The Battle For Lavender

After making camp we spent the entire rest of the day training, and otherwise preparing for the coming battle with Team Rocket.

Joy made sure all of the medical supplies she may need were readily available in her bag, while the girls and I made sure our Pokemon were in top shape. I even made a call to the professor to have my carry limit removed again, which he agreed to since we would only be safer with more Pokemon to fight.

That night Joy and I made a massive dinner for everyone, both to make sure there was enough with all the Pokemon, and to ensure that everyone would have the energy needed to fight the next day. We all even went to bed shortly afterwards, with no shenanigans from the girls and I like usual.

While normally I naturally awoke first thing in the morning, this time I set an alarm for well before dawn so that we could have plenty of time to get ready, eat, and break camp. By the time the eastern horizon had started to glow, we were already in the air and on our way to Lavender town.

"Ace to Wendy. We're coming in now, but are gonna lay low just outside town until something happens." I said into the earpiece I got from the Rangers as the tower came into view, followed shortly by the town itself.

"Copy. Kate and I are keeping an eye on things in town for the moment, and I've notified Ranger Associates in the area in case we need backup. Find a good vantage point, and lay low while keeping an eye out on the surroundings."

"Copy." I said while biting my tongue when Wendy mentioned letting others know what was happening. I understood WHY she did so, but with how many Gym Leaders and such were also aligned with Team Rocket, I didn't want to take any unnecessary chances.

While staying low to the ground, we all swept over the mountainous crags and cliffs along the northwestern edge of the town until finding a place to settle until the fighting began.

"I don't like this place..." Lucario said after we all landed, while looking out over the town stoically.

"Why?" May asked curiously.

"The Pokemon Tower." I answered while looking at the construct along with Lucario.

"Psychic powers are based around the mind, but aura powers are based around emotions. This place is saturated from hundreds of years of mourning and lingering regrets, which blankets the entire area in negative emotions. Ghost Pokemon love it, but to a normal person they would merely feel on edge, while its practically suffocating to aura users like Lucario and I."

Lucario nodded slowly in affirmation of my explanation, even as he remained silently watching over the town.

"Does this mean you can't use your aura?" Misty asked worriedly.

"No, it's not THAT bad. But it will make it significantly harder for us to detect other's auras while we're here, like when there's a thick fog that keeps you from seeing everything."

"Exactly. In all honesty, as unpleasant as this place it, it would make for some excellent training to refine our senses further." Lucario stated in contemplation.

"Training later, war now." I said to him jokingly, making my partner crack a smile before returning to his silent vigil.

"I'll keep a look out so the rest of you can get some rest." He said to us, which the girls readily took him up on his offer.

I also leaned back and tried to rest despite keeping my aura enhanced ears wide open for any disturbance.

Despite the negative energy saturating the area, I could still feel the nerves eating away at the girls as they waited for the coming battle, none of them seeming able to rest. Joy in particular had it the worst, since this was the first time she was going to be involved in this kind of situation.

"Here Joy." I said suddenly, calling her out of her stupor as I reached into my bag.

"Oh, Ace... If it's a tonic or something for the nerves, I already took some." Joy said, before I pulled something out that surprised her.

"It could get pretty dangerous for me down there when the fighting breaks out. Can you hold onto this for me?" I asked while passing her my Dratini egg.

"Are you sure Ace?" She asked hesitantly, even as she accepted the egg.

"Of course. Even if you'll be down there you won't be fighting yourself, plus Tauros and Miltank will be watching over you. They'll make sure you and the egg will stay safe." I told her while leaning back yet again.

"You seem pretty relaxed Ace..." Dawn uttered while looking at me ruefully.

"Well.... I guess you just get used to this feeling after a while. The waiting is always the worst part of any fight." I said without opening my eyes, as I focused my hearing yet again.

Though it was on a completely different scale, I had experienced this feeling numerous times before my first matches in the MMA world. Again, the scale was completely different, but you learn how to handle the anticipation after going through it enough times.

Soon the sun rose to bring light over the land of mourning and death, which in turn made the majority of the ghost Pokemon that were around us retreat into the darkness of either the tower, or the shadows. Smart of them to wait until daylight, when all of the ghost type Pokemon were weaker and less willing to depart whatever refuge they'd found for the day.

We continued waiting as the morning wore on, during which I regularly checked in with Wendy and Kate to make sure everything was still good on their end.

It was then, at about nine in the morning....

"Partner!"

*KABOOM!*

I heard the roar of the missile right before it hit the mountainside to the south of us, exploding to cause an entire section of the mountain shift and block the western route to the closest city, Saffron.

"Lucario!" I cried as rock and debris started to rain down on us. We were far enough away to not get caught up in the explosion, but we were still close enough to be directly affected by the aftermath.

"On it!" He cried as the two of us jumped in front of the girls, and created a double wall of aura to prevent any rock and debts from hitting us.

"Look Ace!" Dawn cried out suddenly, drawing my and Lucario's attention to the east. What had been empty sky before began to flicker, before a massive airship was revealed that plunged the entire town into shadow.

Following that, I could feel a pulse of energy cut through the fog of negativity as it passed through the town, but had no idea what it was until Wendy said into my earpiece,

"Ace, they just shorted every single electronic device in town!"

"That explosion was them collapsing the mountain to block the pass to Saffron." I told her solemnly, and we both realized what Team Rocket had done. Within the span of a couple minutes, they completely cut off Lavender from the rest of the region.

Lavender town was basically a massive bowl in the mountains, with only three exits to the north, south, and west. The northern exit was a cave that one could get lost in, and only led to the Pokemon Center we had come from. To the south was route 12, which could take you to either Vermillion or Fuchsia city, though both were quite far away. And finally the pass to the west, which was now blocked off.

"We have to go!" I told the girls as Lucario and I both canceled our aura walls, and hurried to move.

In that time I saw hundreds of Murkrow and Honchkrow fill the air from the airship, with the occasional Magnemite and Magneton spaced out between them. Meanwhile dozens of Rockets appeared within the town via teleportation with psychic type Pokemon, where they immediately began to attack the people and Pokemon there.

I picked Joy up in my arms and leapt up onto Pidgeot's back, while the girls hurried onto Tropius and Lucario ran down the side of the cliff.

"Dive Pidgeot." I ordered him hurriedly, and my bird dove down the cliff side alongside Lucario, before leveling out right before we could hit the ground.

"Here!" I commanded, and Pidgeot halted his momentum.

"Joy, go and try to gather as many people as you can, lead them all to the Pokemon Center with the other Joys." I told the little nurse while dropping her to the ground.

"Right!" She declared with a serious expression, before I threw out several Pokeballs.

"Go Tauros, Miltank, Vespiquen, and Happiny!" I declared, before the four Pokemon in question appeared.

"All of you, protect Joy and keep her as well as anyone she helps safe!" I ordered them, to which they nodded nodded and cried in affirmation.

Entrusting Joy to them, Pidgeot and I took to the sky once more to survey the town.

Rockets were everywhere, with primarily dark type Pokemon as they corralled both people and Pokemon into numerous groups. The former of which they didn't hesitate to beat with batons, while the latter were being restrained before the same collars I'd found under Mt. Moon were put on them.

"Krow!"

"Krow!"

"Murkrow!"

A series of cries suddenly caught my attention as a swarm of Murkrow headed straight for Pidgeot and I.

"Go through them Pidgeot." I commanded him.

"GEOOOOOO!" Pidgeot cried out at my order, declaring his dominion over the air as he blasted through the swarm.

"Go Zubat, Magneton!" I cried out while releasing two more of my Pokemon. "Take out as many as you can!"

"ZUUUUUUUU!" Zubat cried as she used Supersonic to confuse the Murkrow and Honchkrow.

"MagneTON!" Magneton roared as it used Screech, before following it up with a powerful Thunder Shock.

Murkrow rained from the sky with a few Honchkrow, but there were so many that they were easily replaced, along with several enemy Magnemite and Magneton. I even spotted a couple Magnezone amongst them.

"Charmeleon, Geodude!" I cried while letting them out next. "Give Zubat and Magneton cover fire!" I ordered them.

"Char!"

"Geodude!"

They both cried in response, before the former began peppering the air with Flamethrower to target the Magneton, while the latter began using Rock Throw to help out.

"Pidgeot, over there!" I commanded while pointing to a group of people and Pokemon that were being corralled.

"GEOT!" He cried in response as we darted over, and did a flyby so fast that the tailwind knocked several Rockets off their feet.

I then leapt down and told him, "go help the others!"

"Geo!" He chirped in a salute, before going to do just that.

"Looks here, we got us a Ranger!" One of the Rockets declared, pointing out my Ranger jacket and badge, both of which I was wearing for this battle.

"That's right bitches!" I declared while channeling my aura.

"We'll try this on for size Ranger! Go, Houndour and Sneasel!" Another Rocket ordered, and several dark Pokemon started approaching me.

"Big mistake." I growled back, before tossing out several more Pokemon.

"Dos!"

"""Tatta!"""

"..."

"Tung!"

Cranidos, my Rattata, Grovyle, and Lickitung all cried as they appeared.

"Wait Lickitung!" I cried, before receiving a big slobbery Lick all over my face.

"Tung!"

"..."

I deadpanned at Lickitung in annoyance, wishing it would stop doing that every time I called it out already. Especially in serious situations like this.

"Ok.... Now beat them all up!" I commanded, and my Pokemon responded while I charged into battle alongside them.

I watched as a Houndour charged me with its teeth bared, even as I channeled aura into my right fist.

"Take this, Rock Smash!" I cried out while planting my fist into the side of its face, sending Houndour flying as it took serious damage from my attack.

"What the fuck!?!"

"Since when can a human use Pokemon moves!?"

That stunt alone spread confusion amongst the Rocket ranks, but I was nowhere near done.

With my Pokemon fighting alongside me, we charged forward into their lines without any fear. I spammed Rock Smash and Force Palm as much as I could, until realized that they were quickly draining my aura reserves. That was ok though, since I could also fight without using Pokemon moves.

"Dammit... They're useless!" One Rocket spat at his Pokemon, before charging me himself with his baton raised.

"Oh? I'm surprised you'd attack me, since I'm not some weak school kid or old lady." I snarled at him, as the majority of those they had been corralling were just that. Kids and elderly.

The Rocket swung his baton at me, only for me to defend myself by conjuring a layer of aura around my arm to block it. I then punched the fucker in the face as hard as I could, resulting in a satisfying crunch as I shattered his nose and sent him flying back.

"Go!" I declared while tossing out a couple more Pokemon, Flaaffy and Ampharos.

"Shock the collars they're putting on the Pokemon!"I ordered them, and my Pokemon readily obeyed as they did just that.

Thankfully it worked, as the collars were overloaded and fried from the abundance of electricity. Thank you professor Oak, who studied the one I sent him and informed me that they were protected from electric currents from those who were wearing them, but not from the outside.

"Everyone, get to the Pokemon Center!" I told them while directing them and their Pokemon in that direction.

The same scene played out a few more times as we ran into numerous groups of people and Pokemon that the Rockets were corralling, and freed them before directing them in the direction of the Pokemon Center.

Along the way we rejoined Pidgeot, Charmeleon and the others, and my Rattata all evolved into Raticate, but we couldn't stop to celebrate as we kept fighting. But the closer we got to the Pokemon Center the more I could sense the people there through the fog of negativity, as well as May, Dawn, and Misty with the group's of people they helped.

As we got closer I also saw numerous ghost type Pokemon appearing to help fight the Rockets, but they were either defeated by the dark type Pokemon before being captured, or the Rockets would shine a light on them that forced the ghosts to become tangible, before they too were captured.

"Ace!" My aura enhanced ears picked up, directing me to the girls as they helped to form a defensive line around the Pokemon Center, along with Wendy, Kate, and all of the other trainers that stepped up to fight the Rockets.

"There's more over here!"

"Get them!"

The Rockets cried as they noticed us approaching the Center, as they directed the largest group of Pokemon yet to attack us. Except this time the group mostly consisted of Koffing, Ekans, Grimer, and Zubat line Pokemon.

"Go Exeggutor!" I cried out as I sent my ONLY psychic type Pokemon out.

"TOOOOOOR!" Exeggutor roared out in challenge, before he sent out a powerful wave of psychic energy that bombarded the poison type Pokemon.

"Go now!" I ordered the people and Pokemon behind me, as we broke through the line and flooded into the Pokemon Center.

"Now! Close up the line!" Wendy ordered as they quickly reformed the wall behind us.

"Is everyone here?" I immediately asked, even as I accepted the water and snack bar Joy quickly brought me.

"We think so." May said as she looked around in contemplation.

"Please!" A girl suddenly cried as she approached us, a slap mark on her face and tears in her eyes.

"Please! You have to go and get Cubone!" She pleaded.

"Cubone?" I asked, a bad feeling forming in my gut as I recalled a certain part of the story in the game.

"Yes! His mom went to try and draw Team Rocket away so they wouldn't go after us, but he followed her! He's only a baby!" She cried while clinging to my jacket.

"Ace..." Dawn uttered to me worriedly.

"No problem." I told both of them, before turning to Lucario. "Up for a rescue mission?"

"Always, partner." Lucario answered.

I nodded at him before fishing the rest of my Pokeballs out of my bag.

"Everyone, move back!" I declared, before tossing them out. Suddenly there was also a Wartortle, Buizel, three Gyarados, two Milotic, a Tyrunt, Nidorino, Nidorina, Mightyena, Houndoom, Parasect, Persian, two Meowth, Sneasel, Turtwig, and Ditto there along with the Pokemon I had already sent out. Sharpedo and her pack weren't with us, since they'd need water to fight properly.

"Ditto, Transform into Lucario." I ordered my little blob.

"Ditto!" It cried in affirmation, before changing shape to match Lucario.

"What!?! That weird little thing just turned into a different Pokemon!?" Someone cried.

"Yep, but now's not the time to focus on that." I stated, before turning to the girls.

"Lucario and I will go out to find Cubone. Stay here and fortify the Center. I'll leave the rest of my Pokemon, so you should be able to keep them out."

"Be careful..." Dawn told me sternly, before giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

"I won't forgive you if you get hurt!" May declared, before giving me a kiss as well.

"You BETTER come back." Misty stated, before giving me a quick peck as well.

"Dude...."

"I wanna be him..."

A couple guys muttered as they saw my girls see me off, even as I turned toward Joy, Kate, and Wendy.

"Anyone else wanna give me a kiss?" I asked teasingly.

"Come back in one piece, and we'll see." Wendy said in an official tone. I couldn't tell if she were being serious or not.

"Alright. Let's go partner!" I said to Lucario, and the two of us burst out of the front doors.

"Get them!" A Rocket cried.

"Do you hear that?" I asked my partner with a smirk.

"I am offended by their arrogance." Lucario snorted, as we beheld a small army of Pokemon and Rocket grunts.

"I think I have an idea where Cubone is. Think you can hold them back?" I asked him while glancing towards the tower.

"I am offended by your lack of faith." Lucario retorted.

"Don't try to defeat them all, just keep them busy until I get to the tower." I told him, before making a run for it.

"Get him!"

"No you don't!" Lucario roared, as I felt him amass aura to create a large Aura Sphere to send at them.

As the sounds of combat continued behind me I just ran, powering my legs with aura all the way until I reached the base of the Pokemon Tower. And once I got there I hurried inside, to find a tragic scene waiting for me.

"Cubone... Cubone...."

Whimpered a tiny brown Pokemon, while it tried to shake a larger Pokemon that was laying on the ground amidst a section of scorched grass.

"Bone....Cubone....." He cried over and over again, pleading with his mother to get up.

As I got closer I could see the damage she had taken, numerous burns, bruises, and her right arm looked as if it had been savaged by a set of wicked looking teeth. But most notably were the three bullet holes in her chest, which had undoubtedly been what killed her.

"I'm sorry Cubone..." I told it softly while kneeling next to the tiny Pokemon.

"!!!"

"Cubone!" He cried while standing in front of his mother's body, his arms spread protectively.

"I'm not going to hurt you. A lady asked me to find you." I told him in a soothing voice.

"Bone!" He cried out in disbelief, with tears forming in his eyes from the rush of emotions he was feeling.

So I did something he wouldn't have expected.

"!!!"

Cubone's entire body stiffened as I embraced his tiny figure, wrapping him up in my arms as I told him emotionally, "I know how it feels. I know what it's like to lose your mother."

As I spoke I channeled my emotions to Cubone, recalling the time from my previous life when my mother died. To this day it was my only real regret, that I had been unable to give her the family she wanted so much.

For a moment neither of us moved as I channeled my own feelings of loss to Cubone, showing him I knew almost exactly what he was going through. The only difference was that my mother hadn't been taken from me like his had. But then I felt his small body shudder, before the dam seemingly burst as he started bawling his eyes out.

"It'll be ok.." I told him while channeling soothing emotions to him this time. Even if Cubone needed time to mourn, that didn't mean that Team Rocket was leaving yet. Plus there was whatever they wanted from this tower that they killed Marowak to get to it.

"Here." Said a new voice, as Lucario appeared without either of us noticing with a bone fragment in his hand. Probably from one of the two halves that had been broken off to the side.

"I don't know what your feeling, I never knew my mother. But I do know that someone is responsible for it. So you can either sit here, and cry. Or you can get up and do something about it. So which is it?" He asked the little Cubone.

"Bone?" Cubone asked, looking between Lucario, the bone, and me curiously. But then he wiped the tears from his eyes, and grabbed onto the bone that Lucario was holding out to him.

"CUBONE!" He declared, stating that he wanted revenge.

"Good answer." Lucario said as he nodded in approval.

"Come on." I said to Cubone, offering him a hand. Which he accepted, allowing me to pick him up and put him on my shoulders. Where he grabbed a fistful of my hair with his free hand.

"Let's go!" I told the two of them as we set out to make our way up the tower. As we left though, I got the distinct feeling that something was watching us from the shadows.