Chapter 12!

Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me!

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 12

 

            “I call forth – the Emerald Phoenix!” Red cried, before green light surrounded both him and Butterfree.

            Crimson eyes met Giovanni’s again. Long, elegant white feathers grew from Red’s back, as green feathers covered the rest of his body.

            “So… you think to defeat me with a prophecy? Dream on, Red!”

            Red’s eyes widened as a Master ball sucked him inside…

            Giovanni laughed. “Fool…”

 

            Back in Ecruteak, Agatha shook her head.

            “… that was foolish.” Lance muttered.

            “Well, yes. Now what do we do?”

            “Attempt a rescue?” Claire asked.

            Morty shrugged. * We probably ought to help… *

 

            “I’ll go.”
            “You sure, Lance?”

            “Why not? Everyone else – the world believes I’m dead.”

            “True, but you’ve lost your powers to Red.”

            “I can still defeat Giovanni.”

            “Well, all right. Be careful.” Claire said, giving Lance a hug. “Want me to come along? I might be able to help…”

            “Better not, Claire. He might attack our Clan.”

            “Point taken. Take care of yourself, Oniichan.”

            “I promise, Claire.”

            Lance released his Umbreon, and in a haze of shadow they were gone… darkness crept closer to Viridian…

 

            That was stupid.

            Red told his mental voice to shut up. He was trying to break out, but Master balls were guaranteed to catch pokemon all the time…

            He was half-pokemon at least right now.

            Well, nothing he could do. Unmerging from the Emerald Phoenix was dangerous, and he’d only tried it once before. Trying to break free in a poke ball was even more hazardous. What if it exploded? Then he and Butterfree would both be dead.

            I tried…

            “I know Butterfree, I know. Not your fault.”

 

            Seconds ticked by, minute’s… hours… was Giovanni ever going to let him out? Probably not.

            What an idiot I am!

 

            “Well, what is it now?”

            The Rocket grunt shook his head.

            “Speak up, or…”

            “Intruder, sir! He’s already destroyed the first two floors!”

            “WHAT?!”

            Giovanni strode up, anger filling his mind. Who dared…

 

            “HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

            Three rockets shot into the room, gibbering with fear.

            Giovanni watched as a trainer clad in a black cloak flew down the hall – flew! He rubbed his eyes again. No, it was really flying-.

            He barely had time to release his Machamp when the trainer attacked.

            “Dragon Rage!”

            Machamp staggered back. Giovanni frowned. This voice was also familiar, but wasn’t the owner long dead?

            He’d seen the evidence himself.

            So how on earth-?

 

            Lance smiled. “Nice to see you again.”

            “Machamp, Cross Chop!”

            Lance focused, his eyes boring a hole through Machamp's body. Suddenly, the pokemon dropped down, gurgling painfully, blood frothing at the mouth.

            So the white eyes could kill… interesting…

            Giovanni did not waste time, his Golem and Rhydon charged together. With one swift hand gesture, Lance melted into the shadows… only to reappear behind Giovanni with a thrust kick to the ribs.

            Perfect.

           

            Giovanni coughed, and Lance took advantage to quickly grab the Master Ball.

            “Curse you!”

            “Thank you, thank you.” Lance sketched a bow before vanishing again.

            Giovanni cursed. Well, this was just wonderful…

 

            Back in Johto, Red left the poke ball…

            “Rather careless of you, Red.”

            “Gomen nasai… I had to trouble you to rescue me…”

            “It’s nothing, just think a little more next time.”

            “Hai!’

 

            Back in Johto, the snow had stopped. Some weather manipulation with his dragons had done wonders, enhanced by the Viridian power.

            Red wondered what power Lance had now.

            He only had one pokemon, an Umbreon… but…

            Lance was still not to be trifled with. Odd.

            What was his secret?

            Did projecting confidence and power actually give one those strengths? Or did you have the qualities first?

            Red shrugged as he undid the melding, apologizing again to Butterfree, who brushed it off.

            Maybe… he should go to Viridian and try catching a new pokemon there instead?

            Maybe… something stronger… there were plenty of different pokemon in Viridian now, due to ecosystem shifts…

            But… something told him to stick with Butterfree – no?

            Poliwrath?

            But was Poliwag originally from Viridian? Maybe…

            It would make sense. His first ever pokemon… to join forces and defeat Team Rocket… Poliwrath had saved him so many times from their evil schemes…

            Why not?

            It was worth a try!

 

End Chapter

Completed 2/14/05