Chapter 57: VS. Skuntank II!
Through out the past week, our heroes have stumbled upon the evil organization Neo Team Rocket in its entirety. While all this was occurring, remember, Pearl still had a battle to settle with Jupiter. Over the past week, Pearl had stayed in Snowpoint City and he too received a badge from the elder standing guard at the Snowpoint Temple entrance.
So, on the day of Regice's rampage over Snowpoint, Pearl had just arrived in the Acuity Lakefront area. With his arms folded, the blonde boy scanned the area with his amber-colored eyes in search of any sign of Team Galactic.
"Hmm, I'm here before Team Galactic. Perfect," Pearl noticed that the lake was completely frozen, making it easier to cautiously step across the water mass and head towards the island cave located at the center of the arctic lake, "Heh, this was easier than I thought! I'm just gonna bust in and--"
Just as Pearl reached shore, several Galactic Snow Tanks came ramming onto the Lakefront from the forest. Pearl quickly turned around and snapped his fingers in vanquish.
"Dang, and here I thought it was going to be easy!"
Several Galactic Goons came out of the tanks, along with one familiar Commander.
"Ah, a member of the famous Rowan Trio. You three are getting national recognition I hear! Congratulations," said Jupiter as she too walked onto the icy lake, heels clicking with each step, "The first two were successful in defeating our Commanders, yet they were unsuccessful in capturing Mesprit and Azelf. Likewise, I'm here to snatch up the final member of the Lake Trio, Uxie, thus completing our mission. Boy, you are just in the way. I advise you to fall back or you will be hurt, severely and like-threateningly."
"You must not know who I am, beautiful. I am Pearl," he pointed to his now puffed out chest, "The willing being. I don't back down from challenges and I have the heart of a Luxray. Taking me down is not an easy job. I've been dubbed the strongest of the Rowan Trio and I will live up to my name by defeating you!"
Pearl stepped out onto the ice, totally disregarding the Acuity Cavern. Jupiter looked beyond Pearl as he stepped into her direction. She was looking towards the cavern as several Goons came from behind the cave and barged right into the entrance. Jupiter chuckled as her attention refocused on Pearl, further egging him on.
"Please, honey, I've seen tougher trainers than you at your father's training school." Jupiter chuckled again.
"How do you know my--"
"Oh I know a lot about your family! I know that your brother Volkner refuses to battle anymore and I know that your father Palmer has lost a bit of his touch!"
"Don't talk bad about my family, floozy! We come from a long line of fierce Trainers! Enough said! Let's do this!"
"Gladly!"
-----
Professor Rowan had just returned to his lab after his brief meeting with Cynthia. He was looking through more articles and found a further updated one regarding Giratina.
Studying it, Rowan read:
"We've decided to rename this alleged Torn World as the Ruined World. Many people who claimed to have seen this world regard it as a complete and utter traversed version of our own world that disobeys the laws of physics. The members who have said they have visited this world claimed that only Giratina can open its gates. Along the way, they have said that they were helped through the Ruined World by the now called Lake Trio who inhabit our three major lakes of Sinnoh..."
Rowan placed the article in his pocket, "So, they gave the Torn... no.... Ruined World a more scientific name as well as a description. But, it's hard to go on based on what people claim happened. Hmm... I'll forward this..."
Rowan went over to his computer and began to scan the article onto the screen, preparing to send it out.
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Jupiter now stood by with her strongest Pokemon, Skuntank, standing ready directly in front of her, "I promise to make this quick and full of pain, honey!"
Holding out a Lure Ball forward, Pearl grinned and said, "Figured you would use a Skuntank. Diamond's told me a lot about your Skuntank, how it's ruthless and rabid. How it almost killed its own daughter way back when in Oreburgh City. Well, I have a Tru solution for that."
Pearl tossed the Lure Ball forward as it burst open in a flash of white. Once the light dimmed down, there stood Pearl's newly evolved Lumineon, Tru. Tru now had pectoral fins that resemble butterfly wings. He also had teardrop-shaped pelvic fins that can allow him to crawl along the frozen lake. Due to the snow melting over his body, Tru was now capable of maintaining his composure in battle above water.
"A weak Lumineon against my 'ruthless' Skuntank? Yeah, Skuntank's having seafood for dinner! Skuntank Night Slash!" Jupiter shouted, looking towards the cavern.
"Aqua Ring into Water Pulse!" Pearl said immediately after hearing Skuntank's command,
"Heh, Lumineon will continue to heal no matter how hard Skuntank's attacks are. This one's in the goody bag!"
A dark energy swirled around Skuntank's front paws as it darted towards the now flying Lumineon. Aquatic energy spiraled around Tru, forming a ring of healing before converting into a Water Pulse, spurting in Skuntank's direction. Skuntank surely was hit by the water, but that did not stop it from slashing Tru across his spherical body and left wing. Tru collapsed to the ground as Skuntank landed on its feet, snarling and foaming at the mouth.
Pearl grinned and pumped his fist, "Ha! Skuntank is confused! Check it out, lady!" He pointed at the skunk Pokemon.
"That may be true, but you fail to remember that Skuntank is ruthless and uncaring. You see, my Skuntank becomes more vicious when under a status condition, burned, poisoned, confused, attracted. etc. All except frozen. And seeing as how its confused, I feel bad for your Pokemon. Really bad."
Just then, Team Galactic marched out of the Acuity Cavern with full possession of Uxie, the Knowledge Pokemon. Uxie was trapped within a plasma container and tried its best to break free, but could not succeed. Uxie was then transported to tank which left the Lakefront.
Jupiter grinned muttering, "Mission accomplished." She looked at Pearl, "I'm through playing games. You die here! Skuntank, Flamethrower." She turned on her heels and walked over to the frozen grass, facing her tank.
Skuntank huffed open its mouth and unleashed a deadly inferno onto the frozen lake surface. Pearl looked to his feet and noticed the water immediately melting. He quickly recalled Tru to his Pokeball before sinking into the ice cold water. By this time, Team Galactic was gone and Pearl was sinking in the water. He was panicking and it was a fact that drowning and panicking was not a good combination.
By this time, Diamond and Dawn had just arrived on Acuity Lakefront in time to see Pearl's head vanish into the water.
Almost on cue, Diamond released Trident to dive in and save Pearl. The Empoleon dove head first into the water and swam down to save the now slipping-from-life Pearl. Trident wrapped its metallic flipper around Pearl body and surfaced, gently placing him on dry land.
Diamond and Dawn knelt down beside Pearl as Diamond felt his head, "Damn, he's out cold." He pressed his chest up and down a few times with his right hand, as his left hand was still a bit numb and weak. Eventually, Pearl let out a harsh cough as his face turned pale instantly.
"Oh good he's alive!" Dawn sighed, holding her chest.
"But he has the possibility of getting sick, we have to get him to the hospital."
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"I'm afraid your friend will have to stay here in the Pokemon Center for quite some time. He's showing signs of pneumonia: fever, harsh coughing, and difficulty breathing," Nurse Joy said to Diamond and Dawn who stood in front of the counter at the Pokemon Center.
Diamond exhaled, looking away and down at the ground, "..."
Dawn looked to Diamond and then to Nurse Joy, "Thank you ma'am. We understand. Take care of him, please..."
The two walked towards the exit of the Pokemon Center and headed outside into the city of Snowpoint. Diamond rubbed the back of his neck, feeling bad that his friend was in this current condition.
"We weren't fast enough... We let Neo Team Rocket distract us this entire week and what do we have to show for it? Pearl in the hospital." He kicked a nearby snowman as it shattered into stray pieces of snow.
Dawn sighed as well, not having much to say for she agreed with him. Just then, her Poketch went off as Professor Rowan's face appeared on the screen, "Yes Professor?"
"Dawn, I've just received word that Team Galactic has returned to their headquarters in Veilstone City. You and Diamond should head over there as soon as possible. All is not lost, we can still stop Team Galactic from using the Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf to awaken Palkia. You two need to rest up in Snowpoint City, because it will take quite sometime before Team Galactic"
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Meanwhile in Team Galactic's Veilstone's Head Quarters:
"Finally, Uxie is in my grasp as well as the other two members of the Lake Trio, Mesprit and Azlef." Cyrus cackled as Uxie's body appeared in the final plasmatic pedestal at the far left. The Galactic leader walked over to the machine and pushed a lever forward, turning the machine on. He placed the red chain into one of the two holders as the machine began to absorb the Lake Trio's energy.
Cyrus then headed for the exit once he saw two Goons enter the room.
"Keep a watchful eye over this machine. I'm going out for a drink." Cyrus smirked and exited the operating room.
The Goons nodded and closed the door behind him. Once Cyrus was for sure gone, the two took off their disguises and revealed themselves as...
...the Dusk Twins!
Mark grinned, wiping his nose, "Little Team Galactic know, we betray them!"
Marcia nodded silently, "Yes brother, now we put chain into container as Pluto wished us do!" She took the chain out of her pocket and walked over to the machine, placing their red chain beside Team Galactic's red chain.
"We come back when finish!" Mark snickered as the two Neo Team Rocket Grunts put their Galactic disguises back on, "Me hate these itchy spacey man suits. They itch so!"
"Yes brother. Itchy!"
-----
The next afternoon...
Diamond landed in the middle of Veilstone City after being given a lift by Pilot all the way from Snowpoint City. Right after him, Dawn had landed with the help of Peep. Diamond looked around the outskirts of the city with his eyes, in search of Team Galactic's Head Quarters.
Dawn, knowing this city like the back of her hand, alerted Diamond, "Dia, this way." She led him down the sidewalk into the eastern direction and then north where they stood in front of the Team Falactic Head Quarters.
"This one's for Pearl..." Diamond thought.
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Dawn led Diamond quietly inside the sliding doors. Looking left to right, the two of them noticed the building was empty on this floor, "Come on lets move."
As they ventured down the hall, they over heard voices coming from both sides of them. Immediately, Dawn said, "We gotta split up, we'll cover more ground." An elevator behind Diamond opened up. Once it did, Dawn shoved him into the elevator and quickly ran over to the steps.
Diamond tried to run out of the elevator, but it closed in his face. He sighed, "No use..."
Diamond lifted his finger and pressed a random level button, but heard Dawn's scream after doing so.
She was captured.
(Next: Chapter 58: VS. Dusknoir! Part 1)
Author's Note: Alright guys, I think that's enough for this weekend. All the chapters I released were already written up, so all I had to do was edit them. Now, I have no chapters written up and I'm taking a WELL DESERVED break this week. No writing until next week so read up on this and speculate what's going to happen after this cliff hanger! :) TK out!
