Chapter 1: The Warriors Gather
As the darkness rises and builds power, those among us who are the most pure and true to themselves assemble to stand together in the defense of freedom and humanity
Lance the Dragon Master, the leader of the Kanto Elite Four waited in the meeting room with a forlorn expression on his face. The champion and leader of the Hoenn Elite Four, Steven, wore much the same expression, as did Cynthia, the champion from Sinnoh. Before them in the massive meeting room sat various Gym Leaders from Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn as well as a few members of each region’s Elite Four.
"I’m glad you all could make it," Lance began. Lance was a man of average height, but his eyes shone with intensity. "I'm sure many of you have noticed that not everyone is here, and that is what Steven, Cynthia, and I have called you here to discuss." Lance nodded for Steven to continue.
"As you may or may not be aware of, it has recently come to our –mine, Cynthia, and Lance's- attention that there is a secret cult that is growing around the three regions at an enormous rate," Steven said. Steven was around Lance’s height with silver-white hair. He was cleanly dressed and had a wealthy air about him.
"I've heard of this thing," Flannery –the Gym Leader of Lavaridge Town- spoke up. She was a young woman with long red hair. "The leader of the cult is some guy claiming to be a Pokemon god or something, right?"
Lance nodded. "This is highly –and I'd like to stress highly- unlikely," he said. "But nevertheless this man has assembled a very large following. Many members of the Pokemon League have joined him as well."
"In fact," Steven said. "Many of those Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Four that you don't see here have more than likely joined him."
"You know," Lieutenant Surge –the Gym Leader of Vermillion City- said. He was a large, powerfully built man with spiky blonde hair. "I ain't too surprised at all about Giovanni joining this creep, but Koga and Blaine? That's just a little hard for me to swallow."
Pewter City's Gym Leader, Brock, nodded his agreement. Brock was a dark-skinned young man with narrow eyes and black hair. "Yeah, something doesn't seem right. I mean Koga, Blaine, and even Giovanni have such strong personalities. I can't picture any of them being drawn into a cult."
"Well, all surprises and disbeliefs aside," the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, Clair, said. "With Giovanni on his side this so-called 'god' will have the nearly unlimited resources of Team Rocket at his disposal."
"Listen, we don't really know if Giovanni is the head of Team Rocket," Lance interjected.
"Lance," Lorelei, a slender, beautiful brunette and Lance's fellow member of the Kanto Elite Four, objected. "You know that truth better than any of us."
"Whether Giovanni is or isn't the leader of Team Rocket isn't the case here," Steven said, finally putting an end to the discussion. "Our problem is that some wacko claiming to be a god has successfully recruited eight Gym Leaders, two members of Hoenn’s Elite Four, a former Elite Four member from Kanto, and the current Hoenn League Champion."
"Wallace?" Flannery gasped. "How did this nutcase manage to convince Wallace to join him?"
"That's what we want to find out," Lance stated.
The Gym Leader from Ecruteak City –Morty- stepped forward. He was a tall young man with long blonde hair held back by a sweatband. "Just so we're not left in the dark," he said. "Can you tell us who exactly this nut-job has recruited?"
Lance nodded. "Aside from Wallace, this guy has managed to bring Karen into his fold. Karen was a member of Kanto's Elite Four while Lorelei and Agatha were away. She specializes in Dark-type Pokemon."
"From the Hoenn Elite Four, both Sidney the Dark Master and Drake the Dragon Master have joined him," Steven informed. "You’ve heard about Giovanni, Blaine, and Koga joining him from their gyms in Viridian City, Cinnabar Island, and Fuchsia City respectively."
"Juan, the Sootopolis Gym Leader and Wallace's old mentor has also joined them," Lance said. "From Johto...Chuck and Pryce, the Gym Leaders from Cianwood City and Mahogany Town have joined as well. From the Sinnoh region, he's recruited Gardenia of Eterna City, and Volkner of SunyShore City."
"Those are some heavy-hitters that this guy's got on his side," said the Kanto Elite Four Fighting Master, Bruno. "But honestly, what can we do about it? I don't think that they're doing anything illegal by joining a 'club', are they?"
"I just want us to be sure," Lance said. "This guy, this 'god', is not a particularly sane guy. He's out there preaching the 'take over the world' thing like some lame Saturday morning cartoon villain."
"Normally we wouldn't worry about something like this," Cynthia said. "There's been dozens of crazies out there trying to take over the world with nothing but a misfit band of kids and a handful of half-dead Pokemon. But this guy has official members of the Pokemon League with him, enough to create a league of his own."
"And you want to know why this guy is so different from the rest, don't you?" Koga’s daughter Janine asked. "You want to know why this guy was able to convince people like my father to join him."
"Exactly," Lance nodded. "Why is this guy so great? What has he offered them? What dirt does he have on them? Has he threatened them? These are the things we need to know."
"So why just us?" Bruno asked. "Why have you called only ten of us here? Why not call in the entire League? And why aren't any of the Gym Leaders from Sinnoh here? This guy's got two of their Gym Leaders, why doesn't the Sinnoh division of the League get involved?"
"Because then they'll know that we're on to them," Steven answered simply. "We need a sense of normalcy, and we need to keep as many Gyms intact as we can. That's why we left Sinnoh alone. With one function Gym League and group of Elite Four, we might be able to buy ourselves more time."
"We called you all here because we know we can trust you," Lance stated. "Brock and Misty, your loyalty to the League has been very well documented. Lieutenant Surge, your combat experience would be an invaluable asset. Sabrina, your psychic powers might give us a distinct advantage to tell if people are lying. Janine, apart from the possibility of you being able to get through to your father, you are also a skilled ninja, and your reconnaissance abilities would come in handy. Flannery, Morty, and Clair, the three of you have constantly proven to be worth and dedicated Gym Leaders. And Lorelei and Bruno, your skills as members of the Elite Four are unmatched."
"But this 'god' isn't our only problem," Cynthia stated dejectedly. "There have been some strange occurrences all over the world. For the past few weeks, I've been receiving reports about a strange Pokemon that attacks towns and cities seemingly at random."
"Why don't the local authorities or Gym Leaders handle this thing then?" Misty asked.
"That's the thing," Cynthia sighed. "By the time the authorities or Gym Leaders arrive, this Pokemon –whatever it is- has already destroyed half the city and has vanished."
"So has anyone ever gotten a good look at this thing?" Clair asked. "Does anyone know what it is?"
"Yes and no," Cynthia answered cryptically. "I'll explain. Two days ago the creature appeared in Petalburg City and began its rampage. However, unlike in the other cities, this time the local Gym Leader, Norman was able to engage it in battle." Cynthia paused and looked each of her fellow League members in the eye. "Now I’m sure you know that Norman is no pushover, but this strange Pokemon defeated him and his Pokemon in less than a minute before flying off at what Norman called 'impossible speeds'."
"So does Norman know what it is?" Brock asked. "Can't he tell us what's been destroying all these cities?"
"See, therein lays the problem," Lance sighed. "Norman said he had never seen anything like it before in his entire life. I mean, there's legendary Pokemon and rare Pokemon, but Norman says that this was like something completely foreign."
"Did he describe it?" Morty asked. "What did it look like?"
"He said it was very slender," Lance answered. "It was green and red, had four tentacles for arms, had a strange t-shaped head, and had a glowing purple jewel in the center of its chest."
"Do you think it's connected to our loony 'god'?" Flannery asked.
"Maybe," Steven sighed. "Or it might just be some coincidence. This Pokemon –if it is a Pokemon- has been attacking at random. It goes from one region to another. It might be on Johto one night, Hoenn the next morning, Sinnoh that afternoon, and it could show up in Kanto before dusk."
"So what do we do?" Janine asked.
"If it attacks again, I will know," Sabrina answered. The powerful psychic finally stepped forward and spoke. "Once I sense it I will be able to keep tabs on it and I'll try to continue to follow it. Perhaps we will be able to intervene and stop it."
Lance looked to Steven and Cynthia and nodded. "Not a bad idea," he agreed. "But don't get in over your head. We need you back here so your safety is our prime concern."
"Do we have any idea where it might head next?" Lorelei asked. "Any idea at all?"
"I have absolutely no clue," Lance answered tiredly. "But I have a very bad feeling about this. I don't think this is the first time this thing has attacked, but I do know that it's just the beginning. Things are looking to get really nasty before this is all said and done."
"Sabrina will keep us updated on this mystery attacker," Steven said after a moment of contemplation. "Janine, we know that this 'god' has an enormous computer database located by Mt. Silver in the Johto region. I want you to infiltrate there and bring us whatever information you can find. Lorelei will go with you, she knows her way around a computer well enough to find whatever these guys thought they got rid of," he ordered. The two women nodded solemnly. "Lieutenant Surge," out of reflex, the large man saluted, causing Steven to chuckle a little bit. "You and Misty are headed to Hoenn to do some reconnaissance at the Sky Pillar where this nut-job has set up his new Headquarters. Misty's water Pokemon will be able to get you there without being detected. Bring whatever high-tech, military-grade surveillance equipment you’ve got; find out who associates with this guy, find out how he associates with them, find out where people go, find out who else they talk to, find out what they talk about, find out where this guy sleeps, what he eats, and what his name is. These are all things we need to know."
"You got it boss," Surge said with a smirk. "I'll make a few calls and get the gear I need. I know a few old military buddies who’s love to help us out if we need it."
"Good," Cynthia said with a nod. "We'll need all the help we can get if we ever need to plan an all-out attack."
"Well then, boys and girls," Surge smirked. "Let's get this show on the road. Misty, we've got a job to do. We'll stop in Vermillion so I can get my things, and then we'll head to the pillar."
"Lorelei, are you ready to go?" Janine asked. Lorelei nodded her affirmation. "Then we'll head out right away."
"Good luck, you guys," Lance said solemnly. "You’ll need it..."