Starwii, Golduck, Milotic, and three new Pokemon. The first, Tideer, looked like a deer with blue fur with light blue spots. It had no antlers, and its short tail appeared to be made of water. Its nose and hooves were a navy blue, and small rings of water encircled its legs and hooves. The second, Equim, was an large, oval shaped fish, colored with shades of green, blue, and yellow. It had thin fins that glowed with all colors of the rainbow. It floated above the ground as most fish Pokemon did when they were out of the water. The third and final new Pokemon, Surmast, was a large black humanshape Pokemon covered in scaley skin. It had spikes on its arms and legs and had a red glow around its body, matching its glowing red eyes and maniacally smiling mouth. Not many details of the Pokemon were completely visible, as it was surrounded in a layer of mist, much like Condrop. Glovelike white hands similar to Condrop's floated outside of the mist, showing that this Pokemon was related to the much smaller Condrop.
"I must ensure Miss Megan's safety." The woman with the dress matching Megan's explained. "Good luck to the rest of you." The rest of the group walked up the stairs, which turned into a long spiral staircase that looked like it led all the way up to the roof.
"Most abandoned buildings don't have these." Matt commented.
"Well, its a good thing that this one does, so we don't have to lose any more allies on our way to the roof." Elissa responded.
"We're almost there." Bobby noticed. "Everyone, get ready." He led the group, pushing the door to the roof open. The group walked out the door to see a raised platform on the other side of the roof, where the Elemental Six and the woman with the snake Pokemon were standing.
"Well, the grunts weren't lying. You fools were actually stupid enough to come." The woman remarked.
"Yknow, I'm surprised your friend Michael isn't a member of Team Rocket." Professor Pine commented. "From what you've told me, it sounds like he's alot like them."
"No...I don't think he would be working for them." Bobby replied. "He knows the power of the staves, and I know that he'd want it all for himself."
"Hey! They're ignoring us again!" Aaron exclaimed.
"Ignore this!" Ryan shouted, throwing five Pokeballs into the air. "Steelix, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Sandspike, Quaddug! Let's make short work of these insolent fools!" The Pokeballs opened to reveal one new addition to Ryan's team, three of his old Pokemon, and one newly evolved Dugtrio. Its evolution, Quaddug, wasn't much different than Dugtrio, except that it now had four heads instead of three, and they were all more angry than ever before.
"Let's go, Diviso, Disastruct, Umbreon, Horrow, and Schemustel! I don't remember what we practiced, so I'll let you guys beat them however you want!" Alex ordered as he released his five Pokemon, two of which were evolutions of old Pokemon. Horrow, the evolution of Fearow, now had dark brown, not quite black feathers that appeared to be hard and spiky. Its beak was sharper, and the red crown on its head was now a deep shade of dark purple. Overall, it appeared much more evil than its pre-evolved counterpart. Schemustel, the evolution of Weavile, now held in its right hand a black scythe with a shining silver blade, which was at least a foot taller than the Pokemon itself. Its blue body had become an even deeper shade of navy, and its head was now much more sleek, its red crownlike extension and ears slicked back for aerodynamic purposes. The lines coming from the yellow dot on its forhead now extended to the edges of its head, one going straight back and the other two going parallel to its eyes. It only had one tail feather, and its feet and hands each had four claws, an improvement from Weavile's three. Like Horrow, it had more of an overall feel of evil about it than its previous form.
"This time I'm finally going to get my revenge!" Aaron declared, sending out his five Pokemon; Vystab, Pumctus, Skarlord, Hitmontop, and Relicanth.
"Get 'em!" Twitchy commanded with a twitch as he sent out his five Pokemon; Vaporeon, Gyarados, Starwii, Qwilfish, and Minduck, the evolution of Golduck. The Pokemon now had a green body, and was considerably fatter than Golduck. Its arms and legs weren't much different aside from their color and size, and still had webbed extremities. The Pokemon's tail had shrunk into a short stub, and its belly was a lighter green than the rest of its body. It's most notably changed feature was its face, which was now larger and more round than before. It's beak was proportionally larger as well, spanning the width of its entire face. The jewel on its forehead grew larger as well, and its brain was now exposed. The large, pulsating pink organ filled its head and even overflowed, protruding from the open head behind the spikes on its forehead.
"Come on, Ninetales! Flareon! Jolteon! Multie! Arcasso!" Kyle shouted. The first of his two evolved Pokemon, Multie, had changed from Plusle similar to how Diviso had changed from Minun. Its red areas were now orange, and the addition signs on its cheeks and its tail had rotated to become multiplication signs. On the other hand, Smeargle's evolution, Arcasso, had changed quit a bit. While the features of its body had stayed mainly the same, the positioning had changed dramatically. Its ears were now on top of the hatlike part of its head, surrounding the point in the center. It's mouth and eyes had switched places on its head, and its appendages had all switched places as well. It had tails where its arms once were, one with a blue paint brush at the end and the other with a yellow one. Its arms were now where its legs once were, and it only had one leg, which was in the place where its tail had been. It was taller than Smeargle, and it stood on its two arms and leg, waving its tails around.
"I'd better not mess up my hair!" Omar exclaimed. "Espeon, Togekiss, Bouldiurn, Noctolith, and Ditto! I choose you!" The Pokeballs released Omar's five Pokemon, none of which were unfamiliar to the group.
"Alright! We're getting rid of these guys once and for all!" Bobby declared. "Ignalion, Electwine, Dieselio, Flamoose, Blezuro, Wolflame! Go get them!" Each of the other staff holding trainers and Ron sent out their six Pokemon as well, following Bobby's action.
"You villains will pay for the death of my mother..." Tess muttered. "Disastruct, Blissey, Umbreon, Shineon, Galicorn, Taranture! Aim to kill!" The angered Gym Leader sent out the four Pokemon she had used before as well as two new Pokemon. The first, Galicorn, appeared to have evolved from Magicorn, as it looked quite similar. It had grown about one and a half feet taller, and the two formerly small horns on its head had grown to the same size as the largest one. The horns had shifted, and were now in a triangular shape in relation to eachother rather than a straight line. The velvetlike material that made its mane and tail was now on the back of each of its legs as well, and an aura of beauty and brilliance exuded from it. The second of the two new Pokemon, Taranture, was an evolution of Widdowail, the spider Pokemon that Spencer had used. It was larger now; its round body was about the size of an average car. Its head hadn't changed much, but it now had seven black widow symbols on its back, arranged in a fashion so that the overall design resembled a black widow symbol itself. Its legs were covered in spikes, and the kneelike joint in the middle of each leg was surrounded by spinning razors.
"I don't know how much help it'll be, but hopefully it can do something for you! Psytage, I choose you!" Professor Pine exclaimed, sending out his only Pokemon.
"Spindril, Tyzer, Elketric, Scorchivor, Umbrellord, and Duskarrion...defeat these fools." The cloaked man revealed that he too had trained some of his Pokemon to the point of evolution since the last time the group had seen him. Carname, the young tyrannosaurus, had evolved into Scorchivor, an adolescent dinosaur, about seven or eight feet in length from head to tail. Its tail had grown longer, and its body was no longer proportioned like a child, and was slightly resemblant of a velociraptor. Its skin was brighter than Carname's, but still rich in deep color. Its long tail now bore three yellow stripes, the same color as the circle on its head. Black stripes adorned its arms and legs, and its silver claws shone in the sunlight. Umbrellord, Umbrellad's evolution, had grown taller as well, and now stood a little over seven feet tall, about the same height as the cloaked man himself. It was still a plain, blocky, gray humanshape with a plain face, but its head was now adorned with a black crownlike design. Its umbrella had grown, and it was about five feet long, unopened, held at Umbrellord's side. If the Pokemon were to open the umbrella, it would probably have a diameter of nearly ten feet.
"So, the little mice want to play, do they?" The woman asked rhetorically. "Very well then! Zangoose, Seviper, Pidgeot, Tangela, Nidoqueen, and Santaguin, entertain them!" The woman sent out five Pokemon from regions other than Olemenun, as well as an evolution of an old Pokemon; Delibird. The evolved delibird was larger, about five feet tall, and had a very fat, almost round body, like the typical portrayal of St. Nicholas. Its beard was longer, and turned into an additional bag in front of the Pokemon's chest. The white plummage on top of its head was now folded back, giving the appearance of white hair. It carried a bag in each of its hands, making a total of three. In addition to her six strong Pokemon, the woman unleashed her bag of snake Pokemon that she had used on the airplane.
"Well, this will be entertaining." The cloaked man commented. "Leave the snakes to me." He extended his hand, which didn't reach the end of his sleeve, so the end of the cloth just folded down, rendering his hand as invisible as the rest of his body. His Pokemon dashed forward at this command, unleashing their immense power upon the army of snakes.
"Well, if that isn't a cue to start this thing, I don't know what is!" Ryan exclaimed. "Attack!" His Pokemon ran out toward the center of the roof, and the rest of Team Rocket's Pokemon followed.
"Attack!" Bobby ordered, and the good trainers' Pokemon rushed forward to meet their opposition. The Pokemon clashed with all sorts of different attacks, ranging from full body tackles to flamethrowers to ground-shaking earthquake attacks.
"Tangela, go for the staves!" The woman eventually yelled. Tangela ducked out of the fray and launched at least twenty vines high over the battlefield, aiming for the staves in the trainers' hands.
"Are you Rockets really that stupid?" The cloaked man questioned rhetorically to himself. As he said this, Duskarrion flew into the air, slashing at all the vines by flapping its wings repeditively, sending out blast after blast of slicing air.
"Tangela!" The grass Pokemon screamed in pain, retracting its badly bruised vines.
"Pidgeot!" The woman exclaimed. Her bird Pokemon, already flying above the field, dove forward, attempting to attack Duskarrion from behind. Just as Pidgeot got close to its target, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, sending the flying type spiralling into the ground. The cloaked man's Elketric had a proud look on its face, being the one that had launched the electric attack.
"You're going to have to do a lot better than that." The cloaked man mocked, pausing shortly before he continued. "Behind you." The woman looked behind her to see that while she was concentrated on Pidgeot's fall, the dark type had gotten behind her with a Faint Attack. Duskarrion grabbed the woman's bag and Pokeball belt, flying them back over to its master.
"Hey! You stole my Pokemon!" She realized. "Give them back!"
"Not a chance." The cloaked man replied as he returned all of the woman's Pokemon to their Pokeballs. "After all, you stole these poor children's Pokemon." He reached into the bag, pulling out another bag that contained thirty six Pokeballs.
"How did you know...?!" The woman gasped.
"What, you thought stealing these from the Professor's Lab would go completely unnoticed?" The cloaked man asked. "You really should have known better than that. After all, you're the wife of Team Rocket's old leader, and the mother of their current one!"
"Wha-what?!" The woman exclaimed, extremely flustered at the fact that the man knew that. "Who are you?!"
"That's unimportant." The man answered, as always. "I think that your coworkers' Pokemon's wellbeing should be your top priority right now, considering that you don't have any of your own any more."
"What are you talking about?" The woman asked, turning to see that all of the Elemental Six's Pokemon had been defeated. "How is this possible?!"
"We're just better trainers than you." Dan answered confidently as the Elemental Six began returning their Pokemon to their Pokeballs.
"Oh, and just so you don't give us any trouble in the future, I'll be taking these." The masked man added. His Tyzer and Scorchivor ran forward, snatching all of the Elemental Six's Pokeballs from their hands and delivering them to their owner's new bag.
"Hey!" Kyle yelled. "Give them back!"
"I don't think so." The masked man replied, returning all his Pokemon but Duskarrion and getting on the bird Pokemon's back.
"You're leaving again?" Bobby asked as the Duskarrion became airborne. "But we could really use your help finding Michael!"
"If this Michael kid is after the power of the staves, he'll be in Victory Road." The masked man responded. "I can guarentee you that." He commanded his Pokemon to fly off, and before long he had disappeared into the sky.
"Victory Road...okay." Bobby said. "Let's go."
"Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you kids never to take your eye off your enemy?" Came the woman's voice. The group turned to see that her arms were extended, a black glove on one and a white glove on the other. Suddenly, the black and white staves flew out of Mr. Catalano's hands, landing in the woman's.
"How did she do that?" Elissa questioned.
"Well, I can see the guy in the black suit was the brains of your team." The woman replied. "Because you just got outsmarted by simple magnets!"
"Later, losers!" Aaron shouted as Team Rocket threw smoke bombs at the ground, disappearing.
"No!" Mr. Catalano yelled in vain.
"Wait...why did they only take like, the black and white staves?" Tatiana wondered.
"Because the black and white staves are the only ones they need." Professor Pine answered. "To be able to use the other six staves, they'd need all six...and Michael has one of those six. What they want to do, however, can be accomplished with just those two staves."
"What do they want to do?" Matt questioned.
"The eight staves sealed away the eight most powerful Pokemon ever created, many, many years ago." Professor Pine explained. "And under the right circumstances...they can unseal those Pokemon."
"What circumstances?" Bobby asked, concerned.
"The black and white staves merely need to be used by a descendant of Giovanni I, in a ritual on Zen Island." Professor Pine answered.
"If it's that simple, why didn't one of Giovanni I's descendants do it before?" Ron wondered.
"In order for the ritual to work, the other six staves must first be activated." Professor Pine replied. "And by the time Team Rocket figured that out, the other six staves had already become dormant and lost to time."
"So then...the only thing stopping them...is me." Bobby realized.
"Yes...and I'm afraid that you won't be able to stop them for long." Mr. Catalano added. "Michael needs your staff to activate as well...and as you've seen, he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal."
"Then we'll face him head on." Bobby decided. "One final showdown in Victory Road, all or nothing."
"No! You have to keep the staff safe!" Tess interrupted. "If you walk right into his trap and your staff activates, you're guarenteeing all our deaths!"
"Not necessarily." Professor Pine responded. "If Bobby's staff activates, these five will be able to summon the elemental beasts as well. If they can control them...we might be able to win."
"How would they possibly stand a chance against the elemental beasts?!" Tess asked, outraged. "Were you not listening to yourself when you said that they were the most powerful Pokemon ever?"
"With these." Professor Pine replied, pulling five master balls from his pocket.
"Where did you get those?" Bobby asked, amazed.
"I've always had them." Professor Pine responded. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to use them, but we have no choice."
"Thank you." Bobby thanked the Professor as each staff holder took a Pokeball.
"You'll need this to get into Victory Road." Came Megan's voice. The group turned around to see all the Gym Leaders that had stayed back on previous floors walking onto the roof. Megan presented Bobby with a small peice of metal shaped like a waterfall.
"And this." Jefferson added, giving Bobby an Aero Badge. "That kid that's not with you any more is the one that won the other one from me."
"Thank you both." Bobby thanked the two Gym Leaders.
"Look, some of your Pokemon are evolving!" Dave pointed out. Dieselio was the first of the evolving Pokemon, growing larger and becoming a lighter shade of greenish yellow. It showed that it had gained a new ability by turning into a vapor and floating into the air, then returning to its liquid form. The second to evolve was Averoul, who grew larger as well. Two nubs formed on the bottom of its torso, just like the ones on its side, and began spewing out lavender gas that took the form of a circle. The gas also floated upward, shrouding the Pokemon's head. A copy of the Pokemon's evil yellow eyes appeared in the sphere of gas below it, as if to confuse people as to where its real head was. Cruscat evolved as well, growing larger and longer. Each of its two tails split in two, and the four tails picked themselves up off the ground, waving in the air. The new Pokemon's entire body was made out of the soily clay that its ears, legs, and tails had been made out of when it was a Cruscat. The Pokemon had a very elegant look about it, and a small, tiara-esque ring of clay floating above its head added to this feel. The final evolution was Ron's Fearow, who did not evolve into Horrow like Alex's, but rather into a contrasting form. Its feathers became lighter rather than darker, and the red crest on its head became white. Its feathers were very smooth and shiny, and it looked very aerodynamic and majestic. It opened its wings, which now had a much larger span than Fearow, to show off a brilliant pattern of feathers in many different shades of brown and white.
"Congratulations, Dieselio has evolved into Gasolino." Bobby's Pokedex congratulated.
"Averoul has evolved into Larghost." Matt's added.
"Cruscat has evolved into Terrine." Tatiana's informed.
"Fearow has evolved into Aerorow." Ron's concluded.
"Awesome!" Tatiana exclaimed.
"You guys need to get going." Professor Pine reminded the kids.
"Right." Bobby agreed. "Thanks again, everyone."
"Good luck!" Mr. Catalano shouted as the six trainers walked down the stairs from the roof.
"Michael...finally, we're going to stop him, once and for all." Dan remarked, burning with ambition to defeat the person that had angered him more than anyone else.

[Jirae]

Chapter 24

"Alright, so, we've got to go through Route M to get to Victory Road." Dan explained, looking at the guidebook they had purchased at the Kaimone Shopping Centre. "Shouldn't be much trouble at all." The group had boarded Tatiana's Glorca once again, and was surfing the short distance that they had to to reach the land route. This part of the lake was filled with glaciers, and the group was on the lookout for wild Pokemon that might appear from them.
"Yetiii!" Came a cry from behind one of the glaciers. The group turned to see a humanshape covered in white shaggy hair. It had a gray face, hands, and feet, and the rest of its body was covered by a warm coat. It held a primitive cudgel made of stone in its hand, and it waved it above its head as it let out a cry. The group looked around them to see more of the Pokemon popping out from behind various glaciers, surrounding them.
"Yetimpale. The Abominable Pokemon." Matt's Pokedex, which he had pulled out and pointed at one of the Pokemon, informed. "Yetimpale are known to gang up on weary adventurers in snowy regions and brutally massacre them with their stone cudgels. Yetimpale usually travel alone, but when they do group up, they are almost always led by an Abomibash."
"Abomibash? What's that?" Tatiana wondered. On cue, a large cry was heard from behind a glacier in front of them. The top half of the glacier shattered into millions of peices, and there, standing on top of the remaining half, was Tatiana's answer. It was taller and wider than Yetimpale, and looked a lot more like the classic abominable snowman. It too was covered in a thick layer of shaggy white hair, and had a wide, menacing face without much sign of intelligence. It now held a large version of Yetimpale's cudgel in one hand and a primitive axe in the other, which was made merely by tying sharp black stones to either side of a cudgel with brown leather straps.
"Had to ask, didn't you?" Matt joked. "Well, I don't mind. It'll be good practice for our Pokemon." He took Serafimask's Pokeball from his staff, throwing it into the air. "Serafimask, give our Pokemon somewhere to stand!" The Pokemon conjured its sword of light, slashing at a nearby glacier. The top half of the glacier slid off into the ocean, leaving a flat surface for the group's Pokemon, which the trainers quickly sent out.
"Bash!" The Abomibash commanded, motioning with his cudgel for the Yetimpale to attack. They all leaped forward from their iceburgs, creating slides of ice in midair with their breath. One by one they slid onto the platform where the trainers' Pokemon stood, with Abomibash arriving last. The trainers' Pokemon greeted them with a variety of attacks, quickly defeating all of the weak Yetimpale.
"The leader's still standing!" Matt noticed. "It must be strong...I'm going to catch it!" The Pokemon continued to attack until Abomibash had been weakened, and Matt threw a Pokeball, successfully capturing the yeti Pokemon. The group returned their Pokemon and continued on, reaching land in a short amount of time. It wasn't long before yet another Pokemon attacked them, hopping out of the tall grass. It stood about two feet tall, and had a large round gray body with a smaller round head. Its belly was a slightly lighter gray, and it had stubby hands and feet sticking out of it that looked somewhat like a rodent's feet. Two mouse ears adorned its head, it had round eyes, a small round red nose, and whiskers. In one of its hands it held a short, silver, metal rod with a purple-spotted yellow ball on one end.
"Rattele. The Rat Pokemon." Elissa's Pokedex informed. "Rattele channel their psychic energy through the staff they hold in their hand."
"A psychic type! It's mine!" Elissa decided. "Condrop, I choose you! Use Water Pulse!" The Pokemon appeared, floating above the ground, and launched a Water Pulse from within the shroud of mist. The blast struck the wild Pokemon, leaving it confused. The confused Pokemon tried to attack, but ended up hurting itself due to its confusion. Condrop let out another Water Pulse, to which the Rattele responded with a Psybeam attack. Unfazed, Condrop used one more Water Pulse, weakening the wild Pokemon so that Elissa could catch it. She threw the Pokeball, succeeding and adding the Pokemon to her collection.
"Woohoo!" Elissa cheered. "Good job, Condrop! Return!" The group once again continued to walk down the path, eventually reaching the mouth of the cave that was Victory Road. A man in a blue uniform was standing by the entrance, and walked up to the group as they approached the cavern.
"May I see your badges, please?" The man asked. Everyone gave the badge they had earned to Bobby, who presented all eight to the guard. "Very well. you may pass." The staff holders began to walk into the cave, when they noticed that Ron was not following.
"Aren't you coming, Ron?" Elissa wondered.
"Sorry...but I'm going to pass." Ron replied. "I'm not going to be much of a help against Michael...and besides, I've already been to the Elite Four's building. I can just fly there on Aerorow and meet you there."
"How have you been there before?" Matt inquired. "You couldn't have gotten all the badges already..."
"I'm good friends with two of the members of the Elite Four." Ron replied. "So, I've been there before, of course."
"Ok, we'll meet you there." Dan agreed. "Have a safe flight."
"And good luck to you!" Ron wished the group luck. "I know you can defeat Michael!"
"Thanks." Bobby thanked him. "Alright guys, let's go." The five staff holders continued into the cave, and Ron released his Aerorow, boarding it and flying off into the air.

After an hour or two of walking, the group came to a large room in the middle of Victory Road. Eight paths led out of it; one they had come from, one on the other side of the room, and three on each other side. The other seven paths, however, were blocked off by concrete walls that were obviously unnatural.
"I guess this is a dead end." Matt assumed as the group made their way to the center of the room, looking around. Suddenly, a concrete wall similar to the other seven shot down from the ceiling, blocking off the path they had come from.
"Something tells me it's not a dead end." Bobby replied.
"Let's like, smash the walls down!" Tatiana suggested.
"Now, now, that's probably not a good idea." Came a familiar voice, echoing throughout the cavern. "Those walls are indistructable. There's only one way to lift them." Michael came flying down from above, riding Duskarrion as always. He landed on the ground, staff in hand. "And by now, it shouldn't be hard for you to guess what that way is."
"Michael!" Dan exclaimed, angered even at the sight of his foe.
"Were you expecting someone else?" Michael asked sarcastically.
"This time we're going to like, stop you for good!" Tatiana taunted.
"And how do you plan to do that?" Michael retorted. "You can't get out of this room unless the final staff is activated. And if...no, when...that happens, well, we all know what happens after that."
"No way! I bet that if we beat you without Bobby's staff activating, those walls will go away!" Elissa guessed.
"Sorry, but that's not how it works." Michael replied with a chuckle. "Because, you see, I didn't put those there. They've been there ever since this place was made. You see those six paths to our sides?" He glanced briefly in each of the two directions that had three paths leading from them. "You'll notice that those walls are color coded. Want to take a guess why?" Before he even let anyone say anything, he continued. "That's right! Those chambers are the resting places of six of the legendary elemental Pokemon!"
"I've heard enough of your rambling." Dan interrupted. "Whether it gets us out of here or not, I'm taking you down." He released his Pokemon from their Pokeballs and held his staff at the ready.
"Still trying to get revenge?" Michael mocked. "Let's see, what was it, now? 'You almost killed Tatiana!', right?" A smirk grew on his face as he spoke. "Well, almost just isn't good enough, is it? I'll be happy to finish the job this time...but first, your friend Bobby is going to have to play his part!" Without warning, he waved his staff, sending a bolt of electricity heading for Bobby.
"Don't ignore me!" Dan shouted. Mosstatue and Tornoulder both shot rocks into the path of the bolt, absorbing the attack.
"Very well. If you're so eager to die, I suppose it is my duty to fulfil that request." Michael responded with a slightly sarcastic sigh. "The rest of you, focus on the one with the red staff." He threw five Pokeballs into the air, revealing Umbreon, Obsidark, Hazough, Tunnelurm, and a new Pokemon; an evolution of Ninetales. It was considerably larger, and now had thirteen tails instead of nine. The long tails waved around, the tip of each ablaze with flame. Its fur was now more of an red-orange, closer to Vulpix's than Ninetales' but darker than Vulpix's. It opened its mouth to reveal large, vicious fangs, and an evil, maniacal look was in its eyes.
"What's that big fox thing?" Tatiana asked, frightened by the imposing Pokemon.
"Ah yes, Ninetales had not yet evolved when I last fought you all." Michael recalled. "This is Infernox, a Pokemon so rare and powerful that only a handful have ever been seen. But you're not going to have to worry about him, because I myself will be taking care of you and your boyfriend." He jumped off of Duskarrion's back, landing in front of where Dan and Tatiana stood.
"You think you can beat all of our Pokemon alone? You're crazy!" Dan remarked.
"We'll see." Michael replied, not at all worried. His six Pokemon charged at the other three staff holders, primarily targetting Bobby. The trainers who had not yet sent out their Pokemon did so, and the fight commenced.
"Get him!" Dan shouted. His and Tatiana's Pokemon launched their attacks, but Michael somehow managed to dodge every single one, with almost superhuman speed. He raised his staff above his head, disappearing in a flash of lightning.
"Where'd he go?" Tatiana wondered, frantically looking around the area. Michael reappeared in the center of the ring that Dan and Tatiana's Pokemon had subconsciously formed. He drove his staff into the ground, sending shockwaves and sparks flying outward in every direction. All the surrounding Pokemon were harmed, but none were damaged to the point of unconsciousness.
"How did he do that?!" Dan exclaimed, dumbfounded by the feat.
"Please. You thought you could beat me with regular old Pokemon?" Michael mocked. "Even you should have known better than that." He swung the staff around in a full circle, sending out blasts of electricity in every direction once again. Still standing, the Pokemon turned and ran at him again, attacking with all their might. Michael jumped into the air, causing various attacks such as Ice Beam and Razor Leaf to miss him and hit another one of the Pokemon. Michael launched a bolt of lightning from midair, striking and knocking out Snobush. As he fell to the ground where the Pokemon were waiting to attack him, he began rapidly waving his staff like a helicopter blade below his feet, propelling him upward and sending down a gust of wind at his would-be attackers. He landed right outside the ring of Pokemon, turning back to them and letting loose another lightning attack, taking out Gunewt.
"This isn't working!" Tatiana exclaimed. "Glorca, create a wall of ice around us!" Glorca let out a large ice attack, forming an iceberg between them and Michael.
"Okay, that should buy us some time to come up with a plan..." Dan began, but he was interrupted by the sound of shattering ice. Michael had shattered the top half of the iceberg, just like Abomibash had back on the lake.
"Or not." Dan added. Luckily, some of the Pokemon had expected this, and had already launched their attacks, hoping to catch Michael off guard.
"It looks like your Pokemon are smarter than you!" Michael taunted, plunging his staff into the remainder iceberg just as the Pokemon attacks grew near. A blast of lightning made the berg explode, blocking every single attack with a reflective shard of ice. Going immediately from defense to offense, Michael swung his staff as he leaped off of the shattering surface, sending out a bolt that took out Tournoulder.
"Hey, there's no way we can lose this!" Dan realized. "We both have a ground type, and electric attacks don't affect ground types!"
"Tsk, tsk." Michael ridiculed. "You're making the same mistake you did against that stupid Gym Leader." He disappeared, reappearing behind Terrine and Grounoo. "That's not the only type of attack I can use!" He slammed the staff into Terrine's side, knocking the cat Pokemon into its fellow ground type and sending them both across the floor. The Pokemon skidded into the wall, and Michael wasted no time in hitting Vineon with a lightning attack, sending it crashing into the two ground types and leaving them all knocked out.
"It's kind of like bowling!" He remarked with a grin and a laugh.
"Tatiana, I think I remember reading about something when I was researching at the Pokemon Center." Dan recalled. "Order Bouldiurn to attack Noctolith with Psywave and then use Cosmic Power."
"I don't know what you're like, thinking, but I trust you." Tatiana agreed. "Bouldiurn, use Psywave on Noctolith and then use Cosmic Power!"
"Do the same thing, Noctolith!" Dan added. Both Pokemon launched the Psywaves at the same time, and by the time the attacks hit, they were already using Cosmic Power. The psychic wave resonated around the two Pokemon as they began to glow with the power of the cosmos. The Pokemon floated toward eachother and began to merge.
"Woah!" Tatiana exclaimed in amazement. A bright glow surrounded the Pokemon, making the fusion impossible to see. When the bright light subsided, the new Pokemon became visible. It's body was a sphere, half of which was orange like Bouldiurn and half was whitish yellow like Noctolith. Each side had an eye resembling that of the matching preevolution, and had resemblant features as well. The Noctolith side had a crescent moon growth with the nosepiece sticking out of it, and the Bouldiurn side had a small sphere floating off to the side of it. Noctolith's nose stuck out of the center of the Pokemon's face, and Bouldiurn's sunbeam shaped jagged rocks stuck out in a single line around the Pokemon's body, with the nose in the middle of this line, but nowhere else on the body.
"Your Pokemon have combined to become Meteoclips." Dan and Tatiana's Pokedexes explained simultaneously.
"Are you quite finished?" Michael asked. "While you two were busy drooling over your new Pokemon, I got bored and knocked out all of your old ones." Dan and Tatiana turned to see that Michael was speaking the truth, and all of their Pokemon lay unconscious around him.
"I hope that this Pokemon is as strong as it's said to be..." Dan said, worried. "Meteoclips, Meteor Mash!" The new Pokemon sped forward, its crescent moon and orbiting rock glowing.
"Too slow." Michael commented, lifting his staff into the air to disappear in a flash of lightning. Before he could go through with it, however, he found himself being blown back by a psychic force.
"Yes! It worked!" Dan exclaimed. "Meteor Mash was just a decoy! I was really going to use Psychic!"
"But, how did it like, know what you were thinking?" Tatiana wondered.
"Meteoclips is tuned into the cosmic forces of the universe." Dan explained. "It can read its master's mind, so it knew just what I was thinking!"
"Lucky shot." Michael remarked, getting up from the ground. He looked up to see that the Pokemon had in fact continued with the Meteor Mash, and rammed into him with its two glowing parts, sending him flying back across the ground.
"Maybe...we just might stand a chance!" Dan realized with a spark of hope.

Meanwhile, Michael's six Pokemon were proving a challenge even for the three trainers' eighteen. Umbreon and Hazough had managed to take down Matt's Larghost, Abomibash, Gortial, and Tyrogue, Obsidark and Tunnelurm had taken out Elissa's Systripe, Psytage, Togepi, and Condrop, and Duskarrion and Infernox had knocked out Bobby's Gasolino, Flamoose, Blezuro, and Wolflame.
"It's already down to six on six?!" Matt questioned in disbelief. "This is insane!"
"There's only one way we're going to beat them." Bobby decided. "You guys need to fight them with your staves."
"But if we actually fight them, they might kill us!" Elissa replied. "Those Pokemon are really strong!"
"But they're not as strong as the staves. Just look at what Michael did with his." He pointed to where Dan, Tatiana, Michael, and Meteoclips were.
"Woah! They've only got one Pokemon left!" Matt noticed.
"Please, listen to your friend." Lotushade told Matt telepathically. "I can't take much more of this...we need your help."
"Ok! For Lotushade!" Matt exclaimed as he ran into the field of battle, his staff glowing with orange light. He leaped into the air, coming down on Umbreon and slamming it in the head with the staff. Elissa waved her staff, sending out semitransparent lavender hand from the tip of her staff that grabbed hold of Tunnelurm, putting the Pokemon under her control as it had before. Under Elissa's control, Tunnelurm slammed into Obsidark, driving it into the ground beneath the battle. Serafimask, Lotushade, Psychoir, and Rattele began helping fight the four Pokemon that were not incapacitated under the ground. With the extra help, Ignalion and Electwine were even able to fight back against Duskarrion and Infernox.

"I've had quite enough of this." Michael decided as Meteoclips flew in to attack again. He held his staff out in front of him as it began to glow, and just as the Pokemon drew close, an extremely powerful blast of electric energy shot out of the staff, sending the defenseless Pokemon flying through the air and knocking it out.
"What the?!" Dan exclaimed.
"Did you honestly think you stood a chance, even with your little fusion? Don't make me laugh." Michael replied. "I've just been toying with you this entire time. But I grow tired of these children's games...its about time we fight for real." Suddenly, out of nowhere, Tunnelurm emerged from underground, hitting all of the good trainers' remaining Pokemon as it came up. The lavender hand coming from Elissa's staff faded away, and Duskarrion grabbed a hold of Matt's staff, yanking it from his hands. Michael's Pokemon unleashed powerful attacks that the group didn't even know that the Pokemon knew, knocking out the remaining good Pokemon.
"How did you...?!" Bobby wondered, with a level of disbelief rivaling Dan's.
"Like I said, I've been toying with you." Michael answered, returning all his Pokemon to their Pokeballs. Duskarrion dropped Matt's staff onto the ground as it was recalled, and Matt picked his weapon back up. "Now come on, let's fight."
"Are you crazy? It's Five against one!" Dan pointed out.
"Same odds as when we were using Pokemon." Michael replied with a smirk. "So if you're all too shocked to start this, I will." He disappeared with a flash once again, appearing behind Matt and swinging and electrically charged staff at him. Matt's reflexes, improved by the power of the staff, caused him to block the attack, but a jolt of electricity still shot through his staff and into his body. He fell to the ground, temporarily paralyzed, as Michael dashed over to Elissa, shocking her with a similar attack before she could even realize what was going on.
"That won't be so easy against us!" Dan claimed, hitting the ground with his staff. Large, thorn-covered vines sprouted upward, aiming for and missing Michael. At the same time, Tatiana shot a water attack from her staff, barely missing Michael. The couple continued to attack and Michael continued to dodge, all the while building up power in his staff. He slowly inched closer to his attackers, launching his attack when he spotted an opening. The blast left both trainers badly wounded and paralyzed, leaving only Bobby for Michael to deal with.
"Don't worry, I'll fulfill that wish of yours and kill your little girlfriend as soon as I'm done with Bobby." Michael sarcastically informed Dan. He walked over to Bobby, unthreatened by the unactivated staff.
"Stay back!" Bobby shouted, adopting a battle stance.
"Now now, don't worry." Michael responded. 'If that staff does its job, you won't feel a thing." He approached Bobby, even getting almost close enough so that Bobby could physically hit him with his staff. He lifted his own staff up to Bobby's face level, charging a ball of energy on the staff's tip. He then launched the attack, giving Bobby no room to dodge due to the short range of the attack.
Fwoosh!
Sure enough, Michael's plan had worked. A wall of flames blocked and absorbed the attack, retaliating with a blast of small embers that knocked Michael back a few feet.
"Now it's time for you to die." Bobby said as if in a trance, the wall of fire parting as he walked toward Michael, his eyes glowing red.
"I'm afraid not." Michael replied. The room began to shake, knocking Bobby off of his feet, joining his paralyzed teammates on the ground. The six colored walls lifted up, and bright lights shone from within the chambers. Five of the lights matched the colors of the group's staves, but the sixth, presumeably the chamber corresponding to the gray staff, shone with a yellow light instead. "In fact, I'm the only one that won't be dying."
----
Note: If it were a real game, no, Bouldiurn and Noctolith would not actually fuse. They'd be kinda like how you evolve Tamanta into Mantine in D/P; if you leveled up one with the other in your party, the one you leveled up would evolve, but the other one would remain the same and would not disappear. However, there is an added twist; in Oxygen you can only evolve Bouldiurn, and in Hydrogen you can only evolve Noctolith.

[Jirae]

Chapter 25

"What's going on?!" Tatiana wondered.
"The Elemental Pokemon have awoken!" Michael replied, a maniacal look of success and happiness on his face. Suddenly, one Pokemon emerged from each of the glowing rooms. The six Pokemon had similar body structures, but were all different colors and had slightly different features. They were all large round spheres, each surrounded by six smaller spheres of the same color. They had no mouth, and each had slightly different looking eyes and eyebrows. The contents of the smaller orbs differed from Pokemon to Pokemon, as well. The red Pokemon's orbs contained flames, the blue Pokemon's orbs contained water, the green Pokemon's orbs contained glowing green energy, the brown Pokemon's orbs contained mud, the purple Pokemon's orbs contained glowing psychic energy, and the yellow Pokemon's orbs contained electricity.
"Those are...the six elemental Pokemon..." Bobby said. "We've got to capture them..."
"Now then, as you know, each of these Pokemon was sealed by one of our staves." Michael explained. "So, naturally, each of us should be capturing one of them, right?" He reached into his pocket to reveal a Master Ball, throwing it at the yellow Pokemon and capturing it in the blink of an eye.
"Where did you get that?!" Matt asked.
"Don't you remember?" Michael responded. "The Kaimone Shopping Centre! They had one of these as the grand prize for the lottery!" He looked at the group and saw that they weren't quite sure what he was talking about. "Oh...did you think that Team Rocket were the ones that blew that place up? Come on now, that's rather preposterous, even for fools like you."
"Wait...you mean...you did that?!" Elissa questioned.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? Yes!" Michael replied. "Isn't it obvious?" As he spoke, he released his newly captured Pokemon below his feet, standing atop it as he addressed the group.
"Of course...the woman said that the attacker had a Ninetales." Bobby recalled. "And that they flew away on a flying Pokemon...Duskarrion!"
"Good job!" Michael mocked. "You figured out the obvious! Now then, where were we? Ah, yes. Each of us should be capturing one of these Pokemon...unfortunately, Bobby's the only one that's not paralyzed, and, well..." He flung a jolt of electricity from his staff, paralyzing Bobby. "You're not really in any shape to be throwing Pokeballs."
"That's what you think..." Bobby muttered under his breath. "Elissa, now!" Without needing to move at all, Elissa controlled her staff's psychic power, grabbing ahold of her four teammates with the staff's mind controlling hands. Telepathically, she forced them to move despite their paralyzed state, completely overriding physical limitations with the power of her mind. Under her command, each of the four trainers threw their Master Balls, capturing the legendary Pokemon that matched their staff. Once the four had captured and sent out their Pokemon, Elissa withdrew the hands from her friends and cast one upon herself, allowing her to override her own limitations and capture her legendary Pokemon. As the five trainers stood upon their new Pokemon, the paralysis faded from them, as if empowered by the auras of these powerful Pokemon.
"It looks like the tables have turned, Michael." Bobby commented. "Sparxeno...attack!" The red Elemental Pokemon let out a Fire Blast, aimed straight for Michael.
"Now...you'll pay for hurting Tati!" Dan exclaimed. "Neonatur, Solarbeam!" Without even needing to charge for a turn, the green Pokemon let out a blast of Light Energy, also aimed at Michael.
"Radove, like, use Hydro Pump!" Tatiana added. The blue Pokemon continued the assault, shooting forth a high pressure blast of water.
"Argorund, Earthquake!" Matt commanded. His brown Pokemon sent out shockwaves without even touching the ground, sending a powerful ground attack right for the electric type Pokemon that Michael stood upon.
"Psykrypt, Psychic!" Elissa ordered. The purple Pokemon, last of the group's Elemental Pokemon, let out a psychic blast, also attacking Michael.
"Well, you know their names. I wouldn't even expect that from you." Michael said, completely unthreatened by the five attacks heading right for him. "Unfortunately, it looks as if that is the extent of your knowledge about these Pokemon...Helitening, Elemental Absorption!" Five of the six orbs surrounding Michael's yellow Pokemon shot out to greet the attacks, absorbing them and exploding. Much like a Pokemon after using the Explosion attack, when the smoke cleared, the orbs were fine, and returned to their positions around the Elemental Pokemon.
"What was that?!" Bobby exclaimed, taken aback by the incredible defensive move.
"If you are unable to tap into the full power of the Elemental Pokemon, you won't stand a chance against me, even if it is five against one." Michael remarked. "But, words can only explain so much. Allow me to demonstrate! Helitening, Elemental Blast!" The six orbs raised above the Pokemon, glowing as they came in and centered above Michael's head. A blast of colorless energy shot forth from the glow, growing in range as it expanded outward. The blast hit every single one of the group's Elemental Pokemon, dealing significant damage to each of them.
"Alright, fine!" Dan responded. "I bet our Pokemon know that move, too! Neonatur, Elemental Blast!"
"You might not want to do that." Michael interjected, but it was too late. Dan's Pokemon had already begun to power up the attack. The attack launched, but much to Dan's surprise, it ended up hitting all of his allies' Pokemon as well as his enemy's.
"What happened?!" Dan wondered.
"Elemental Blast is an uncontrolled blast of raw power." Michael explained. "It's best used when you don't have any allies and are fighting against multiple enemies, because, well, as you can see, it hits everything in the area."
"Then what attacks do we use?" Elissa questioned.
"It wouldn't be any fun if I told you, would it?" Michael replied. "Of course not! Not fun for me, anyways. I'd just assume beat you the easy way! Helitening, use Elemental Blast again!" The Elemental Pokemon fired another attack, but this time, Bobby had figured out what to do.
"Sparxeno, Elemental Absorption!" Bobby shouted. Sparxeno sent orbs of its own to counter the blast coming towards it, and the other four good trainers took this hint, doing the same thing. Unlike with the time that Helitening had used Elemental Absorption, this time, each Pokemon sent out all six of its orbs to block the attack, and the orbs stood still in the air for several seconds, not exploding.
"Crap." Michael said, unable to make any witty comments, as he knew what was about to happen. The absorbed blasts shot back out of the Pokemon's orbs, but this time in more concentrated beams, all aimed straight for him and Helitening. Michael knew that Helitening wouldn't be able to counter all of it, and instead jumped off the Pokemon's back, landing behind it and using it as a shield. The blast hit, and a large explosion was caused, filling the entire room with smoke. When the smoke cleared, the group saw Helitening still standing, albeit very weak.
"I don't see Michael!" Matt noticed. "Maybe that means that the blast destroyed him!"
"You wish." Michael replied, as Duskarrion flew up above Helitening with Michael on its back, completely unharmed. "I must say, you almost had me there. But I guess I'm just too smart for you."
"But how?!" Dan wondered.
"Helitening, this fight is too dangerous if the trainers are there to command their Pokemon." Michael decided. "I'll leave you to destroy the other five elements, while I take care of the other five staff wielders." Helitening nodded its round body as Michael flew forward on Duskarrion, holding his staff above his head.
"Attack him!" Bobby commanded. Sparxeno shot a Flamethrower at the oncoming adversary, but Duskarrion gracefully dodged the attack. All five of the opposing Pokemon tried to attack Michael, but Duskarrion dodged every attack. Michael flew behind the group, entering the room where the yellow wall had been.
"Where's he going?" Elissa asked.
"By the power of the gray staff, draw the other staves to me!" Came Michael's voice from inside the room. "Magnus Vox Blanditia Ritus!" Bolts of lightning shot out from the room, grabbing ahold of the other five staves like arms and dragging them, as well as the people holding them, into the chamber. Once the five people had entered the room, vertical and horizontal bars of electricity formed a jail cell style door, so that they could'nt get back out. The room was rather small and plain, and the only thing in the room was a large circular platform in the center. There was a hole in the center of the platform, and Michael was standing on the other side of the hole, his arms outstretched. Duskarrion was nowhere to be found, presumeably back in its Pokeball.
"What just happened?" Bobby questioned, looking around at the room's yellow steel walls, ceiling, and floor.
"It's quite simple." Michael answered. "This room is the source of my staff's power. So basically, in here...I'm invincible." His staff began to glow more intensely than ever before, and a bolt of lightning shot up from the hole in the center of the platform, striking the ceiling. Being a conductor, the lightning quickly spread through the steel, covering every inch of the floors, walls, and ceiling in electricity.
"Ouch!" Matt shouted as he and the rest of the group jumped, shocked by the electric floor beneath them. Michael, however, was unaffected, as the platform appeared to be made of rubber or a similar insulator. Thinking quickly, Bobby waved his staff, creating a hovering disk of fire beneath his feet. As he landed on it, the soles of his shoes began to glow the same color as his staff, as if being made heatproof by the staff's power. Following his lead, Dan and Tatiana created floating disks of vines and water respectively, while Matt used the skills that his staff bestowed upon him to jump onto the rubber platform without touching the ground. Bobby created another floating disk of fire and heatproofed Elissa's shoes, allowing her to get off the electrified ground as well. On the platform, Matt immediately began swinging his staff at Michael, but Michael countered every blow with his own staff.
"Now, that wasn't a very smart move." Michael mocked, pointing to the ground. Matt was standing right over the hole. A blast of electricity shot upward, sending him flying into the ceiling and keeping him suspended there.
"I'll get you down!" Elissa volunteered, sending out one of her staff's lavender hands, in an attempt to do the same thing she had done back in the bigger room.
"I don't think so." Michael interrupted, waving his staff and sending a jolt of lightning to intercept the hand. The lightning hit the hand, using it as a medium to travel back to Elissa, shocking her. Meanwhile, Bobby, Dan, and Tatiana all attempted attacks of their own, but shields of electricity appeared in midair to block the attacks.
"What the heck?!" Tatiana wondered. "How's he doing that?!"
"I told you!" Michael replied. "I'm invincible!" He flung a bolt of electricity at Tatiana, but a large vine from Dan's staff blocked the attack, sending out smaller vines to attack at the same time. Again, shields of electricity blocked the attacks. Michael tapped the platform with his staff, and lightning began to fall from the ceiling to the ground, striking randomly and barely missing the group several times. Since the ceiling was losing some of its electrical power to the ground, the power keeping Matt stuck to the ceiling was weakened, and he fell, landing on his feet through the power of the orange staff. He charged Michael again, but Michael once again blocked, and the two began exchanging blows, apparently leaving Michael vulnerable. Bobby let loose a spray of fire at Michael, but Michael jumped out of the way just in time, flying over Matt's head, landing behind him, and pushing him into the flames.
"How did he do that?!" Elissa asked, confused. "I thought Matt's staff was supposed to make him super good at karate or something!"
"Ah yes, I probably should have mentioned that." Michael responded. "In here, all of your staves' powers are weakened, in addition to mine being more powerful."
"That's like, not fair!" Tatiana exclaimed.
"Life often isn't." Michael replied, laughing at the naive comment. He leaped off of the platform, swinging his staff wildly and sending bolt after bolt of lightning at Tatiana. Tatiana attempted to block with a large wall of water, but Michael's staff sliced through the water like a hot knife through butter, drawing dangerously close to her before a large vine came flying in from the side, throwing him against one of the walls and consequently sending his bolts off course. He fell to the ground, but before he could hit the electrified floor, he put his staff out below him, touching the ground with it and emitting a blast of electricity from it. The force caused him to fly back onto the platform, where he nimbly countered yet another assault by Matt. The group continued to fight Michael, trying everything they could think of, but nothing seemed to work.
"Face it! You can't win!" Michael taunted as he slammed his staff into the platform, sending large sparks flying through the air in all directions. The brightness and multitude of the sparks caused everyone to cover their eyes, in attempt to avoid being blinded. One spark knocked Matt off the platform, but a disk of water quickly created by Tatiana saved him from the electrified floor.
"He's right." Dan responded, lowering his head as he apparently admitted defeat. "We can't win."
"What?!" Tatiana exclaimed, incredibly surprised. "Dan, why are you..."
"We can't win." Dan repeated. "Unless we work together." He looked up, sending a vine into the ground and using it like a polevault, landing right next to Michael. "Tatiana, hit him with water!" Before Michael had time to react, Tatiana sent a spray of water out from her staff, dousing his entire body in water. At the same time, the vine disconnected from Dan's staff but continued to grow, wrapping around Michael's body. There was now a path from the electricity on the ground to Michael, who had just been covered in water and made an excellent conductor. Electricity surged through the vine, shocking Michael with extreme voltage.
"Finish it, Bobby!" Dan shouted. Not needing an explanation of what to do, Bobby sent a wave of fire straight for Michael. The fire hit him, igniting his entire body due to the great flammability of the vines.
"AAARGH!" Michael screamed in pain as he was shocked and burnt at the same time. Eventually, all the electricity in the room was absorbed back into the hole, and the vines burnt away, disappearing and taking the fire with them. Michael sat there on his knees, slumped over, his skin completely charred and blackened, showing no signs of life. The gray staff dropped out of his hands and into the hole in the center of the platform, disappearing from sight.
"I don't believe it." Bobby commented as the group got off their floating disks and walked over to the platform. "Did we actually...win?" He looked out the opening that led to the main chamber to see that the electric jail bars had faded.
"He's definitely dead." Matt proclaimed after examining the body.
"We did it." Dan added, hugging Tatiana. "He'll never bother you again, Tati."
"But we just...killed him." Tatiana replied. "I can't believe that...we just killed him."
"It's okay." Dan comforted her, running his hand through her hair as he held her close. "It's all over now." Slowly, after looking down the hole in the platform and seeing no signs of the gray staff, the group made their way back to the main chamber. Sparxeno, Radove, Neonatur, Argorund, and Psykrypt were all still standing, despite being severely weakened. Helitening, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found.
"It looks like you guys won, too." Bobby observed. "Good job...we'll get you healed at the Pokemon Center right away." Everyone returned the legendary Pokemon to their Master Balls, and continued on, getting through the rest of Victory Road without any trouble.

The group emerged from the cave, admiring the grand building that stood before them. It was several stories tall, made out of several kinds of silver, orange, and blue metal. It had intricate designs on the roof, and tall blue glass windows and doors. The group approached the building, walking down a path of yellow and brown stones with bushes on either side. Inside, there were two desks, one of which had a nurse and a Pokemon healing machine behind it, the other of which had a salesperson and several shelves of items behind it. Between the two desks was a door, with a guard standing in front of it. There were tables in the room like those at a Pokemon Center, and an elevator on one side of the room.
"Wow...so this is the like, home of the Elite Four." Tatiana admired. "I can't believe we're here, especially after what just happened..."
"Hey! You guys!" Came Ron's voice. He descended from the top floor, riding the escalator. "What's up? Did you guys find Michael?"
"...Yeah." Bobby answered. "We did."
"What happened?" Ron inquired.
"Well...we won." Dan replied. "And we caught the legendary Pokemon..."
"Why don't we go upstairs and talk about it." Ron interrupted. "That way, you can tell my friends about it, too."
"Your friends?" Elissa wondered.
"Yep." Ron responded. "The Elite Four!"

"Guys, these are the kids I was telling you about." Ron explained as the group approached the table. There were four boys sitting there, of varying ages. There was a fairly skinny blonde man with a green shirt who looked to be in his late twenties, a brown haired man in his early twenties with a short beard, a rather portly, dark brown haired boy in his late teens, and a slightly heavyset black haired boy, only about a year older than the group.
"So, have you captured the legendary Pokemon yet?" The boy in his late teens asked.
"Yeah." Bobby replied.
"They're going to tell us about it." Ron informed the Elite 4. "Oh, I haven't properly introduced you yet. These are Jeff, Jim, Brian, and Mike." He pointed to the blonde man, then the brown haired man with the small beard, then the dark brown haired boy, then the boy that was a year older than the group.
"Hey, your name is like, the same as that Gym Leader." Tatiana noticed, referring to Jeff. "And yours is like, the same as Michael!" She added, referring to Mike.
"Who?" Mike questioned.
"The kid with the gray staff." Ron answered. "Speaking of which, were you guys going to tell us about what happened?"
"Yeah." Bobby replied as the group sat down at the table.

"Wow..." Jim said after the group finished their story. "So you guys actually killed him?"
"Yeah." Dan replied.
"But wait...if those six Elemental Pokemon were freed..." Jeff began.
"Then Hydreath and Oxyglife must be free as well." Brian finished.
"Hydreath and Oxyglife?" Matt wondered.
"The Elemental Pokemon that were sealed by the black and white staves." Jim explained.
"That's right!" Bobby remembered. "Once my staff was activated, all Jacob XII had to do was perform some ritual!"
"And he has." Jim responded. "As you may have noticed, the champion isn't here. He went to Zen Island in an attempt to stop Team Rocket, but last we heard from him, they had already succeeded in summoning the Elemental Pokemon."
"So is he like, on his way back?" Tatiana asked.
"No." Mike replied. "He told us that he's going to stay...and fight."
"But...even if he is the champion, he can't beat the Elemental Pokemon!" Elissa exclaimed.
"We tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen." Jeff explained. "He's just too headstrong. So we were just about to go help him, and then you guys got here."
"Well then, we'll go with you!" Bobby volunteered. "After all, we've got five of the Elemental Pokemon on our side...with them, we can win!"
"I hope so." Jim responded. "Let's go."

"Well...I guess there really isn't any sense returning you to a Pokeball now. I don't think a Pokemon Center can do anything about this." Michael said as he examined the charred shell of a Ditto lying in front of him. "It's a good thing you didn't transform back to your real form until after those guys left." He looked up, holding his staff in one hand and throwing Helitening's Master Ball up and down in the other. "Or else I'd probably be in trouble." He began to chuckle, and his chuckle turned into a maniacal laugh as he exited the room, leaving the dead Ditto there to rot.
---
Note: Elemental Absorption and Elemental Blast are new moves for the Hydrogen/Oxygen project, yada yada yada.
Note: When Michael says "Crap." when the elemental blasts are about to be sent back at him, he originally said a different word, beginning with S, but this was changed to make the story appropriate for all ages.
Note: Literally translated, "Magnus Vox Blanditia Ritus" means "Great Power Attraction Ritual". That's probably very improper latin grammar, but eh, I used a googled free translator.
Note: I realize that some of the properties of the electricity in this chapter break the rules and laws of physics. But eh, this is a story, not real life. =p

[Jirae]

Chapter 26
(Final Chapter)

"Here we are. Zen Island." Brian informed the group as their small motorboat pulled up to the shore. The island was circular, with the dock sticking out of one end. The grass on the island was abnormally colored; half of the circle was black and the other half was white. The dock was in the center, right where the two split. Each side had a small, circular patch of grass of the other color on it, making the island resemble a Yin Yang. Each of the small patches of oppositely colored grass had an altar on them, but it was obvious that the altars had already served their purpose. In the center of the island stood two Elemental Pokemon, much like the six that the group had already encountered. One was black, and its orbs contained pure darkness, while the other was white, its orbs containing light. Both Pokemon had eight orbs surrounding them, as opposed to the group's Pokemon's six. Standing atop the white Pokemon was the familiar Team Rocket woman, and standing atop the black was a boy with curly orange hair, only a year or two older than the good staff wielders. The boy held the black and white staves in his hands, and it was obvious who he was: Jacob XII, the leader of Team Rocket. The Elemental six stood in front of the two Elemental Pokemon, with the same Pokemon they had used in Mizaqua City standing in front of them, as well as the woman's Pokemon. Facing them, his back to the group, was a man in his late teens or early twenties, between Brian and Jim's ages. He had spiked blonde hair, and wore a long cape that glowed all the colors of the rainbow, reflecting the sunlight. Six Pokemon stood in front of him, none of which the group had ever seen before.
One Pokemon was a light blue, floating, slightly ovaled sphere. It appeared to be made of some kind of silicon, and it had icicles sticking out of it in all directions. There were rectangular holes in the Pokemon's body, as if it was made of layers of wooden planks, some of which were missing. Though the group couldn't see it from where they stood, one of the holes had two shining blue eyes staring out of it. A single orb was orbiting the Pokemon, and it appeared to have ice inside of it.
The second Pokemon was shaped like a human, and had orangish pale skin. Thin slates of bone stuck out of the back of the Pokemon's arms and legs, extending out of the back of the elbows and knees. The Pokemon's skin was semitransparent, and its bones were visible. Instead of hands and feet, large blocks of pure bone rested at the end of the Pokemon's limbs. A crown of bone topped the Pokemon's head, further adding to the Pokemon's boney appearance. Like the first Pokemon, this Pokemon also had an orb floating around it, and the orb contained several small bones.
The third Pokemon looked like a large snail, with an oozing, bubbling, green body. The shell on its back appeared to be made of chunky white road salt, and oddly enough, the Pokemon's body did not appear to be melting, as a normal snail would if touched by any salt, let alone so much. The Pokemon's head was small, and appeared to flow into its body well. It had two thin antennae, and an eyeball rested atop each of them. It had no apparent mouth. Again, this Pokemon also had one orb near it, and its orb contained a chunk of white salt or rock.
Fourth was a large, roughly five feet long, Gila monster. Its scaly skin was colored in intricate patterns of black, purple, and pink. It had a fairly rounded head, with two large eyeballs in sockets sticking out of the upper right and upper left corners. It opened its wide mouth, sticking out a long pink tongue, almost like a frog's. It also had webbed feet, further hinting to the slightly froglike appearance of the lizard Pokemon. A lone orb flew around this Pokemon's tail, and it was filled with some sort of dark purple poison.
The fifth was a large golden possum. Its fur appeared to be stiff, as if actually made of gold. Its feet and long tail were also gold, but looked much heavier, like solid gold. It had a snarl on its face, its mouth open to reveal a sharp set of teeth. It had black eyes and golden ears. Like the others, it had one orb circling it, which contained liquid gold.
Lastly was a Pokemon that looked like a fusion of a dragon and a human. It stood on two large, bulky, humanlike legs, but it had a long, scaly, serpentine body that extended into a tail. It had bulky humanoid arms in addition to two draconic wings. It had a head like the typical chinese dragon, with the majority of its head being its large mouth, lined with sharp teeth. Its entire body was peach or off-white, like a caucasian human. It too had a single orb floating around it, which was filled partly with pale fleshy substance.
"What are those Pokemon?" Matt wondered. "They have those orb things like the Elemental Pokemon, but they only have one."
"Yeah. If you recall from the legend, the eight legendary Elemental Pokemon were the first Pokemon ever created." Mike explained. "After them, the scientists began to make more and more stable Pokemon, with more and more complex structures. The champion's Pokemon were some of the first Pokemon created after the legendary Elemental Pokemon. They are only comprised of a few elements, but are each mainly attributed to one, hence the orbs."
"So they must be like, pretty strong then, right?" Tatiana asked.
"Yes. But not strong enough to defeat the legendary elementals." Jim replied. "Which is why we must help him!" He jumped out of the speedboat and onto the island, and the group and the rest of the Elite 4 followed.
"Well...it looks as if some more players have come to join the game!" Jacob XII exclaimed as he spotted the group getting off the boat.
"What?" The champion asked, turning his head. "What are you guys doing here?!"
"We're saving you, Jason." Jeff answered. "We've got five of the other staff holders with us."
"Do they have the Elemental Pokemon?" Jason, the champion, questioned.
"Yeah." Bobby responded, sending out his six normal Pokemon as well as Sparxeno. The rest of the group followed suit, all standing atop their Elemental Pokemon.
"So, you've got five of the other Elemental Pokemon, huh?" Jacob asked rhetorically. "Well, that's not going to matter. Hydreath and Oxyglife are much more powerful than the other six...and you don't even have all six with you!"
"No, but we've got plenty of regular Pokemon to help out." Brian stated, sending out five Pokemon of his own; a Gyarados, an Infernox, and three that the staff holders had never seen before. The first, Leviathell, was a long, blue, serpentine creature that floated above the ground. A strip of fire ran down its back and tail and led up to its head, which was resemblant of a chinese dragon's. Instead of regular whiskers, whiskers of smoke emitted from its nostrils. The smoke shrouded its entire body, making any details of the Pokemon's skin hard to see.
Second was Seleara, an underwater Pokemon that floated in midair when not submerged, just like all other fish Pokemon. It had a long, thin, pale off-white body and head, with a long nose much like the Horsea family. It was covered in leafy protrusions, which strongly resembled semitransparent seaweed. It had small fins as well, but they were hardly visible.
The third and final of the unfamiliar Pokemon, Komodora, was a heavy looking ten foot long Komodo dragon. It had greyish brown skin, with darker brown markings on its tail and legs. It had a fierce look on its face, with another brown marking around its eye. It had sharp yellow claws on its feet, and as it lifted its tail up bits of ground lifted up with it, as if attracted to the tip of its tail.
"Spindril, Abomibash, Hitmonlee, Gortial, Hitmonorris, I choose you!" Jim added, sending out his five Pokemon, all of which the group had seen before.
"Magmouse, Flamoose, Wolflame, Lumammoth, Tyrnferno, help them out!" Mike exclaimed. The first of his unfamiliar Pokemon was Magmouse, a small mouselike Pokemon. It was covered in a shell of lava and hardened dark brown magma, with only its head, feet, and tail not encased. Its tail was long and black, and its feet were black as well. The fur on its face was orange, and it had short brown ears.
The second unfamiliar Pokemon that Mike sent out was Lumammoth, an extremely large, probably fifteen feet tall, mammoth Pokemon. It had thick brown fur covering its entire body, a short fluffy tail, and a long trunk that it waved above its head. It had two long tusks pointing upward as well, both of which were white with designs like fire near their bases. Fire blazed at the bottom of the Pokemon's sturdy feet as it stomped the ground, shaking the earth and showcasing its fire and ground type characteristics.
Mike's final Pokemon, Tyrnferno, was obviously the evolution of Scorchivor. It was now an adult Tyrannosaurus, forty feet long from head to tail and about fifteen feet tall. It was now a deeper red in color, and retained all the yellow and black markings from its previous forms. It had a ferocious look on its face as it opened its mouth, showing its large and extremely sharp teeth. A ring of fire now surrounded its tail, not quite at the tip but further down than its yellow stripes. It let out a mighty roar as it readied for battle.
"Cacturne, Mazica, Triki, Frostree, and Treecera! Let's go!" Jeff finished, sending out his own Pokemon; two the group had seen and three that they had not. The first of these new Pokemon was Triki, a roughly three foot tall humanoid with thin, light brown body, arms, and legs. Its faced was covered completely by a round white mask, which had black and red designs resembling a face on it. Messy green hair that looked almost like leaves stuck out of the back of the mask. The Pokemon held a primitive staff; a long wooden stick with a wooden ball on the top. Several leaves were under the ball and folded over the top of the stick.
Next was Frostree, the evolution of Snobush. Its round, shrubby body was still the same, though a little larger, but now a thick, cylindrical, wooden, tree trunk-like neck extended from the shrub. At the top was the same head as it had before, with a mass of leaves and branches that extended in a typical tree-like pattern over and out from the head. It had branches for arms and legs as well, and its body and leaves were still coated in snow.
Last was Treecera, Tricerub's evolution. It had grown much larger than its preevolution, and the flowers on its horns had now fully bloomed, becoming large, intricate, and magnificent. Its body and legs remained the same complete with some darker green designs, but its tail was now brown with a woodlike texture, although it was still fully flexible. The tip of its tail was covered in sharp leaves that stuck out in all directions like a medieval morning star.
"Wait a second...didn't that dude in the mask like, steal all of your Pokemon?" Tatiana asked the Team Rocket members.
"He did, but we got them back!" Ryan replied.
"Yeah! We found them lying outside Victory..." Alex began.
"What he means is...we found them lying when we were victorious!" Ryan interrupted. "Yes! We defeated him, and then he dropped them when he tried to flee!"
"Sure." Dan said sarcastically.
"You wanna fight? Bring it on!" Aaron taunted. "Everyone, attack!" Team Rocket's Pokemon dashed forward to battle, and the group and Elite 4's Pokemon greeted them. The Pokemon began to fight, and it soon became apparent that without either side using Elemental Pokemon, Team Rocket was at a disadvantage. Not only did the good trainers have more Pokemon, but they were stronger, too.
"Boss, we're losing!" Omar exclaimed. "Help us out!"
"Very well." Jacob agreed. "Prepare to face the might of the two strongest Elemental Pokemon!"
"Everyone, get ready!" Jason shouted.
"Don't worry! We know what to do from our battle with Michael!" Elissa responded.
"Hydreath...Elemental Darkness!" Jacob ordered. The eight orbs of the black Pokemon flew above his head and began to glow with a strong darkness. Blasts of dark energy shot from each into the sky, creating a large cloud over Zen Island. It then began raining bombs of dark energy.
"Elemental Absorption!" Bobby commanded. One bomb was drawn to each of Sparxeno's orbs, and the other four good Elemental Pokemon did the same. The bombs continued to rain, however, and the orbs would not absorb any more. Jason's Pokemon were each able to absorb one blast as well, but it was still nowhere near enough. The blasts hit the ground randomly, causing an explosion of darkness wherever they landed. When the bombardment was finished, the cloud cleared along with the smoke from the explosions, and roughly half the Pokemon on the field, friend and foe alike, had been knocked out.
"At least he didn't get all of them!" Matt exclaimed. "Everyone, go for the Elemental Pokemon!" All of the good Pokemon rushed forward, past their weakened opponents, and began to attack the Elemental Pokemon. Shields of light and darkness appeared to block the attacks, much like the shields that Michael had created in his chamber in Victory Road.
"Oxyglife, Elemental Light!" Jacob commanded. The white Pokemon's orbs flew up above the woman's head and began to glow with a bright light as they fired wide beams of light straight out at the attackers. Again, the Elemental Pokemon of the other team attempted to absorb the attacks, but weren't able to absorb enough. After the attack ahad concluded, no regular Pokemon were left. The eight legendary Elemental Pokemon were the only ones still standing.
"Well, look at that. All of your regular Pokemon didn't stand a chance against my Elemental Pokemon!" Jacob taunted triumphantly.
"Then let's kick things up a notch." Bobby responded. "Sparxeno...Elemental Inferno!" Just as Bobby had guessed, the attack worked, and his Elemental Pokemon lifted its orbs above his head. Large blasts of fire shot out toward Team Rocket, and the Elemental Six frantically ran to hide behind Hydreath and Oxyglife.
"Neonatur, Elemental Overgrowth!" Dan added. Neonatur lifted its orbs as well, and huge vines shot out of the ground, aimed straight for Team Rocket.
"Radove, Elemental Flood!" Tatiana exclaimed. Radove lifted its orbs, and a large wave of water was sent crashing toward Team Rocket.
"Argorund, Elemental Quake!" Matt shouted. As Argorund lifted its orbs, huge shockwaves were sent out, destroying the earth as they headed toward Team Rocket.
"Psykrypt, Elemental Psychic!" Elissa concluded. Psykrypt lifted its orbs just as the other Pokemon had, and waves of powerful psychic energy were sent flying at Team Rocket.
"Sorry to disappoint you all, but that's not going to help." Jacob mocked with a smirk on his face. "Hydreath, Oxyglife, Elemental Absorption!" Both of his Pokemon lifted up their orbs, fully absorbing the impact of all five attacks aimed at them.
"What?!" Dan exclaimed in disbelief.
"I thought I told you all! Your Elemental Pokemon are no match for Hydreath and Oxyglife!" Jacob replied. "Now, let's end this! Hydreath, Oxyglife, Elemental Blast!" The two Pokemon used the attack that Michael had used back in Victory Road, sending blasts of energy at the group. Just as they had learned to do against Michael, the Elemental Pokemon attempted to use Elemental Absorption in hopes that the attacks would be sent back at the attackers. Unfortunately, Hydreath and Oxyglife's blasts were larger and more numerous than Helitening's, and the Pokemon could not absorb all of them. The remaining blasts hit the good Elemental Pokemon, causing them to lose concentration as well as health. With their concentration broken, the orbs that had absorbed some of the blasts exploded, dealing even more damage to the good Elemental Pokemon.
"No!" Tatiana shouted, concerned for the Pokemon. "Are you like, okay?"
"Time to finish you off!" Jacob declared. "Hydreath, Elemental Darkness! Oxyglife, Elemental Light!" Blasts of darkness and light started to head straight for the weakened Elemental Pokemon, who were completely unable to defend themselves.
"No...is this...it?" Dan wondered as the blasts drew close.
Craaack!
Every single blast was sent flying back at Team Rocket, bombing their side of the field and dealing quite a bit of damage to Hydreath and Oxyglife. There, in front of the group, was the cloaked man, standing atop Helitening, holding the gray staff out in front of him, crackling with electricity. The hood of his cloak now drooped down his back, and the back of his head was visible. He stood a few inches short of six feet tall, and he must have had something on his head to make him look taller when the cloak's hood had been on. It was obvious who it was.
"M-Michael?!" Dan questioned in extreme disbelief.
"You okay?" Michael asked in the same triumphant tone that he had used when he first saved the group while disguised.
"That's..." Jacob's mother began.
"But I thought you said..." Ron started.
"It's...the sixth Elemental Pokemon..." Jason admired.
"Sorry I'm late to the party." Michael chuckled. "I brought a present. One fried leader of Team Rocket." He held the gray staff above his head, sending a bolt of lightning into the clouds above. "Helitening, Elemental Storm!" Helitening lifted its orbs above Michael's head, sending its own blasts of lightning into the sky. The blasts began raining down on Team Rocket, and Hydreath and Oxyglife began to absorb them.
"Hah! Nice try!" Jacob mocked as he looked into the sky to ensure that no more bolts were coming. "But it looks like you..." He looked back in front of him to see Michael roughly two feet in front of his face, flying toward him. He didn't have time to order Hydreath and Oxyglife before Michael came crashing into him, a fully charged gray staff in hand. Frantically, Jacob raised the black and white staves, blocking the attack as he was knocked off of Hydreath's back. He landed on his back on the ground, and Michael landed on his feet past him, turning to face his opponent.
"What in the name of...?!" Jacob wondered as he got up and faced Michael.
"I'm sorry, did you expect me to hold back like the rest of these kids?" Michael asked. "I'm afraid that's just not how I roll, my friend." He waved the gray staff, disappearing and reappearing on Helitening's back.
"Michael, how did you...why are you..." Bobby couldn't form a question due his sheer amazement.
"You guys need to save yourselves." Michael informed him. "I'm talking a big game, but I know that I'm going to lose this in the long run. The element of surprise is gone. Even with my help, we're no match for Hydreath and Oxyglife."
"But..." Elissa began.
"Go!" Michael interrupted. "I'll hold him off as long as I can!" He turned back toward Jacob, who had gotten back on Hydreath. "Come on! Bring it on, chicken!" Helitening dashed forward and began to shoot blasts of lightning as the group returned their defeated Pokemon and boarded the speedboat. Michael looked back to see that the boat had successfully departed from the harbor, and then turned back to face his foe.
"Looks like your friends left you to die alone!" Jacob exclaimed.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll take you down by myself." Michael retorted. "I just told them to leave so they wouldn't be blinded by my awesomeness." He jumped off Helitening's back, delivering a physical attack with his staff that was easily blocked by the black and white staves. Michael and Helitening continued to battle Hydreath and Oxyglife as well as they could, though Michael knew what the end result would be.

"No...this isn't what Michael would have wanted." Dan said out of nowhere when the boat was about half way from Zen Island to the mainland.
"But...he told us..." Tatiana responded.
"That's just how he is. That's how he's always been. Always trying to make himself look like a hero." Dan replied. "He wouldn't really have wanted us to run. Even if it didn't affect him in any way, Michael would have wanted us to stay. To fight."
"He's right." Bobby agreed. "Turn the boat around!" Everyone on the boat seemed to agree, and Ron was quick to spin the steering wheel the other direction, turning the boat and changing the course back to Zen Island.

"Those guys should almost be to the mainland by now." Michael decided. He was standing atop Helitening on the opposite side of the island from Team Rocket, and both he and Helitening were worn out and weakened. "I've served my purpose."
"Time to die!" Jacob shouted as Hydreath and Oxyglife launched their attacks, knowing that Michael would be unable to block them.
Crack!
A shield of vines sprouted up from the ground, absorbing the blasts.
"What...?" Michael wondered as he turned to see the group and the other five Elemental Pokemon behind him.
"You okay?" Dan asked exactly as Michael had before. "Now it's our turn to be the heroes." The five Elemental Pokemon launched elemental attacks, catching Jacob off guard and damaging Hydreath and Oxyglife further.
"You guys..." Michael said. "I thought I told you to..."
"Come on, Michael. You can lose the hero act." Bobby interrupted. "We're helping, and together, we're going to win."
"But...we can't..." Michael responded.
"Don't say that!" Tatiana encouraged.
"No...you don't understand." Michael replied. "Watch."
"Oxyglife, Elemental Heal!" Jacob commanded. Oxyglife's orbs began to glow, and it and Hydreath's wounds faded completely. They had been fully healed.
"What?! How did they do that?!" Matt wondered.
"They're too strong." Michael said. "We just can't win."
"Hey...what's that like, altar thingy behind them?" Tatiana asked curiously. "I never like, saw that before..."
"What?" Michael questioned, looking where Tatiana was. "That's...of course!" He got up, a new look of hope on his face. "I can't believe I forgot about that!"
"What? What is it?" Bobby inquired.
"I know I've done some bad things...but I need you guys to trust me." Michael explained. "I need you guys to give me your staves, willingly."
"What?!" Elissa wondered, surprised. "Why?"
"That altar...if all eight staves are brought to it..." Michael responded. "Don't you see? That altar is the place where the eight Elemental Pokemon were sealed away by the great shamans!"
"What?!" Bobby exclaimed. "Are you serious?!"
"Yes." Michael answered. "Now that all eight staves have activated and been brought to this island...it has appeared. And if all eight staves are placed at the altar...the Elemental Pokemon will be sealed away once again."
"Then...I trust you." Dan decided, handing Michael the green staff. "Take it."
"Then I like, trust you too!" Tatiana added, handing Michael the blue staff.
"You can do it!" Matt exclaimed, giving Michael the brown staff.
"It's all up to you." Elissa said, handing him the purple staff.
"You can do it." Bobby decided, giving Michael the red staff. "Don't let us down." The six staves began floating around Michael in a circle, like a kind of armor or shield as he jumped off of Helitening's back.
"What the hell?!" Jacob questioned as Michael approached him. "Hydreath, Oxyglife, attack!" The two Pokemon launched attacks at Michael, but he disappeared, reappearing behind Jacob. Two lavender hands shot out of the purple staff, grabbing ahold of the black and white staves and yanking them from Jacob's grasp. The staves worked their way in to the rotation of the staves surrounding Michael as he disappeared again, reappearing in the center of the altar. He held his hands outward, and the staves were sent flying to eight holes in the ground surrounding the altar. They floated above the holes, as if awaiting a command.
"The eight staves were created to seal away the Elemental Pokemon!" Michael shouted in a trancelike state. "But the staves themselves did not do it! Because the great shamans knew that the staves would be entrusted to humans, and humans are so easily corrupted! No, the staves were designed to serve another purpose..." The staves fell into the holes in the ground as Michael began floating upward, several feet above the altar. "By the power of the eight staves of sealing...I summon the ninth Elemental Pokemon!"
"The ninth?!" Jacob questioned. "I've never heard of any ninth Elemental Pokemon!"
"I summon you...Nitroneutra!" Michael shouted. A blinding wave of light shot upward and surrounded the altar, making the altar invisible to the group. The wave of light was followed by a wave of darkness, a wave of lightning, a wave of fire, a wave of water, a wave of vines, a wave of soil and rocks, and a wave of psychic energy. A final wave, of apparent nothingness, shot up from the ground, and revealed that Michael was now standing atop the ninth Elemental Pokemon. Its body was gray, and it had large, round, bright white eyes, with smaller white circles above them instead of eyebrows. It was surrounded by nine orbs, one containing each of the elements of the other eight Pokemon, and one that was completely empty, containing nothingness.
"Hydreath, Oxyglife, attack!" Jacob ordered, to which Hydreath responded by shaking him off its back. Hydreath and Oxyglife looked at Jacob with menacing eyes, no longer obeying his commands. Oxyglife shook Jacob's mother off its back as well, and the Elemental six ran to the edge of the island, scared of the Pokemon that were no longer under their boss's control.
"Nitroneutra...I call upon your infinite power!" Michael commanded. "Seal away the eight Elemental Pokemon that would destroy the world! Magnus Vox Expulsum Ritus!" Nitroneutra's eight orbs that contained elements flew out, hitting the matching Elemental Pokemon and growing to a point where they were larger than the Pokemon. The Pokemon entered the large bubbles as if they were Pokeballs, and the orbs shrunk and flew back to Nitroneutra. The bubble that contained nothing flew above Nitroneutra's head and began to glow demandingly.
"And now for the sacrifice!" Michael shouted unexpectedly.
"Sacrifice?!" Omar exclaimed, afraid.
"Nitroneutra, you are the ultimate judge!" Michael continued. "The balance of good and evil has been tipped, and you have been called to balance the scale once again! Devour the being who has nothing but evil in their heart!" The empty orb flew forward, growing and absorbing Jacob XII as the other orbs had absorbed the Elemental Pokemon. It shrunk again and flew back to Nitroneutra as Michael was lifted off of Nitroneutra and placed on the ground behind the altar. The nine elemental waves flashed around the altar once again, and when they were finished, Nitroneutra was gone, leaving no trace of it, the other Elemental Pokemon, or Jacob XII. The eight staves rose from the hole in the ground, glowing with elemental power. The glow faded from the black and white staves, as the heir to Giovanni I's bloodline was no more. With the black and white staves deactivated, the altar disappeared, and the staves that remained active flew into the hands of their owners.
"No! Jacob!" Jacob's mother cried as she ran toward Michael. A shield of electricity knocked her back onto the ground, but didn't hurt her.
"You will leave this place and never return." Michael informed her as he walked over to her, a menacing and unforgiving look on his face. "The same goes for you, 'Elemental Six'. You will all return to your headquarters in Mizaqua City."
"But...we don't have a leader now." Twitchy realized with a twitch.
"Do not choose a new leader, for he has been chosen for you." Michael responded in a commanding tone. "Team Rocket was once a good organization. I shall see to it myself that it returns to its status as a benefactor to the community."
"What...?" Alex wondered, a little confused.
"Go!" Michael ordered. Still afraid of Michael, the Team Rocket members threw their smoke bombs, disappearing. Michael then walked over to the other side of the island, where the group stood.
"Michael...why...how...how are you still alive?" Elissa asked.
"When you all covered your eyes, back in Victory Road..." Michael answered. "I sent out a Ditto that took my form. Then I used my staff's power to teleport back into the main chamber, where I returned Helitening to its Master Ball. You killed the Ditto instead of me."
"Wow..." Matt said in amazement.
"So...are you like, a good guy, now?" Tatiana inquired as Dan wrapped his arms around her, hugging her from behind.
"Better than that Jacob guy, at any rate." Michael replied, making a joke out of the question.
"I guess we should probably report this to Professor Pine and the other appropriate authorities." Jim commented.
"Yeah, I can't wait until Professor Pine hears about this." Elissa agreed. "He's not going to believe it!"
"I can't believe it's all finally over." Matt commented. "The fighting, the chasing...everything."
"I don't have a problem with it." Dan responded with a chuckle as he kissed Tatiana.
"So, why'd you do it, anyways?" Bobby asked Michael. "Why'd you help us in Balankou, Mizaqua, and here? I thought you hated us?"
"Well, I," Michael stuttered, trying to think of an explanation. "I just couldn't let Team Rocket succeed where I didn't."
"Oh? So then why did you seal the Elemental Pokemon away?" Bobby continued in his questions, determined to find the real reason.
"I, uh," Michael stuttered again. "If I couldn't have all of the Elemental Pokemon, I figured that nobody should."
"Michael, you don't have to make stuff up." Bobby responded. "We all know it. There's more good in you than you want people to think. Like Tatiana said...deep down, you're really a good guy who just had a power trip. I'm sure that the fact that you had a Duskarrion didn't help, either."
"Yeah, whatever." Michael replied.
"If any of you want to challenge the Elite 4 some time, you're welcome to." Jeff informed the group. "But don't think we'll go easy on you!"
"I wouldn't expect you to!" Bobby replied with a grin.
"Well, I suppose we should get going." Brian decided. Everyone got into the motorboat, and they sped off toward the mainland, leaving Zen Island - and all memories of the Elemental Pokemon and what befell because of them - behind them.
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Note: Yes...if you want a better idea of what Dracarbon looks like, it looks kinda like...TROOOOGGGDOOOOR!
Note: The Elemental attacks aren't real, were created for this story, yada yada yada.
Note: Magnus Vox Expulsum Ritus, literally translated, Great Power Banishing Ritual. Bad latin grammar once again, I'm sure.
Note: I'm sure those of you with your minds in the gutter are going to think badly of the phrase "hugging her from behind". Get your minds out of the gutter. It's romantic or something. Idk, they do it in movies and stuff, I think.