Chapter 369: Regroup
~Third POV~
[Sevii Islands, Nighttime, Later, Five Island]
The air above Five Island had turned thick and heavy, not with humidity, but with the sheer potential energy of an unstable threat. Below, the sand of the beach was still scarred by the recent, disastrous battle.
Sird, her face obscured by the perpetual shadow, watched the struggling form of the defeated Red. Beside her, Carr nervously fidgeted.
He had failed to defeat him, a failure Sird hadn't allowed him to forget. Sird drawled, her voice a silk-wrapped knife, "You truly disappoint me, Carr. To be challenged by a child armed only with a battered Pikachu and still fail to secure victory is inexcusable. That battle wasn't even a warm-up compared to what I put Elite Four Lorelei through back on Seven Island."
Carr shrank back, muttering apologies, his eyes fixed on the bizarre, crystalline form of Deoxys hovering nearby. Deoxys, having exerted itself in its previous forms, was half-transparent, fading slightly at the edges.
Sird, however, was ready for its next evolution. From a pouch at her hip, she produced two magnificent gems, pulsing with internal light: one the deep, passionate crimson of a volcanic sunset, the other the cool, oceanic blue of the deepest sea.
Sird announced, her hand extended in an excited voice, "Observe, Carr. The power of the Blue and Red Stones. The Ruby and Sapphire!"
*WFFWWFFF*
She tossed the stones—the very essence of Hoenn's climate, the Ruby and the Sapphire she had stolen—at Deoxys. The alien Pokémon absorbed the energy of the stones. Where moments ago it had been semi-transparent, it now gained full, vibrant color, and then, a radical metamorphosis began. Its muscular Defense Forme and its crystalline Attack Forme were shed entirely.
*WZZZZZ*
Deoxys stretched, its body thinning and streamlining until it resembled a razor-sharp arrowhead trailing twin filaments of energy. It was a shape engineered purely for motion. The new Forme shot past the prone Red, leaving a gust of wind so violent it scattered the sand like shrapnel and knocked the boy's hat clear off his head.
*WOOOSH*
Sird murmured, a hint of satisfaction in her voice, "The Speed Forme! The Forme that maximizes mobility, leaving nothing in its path but the vacuum of its wake. Now, we return to Seven Island. We have a specimen to retrieve."
With a simple gesture, Sird and Carr vanished, leaving only the sound barrier-breaking whoosh of Deoxys as it streaked toward the next island. Bill stood there, shocked and confused by what occurred…
/////
[Sevii Islands, Meanwhile, Five Island]
High above the sea, Blue was furious, determined, and riding his magnificent Charizard toward Five Island. He had defeated Orm on Six Island and extracted the horrifying truth: Professor Oak, his grandfather, was a captive of the resurgent Team Rocket.
He desperately needed information, and Red was the most likely source. Blue spotted the familiar shape of the Seagallop ferry chugging toward the island pier and directed Charizard down to land on its deck.
That was when the air shattered…
*SWOOOOOSH*
A thin, crimson blur—faster than anything Blue had ever seen, faster than a Zapdos at full tilt—shot past, inches from his head. The resulting shockwave slammed into him like a physical wall. Blue shouted, losing his grip, "Crap!"
*FWP*
Charizard roared in alarm as Blue was thrown violently from its back, tumbling precariously toward the churning sea. He managed to recall Charizard just before he plunged, relying on his training to twist in mid-air and hit the deck of the Seagallop hard, skidding to a painful stop.
*Thud*
He gasped, rubbing his bruised shoulder, "What in the World was that?"
The Seagallop docked seconds later, greeted by a frantic-looking Bill. Bill's relief turned to concern as he noticed Blue's disheveled state, as he said, "Blue! Thank goodness! We need you—"
Blue snapped, already recovering, "Never mind me. I just met the fastest thing alive. Where's Red?"
Bill led him ashore, directing him to a nearby shack. Red lay on a cot, his expression distant and distressed, the trauma of complete humiliation etched onto his face.
Blue stated bluntly, though his tone was sympathetic, "Red. You look terrible."
Red shifted, giving a weak greeting. He sat up slowly as he said tiredly, "Blue. Green. You're all here. I fought the second Deoxys. I thought… I thought I was ready. But it completely defeated me."
/////
[Sevii Islands, Evening, Five Island (Outskirts)]
Later that evening, the scattered survivors found a small measure of safety in a forest clearing near the cliffs. A small fire crackled, casting dancing shadows over the grim faces of Red, Blue, Green, Bill, the legendary master Ultima, and the weary Sailor.
The Sailor held a crackling radio, which broadcast a chilling message: communication lines to Five, Six, and Seven Islands remained unstable; strange atmospheric disturbances were reported; civilians were advised to remain indoors.
Blue, ever the pragmatist, consulted Bill as he asked cautiously, "So, to recap. Deoxys has its standard form, its Attack Forme, and its Defense Forme. And now, you're saying it has one more?"
Bill confirmed, nodding his head as he explained calmly, "Yes. The one that almost finished Red—which Sird called the Speed Forme—and then the one that flew past you, Blue, after Sird powered it up with those strange stones, the Ruby and Sapphire."
Blue whispered calmly, processing the information, "Four forms. Four completely distinct tactical profiles."
Ultima, usually reserved, looked worried. The Sailor, however, spoke for everyone as he said bluntly, "How can we possibly beat opponents with that kind of power?"
Blue placed a confident hand on Red's shoulder as he explained calmly, "It's not the first time we've faced impossible odds. We stick together. We find Lorelei—I suspect she's still on Seven Island, maybe near where those Team Rocket operations are centered. We go after them in the daytime."
He looked to Red for confirmation, but Red was staring blankly into the fire. Blue asked, annoyed by the lapse in focus, "Red? What is it?"
Red snapped back to the present, rubbing his forehead. "Sorry, I was spacing out. It's just… everything that happened. It overwhelmed me."
He dropped his voice, the firelight reflecting the vulnerability in his eyes. "I keep thinking… have we relied too much on the Pokédex in our fights? I became so used to having its data, its instant knowledge, I became dependent on it."
He gestured vaguely toward the pockets where his device usually resided as he continued, "The Pokédex made us famous. People flocked to us. But when I was defeated, when they saw me without it, they treated me horribly. Like I was nothing. I feel like… without the Pokédex, I am nothing."
Green and Blue exchanged sympathetic glances. Red's pain was deeply familiar. Blue had felt the same nagging doubt, and Green had struggled with her own identity following the tragedy at the Sevii Islands.
Taking a deep breath, Blue admitted sharing his concerns, "We all got dependent, Red. But we're more than the tool. If we work together, coordinating our strengths against its forms, we still have a chance."
Red insisted, shaking his head as he rebutted bluntly, "But we'll still lose without knowing more. We don't know its patterns, we don't know its weaknesses. It's an alien—there's no data on it."
The conversation stalled, hitting the cold granite of the unknown. Bill, who finally broke the silence, his voice surprising in its sudden conviction, "Why not ask Azure?"
Every eye turned to Bill. Bill clarified, counting on his fingers, "He battled the first Deoxys. He was the only one of us who managed to capture it and keep it contained before… well, before the events that led to its current location. He has more information on that creature than anyone else, for that matter."
Bill looked expectantly at Green as he asked curiously, "You were the last one to see him, weren't you? Do you know where he is now?"
Green blinked, recalling their brief meeting as she explained calmly, "Yeah, he mentioned heading to Seven Island. He was going to challenge one of the Three Beasts when we departed from One Island at the Pokémon Net Center."
She paused. Then she added on in a calm voice, "At his request, I headed to Two Island, where Ultima was located. I met her halfway there as I was riding on Moltres; I caught sight of the Seagallop shortly thereafter."
Blue sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, "Great. He's chasing shadows while the real threat is closing in."
He stood up, the weariness forgotten as determination returned, stating, "Look, we have more important things to discuss than trying to hunt down an old friend who prefers to avoid the limelight."
He looked at the group, his eyes hard. Blue then explained, "Team Rocket has my grandfather, Professor Oak, in captivity."
A collective gasp swept through the camp, surprised by the news. Red's defeated posture straightened instantly.
But before anyone could formulate a response, a new voice echoed from the darkness above the cliff face, low, controlled, and distinctly amused, "Prof. Oak had been kidnapped. Again?"
*Fwp*
The sound of wings beating the air accompanied the voice. The group looked up, shielding their eyes from the sudden burst of light from the full moon.
*Fwp*
Swooping down from the sky was a magnificent Dragonite, its orange scales gleaming. Riding confidently on its wide back was Azure. He was lean, dressed in simple but expertly tailored adventurer gear, and radiated an aura of calm, unbreakable strength.
Perched easily on Dragonite's head, regarding the group with bright intelligence, was a familiar, energetic Pikachu. And balanced perfectly on Azure's shoulder, observing the proceedings with a detached, knowing glance, was an Eevee, its fur pristinely groomed.
And Azure was not alone. Sitting behind him, her expression guarded but present, was Lorelei, the Ice Queen—Elite Four, and now, perhaps, an ally. Dragonite landed smoothly, displacing only a scattering of pine needles.
*Thud*
Azure dismounted, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces, resting momentarily on Red's dejection before settling on Blue. Azure said coolly, his smile genuine but brief, "Sorry for the late entrance…"
His movements were precise, economical, like a man who knew the value of every second as he continued, "Seven Island was surprisingly busy. It seems the Three Beasts aren't the only things stirring up trouble."
He greeted Blue and Red with a nod, then focused on Bill. Azure said calmly, scratching Eevee behind the ear, "I heard the message from the Three Beasts at the Net Center on One Island. I'd had to pick an enemy and chose Lucky Number 7. But if Team Rocket has Professor Oak, we have bigger problems than a rogue alien, even one with a newly maximized Speed Forme."
Lorelei stepped off Dragonite, her cool gaze assessing the young trainers. She stated, speaking for the first time, "Sird was difficult. An army of Unown she awakened by solving the Tanoby Key. And if they have Professor Oak, they're likely trying to consolidate power. Azure has been… gathering intelligence. We know where they are."
Azure looked at the Dex Holders—Red, Blue, and Green—their faces illuminated by the campfire. He knew their reputation, and he knew their current despair.
Azure turned back to Blue, his own Pikachu chuffing in agreement at his feet. Azure said curiously, the question laced with expectation, "So, Blue. If the Professor is kidnapped again, you must have a plan in mind. Let's hear it."
/////
[Sevii Island, Island Five – Rocket Warehouse]
Meanwhile, in the depths of Five Island, Sird and Carr made their way through the desolate corridors of the Rocket Warehouse, the base secured with high-tech defenses. Sird activated a large monitor, the screen displaying a complex tracking map.
Sird announced, her voice clipped as she focused on their objective, "Deoxys's energy signature is weak but stable. Its new Defense Forme managed to absorb most of the damage from Red's electrical attack, but the core strain was immense. It fled to the most secluded location it could find."
*BEEP*
On the screen, a small pulsating blip appeared, landing on a distant, rocky outcrop—Birth Island. Simultaneously, the monitor displayed a live feed from an observation Unown floating above the island: the creature—now in its Normal Forme—was sinking into a strange, geometric energy barrier.
Carr identified, his voice filled with awe, seeing Deoxys, "The Delta Shield! A perfect pyramid. It's attempting to heal while sealed off from outside interference."
Sird contacted their leader as she stated excitedly, "Giovanni. Deoxys has returned to Birth Island. It is currently encased in a regenerative Delta Shield. We estimate it will be contained for at least a few hours."
Giovanni's voice, raspy and hard, came through the comm unit, "It has been heavily injured. Leave it be for now. You and Carr have done your duty in securing the Ruby and Sapphire for its final transformation. Now, focus on the prisoners and the deployment sequence."
Carr, standing stiffly beside Sird, noticed something lying precariously on a console—a photograph, clearly missed in their haste. He picked it up. It showed a younger, stern-faced Giovanni, his arm wrapped around a small, red-haired boy clutching a Poké Ball.
Carr's eyes widened slightly. He recalled the whispered rumors among the old Rocket hierarchy—a legendary Boss who had a son, a boy who had vanished, rumored to be a Dex Holder.
The image in his hand clicked into place. Giovanni wasn't just building an empire; he was searching. Carr held the knowledge close, keeping it from Sird.
He already knew that when Deoxys awakened from its healing slumber, its power would be magnified. Giovanni wasn't just going to use the alien creature to dominate Kanto; he was going to use it to dominate the very possibility of finding his lost family.
Suddenly, the warehouse doors shuddered open, confirming his suspicions. Giovanni entered, his shadow massive and imposing. He was accompanied not by Grunts, but by his own powerful Pokémon: Beedrill and the earth-shaking Alpha Garchomp.
Giovanni looked neither at Carr nor Sird, his eyes fixed on the tracker displaying Birth Island. Giovanni thought, the silent word a burning prayer, 'My son… I will finally see him again. And then… I'll settle my old scores…'
Without another word, Giovanni walked past his subordinates and headed out the back of the warehouse toward the exit. His destination was clear: Birth Island. The prize was Deoxys, but the motivation was purely parental. And Azure was flying directly into the crosshairs of this desperate father's ambitions.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!
Also, Merry Christmas, everyone! I'll release 3 Chapters just for the occasion! Enjoy!