Previously, Mitchell had sent two Pokémon to pursue Aoki and the other two Trainers who entered the tree hollow.
Drake had been desperate to rush to their aid, which prevented him from fighting at full strength. The frustration of being held back had weighed heavily on him during the battle. Only now had he finally reached the base of the ancient tree.
Seeing that Aoki and the others were unharmed, Drake steeled himself, ready to unleash his full power without restraint. Sensing the shift in Drake's demeanor, Mitchell and his two allies tensed, their expressions darkening.
"Lord Drake, wait a moment," Aoki called out, halting the Champion's advance.
Drake turned his attention toward Aoki, who pointed upward at Celebi, the Mythical Pokémon hovering mid-air with clear displeasure etched across its features.
"Celebi?!" Drake exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his battle preparations.
"Celebi!!!" Mitchell and his companions gasped in unison as they followed Aoki's gesture and locked eyes with the legendary time-traveling Pokémon.
A gleam of triumph flashed in Mitchell's eyes. This was the reason he had orchestrated this mission—why he had convinced the conservative elders of the Hunter's Guild to invest vast resources, even going so far as to enlist the aid of Team Magma and Team Aqua.
He knew the legends surrounding Celebi. He understood its powers.
"Himura! Izumi! Both of you!" Mitchell barked, urgency sharpening his tone. "This is our target. Remember our agreement. If you can keep Drake occupied, I can handle Celebi."
Himura and Izumi exchanged glances, their shock giving way to contemplation. Though their respective organizations sought Groudon and Kyogre, they were not ignorant of other legendary Pokémon. The sight of Celebi stirred greed in their hearts.
Mitchell caught their hesitation, his expression hardening. "Himura! Izumi! Do not forget the alliance between the Hunter's Guild and your teams. Do you wish to answer to Maxie and Archie for jeopardizing this operation?"
The threat was unmistakable.
Himura and Izumi scowled, unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner. Yet before their departure, their leaders had stressed cooperation with the Hunter's Guild. Maxie and Archie had been adamant.
Still, Mitchell knew threats alone would not suffice.
"Once Celebi is secured," he added smoothly, "the Guild will provide you with resources to break through to Champion-level strength. That is my guarantee."
The promise of power was enough. Himura and Izumi nodded.
Mitchell barely contained his excitement. With Celebi under his control, the Hunter's Guild's vast resources would be his to command. No longer would he answer to the timid old men who clung to neutrality.
He envisioned an empire rivaling Team Rocket itself.
But he had overlooked one detail.
Celebi, though not a battler by nature, was still a Mythical Pokémon. Persuasion alone would not tame it.
"Aoki! Steven! Phoebe!" Drake's voice cut through the tension. "Guard Celebi. I'll deal with them swiftly."
The Champion's stance shifted, his full focus now on the battle ahead.
"Himura, Izumi!" Mitchell snapped. "Five minutes. That's all I need. My Pokémon will support you."
The two Team leaders nodded grimly.
It was time to reveal their trump cards.
In near-perfect unison, they each drew a Poké Ball from their belts and released their final aces—two fully evolved Pokémon, both at the peak of Elite Four-level strength.
Mitchell, too, sent forth his full team, joining Himura and Izumi's assault against Drake.
Then, with deliberate care, he retrieved two specialized Poké Balls.
A Ninjask and a Shedinja materialized on the battlefield.
Aoki raised an eyebrow.
Mitchell had done his research.
Celebi, as a Psychic/Grass-type, was quadruply weak to Bug-type moves.
Ninjask, with its Speed Boost ability, and Shedinja, with its near-invulnerability thanks to Wonder Guard, were ideal counters.
Steven and Phoebe tensed, ready to intercept.
"Aoki, direct us," Steven said, deferring to Aoki's tactical expertise.
But Aoki merely smiled.
"No need," he said, waving a dismissive hand. "We won't interfere."
Steven and Phoebe stared at him in disbelief.
Aoki offered no further explanation.
Mitchell had made a fatal miscalculation.
He had underestimated Celebi.
He had underestimated Mythical Pokémon as a whole.
If capturing a being like Celebi were so simple, then Team Rocket's Giovanni would have long since subdued Mew.
Mitchell was strong—but he was no Giovanni.
And Celebi, though less combative than Mew, possessed abilities beyond mere battle prowess.
Celebi had had enough.
These intruders had defiled its sanctuary.
Now they sought to enslave it?
Unforgivable.
Celebi's eyes blazed with fury.
It would not hold back.