Chapter 379: Carr's Revolt
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Viridian Forest, Team Rocket Airship]
The metallic groans of the Team Rocket airship echoed through the frigid atmosphere, a dirge for the shattered ambitions within. On its exposed upper deck, a titan had fallen as Deoxys' core remained and was collected by Azure's hands.
Mewtwo stood, its chest heaving, purple aura flickering like a dying flame. Exhaustion etched into every line of its formidable physique. Yet, even in its profound weariness, a faint smirk played on its lips – the satisfaction of a worthy battle, a primal clash between two forces of nature.
Azure stood beside his formidable partner. His usually calm eyes, sharp as a honed blade, then shifted to Giovanni.
The Rocket Boss, who moments ago had radiated an aura of absolute command, was now a figure of disbelief, struggling to push himself upright from where the concussive force had thrown him. Giovanni's voice was a rough whisper, a testament to the blow to his ego more than any physical injury, "Deoxys… lost?"
He tried to force himself up, his muscles screaming in protest, but a slender figure stepped between him and Azure. Sird, one of Team Rocket's enigmatic Three Beasts, moved with a serpentine grace.
Her expression, usually veiled, tightened with concern. Sird cautioned, her voice low and even, yet holding an undeniable steel, "Giovanni-sama, you mustn't overexert yourself… we found your son."
Her gaze, cold and calculating, flickered from the weakened Mewtwo to the equally strained Azure as she continued, "Allow me to deal with the boy and his Pokémon. Orm, escort Giovanni-sama back to the ship's interior. He needs to recover."
Orm, a hulking figure with a perpetually grim countenance, nodded silently. As he moved to assist his leader, Azure, sensing the shift in tactics, took a step forward. He called out, his voice cutting through the wind, "Not so fast, Sird. You won't get away that easily."
But Sird merely raised a hand, a subtle gesture that brought immediate results. From the shadows of the airship's superstructure, four Poké Balls materialized in her grip, then burst open.
*Zooom*
A sleek Persian, its sharp claws already extended, joined a shimmering Starmie, its gem pulsing with latent energy. Beside them, Orm's Pokémon came out, a trio of giggling Hoppip danced nervously, and a sturdy Shuckle quickly took up a defensive stance, adding to the encirclement of Azure and Mewtwo.
The tactic was clear: overwhelm the weakened combatants and secure Giovanni's retreat. As Orm guided a reluctant Giovanni away, disappearing into a hatch that hissed shut, Sird's Pokémon lunged.
*Zooom*
Persian darted low, aiming for Mewtwo's legs, while Starmie launched a rapid-fire barrage of Water Pulse attacks. The Hoppip, surprisingly agile, tried to create distractions with Sleep Powder, and Shuckle braced itself, ready to absorb any counter-attack.
Azure's eyes narrowed. His own Pokémon were safely tucked away in their balls, ready but not needed for this specialized combat. Mewtwo was the key here, and it was barely standing. Azure commanded, "Mewtwo, brace yourself!"
*SHIIII*
… but before he could issue a specific attack, Mewtwo let out a guttural roar, "GROAAA!! (You shall not pass!)"
Its exhaustion might have been profound, but its intellect and battle instinct remained razor-sharp. Without a spoken command, its body glowed with an eerie white energy that solidified into a shimmering, multi-faceted barrier – a perfect, crystalline octahedron that flared with protective power.
Azure immediately recognized this barrier. It was the Delta Shield, Deoxys technique, as he thought, surprised, 'Mewtwo even learned its Delta Shield? Nice.'
*CLANG*
Sird's attack Pokémon slammed into the barrier, their attacks dissolving harmlessly. Her casual indifference evaporated, replaced by a dark scowl. Her eyes, usually so impassive, widened almost imperceptibly with a mixture of surprise and grudging admiration as she thought, 'It copied Deoxys's signature move? Even after that brutal exchange?'
The residual energy required for such a complex, high-level technique should have been beyond a Pokémon so depleted. Mewtwo truly was a force of nature, its capabilities seemingly limitless even when pushed to the brink.
This made it an even greater threat.
*Hissss*
Just then, a small access door on the airship's hull hissed open, and a figure stumbled out, disoriented. Blonde hair, a floppy straw hat, and wide, innocent eyes – it was Yellow. She looked around, her gaze frantic, until it landed on Azure and Mewtwo, trapped within the shimmering Delta Shield, surrounded by Team Rocket Pokémon.
*Swf*
Mewtwo, its senses far surpassing human perception, registered the girl's presence immediately. A flicker of something akin to concern crossed its powerful mind. With a flash of iridescent light, before Sird could even register what was happening, Mewtwo used the last vestiges of its Teleport energy.
*Thud*
Yellow vanished from the doorway and reappeared inside the protective confines of the Delta Shield, landing with a soft thud beside Azure. Azure, startled by her sudden appearance, though not entirely surprised by Mewtwo's protective instinct, raised an eyebrow.
Azure asked tiredly, his voice laced with curiosity despite the dire circumstances, "Yellow? How did you get here?"
Yellow, her face streaked with soot and worry, clutched at her chest as she tried to explain, "Azure! I… I came for Silver! He… he's on the ship, they took him, and Sird, she… she made him wear a uniform and… and Giovanni…"
She stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush, unable to form a coherent explanation of the terror she'd witnessed. Azure, ever pragmatic, cut to the chase, "I know he was captured, Yellow. I saw Sird take him. But right now…"
He gestured vaguely at the snarling Pokémon trying to break through the shield, then pointed at Mewtwo, who was visibly swaying now that its task of teleportation was complete, as he continued, "… can you heal Mewtwo, please? We're kind of in the middle of an enemy attack. And I'm nearly out of juice..."
Yellow's bright eyes, quick to perceive suffering, widened as she truly took in the sight of Mewtwo. Its powerful frame was shaking, its aura barely a whisper, and even Azure looked thoroughly battered, his clothes torn in places, his breathing ragged.
A wave of innate empathy washed over her. Without hesitation, she knelt beside the legendary Pokémon, placing both hands gently on its arm.
*Shiii*
A soft, verdant light, shimmering with the raw energy of nature, began to emanate from her palms. It wasn't the harsh energy of a Potion, nor the clinical efficiency of a medical device. This was the Viridian Force, the essence of life itself, flowing from her and seeping into Mewtwo's exhausted form.
The legendary Pokémon let out a soft sigh, its body relaxing almost imperceptibly as the golden-green light enveloped it, knitting together frayed nerves and rejuvenating spent energy. Sird watched, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
Her expression darkened, the calculated calm replaced by a cold fury as she thought, concerned, 'Healing Mewtwo? Now?'
This was an unacceptable turn of events. With Deoxys out of commission, Mewtwo was the single greatest threat to Team Rocket's immediate goals, a living weapon of unparalleled power. If it regained even a fraction of its strength, their entire operation could be jeopardized.
A dangerous thought bloomed in Sird's mind, tempting and terrible as she thought bitterly, 'Darkrai. I must use it, or else I'll go down!!'
The nightmare Pokémon. She had it, a volatile force she could barely control, one that could plunge an entire region into a sleep of terror.
But if she unleashed it here, now, even if she couldn't fully command it, its mere presence might be enough to sow chaos, to overwhelm this psychic powerhouse. It could eliminate the greatest threat to Team Rocket's future, or perhaps, to a future that Team Galactic was trying to forge.
The risk was immense, but the potential reward…
/////
[Kanto Region, Meanwhile, Team Rocket Airship]
Meanwhile, in a more secluded sector of the colossal airship, Silver stirred. His head throbbed, a dull ache behind his eyes. He blinked, disoriented, the sterile white of the medical bay slowly coming into focus.
He was lying on a cot, his body protesting with every movement. But it wasn't just the headache that disoriented him. He was wearing it again – the hated black and red uniform of Team Rocket.
Panic flared in his chest, quickly doused by a cold wave of memory. Sird. Her chilling words echoed in his mind before the darkness claimed him, 'Your father is waiting for you, Silver. It's time you took your rightful place.'
Silver mumbled, pushing himself up, his eyes darting around the room, "Father?"
And then he saw him. Lying on an identical cot next to him, his face pale and etched with exhaustion, was Giovanni. The man who had been the face of the criminal empire he so vehemently despised.
*Pop*
As if sensing his awakening, a flash of red light erupted from Silver's belt. Weavile, his loyal partner, emerged from its Poké Ball, a wide, almost triumphant smirk on its face as it looked at Giovanni.
Weavile had always shown an odd fascination with the Rocket Boss, an almost familial recognition that Silver had never understood. Now, a cold dread began to settle in his stomach.
His mind raced, piecing together fragments of memory, of whispered rumors, of an old, imposing statue in the Viridian Gym. A statue of Giovanni, the former Gym Leader. A statue that bore a haunting resemblance to… him. To Silver.
Silver shook his head, thought, 'No. It can't be.'
But the evidence, the words, the sickening feeling in his gut, all pointed to the same inescapable conclusion. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, the man who had stolen Pokémon and terrorized Kanto, was his father.
A bitter laugh escaped Silver's lips as he muttered, "So this was it. All this time, Giovanni wasn't just looking for a powerful asset or trying to rebuild his empire with him. He was looking for me. To mold me, to shape me into a successor, to drag me further into the darkness I had fought so hard to escape."
Silver whispered, his voice thick with a despair that threatened to consume him, "He wants me to take his place, Weavile."
Weavile nuzzled his hand, its sharp purr a futile attempt at comfort. Silver's gaze drifted to the sterile ceiling, images unbidden flashing behind his eyes.
He confessed, confiding in his loyal Weavile, who listened with surprising attentiveness, "I used to dream, you know. Dreams of being home. Like Green. She always talked about his house, filled with Pokémon, the sunlight streaming in. Or Gold's, where everything was so bright and tame. My dreams… they were like that too. Sunny fields, gentle Pokémon, a place where I belonged, where there was no fighting, no shadows."
He clenched his fists, the uniform feeling like a shroud. A sardonic smile twisted his lips as he muttered, "I always dreamed of being part of the light, you know, Weavile. Of escaping this… this darkness. But it never happens, does it? The darkness keeps pulling me away. It always does."
He sighed, accepting the cruel hand fate had dealt him, "I guess this is my destiny. To walk in the shadows. But…"
His eyes, usually so cold and distant, blazed with a fierce, defiant fire as he declared, "But I will never acknowledge him as my father."
He looked at the unconscious Giovanni with a look of pure loathing and continued, "Not the leader of an evil organization. Not the man who did all those terrible things."
With a sudden burst of resolve, Silver swung his legs off the cot. He had to get out, had to escape this suffocating reality. He took a step towards the door, determined to reclaim whatever shred of agency he had left.
*Grip*
But before his foot could touch the cold metal floor again, a hand shot out, strong and surprisingly swift. Giovanni's fingers clamped around Silver's arm, his grip like iron. Silver froze, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Giovanni's eyes, still clouded with exhaustion, were open, fixed on his son. Giovanni rasped, his voice rough but firm, "Silver…"
/////
[Kanto Region, Viridian Forest, Airship]
Back on the battle deck, the Delta Shield pulsed with renewed vigor as Yellow's healing aura continued its work. Sird, seeing Mewtwo's wounds visibly fading, was reaching for a specific Poké Ball; her decision was made.
Her expression darkened as she resolutely thought to herself, 'Darkrai. It's time to unleash the nightmare – '
*RMBL*
But before her hand could even grasp the spherical device, the entire airship lurched violently. A sickening groan of metal, a deep, resonant rumble, surged through the floor, knocking everyone off balance.
The deck beneath them tilted precariously, sending loose debris skittering. Orm cried out, returning to the deck, having successfully moved Giovanni but now caught in the sudden chaos, "What was that?!"
His sudden appearance, however, caught Sird off guard. Her identity, her association with Team Galactic, was now dangerously close to being exposed.
*Shiii*
Mewtwo, ever quick-thinking, solidified its Delta Shield and expanded it, using its psychic power to anchor itself, Azure, and Yellow. It deftly used its spoon to prevent them from sliding off the increasingly slanted deck, creating a temporary stable platform in the middle of the chaos.
Yellow exclaimed, her voice tight with panic, "It's part of their scheme, isn't it?"
Mewtwo, however, shook its head as it replied telepathically to them, 'No, Yellow. Look at Sird. And Orm.'
Indeed, Sird's cool facade had finally fractured, revealing a flicker of genuine surprise, even alarm. Orm looked utterly bewildered.
Sird muttered, her eyes scanning the control panels, "The ship… It's on autopilot. Someone has hijacked the airship."
*Crackle*
A crackle of static erupted from the comms, followed by a voice, cold and triumphant, echoing throughout the vessel, "Attention, everyone on board! This is Carr! And I've finally taken control of this flying fortress!"
The voice dripped with arrogant glee as Carr boasted, "Azure Sky, you may have been backed into a corner, and Giovanni, you may have just had a touching reunion with your long-lost son – not that I care about any of that sentimental garbage! I only care about one thing: power! I will crush every single one of you aboard this ship into pieces! Consider this my grand inauguration as the new leader of Team Rocket!"
Carr, a former Rocket grunt with a dangerous cunning, had indeed escaped the storeroom, his hacking skills proving more than sufficient to override the airship's sophisticated systems. He was now piloting the massive vessel with a single, murderous intent: to ensure no one aboard survived.
The airship tilted further, groaning under the strain as Carr put it through wild, dizzying maneuvers. Sird snapped back into action, her shock quickly morphing into furious determination, "He'll crash us! Orm, we must reach the cockpit!"
They scrambled across the tilting deck, fighting against the centrifugal force, trying to navigate towards the front of the airship. But another violent lurch sent Orm spiraling. He yelled, flailing, unable to regain his footing, and was flung headlong off the side of the airship, disappearing into the distant treeline below.
*Click*
Sird, without a backward glance, pulled out a small, intricate device – a controller. With a series of rapid inputs, she deactivated the airship's stadium mode, allowing the internal sections to reorient themselves, momentarily stabilizing the interior even as the ship continued its erratic flight.
Sird snarled, her loyalty to Giovanni, and perhaps her own hidden agenda, overriding all else, "I have to get control of this airship before Carr crashes us all!"
With the internal stabilization, Azure seized the opportunity. He commanded, "Mewtwo, to the cockpit!"
Yellow, still shaken but determined, followed closely behind them, the Viridian Force still flowing, though more subtly now, between her and Mewtwo. They reached the reinforced door to the cockpit, its heavy steel unyielding.
Yellow slammed her fist against it, trying to force it open. Carr's voice boomed through the speakers, laced with mockery, "Don't bother, little girl! That door is sealed tighter than a Master Ball! Nothing you do will get it open!"
/////
[Kanto Region, Team Rocket Airship – Cockpit]
*Buzzz*
Suddenly, Sird's image flickered onto a small video screen inside the cockpit, a secure line she must have established with her hacking abilities. She stated, her voice icy, "Carr, I will not allow you to jeopardize Giovanni's return to his son, nor my plans."
Carr merely scoffed dismissively as he mocked, "Oh, Sird, you always were a one-trick pony. Nothing you can do will stop me!"
It was then that a section of the steel wall beside Carr shimmered. His eyes widened just as Sird's Starmie, having used Camouflage to perfectly blend with the metal, burst forth. Its star-like body slammed into Carr with incredible force, knocking him and the pilot's seat violently out of position.
*SMACK*
Sird's voice, though coming from a mere screen, resonated with newfound authority, "I told you, I will not allow you to mess with Giovanni's reunion with his son!"
Carr, sprawled on the floor, grunted, but a twisted grin spread across his face as he replied, "Impressive, Sird, truly. But you're still not as good as me!"
*KA-BOOOOM*
Before Sird could respond, a colossal explosion ripped through the side of the airship, shaking it to its core. A massive hole appeared, spewing smoke and debris. The sudden decompression and force sent Sird, along with one of Carr's Forretress, spiraling out into the sky.
*Pop*
Carr gloated, pulling himself to his feet even as his Skarmory materialized beside him, ready for escape, "Fool! I planted ten other Forretress throughout this ship! Even if you managed to land it, it would still have been blown to pieces! This entire vessel is a death trap!"
With a final, triumphant cackle, Carr leaped onto his Skarmory and blasted out of the newly formed hole, vanishing into the clouds. The video monitors showed Azure, Yellow, and Mewtwo.
Azure felt a surge of cold fury. This maniac intended to kill everyone aboard, regardless of consequence. The airship groaned, its descent accelerating as the explosions weakened its structural integrity.
Azure ordered Mewtwo holding the Master Ball containing Rayquaza. With a nod, Mewtwo's eyes glowed blue as the Master Ball vanished under the effects of Teleport.
/////
[Kanto Region, Viridian Forest – Airspace]
*Fwp*
Carr, basking in his momentary victory aboard Skarmory, grinned viciously at the fleeting Airship in the distance, "Ha! Hope those suckers die – "
*SWF*
But suddenly felt a terrible shift in the air ahead of him. The sky itself seemed to warp, and a shadow stretched across the light. But before Carr and his Skarmory could completely disappear, a sudden, impossible shadow fell over them.
*Pop*
The sound of a Poké Ball from a short distance could be heard opening. They saw it was a Master Ball, and what materialized made the very air around them grow heavy, crackling with raw, ancient power.
*RMBL*
Carr, mid-flight, froze, his triumphant grin replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated terror. His face drained of all color as he stared at the being that had materialized in front of him. It was a colossal serpentine Pokémon, emerald scales shimmering with primordial energy, its massive body rippling with barely contained power.
Its eyes, golden and piercing, fixed on Carr and Skarmory with a hatred so profound, so ancient, that it felt like a physical blow. Rayquaza appeared as its Master Ball was returned in a flash of Teleport light as it growled, "Grrr… (You dare to claim my Lorekeeper life like those foolish humans before… You'll die a horrifying death!)"
Azure, seeing the legendary Pokémon from a distance, understood. He had known this was a possibility if their situation grew truly dire. He had called upon a power few could even conceive of.
Mewtwo, without a word, had used Teleport, bringing this being out of the distant skies and directly into the path of Carr's escape. Rayquaza, the sky-high Pokémon, let out a guttural roar that rattled the very heavens, "GRAOOO!!! (NOW DIE!!!!)"
*PEWWWW*
It unleashed a full-powered Strong Style Hyper Beam, a focused torrent of destructive energy that glowed with the intensity of a collapsing star. It struck Carr and his Skarmory instantly, vaporizing them both into nothingness, leaving not even ash behind.
*Sssss*
Then, with a silent, majestic grace, Rayquaza turned its attention to the plummeting airship. Its massive body coiled, unfurling, and then wrapped around the falling vessel, its immense strength and sheer mass acting as a colossal, living brake.
The airship shuddered, moaned, and with agonizing slowness, its uncontrolled descent began to halt, suspended precariously in the sky, held captive by the enraged Master of the Sky. Azure, Yellow, and Mewtwo watched in awe, the immediate danger averted, but the true scope of the battle and the powers at play had just begun to unfold.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!
And as a special thanks to the readers who read this to the end of the year, I'll be posting 3 chapters to celebrate! Hope you all have a good end of the Year!