With such terrible news landing in my lap, I had to force down the urge to react instantly. To start moving and making calls to anyone and everyone that might have a better idea what was going on.
Instead of doing any of those options, I clapped my hands together and stared at them. Then I released and inhaled. The world shimmered, and I felt my body relax.First, I needed to see my family's needs. I activated my transceiver."Flint, there's been an incident. Talk with Yolanda, lock down the house, and make sure everyone's safe. I'll have some Gym trainers patrolling the grounds. I need to go see about an issue in the Silver Mountain ranges.""I-In the Silver ranges? Brock that's dangerous!" Flint said."It'll be more dangerous if I don't go and help deal with the issue," I said. "I need to make some other calls; talk with Yolanda." I hung up on him and turned my attention to Dennis, who was standing at attention."Sir!" he said, his chest puffing out slightly."Dennis!" I nodded at him and resisted the urge to suggest he stand at ease. "Have Rachel cancel any more matches for the rest of the day. Send out a general alert for any trainers in the region to the west of Pewter that there will be unusual movements." I rubbed my jaw. "Have two groups of two trainers patrolling the reserve together to stop any strong pokemon that might sweep away from Mt Silver… I doubt it will get that bad, 'cause they'd need to cross Victory road, but just in case."Dennis nodded, dutifully writing down my orders."Do you need me to come with you again, Brock?" he said.I considered him. "No, I'll need to move fast, and for that, I need pokemon that can keep up and fight off all threats. Your pokemon are strong but…"Dennis grimaced. "I don't have enough pokemon to fall back on, even if I used some of the Four badge pokemon.""Hmmm, you're better holding down the fort here… unless your family needs you, then assign the roster to…" I had to consider it for a moment. Missy would be technically the next Gym Trainer but there was a better choice. "Tell Yolanda, as she'll be in charge." I fired off a message to give her a heads-up as I marched into the medical wing where A.J. was resting. Missy, the trainer who seemed to have been asked to stay with him, nodded. She then immediately stiffened when Dennis punched a large red button that set off a gym alert."Brock?! Dennis? What's going on?" Missy said worriedly."There's been an incident with Mt Silver." I glanced over at A.J. "Stay here with him until he wakes up and protect this area in case anything happens, alright?" She nodded seriously as Dennis saluted me then jogged away while calling for Rachel.I handed over some of my pokemon that A.J. had knocked out to Chansey before considering the shelves of pokeballs. I marched past them to a section of the wall that unfolded as I approached to reveal a host of different balls.Titan's Greatball resting in the centre announced it as my Elite Team's pokeballs.I keyed in a manual code and unlocked them all. I could carry ten pokemon with me, and I intended to go with my ten strongest pokemon.Titan, my Tyranitar in his Greatball.Bertha, my Rhyperior. She made two with her pokeball.Shrek, my Swampert. Three with his ultraball.Tide, my Lapras. Four with a dive ballSanchez, my Alolan golem. Five with his pokeball.Don, my Aerodactyl. Six with his Greatball.Selene, my Lunatone. Seven with her Luxury ballZephyr, my Noctowl. Eight with his pokeball.Knight… no. Another water type would be best here considering the usual denizens of the Silver Ranges…I took my hand off Knight's Dusk ball and instead grabbed Hypnotoad's pokeball. As a Poliwrath she'd fit in with what I needed and also offer a fighting type to fight off any Ursaring. She was a solid ninth choice. Which left my final choice…My eyes darted between two pokemon before I settled on my final selection to take with me.Jormungandr, my Steelix. Which made ten with his pokeball.That would leave Shin, Knight, and Gawain to hold down the fort."Take care!" Missy called out to my back as I marched out into the reserve and pulled out a whistle. It cut over even the warning tones that rang out with the Gym alert system.Titan, who'd been standing in the middle of the training field, locked eyes on my position and barked to the other elites to form up on me. I ran my hand across the pokeballs on my belt in a practised motion, and my giant pokemon vanished in bursts of light. Shin blinked in surprise when he was left standing out with Knight and Gawain. I held up a hand to forestall their disappointment."I'm going to be entrusting all of you with protecting the Gym and my family if we come under attack." Shin straightened at that, and Knight puffed out his chest while Gawain shifted nervously. "Gawain. Follow Shin or Yolanda if she gives you any orders, alright?" He nodded hesitantly.I clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, just breathe. You've done great with training, and your matches in the Ace circuit as a Scyther have been spectacular. I'm going to be using you this weekend against Will." That had him standing taller.I glanced down at Clefairy. "Sorry, but this is much too early for you, your time will come." He nodded sadly. I nodded back as running feet approached me."Brock! What's going on? I got your message!" Yolanda said with Crystal and Greta by her side."There's been an incident in the Silver Mountain Range. This will disrupt a lot of powerful pokemon and potentially cause a cascading effect. I need to head out with the rangers and stop whatever is causing this." On my wrist, another red alert blared out to underline what I'd said.Yolanda swallowed. "What should I do?"I knelt down and clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Make sure our siblings are safe first and foremost, then see to the Gym. Do the first, and you'll have done all I need from you, alright? If Dennis needs to leave for his family, Yolanda, you're in charge, but you don't need to do everything. Just ask and any of the trainers will help out."Yolanda nodded. "A-alright. Are you going to be alright?"I shot her a smirk, only for another voice to cut me off. "I will make sure he's safe." I glanced over my shoulder and grinned at Sabrina. I felt my heart soar when I saw her. I hadn't yet had time to call her. It said something about her that I didn't have to ask."You're going to look after me?" I said teasingly."Yes, like I have many times in the past." Sabrina patted Yolanda on the head. "I am well versed in looking after him, don't worry." Crystal leered with a light blush, while Greta merely tilted her head innocently. Yolanda giggled as I made a face."Alright, you lot, get to where you need to be. Crystal, Greta, you stick together and see what Dennis needs from you, alright?" Both girls nodded seriously and moved off with Yolanda first, before breaking off into the Gym and the assembly area. I watched them go; they probably should have gone there first, but they must have wanted to stick with Yolanda while they could.I shrugged it off and turned to Sabrina. "So…" I said eloquently. Sabrina raised an immaculate eyebrow, and I found myself appreciating it anew. Had she always been this beautiful to me? I grinned at her as I reached out and took her hand in mine.With my heart thumping in my chest, I looked deep into her eyes. "Hey, you know I—" Sabrina teleported us and we found ourselves in the middle of the assembly area of the Pewter Ranger base. "—love you," I said, finishing what I had been in the middle of saying.Somehow— probably due to Sabrina's flashy teleport —everyone had stopped what they were doing and a silence had gripped the field as I'd arrived and spoken. Which meant that everyone had heard my profession of love for Sabrina.She blinked and nodded. "I know." She turned away for a moment before shifting and squeezing my hand. She turned back to me. "I love you too," she whispered.I blushed. I hadn't planned for this to be such a public display, but now I felt like I had to follow through. I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Sabrina decided to lean in to deepen it."Brock, Sabrina," said Hank, after a few seconds of letting us kiss, "Stop making out and distracting my Rangers."I broke off the kiss and coughed sheepishly.Sabrina frowned at him.He huffed, letting her look wash over him. "It did a good job of breaking up the tension, though, so thanks for that." He turned and clapped his hands before stepping up to a box that had been set next to him so he could look out over the small army of Rangers that had assembled.I felt the blush creep back in as I realised I must have just said 'I love you' to Sabrina in front of roughly a hundred people. I was still getting some amused looks as Commander Hank cleared his throat."Everyone! We've assembled enough Rangers and support to make a trek into the Silver Ranges! The Rangers from Blackthorn are moving from their northern base and will be linking up with Clair, Lance, and the other Elite Four. I have been told that Agatha and Koga are indisposed so only Bruno and Lorelei will be defending the League!"This caused some murmurs to break out. "Quiet!" Hank barked out.He swept his hand out to cut through the tension that had started to build up once more. "We've handled these situations in the past without their support! Don't forget that this means there will be upwards of a hundred trainers dedicated to the preservation of natural habitats and the trust of the pokemon within those areas!"This had a number of trainers puffing up and I had to nod. That was well handled.Hank stared out, locking eyes with as many people as possible and making them rise to the occasion. "I'm going to be looking to all of you to stand tall. We will be advancing in teams of two or four depending on the sub-sector that you are assigned. You will be within a quarter klick of another two groups at least with how this needs to be played out! Should you encounter pokemon in the field, make sure to use Ranger balls on them to get them out of danger. Sometimes the most dangerous pokemon of all are those that are hurt! Remember, they can be kind souls and still lash out!" He waved a hand to a number of crates with ranger balls in them. I pocketed a few, not having grabbed any back at the Gym. Sabrina took a few herself.Hank looked around and locked eyes with as many people as he could, nodding and showing that he was there with them. "Look to your Senior rangers now! Let's get this under control! Rangers Ho!""Ho!" roared back the assembled rangers as one.Hank nodded and stood down as people started shouting for groups and names to form around them. I waved when I saw Sylvie and Andrew. Both of them were leading groups of their own but they nodded back. A few of the younger-looking Rangers looked relieved when they glanced over at Sabrina and me."Strongest in Kanto!" I heard someone whisper."Good to have them coming like this!" another said.I decided to copy Hank from earlier and made sure to lock eyes with people while adopting a stoic expression. Hank approached Sabrina and me."Brock, Sabrina, I'm glad to see you both. Thanks for coming." He stared at me. "I need to use you, Brock. I need you to check in on the Empress. Lots of powerful pokemon are getting provoked. With her proximity to Mt Silver, I need to keep her in check." He tapped the baton on his side and grimaced as he set his other hand on a Greatball. "One way or the other."I locked eyes with him and nodded slowly. "Alright, I think Titan can deal with her if push comes to shove."Hank nodded and glanced to the southwest. "It'll be tough getting there 'cause of how many pokemon will be disturbed.""We can get close with my teleport,"Hank grimaced. "Don't depend on that. Don't get locked in." He looked to me. "If you have to, remember to run away."I nodded at his advice, and he nodded back before clapping me on the shoulder and nodding to Sabrina. "Make sure your lady makes it out with you. Stop throwing up red flags like that."I blinked before chuckling as I realised what I'd done. "Heh, sorry I didn't think of that." Then I paused. "Wait do you—""I enjoy certain books, alright!?" Hank growled before huffing and releasing a large Pidgeot. "MOUNT UP!" he roared to the rest of the Rangers. Around him, other flying-type pokemon appeared, while others popped open Rapidash. A trio of jeeps roared to life as supplies were piled into the back en masse.Then, with a great torrent of wind, the Rangers took flight as others raced off. I turned to Sabrina and took her hand in mine again. We vanished in a teleport and reappeared in a screaming forest. Sabrina stumbled into me and held her head.I instantly released two pokemon as a maddened Donphan charged me. "Zephyr, put him to sleep! Don, clear the skies!" Zephyr's eyes glowed as Don snorted and eyed the charging Donphan as it rolled into a tight ball and started to speed up.It lost its energy halfway towards us and like a wobbly tire rolled to the side and then collapsed asleep. I approached it and checked it over, no injuries, but with it being asleep it might get hurt. I tossed a Ranger ball at it just to get it out of danger. Zephyr ruffled his feathers and turned his head to the sky.I looked up and whistled at the number of fights taking place.I could see Fearow fighting Pidgeot. Golbat fighting Noctowl. A flock of Murkrow were fighting a group of Spearow. A Heracross punched through one of the fights and caused the fighters to tangle and the opponents to swap among each other. Then Don was in the sky, tearing into them.I glanced around as more pokemon cried out from the forest around us. Zephyr turned his head slowly in a full three-sixty before returning to the starting position and looking to me. "Noct?" he said.I tapped Zephyr and gestured to Sabrina. "Up to carrying both of us buddy?" He nodded."Sorry," Sabrina said as she mounted up in the front position of Zephyr's saddle. "I only got us within ten kilometres of Empress' mountain." I hugged her midriff."Don't worry about that. No one else would have been able to get us this close. Are you alright?"Sabrina shifted back into me as Zephyr took flight. She tapped a pokeball on her belt, and her Xatu appeared, flapping languidly as it eyed the surrounding area before glancing up at the fight that we were approaching.Don bowled Pidgeot out of the air and snapped his jaws around Golbat before hurling it away, well and truly in his element, brawling in the sky.A flash of lightning had me looking away from the aerial battle to see where that attack had come from. Zephyr flew on, with Don linking up with Xatu to circle us.We passed a small lake with a Dodrio and Tangela fighting it out on the shores of the lake while a Poliwhirl sniped at them. Dodrio replied with what looked like a Tri-Attack. Poliwhirl dodged only for a Magikarp to be zapped. The Magikarp turned with a snarl, and light exploded out of it as it evolved into a Gyrados that drew the attention of all the brawling pokemon.It unleashed a lightning move as it roared out in challenge.I grimaced. In how many ponds and water holes are similar fights causing Gyarados to pop up? The Rangers would have their work cut out for them in the following weeks, removing or adjusting to the changed territorial areas based on how things were playing out.We continued to fly to Empress' mountain. It just so happened to be the closest to Mt Silver. As we flew more and more battles played out, with what seemed like the whole forest of pokemon enraged. The forest broke and shattered around us as various pokemon brawled in the branches while in the plains, Donphan herds fought off Sneasel."This is insane!" I shouted as what looked like Dark Pulses erupted from another section of the forest causing the trees to groan as they were rocked back and forth. "I thought only one of the mountain areas had been affected?"Sabrina shook her head. "It seems three mountains have been, now. It is causing a ripple effect with so many challenges being laid out as more and more pokemon become agitated. Some of the losers are fleeing into other pokemon's natural areas and causing pressure."I grimaced, looking ahead to see that the mountain we were aiming at didn't seem to have much action on it.Then I saw an explosion rip through the peak, and my heart sank. "Shit.""Indeed," Sabrina said."Zephyr, we need to get there now!" I said even as my pokemon beat his wings furiously. He hooted and tried to lean in and push the wind to work for us. Then, out of nowhere, we were buffeted backwards as the wind swept us back. Zephyr spun before correcting with a harsh snap of his wings.He heaved in a few lungfuls before stilling as a keening, mournful roar rang out.Various fights around us in the skies and on land stopped for a moment.I shut my eyes and swore again.That had been the cry of a Tyranitar.A very, very angry Tyranitar.For a moment, I had dared to wonder if the Empress hadn't done us a favour with how every pokemon had stopped. Only to restart as the various pokemon worked out how far away the Alpha predator of this mountain was.I leaned forward. "Don! Xatu! Work with Zephyr with his Tailwind! We need to reach that mountain now!" Both pokemon nodded, Don being unusually compliant as he gazed towards the mountain.Another explosion rang out from another mountain peak, and as we flew past, I got to watch a troop of Graveler tumble down the mountain. All of them drifted together until they were clumped up. I watched as the lead Graveler held off the others for long enough to gather the most energy and inertia. Just before it slammed into the forest, light exploded out of it as it evolved.I turned away. In another setting, that would have been a wonderful experience to witness. Now it was just another powerful pokemon running rampant through the mountain range. From behind the landslide, a pair of Pupitar emerged from their burrows and glanced around.Nocturnal pokemon, and now subterranean pokemon emerging? This was very strange. Extreme behaviour, even. I toggled my transceiver and fired off a message to Hank to warn him of my observations and the various mountains exploding on us.He sent back a short 'affirmative and his estimated time to the edge of the danger zone'. I held in a chuckle at his choice of terminology as Zephyr came in for a landing. As he did, I spotted a white and black cat-like pokemon running away. We locked eyes and it paused for a moment to acknowledge me before continuing on its way.Damn… an Absol running away.I pushed what that meant out of my mind as I unbuckled and stood off of Zephyr. "Overwatch with Don," I said as Sabrina used me to slide off. Zephyr nodded and took flight.A deep growl ripped through the earth, and I snapped to look to the side as an Urasring approached with its fangs bared. I released my pokemon team, and Sabrina released hers.The Ursaring stopped in its tracks at the sudden emergence of so many pokemon. Bertha shot it an amused glance and made a shooing gesture.It growled, and its eyes started to glow. "Bertha, handle it," I said dismissively as I gestured for my pokemon to move on.Bertha laced her fingers together and raised them up over her head as Ursaring charged her with a Crunch powered up for her. She dropped her arms into him and hammered the Ursaring like it was a nail.It groaned in pain, and Bertha snorted over her defeated foe only to power up an Iron Tail and swing her club of a tail around to swat the pokemon away. I paid no attention to it after that. It wouldn't be badly hurt but it would slink away. We made our way to the peak proper. Instead of the usual clearing I expected, only devastation awaited us.The ground was torn up, and scorch marks were present. In the middle of the blast site, crouched Empress, Titan's mother and one of the strongest Tyranitars I knew. She shook in the middle of the destroyed landscape.If I didn't know better, I'd think she was shivering."Titan, let her—" I started to say only for Empress's giant scaly head to snap around to lock onto us. Her eyes glowed an ominous red. She hissed at us, and no sign of recognition was present."She's using Outrage Brock!" Sabrina warned as her own eyes glowed, and most of her team copied her.Their use of Miracle Eye did not go unnoticed.Titan stepped forward and barked a greeting, only to become the centre of her attention as she opened her maw and roared while stomping her foot into the ground. The stomp caused the earth to buckle under her.Bertha, Jormungandr, and Sanchez all stepped forward and stomped their own feet, or tails, in order to counter the small earthquake. Titan ignored the shaking earth and staggered towards his mother holding out a hand and crooning a whisper.Bertha barked a warning, and I grimaced. I had to give him the chance, but I really didn't have much hope with how her eyes were glowing red."Brock?" Sabrina asked, watching Titan advance on the other Tyranitar that watched him."He needs to make the attempt!" I worked my jaw back and forth. I wanted to send someone to back him up, but I wouldn't be able to without pressuring Empress.Titan reached her and crooned lowly before extending a clawed hand towards her. Empress shuddered and for a heartbeat, it seemed like he'd reached her.Then she roared and swept her hand forward to claw him. Titan caught the blow and snorted in a manner that I interpreted to mean, 'alright then, hard way it is'. "Ty!" he barked before shifting into a fighting stance, only to have to leap out of the way as his mother blitzed his position, swinging her tail around and cratering a chunk of earth."Alright team, let's get in there and knock some sense into her!" I said. At my side, Sabrina's eyes glowed and as one her team joined in. Rock rose and shot forward to hem Empress in, only for her to explode with dark energy and roar in defiance at being trapped.She whipped around again and blew apart a boulder to send shrapnel flying at everyone around her before leaping to attack Bertha. Bertha met her head-on with her fist and the two giant Rock pokemon slammed their fists into each other only for Bertha to skid backwards and clutch at her arm. She rose with narrowed eyes and her expression much more serious.Alakazam fired off a Psybeam as a trio of water attacks curved around and slammed into Empress' knee, making her buckle. As she descended, she clenched her fist and stabbed her hand into the ground before swiping it up and out to fling a boulder directly at Alakazam.Jormungandr broke it apart with an Iron Tail, and then Sabrina's psychic pokemon grasped it and hurled it back.Before it impacted her, Empress once more exploded with rage as draconic energy radiated out of her. Her eyes glowed darker red, and I grimaced. Instead of tiring her out, she was further embracing her Outrage and powering up.When she crouched, all of my pokemon tensed up, only for her to leap towards Tide."Skid back by using Hydro Pump on the ground!" I said forcing him back. When she hit the ground she paused as her weight forced her to sink into the mud he'd created. Bertha leapt after her and grabbed one of The Empress' hands, and then Hypnotoad skidded in on the other side to grab the other. Both pokemon pulled against her.She hissed and pulled them back. Both Bertha and Hypnotoad groaned as she began to overpower them. "Sabrina, can I get some Helping Hands?" I asked, and she nodded.A moment later, her Espeon glowed and energy shot forth to Hypnotoad, shoring her up as Slowking walked right up in front of the roaring Empress and Yawned in her face.She hissed and opened her mouth to blast him, only for a Psybeam to knock her head up where Titan grabbed her, and held her so she had no room to move. Slowking Yawned again, and Empress shuddered.She growled, and energy began to build up from within her. Bertha shook her head and leaned further back, Hypnotoad growled and copied her; Jormungandr snaked his tail through the mud to chop the back of her knee.Titan leaned in and crooned into her ear.Slowking Yawned a third time and Empress wavered before slumping as the fight left her. Her Outrage burnt through and all her energy spent.She warbled a noise as her eyes glanced around. Titan released her, and slowly the others moved away. Slowking blinked languidly and remained in place, seemingly not at all bothered that an extremely powerful pokemon was free and looming over him.Empress looked around and growled. I twitched and some of my pokemon prepared themselves to restrain her once more.Bertha stepped back in and punched her in the face.I stiffened, opening my mouth to order her locked down again, only for Empress to shoot Bertha a look and rumble. Bertha merely winked and rumbled something back. The rest of my pokemon relaxed at whatever had been said."She's just double-checking," Sabrina said neutrally as Slowking turned and started to walk away from the potential brawl. I resisted the urge to facepalm. This was not a double-tap scenario, damn it Bertha!Empress sagged down to collapse onto the ground. She surveyed her broken mountain top and then tilted her head back.Instead of roaring, she wailed.I could only stare alongside all the other pokemon, as one of the most powerful pokemon I knew cried her heart out.My mind leapt into action and pieced together what this meant just in time for Sabrina to sadly say, "The explosion broke apart her eggs…" Sabrina lowered her head.Bertha shifted before sitting down at Empress' side and offering her a shoulder as Titan took the other. The other pokemon stepped in and put a hand on her and bowed their heads as she mourned.In my mind, I vowed to make whoever had done this pay.This… this was a barbarity that took a special kind of villain.A true Villain.One that didn't care who or what they hurt."This doesn't make sense." I glanced around. Usually, villains had plans. What was the plan here? To cause damage and disruption? To steal away pokemon en masse in the chaos? Who would do such a thing? Team Rocket? This seemed too much just to steal pokemon. If they'd stolen the eggs, I would have pegged them right away. What was going on here?Sabrina nodded. "No it doesn't. This tragedy has to be part of a deeper plot. Whoever has done this needs to be so sure of their power that the backlash won't bother them… or they're so sneaky they can get away with it.""Don't forget, they might just be plain stupid…" I said, but I didn't believe it even as I said it. You didn't lace a number of mountain peaks with explosives without a plan. Explosives that would have caused this type of damage weren't something you could get your hands on easily. The only other option was a bunch of Electrode self-destructing. I doubted that even more, though.I marched to the edge of the mountain with Sabrina at my side and took in the chaos that was still playing out.I turned my head to the north and noted that Mt Silver itself was a pond of calm in an ocean of chaos as, all across the mountains, pokemon clashed and roars rang forth. But not a single pokemon came close to the tallest mountain.I opened my mouth to point out the small mercy that Mt Silver was still intact, only for a beam of purple energy to lance out from another mountain top and slam into the top of Mt Silver.Sabrina grabbed my arm tightly. "Brock… that was a very powerful Psybeam!" I glanced at her only to stiffen as I noticed all of Sabrina's team and my Selene were staring at the mountain that beam had originated from."I can't feel much with all the dark energy being thrown around, but I felt that," Sabrina said."Then that means this is Team Rocket…" I said with a sigh. What were they doing here? Was this a snatch-and-grab operation? Sabrina glanced at me as I sent a message off to Commander Hank as fast as I could, my gaze furtively looking up at the mountain."Because of the Psybeam? That… would have taken a very powerful psychic-type yes." She nodded slowly at my words.I looked at what had been hit. "Think we're lucky enough that the Moltres that's up there isn't home right now?" I paused as I realised something was off. Ever since that Psybeam something surreal was going on, but I couldn't—Mountains far to the north of Mt Silver erupted in flame. Volcanoes that had long been dormant were igniting. Had more explosions gone off and caused this? Damn that would cause even more panic among the pokemon. "Sabrina we need to—"A screech of primal rage exploded out of Mt Silver and a blaze lit up the mountaintop. A heatwave followed the scream and swept over me.Oh, those volcanic eruptions hadn't been caused by any explosives.I shuddered at the sudden temperature change, only to blink in surprise as I noticed the silence that had gripped the landscape. All the pokemon had noticed that attack and stopped fighting.Everything in the Mt Silver Ranges held their breath.Hoping and praying for an outcome that was slipping through our fingers.Two gigantic wings that shimmered with flames rose and fell as an adult Moltres took to the sky.The top of Mt Silver blazed as it did so, fire blossoming like a flower unfurling itself for spring. It trickled down the mountain, more like water running down a dry creek than fire through the forest.I did not need my eyes to know that there was a lot of fire. I could feel it on my skin.I swallowed and took Sabrina's hand in mine.She squeezed it as we watched a Legendary pokemon announce its claim over the mountain range.
127
Moltres beat its wings.They weren't the biggest wings I'd ever seen; that honour went to a specially bred carrier Pidgeot. Each sweep of its wings had caused dust storms as it carried an entire family.It paled in comparison to the raw power of a Legendary bird.The air shook with each mighty sweep of Moltres' wings. I shielded my eyes as heat radiated out from the mountain that must have been kilometres away. I felt Sabrina's Espeon and Selene raise barriers in front of us. I still had to squint at the intensity of the flames coming off Moltres. I did get to watch as Moltres beat its wings to rise off the peak of the mountain.I noticed things while watching it. Like how, while the wings were smaller than that Pidgeot, there existed a shell of flame that formed around the Moltres making it glow like the sun, extending the reach threefold.The wind swept through me, and I felt my mouth dry as the parched air sapped me. Around me, leaves shrivelled instantly on trees or browned entirely.Mt Silver burned as though it were merely a matchhead that had suddenly sparked to life. Parts of the crags tumbled down the mountain, becoming highways of flame that devoured everything that came close to the path of fire.It felt like the world continued to hold its breath as a Legend took flight.It soared into the sky, creating its own thermals to ride as it circled its mountain once. Embers followed in its wake, sparking into fires with its passing. I could feel its gaze sweep over us, hot and heavy, like a tear of the sun had landed on me. My skin burned, and I felt baked. Its gaze continued on, and it locked its eyes onto the mountain that the Psybeam had come from.It narrowed its eyes and screeched its rage before descending, talons extended wide and fire streaming behind it as it blazed forth. It hit the top of the mountain like a meteor. Fire erupted out with great boulders blasting high and arcing down like deadly missiles.It vanished for a moment into a mere inferno atop the mountain as it screeched.Good, it was fighting Mewtwo. And not just circling like a great flying calamity.I stiffened as that thought took all of a moment to settle before I realised the implications of two Legendary pokemon fighting.While we were within sight of them.I grabbed Sabrina. "We need to get out of here! Now!"Sabrina shut her eyes and a painful look claimed her face. "I-I can't Brock; there has been too much dark energy thrown around!"I adjusted. "Alright, we need to head out of here now, then! If that Moltres is fighting whatever's attacked it, we don't want to be here for the fight or the aftermath!" I swept Sabrina up in my arms. "Jormungandr! Let's ride out…" I paused atop him as he turned to the south, away from the danger, only for me to pause.I took a breath. Sabrina's smell, mixed with sweat and smoke, filled my nose as clarity took hold. "No, we can probably go to ground. Avoid all this madness."Even as I said it, I knew it was a leaky bucket that couldn't hold any hope. Atop the other mountain, Moltres screeched once more, and then the world shook. I cursed as all the pokemon that had been holding their breath all over the Silver Mountain ranges began to fight, flee, or feast as madness returned to them.Sabrina looked up at me. "We're not going to be able to tunnel down.""And no way I'm flying out with a Moltres flying about," I said. "We go south-east." It was in the direct opposite direction of the fight taking place atop the mountain behind us. Sabrina nodded, and Jormungandr started to move.I turned to the rest of my pokemon. "We're getting out! If you can't keep up, get atop Jormungandr or Tide!" Tide nodded as Shrek, Hypnotoad, and Selene hopped atop either pokemon. Slowking was levitated atop Tide, where he blinked in delayed surprise a moment later, only for some of Sabrina's team to join him. Xatu, Don, and Zephyr took flight and began to circle us.Sabrina looked up at them. "Stay low to the ground," she ordered, earning nods from all of the pokemon. I held in a smirk, so Don respected her enough to follow her orders?I checked my pokemon only to pause when I noticed Titan urging his mother to come with us. She was still kneeling where we'd left her, looking hollow while her claw nudged at eggshells."Ty! Tar! Ty! Ty!" Titan said urgently.Empress shrugged him off. I worked my jaw back and forth as Sabrina turned her head to see what the issue was. Bertha also turned and huffed. Then she marched up, snorted, and punched Empress in the face for the third time in minutes.The Empress stood and growled, only for Bertha to snort in her face again. "Rhy! Rior, Rhyperior!" She pointed at herself and then at Empress before flicking her fingers dismissively. She then made a small pinch and wobbled it. Bertha then pointed at Titan. "Perior!"Titan flinched, and… was he looking bashful?The growling Tyranitar stilled and frowned before nodding slowly and marching over to our group.I shot Bertha and Titan a look, with Titan rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly while Bertha looked smug.I gestured, and Jormungandr started forward. "Hold tight, everyone!" I said as I settled in on one of his body parts as, behind me, my pokemon clasped onto other parts. Tide swept forward and began to fire off a long ice beam that let him skate after us while ferrying half the pokemon. Sabrina shifted in a manner that I felt was more about her comfort than security, but I also felt psychic energy wrap around us both.I shot her a look. Did I even need to hold her?She shot me a look and patted me on the cheek patronisingly while remaining in my arms.Alright, so she never needed me to sweep her off her feet, but she apparently appreciated it.I tapped on my transceiver as we started moving. "Hank we have an issue.""An issue!?" he roared in response. "An issue is a Donphan migration through town! This is a damned calamity! I can see that damn Legendary bird burning the mountains and I'm not even close! It'd be easier to have a herd of Rapidash rampaging! Lance and Claire, along with all of my aerial Rangers, have had to be grounded or are tied up!"I blinked. "What!? Why?""We've just been swarmed Brock I'm going to lose good Rangers and pokemon if I don't start evacuating them!""Can't see Lance liking being on evac duty," I said."No, he was not happy. He was about to be some big damn hero and fight it!" I heard Hank mutter something about dragon-brained idiots. "Thankfully, they'd come in to drop off some injured pokemon when Moltres took wing. Clair tackled him off his Salamance and made him see sense."I blinked at a moment of amusement playing out as, in the space of one breath, Hank berated one Dragon trainer while praising another."Well, good to know we will have reserves. What are we doing about Moltres?""We're getting out and letting this disaster play out. There will be hell to pay, but I'm not throwing my Rangers or anyone's lives away fighting it!"I merely grunted. I suppose that's what you had to do when the disaster you were facing had as much right to the mountains as we did from a natural preservation standpoint. I had to frown, though. How did Moltres survive? Did they hunt for prey like Pidgeot or Fearow? The Rangers hadn't known what was atop Mt Silver. Just that it was powerful enough to make any of their pokemon avoid the place.Hank's voice came through again. "Brock, just get out. We'll form a cordon to the west and east to protect the towns if it comes either way, but after a day or so, it should settle down. We'll help what pokemon we can, but this zone is going to need careful nurturing going forward.""Ah," I said articulately. What else could I say to that? I looked around and saw that there was a lot of pokemon hunkering down, fighting against fires, or fleeing even as we charged past them. "Roger that," I said eventually, having to settle for a less-than-satisfactory answer.I clicked my transceiver off and sighed. This… this suddenly felt like one of the biggest failures of my life. I'd gone in to stop Titan's mother from worsening the situation, only to find her catatonic with rage over her nest being destroyed.Then I'd been blindsided. I had expected… the situation to be better? I really couldn't help but shake my head at applying that idea to Team Rocket. It felt like they'd crossed a line, but then again, a line had never been drawn in the first place, had it?Was this their response?We'd pushed them, and now the world was burning. I heard a screech and the sky brightened for a moment. Something powerful had just been used. I looked around to make sure my pokemon were still with me.Bertha was jogging along next to Titan and his mother. Sanchez tumbled along and bounced past them. "Golem!" he said, introducing himself.The Empress eyed him and shot Titan a dubious look. Titan didn't meet her eyes, while Bertha just chuckled as she ran straight through a tree.I shot her an annoyed look as the snapping crunch echoed across the mountain, heralding our presence.Bertha just kept laughing.Alakazam floated after us, his spoons in hand, and his eyes glowing as he orbited Sabrina before sliding over to bow to Titan's mother.Empress huffed in exasperation and ignored the other pokemon giggling. It was good to see they were still joking and in good spirits even as the screech of an enraged Moltres chased us down the mountain.Sabrina's eyes started to glow, and Alakazam stiffened. Xatu squawked and flapped its wings to go above the tree line for a moment before ducking back down."I don't mean to alarm you, but Moltres appears to have stopped fighting. The other pokemon appears to have vanished, and Moltres is now searching for it." A screech shook the mountain, and the sky brightened momentarily. "It is searching in an expanding circle, I suspect that if it doesn't find what it is looking for it will begin fighting anything it encounters.""I see," I said with a nod. "Rock Polish everyone!" I then turned to Tide and returned him and the others atop him as Sabrina recalled some of her own.Underneath us, Jormungandr gained a distinctive sheen to his body before he started to speed up. Then he did it again, and again. I hunkered down while rocks and trees broke as my pokemon and I formed an avalanche. A roar from another pokemon announced an Ursaring stepping in front of us, only for it to yelp as Jormungandr flipped it over his head."That help? I asked Sabrina.Sabrina looked behind me.I blinked as I realised how easy it was to see right now, despite the sun having set. We should have been in the shadow of the mountain. I glanced over my shoulder. "Oh Arceus damn it!" I said, as flames rippled across the top of the mountain we'd been on only minutes ago.The Moltres soared past to the west, and I shut my mouth as the air once more dried out and I was hit by a wave of heat. I tried licking my lips to wet them, only to find that a futile effort. I reached for a pouch and took a sip of a water bottle I kept on my belt before handing it off to Sabrina who copied me.We descended the mountain in a manner that I'd have never suggested to anyone else. But then again, having an inferno chasing you down the mountain while a Moltres soared overhead and roasted anything too slow to avoid it gave us all the haste we needed.As we hit the base of the mountain and started to relax, my transceiver started to blare a warning."Brock!" Hank's voice shouted at me. "We've got a problem! I've got a squad of Rangers that have been overrun with all the pokemon that have stampeded them! You and Sabrina are the closest! Can you get to them?"I toggled the Ranger maps and noted the position of everyone. There was a line forming up to the east and west and a few stragglers, but there was a very obvious group that was definitely out of position. Worse, there was a significant distance between them and any support bar us. I could see aerial Rangers moving on the other stragglers.I shot Sabrina a look, only for her to lean into the transceiver. "We'll get to them, Commander," she said."My thanks!" he said, "Make sure you look after yourselves first. If you can't reach them, don't force it.""Now who's raising flags?" I said as I directed Jormungandr in a new direction. We weren't going as fast as before, since we now lacking the inertia of charging downhill, but we were still moving quickly. Especially with how we were charging through anything in our way.I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a few weaker pokemon were even following after us, chasing us along the impromptu highway and firebreak that we'd created. Underneath me, Jormungandr groaned sadly."Shrek," I said to the only water type I had out still. Shrek turned his head towards us."Swampert?"I indicated Jormungandr and how dried out he was getting with all the fires around. This couldn't have been pleasant for him. "Think you can cool him off a bit?" Swampert frowned, and I hummed. "If you shoot some water in front of him, he can run through it. Maybe even give him a protective mud layer?""Swa!" Shrek said as he leaned out to do just that. Jormungandr groaned in relief as I felt his body start to cool off."Rhy!" cried out Bertha with a fake-sounding weakness. She swung her arms about as though she was feeling weak. I shot her an unimpressed look. "You're not a steel type. I'm not slowing you down with mud all over you."Bertha huffed and punched a Haunter that leapt out of the woods at her. Her fist glowed with energy as she grumbled. Don took the chance to sweep past her head and cackle.We closed in on the group of Rangers only to find ourselves having to race a line of fire that was itself hurtling along in front of us. I hummed. "How wide is it?"Sabrina's eyes glowed and her Xatu rose up to inspect the flame. "Too wide to run through or wait out.""Hmmm," I said understanding what she was implying. "Tide, Hypnotoad, Shrek, Bertha, Slowking, and Starmie?"She considered it before nodding. "That should be enough. They're all strong enough.""Good." We got as close as we dared before we released our water-type pokemon. Then we pointed straight ahead, through the fires. "Surf!" I barked as Sabrina's eyes glowed.Our pokemon channelled their energy, and as one they rose up on a gigantic wave that surged forward. "Rhyperior!" shouted Bertha as she rode the wave.Titan laughed only to shut his mouth and glance at his mother. I shot her a look and found her nodding, impressed with the display as we smothered the fire and advanced. When we reached the other side, I shot Bertha a thumbs up."Good work not tripping into any mud," I said. Bertha gasped, apparently just realising she could have gotten away with it, before grumbling and following us through. I glanced behind us to once again find a good swarm of smaller and weaker pokemon trailing after us."I feel like a pied piper," I said.Sabrina merely shrugged. "We represent their best chance and they seem to know it. Especially the grass and bug-type pokemon.""Ah, that's true." I gave the trailing pokemon a look and noted the Parasect and Heracross scattered through the swarm. I glanced down at the map and noted that we'd closed in on the Rangers. "Slow down up there!" I called out to Jormungandr."Rangers! Can you hear me!" I shouted. I shifted Sabrina out of my arms, and she stood, her eyes glowing as she turned her head slowly."There!" She pointed towards a tree that had snapped in half and fallen. I could just make out a hand limply poking out of some of the branches. I cursed and leapt off Jormungandr. Sabrina pointed her hand and raised it up, causing the tree to lift."Brock let me work; check over there as there are another three over there." She then pointed in another direction "And one over there that is still conscious."I nodded and followed her directions. I followed her lead and having my pokemon move the trees out of the way before having Selene lift up the clearly injured Rangers. A number of pokemon were strewn around them, trampled, and also injured. One of the pokemon, a Rapidash, was still alive, I activated the pokeball recall feature so they'd remain in stasis.Then I quickly ran through first aid for the others. The lone conscious Ranger was deposited to the side. They were lucid but confused. I was surprised to see Andrew blinking at me deliriously."What happened?" he asked."You got overrun and then run over by the looks of things," I said as I put my ear to another person's mouth. They were breathing, so into the recovery position they went. I snapped my fingers at Hypnotoad. "Monitor their breathing. If they change, tell me!"Hypnotad knelt near their head and watched them seriously. I turned to the next person. Oh… yeah, arms aren't supposed to bend that way. They must have really gotten hit hard."I remember there was a fire?" said Andrew as he tried to stand, only for Bertha to put a hand on his shoulder and keep him sitting on the ground."Alakazam!" Sabrina's shout made me look up to find her kneeling next to an older woman. Alakazam floated over and looked at the woman before nodding. He leaned down and put his hand on the woman's chest and the side of her ribs. He waited a few moments before I saw a jolt of electricity arc through his fingers."Eh?! What are you doing?" Andrew said as he tried and failed to stand up, obviously not liking what he was seeing.Sabrina continued to watch the woman. "Alakazam knows Thunder Wave and has attended medical seminars. He is quite capable I assure you."I swallowed down my worry, trusting Sabrina to know what she was talking about. Andrew didn't share my trust, however. "You're not supposed to do that! Pokemon moves can damage the heart if the person is weak.""Technically, she's already dead," Sabrina dryly replied. I furiously splinted the broken arm on the Ranger I'd found before moving on, still listening as I assessed and moved the next Ranger. Alive, stable, unconscious, and breathing normally. Recovery position, set a pokemon to monitor them and move on."So—" Alakazam's fingers sparked again, and the woman twitched before relaxing. Sabrina leaned in and nodded as Alakazam removed his fingers and smiled."Normal sinus rhythm has been achieved.""No way a pokemon just did that!" said Andrew groggily.Sabrina hovered up to a standing position. "Alakazam are considered some of the most intelligent pokemon around for a reason. They make wonderful doctors, as they never forget anything they learn. My Alakazam is quite motivated to learn quite a lot." She patted him on the shoulder, and he smiled at her."But… electricity doesn't work that way?"Sabrina shot the Ranger an amused look. "For pokemon this smart and powerful? They find ways to surprise us."I checked over the last of my group and pronounced them stable. Then I sat up and looked them over. "Alright, we have a squad of eight people. Injured, mostly unconscious, and in need of evac. Think we can get them atop Tide to get out of here?" I then made a gesture, indicating her. I didn't want to mention that she might be able to teleport us out. Andrew might not understand if she couldn't.Sabrina subtly shook her head as she considered Tide. He was certainly large enough to carry us all out, but they'd be in for a rough ride. But then again, they'd be alive. I checked the map and hummed. "We've got ten kilometres to cover to make it to the line to the east and twenty to the west."Sabrina considered the map as her Alakazam approached and stroked his moustache. He indicated a pathway directly south. I tilted my head. "South? To the ocean?"Sabrina nodded her head slowly. "That makes the most sense, actually. Most pokemon that went that way won't be as agitated, and they might not have thrown around as many moves." I nodded, realising that she really meant we might be able to teleport out earlier."I think that sound—" My transceiver blared to life, and I answered quickly."Brock watch the debris!! Moltres is thrashing a juvenile Tyranitar on a nearby peak!"I swept my head to the north in time to spot a large meteor —really a destroyed part of the mountain that was molten— hurtling towards us. I didn't stop to think. I just acted."Don, Jormungandr, Tide! HYPER BEAM!" I shouted, stabbing my hand towards the oncoming meteor.My pokemon pivoted onto the oncoming threat and fired. The beams slammed into the meteor and detonated as it broke apart, falling to the ground and causing the fire to the north of us to be smothered.I exhaled in relief, only to tense up as I saw Moltres flying once more. Apparently, that young Tyranitar hadn't lasted long.It must have seen the Hyper Beams, as it turned around on us. It was like being in a safe area and watching a landslide tumble down the mountain, only for it to twist at the last moment and angle straight for you."Sabrina." I licked my lips. "You ready for a doubles battle?" I asked."Always." She reached out and clasped my hand, unafraid of the dark energies I was starting to emit. I controlled them so they wouldn't disrupt her.I glanced back at the injured. "Jormungandr! Dig down and form a tunnel for the injured! Hold it steady!" Jormungandr nodded and did just that. Sabrina's Hypno led Andrew down into the tunnel before remaining down there as the others were quickly levitated in. When I shot Sabrina a look she shook her head. "He's not strong enough to fight this battle."The pokemon that had been trailing us squeaked in fear. Some ran back the way they'd come, while others threw themselves into the tunnel. Sabrina and I donned goggles and neckerchiefs around our faces. It took me back to the time we'd gotten caught in a sandstorm in the Hoenn desert.Only now, we were facing an inferno that had to come to life.I glanced at the transceiver; it was still linked to Hank. "Hey Hank? Any chance Lance still wants to fight Moltres?" I asked jokingly."Hold out, he's coming," Hank replied.When Moltres came at us, it swept over and inspected us, and in doing so, it lit the forest around us on fire.Sabrina squeezed my hand. "I can handle defense.""Right, so I'll just drive it off then?" I joked.Titan growled and shifted about, keeping Moltres in sight as Bertha began to settle into her stance, her drills whirring to life as she built up for what I really hoped would be a One Hit K.O.Empress took up another position with Sanchez at her side, a stoic expression on his face. Alazakam landed and stood at Sabrina's side. Slowking stared to the north. At my side, Zephyr had landed as his head swivelled to track the Moltres, his eyes locked on the threat.Tide, Hypnotoad, and Shrek all spat water at nearby burning trees to limit the embers that threatened us. In doing so they caused gouts of steam and smoke to billow up. Well, Lance wouldn't have to look hard to find where we were, at least.Then Moltres tilted and swept itself down on us."Stone Edge!" I ordered to my pokemon capable of it before following up with "Hydro Pump!" to the others.Moltres banked to the side and evaded the onslaught of rocks while a corona of flame blazed towards us. Sabrina and the Psychic pokemon all grasped the airborne rocks and used them to disrupt the flame before it could reach us.Moltres broke off its dodge and twisted itself into a barrel roll that caused a Fire Spin that was more like a fire tornado to be formed. I lost sight of it then, in the fire and smoke."Sandstorm!" I said to Titan. He nodded and stepped forward, only for his mother to match him and stomp her feet in time with him to hurl a wave of sand into the oncoming fire attack. "Don and Zephyr, I need a Whirlwind to back it up!" I said as my pokemon leapt up and snapped their wings into the Sandstorm to send it forward to break up the Fire Spin.Sabrina grabbed my arm and wrenched me in another direction, and I swore as I noticed another fire spin whirling to life. Followed by another."How's it doing that?" I asked."It's staying low and using the fire that's already about to hide its movements. It doesn't need to remain in place to unleash the Fire Spin, merely move and spin itself! This is not a young pokemon; it knows how to use its environment!" Sabrina said as she gestured sharply to the side and a tree that had been alight and starting to fall was grasped and hurled to the side. I could see the sweat on her skin as she worked.It helped that Moltres created its own hellish environment just by flying overhead, I couldn't help but think. I needed to work against that."Tide, Hypnotoad, and Shrek! Get a ring of mud and water around us! Now!" I barked causing them to begin blasting water around us while giving us a dry, stable central area to walk in. I spotted another Fire Spin form up and hissed in annoyance as we worked to crush it.This was followed quickly by a fifth and final Fire Spin appearing before Moltres burst out of the middle of it and trilled at us. I could almost feel the dark amusement it seemed to radiate as it looked at us.No wonder the other variant of this pokemon is a dark type if they're all like this.Sabrina pointed, and her pokemon all unleashed Psybeams. All of them but Espeon and Slowking who were glowing softly.I pointed my own pokemon to the Fire tornadoes, more than happy to switch to defense. "Let's put those out! Massed Surf from here! Don't ride them out though! Hold the formation!"My pokemon nodded and fired off Surfs that roared into the Fire Spins and at least halted them for the moment.I suddenly became aware of Espeon and Slowking swapping locations and snapped my head away from the still-present Fire Spins to glance up. Through the sweat and smoke that clouded my vision, I could just make out Moltres high above us."Sky Attack?" I asked Sabrina.She nodded. "Sky Attack."Moltres plummeted, its form coated with an armour of fire and wind that made it faster in its descent.I pointed upward. "Sanchez Thunder!" My pokemon slammed a fist into the air and unleashed a torrent of lightning that had the pokemon around him stepping away.I squinted and channeled darkness into my eyes to see if that did anything, only to find Moltres powering through the attack. "Stone Edge!" I shouted to the others as Sabrina stabbed her hand upwards in time for Espeon to unleash a Psybeam that caused the ground to buckle under the purple cat-like pokemon.Moltres tucked its wings and barreled on, avoiding some hits and ignoring others, only to cut off and sweep its wings down at us."Protect!" I shouted to my team as Sabrina's pokemon set up Barriers or Reflect against the attack. Some of my pokemon weren't fast enough, and I heard cries of pain ring out even against a move that, for most of them, should not have been very effective.Moltres hovered for another moment, and I stabbed my hand up as our defences dropped away."Hyper Beam!" Once more, Don and Tide unleashed their attacks straight at the threat.The Moltres inhaled and unleashed a Flamethrower to match the attacks, only to have the Hyper Beams slowly drive up the fire and slam into it, causing it to falter. "Nice! Pile on now, team! Use Stone Edge and Hydro Pump!"Sabrina matched me with her team, firing off Psybeams and Hydro Pumps of their own, which Moltres avoided for the most part, only to sweep its wings and screech in rage.A wave of embers rushed down on us, most of which the Barriers and Reflects stopped, only for a line to sweep down on Sabrina. I tugged her out of the way, but instantly had to hiss in pain. A glance down revealed that my flame-resistant coat was on fire. I punched my fist into the ground, paused for a moment, and then ripped it back out.Sabrina's eyes widened. "Brock are you—""I'll deal! Focus on the Moltres!" I said, even as I raised my own head upwards.Our attacks had torn through the fire, only for the fire to power onward. Despite Sabrina and my own momentary distraction, our pokemon had accommodated. Zephyr, Selene, and Alakazam both stared at the fire coming down on us. Their eyes glowed, and then the fire broke apart and was swept aside to protect us, unfortunately also causing the fires around us to build."Where is it?" I said to Sabrina as I searched the sky, which was deceptively clear of a Legendary bird.Sabrina tackled me.I had a moment to wonder what she was doing as the fire behind her exploded to reveal a pissed-off Moltres Flare Blitzing us.Titan stepped forward and formed a Protect line with Shrek, Alakazam, Espeon, and Claydoll.Moltres hit the line but rolled itself up and over the rounded shell, only to step into Empress' Protect and slow down a little more.Bertha saw her chance and leapt. Arm cocked back with her drills screaming in anguish as she lined up the shot.Moltres' eyes widened as Bertha's maw stretched into a triumphant grin.It tried to twist again, only to find Sanchez leaping at it, crackling with Thunder. It tucked its wings in and glowed, attempting a different move, just in time for Bertha's fist to reach it.Bertha's fist slammed home, and I felt a dark satisfaction fill me as Moltres cried out in shock.Moltres buckled from the hit and then rocketed away as if launching off its mountain. Flame exploded out of Moltres and then followed in its wake from the hit. I grinned as Bertha roared her triumph.The grin died as Bertha collapsed to her knees and grasped her arm. Hypnotoad was at her side in an instant, blowing a light stream of water onto the clearly burned limb.I stood, only to chastise myself. "Make sure it's down!" I called to my team. Titan and the others broke their line and started to reorient themselves to where Moltres had fallen. The flames rose and my pokemon stepped back as the heat got to them.Which is when the Moltres struck back by exhaling a Flamethrower straight at Bertha and Hypnotoad.A single Hydro Pump launched into the attack to weaken it, coming from the ever-slow Slowking.Hypnotoad whirled around, trying to use dark energy with her Darkest Lariat to protect herself while Bertha groaned in pain.The fire washed over Hypnotoad, and her attack stopped Bertha from taking any more damage. It still left her gasping in pain before the rest of Sabrina's team grabbed a hold of the fire and broke it apart."Stone Edge into the flames!" I shouted, trying to grasp how Moltres had survived Bertha's one-hit K.O connecting.It should have been a sure thing with how much power she'd built up. Moltres had glowed a little before it got hit… had that been a move? I cursed as a memory occurred to me of some of my pokemon using Endure. But if it had used that move, then it was weak."Bertha weakened it! Let's end this!" I said, only to watch Moltres rocket into the sky. It was fast, but the flames that surrounded it were definitely faltering.Before I could formulate a plan, Don pursued it, smelling the blood in the water. "Don! No!" I called only for the roar of flames to drown out my orders. "Shit!" I said.Sabrina stepped up next to me. "Do you want me to call him back?""He won't follow your orders, and I don't want to distract him. He's going for it and I need to back him up now. I'll deal with it later, as this is terrible timing, but I need to move with him not stumble right now. He did well holding himself back before this."I glanced at Zephyr. "Go after him; back him up as much as you can."Zephyr nodded and leapt upwards, the wind howling as he performed a Tailwind to give him a fighting chance of catching up with the Moltres and Don.I glanced around, taking in the destroyed landscape with steaming puddles, burning trees, and earth.I swept my arm out wide. "Everyone else! Start putting out fires!" My pokemon nodded and started doing just that. Bertha tried to stand and help, only to grimace and kneel down quickly. I clicked my tongue, looking over the injury. She had a rather large burn on the arm she punched Moltres with, despite the armour.I raised her pokeball. "You fought well, girl. Let's not worsen your injury," I said as I recalled her.I ended up having to do the same to Hypnotoad after noting how she was cradling her shoulders. I almost turned away to give some orders, but only for a pained, "Go…lem," to make me turn to find Sanchez rolling through some mud to coat his body.I stepped up to catch him. "Tide! I need some water here!" I said, causing Tide to pour a deluge of water over Sanchez and me. We both groaned in relief. After a quick check of his injuries, I ended up recalling Sanchez as well.When had he been hit?The only instance I could think of was when Moltres was hit past him by Bertha. Had Moltres gotten in an attack then? I could only curse. I could return them to the field if needed but they would be weak points in the formation and I would be averse to making that happen. Better to just reform the defenses if I needed to.I stared straight up at the coming aerial duel. Moltres had stopped moving, and Don was catching up… rather quickly, in fact. "Is it going to fight him?" I said, unsure of what was happening.Sabrina's eyes glowed, and it took a moment before she growled. "It's used Rest… a flying Rest.""So, it just restored most of its health, no?"Sabrina nodded, only for a fire to explode out of the Moltres. "What the?" I said. "I thought it was asleep?""It would appear that it knows Sleep Talk," Sabrina said tightly.I felt my heart sink as I saw a form drop from the sky. Don had taken an attack from a Legendary head-on; he'd likely thought he was going to take it out while it was weak, only to have the equivalent of a Sucker Punch from Titan slam home."Is he alive?" I asked.Sabrina stared at the plummeting form and nodded. "Knocked out," she said.I was about to curse, only for Zephyr to alter course and intercept the falling Aerodactyl. I breathed out in relief before turning my eyes towards the Moltres that was still hovering high in the sky, like a second sun brought into the world.Which was extremely off-putting with it being night."We're getting whittled down," I said noticing that Sabrina was having Tide sprinkle some water over her Starmie."We've held long enough," she said cryptically. I tilted my head in confusion, only for Sabrina to point to the Northwest. I followed her finger and blinked as a team of draconic pokemon charged in to attack the still-resting Moltres.It countered with further explosions of fire, and I could tell when it awoke as it started weaving through the flock of dragons. It then flapped its wings once more and gained some more height only to screech in rage and sail away as the slower dragons caught up with the others.It swept away from them, breaking off the fight before glancing down at us. It screeched once again before turning and flying off to the north.I exhaled and caught Sabrina as she leaned into me. "Brock, lets not do this again," she said."Heh, yeah, true. Let's not." I turned my head towards her. "You doing anything later?""I'm going to sleep in your bed with Ralts and you, with the door locked and my transceiver turned off," she said.I wanted to grumble that that wasn't the answer I wanted to hear, but then I realised just how good that sounded right now. "Yeah, meet you there?"She hummed as we watched Lance and what had to be Clair descend towards us while their Dragonite and Charizard continued to circle overhead."Brock!" Lance called out before he dismounted. He raced toward me and clapped me on the shoulder. "Sabrina! It's wonderful to see you both!" He then inspected us. "And you're both well!"I nodded. "Yeah, damn good to see you as well Lance." I then nodded to Clair. "Clair. Thanks for coming.""Wouldn't have missed it!" Clair said shakily. Lance laughed before turning and looked over the mountains. His expression turned stoic. "This will be a nightmare for PR… I'm not sure the public will buy that this wasn't enemy action. The question becomes which enemy to pick.""Team Rocket," I said instantly as my eyes took in the still-burning mountains and forest. I wasn't so worried about what the public thought right now. Now that the adrenaline was leaving me, I was starting to notice some small aches throughout my body that I had no idea about.When Lance shot me a look I shrugged. "They're convenient." That and Mewtwo's inclusion pretty much guaranteed it was them.Which… I considered that point for a moment before speaking up. "Also, I saw something weird, a pokemon that awoke Moltres. It had armour on."Lance frowned. "Armour? A flying Nidoking or Rhyperior?" I shook my head and relayed what Sabrina and I had seen. Lance accepted it with a worried nod. "Right… that is extremely worrying. If Team Rocket have a pokemon that can do that… we'll need to mount watches on all the known locations for legendary pokemon as well as monitor that this Moltres departs peacefully."He scowled after the glow that told where Moltres had flown. "More demands on time and people. Damn them!"Lance glanced upwards. "I'm impressed you were able to get that Moltres to go into it's Sky Roost like that."I blinked. Something about that was odd.Sabrina lifted her head off my shoulder, with her eyes narrowed. "You've seen that move before… when you fought a Moltres no? That's where your Dragonite's Rest, Sleep Talk trick came from."Lance nodded sheepishly. "Indeed, when I was fighting the northern tribes, I tangled with a younger Moltres and learned that such a combination was possible. It impressed me, and I worked very hard to learn it. It seems to be a move that many of the species know."Lance lowered his head to inspect the area around us before his eyes paused on a bit of rubble that was now trembling. Jormungandr raised his head, and a number of much smaller pokemon trickled out to inspect the world around them. Hypno led them out.The small pokemon gaped at the destruction before turning and bowing towards us in thanks. I chuckled and made to wave them off only to sigh. "Sorry little ones, I need to send you off to the Rangers. The mountains… they're not fit for you to survive on right now. We'll replant and have it well again in a month at most." the pokemon considered this and nodded. I started tapping them with Ranger balls only for them to fail to vanish. I blinked in surprise."Huh, still too much dark energy?" I said with surprise. Then I recalled catching another pokemon with the Ranger balls. "Shit, I caught some other pokemon with Ranger balls." I hadn't even thought of it at the time… Had it vanished back then? I didn't pay it any attention.Lance raised a hand. "Don't worry, there are markers, and the balls themselves are quite strong. The pokemon will be safe."I relaxed at that, only to notice that other pokemon had refused and begun running away. I could only sigh. They'd be in for a rough time going ahead but I didn't have the energy to— Sabrina whipped a few ranger balls of her own into them and I chuckled.For other pokemon Lance raised a hand. "Leave the grass types. They'll kickstart the regrowth of the forest and see this burnt hellscape turn back into a green forest.""Makuhita!" "Golduck!" said two pokemon as they bowed towards Sabrina and me.I blinked in surprise. "Eh?"Sabrina chuckled. "They want to join me. It seems they were impressed by Hypno helping Jorm's cave while we fought."I shot them an unimpressed look. Didn't half their protection come from Jormungandr with that logic? Then I felt a small clawed hand grip my jeans."Teddiursa!" wailed a small pokemon. I looked down to find a Teddiursa looking at me with an adorably cute fierce expression."This one wants you to catch it and train it to be strong," Sabrina said. I snorted and locked eyes with it."You want to be strong huh?"It nodded and adopted a clenched fist pose. I hummed in thought before pulling out a pokeball and tapping it on the head. "Welcome to the team," I said, ideas for how far I could take a Teddiursa already forming in my mind.Sabrina inspected the other two before nodding and tossing out two pokeballs that caught the Golduck and Makuhita. They tried to vanish only to twitch and blart out a warning as the pokeball teleport feature failed to engage.I nudged Sabrina. "Congratulations on your new pokemon," I said as she swept them up.She nodded before nudging me back and indicating with her chin the slumped-over form of Empress the Tyranitar. She crooned lowly, all the fight taken out of her. I considered her. She was a wild, albeit powerful, pokemon. The Rangers would have a tough time accommodating her. They'd be very… clinical, perhaps, which might be a terrible thing.Still, she'd gone through something highly traumatic tonight. I considered passing the buck on to the Rangers for half a second before shaking my head.She'd heal up best with support. I looked to Titan, who put a hand on his mother's shoulder. And as they said, there was no better support than family.Titan shot me a look, and I hummed before stepping up to her. I felt Lance stop talking with Clair and turn his attention on me as I approached Empress."Hey," I said eloquently.She glanced in my direction before huffing and looking down at the ground. "I'm sorry you lost your eggs. I think that might be one of the greatest tragedies of this entire evening."I heard Clair hiss in surprise before murmuring something about a Tyranitar rampage. Empress didn't respond beyond sighing long and low. Her eyes had an emptiness I'd seen in trainers that had lost their starters. Those trainers invariably wilted and lost all motivation as they became shells of themselves."Would you like to come with me? Not forever," I hurried to say, "Unless you decide you want that? But maybe you should come and heal for a while." I gestured towards Titan. "Spend your time with Titan and Terra?" That had her perking up slightly. She turned her head towards Titan in thought. He shot her a large smile and warbled something before waving his hand at me and then the surrounding landscape. She warbled something back before looking at me and nodding."Tar?" she asked looking me in the eyes.I nodded knowing exactly what she meant. "If you want to leave, just say the word." I held out a pokeball, the weakest pokeball I owned, to make it that much easier for her to break it if she wanted to. She nodded and tapped it with her claw before being absorbed.I watched it click once before it settled. It, like Sabrina's pokeballs from earlier, blarted out a warning that it wasn't able to teleport before it settled in my grasp."You realise when she realises how good trainer pokemon have it, she won't leave your team, don't you?" Lance said, an inscrutable look on his face as he eyed the pokeball in my grasp."That'll be up to her. It's about letting her heal." I opened my mouth to point out that she'd probably ignore any orders I gave her, before shaking my head. I'd said enough.I looked back over the burned landscape. "So… reckon we can get out of doing paperwork?"Lance, Clair, Sabrina, and I shared a look.Then, as one, we burst out laughing together.It was a good joke.Lance wiped his eyes. "Oh, thank you for that Brock. Oh, I needed that. Oh this day…" He shook his head and sighed as he looked down at his transceiver, a much better model than my own, I noted. He sighed loudly again. "Brock, this day will go down as one of the worst in my tenure as Champion."I looked over the mountain and nodded. "Yeah, the Silver Ranges…" I trailed off when Lance shook his head."This wasn't the only incident that's made news today, Brock." I could only frown. Had Team Rocket attacked two different places? Shit! They could, couldn't they?"Pewter is safe?" I blurted immediately.Lance nodded. "Yes, it's fine. Surge is on the ground at the site and he said it's all over…" he sighed. "It was still bad though.""Where was it?" I asked, deciding to get some facts."Porta Vista," Lance said.I felt a sudden chill run down my spine. Why did that name ring a bell?