Hard Enough - Chapter 347 - Criminals, Heretics, and Heroes

What I was attempting was honestly not something that I had any basis of success for.

None beyond a gut feeling and the knowledge of how in the pokemon world effort typically resulted in good things coming your way. Even the villains of the series, when they stopped being bad guys and instead worked hard, were ultimately successful. 

So I was pretty much leaning on tropes to carry the day for us here.

That and Misty had already been able to establish a bond with a powerful watertype before.

I had to hope that it would translate into being able to connect with Suicune where Sabrina couldn’t. 

“I’m not sure,” Misty demurred as she gazed at Suicune. “That’s… a Legendary pokemon.”

“It is,” I replied. “And it’s hurting. We’ve been able to grasp that whatever is affecting it is not natural and for a Legendary pokemon that alone would be bad enough. Whatever Team Cipher has done to corrupt Suicune has changed it. We need to cleanse it. For that you’re our best shot.”

Misty stiffened but while her mouth worked silently to come up with a way to reject me, I could tell her mind was stuck on the thought of Suicune, one of the Water pokemon of all water pokemon, being hurt in front of her triggered something.

“... I’ll try,” she whispered.

I smiled at her. “And that will make all the difference,” I praised, ignoring the bolts of lightning that shattered the sky overhead. As much as I wanted to peer over her shoulder, I didn’t want to distract Misty by reminding her of the very real pokemon battle between Legendaries taking place out on the water.

No, I kept my focus where it was needed, locked ahead on Misty as she and Sabrina floated forward. 

“I will try my best to help you Misty, but the miasma is powerful. Bertha will be doing the best she can,” Sabrina coaxed as we moved together as one.

Bertha twitched as Suicune tried to bite her. She tightened her grip and allowed Sanchez to zap Suicune again to motivate it to stay still.

Suicune yowled and Misty stiffened. “No stop hurting it! We… we just need to restrain it! Don’t knock it out!” she ordered. 

I pursed my lips but nodded, giving the silent order to my pokemon to hold off.

Before Bertha could grumble Misty stepped forward, all her hesitation gone in the face of seeing Suicune.

She raised her hand and from her chest a feeling of liquid warmth began to radiate outwards. 

It felt… like I was taking a dip into a river… or maybe it was an ocean. The plunge was refreshing and cool… but at the same time jarring. The rain overhead actually seemed to help propagate it as I noted Erika and Visquez who were standing well back also twitched as the feeling washed through them.

Suicune stilled within Bertha’s grip, and rather than a growl, a soft, pained croon escaped it.

I felt a stirring of hope at that and emboldened Misty stepped forward. Then the miasma coating Suicune flared, causing a hiss from Suicune with it lunging at Misty only for Bertha to grunt and stop Suicune.

Through the bond I could feel Bertha marvel at the power of the much smaller pokemon. 

Misty surprised me by not breaking stride nor needing any further encouragement. She stepped forward with her hands raised. 

When she got close enough to touch Suicune the miasma flared up as though sensing Misty’s intent to cleanse Suicune.

The fact that it reacted struck me as odd. Was the miasma sentient? A parasite? Or was it tapping into something else.

Thoughts of Darkrai or potentially Giratina stood out to me. If there was ever a pokemon that could create such potent effects from residual parts of themselves then it would be them. 

Misty cried out in pain as she pushed her hand through the dark aura radiating off Suicune. Tears began to stream down her face from the pain and I moved forward, ready to drag her out of danger only for her to forge ahead, more determined than ever. 

“I know you’re hurting! Please! Let me help you! I’m sorry that other people have hurt you! Please! Let me make it right!” Misty begged, sending cascades of her tears streaming out as she locked eyes with Suicune.

The tears splattered on Suicune and… seemed to clear up parts of Suicune, as did where Misty was touching it.

“It’s working!” I whispered in shock. Next to me Sabinra nodded along, just as stunned as I was.

Lightning lit up the sky but we ignored it in favour of watching Misty push her aura into Suicune and for the miasma to recede like a tide on a beach. 

When it was completely gone I waved a hand to Bertha and she released Suicune gently onto the ground where it buckled and crooned weakly. 

It lifted its hexagonal head to stare at Misty who’d dropped to her knees so she could keep touching the Legendary pokemon.

She was still crying.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she wailed. “I’m sorry you had to go through with that! WE’re not all horrible people I assure you!” 

“Cooo!” it rumbled with a surprisingly deep voice as it moved forward to press its snout to Misty’s head.

Misty gasped as a light flashed out. 

Everyone blinked while Misty looked stunned. 

Huh, she’d done it. That… that certainly opened up some options for us.

And it also raised a certain dilemma, but one I might have an answer for. I fired off a priority message for the Guardians. It was going to be tight but they’d be able to find her and get her here, I had no doubt.

Another flash of lightning heralded a deafening clap of thunder that rippled outwards. 

I glanced back to find Zapdos fully committed to fighting the Shadow Lugia.

Despite the power of the storm being leveraged against Lugia it was clear Zapdos was faltering. 

I turned back to Misty and Suicune, only to spot her mouth moving. I just caught the tail end of what she was saying. “—I won’t forget,” she whispered so quietly I barely heard it. 

I stepped forward with a bevy of positions. “Here Misty uses these,” I said as I handed her the best potions I had. I moved to begin applying them to my pokemon who rumbled in thanks.

Bertha gave Suicune a wink and a thumbs up that Suicune deigned to ignore. 

I lightly slapped her and shook my head. Now was not the time for such antics.

“Brock! We got a pro—” Visquez shouted only for a huge boom to make me snap my head around.

That boom hadn’t been from thunder but something else. 

I twisted around only to catch a flash of five beams exploding out of Shadow Lugia’s maw that quickly coalesced and slammed into Zapdos. 

Zapdos was swatted out of the air and slammed into the frozen ocean where it was sent skidding along.

“Shit! Best big bird is down! I repeat! BBB is down! We need to mount a rescue effort!” Visquez barked.

Sabrina twitched “The fight with Shadow Lugia is spreading dark energies everywhere… I’m not going to be able to teleport you,” she admitted with a pained expression. 

“Save your strength Sabrina! We’ll need you to be the big damn hero I have no doubt!” Visquez shot Sabrina a thumbs up before taking off atop a Manetric.

“Visquez! We might need you to save a Raikou!” I shouted. 

“Awesome!” she shouted back. “I’ll stay on comms! If not! Fire a pair of flares into the air and I’ll come to that location!” she hollered back.

“Clairvoyance down as well?” I asked, knowing the answer before Sabrina nodded. 

I sighed, rubbing the back of my head as I drew out some binoculars to sweep the field. “Tch, it’s a good thing Visquez is moving to Zapdos. Team Cipher looks like they have a team on their way as well.”

I kept sweeping my gaze around only to pause. “Huh, she’s gonna have some back up.”

Erika perked up. “Yuki? Or Luana? Oh! Is Janine there?”

“Yeah, she’s about,” I offered noncommittally. I didn't look up into the sky, where Janine was piloting the Flying Palace, which was now dealing with Shadow Lugia’s attention. 

That was up until Articuno engaged it, earning a soft sigh of relief from me. 

“But no. Visquez has Jessie, James and Meowth for back up,” I announced. 

“Oh, well I suppose they’re alright,” Erika allowed. “I should probably—”

I tilted my head as I got a better look at the trio as they hurtled across the frozen ocean on Gyarados who was streamlining himself like a toboggan. “Where did Meowth get a Bazooka from?” I wondered aloud. 

“There you go, that should do it,” Misty said, having spent the last minute tending to Suicune. The water Legendary cat stood and shook itself out.

I glanced back and nodded. “Now you’re looking like yourself, Suicune,” I commented. “Much more handsome.”

It deigned to raise its head regally as if to say ‘of course!’. 

Misty bowed to the Legendary, then she twitched. “Oh… I might never get the chance again,” she whispered as she reached out to stroke Suicune on the shoulder. 

Suicune allowed it with a soft purr, causing Misty to squeal with joy. “Best day ever!” she screamed through a clenched jaw.

That… I wasn’t going to touch that with a ten-foot pole. Instead, I turned my attention back to the battlefields.

Fire island had lava spilling down it and Moltres seemed to be stuck fighting what I was guessing was… Raikou, judging by how lightning was being used against it. 

I swivelled my binoculars over to Ice island where I could see chunks of ice melting. Which meant I had a good idea where Entei was.

“Alright, the good news is I’ve located where Team Cipher has Entei and Raikou!”

Erika stiffened. “How is it good news that they have them as well?!” she wailed. 

“It’s not,” I countered instantly. “That’s bad news, but thankfully, we’ve just freed Suicune. So, bonus good news is that we can do that. The Legendary Cats aren’t loyal to a trainer like our pokemon are for us!” I declared. 

That earned me a round of nods from my pokemon and I thumped my chest. “Don’t discount the bonds we made with them Erika, we’re going to divide and conquer.” 

“Erika, you’re going to come with me and Sabrina to face Raikou over on Fire Island. When we clear out Team Cipher there we will enable Moltres to engage the Shadow Lugia and delay it,” I suggested. 

Erika considered that for a moment before nodding. 

I turned to our other companion. “Misty, I think it’s best you move to link back up with your friends on Ice Island where Entei is.”

“Cause I’m its best counter, got it!” she declared.

“Woah!” “Absolutely not!” I said as Erika whirled on Misty who flinched back in the face of our denial. Then she set her jaw and narrowed her eyes.

I just knew she was about to argue but there was no way in hell I was going to push Misty into the thick of—

“Guh!” Suicune stomped its foot and moved up next to Misty with a determined cant to its head. 

Then it surprised everyone by sweeping low and knocking Misty over so she went flying only to catch her and deposit her on its back. “Guh!” it announced with another final stomp of its feet.

Everyone stared while Misty looked like she’d just won the biggest lottery she’d ever dreamt of in her life ten times over.

Misty coughed and straightened up. “Suicune said that they will fight Entei.” 

Misty frowned. “I’m not sure I will be able to get through to Entei like I did with Suicune. We’d need someone skilled at fire aura!”

I chuckled. “Oh I’m way ahead of you there,” I replied with a smug grin that caused the ladies to all stare at me.

Then Sabrina read my mind and began to laugh. “Oh she’s going to hate you for that,” she replied.

“Probably,” I replied as I began inspecting the knocked-out Cipher Peons. Sabrina’s trick with having them shut down their dark emitters themselves wouldn’t work a second time if I were any judge of the message that got sent out. 

However, that didn’t mean that another trick wouldn’t work on them.

__________________

Flannery lazed on the bar a straw stuck between her lips as she pondered what to do. Her gramps had wanted her back straight away but she’d decided to stick around in Johto for a little while longer.

There were a few sites she wanted to check out, like the Burned Tower, Blue Moon Falls, Eclipse Castle, the Ho-Oh Shrine within Mt Silver, and of course, Charicific Valley. 

The last circuit had been all sorts of crazy and now she just wanted to kick back and relax.

She’d ticked off a few items and was working her way around to Charicific Valley and Mt Silver knowing they’d be places she’d end up spending a fair amount of time at. A week for each should be enough and then she’d be back home before the turn of the year, ready to assume her duties as Gym Leader.

If things went well she could even establish a proper trade deal for her future Gym with the local Charizard specialists.

She took another long sip from her coconut, dreaming about returning to her home triumphant with such a trade deal. 

She hadn’t won the Indigo cup, but that didn’t matter too much. Nope! Not at all! She wasn’t at all bothered about it!

It wasn’t like she’d come in with high expectations.

Nor was she annoyed that what had seemed like a local nobody had taken the trophy.

Still, she’d done well enough to earn entry into Mt Silver. 

It would be interesting to roam the plateau tops where wild Ponyta herds were said to inhabit. A comparison to her own team’s Rapidash could prove entertaining.

A sucking noise alerted her to her drink being empty. She lifted her head enough to raise the straw and deposit it into the next drink in the line.

Ahhhh, bliss, lazy days where no-one knew who you were. No Roxy to push a timetable, no need to train cause of damn early risers like Brawly, and no family hounding her to hurry up and take up her inheritance.

In Hoenn, she’d be a known face soon. 

In Johto she got some respectful nods if people recognised her at all. She’d have to scope out places to stay for holidays in the future. In Kanto she could always bum a bed out of Brock, or Sabrina if she needed it.

“Flannery of Lavaridge town?” rasped a voice from next to her.

Flannery shot upright in shock and whirled around to find Koga of the Indigo Elite Four standing next to her.

“Buh! Koga? Uhm that’s me! I mean! I’m Flannery! Not you!” she waved her hands about before laying them in her lap and straightening up. “Sorry! You scared me,” she admitted.

“My apologies then, but I needed to talk with you urgently. There has been a development and you need to come with me.”

“Huh?” Flannery replied. “Is this serious? You’re not just pulling my leg right?” 

Koga stared at her. “I would not, not when the fate of the world hangs in the balance,” he announced, causing a lot of people around the small hut that had been serving customers to fall silent.

“O-oh, alright then. Lead the way,” Flannery said.

Rather than move away an Alakazam appeared next to Koga. “Prepare your stomach. This won’t be pleasant,” he announced.

Flannery didn’t even have time to ask what he meant as moments later they teleported. They reappeared at another Teleportation pad used for public transit only to vanish with another Teleport to another pad.

Then they did it again, and again, and again.

By the sixth time, as the Alakazam stepped away to trade out with another Psychic pokemon Flannery couldn’t hold it anymore. 

The slight pause was enough to cause her body to lose control and she bent forward to throw up all the drinks she’d been enjoying for the last hour. 

Koga handed her a handkerchief. Flannery didn’t have it in her to feel mortified that she’d splattered his shoes. “This is nothing like Sabrina’s Teleport,” she growled.

“Sabrina is a highly specialised Psychic trainer with pokemon that reflect that,” Koga said as he accepted his handkerchief back only to flick it into a nearby bin.

“How many more do we have to go?” Flannery asked, hope and fear clashing at what the answer might be.

“Another four,” Koga admitted and Flannery felt her body shudder. “We shall be quick.” 

By the time the fourth Teleport was done Flannery felt like she’d been on the longest, most sickening rollercoaster of her life only to be thrown off the ride where she was caught by a drunken Pidgeot that did nothing but loop-de-loops and barrel rolls.

“We have arrived,” Koga announced, kneeling down to help Flannery find her feet.

She staggered, woozy only for a clap of thunder to rumble overhead. A chilly gust of wind caused her to stiffen up and she jolted, the sudden nausea vanishing as her body broke out into goosepimples.

A pokemon somewhere roared in anger and the sky lit up.

Flannery reached into the pouch she always kept on her to drag out winter gear only to look around and find herself on a tropical island that looked like it was supposed to be having a festival.

“Where the heck are we?” she asked.

“Shamouti island,” Koga answered, directing her to follow towards what looked like a hive of activity as people and pokemon crowded around what had to be a community centre building that opened up to a cliff face overlooking the ocean.

An ocean that was frozen, and a sky that was dark and turbulent.

“Is that a giant airship?” Flannery gasped, her eyes spotting the glint of metal in the sky. 

“Yes, now come, your questions will be answered inside,” he urged.

Koga cut through the crowds of people moving about. Some were doing so with purpose while others were running around like headless farfetch’d. 

When they approached a door that had another crowd Koga did…something that caused everyone to step back. He swept through them and people stared as he advanced. Flannery hurried after him as Koga waved a hand at the door.

“Open it,” he commanded.

The doors opened and they were let through. The people behind them made to follow only to be held back. 

Flannery blinked as she found herself in a command centre with various people standing around a large table with maps, computers and live feeds from outside spread out around the room.

Some of the monitors had people watching them. At quick intervals they’d shout updates of what was happening to the room at large.

Despite this other people were causing most of the noise within the room with a tall green haired woman slamming her hands on the table. “This is an obvious heresy and needs to be handled! The terrorists need to be punished!” she screamed like a zealot.

Another man was patting the air with his hands to try and calm the woman down. “Delegate Fjord, we have professionals and police already taken some of them into custody. They are questioning them now. I would remind you this is not Fiore. This is the Orange Islands and we will take the lead on this matter,” declared the man.

“More like you’ll go scampering to Indigo!” snapped Fjord. 

The man grimaced only for his face to tighten as Koga set himself at the table’s edge. “It is not a weakness to have another share the burdens of a tragedy. This is unprecedented however. A foreign organisation has struck and we need to handle it. This calls for a calm and collected approach.” 

A ping on Koga’s wrist had him draw back his sleeve to reveal a rather advanced-looking transceiver in matte black. He scanned a message and nodded. “I have good news, Suicune is willing to fight with the trainer who cleansed it of corruption.”

“Did they enslave it?” Fjord spat heatedly. 

Koga shook his head. “They used Fiorian methods it would seem by proving themselves pure of heart.”

That caused a ripple as murmurs broke out around the room. Koga reached back and clapped Flannery on the shoulder. “It is a working hypothesis but we will need another type specialist to handle the corrupted Legendary pokemon known as Entei.”

Flannery blinked. Then she looked around only to find that eyes all around the room were staring at her.

“Oh,” she said. “I’d thought I was called up because of being Hero… well that’s not important right now,” she said with a blush.

Fjord opened her mouth and Flannery would bet anything she was about to protest only for one of the people manning the monitors to stiffen. “Moltres is fading against the shadow bird!”

That caused people to grimace only for another person in front of a huge panel of blinking lights to perk up. “We’ve got a connection to the airship! They’re talking with us!”

People whirled towards a large screen where a masked woman appeared with a hand raised in front of her face as she dramatically laughed at them as a way of greeting. 

“Ohohoho! Greetings from Team Hurricane puny people of the Orange islands!” declared the woman grandly as she swished a cape about herself that would have done Champion Lance justice.

“Team Hurricane?” Koga growled, stepped forward and glowering at the image. “Are you linked with Team Aqua or Team Magma!”

“Those fools couldn’t hold a candle to me!” announced the woman. “Witness my power!” she claimed. “I shall capture the Legendaries! And claim them for myself! Muhahaha!” 

The cape was waved about again and the woman posed before scowling off to the side. “But first I shall see to these thieves who would steal my glory!” With that said the screen went blank.

Flannery tilted her head. Was this woman serious or was she just that… hammy?

Fjord bristled. “Another group of heretics! I leave Fiore only to find crooked men and women wherever I go! You will not take them!” she shrieked. 

Fjord made to keep shouting only to slump.

An older bearded man stood. “Delegate Fjord you’re becoming compromised. The stress of today has gotten to you! Best you go to the medical centre!” the man said calmly. “Come I’ll escort you,” he said, taking Fjord in his arms and carrying her off.

Flannery blinked and her eyes slid towards Koga. She couldn’t quite pin down why… but she suspected he’d just taken the opportunity to do something… which was frankly terrifying.

Koga merely nodded towards the other older man. “Thank you Elder Tobias.” Koga turned towards the other man. “Champion Yuji, I’m surprised you’re not out in the thick of it?”

“Luana is handling it,” he replied vaguely. “I need to direct the situation here,” he declared.

Koga hummed but didn’t say anything more, instead turning his attention to the maps and reports. “Flannery, we need to get you to Ice island,” he declared. “That was the last known location of Entei. There, you will have to battle with hostile forces known as Team Cipher, take possession of a pokeball looking like this.”

Koga tapped on his wrist and an image of a dark looking pokeball that radiated shadowy energy was displayed.

“Destroy the ball and then approach Entei. It is suggested that you restrain it. We have teams in the field to assist with this. Then you need to… you need to cleanse Entei.” Koga moved to a printer that he tapped his wrist too. A moment later pages began to whir out of the machine. 

With the pages still warm Koga handed Flannery the paperwork. 

“Here is a brief description of the theorised process.”

Flannery accepted the paper, her head spinning even as her eyes darted over the words about linking aura… reaching out with your heart… desiring to do right and heal Entei…

Flannery licked her lips. “Theorised?”

“It is what Brock was able to summarise of the process used to cleanse Suicune,” Koga.

“...” Flannery continued to hurriedly read the document. She felt a trickle of despair as words that she’d read in family texts on raising fire types were dotted throughout. She’d never be able to tell her grandfather about this or she’d never live it down.

But at the same time there was no way she couldn’t tell him.

Then a frown stole over her features as something Koga had said registered to her. “Brock wrote this?” she asked. 

Koga nodded, eyes tracking the feeds around the room. “He was. It’s rather interesting as it links into some of the Fiorian religious texts.”

Flannery blinked. The fact that Koga of all people had read Fiore’s religious books rather surprised her. 

“The son of a bitch owes me so much,” Flannery couldn’t help but mutter.

A small huff of laughter escaped Koga. “I’m sure he wouldn’t disagree with you. On both counts,” he whispered.

Flannery finished reading the stack of papers and nodded. “Alright, I think I understand.”

Koga held up a hand. “Then read it again. We don’t have the luxury of possibilities. Slowly read through it again.”

Flannery grimaced. She’d been ready to tear away but Koga was probably right. She wasn’t going to be able to pull out notes in the middle of the storm.

She gave the notes another look over, making sure to slowly read them this time.

When she was done she looked up only to blink as she saw markers indicating various teams had moved. “Who are they?” she asked.

Yuji hummed. “That is Brock and Sabrina, they are moving to engage Team Cipher that appeared on Fire Island with Raikou. They were thankfully too slow to intercept Moltres from engaging with Shadow Lugia but with how it is destroying Moltres it won’t be long before Moltres retreats.”

Flannery perked up at the mention of another fire type Legendary. She flicked her eyes over the map. 

Koga tapped the map. “They are going to stop Moltres from being captured and hopefully free Raikou. Brock is the best for that purpose with Sabrina supporting him. We have another specialist on the field ready to cleanse Raikou but for the moment they are protecting Zapdos who fell in combat with Lugia earlier.”

Entei, Moltres, and even freaking Zapdos… this was nuts. She wasn’t sure about it but she was pretty sure the giant flying type fighting all comers was Lugia.

Flannery nodded. “Alright, I’m ready! Do we have any fliers?”

Yuji barked a laugh. “You think it’s smart to fly in this weather? Get real!”

Koga frowned at Yuji but nodded tightly. “It is best to make your way on foot. I understand you have a Rapidash?” he asked.

Flannery nodded only to perk up. “Oh! The ocean’s frozen isn’t it?”

Koga nodded, his eyes flicking to Yuji. “You will require support to make sure you reach your destination.” 

Yuji made no move and Koga hummed. “I shall escort you.” Flannery found herself once more following Koga as he cut a path out of the building.

Flannery released her Rapidash only to be startled when Koga released a Charizard of all things.

“You own a Charizard?" she shouted. Somehow that… Well it wasn’t the most surprising thing about today.

“Yes, he is an extremely capable pokemon, even if my daughter has corrupted him in some ways,” Koga replied. 

Flannery tilted her head in confusion only to spot that Charizard was making a handseal as Koga set up a saddle on its back.

Flannery shook her head as she did the same for Rapidash before quickly mounting up. “Time to show off the meaning of speed Rapidash!” she ordered. 

“Wait! Take me with you, I can help!” shouted a young sounding voice that caused Koga and Flannery to whip around only to find a young… boy with long green hair racing towards them. His robes flapped in the wind. 

“Kid, it wouldn’t be a good idea!” Flannery shouted. “Your mother needs you to look after her!” 

“No!” shouted the boy and Flannery stiffened at the raw emotion that radiated off the boy with a single word.

Now that he was closer Flannery could see that he was glaring. “I need to see the horrors these people are committing to the Legendaries! But I can help! You need to get through to the pokemon? Don’t you?”

Koga frowned. “How did you hear about that child? Is someone feeding information outside? Or did your mother plant a device?” he growled.

“I just know!” snapped the boy, his green hair whipping about. “I can help! You need me!”

The last words cut into Flannery and she found herself starting to reach down to lift the boy up only for a wing to snap out between them.

Flannery blinked in shock. Why was Koga stopping her? The kid… huh, now that she thought about it… why did she think it was a good idea to take the kid?

Koga stared down at the kid. 

“Go look after your mother Natural!” Koga turned back to her. “Flannery! We need to go! Now!” 

Flannery nodded and nudged Rapidash to move. Within moments she was tearing away, racing down to the ocean only to accelerate further an Agility started to come into effect. The ice hissed underhoof and steam shot up behind them.

A screech from overhead announced Moltres’ retreat from fighting with Shadow Lugia.

Shadow Lugia made to pursue, only for the airship to fire something at it. Bands of metal and electricity captured the pokemon only to Lugia’s head to twist around and five beams to launch out that collapsed into each other to form a powerful blast that slammed into the airship.

Bits of metal were flung off and Flannery blanched as she directed Rapidash to avoid a few that were hurtling towards them.

The metal hit the frozen ocean and caused huge geysers of water and ice to erupt around them only for Rapidash to escape the danger quickly.

“Ha! The criminal groups are attacking each other!” Flannery called to Koga who was keeping pace.

The man looked deadly serious now that they were in the thick of things but then again he had a bit of a reputation. 

They found themselves hitting the edge of Ice island only to be met by a group of five trainers wearing weird futuristic knight armor. Around them pokemon were lined up, prepared to fight.

“Halt! Reliqui—” one man tried to say only for Charizard to swoop forward and unleash an impressive Fire Blast at them.

“Ah! Protect us!” screamed the man, unknowingly ordering his pokemon to use Protect.

Koga landed and from his pokebelt eight pokemon emerged but Flannery swore she caught sight of others flitting away into shadows.

“Keep going! I’ll take care of these people!” Koga announced and with how fierce he sounded Flannery almost felt sorry for them.

She powered ahead, charging up the slopes of ice-island only to find herself in the midst of a three-way battle between Suicune, a corrupted Entei— who was being ordered around by another group of Cipher criminals, and what looked like Ninja fighting alongside Ash, Forrest, and Misty. 

Behind her the song bird-like trill of Articuno fighting Shadow Lugia rang out only for another, more powerful roar to echo throughout the islands.

Flannery turned back just in time to spot a twister erupting from beneath the frozen ocean causing waves and shards of ice to go hurling into the air.

From the middle of the twister a form equal to that of Shadow Lugia appeared as an aura of light and power radiated out.

The twister was blown apart and a moment later a white and blue Lugia locked eyes with Shadow Lugia. 

An explosion from behind her made her turn back to the fight with a swallow. There was madness everywhere she looked and she was about to throw herself right into the middle of it.

This day was turning out to be all sorts of nuts.

____________________

A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for your continued support!

Thanks also go to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter!