Rapture

Phoenicia

“OK Starmie, finish it with Bubblebeam!” Misty commanded and her Pokémon instantly complied. A fierce wave of bubbles impacted the opposing Vibrava, knocking it from the air. It fell into the pool of Cerulean Gym’s Arena and didn’t appear to be able to get out.

“Oh no!” the boy who was Misty’s challenger on the other side of the gym panicked as he watched his Vibrava look like it was drowning.

Finally the Vibrava stopped moving and just floated on the surface of the pool and the boy recalled it, “Return!”

Misty smiled at the younger boy, “Anything else?”

The boy sighed, “No… you win…”

“Don’t sweat it kid, just keep training and come back again. Capture a few more Pokémon and train them well and maybe you’ll get yourself a Cascade Badge someday.” Misty recalled the Starmie to its Poké Ball and stepped away from the arena.

“Thanks a lot Miss Gym Leader, I’ll be back!” and the kid ran off to the Poké Center.

Misty sighed. Rambunctious energetic young boys like that were constantly coming to challenge her lately. She did her best not to let the memories of the past effect her during the battles, but if anything they made her fight fiercer. None of them were worthy of the badge like Red was.

There she went actually bringing up his name again… She shook her head throwing out the thought. Walking back to the Gym Leader’s private room, Misty took a seat and stared at the static filled screen attached to the wall.

Misty knew she shouldn’t do this… If she did she was only going to feel worse… Somehow she just couldn’t help it though. Grabbing the remote control, she entered a few commands and the screen started to play back a video file.

The video was of the gym battle between her and Red. She laughed as she saw herself in the video. She’d grown quite a bit in the last three years. Looking over Red she wondered how much he’d changed too. He had always worn that red open vest and his red Pokémon league cap which was normally turned backwards.

She turned away from the screen as a few tears leaked down her face. She wanted to kick herself for still hurting like this after so long. Wiping her eyes with her forearm, Misty got up from her chair walked right over to a small metal trash can by the desk in her ready room and kicked it at the wall. Doing so hurt her bare foot a great deal, but she hardly cared at the moment.

Misty reached over on the desk and grabbed the phone. She really hated doing this… hated using other people like this… It was getting late in the day even… but she needed to get out…

“Hello? Erika?” Misty spoke into the phone making sure her voice sounded well composed.

“Hi Misty! How are you today?” Erika spoke in a manner in which her smile could actually be heard over the phone.

“Hey, great! I was just calling to find out if you wanted to do anything tonight?”

There was a brief moment of silence. A normal person would have probably dismissed it, but Misty frowned realizing her overly empathic friend had probably already figured out something was wrong.

“That sounds great Misty! I just have a gym match scheduled in about thirty minutes and I’ll be free after that.”

Misty nodded to herself, “Alright, that should work out perfectly. If I leave now then I should get there right as you you’re finishing your match.”

“Actually…” Erika spoke softly into the phone making Misty worry, “I saw on the news feed that there’s a live play at the Cerulean Arts Center that I really wanted to see. I had actually been thinking of calling you up and finding out if you wanted to come with me to see it myself.”

The tension broke away from Misty’s face, “That would be very nice actually.”

“Then as soon as my match is over I’ll get a ride over to Cerulean so it shouldn’t take me too long. The play starts at eight thirty.”

“OK, see you then. Good luck with your match!”

“Thank you!” Erika giggled over the line before hanging up.

Misty smiled to herself realizing she hadn’t even asked Erika what the play was called. She really could have cared less though, it was going to be good to get out and do something. She walked by the TV realizing she hadn’t shut off the video. Rather than press the power button, Misty pulled the cord right out of the wall to stop it and busied herself around the gym for a bit.

When there were no matches going on, other functions took place in the gym. Like right now some of the senior members were giving swimming lessons to children. There were a few Dewgong lifeguarding the pool area while several Merill and Azurill were acting as pool floaters for the kids.

Upon seeing Misty, one of the gym members ran up to her, “Excuse me, Miss Misty, could you help me out with something?”

Mist smiled at the young trainer, “Sure what is it?”

“Well… You see I’ve never used a TM before… and I’m trying to figure out how to make it work. I must not be doing it right because my Pokémon isn’t learning it…”

Misty tilted her head at the girl, “Can you show me?”

“Uh-huh,” the girl led Misty to where she left her Piplup and the technical machine she was trying to teach it. Misty took a look at the two. The Piplup wasn’t a weak low level or anything… and the TM was for Water Pulse which even though it was a newer move should still work just fine…

“Do you mind if I give it a try?” Misty asked the girl.

“No, please do!” the trainer bowed and watched.

Misty took the machine and showed it to the Piplup, “OK now Piplup, what this is going to do is help you lean a new move. I’m going to put the machine on your head, and it’s going to teach you how to do it, alright?”

The Piplup looked up at Misty and nodded, “Pip!”

Misty put the machine on the small penguin’s head and pressed the button on it. The two waited but nothing happened.

“Is it supposed to do something?” The girl asked when she noticed Misty staring oddly at the device.

“Yeah, it is…” Misty pulled the machine off Piplup’s head and took a look at the data disk on the inside. “Oh,” she said recognizing the problem, “This TM has already been used, and you can only use a TM once before their interface wears out.”

The girl looked at Misty sadly, “Really? But I haven’t used it!”

Misty thought for a moment, “Well, where did you find it?”

“I bought it from a man in Saffron City today…” The girl answered.

Misty’s expression sank. She couldn’t believe this. Probably someone saw this inexperienced girl and took advantage by selling her a machine he’d already used. Misty put a hand on the girl’s shoulder consolingly, “I’m sorry, but you really need to be careful when making deals with people on the street like that, especially in big cities like Saffron.”

The girl looked as though she were about to cry, “I should have known something wasn’t right… He made it sound like he was giving me such a good deal for only a month’s allowance that I bought it from him…”

Misty was getting angry herself, “What did this man look like?”

The girl thought about it for a moment, “He… umm… I’m not sure, he was wearing dark sunglasses but he had blond hair… umm… he was really tall and a bit older like maybe thirty even, lot’s of muscles. Oh yeah! When he opened his jacket to put the money I gave him away there was something… He was wearing a camouflage shirt that had a big R patched onto it!” Misty’s face paled as the girl described the man and the girl quieted down, looking confused up at her, “Do you know him maybe?”

“Oh my god…” Misty thought for a moment, “When you were done talking with him… where did he go?”

The girl thought a bit harder, “He was with a bunch of other people all wearing black… They got into a bunch of vans and it looked like they were going toward the north road out of Saffron City… why?”

Misty got up and stumbled a bit before composing herself. Quickly she ran to a window in front of the gym and looked outside. Parked just across the street were several unmarked black vans.

Misty’s heart raced in sudden panic, “Surge…” Running back to the arena area Misty started shouting, “EVERYONE OUT OF THE POOL!”

All the gym attendants looked at Misty funny for her sudden outburst when the skylight above the arena was shattered in. Everyone screamed as Magemites, Magnetons, Voltorbs, and Electrodes all began floating their way into the gym.

“NO YOU DON’T!” Misty shouted and tossed a Poké Ball. Misty was well aware of how easily an electric assault could take down a water Pokémon trainer, but was well prepared, “Go Gastrodon!”

The water slug formed and Misty just hoped it was fast enough to save everyone, “Mud Bomb!” Gastrodon spit up a huge ball of mud which floated up toward the attacking Pokémon as they charged their electric attacks. The bomb exploded covering them all in a muddy goop. The mud quickly dried grounding the static Pokémon out causing them to fall to the ground harmlessly.

Misty breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the class again, “OUT OF THE POOL!” She commanded. This time everyone listened and quickly scrambled out.

The front door slammed open and Lt. Surge waltzed in surrounded by several of his top henchmen, Pokémon out and ready, “Good evening everyone!”

Surprised to find his entire first wave immobilized on the floor, Surge wasn’t prepared when half the gym pointed at the lot of them and shouted, “HYDRO PUMP!”

The front windows of the gym were blown out by the torrential waters that flooded from within. Surge grabbed onto a van as he was being whisked by the current. Reaching into the cabin he grabbed the radio controller, “We’re going to need backup in Cerulean…”

Misty and her top gym members took the battle outside where they had more open room to all battle at once. Spotting Surge getting up by one of the vans, Misty shouted “Leave now Rocket and no one gets hurt!”

Surge smiled, “Fiesty as always eh water sprite?” Surge’s henchmen were once again at his side, “Go Raichu!” Surge commanded as his monstrous Raichu charged the gym followed by many other electrics.

“Don’t let them through!” Misty ordered as the water Pokémon trainers made their stand.

Misty tossed a few more Pokémon into the fray, calling out Starmie, Kingdra, and Vaporeon to aid her Gastrodon. Misty shouted orders left and right trying to keep track of her battles as well as pepping her other gym members. The entire time she was trying to piece together how this could even be happening. Team Rocket was completely destroyed over three years ago, yet last week Sabrina shows up out of nowhere and reclaims the Saffron gym. Now Surge launches a sudden attack against Cerulean City… Just what was going on…?

“Vaporeon, use Acid Armor! Starmie, Psybeam the Raichu! Kingdra, use Twister on the Voltorbs to the left! Gastrodon, use Mudsport on all our water Pokémon! Looking good girls, keep it up!” Misty’s eyes kept shifting across the battlefield keeping up with what everyone was doing.

“We’re doing it Miss Misty!” One of her girls exclaimed as her Marshtomp Mudshot an Electabuzz.

Lt. Surge grinned to himself, “They probably think they’re actually winning this little warm up session… Open the vans!”

Several of Surge’s cronies ran down the line of parked vans opening the doors and released four Magnezones.

“Oh no…” Misty whispered to herself as she saw the huge electric Pokémon floating into the battle. Each one started one hit KOing the water Pokémon on the defensive line.

“Have your Marshtomp cover my Gastrodon!” Misty ordered, “Gastron, use Earthquake!”

“Double it up on the same Magnezone Marshtomp!” The two Pokémon shook the ground beneath Magnezone violently causing tons of earth to become airborne and engulf the huge electric Pokémon. The affected Magnezone was thrown back, hitting the ground hard and powered down.

“That’s one down…” Misty acknowledged.

One of the approaching Magnezones aimed at the Marshtomp and fired Flash Cannon taking the poor Pokémon out.

“NOOO!” The trainer shouted as she ran to her injured partner.

Misty gritted her teeth… The Magnezone’s were capable of using Steel attacks also, which meant even their ground Pokémon were vulnerable.

“OK Gastrodon, get ready!” Misty needed to make this next attack count.

“Not so quick that one eh girly? Magnezone, use Gyro Ball!” Misty’s eyes widened realizing that attack was more effective on slower Pokémon. Her slug would take the moves full wrath for sure.

Misty was frozen trying to think of a way out of the situation, “Constrict!” She heard from somewhere in the background. Several vines came from down the road latching onto the Magnezone. Misty looked down the street and saw Erika with her Tangrowth and other Celedon Gym members at her side, “Power Whip!” Erika commanded and the Magnezone was knocked around very hard causing it to crash into the building and power down.

Erika and her people ran up to Misty, “You’re early…” Misty pointed out holding back a slight sniff, “Thank you…”

“You guys are all over the news right now, Gym leaders Misty and Brock defending their cities from an unknown invading force.” Erika informed her before commanding her Pokémon into battle.

“You mean Pewter City is under attack too?” Misty asked as she had her Vaporeon tackle Surge’s Raichu.

“Yes, it looks like whoever is behind this attack strategized it very well attacking the two gyms simultaneously with your vulnerable types. If it had been just one or the other gym under attack you and Brock could have covered each other and thwarted the attack fine, but keeping you each occupied separately allows them to more fully exploit your type weaknesses.”

Misty shook her head, “It’s Team Rocket reformed and up to their old tricks, the one attacking us here is Lt. Surge!”

Erika looked over to the van recognizing Surge standing there barking orders as well, “That can’t be good…”

With the plant Pokémon joining the battle, Surge and his men threw more steel types into the fray to compensate for their electric Pokémon’s weakness to them.

“Their numbers are many…” Erika said gritting her teeth watching the battle continue at a stalemate even with their combined efforts.

“I’m not sure how much longer we can keep this up…” Misty concurred. Turning her head to look at Erika Misty noticed something in the corner of her eye. Her concentration was very suddenly and completely lost to her.

Erika noticed right away that Misty had stopped shouting orders, “Misty?” Misty began walking away from battle, drawn somewhere else. “Misty!” Erika shouted still not getting a response from the girl. Turning to her senior members Erika ordered, “Take charge here!”

“Yes Ma’am,” they acknowledged as Erika ran after Misty.

Misty wasn’t seeing any of the battle anymore; none of it was mattering to her anyway. Not the gym, not its members. No, her world became focused on one thing alone. And that was a red cap atop a boy’s head that she’d caught a glimpse of walking in this direction.

Misty ran at top speed through Cerulean city. Erika was doing her best to keep up but was losing ground. “Misty! Please wait!” she called to her friend.

Misty’s mind was stuck on a single track focusing everything on following the shadow that had to be Red. Each time she reached an intersection and was unsure which way to go that same capped shadow would be standing a few blocks down in one direction and quickly disappear.

Misty kept chasing until she was lead to a dead end. Misty stared at the wall, tears staining her face; she hadn’t even realized she’d been crying as she ran. She kicked the wall in front of her out of frustration. Panting to recover her breath, she heard a creaking noise at her side. Glancing quickly she saw stone steps heading down.

Caught up in continuing the chase, Misty slowly followed the stairs down realizing they lead to the aqueducts which ran clean water to every fountain in the city. She pushed the door open and stepped into the dark subterranean tunnels.

She followed the passage straight across for several minutes, the sounds of running water and her own breathing dulled her hearing to any other noises. A hand placed on her shoulder ripped her from her focused reverie.

“Misty!” Erika shouted as she shook her violently. Misty looked awful and Erika couldn’t even imagine what was going on to spur the girl to just run off like that. Finally calm Erika asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I… I saw him Erika… he’s here, Red is down here… I… I followed him all the way to that dead end and I know he must have come down here…” Misty was sounding a little hysterical to Erika.

“Oh Misty…” Erika pulled the girl to her and embraced her hard, “Everything going on right now has taken its toll on all of us… This sudden attack out of nowhere, all that fighting… I’m doing my best to understand you Misty… But you have see by now that he’s gone… We may never again…” Erika opened her eyes looking over Misty’s shoulder and stopped mid sentence, “…see… Red!” Her eyes widened unbelieving at the shadow behind Misty that did indeed look like Red’s outline.

Misty turned around noticing something had taken Erika’s attention, “RED!” She shouted, turning abruptly, to run toward him. The shadowy boy turned and ran further down the corridors leading the two gym leaders deeper into the aqueducts.

Erika couldn’t believe her eyes, could it really be the missing boy they were chasing. And if it was him then another question had to be answered… why was he running from them?

“Please Red stop! I want to see you!” Misty shouted through the passage ways.

After several turns through these dark passages it finally struck Erika that they were not keeping track of the tunnels leading them this way and that they’d be horribly lost and unable to return to the city above in a timely manner should the need arise. Erika was about to say something when they all entered a large room where three streams of water connected and they all stopped. The shadowed boy had reached the other side of the room and quickly turned around to face the two girls.

Misty slowly approached him, “Please Red… is that really you?”

The boy in the shadows nodded, “Yeah… It’s me…” The two girls recognized the voice even if it had changed some over the years. The girls saw the boy remove his cap and toss it in their direction where it slid to a stop nearby in the dim light. Misty looked down at it, the same bright red cap with a Pokémon logo on it.

Still in the shadows the boy put on a different cap. Misty rapidly approached Red, but Erika noticed movement at the side of the room, “Misty wait! NO!”

Misty was suddenly constrained by vines as the room filled with light emitted from a small yellow Pokémon also in the room.

“That’s a bad thing for you though since Red of Team Rocket doesn’t lose battles!” As their eyes adjusted to the sudden flash of light they noticed Red standing in front of the room wearing a black hooded pullover shirt with short white sleeves and an “R” emblem over the heart above a solid yellow line going across the middle of the shirt. The rest of his clothes matched with black cargo jeans, brown boots, and a new black baseball cap with the same red “R” as the shirt.

Holding Misty in place was Red’s Venusaur; but the horrifying sight was Pika who was lighting up the room. Pika’s eyes slanted in an angry glare for a Pikachu, its fangs barred over its lip. It too wore a small black cap with the “R” emblem which even had holes cut into the sides for his ears. Compared to how both Misty and Erika remembered the happy little Pokémon, this Pika was obviously battle hardened, its tail had many sharp frays at the end.

Misty and Erika stared into Red’s face in disbelief as he grinned mockingly at them. It was him, just as they remembered him… not just older though… no… he’d changed…

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