#codyscommandpost

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy and @codyscommandpost proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Shout-outs to my “little sister” @princessofhoenn for beta-reading this chapter! :)

Chapter 9 - “A Jewel in the Rough! The Gorgeous Oasis, Phenac City!”

Having applied a Revive and Hyper Potion to Wartortle, May withdrew it back into the safety of its Poké Ball. She should’ve put more thought into combatting that Tyranitar: she had surrendered herself into rage and her Pokémon suffered for it. Deep down May knew that Wartortle wouldn’t hold the loss against her — that just wasn’t its personality — but the burden of guilt was certainly going to gnaw away at her for days to come.

Her legs groaning their disapproval as she stood up, May brushed off as much dirt as she could. The cut on her forehead was still throbbing (she would have to get it bandaged), but other than that she wasn’t physically injured as terribly as she was emotionally. At least, she thought, it would be easier to conceal the latter than the former, which was a minute comfort.

Manya probably wouldn’t be pleased with me hiding that, May realized. The other girl offered a much-appreciated emotional outlet, of course… who, then, would comfort the comforter when it all became too much?

These thoughts drifted with the wind as May walked. Each step forward was an exhausting effort, yet she could not perceive the solid ground beneath her feet. Her brain automatically guided her towards the smoldering wreckage of the Snagem Hideout, and her body trudged along without complaint. The already bleak desert scenery blurred from view, becoming even more nondescript.

May subconsciously glanced up at the pillar of smoke wafting from the explosion sight. It had thinned somewhat, though its sooty color remained a blight against the mid-morning sky. Bits of rubble were gradually appearing along the landscape: shards of glass, metal beams twisted out of shape, singed and blackened chairs… May’s stomach shrunk at the thought of finding any disembodied limbs on the ground.

The debris thickened as May approached the hideout’s entrance, a synthetic maw that looked as though it had been hewn from the very canyon walls. Scorch marks stretched from the lone doorway from which the smoke was drifting, and the air burned with the bitter stench of explosives.

Manya was standing a few feet away from the doorway, directing her Solrock as it manipulated a girder with Psychic. The Meteorite Pokémon’s eyes shone a bright blue and the girder was lowered to the ground, which coughed up a fresh cloud of dust as the steel beam landed with a loud clunk.

Manya gave Solrock a gentle pat as it lowered down towards her level. “Good job, Solrock. You just let me know if you’re feeling overworked, okay?”

Solrock tilted forward in a nodding motion before turning back to clear the way. Manya’s dirt-stained face broke into a weary smile as May advancing towards her. “The shrimp and sleuth are inside,” she reported. “We found a few survivors, but they scampered off before we could do anything else.”

May nodded, her throat drying at the mention of “survivors”. There were some casualties after all… she unconsciously rubbed her eyes and felt her shoulders drop. People have died because of me. The thought sliced through her brain, shattering her confidence. I might as well have triggered the bomb…

Manya seemed to know what May was thinking, for she said, “Don’t go beating yourself over this. I know it’s frustrating but if you ask me I know this isn’t your fault. I think Abyss woulda blown this place up regardless if you were here or not.”

“I could have prevented this,” May mumbled, finding it easier to concentrate on her boots rather than Manya’s face. “I could’ve saved them…”

“How would you have known?” Manya asked, her voice firm yet unaggressive, hands on her hips. “You’re not a fortune teller, May… this was out of your control.”

May nodded again, though privately she reflected on their previous musings on approaching Snagem themselves and cursed herself for not taking charge yesterday. She was jolted out of this rumination by Manya placing a hand onto her shoulder, and suddenly found herself looking into her friend’s lilac eyes.

“Listen to me,” Manya said, her brow narrowed to the most minimal degree. “This. Was. Not. Your. Fault. You, me, Looker… even the brat… we’re human. We’re not omnipotent. Shit happens, y’know?”

May gazed into Manya’s eyes, simultaneously awed and ashamed of the faith Manya was displaying. She knew that Manya was right: they were only fifteen, and perhaps they would’ve been caught off-guard even if they were fifty. But the fact remained that people — even if they were bad guys — had lost their lives today.

May sighed and dropped her head onto Manya’s shoulder. She had been awake for not even three hours now but already wished to drift back into the dark void of sleep. I can’t let this get to me, she found herself thinking as Manya softly caressed her hair. I must keep going… I’ll make Abyss pay for this. I will stop them… even if I burn to cinders.

The holographic map caused her eyes to water but May refused to look away. She wanted to engrave the locales of Orre into every fold and crevice of her brain, an idea that sprouted from the desire to be worried over one less concern. Looker stood with her, having explained that he had been briefed on the geography for his mission. He had begun by pointing out where she had already been: Gateon Port on the western shore and jumping east before settling at their current location on the edge of Eclo Canyon.

“What’s this?” A city resting at the southern edge caught May’s attention. The icon on the Snag Machine’s map suggested the image of a secluded island or a wading pool, though she couldn’t imagine water existing in a remote area.

Looker followed her gaze. “That is Phenac City. It was, I believe, one of the first settlements in Orre: the city’s founder managed to draw water from underground.”

“Hm,” said May. The mention of water caused her mind to drift away into daydreams of lowering herself into a deep, wide pool. After enduring the searing heat, being able to swim in cooled water had become a far-off fantasy. The notion of running for Phenac City was incredibly tempting: it did lie directly south of the Libra, after all… but once she thought about it, beelining for Phenac just to refresh herself was an awfully greedy motive.

Manya and Smidge entered the Libra, both sweaty and sporting dark circles under their eyes. Smidge plopped straight down onto the ground, while Manya staggered over to drape an arm around May’s shoulder.

“We searched as best we could,” she reported, her voice sounding much more active than she looked. “But we couldn’t find anyone else… it looked like Abyss’ bomb was rather powerful, everything was either burned, melted, or outright broken. Ooh,” she said, catching sight of the map. “Are we going to Phenac?”

“If there’s good reason to,” May replied. She secretly hoped there was, if only to experience indoor plumbing again and get herself into a shower. “What do you know about it?”

“Well, it’s pretty lively, and rightly so with all the water they’ve got,” Manya explained. “And very low crime rates, too, especially lately…”

Smidge exhaled a noise of dissent through his nose but Manya pretended not to have heard as she continued. “Got themselves a Gym or something, too.”

“I am of the opinion that we should not be attempting to earn Badges,” said Looker plainly. “Instead, my thought is that Phenac’s lack of villainy should provide an opportunity to rejoin civilization and gather information.”

“If they’ll let us clean up, I’m all for it,” May said, deciding that she couldn’t hide her motivation anymore. She tapped the Snag Machine’s screen and the map flickered away. “Manya, if you’re up for taking us there —”

Manya was already preparing Miss Birdie for the trip. “It’ll be a tight fit, but you should all be able to ride aboard easily enough.” She flashed a sinister grin over at Smidge. “Feel free to toss the shrimp overboard to stretch your legs.”

“I’ll stretch that big mouth o’ yours, blondie, if you keep draggin’ me.”

“Be glad it’s only verbally for now.”

“Knock it off, guys,” May cut in flatly. As awkward as the thought was, she couldn’t help but reflect on how much Manya and Smidge’s taunting reminded her of Ash and Misty. She spent most of the trip south wondering if anything ever happened between her two friends, and if not, how she could assist them along the way.

The sound of rushing water greeted them after Manya shut off her motorbike’s engine. Tan walls curved around the city, however, perhaps to shield travelers from the sunlight reflecting off the water as they approached. True to Manya’s description, several people were making their way either to or from Phenac through the wide archways carved through the walls. May inhaled and could practically taste the water on the roof of her mouth. The sensation was surprising, though gratefully received.

Lush fronds of palm trees swayed in the moisture-carrying breeze, and May couldn’t help but imagine that the temperature had dropped several degrees once they had entered Phenac’s boundaries. A large fountain churned water about in the main plaza, in front of which stood a tall man in a suit conversing with a smaller man with a bow tie.

“… really think this could work,” the suited man was saying, his voice growing clearer as May and her group walked by. “I’m fully prepared to fund as much as necessary.”

“That’s very generous, Your Honor,” the second man answered. His reedy voice nonetheless reflected the gratitude he was experiencing. “I’ll draw up plans immediately…”

May focused on the city boundary again. She had only just noticed the water flowing atop the wall like an aqueduct. She was wondering what practical use that had when the tall man’s voice shattered her imagination.

“Welcome to Phenac!” he said, looking around at them. His neatly-trimmed beard shifted as he smiled and pushed up his horn-rimmed glasses slightly. He extended out a hand. “I’m Mayor Trest.”

They each gripped his hand in turn, and May found herself wondering about the genuineness of the warmth in Trest’s eyes. Fate would be a cruel bitch indeed if he turned out to be evil all along. Her sight flickered over to the second man, who adjusted his bowtie before staring around at them all.

“Oh, pardon me,” Trest had noticed May’s line of sight and gestured over to his companion. “This brilliant young man is Caecus. He’s brought up a wonderful proposal… would you like to explain?”

Caecus nodded and cleared his throat. His thin, light hair fluttered about in the dry breeze that swept by. “Phenac’s experienced tremendous success thanks to its waterway system. I believe it is imperative that other areas in Orre should construct the same.”

“Bringing water to a desert? Whoda thought? Ouch!” Smidge’s sarcastic comment was reprimanded by Manya putting him into a chokehold.

“That sounds wonderful,” Manya told Caecus, ignoring Smidge’s efforts to pry himself free from her grip. “I hope it works out!”

“I have an inquiry,” added Looker. “My current understanding is such that dropping large quantities of water in an arid environment introduces catastrophic results.”

May, Manya, and Smidge all stared at Looker in minor disbelief, though Caecus beamed. “Indeed!” he said, delighted. “Desert soil can’t absorb all that moisture at once, you see; disastrous flooding occurs. Instead, we shall be taking the cautious route and gradually introduce water. In this way, we can minimize the negative effects.”

Looker nodded satisfactorily. “His Honor has selected the appropriate man for the occupation.”

“They sound alike, don’t they?” May whispered to Manya, who smiled.

“Phanec’s the first city in Orre to implement Caecus’ blueprint.” Trest interjected, clapping a hand on the scientist’s shoulder. “The hope is for other areas to follow suit once they realize how successful this shall become.”

“Fair warning, Your Honor,” Caecus said with the barest hint of a smile. “This is still rather experimental… I’d rather not have my funding revoked should something happen…”

“Come now, my good man,” Trest grinned broadly and thumped Caecus on the back. “You can’t walk through life without stumbling a few times!”

May ruminated on that remark. Perhaps, despite even all her concern and anxiety, she had been attacking this issue too hastily. Yes, she was exercising caution (much to Smidge’s displeasure), but what if that hesitation was born from desiring perfection? Had she really been expecting everything to resolve without a problem lurking behind every corner? A scene of Max throwing a tantrum over a school assignment flashed in her mind’s eye, and May was forced to admit that she inherited something from her father after all.

“On that note,” continued Trest, and May looked up to see him gazing around at them. “It looks like you’ve been stumbling around quite a bit.”

May found herself agreeing. After all the traveling, Manya, Smidge, and Looker were all covered with dust and sand. She knew she couldn’t be much better: her gloves were no longer pristinely white, and her stockings bore rips and tears. While Manya did bandage the cut on her forehead, they had forgotten to clean off the blood around the wound.

“My dearest apologizes, Your Honor,” stammered Looker as he frantically began to brush off his coat. “We have not established plumbing at our, ah, main location…”

“That just won’t do.” Trest shook his head before smiling. “Well, I was already going to invite Caecus over for lunch, but I’d like the extend the invitation to you as well! As well as use of my shower, as needed.”

“If this guy turns out to be evil I’m gonna hate myself,” May muttered to Manya before speaking to Trest. “That would be wonderful, thank you.”

Trest smiled around them all and gestured towards a house on the city’s upper level. Caecus led the way, with May’s group following and Trest at their heels. The sun beat down upon them, evaporating the cool water into the air into a pleasant sort of humidity. Caecus held open the door and they filed in. An air conditioner was running somewhere in the house: the chill was discomforting but preferable to the heat outside.

Smidge plopped down on a couch, edging away from Looker as the agent took the spot next to him. Caecus sat in an armchair, shifting uncomfortably as though the sudden company had unnerved him. Manya and May sat on the floor: the former upright supported by her arms, the latter lying flat on her stomach. Even the scratchy carpet felt cold and relaxing.

“Bless my wife, she made extras.” chortled Trent as he reentered the living room. “I’m glad to see you’ve all made yourselves comfortable. Miss May, is it?”

May turned over onto her back, staring at him. Her heart jumped: as far as she was aware, no one had brought up her name within Trest’s vicinity. Had she been right and led them into a trap?

Trest noticed her confusion and clarified, “I keep in touch with Lily and Professor Krane. Phenac was conquered a few years ago by some hooligans, so I thought it best to keep the brightest and noblest minds in Orre at my side.”

May nodded weakly and reversed onto her stomach again, which was now squirming. Sweat trickled down her arms and she wondered if that was from the heat or the sudden dose of panic and shock.

“Anyways,” Trest continued. “My wife suggested that I allow you to clean up, which I’m sure you’d like. Our bathroom’s upstairs on the left.”

May nodded again. A shower would certainly revitalize her, but laziness had come to the fore. Any motivation was entirely drained, and she felt perfectly content to just close her eyes and drift away into bliss. Yet a meal loomed, and May was never one to avoid food… Screw it, she thought. Food first, shower and coma later.

Trest’s wife’s area of cooking expertise turned out to be comfort food. The dining room table was laden with thick, hearty dishes. Powerful yet soothing aromas wafted throughout the house, quickly luring May into a chair.

She spent all of dinner eating rather than talking, piling her plate with triple servings of mashed potatoes, bread rolls, and a very filling macaroni-and-cheese casserole. The others’ conversations drifted over her head, and she resolutely ignored Smidge’s snide comments about her eating habits.

Looker offered to assist with the dishes, so May trudged upstairs to the guest room. There wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t feel weighed down: her stomach with food, her brain with worry, and her eyes with exhaustion. She dropped her bag and shoes to the floor before collapsing onto the only bed in the room, everything instantly melting away into blissful sleep.

Her eyes snapped open hours later. The small alarm clock on the nightstand flashed the time: a little after three in the morning. Something shuffled next to her, and May looked to see Manya curled up under the blankets, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Quietly and gently, May slid off the mattress.

The house was utterly silent and colored inky-gray. Taking care not to step on any creaky floorboards, May snuck downstairs and sat herself in front of the video phone in the living room. She picked up the receiver and began to dial, hoping that Hoenn and Orre didn’t share time zones.

Her call was answered on the third ring, and the screen burst to life, revealing May’s mother Caroline on the other end. “Well, hello, May! This is a surprise!”

May would probably never admit it, but the sight of her mother’s smiling face brought forth a surge of relief. “Hey, mom. Hope I didn’t catch you a bad time.”

“Oh, not at all!” Caroline assured her. “I was just having my coffee when I heard the phone ring.”

May nodded, eyes flickering to the sunlight drifting through the window behind Caroline. “That’s good. It’s early morning here, and I didn’t know…” her voice trailed off and she had to shake herself clear. “Anyways, I thought I’d say hello.”

“That’s very sweet, dear,” smiled Caroline before sipping her coffee. “Norman told me you had another big adventure waiting. I told him that you’re practically a grown woman by now and this shouldn’t be a surprise!”

May smiled and nodded, making a mental note to never disclose this excursion to her mother. “Yeah, something just came up, that’s all. It’s not like I was running away from you guys or anything.”

Caroline was staring back at her with a curious expression on her face. “May, dear,” she said, her voice thick with motherly concern. “Are you doing alright?”

“I —”

Her mother’s question had caught her off-guard. She thought she concealed her mood well enough, but just enough had slipped through the cracks for Caroline to notice. May turned away from the monitor, as loud of an admission of guilt as her speaking aloud.

“I’m just hitting a few road blocks,” May continued. Ones that continually try to murder me, she added mentally. “So I’ve been a little discouraged…”

If Caroline believed this answer unsatisfactory, she didn’t say so. Instead she set down her mug and gripped the receiver with both hands. “May, I’m going to tell you something your grandfather once told me: if you’re running into enemies, you’re headed in the right direction.”

May stared at her mother’s face and said nothing.

“I know that everyone — especially Trainers — can find themselves in difficult situations. But you’re my daughter, and I know that you aren’t someone to let that stop you. I mean, when you started your journey five years ago you only wanted to travel, and now you’re a celebrated Coordinator!”

May rubbed the tears out of her eyes, trying to play it off as a yawn. “Thanks, mom. I know you’d root for me.”

“Forever and always,” Caroline beamed. “Don’t let anyone stop you, honey. You’ve got the passion and drive to bowl over anyone who stands in your way!”

May nodded again, but with sincerity behind the gesture. Caroline’s words had improved her spirit somewhat, and her chest burned with determination to return to Petalburg in one piece. “You know it, mom. I’m gonna get back to sleep…”

“Rest up, dear. A rested woman’s a beautiful woman!”

May waved as the screen turned off before hanging up the receiver. A remarkable sense of calm washed over her as she ascended the stairs. She had to hand it to her mother: she knew just the right things to say without knowing all the details (not that May would’ve told her).

May climbed back into bed without disturbing Manya. After settling into a comfortable position, she closed her eyes and allowed the gentle rhythm of her friend’s breathing to lull her back to sleep.

Trest’s wife whipped up another generously large meal for breakfast. Once again May neglected conversation, directing her attention towards numerous helpings of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, toast, and juice. A ceiling fan whirled overhead, cooling the six people around the table from Orre’s harsh morning sunlight.

Trest’s eyes were lowered upon the daily newspaper while his wife nudged him every so often as a reminder to eat the food sitting on his plate. Manya, sitting beside May, drizzled syrup on her fifteen-high pancake stack. Looker and Smidge, meanwhile, dissolved into an argument over the boy not drinking a glass of milk.

“I ain’t drinkin’ nothing that came from a cow!” Smidge growled, eyes blazing with dislike.

“Miltank milk is highly nutritious!” Looker countered. He picked up the glass bottle from the table and held it in front of Smidge’s face. “With a luxurious, creamy taste that leaves you satisfied –”

“Shove off, ya old fart! It’s gross and nothin’ will get me ta drink it!”

May shook her head as she took another bite of toast. She possessed little intention to intervene and was in fact rather grateful for Looker attempting to order Smidge around.

“Any more, dear?” Trest’s wife inquired as May drained her glass.

“No, thank you,” she replied with a thin smile. “But it was all delicious.” She stacked up her empty dishes and set them in the sink. “I, er… hope I didn’t eat too much.”

“With how little my husband tends to eat, I welcome the change.” Trest’s wife simpered, nudging Trest playfully with her elbow.

May went upstairs, slipped on her boots and bag, and stepped out of the house. Ignoring the bombardment of eighty-degree heat, she began making her way towards the center of town. Hardly anyone else was out, aside from a jogger being chased by his Castform. Though given this heat I’m not surprised.

She continued walking until she reached a plain, rounded building. It caught her eye yesterday but there hadn’t been an opportunity to visit until now. Nothing about the building stood out aside from carvings above the entrance that read “Prestige Precept Center”. How curious that a region without a Pokémon League would have something very much resembling a Gym…

May gazed at the writing for a while until a voice spoke, causing her to jump.

“I was curious as to where you had disappeared.” Looker frowned concernedly down at her, arms folded.

“I’m not running off, if that’s what you mean,” May replied evenly.

Looker shook his head. “From what your magical companion was revealed to me, you have accomplished a great of deal of things. Dashing away would not cohere to that.”

“I just said I’m not.” May spun on her heel before Looker could answer, stepped up to the PreGym door, and pulled it open.

Cold air rushed onto her face as she looked around. The building was a single room, with a battlefield taking up most of the space in the center. A chalkboard, a table, and some chairs stood to the left; on the right sat a large half-circle control panel. Other than herself and Looker (following her inside), May noticed that no one seemed to be around.

A mechanical grinding noise caught her attention: turning towards the source May spotted an elevator against the back wall. The doors slid open and a young man stepped out. His sharp face and just-unkept-enough fuchsia hair made him resemble a hypothetical older brother of May’s Contest rival, Drew.

“Hello there!” he called as he started walking across the room. “Welcome to my Pre Gym!”

“This is a Gym…?” May found herself asking aloud.

“Pre Gym,” the young man pressed with a smile. “Not that Orre has any actual Gyms… oh, excuse me! Where are my manners? I’m Justy, and I run this place. Are you interested in a battle…?”

The uncomfortable memory of her last battle jumped past May’s eyes. “Er… maybe,” she answered, hoping her stomach’s aching wasn’t discernable in her voice. “I was just curious about this place…”

Justy’s smile remained undeterred. “You’re not imposing or anything! You took the effort to poke your head in, so why not? After all, battling is a good way to learn about one another!”

His insistent enthusiasm was a disconcerting similarity to Ash and Brendan. May rubbed her forehead in attempt to dispel the twinge of pain that had surfaced. Part of her did want to accept the challenge, to vent her frustrations; the other half looked to withdraw and shut herself away.

“I request your pardon,” said Looker after sparing a glance at May. “But I am thinking that your challenge shall have to be postponed —”

“I accept.” May interjected.

Justy beamed and motioned for May to follow him up to the arena. Looker stared at her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, which only fueled her irritation.

“I don’t need you speaking for me,” she grunted, and stomped onto the battlefield without waiting for a response. She was old enough to do as she pleased, thank you very much, frustrations and anxiety be damned. What did Looker know, anyways? He didn’t seem to use — or own, for that matter — any Pokémon himself…

“We prefer Double Battles here in Orre,” Justy told May from across the battlefield. “Is that alright with you?”

May almost shrugged but decided it was politer to nod. Justy returned the gesture and revealed his Pokémon first: a spiny Sandslash and a prickly Cacnea. After brief deliberation, May sent out Blaziken and Venusaur. It might have appeared like overkill, but she wasn’t going to lose another match if she could help it.

Blaziken rushed towards Sandslash, which fired off an array of star-shaped projectiles in response. Blaziken swerved away into Cacnea, countering the Cactus Pokémon’s attempted Needle Arm with Fire Punch. The dodged Swift attack flew towards Venusaur: a powerful stream of Razor Leaf nullified the attack. May expected the Grass move to hit Sandslash, but it had burrowed under the arena.

Cacnea tumbled along the ground from Blaziken’s punch before righting itself. It took aim at its attacker, launching small seeds from its arm. May recognized the Leech Seed and had Blaziken leap away. Unfortunately, Sandslash chose that moment to spring out and collide into Blaziken, its spines digging into the Blaze Pokémon’s back. Venusaur quickly ensnared its partner with vines, yanking it away to safety.

“You’ve got some good Pokémon there!” complimented Justy. “Looks like we can’t let our guard down!”

May allowed herself a small smile. She might not accept praise towards herself now, but commendation towards her Pokémon was certainly welcome. Emerging victorious from this battle (as non-threatening as it was) would do wonders for her self-esteem. Though something about Justy’s Pokémon choices made her suspicious: she had a nagging feeling that they shared some sort of attribute that would be troublesome.

She was, to her displeasure, correct. Sandslash whipped up a sandstorm, obstructing itself and Cacnea from view. May swore under her breath: Tyranitar had given her enough trouble with this strategy. It certainly wasn’t much easier now, given both Sandslash and Cacnea had an Ability called Sand Veil, increasing their evasiveness during a sandstorm.

For a moment May berated herself for not having Skitty on hand. A Blizzard attack might have the power to disperse the swirling sand… not that Skitty would have any better luck against Tyranitar as Wartortle did. If Justy’s Pokémon attacked up-close, she could play the advantage of her Pokémon’s superior power by retaliating at the right moment.

Unless Justy played it cautiously and kept his distance, which he seemed to be doing. Blaziken and Venusaur backed into each other, wary of when and where their opponents would appear. Venusaur’s petals fluttered in the sand, and an idea came to her. She wouldn’t pull it off just yet: she’d save it for the climax.

Sandslash erupted from the ground underneath Blaziken, knocking it back. Sandslash raised its claws, which glinted in the Pre Gym’s florescent lighting. Blaziken recovered quickly to interrupt the Crush Claw with Flamethrower, utilizing Venusaur’s bulk to brace against the attack’s thrust. The Seed Pokémon, meanwhile, battered away Cacnea’s Pin Missile with a flurry of vine tethers.

May’s temper suddenly flared without explanation. The battle was only a few minutes in, yet the urge to demolish her opponent consumed her. Some part of her brain told her that a demonstration of overwhelming power would prove herself: not only to Justy but to Looker and Smidge as well. She had entered two Grand Festivals after all, so her skills and ability weren’t to be mocked.

Patience, May told herself. Patience… I know my plan will work… Perhaps overconfidence had gotten the better of her yesterday. Being self-assured was fine, but a swollen head prevented clear thinking. With that in mind, she thought hard and added some contingencies to her plan, just in case.

Sandslash and Cacnea retreated into the billowing sand again. Justy’s vigilance was admirable, she thought, motioning for Blaziken to crouch behind Venusaur. He may have summoned the sandstorm, but she could take advantage of it, too. “Go for it, Venusaur.”

Venusaur lazily swayed to and fro, a sweet, mellow scent emanating from its massive flower. Visible as a thin, pink mist, the aroma merged with the sandstorm and drifted throughout the arena. Infatuated with the intoxicating odor, Sandslash and Cacnea re-emerged from their cover.

Quick as a flash, Venusaur ensnared them both with Vine Whip. The opposing Pokémon barely struggled: the Sweet Scent commanded all of their attention. At May’s signal, Blaziken leapt up, its leg alight in flames. Venusaur held their foes close together, allowing Blaziken to descend and clobber both with twin Blaze Kicks. Cacnea succumbed instantly, so Venusaur released it unceremoniously onto the floor. Sandslash still had a bit of HP left, though that was rectified with Venusaur tossing it against the closest wall.

“Holy cow!” said Justy amidst nervous laughter. The sandstorm dissolved into nothingness, the battle having ended. “You’re a clever one!”

May suppressed a smile. “I apologize,” she said, unconsciously rubbing her upper arm. “I think we were too aggressive there.”

“It’s alright.” Justy recalled his Pokémon. “I had a lot of fun, and I’d be ashamed if you were holding back on me!”

His cheerfulness remained marginally unnerving. “Thanks,” she mumbled. She returned Blaziken and Venusaur to their Poké Balls before stepping out of the arena, taking care not to meet Justy’s beaming expression. Looker was still frowning at her, which she ignored. Her current mood aside, the battle helped lift her confidence as predicted. Practice made perfect, as people said… the prospect of losing against Abyss again wasn’t appealing, but she shouldn’t be so hard on herself… everyone loses battles sometimes…

May finally looked towards Justy. “Thanks for the battle. Sorry if I seem distant, I’ve had a lot going on…”

Justy didn’t have a chance to respond: the Pre Gym doors slammed open without warning. Everyone whipped around as Manya came running in.

“Here you are!” she gasped. Her eyes were wide, and her hand shook as she steadied herself against May’s shoulder. “Geez, couldn’t have… left a note…”

“What’s going on?” May asked sharply. Something about Manya’s tone got her heart pounding furiously, and she braced herself as best she could for what was coming.

“Trest… the Mayor just got a phone call…” Manya told her. She must’ve ran all the way over here: aside from her voice breaking, her face was flushed and covered in sweat. “Lily… the HQ Lab…”

“What?” urged May. “What happened?”

Manya took a deep breath and raised her head. Amethyst stared into sapphire, and everything froze as Manya continued: “Abyss. They… they’re attacking the HQ Lab.”

To be continued...

[rainbowloliofjustice]

How fucking dense is this guy? His entire argument that you're a "paedophile" is predicated on the fact that you...what, used a WORD? When did that become proof of someone being a paedophile, as opposed to, i dunno, ACTUALLY RAPING CHILDREN? I seriously cannot figure this guy who's arguing with you out.

“everyone I don’t like is a pedophile”

[takashi0]

I bet this meme-whatever person would be fucking speechless if you bring up the fact that the Viet Cong/NVA were hardly nice people, between the torture, the massacres of South Vietnamese supporters, prison camps, etc...

But that would mean admitting they’re wrong, and 14 year olds can’t do that. 

[kasuria]

First impression: Someone as crazy into May as I am, AND who reblogs tonnes of great fanart? Where do I sign up? // Now: A cool and interesting person who shares my passion for really detailed character headcanons and analyses, does some great art, and whom I certainly wouldn't mind a chance to chat with some time. There's not enough cool folks like you on Tumblr these days!

Oh wow thank you!!! I really appreciate hearing something like this!!!<3

[eternal1990]

@codyscommandpost

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy​ and @codyscommandpost​ proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Chapter 8 - "A Desperate Battle! The Monster Living in the Sand!"

May wasn't completely sure if she would confide in her partners about her revelation on the Snagged Altaria. The whole situation was pretty ridiculous no matter how you looked at it, and it was doubtful that they'd accept the truthfulness of her claim. In the end, she decided to keep a secret for the time being. She still had to purify it, of course…

She checked Altaria's Shadow Meter. The first segment had completely emptied and the second segment was slightly diminished as well, more a testament to how much traveling she had accomplished than anything. But now, having rekindled the bond with the Pokémon, May was determined to see that Altaria was returned to normal. She would have to battle with it… Shame I can't purify it by using it in a Contest, she thought, smirking slightly. But maybe once I finish up here and can go back home…

Her stomach squirmed at the thought but she ignored it. She would see this duty through to the end, and there was nothing more to it. Taking a deep, measured breath, May slipped Altaria's Poké Ball into her bag and headed back down to where her companions were waiting. Just go one step at a time, she told herself. Look too far ahead and I'll miss where I'm walking.

Looker was setting up a couple of tents, albeit with some difficulty. It appeared that the agent had access to all sorts of equipment, for which May was thankful: the idea of sleeping directly on top of piles of sand was not an entertaining prospect. Smidge preferred to watch rather than help, snickering as Looker poked himself with the poles and tripped over the fabric covering.

Manya was absent for the moment, having volunteered to round up some supplies. She returned within an hour after a quick trek to some sort of small market laded with food (among them about five different varieties of cup ramen, at May's request), a few dozen tubes of sunscreen, and a handful of Poké Balls. "Thought you could use it," she shrugged, handing them over.

"Thanks," said May, slipping them into her bag. She peeled back the cover of her ramen cup and poured in boiling water from a kettle (heated by a portable stove provided by Looker). The familiar smell enveloped her in an instant, causing her heart to lighten and a smile to spread across her face. May preferred home-cooked ramen, but she wouldn't turn down an easy sampling of her favorite food.

The sun was finally dipping towards the western sky, shifting from blue to a mix of orange and purple. This cooled the air but did nothing to remove the dry humidity. May stared out the gap in the ship's hull as she chewed her noodles, experiencing both relief and terror at the day coming to an end. She had only arrived in Orre this morning, yet she felt like it had already been an entire year.

"If I may," asked Looker, as though desperate for an excuse to cover up the sound of May's overly enthusiastic slurping. "What is our next move on this intricate chessboard?"

May could feel everyone's eyes on her as she gulped down the last of the cup ramen. She took careful care in setting the now empty container on the ground, placing her chopsticks inside. "I'll be honest," she told them, her stomach squirming in what was becoming an all too familiar sensation. "I really have no idea."

Her admittance was met with silence. Smidge was the only one who appeared agitated; Manya gave her a small nod in understanding while Looker's expression was stony and blank. She should have expected this, of course: she had assumed leadership (more accurately, it happened somewhat on its own), and a leader not knowing what to do results in a loss of morale.

"What a fine mess," Smidge said, throwing up his arms in exasperation. "We're outta in the middle of th' desert, and we have no idea what ta do. I shoulda never followed ya in th' first place."

"You're welcome to leave if you want," Manya told the boy flatly. "No one's stopping you."

"I'd rather not add abandonment to the list of things I'm worrying about," May told her, and Manya smiled back somewhat sheepishly. May addressed Smidge: "It's obvious that you're unhappy with how we're going about things, but I'd rather err on the side of caution when we don't have an exact idea of what we're up against."

"A mature way of doing it, I would say," approved Looker before Smidge could respond. "Even an experienced agent such as myself would do such a thing. Being confidential, of course, I cannot tell you how many missions I have worked on that ended prematurely due to such head-strong recklessness…"

"Fools, the lot of ya," Smidge growled. He stood up, fury and irritation flaring in his shadowed eyes. It didn't leave much of an impression, given his miniscule stature, but his language made up for it. "Abyss'll cause even more trouble with ya sitting with yer thumbs up yer asses…"

Manya was decidedly unimpressed. "Need I remind you, shorty," she said, arms crossed. "That you claimed to have no idea of what Abyss is up to?"

Smidge stared around at the three of them, stalling to formulate his answer. "Well… yeah, but —"

Looking at May with a smirk on her face, Manya held out a hand towards Smidge as though to say, I rest my case.

"— whatever it is," the boy continued. "I know it's not good, an' I can't believe you'd rather sit 'n wait —"

"Because we've been clearly doing nothing this entire time," May shot back, perhaps a little angrier than she intended. Something about Smidge's accusation caused her temper to rise… after all, he wasn't the one who was given the Snag Machine. He wasn't the one shouldering the majority of responsibility of preventing Abyss from accomplishing whatever their plans were. He wasn't the one who suffered through a panic attack…

"I suppose you think just barging in through their front door will accomplish everything all nice and neatly, huh?" she continued, standing up. She towered over Smidge but the boy remained defiant, glaring at her from under his bandanna. "Or maybe we should ask nicely? 'Excuse me, you're plotting something sinister, would you mind stopping for the peace and prosperity for all?' I'm sure they'll listen to that."

"You jus' got here, you have no idea how crazy these guys are —"

"You're right, I don't, which is all the more reason I don't want to put any of us in a position where we get overwhelmed just because you think we should be marching up to them with swords drawn and banners flying!"

Smidge crossed his arms, gazing at May's stern face. Then he smiled in an ugly, smug sort of way. "Ah… I geddit. Okay. You're scared."

May was taken aback. How did this little turd figure that out?! She blinked a couple of times in an effort to appear as though she wasn't as put off by the assessment as she actually was. Manya was glaring at Smidge with even more seething hatred than before. Looker was observing the scene with passive indifference, though a deep frown creased his face.

"I'm not scared," May rebuked flatly. I'm horrified, she clarified mentally, once more becoming all too aware of her heart launching into overdrive. She could feel the nervous sweat coating her body, prompting a chill to cascade down her spine. I should be more on guard, it's pathetic that he managed to guess that…

"What a crock," Smidge jeered, his laughter fake and hollow. "We get some people who're interested in doin' good and they're too worried 'bout being cautious than courageous."

"You have no idea what this is like," May said before she could stop herself. Blood pounded in her ears, her rage fueling a desire to be heard and understood. "This isn't something you can just clobber with pure force. I've faced people like Abyss before: if they want something, they'll go after it, no matter what it takes. I couldn't tell you how many times I almost died — don't you dare!" she snapped, for Smidge had uttered a huff of disbelief.

"Saw-ry." said Smidge, holding up his hands in surrender. "I didn't realize ya used ta be such a daredevil. Wonder what got ya inta bein' such a coward —"

"The talking is done," Looker interjected firmly. Everyone jumped slightly: he had been keeping so quiet that they had forgotten he was there. "Both of you." he added, for May had opened her mouth in rebuttal. "Now is not the time for it, and if we cannot figure out what to do we shall, as the phrase goes, sleep on it."

Smidge glared up at him, but faltered under the agent's gaze. He stalked over to the smallest tent of the three Looker had set up earlier and ducked inside. Manya approached May, her expression tender and inquisitive.

"You alright?" she asked quietly, brushing her fingers against May's arm.

"M'fine," May mumbled. Shame and embarrassment immediately replaced her fury: while laying into Smidge felt cathartic, she knew it was another blow to her unofficial leadership status. Their chances of surviving this battle had slipped even further out of reach, and she had no one to blame but herself.

"I can tell you're not," Manya soothed. "But you know you can't lash out at him like that."

"Like you wouldn't." May said, regretting it instantly.

"Point taken. But we've been going at this all day: we're exhausted and it won't do us any favors to keep powering on without sleep."

May stared out the gap in the hull. The deep navy blue of the night sky was gradually forcing the sun under the horizon, bringing with it a bitter chill that swept across the desert. She recalled something her mother had said once after arguing with Norman: it's okay to go to bed angry, because you say very stupid things when you're tired.

"I guess," May sighed, a wave of soreness and fatigue washing over her body. It was still difficult to believe only a day had passed. Just twenty-four hours ago she was back home in Petalburg, in her own room, with her own bed…

She heaved another sigh and crawled into the tent she and Manya would be sharing. Carefully removing the Aura Lenses from atop her head, May settled into the squashy purple sleeping bag. Despite her unending cascade of nervous thoughts and panic of what plan she'd have to present tomorrow, she set her head down on the pillow and instantly fell asleep.

Despite floating in the half-conscious haze of awakening, May's first thought of the morning was surprised relief at having gotten through the night without any nightmares. She felt rather comfortable for lying on dry, dust soil in the wreck of a cargo liner.

Her sleep hadn't been entirely peaceful, however: she appeared to have squirmed out of her sleeping bag, as it was lying in a crumpled heap at her feet. Manya, still fast asleep to May's left, shifted a bit as May reached down to straighten out her sleeping bag. At least one of us is getting to sleep in…

May slipped out of the tent, the warm morning air washing over her. She was too physically and emotionally drained last night to bother changing, though her outfit wasn't dirty enough to warrant it anyways. Her bag was still lying on the ground next to the portable stove, and May removed a collapsible brush from the depths within, attempting to get a bead on her mood.

Arceus, I hope I don't become dead inside after this, she thought, running the brush along her hair. Smidge is impatient, I'm indecisive and scared… I can't even imagine how Manya's feeling. May glanced back at the tent, as though Manya would produce a thought bubble outside the shelter. She didn't bother considering Looker, as she was sure he'd become immune (or perhaps numb) to these sort of feelings with the sort of things she imagined the International Police did.

Her stomach rumbled suddenly, and, as if on reflex, May tossed the brush back into her bag before turning on the portable stove. Within a few minutes she had devoured two cup ramen, stacking the cups within the one from last night. Neither Smidge nor Looker had made appearances yet, but Manya stepped out the tent with a yawn as May was finishing applying sunscreen on her face.

"Morning," Manya mumbled, her hair sticking out at odd angles.

"Hey," May replied, glancing up at her. "You look rested."

"You don't," the other girl replied, sitting cross-legged next to her. "I wasn't snoring, was I?"

May shook her head, flashing back to several nights' worth of sleep lost back in Hoenn due to Ash, Brock, and Max all being obnoxiously loud snorers. "Nah. Just… y'know. Trying to juggle all of what's going on."

"Well, don't hesitate to distribute tasks among us," Manya said, cramming half a protein bar into her mouth. "Don't be afraid to put us on the front lines."

"But I am," May murmured, now applying lotion onto her shoulders, though she couldn't quite reach some parts. Her stomach squirmed unpleasantly again and she briefly feared for having to revisit her entirely non-nutritional breakfast in reverse.

Manya snatched the bottle and moved behind her to help. "'Courage isn't the absence of fear, but rather action in spite of it.'"

"Sounds like a quote," smirked May, reveling in the sensation of someone rubbing her shoulders.

"Another television show I used to watch." Manya explained. "Geez, you're tense up here."

"Yeah, can't imagine why."

A loud, echoing rumble outside caught their attention, shattering the morning silence. They both whipped around towards where the sound had come from, ignoring the surprised yelps from the tents nearby.

"That sounded like… an explosion?!" May hurried outside for a better look: visible over the top of the canyon wall were multiple plumes of thick, black smoke. Manya came up behind her and they exchanged expressions of shock.

"Looks like it's from the other side of the canyon… what did you say was over there?"

"Team Snagem's hideout…" Manya answered, watching the smoke stain the bright blue morning sky. "But why would it explode…? As far as I know, Snagem wasn't planning on quitting anytime soon…"

A flash of panic pierced May's heart as she reflected on what Smidge had told her the night before. "I don't think they had a choice… I think this is Abyss' doing."

"What?" blurted Manya, her face contorted in confusion. "Why?"

"Smidge said that Snagem used to work with Cipher at one point then broke it off," May said, turning to face her. "And from what I know about bad guys, they're not always willing to give up their ambitions for someone else."

"I think you're making a leap in logic here," Manya said as Looker and Smidge ran up to them, gaping at the smoke columns.

"I wasn't done: what if Snagem broke off from Cipher so they could try and take control of things for themselves? If I was Abyss, I wouldn't want another organization trying to interfere…"

May turned to face her companions, about to tell them to head back inside the shipwreck, when Manya's earlier words flashed through her head: don't hesitate to distribute tasks among us. "Guys," she blurted out. "Head for the wreckage and see if you can get anyone out of there."

"Wha — are ya crazy?!" Smidge said, eyes wide.

"What are you gonna do?" Manya asked, already pulling on her boots, face set in steely determination.

May pointed off in the distance: three shapes were moving away from the explosion site, their silhouettes flickering in the morning sun. "Going after those guys. I'm betting they're the ones who did it. They don't like they're injured or anything."

"Let me go with —" Manya started, but May cut her off.

"No." she said bluntly. "Sorry, Manya, but I'd feel better if you did what I asked: your Solrock can shift things around telekinetically."

Manya looked like she was about to object but nodded instead, taking off after Looker, who was already making his way over past the canyon wall. Due to his hesitation, Smidge was lifted up by his collar and carried away by Manya in a surprising feat of strength. May watched them hurry off before running towards the shadows she had spotted earlier.

"Hey! Wait!" May scowled as she dashed to catch up to the three men walking away from the site. She could tell that the one in the lab coat was the one in charge: he had an air of importance about him, and a ridiculous haircut shaped like a Kingdra's head crest. The other two men cloaked themselves in black. Modified gas masks with a skull decal sprayed on the front obscured their faces.

The Kingdra-haired man turned at May's voice and frowned at the sight of her. Pale blue-gray eyes gleamed with disdain from behind thin wire-framed glasses. "We have an important schedule to keep, girl. The great Doctor Nemo can't bother to trifle with you!"

"You're with Abyss, aren't you?" May demanded, her heart still pounding from her spontaneous sprint. "You just blew up that compound, huh?" Her fists clenched, fingers digging the fabric of her gloves into her palm. "I don't think I'm supposed to let you get away."

"I have no time to answer." replied Nemo, glancing at the watch on his wrist. "My superior demands my importance presence." He spat out "superior" with certain venom. "I cannot grace someone unimportant with the presence of someone as important as I."

May felt her anger bubbling up again. Of all the people to commit such a violent act, it had to be someone as foolish as this? "Prove how important you are, then: battle me! If you're so great, you should demolish me completely, right?" She pulled a Poké Ball out from her bag. "Or is your bravado just for show, like that stupid haircut?"

She could tell she had touched a nerve with that last remark. Nemo's eyes flashed, but rather than stepping forward to meet her challenge, he addressed one of his bodyguards. "Keane," he barked. "Dispose of this insolent pest immediately."

The bodyguard stepped forward. He walked smoothly, with purpose. Every inch of his body was covered with sturdy body armor. The gas mask covering his face appeared to be connected to an oxygen tank strapped to his back. The mask's lenses were blackened and opaque, exuding a sensation of blank yet willing obedience.

Nemo smirked over at May, as though telegraphing that he had more knowledge of his agent's capacity than she did. "Now then…" he told Keane, adjusting his coat. "Do not disappoint me. The great Doctor Nemo does not appreciate failure." With that, he and the other man turned and disappeared into the cloud of sand kicked up by the wind.

May directed her attention back towards Keane, who had already tossed a Poké Ball up into the air, where it burst open. A Slowking tumbled out, slightly dazed and unimpressed, its red-and-white collar fluttering in the breeze. The gem of its Shellder crown on its head glinted as Slowking yawned widely.

The Aura Lenses starting beeping, and while May readily pulled them over her eyes she already knew what to expect: the smoky, violet aura of a Shadow Pokémon. She wondered if Keane was taunting her: he would have to know she was snagging Shadow Pokémon. Was this an indirect dare for her to snag it? Or was he just oblivious or (perhaps more likely) apathetic?

May's first instinct was to send out Venusaur: while her Poison-typing would be a disadvantage against the Slowking's Psychic half, May would've pressed the advantage of Grass over Water. She changed her mind, however, and sent out Altaria. As the Humming Pokémon settled gracefully onto the ground, the Aura Lenses sounded off again, which May ignored, well aware of her Pokémon's Shadow status.

Okay, what's my best move here? May thought, biting her lip. She remembered that Shadow-type attacks appeared to be super-effective against non-Shadow Pokémon, but what would happen when two corrupted Pokémon battled? There was, as the phrase went, only one way to find out…

"Shadow Rush!" she called, her heart dropping as Altaria leapt into the air and dove at Slowking. It pained her that she had to use Altaria like this… but she wanted to get its Shadow Meter down, since regrettably the Pokémon couldn't be purified yet…

Slowking's eyes glowed blue, and Altaria halted in midair, inches from making contact with its target. With the same Psychic attack, Slowking raised an arm, launching Altaria into the air; Slowking brought its arm down, and slammed Altaria down into the dusty soil.

Nuts. May thought. Slowking's telekinetic abilities were definitely going to be a problem, especially if all Altaria had for offense was Shadow Rush. Watching Altaria pull itself upright, May noticed all the dust particles jumping up from the ground, and a light bulb went off in her head.

"Altaria, kick up as much dust as you can!" she called, and Altaria stared slapping its wings against the ground, sending up dust and sand with each and every impact. Soon it was hidden within a miniature sandstorm, the sounds of its wings flapping serving as the only indication it was still there.

She spared at glance over at Keane, but the Abyss member had shown no indication of surprise (or any other emotion) at May's sudden shift of tactics. Granted, his face was hidden behind a mask, but even his body language hadn't shifted. He did, however, send an order for his Pokémon: "Surf."

A massive surge of water materialized out of nowhere from underneath Slowking, and the Pokémon was lifted up atop the wave as it reached its peak. Then, with Slowking leaning forward, the wave charged ahead, easily dwarfing Altaria's attempt at hiding. With a massive spray of water, Slowking's Surf collided into the ground, drenching everything within its reach.

May threw up her arms to shield her face, small droplets of water splashing against her sleeves and skin. They offered minimal relief from the excruciating heat, evaporating almost instantly. She looked back at the battle just in time to witness the remnants of the Surf fading, either due to the thirsty earth or the desert heat. Altaria, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen…

… At least immediately. May caught motion out of the corner of her eye and could see Altaria soaring overhead, apparently no worse for the wear. Back on the ground, Slowking was glancing around, using both the eyes of its face and those of its Shellder crown to locate its opponent.

"Shadow Rush!" Altaria rapidly shifted into a dive, striking the Slowking before it had a chance to react. Slowking didn't appear to be bothered by the attack much, however, recovering with a mere shake of its head.

Huh… okay. So it looks like Shadow moves aren't very effective against Shadow Pokémon, then. That could be a problem: Slowking had access to non-Shadow moves, but Altaria did not. May glanced at the Snag Machine. Its screen had changed to display the status of her Pokémon, with both a health meter and the Shadow Meter visible. Was it her imagination, or had Altaria lost some more Shadow during the battle…? The fourth segment seemed to have emptied a bit…

The Aura Lenses emitted a sharp, piercing alarm, causing May to start. She focused her attention towards the heads-up display: "Altaria's emotions rose to a fever pitch. It has entered Reverse Mode."

Wait… Reverse Mode? May looked at Altaria: the smoky aura around it had enlarged somewhat, flowing around the Pokémon almost like a whirlpool. She had seen this before: it happened with Galli's Crawdaunt during their battle. Lily and Krane had mentioned it, too, as well as how to remove it... though why can't I remember?!

She cried out automatically — "Altaria!" — and the moment the word escaped her lips the Pokemon turned towards her. Its aura settled down to how it had been previously. As May attempted to register what she had done, the Snag Machine started beeping once more. "What now?!"

The fourth segment of the Shadow Meter was now completely empty, and a message had appeared on the screen: Altaria has remembered the move Dragon Claw.

May stared at the message, her overwhelmed brain fogging up even more. Why did Altaria suddenly remember a move? Was it because it had entered Reverse Mode, or that May was able to calm the Pokemon out of it? Not that this is the time for speculation…! "Altaria!" she called up to the Pokemon, her heart pounding. "Let's go! Dragon Claw!"

Altaria's feet glowed briefly, and became surrounded by emerald-green energy, which quickly flexed into large, curved claws. The Humming Pokémon shot up into the air, and, just as suddenly, dived at Slowking. In a flash, Slowking stumbled backwards, battered by two simultaneous swipes.

Alright! May's celebration was short-lived as Slowking quickly righted itself, but she didn't care. Altaria had regained a move they could actually use, even if it was only one for the moment. But I feel like we have a better chance now…

"Ice Beam," said Keane, and a narrow beam of cryogenic force burst from Slowking's mouth, which Altaria swerved to avoid.

Yeah, figures he wouldn't make this easy, May thought, directing Altaria out of reach of the continued subzero assault. She guessed a couple more direct hits would lower Slowking's health enough for her to snag it, but based on its attacks so far, she wasn't going to have an easy job. Altaria didn't have any projectile attacks, and Slowking would easily disrupt any physical moves with its Psychic.

Huh… wait a minute. May watched Slowking prepare another Ice Beam and an idea rushed into her brain. It was a risky idea, but what idea of hers hadn't been lately? As Altaria aileron-rolled around the latest attack, May called, "Go for a Shadow Rush straight at it!"

Altaria dived, its aura flaring up again. If Keane was surprised by this, he didn't express it, simply ordering yet another Ice Beam, which was exactly what May was expecting he'd do. Just as Slowking inhaled deeply, May cried out, "Now! Switch to Dragon Claw!"

The attack materializing around its feet once more, Altaria twisted around in midair, driving a solid backwards kick into Slowking's stomach. Slowking's breathing shifted into a loud choking noise, and it toppled over backwards along the parched soil.

"Once more, Altaria!" May said, already preparing a Poké Ball with her Snag Machine. Slowking was struggling to stand upright, though it never got the chance: Altaria landed another Dragon Claw from above, forcing the Royal Pokémon back down with a dull thud.

The Poké Ball in May's right hand flashed gold, and she tossed it at Slowking as Altaria fluttered away. The capsule opened and sucked Slowking inside, clattering to the ground. It wiggled for a few moments before clicking shut, its center button glowing red.

"Got it!" May rushed forward and snatched up the Poké Ball. Sparing a glance up at Keane, the Abyss solider hadn't reacted at all. The sight of his decaled mask sent a shiver down May's spine, and she hurried back to where she had been standing. Geez, can this guy even talk? It's kind of horrifying…

She almost wanted to make some sort of joke, but there was an almost unidentifiable shift in the atmosphere that convinced her otherwise. A sense of rage radiated from Keane, as though May snagging his Slowking had seriously triggered his temper. He made a sudden move, hand reaching for his belt, and May was half-convinced he was reaching for a pistol until she saw an Ultra Ball soaring through the air.

A massive bipedal figure appeared from it, standing at well over six feet tall. It was a monstrous creature, resembling a dinosaur carved from rock. Thick, green armor covering its entire body. Spikes at least a foot long jutted out of its shoulders and along its neck. A massive tail slammed into the dried-out ground with a heavy thud. The Pokémon unleashed a mighty roar that caused May to break out in sweat.

She had never seen a Tyranitar before, at least outside of her Pokédex. She had heard rumors and stories about how fierce and powerful they could be, and now there was one standing right in front of her. Its narrow eyes focused on Altaria hovering above it, a low, agitated growl emanating from its throat.

The Aura Goggles hadn't gone off when the Tyranitar appeared, which prompted an unpleasant realization that this wasn't a Shadow Pokémon at all. There would be no snagging this Pokémon: May was going to have to knock it out. But could she even do it? Fragments of Pokédex entries flashed through her head: can't be harmed by any sort of attack… overwhelmingly powerful… an insolent nature… a mobile disaster.

May would have to switch out her Pokémon: while Altaria had regained a valuable move, she highly doubted that it would be able to cause enough damage against Tyranitar. Raising up a Poké Ball, she called up to her Pokémon. "Altaria, I need you to come back!"

"Pursuit."

With astonishing speed for its size, Tyranitar managed to intercept Altaria's dive. Despite its rather small arms, the Armor Pokémon had enclosed Altaria's neck in a powerful grip, and slammed the Humming Pokémon into the ground.

Altaria squealed in pain, May's heart constricting in her chest. The Poké Ball's beam ensnared the Flying-type, withdrawing it into safety. May felt her fists clench up again, her blood boiling. The sneak attack drove both her anger and anxiety skyward, and for a brief moment, she was paralyzed, unsure of which instinct to focus on.

Then, from the back of her mind, a voice spoke up. Don't let them push you around, it whispered, stoking her rage. Show them just how powerful you can be.

May swallowed, her throat as parched as her surroundings. Reaching behind her for her bag, she felt around for another Poké Ball. Shaded from the sun, the casing felt cold to the touch, even her wearing gloves. It split open when thrown, dispelling the Pokémon inside: a dark blue turtle with a brown shell that reared up onto its hind legs, furry ears and tail wiggling as it stretched itself out.

"I'm counting on you, Wartortle," May said. She was honestly somewhat surprised that her voice hadn't quavered as she spoke, but, she reasoned, that was probably a good thing. The last thing she wanted to do was grant Keane any insight into her emotions. I'm not gonna let him mess with me… I'll show him the skills I've built up as a Coordinator!

"Let's start with a Water Pulse!"

Wartortle fired a large, pulsing ring of water from its mouth that rapidly expanded as it shot across the desert landscape. To May's surprise and horror, Tyranitar made no effort to avoid or nullify the attack: it merely allowed the move to splash harmlessly against its armor.

… Oh, crap.

Tyranitar charged, mouth agape, fangs bared. Deep black projections appeared around its jaws, increasing the size and reach of its Crunch. It lunged for Wartortle, but the Turtle Pokémon withdraw into its shell and spun out of the way, skidding along the sand. The two Pokémon glared at each other briefly, and then Tyranitar suddenly faded from view.

"What the --?!" May's eyes flickered around wildly, attempting to locate her opponent. A fierce breeze blew by, and something sharp grazed her cheek. She touched the stinging spot and berated herself for not noticing sooner: Tyranitar's Sand Stream Ability had caused a sandstorm.

Wartortle paused the rub some sand out of its eyes, and in doing so almost missed using Protect against the blast of electricity that burst out from nowhere. It scowled, eyes flashing between shadows that blinked as the sand whirled around. Its ears twitched, apparently attempting to catch any sounds Tyranitar was making, but the wind was howling quite loudly.

This was not a favorable situation at all. Not only was Tyranitar shielded from view, but the sandstorm would also chip away at Wartortle's health. May and Wartortle had to overcome Tyranitar's defenses while avoiding its outrageous power. One wrong move and Tyranitar would shatter them into pieces. Who knew what other tricks it was capable of?

Hard to believe this guy's just a bodyguard, May thought, narrowing her eyes at Keane, still impassive as ever. No wonder that snooty jerk left him behind to battle me…

Another Thunderbolt jumped out of the sandstorm, and Wartortle leapt aside to avoid it. May quickly had Wartortle fire another Water Pulse from where the Electric-type attack had come from, but to no avail. She was about to curse when she noticed something in her peripheral vision: a large, hulking shadow just barely visible through the airborne particles.

"Wartortle, behind you!" she cried, pointing. "Ice Beam!"

Her Pokémon whipped around and fired, the light-blue beam cutting through the sand and solidifying around Tyranitar's legs. They had obtained an advantage, however slight… now she just had to take advantage of it, and quickly. May wasn't sure how long the ice would remain solid under the harsh sun, and Tyranitar could break free at any moment.

Adrenaline flooded May's brain as she issued her next command for Wartortle: "Aqua Tail!"

Wartortle's tail became sheathed with spontaneously generated water, and the Turtle Pokémon took off at a run towards its target. It leapt up, gathering momentum for its attack. The moisture around it dispersed the sand, clearing the view. With a cry of "War!", Wartortle smashed its tail directly onto the Tyranitar's head.

… Or, at least, what it and May had assumed was Tyranitar. As she gazed through the path Wartortle had cut through the sandstorm, a horrible, sinking feeling developed in May's stomach. Standing there, lower half encased in ice, was something resembling a large plush doll. At first glance, it could easily be mistaken for Tyranitar, or any other monster-like Pokémon, but they had been fooled into attacking the Substitute instead.

With an abrupt, ear-shattering roar, Tyranitar charged out of the sand from behind Wartortle, its heavy footsteps mirroring May's terrified heartbeat. One of its fists was drawn back and glowing white, and before May could scream for another Protect, Tyranitar swung and clobbered Wartortle with Focus Punch. Caught completely off-guard, the Turtle Pokémon barely had time to exclaim in surprise before it was slammed into the ground hard enough to leave a small crater.

"No —!" gasped May, her mouth completely dry. She stared unbelievingly at Wartortle's unconscious form, lying in the impacted ground. She made an underestimation and now both she and her Pokémon had paid the price. Unconsciously, she rushed forward to grab Wartortle, to pick it up into her arms and apologize for letting this happen…

Something hard brushed against her head and knocked her sideways. She tumbled slightly and jerked her head up: she had gotten too close to the Tyranitar and it had whacked her with its tail. It sneered at her before disappearing into its Ultra Ball, Keane walking up as the sandstorm faded away.

Overwhelmed with panic and fear, May scurried back as far as she could, not daring to take her eyes off of the Abyss member. This is it, she thought, unaware of the small yet steady flow of blood running down her temple. I lost, he's going to do it, he's going to kill me…!

Keane stopped a few feet away from her, standing between her and her Wartortle. Without a glance at either of them, he bent down and scooped up something from the ground. He stared at it in the palm of his hand for a moment, though May couldn't tell what it was at all.

Sand crunched underfoot as Keane turned and walked away in total silence. May's hollow, raspy breathing echoed in her head as she sat there, waiting until his footsteps finally died away before scurrying over to Wartortle, stumbling as she did so.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, reaching out and tenderly placing her hand on its shell. "I'm so sorry…" This was hardly her first loss, but the magnitude of her situation meant this was, at least currently, the most difficult to tolerate. The guilt of causing her Pokémon so much pain would haunt her for time to come.

May doubled-over, her breathing becoming halting and sudden. Her heart threw itself against her chest, and the familiar icy-cold chill of sweat washed over her. Waves of emotion crashed against the shores of her brain: disappointment with herself for having lost; fear of Keane's stoic brutality; shame and guilt for putting out Wartortle against the Tyranitar; frustration over not maintaining control of herself…

Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit! She sat down, overwhelmed with silent, aching dejection. Blood from her forehead wound dripped across her lip, the taste of iron compounding with the bitter sentiments. May closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands. She knew somehow that, despite it seeming impossible, she would recover. For now, however, she was shattered, her confidence as barren as the expanse of land surrounding her in every direction.

To be continued...

[pandabachimon]

@codyscommandpost

cheeto.

based off this

[in-alptraum-verloren]

Hello-- I've kinda lurked your blog for a while now, but I have to say I really applaud you for those recent posts regarding those moral guardian types in the Transformers fandom. I've been annoyed for a long time too at how they use the series to push their half-baked political agendas and try to pick apart the most innocuous things just for self-satisfaction, and I think you summed up just why that's bullshit very well. I'd say more, but character limit, lol. Keep being cool, friend.

Not a problem.

The thing is, and this is the part that makes me feel an iota of sympathy, is that I'm sure they think they mean well.  I'm sure they've had experiences which lead them to identify and relate to the show and it's events in the way they do.  And those interpretations and conclusions are very important to them.

But the manner in which they approach their interpretations, and those of others is just not how you do it in a setting like this.

The best thing to do, like Maple said, is to leave them be and support your fellow fandom-goers.

[eternal1990]

@codyscommandpost I don’t even have to say.

Where are the windows

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy​ and @codyscommandpost​ proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Chapter 7 - “An Unlikely Ally? International Police Agent Looker!”

“Why are we running?!” Smidge yelled over the din of the engine. He, May, and Manya had escaped from the Shadow Pokémon Lab in a rush and were now making their getaway in Miss Birdie. But Smidge apparently objected to this idea.

“We should go back ‘n clean that place up!” He protested, eyes wide in disbelief at May shaking her head.

“We hardly have the manpower for that right now,” She countered. “And sit down.” She pushed down on Smidge’s shoulders to prevent him from flying out of the cargo bed. “But you’re welcome to go back if you want.”

Smidge stared out towards the Lab, vanishing over the horizon behind him. His shadowed eyes glared at May before turning away from her, arms crossed.

Rolling her eyes, May addressed Manya, “Where are we headed?”

“To a hideout of our own,” She replied rather mysteriously, and would not elaborate when pressed. “Just keep an eye out, I’m heading straight for it.”

“Oh good,” said Smidge, his voice filled with irony. “Then Abyss’ll know right where to find us.”

At that, Manya jostled the bike, just enough to almost toss Smidge out onto the ground. She smirked at May over her shoulder before returning her attention back up front.

They traveled east for roughly a quarter-hour before something appeared on the horizon ahead. It wasn’t immediately discernable, but it certainly appeared ominous at first glance. May couldn’t help but imagine that whatever they were heading towards almost certainly didn’t belong in a desert at all.

As they rode towards the structure and it came more clearly into view, May could see what it was: a massive streamliner ship, partly submerged in an ocean of sand. It had clearly been here for years, as evidenced by peeling, faded paint and massive patches of rust here and there.

“How did this end up here?” May asked, staring up at the wreck as they all climbed off Miss Birdy.

“Would you believe it?” Manya smirked. “A giant Pokémon picked it up and dropped it here.”

“You’re kidding.”

Manya shrugged, manually guiding her motorbike towards a gaping, jagged hole in the ship’s hull. “It’s what people say, anyways.”

May glanced back at Smidge. The boy was clearly attempting to appear unimpressed, but his face reflected something like fearful reverence. He might be too young to have heard the story, regardless of its historical accuracy.

They followed Manya into the crevice. Scavengers had gradually cleared out whatever was inside, leaving little behind except sand and broken containers. It was much cooler here due to all the shade, but the air was still dry with a lingering stale smell.

Manya noticed May wrinkling her nose and smiled. “Yeah, I know it stinks, but it’s better than constantly having Abyss on our asses.”

“I’ll manage,” shrugged May, sitting on a long-buried steel crate. It was preferable to have a place to hide out in, to plan and regroup without the stress and panic of doing it on the run. She wondered what her dad would say about this situation. Knowing his training methods, he’d probably say something about it “building character”.

Smidge set himself down onto the sandy ground. Manya had rolled out a tarp with some tools to tinker with her motorbike. Understandable, May thought. Can’t have our transportation breaking on us.

They sat in relative silence for a while, the only sounds being the metallic clinking of Manya’s work and the wind howling outside. It was rather peaceful… at least until May’s acknowledgement of it being such triggered an unexpected boost of adrenaline.

Then she found herself having difficulty drawing breath. Combined with her heart rate increasing and stomach tightening, it felt as though her entire torso had collapsed in on itself. Feeling light-headed and unreasonably terrified, she stood up and started running, stumbling as her feet hit sand.

Manya called out after her, but May didn’t hear it. She was acting automatically, out of impulsive fear and self-preservation. She didn’t stop until she found herself in the long-abandoned control room. Thoughts flashed into her head, disappearing as quickly as they came. They burst open like fireworks: I can’t do this, I can’t. I’m leading everyone into trouble. I have no idea what I’m doing, they’re going to kill us…

May curled up on the floor, knees up to her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes and she squeezed them shut, half-wishing the burning sensation would envelope her entirely and leave nothing behind. “What was I thinking…?!”

A metallic creak shot through the room, and May glanced up to see Manya walking in. May said nothing in acknowledgement, choosing instead to wipe her face on her sleeve. She could tell without looking that her friend was standing over her, perhaps carefully measuring what to say.

Manya lowered herself onto the floor, sitting with her legs crossed. Gazing at May’s scrunched-up form, she asked, “D’you want to talk about it?”

May lifted her head up, blinking her red and irritated eyes in confusion. “What?” She croaked, a side effect of her throat drying out. “No reprimand for not keeping myself together?”

“I hardly think that’s what you need right now.”

They stared at each other for a moment. Even in her current emotional state, May had a rush of gratitude and respect for Manya maintaining a calm and level attitude. Shudders racked her body, and without any further restraint May burst into frustrated tears. Her thoughts tumbled out of her mouth: how she was frustrated with the expectations placed on her shoulders, afraid of making a mistake and endangering people when she was supposed to save them.

She paused, taking rasping breaths, when she felt herself being pulled into Manya’s arms. The unexpected embrace slightly jolted May out of her breakdown, at least enough to rub the tears out of her eyes. Brief waves of distress crashed against her heart, but a miniscule voice in the back of May’s head was telling her, Manya’s right here, you’re going to get through this. She forced herself to take a slow, deep breath, focusing on the sensation of the dry, dusty air filling her lungs before exhaling.

The two girls remained there for a while, Manya’s arms wrapped securely around May’s torso. May tried her best to focus on breathing, acutely aware that her heart rate wasn’t decreasing. Manya hadn’t spoken since May’s outburst, though May simply wanted her mood to stabilize first before attempting a conversation.

“Bet that feels better, huh?” whispered Manya.

May responded with a small nod and a sniff. What she wouldn’t give to stay here forever and not have to worry about anything anymore… And yet she knew that, after all her previous adventuring, she wasn’t the kind of person to just call things quits when it got tough… She would get through this.

Manya released her grip and May rubbed her eyes dry one last time. “Thanks, Manya,” She said, gazing into her friend’s face. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Manya said, waving away her concerns. “I’m glad you’re doing better.” She stood up, dusting the sand off her skirt. “You’re not a superhero, y’know… there’s gonna be things even you can’t do alone.”

May wanted to respond that Manya wasn’t the one wearing a Snag Machine on her wrist but thought better of it. She nodded instead and pulled herself upright, her legs screaming in protest as they stretched out. Her head still felt swollen after her emotional release, with the arid desert air doing no additional favors.

“That said,” May said, as they made their way back to the ground level (given that she was in the middle of an anxiety attack the last time she came through here, everything looked so alien to her). “I wouldn’t say no to a little extra help.”

“Hmm…” Manya gazed out at nothing in particular, pondering that statement. “Well, I don’t think it’d be a good idea to have too many people in on what we’re doing… but maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

Manya wasn’t able to answer: the moment their feet touched the sandy ground, Smidge came running up to them, his face a mixture of confusion and anger. “The heck did you go?” He snapped.

“None of your business,” Manya shot back. May inwardly thanked her for not divulging her breakdown before addressing their miniscule companion.

“What’s going on, Smidge?”

The boy pointed out towards the crevice in the ship’s hull. “I think there’s someone skulkin’ around out there. I keep hearin’ footsteps and coughing.”

They all stared out past the hole, watching a giant dust cloud swirl around in the breeze. May strained her ears and, as Smidge had said, could detect faint sounds of movement. Her heart skipped a beat: could they have been followed from the Shadow Pokémon Lab? She had tried to keep an eye out as best she could during their escape, but hadn’t noticed anything…

“What d’ya think?” She asked Manya, lowering her voice to a whisper.

“I doubt anyone with Abyss would be clumsy enough to let us hear them,” Manya murmured back, her eyes still focused on the billowing sand. “But who’d be stupid enough to come out here?”

“Us,” Smidge grumbled, but his remark went unheard as the girls’ attention became fully focused on a dark shape that had appeared in the midst of the dust cloud. It had to be a person —it became more identifiable as it advanced towards them — but were they a friendly? Or someone less desirable?

Three hands grasped three Poké Balls as May, Manya, and Smidge all waited with bated breath. The shadow was steadily growing larger and more defined, and each step it took was echoed with a heartbeat in their chests.

Then a tall man strode out of the dust, stepping with purpose and intent. He appeared very professional, with a well-worn but cared for trench coat over a deep brown suit. Wide brown eyes gazed out at the trio, a deep frown and arched eyebrow creasing his long face. It was quite an impressive entrance… at least until he doubled over, coughing violently.

“Cough!! Hack!! … Ergh. That was quite unpleasant.” The man straightened up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “My apologies for having you witness that,” He added, addressing the three Trainers staring bemusedly. “But it seems that, despite being the very picture of health, I had inhaled a large amount of sand.”

“Who the heck’s this guy?” wondered aloud Smidge to no one in particular, looking torn between outright confusion and breaking into laughter.

“Curious about my identity, are we?” asked the man, not even bothering to conceal a satisfied smile. “Then I shall indulge you… My name is —” He shook his head and raised a hand in forgiveness. “No, my codename! It is Looker, and I ask that you refer to me as such.”

“Codename?” repeated Manya, eyebrows raised. “Is Abyss handing out codenames now?”

“You think me as being with Abyss?” Looker shook his head and reached a hand into his coat. “My dear lady, I have come to stop Abyss.” He withdrew his hand, revealing a gold badge that glinted in the sunlight. “As you can clearly see, I, Looker, am a member of the International Police. I hope you all will review my credentials, and that they are satisfactory to you.”

May put away her Poké Ball and took the badge that Looker had offered. She had never heard of the International Police before, so she was rather skeptical of this Looker character (such a word certainly fit him). But the more she scrutinized his credentials, the more genuine they seemed. She handed the badge to Smidge (who passed it off to Manya without a glance) and turned her attention back to Looker.

“Okay, I have like a billion questions for you… first of all, how did the International Police know we’re here?”

Looker nodded, as if satisfied with May’s inquiry. “We have spies and informants all across the world, so that we may always be prepared to investigate what nefarious goings-on require investigating.”

“I have to admit,” said Manya, returning Looker’s badge to him. “That’s pretty impressive for how remote Orre is.”

“We do our best to live up to the name ‘international’.” The agent affirmed.

That answers my next question about how they discovered Abyss, May thought, so she moved on: “So now that you’re here, are you gonna send us all home to be the adult policeman who solves everything?”

Taken aback, Looker shook his head. “No, not at all. You see, as I have been abroad on multiple occasions, I have been privileged to witnessing such feats what young Trainers such as yourselves are capable of. And thus, I, Looker, have come before you to assist your endeavors in endangering the evil empire of Abyss.”

May could feel Manya and Smidge’s eyes on her, waiting to see what her decision would be. She was, at least, certain that Looker was truthful in his occupation. Maybe this was who they needed: an experienced adult with the authority to give weight to their actions against Abyss. Having Looker around might lessen her anxiety, too…

  “We’re glad to have your help, Mr. Looker,” She told him, hoping her smile came off as sincere.

“I am pleased to hear of your acceptance,” Looker replied with a nod. “But, please, there is no need to call me ‘mister’, as my codename is simply Looker.” He paused in thought. “Pardon me, for I have seemed not to be privy to your names.”

They all introduced themselves briefly, Looker nodding as they each gave their names. “Now then,” He continued, looking around at the three of them. “What, may I ask, is our next move?”

May and Manya exchanged glances. They had not yet breached that topic, with their most recent concerns having been escaping and passing an anxiety attack. “We, uh… we haven’t discussed that yet.” May explained.

“This shrimp might help,” said Manya, sneering down at Smidge with her arms crossed. “I have the feeling he knows more than he’s letting on, what with that little stunt he pulled before.”

“I don’t know squat, blondie.” Smidge huffed, and he flashed a rude hand gesture at Manya. “I jus’ thought it’d be funny —”

“Be honest, Smidge,” interrupted May, becoming more thankful by the minute that her brother was nothing like him. “At the very least you knew enough to have two Admins come after us.”

The boy didn’t answer, choosing instead to glower at her from under his bandanna. May crouched down to match his eye level. “Smidge,” she said, her voice level. “Please tell us what you know. You helped us get away, so I think you don’t want to be as involved with Abyss as we think you are.”

Smidge kicked the ground, the wheels of his skates spiraling from the motion. His eyes, flashing with indecision, darted from Manya to Looker before landing back onto May. Then, with a relenting sigh, he spoke. “Okay… I honestly know nothin’ ‘bout what Abyss is doin’… only thing I really do know is that they’ve settled in a lot of the same places Cipher did.”

“Cipher…” Lily had mentioned them earlier, only noting that they used to be active in Orre. May looked up at Manya, one hand tapping the screen of the Snag Machine. “D’you know where Cipher used to be?”

Manya stepped closer as the Snag Machine projected a map of Orre, much like when Allyson had sent a message before. Small icons of each landmark appeared to hover in place, suspended above their location. One icon, a simplified head and torso, seemed to be the marker for May’s position.

Smidge and Looker stood off to the side, wearing similar bemused expressions as Manya gazed around at the map, tapping two fingers against her lips. “Well,” She said finally, hands on her hips. “I will admit that I haven’t heard a lot about Cipher, but I think I know enough…” She pointed to an icon south of Mt. Battle, directly west of their current resting place. “That’s the lab we came from before, and Cipher used to be there… And this one here —” She jabbed a finger at a pyramid-shaped icon. “— was another of Cipher’s laboratories.”

“Pardon for the interruption,” interjected Looker. “But I caught up on briefings during my daring journey out here. It seems that Cipher’s laboratories were never examined by any law enforcement agency after they were defeated years ago. Thus, I would deduce that Abyss has taken advantage of such a fact and has taken up residence there.”

“Probably made it easy for them,” May said. “And if Cipher created Shadow Pokémon, all their research could have been there, too. Abyss wouldn’t have to work so hard to continue what Cipher started.”

She turned her attention back to the map again and noticed another icon not too far from they were situated. “What’s this?”

Manya stared at the icon, brow furrowed in thought. “We’re right near Eclo Canyon,” she murmured. “I think… I think that used to be a hideout for some thugs that were also running around Orre.”

“Team Snagem,” blurt out Smidge, and everyone turned towards him. He frowned around at them all before clarifying: “They were th’ ones who’d snag Pokémon for Cipher to experiment on… I overheard some scientists talking about it when I was at the lab wit’ ya.”

“Do you know if Snagem’s working with Abyss?” Manya asked.

Smidge shook his head. “Nah… I think at one point Snagem stopped workin’ with Cipher… at least from what I heard.”

Manya and May both gazed up at the icon of Snagem’s Hideout. Would it be worth checking out if Snagem would ally with us…? Even as she finished this thought, an all-too-familiar image of two costumed idiots and a talking Meowth flashed through her mind. That’d be a miracle of the century.

May tapped the Snag Machine screen again and the holographic display disappeared. “Let’s try and rest,” She announced. “We should stock up on supplies later. I… I need to do some thinking, so let’s not make any rash decisions.”

And before anyone could respond, May was already making her way back up to the control room, unconsciously rolling around Altaria’s Poké Ball in her hand, the pounding of her heart starting up again.

May stared down at the translucent top of her Poké Ball through the Aura Lenses. The Altaria was curled up inside, its head tucked under a fluffy wing. Inky, violet smoke drifted around the Pokémon, a foreboding reminder of May’s responsibility. The thought of it triggered a jolt of discomfort in her stomach, and with a heavy sigh she leaned back along the shattered control console.

The sun had begun dipping towards the horizon, and was currently at just the right position to illuminate the entire cabin. Holding the Poké Ball above her face, it almost seemed like May was holding the miniaturized Altaria in her hand without the manufactured capsule. How long had it been, she wondered, since the Altaria had experienced the sensation of a warm, gentle hand?

“It’s not really fair, is it?” May said aloud. “People telling you what they expect you to do, without any consideration for your feelings…” Memories of her neighbors back in Petalburg raced past her mind’s eye: We’re looking forward to seeing what kind of Trainer you’ll be…

She shook her head, as though the motion would dislodge the uncomfortable statements. Focusing back on the Altaria, May once again experienced the briefest flash of familiarity. She recognized the Pokémon as a species, of course, having seen one used by the Hoenn Gym Leader Winona, and in Johto by Lance… but there was something she couldn’t place about this particular Altaria…

On a whim she tossed the Poké Ball into the air, and it popped open, depositing the Pokémon onto the floor in front of her. Awoken from its slumber, Altaria raised its long, slender neck, blinking its beady eyes. It fixed May with a stare as she pulled off the Aura Lenses and crouched down to meet its gaze.

Her heart started pounding again. Lily’s voice echoed in her head: they’re even known to attack Trainers themselves… yet somehow, she didn’t mind taking this risk. She had to know why she almost felt as if she had met this Altaria before… the Pokémon itself even appeared to be thinking along the same lines, tilting its head slightly, as though discerning the human in front of it…

Moments passed in silence, each hammering thud of May’s heart a reminder that she was still alive for another second… she strained her memory, struggling to think of Altaria’s evolutionary chain… it evolved from another Pokémon, didn’t it? … But what was that Pokémon?

Then, in a sudden bolt of recognition, May realized. Altaria evolved from a Pokémon called Swablu… she had seen plenty of them in her travels, and had even… but that was impossible. It was just too much of a coincidence for it to be true…

 “No way,” May whispered, slowly reaching out a shaking hand up to Altaria’s face. “There’s… just no way…” Bracing herself for a sudden attack, she placed her hand against the Pokémon’s cheek…

To her great surprise, Altaria closed its eyes in contentment, and hummed a single, brief note. Blinking its small, black eyes, it looked up at May, who struggled to speak.

“You… you’re not…” She swallowed and blinked the fresh wave of tears threatening to fall down her face. “Do you… recognize me…?”

Altaria gave the briefest of nods, its skin brushing against the fabric of May’s gloves. A chill surged down May’s spine, and she drowned in a wave of bittersweet amazement. It couldn’t be… she couldn’t believe that this was actually true… ignoring all further restraint, her face broke into a teary, disbelieving smile. This Pokémon, the Shadow Altaria… had to be the very same Swablu she had nursed back to health in Hoenn just over a year ago.

To be continued...

[lightningenergy]

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Author: @lightningenergy Co-Author / Beta Reader: @codyscommandpost Rating: T for Teen Summary: Home from her travels in Johto, May receives a mysterious unmarked package. Its contents propel her to the desert land of Orre, once again under the threat of Shadow Pokémon. May reluctantly undertakes this perilous new adventure, struggling against herself as much as her foes.

Also Available On: FanFiction.net || AO3

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - “Prelude to a New Journey! A Mystery Gift Has Arrived!”

Chapter 2 - “Adventure in the Land of Desert! VS Abyss Grunt!”

Chapter 3 - “Heads-or-Tails Casino Battle! VS Abyss Admin Galli!”

Chapter 4 - "The Path to Purification! Research at the Pokémon HQ Lab!”

Chapter 5 - “Secret Infiltration! Invading the Shadow Pokémon Lab!”

Chapter 6 - “Cornered! Surprise Tag Battle VS Abyss Admins!” 

Chapter 7 - “An Unlikely Ally? International Police Agent Looker!” 

Chapter 8 - “A Desperate Battle! The Monster Living in the Sand!” 

Chapter 9 - “A Jewel in the Rough! The Gorgeous Oasis, Phenac City!” NEW!

Chapter 10 - COMING SOON!

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy​ and @codyscommandpost​ proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Chapter 6 - "Cornered! Surprise Tag Battle VS Abyss Admins!"

Two women stood on the other side of the room, both tall and slender. The leftmost one was slightly taller and adorned in a very neat and proper suit, arms folded across her chest. Her hair, on the other hand, was cut very short and jagged.

The second woman was dressed almost in the exact opposite way, with a long periwinkle-blue-and-white sleeveless top and stockings. Her hair was colored vivid pink and tied into two massive pigtails that almost reached her shoes. Her eyes, bright green like Lily's but with no maternal love behind them, shone with excitement.

"I think this is going to be so fun," She chirped to the first woman. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"Only if you could keep silent for it," The first woman shot back, the tiniest bit of irritation leaking through her voice. Her eyes were concealed behind narrow sunglasses, though May was sure behind the lenses they were narrowed in dislike.

The pink-haired woman ignored the response and turned back towards May and Manya. "Ooh, look here. We have ourselves a couple of cuties, don't we?" She grinned suddenly, and May felt a chill run up her spine. "I'm so looking forward to breaking them in two."

"If you're going to break anything, couldn't you break this door?" asked May, in an attempt to sound much more courageous than she was feeling at the moment.

The pink-haired woman started to laugh, though it was too high-pitched and horrific to be considered comforting. "Look, Carna, they think they're so funny. Listen up, kiddies," she continued, "We're both Abyss Admins, so you ought to know what you're in for, right?"

"I wouldn't misjudge them, Lovrina," sneered Carna. It seemed as though she was trying very hard not to smile, as the corners of her mouth kept twitching. "They defeated Galli, after all."

"Galli was so trash, though," Lovrina retorted, adjusting the gloves on her hands.

"Not exactly hard to refute," said Manya, speaking up. "Alright, so you won't let us out… but I bet we'll have to battle you first, huh?" She already had a Poké Ball clutched tightly in her hand which, May realized, she herself ought to have done in the first place.

Lovrina rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. "Kids today are so impatient… but sure, I was so getting tired of waiting." She looked sideways at Carna, who remained impassive and somewhat unimpressed. "Shall we?"

Carna only gave a stiff nod, and two Poké Balls burst open with small popping noises. Out of Carna's came a thin, limber dog with dark, black fur. Long curled horns curled from the back of its head, with gray bands around its ankles and neck and ridges along its back. A long, skinny tail ending in a triangular point whipped around as the Houndoom snarled around at them.

Lovrina's Poké Ball held an entirely different Pokémon: a twenty-foot long sea serpent with deep red eyes, thin eyebrows ascending around its narrow head and long, narrow fins flowing down like hair. Diamond-shaped scales shone in blue and pink on its tail, four scales spread like a fan on the end. The Milotic slithered gracefully and silently up beside Carna's Houndoom, staring over at May and Manya.

Manya tossed out her Poké Ball: what looked to be a bipedal gecko materialized, colored light green and a burgundy underbelly. Thick, forest green leaves extended from its wrists and backside, with a long, slender leaf sprouting from its head. Grovyle's yellow reptilian eyes darted around the room, evidently taking in everything it could.

After a brief moment's consideration, May chose her Pokémon. A six-foot-tall humanoid avian appeared in a flash. Supposed by powerful, muscular red-and-yellow legs, her Blaziken shook its head, throwing its beige feather "hair" back and forth. Bright, golden eyes peered down its hooked beak at Manya's Grovyle before turning out towards the Houndoom and Milotic. Its clawed hands flexed in anticipation of the fight about to occur.

Then all hell broke loose: all four Trainers shouted commands simultaneously, the attack names melding together into an incoherent battle. Nonetheless, the Pokémon reacted: Manya's Grovyle leaping into the air to avoid an Ice Beam from Milotic before swinging its forearm down for a Leaf Blade, only to miss and crack the floor instead, Milotic having swerved away at the last moment.

Meanwhile, Houndoom spewed a jet of flames from its mouth, which collided in midair into a similar Flamethrower from Blaziken; the two attacks caused a minor explosion, which Grovyle ducked under as it ran back towards its Trainer. As the dust cloud settled, Houndoom leapt through, jaws agape, ready to crush Grovyle in two. But May reacted in time and had Blaziken drive its fist into the Dark Pokémon's head, knocking it back.

"Thanks for the save," said Manya, staring up at Blaziken in slight awe. "Guess we'll have to be careful, huh?"

"Maybe a little," admitted May, noticing the familiar rush of adrenaline running through her system. It was almost painful to admit to herself that she wanted to get this over quickly, to smash everything into little pieces and call it a day… maybe she had more of her father in herself than she wanted to admit. She eyed Lovrina shooting a glare at Carna, which was ignored by the taller woman.

"How d'you want to play this?" May asked.

"I notice I'm at a distinct disadvantage here, using a Grass-type." Manya gestured over towards the Milotic. "Especially with that thing having an Ice move."

"It's bad news for Blaziken, too, but I have an idea. Draw its fire, I'll counter the Ice Beam so you can get it with Leaf Blade."

Manya nodded and looked at her Pokémon. "Let's try it again, Grovyle, Leaf Blade!" The Wood Gecko Pokémon leapt into the air with its powerful legs, the leaves on its forearms expanding and merging into a single, curved edge. Its sights set on Milotic, it dived…

And as expected, Milotic fired another beam of cryogenic energy, but Blaziken shot off a stream of fire from its wrist, searing through the air, to intercept it…

Then out of nowhere, Houndoom jumped straight into the Flamethrower, completely unperturbed by the flames dancing across its body. May swore and told Blaziken to punch it again as it landed; Houndoom dashed out of the way instead to avoid the oncoming wave of water making its way across the floor.

"New plan!" May called over to Manya, catching her Blaziken's eye and gesturing over towards Grovyle. With a swift nod, the Blade Pokémon pushed off the ground with its powerful legs, landing next to its battling partner. Blaziken scooped up Grovyle into its arms, then jumped straight up, latching onto a light fixture to avoid the Milotic's Surf.

"Aren't you clever," Lovrina sneered, her Milotic glaring up at its opponents. "But we can fix that — Icy Wind!"

Milotic exhaled a gust of chilled air up towards Blaziken and Grovyle; May countered with Rock Tomb, and small boulders were conjured out of thin air to absorb the attack. They fell to the ground, frozen solid, the cracking sound mirroring the light fixture breaking away from the ceiling.

Blaziken dropped to the ground, the floor shattering underneath as it landed. Deftly snatching the florescent light in its hands, Blaziken tossed it towards Milotic. Lovrina scoffed and had Milotic freeze it with another Icy Wind, not noticing Groyvle leaping up from behind it until the Wood Gecko smashed a Leaf Blade attack straight down onto Milotic's head.

Houndoom sprang into the air to smash Grovyle between its jaws, only to have rocks slam into its side, Blaziken having launched them into the air with Blaze Kick. The Dark Pokémon crumbled into a twisted heap, snarling in pain.

"Impudent children," muttered Carna, speaking for the first time since the battle had started. "Get up, Houndoom, and fry that pesky lizard."

"Milotic, clean off that overgrown poultry!" added Lovrina.

Grovyle and Blaziken had ended up near each other after delivering their previous attacks, and both Pokémon dived out of the way of the incoming Fire Blast and Hydro Pump. The two attacks collided and erupted into a massive cloud of steam that filled up the room, fogging up the computer screens and glass test tubes.

"That was unexpected," said Manya, fanning some vapor out of her face. "But they're certainly tough, huh?"

"That Houndoom's on its last legs, though." May replied. "If we can take it out, Milotic shouldn't be a problem."

"And then we can string up Smidge by his bandanna once we're done. So…" Manya looked at May, a steely and determined expression crossing her face. "What's our endgame?"

May turned back to the steam cloud, as if she could suddenly see through to the other side. Raised voices told her that Carna and Lovrina had gotten into an argument over which of them was responsible for the drastic shift in conditions. "Let's give this a try…"

"This is pointless," came Carna's voice suddenly, loud and stern. "Houndoom, Sunny Day."

Heat began to radiate from Houndoom, gradually evaporating the steam away, the room became much more humid and stuffy as a result. But, one way or another, the fight was about to conclude, as each side was sure to attempt to catch their opponents off-guard while there was still cover. It would depend on whoever managed to strike first…

And sure enough, before the last bit of steam dissipated, Grovyle dashed through with Quick Attack, slamming head-on into Houndoom. Taken by surprise, and having its last bit of health knocked away, Houndoom let out a whimper and collapsed, unconscious. A muscle twitched in Carna's cheek but she said nothing as she recalled it back into its Poké Ball.

"Dammit!" Lovrina spun around and spotted Blaziken standing directly across from her. "You'll so regret this! Hydro Pump!"

A massive, high-pressure stream of water burst forth from Milotic's mouth and crashed directly into Blaziken, soaking it completely. The force of the attack also pushed it back across the floor, Blaziken's talons gouging deep, long marks into the floor.

"Hang in there, Blaziken!" cried May, watching helplessly as her Pokémon endured the attack as best it could. A chill flashed down her spine as the attack finally finished, and saw to her relief that Blaziken, while forced down to a knee and completely soaked, still had the energy to keep fighting.

Then, abruptly, Blaziken's eyes snapped open, and it pulled itself upright, hands clenched tight and the flames on its wrists flaring up twice their size. A dark red aura erupted around its body, giving the Pokémon the appearance that it just set itself alight.

Instinctively, May knew what had happened: Blaziken had taken enough damage that its Ability, Blaze, had activated. But could they do anything with this? As indistinct thoughts raced through May's head, she felt sweat slide down the back of her neck. She reached up a hand to wipe it off, and unexpectedly realized just what Houndoom's last attack was.

Her heart leaping up to her throat, May flashed a wide grin at a bemused Manya before calling out to the room at large, "This is the end! Blaziken… Overheat!"

For a split-second, Blaziken glowed bright-red, then unleashed an intense, full-power explosion of orange-red fire straight at Milotic. The attack was delivered so quickly that the Tender Pokémon had no choice but to experience it in full. It writhed and squirmed as the flames covered its entire length, emanating a harsh, mournful cry that echoed through-out the room. Once the last flickering ember disappeared, Milotic fainted, each and every one of its rainbow-colored scales slightly charred and blackened.

Lovrina gaped at the sight of her knocked out Pokémon. "You are so going to pay for this." She threatened, her voice lowered to a venomous whisper, her Milotic disappearing back into its Ball with a flash.

"C'mon," Carna said, turning away to a previously unseen door behind her. She disappeared through it, with Lovrina following after, though not before she shot an extremely nasty look at May and Manya.

Now left alone in the quiet, muggy room, the two girls exchanged a look. It seemed pretty strange for two Admins to just walk away after having defeated, especially after having sent out one Pokémon each. Regardless, they had won, so May asked Blaziken to knock down the door before letting it rest.

"Alright, let's find that double-crossing brat and knock him into orbit," Manya declared as they stepped back out into the hallway. "I knew he would pull something like this."

May opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, a piercing, klaxon-like sound split through the air. Lights flashed in tune to the alarm, dying everything a deep blood-red.

"We didn't do that, did we?" Manya sputtered, eyes wide in shock.

"I did," said a familiar voice coming from their elbows. To their surprise, there stood Smidge, peering up at them with an unamused stare.

"Of course you did!" Manya shouted over the alarm's continued wailing. "You lured us into one trap and now you dropped us straight into another!"

"Half-right," Smidge answered, turning to walk away. "I'm gettin' you two outta here, a'right?"

Immediately Manya blurted out, "I don't trust you," and returned Smidge's inquiring gaze with an expression of loathing.

With a sigh, Smidge turned to May, who had watched the entire exchange in trepidation. "Okay, look… yeah, I locked you in that room. But I'm making up for it now, so let's get our butts in gear."

"We have no other choice," May told Manya. When the blonde started to protest, May continued, "I know it sucks, but I can hear people coming and we're in enough trouble as it is."

"We need to stop being out of options," Manya groaned, relenting and following Smidge's lead down the corridor. May quietly agreed, though felt as though admitting it aloud was not going to be a wise move.

"You said you set off the alarm," May gasped as they ran, the alarm ringing in their ears. "What did you do?"

With some difficulty, Smidge reached into his pocket and presented a piece of machinery. "I broke one of their important-lookin' machines. Guess it was connected to their alarm system, 'cuz it started going off when I snapped it off."

"You have a lot of explaining to do, short stuff."

"Less talk, more running!" called Manya as she overtook them towards the doors leading outside. A quick glance over their shoulders revealed Abyss grunts heading after them, so they sped up, bracing for the dry, dusty air outside.

"Tell me how it went," Their boss said, addressing Lovrina and Carna from behind a smooth, polished desk.

"We so lost," snapped Lovrina, her voice thick with the attitude of obviousness. Indignation burned in her chest: they really shouldn't have lost, but at least she could take pride in her Milotic surviving longer than Carna's Houndoom. She folded her arms and added, "But you so knew we would, huh?"

"You did what you were ordered to," came the reply. "And I commend both of you for that."

"We'll break them next time," murmured Carna, her arms quivering in anticipation. "Right in two, yes ma'am."

She really has no impulse control at all. Lovrina noted, as their boss stood up. Silence swept across the room, even overtaking the man standing off against the wall who hadn't spoken a word.

"May I have your professional opinion, Lovrina?" The question was delivered firm and steady, yet there was an unmistakable hint of expectancy and eagerness. "Will the plan work?"

Calculations and figures ran through Lovrina's head as she mulled over the question. Personally she wasn't entirely sold on the plan, but the numbers — the numbers she worked on and reapplied each and every morning and night — were solid. There was nothing she could do about it. "I believe so, ma'am."

If their boss was pleased to hear this, she didn't express it much: her face only softened slightly. "Thank you. You're dismissed."

Without sparing a glance at Carna, Lovrina turned on her heel and strutted away. Behind her, she heard their boss address the man against the wall.

"You have your orders. I expect a full report when it's complete."

"Yes ma'am," came his unctuous and flattering voice, and shortly trailed Lovrina and Carna out of the room.

She eased herself back into the chair, her office doors closing shut with a muffled click. Granting no attention towards her quickening pulse, she gazed at the framed, battered photograph sitting on the corner of her desk. Two children, a boy and a girl, posing with a small, white-and-gold Pokémon stared back, their faded colors and smiles sending ripples through her heart.

"We're so close," Shelly whispered, her voice carrying through-out the room to absent ears. "Just a little longer…"

To be continued...

[lightningenergy]

Overall BotW Thoughts

Finished the story a couple days ago, thought I’d put out my overall thoughts on this game on “paper” so they’re not flooding my brain.

Spoilers ahead, and I’m fully prepared to discuss any issues people have with my thoughts after playing for ~100 hours.

I did like the puzzles and the idea of experimentation, especially since the Runes helped a lot with both of them. I do think I would've enjoyed this game more if it had more of the traditional dungeons with the same puzzles that required depth and thinking. If it was more like Twilight Princess 2.0 rather than Majora’s Mask 2.0 it would've felt more like a Zelda game to me, I think. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like Majora's Mask and I appreciate the references, but having more dungeons with interconnected Shrine puzzles and everything would've been a lot of fun for me.

The big open overworld was fantastic, though, it was definitely what Ocarina of Time was trying to accomplish way back then but obviously much better. Though I would've liked more variation in the overworld music, or at least stuff more akin to the Hyrule/Termina Field theme.

Combat bothers me; I feel like they could've done something where Link (re)learns Hidden Skills through the memories. Like the flashbacks with the Champions where they teach him a certain move or something: Mipha would teach you Shield Bash (a defensive attack based on her healer role), Daruk teaches you the Jump Strike, Urbosa the Back Slice, and Revali the Helm Splitter. Experimentation with fighting I get, but the bombs don't do as much damage as I'd like and fluid combat is fun.

Money is kind of weird, since I didn't really sell anything in the early-to-mid-game for fear of needing the stuff I'd be selling. But I think it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, especially with Hyrule in ruins for a century.

Weapon durability (while understandable due to Hyrule being what it is and the idea of experimentation, etc.) wore out quickly. Sometimes you just want a good weapon to carry you through the whole game coughMasterSwordcough I mean, fuck, SS had shield durability and the Hylian Shield was literally invincible. Here it's still got durability and you have to do a lengthy sidequest to buy a replacement for 3K.

If the Master Sword regenerated before it ran out of energy I wouldn't complain, because then you'd be able to use it practically forever while still managing your usage of it without having to run around for 10 minutes worrying about breaking your other good weapons while waiting for it to recharge. This goes for the Champions’ Powers, as well, come to think of it.

Speaking of, it'd be nice to have a concrete durability meter/number for each weapon, as opposed to just seeing when it's "not new" or "badly damaged". @codyscommandpost brought up the idea of being able to forge and/or upgrade your weapons, which I think would’ve been cool.

Being able to store weapons somewhere outside of that long sidequest would've been nice, too, so I don't have to worry about being forced to use the Champions' weapons. And buying weapons, too, so you’re not facing Silver variants of enemies with low-powered swords.

Clothing upgrading is fine, I do wish you could see what materials you need to upgrade each item to next level in your item screen without needing to run to a Great Fairy Fountain. To be fair those are all right near Shrines so it's not awful, but still.

Another thing: need dragon parts to upgrade your Champion's Tunic/X of the Wild? Too bad it's semi-random when/where they'll show up and you can only get one piece per day so better hope you aim right!

I did like how the game kept track of quests and stuff for you automatically, that's a really nice thing in the large LoZ game like that. It was a little annoying not having the marker on the place you need to go to complete something, as opposed to the person you talk to in order to start/complete the quest.

Calamity Ganon’s first form was somewhat unexpected. The fight itself was more trouble that it ought to be, especially the second phase.

A wonderful, atmospheric, and explorative video game. It kind of falls down the ranking for me as a Legend of Zelda game, but it’s not on the lower end of the scale. It has flaws that, while understandable in terms of lore and gameplay (at least in terms of the developers’ intent for how to play it), hampered my experience more than they enhanced it. I can see where the praise comes from but personally I think I would’ve enjoyed this game more if it stuck more to the traditional Legend of Zelda experience while still sticking to the mix of sandbox and RPG elements that make this game new and interesting.

Overall Rating: 8.5 - 9 / 10 (It’s teetering right on the border, tbh)

[lightningenergy]

I can't tell you how happy I am that this is finally seeing the light of day. This is a project that codyscommandpost and I have been developing for about three years now. This chapter itself was first started two years ago: it was put on hold due to real life issues (mostly school). But we pushed through since we've both graduated, and after weeks of repeated editing and revising, it's finally done!

We have big hopes and visions for this story as a whole, and Arceus willing, we're going to see it through to the end. So, without further adieu, click that link up there and let's get to it!

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy and @codyscommandpost​ proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Chapter 3 - “Heads-or-Tails Casino Battle! VS Abyss Admin Galli!”

The flashing lights, alternating between lime green and aqua blue, made May's eyes water just by looking at them. She blinked to dispel the tears welling up and stared at the building again. Shaped like a Ludicolo with its arms raised, the beak-like mouth formed the doorway, the upper segment acting as an awning. A pink neon sign reading "Lucky Ludicolo" sat just above the double steel doors.

This is incredibly tacky. May thought, reaching the awning's minimal shade. She grabbed one of the handles and wrenched a door open.

A torrent of sound almost blew her backwards, and she slipped inside before unnecessary attention could be drawn towards her. The door closed with a snap behind her, and for a moment she wondered how thick they had to be if all the noise couldn't be heard from outside. Taking a few seconds to reorient herself, May stepped up to the railing in front of her and peered around.

As she should have gleaned from the name, the Lucky Ludicolo turned out to be a casino. Slot machines lined both walls on the lower floor, clinking and chiming as their players deposited coins and yanked levers. Aligned in the middle sat roulette tables, pearly-white marbles spinning around the actual roulettes, the whirring of their motion hardly discernable among the loud talking and cheering.

Further back, May could see card tables, with sharply-dressed dealers flicking out cards to the people sitting around them. A small curtained stage lay flush up against the far wall. Spotlights hung from rafters directly above. Looking back up the second floor where she was standing, May saw finely polished oak bars, with patrons sipping drinks under dimmed lighting. To her right, a counter with a sign reading "CHANGE" had a line of people waiting to trade in cash for coins.

It's the Mauville Game Corner all over again. May leaned against the railing with her chin in her palm. But why would that thief (now "Abyss Grunt" since he all but declared his affiliation during the battle) run in here? Glancing down at the sea of people below, May couldn't see anyone matching the description. There were people in dark clothing, but they wore tuxedos and dresses rather than just normal clothing that happened to be dark. She hoped this wasn't another trick and that the Grunt had faked her out. He didn't seem smart enough for that…

A loud fanfare disrupted May's thoughts and she jolted upright. The spotlights were converging onto the stage, and all the casino patrons stopped and turned to watch (those sitting at the bar either ignored it or glanced over before returning to their drinks). The curtains pulled back, revealing microphone stands, a drum kit, and guitars. For a moment May thought a band was going to play, and it seemed to be true when a girl walked on stage, but the girl walked up to the front-most microphone and no one else appeared behind her.

"Greetings one and all!" said the girl, spreading her arms out wide in welcome. She was adorned in a rather particular outfit: a gray polo shirt under a long-sleeved pink shirt with a tutu (itself under a red vest), and pink boots. Her hands were gloved and one was clutching a baton. A purple top hat nestled on top of her short, dirty blonde hair. "Welcome to the Lucky Ludicolo!"

The girl paused here, as the crowd had started cheering and whooping. "My name is Manya, and I'll be your hostess for today. We have a few musical acts and performances lined up for later, so look forward to them! Please enjoy your stay!"

The crowd applauded as Manya departed the stage, the curtains closing after her. As the crowd returned to its pre-announcement level of chatter, May turned to one of the bars. If the movies she had watched were any indication, bartenders usually saw things most people didn't. Maybe one of them had seen the Grunt running through here earlier.

"Lotsa people come runnin' through here," said the first bartender she tried, a bored-looking man with a narrow face. "I just serve drinks." He turned away to serve a customer, giving May time to sigh without him noticing.

The bartender looked back at her, picking up a glass and drying it with a towel. "Look, if you're really tryin' to find someone, go downstairs and ask to see Manya. She's pretty popular, and prob'ly knows somethin'. Tell 'er Jack sent you over."

This better work, May thought as she made her way down the stairs, leaning against the wall to allow a harassed-looking waiter to pass by. But again, why would that guy run in here? Perhaps he knew the casino would be crowded, and would be able to sneak away from her… but wouldn't his dark clothing make him stand out, even amongst all the suits and fancy clothes? Maybe the Grunt worked here… but then, why rob the Mart? Either way, there was some connection between the Grunt and this casino. May hoped Manya would be willing to answer her questions, but there was only one way to find out.

May weaved through tables and gamblers until she found herself in front of the stage. The curtains were still down, and there didn't seem to be any doors nearby. Glancing around for any security personnel, May clambered onto the stage, hoping that no one was looking over, and slipped behind the heavy curtains. There was much less lighting back here, so it was difficult to see at first. Gradually her eyesight adjusted, and she could make out the musical equipment.

Now where could Manya have gone? May moved over the rear stage, hands gliding over the wall, looking for a hidden door or something. When that failed, she moved down to the floor in case there was a trap door. Nothing. Frowning with her hands on her hips, May looked around the stage again. A small flash caught her attention: there was a small divide between the curtains, and light was reflecting off a thin ladder just off to the side.

Hiding in the attic, are we? May began her ascent, attempting to stay quiet. The last thing she needed was for some large security guard to grab her leg and yank her down. The ladder ended, and May pulled herself up. She was standing in a dimly-lit hallway that seemed to be a hidden section of the second floor. Doors lined the sides, with plaques reading things like "Storage" or "Custodial".

May set off down the hallway, a dank, musty smell filling her nose. Her footsteps were muffled by the dirty carpeting on the floor, silencing her approach. I hope this isn't the VIP section. She heard herself thinking, as she stole quick looks at each door in turn. Finally, on the last door, was a faded plaque reading "Manya". With a deep, steadying breath, May rapped lightly on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Manya's voice, muffled by the door.

"Jack sent me." Replied May, turning away to make sure no one was coming up the hallway.

There was no immediate response, but after a moment a lock clattered. May turned back in time to see Manya's bemused face poking out of the open door.

"C'mon in," said Manya, standing aside to let her pass. May stepped over the threshold as Manya shut and locked the door.

The room was very small and cramped. A small vanity with a cracked mirror sat in a corner, a rusty bar stool sitting in front of it. Standing next to the door was a wooden coatrack, Manya's top hat dangling from the top-most peg. The left-most wall was taken up by a wardrobe, and the only lighting was a bare lightbulb in the middle of the ceiling.

"It's not much," Manya said, noticing May looking around. "I may be the hostess, but the owner doesn't think highly of me." She sat down on the bar stool and crossed her legs, staring up at May. She seemed to be about the same age as May, if not slightly younger. "So what can I do for ya?"

"I'm looking for someone," Said May, the words spilling out of her mouth. She was so urgent to find the Grunt that she didn't consider how best to phrase her request. "And the bartender — Jack, I mean — said you'd know who I'm looking for."

Manya's thin eyebrows narrowed, her mouth twisted into a slight frown. "I see lots of people," she said, picking up a damp tissue from the vanity and wiping the eye shadow and lipstick off her face. "You'll have to be more specific."

"Dark clothes, sunglasses, with a bandanna over his mouth." May rattled off the Grunt's description, closely watching Manya's face for signs of recognition. "Came running in here not too long ago."

Manya slowly lowered the tissue from her face. Her eyes, a light purple, bored into May's, and her frown became even more pronounced. She didn't say anything, and the two girls stared at each other, the only sound coming from the flickering light bulb.

With a glance towards the door to make sure it was still locked, Manya said, "You're after Abyss, then?"

"So you know of them?" May's heart quickened, and she forced herself to appear calm and collected.

"'Course I know them." answered Manya, speaking in a low voice. "They run this place. The owner's one of the Administrators." She turned to face the vanity mirror, pulling a hairbrush out of the drawer. "What business do you have with them?"

"I don't think I'm in a position to say." May became suddenly aware of the Snag Machine on her wrist and resisted the urge to glance at it. She forced herself to focus on Manya, who was now brushing her hair and watching May through the mirror. "I just have business with them."

Manya continued brushing her hair, her expression unreadable. She set the brush down and turned to face May again. "What's your name?"

May hesitated. It just occurred to her that if Manya was part of Abyss, she was giving away her identity to the enemy. If cornered here, her journey would be forced into a very abrupt (and no doubt painful) conclusion. Then she recalled what Manya had said earlier, that she wasn't on good terms with the owner… it might be risky, but she had to know.

"I need to know that you're not one of them, first." she said instead, crossing her arms so that the Snag Machine was hidden under her left arm.

Manya scoffed, folding her arms as well, only in disgust. "I'd rather be dead than with them. I told you, didn't I? The owner doesn't like me."

"Yet you're working here." May blurted out before she could stop herself.

Manya sighed and buried her face in her hands, her sandy blonde hair falling over her fingers. Sitting up, she looked at May, eyes tearing up. "It's not by choice," She explained, her voice wavering. "It's complicated, but…" Manya turned away, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, and May felt guilt bubbling in her stomach for not having better constraint.

"I said the owner's an Admin, right?" Manya murmured, gazing at May with a mix of helplessness and rage. "Well… He's also my brother. My older, vindictive, Arceus-given-glory brother. He forced me into this whole thing…"

Trying to ignore the burning shame now flowing through her, May stepped a little closer, which wasn't difficult in the tiny room. "Er… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up —"

Manya waved a hand, sniffling. She swallowed and her teary eyes now burned with something like determination. "No, it's… don't worry. Look, you said…" She paused, and May knew Manya was prompting for her name again.

"May. My name's May."

"May, you said you have business with Abyss. The guy you described, it's the uniform for their foot soldiers. If you're chasing after him, then he's probably telling his boss — my brother — all about that. If they find out you're here… do they?" Manya asked, to which May shook her head and explained what happened after her battle with the Grunt. "Okay, then in that case, at most the base in Pyrite — if there even is one there — will be alerted. Not so much here, but you shouldn't count on it."

"You sure know a lot," May pointed out. "And you say you're not with them?"

"I know how my brother operates." Manya wiped her eyes, now burning more fiercely, with her sleeve again. "I've always been good with listening carefully without him knowing, so when he has me doing tasks for him I pick up on what he does." She blinked at May, frowning again. "Are you gonna be going after him now?"

"It seems like it," May admitted, her stomach twisting itself into a knot at the prospect of battling a powerful Trainer. "If he's the guy in charge, I'll have to. You don't mind, do you?" She added with a light smirk.

Manya shook her head, hair whipping back and forth. "If anything, I'd want to see you pound him… you're a Trainer, right?"

"Er…" May felt her stomach tighten, which was a surprise considering she didn't think she could get any more uncomfortable. "I'm a Coordinator. I specialize in Pokémon Contests."

"Pokémon what?" asked Manya, startled. "Contests? What are those?"

May's stomach squirmed again, and she hastened to clarify. A chill shot along her body, and she was suddenly aware of how sweaty she had become. "I mean, I can battle. I just… don't focus on it."

"Okay," said Manya, not sounding entirely convinced. "Well, you're after Abyss one way or another, so you should have some ability, at least…"

"Right." May wondered off-hand if she had tightened the belts on her corset-like top too much; she didn't like the idea of being this nervous already.

"I can take you to my brother," said Manya, the bar stool creaking as she stood up. "He has his own room, on this floor. Follow behind me, but not too close." She opened the vanity drawer again, putting the hairbrush back and pulling out a couple of Poké Balls. "I can offer some support, too, if needed."

"I appreciate that." May smiled with what she hoped was confidence. "Lead the way."

"By the way," Manya said as they exited out to the hallway, the musty smell rising back to their noses. "What's with the outfit?"

"I'd rather not explain that…"

Manya walked through a door opposite her room, which led to another hallway. May followed a few steps behind, so it wouldn't look like the two girls were walking together. Over her shoulder, Manya said in an undertone, "My brother… his name's Galli. Just so you know who he is. Although his inflated head would tip you off anyways…"

May smiled to herself, reminded of her own sibling rivalry with her younger brother, Max. They looked after each other, of course, because that's what siblings do; but there's always, more often than not, antagonism in that sort of relationship. With the amount of distress Manya displayed back in her room, her connection with Galli seemed to be more than just light-hearted insults and pranks.

They came up to a set of double doors, much like those of the casino's entrance. Words painted across them read "Casino Manager: Galli". Loud music was playing inside, with heavy bass notes shaking the floor and their eardrums. Manya stayed off to the side, against the wall. May stood nearby, uncertain of how to proceed.

"I'll go in first," Manya said. May had to put her head close to hers just to hear what she was saying; the music prevented them from being overheard, but it also made it difficult for them to hear each other properly. "I'll tell Galli he has a visitor, and then you come in."

"That's it?"

"Trust me, when you see him, you'll understand. He's not the brightest person you'll meet."

May's insides gave another unpleasant squirm. She wasn't keen on just charging in and demanding a battle; that sort of behavior was reserved for people like Brendan Birch and her old traveling companion Ash Ketchum. On the other hand, she had come this far already and it was a necessary step in completing her mission. Plus, to abandon Manya when she, May, had already declared her intentions, was downright rude. At this point, what choice did she have? "Alright."

Manya nodded, then turned and strode confidently through the doors. May heard muffled voices, and the music was lowered to a more comfortable level.

"…someone here to see you." Came Manya's voice.

"Who?" demanded a slow, male voice that had to be Galli's. It sounded somewhat slurred, yet arrogant and commanding.

"I'll show you," said Manya, and one of the double doors swung open into the room. May took it as her cue and strolled on through.

She entered a much larger room than Manya's dressing room. Large, curtained windows lined each side wall. Speakers and subwoofers stood against the walls nearest the doors, and there was a personal bar towards the back. Nestled in the floor space between sat three black leather couches arranged in a "U". The two couches on the side each had a person reclining on them, but the middle couch had May's attention.

Sitting there, sprawled with legs wide and arms up on the back, was Galli. He was blond, like his sister, but his slicked-back hair was bleached instead of sandy. A loose-fitting suit covered his thin, scrawny frame, and his wide mouth was contorted into a scowl. In one of his hands, held between a ringed finger and thumb, was a cigarette. His eyes, deep purple and bloodshot, narrowed at the sight of May.

"Who're you?" He asked in the same demanding tone as before. Out of the corner of her eye May saw Manya roll her eyes.

"Someone who has urgent business with you." May replied, trying to keep your voice even and steady. Galli looked like someone who wasn't to be trifled with, so she wanted to appear as unthreatening as possible (though she knew she didn't appear to be any magnitude of a threat, silly outfit or not).

"What kind of business?" asked Galli, bringing the cigarette to his lips and inhaling deeply. He exhaled smoke, which dissipated as it drifted up to the ceiling, his eyes roaming over May. "The way you look, I'd think I'd remember you if we've met before…"

She had only been talking to him for five seconds and she already hated this piece of work. "Pokémon related, if you can believe that."

"Ah? Do tell, girlie." Galli took another breath of his cigarette, his hazed-over eyes still fixed on May.

"Well… I was enjoying your casino," May said, thinking quickly and hoping her mouth would be able to keep up with her brain. "A little too much, actually… I lost quite a bit of money, my luck is terrible… but it was on my father's card, and he'd go ballistic if he found out. I saw Manya passing by, so I asked if there was any way to get back what I lost, and she said I had to talk to you." She could see Manya nodding in affirmation.

Galli said nothing at first, but shifted his gaze slightly to glare at Manya. "Thought you'd take advantage of my generosity, huh?" He spat, before turning back to May, his tone only marginally friendlier. "Normally, I don't do this," he drawled, as if speaking faster would rob him of the imagined power he was enjoying. "But you're a fine-looking lady, and I'd hate to disappoint you."

He stood up, the couch creaking and groaning. He had to be at least six feet tall, and was more intimidating than when he was lounging. "If you beat me in a one-on-one battle, I'll recoup your losses. Sound good?" He stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray on the bar behind him.

May nodded, becoming increasingly aware of her sweating. She reached for a Poké Ball when Galli spoke up again.

"Though, if you lose," He said, his voice dropping to a deep, menacing baritone. "I'll keep your money, and then some. I am running a business here, after all, and in a casino, the house always wins."

"Were you practicing that?" asked Manya, now leaning against the wall with her arms folded.

"None of your business," Galli snapped, pulling a Poké Ball from his suit pocket. The men sitting on the side couches snickered. "You keep outta this, sis, you've done your part."

"Fine, fine." Manya rolled her eyes again.

"Now then… you ready, girlie?" Without waiting for an answer, Galli tossed his Poké Ball, which clattered on the floor and split open. The Pokémon that emerged from it resembled a large, bipedal lobster. Short, rounded legs supported its weight, aided by tiny claws on its abdomen. Large pincers snapped as the Crawdaunt narrowed its deep-socketed eyes. A star-shaped growth protruded from the top of its head.

The goggles atop May's head started beeping again. With a flash of panic and hoping that the music was still loud enough to mask the noise, she yanked them down over her eyes. Just like with the Altaria earlier, a smoky black-purple aura floated around the Crawdaunt. Clearly, this was a Shadow Pokémon she had to snag.

"What's with the goggles?" Galli asked, glaring across the room at her.

"They help me concentrate." May shot back, throwing out her own Poké Ball. The Pokémon that appeared looked like a small, round-headed, rabbit-eared bear cub wearing a fuzzy dress. With a yawn and a sniff, Munchlax cast a blank look over its shoulder at its Trainer, scratching its head with a small paw. "Munchlax," May said, kneeling down. "I need you to concentrate, okay?"

Munchlax affirmed with a bark-like "Munch!" and turned to face the Crawdaunt. Standing up, May noticed everyone else in the room casting bemused stares at her Pokémon.

"What the hell is that?" Galli half-shouted, pointed a finger at Munchlax, his face a mixture of fear and confusion.

"Er," May stared down at Munchlax, who seemed ignorant of the attention it was gaining. She didn't think it would have been a bad idea to use her Munchlax, but it seemed to be a Pokémon that wasn't found commonly in Orre. "This is Munchlax," she stated lamely, gesturing redundantly with her hand. "It evolves into Snorlax."

"Snorlax doesn't evolve from anything," declared Galli, his hands balled into fists. "Who the hell d'you think you are? Crawdaunt, smash that thing!"

I don't have a good answer to that. May thought, ordering Munchlax to move away as the Crawdaunt lunged forward, pincers open. Munchlax slid sideways with uneasy grace, and the Crawdaunt missed its Vice Grip attack. "Alright, now Body Slam it!"

Munchlax threw all of its weight towards the Rouge Pokémon, which jumped back towards its Trainer. Munchlax thudded to the floor, shaking the room almost as much as the subwoofers still blaring in the background.

I'm at a disadvantage in speed. May told herself, eyeing the Shadow Crawdaunt as Munchlax heaved itself back up to a standing position. If I try to attack it directly, I'll keep missing… The best thing she could do would be drawing in Crawdaunt towards Munchlax, taking a hit, and striking back. At this, the image of her Venusaur reacting to the Shadow Altaria's attack popped into her head.

Okay… that happened because it used a move called Shadow Rush… what if that attack is super-effective against any type? As a Shadow Pokémon, the Crawdaunt probably had the same move. If Galli decided to use it, May hoped that Munchlax would be able to withstand the impact.

"Crawdaunt, grab that thing again!" Galli ordered, and it obeyed, rushing forward with its claws stretched open.

Munchlax wouldn't be able to evade in time, so May said, "Just give it one arm!" Munchlax threw its right arm back so the Crawdaunt's left claw missed, but the lobster-like Pokémon already had Munchlax's left arm in its grasp.

"Gotcha now!" Galli shouted, a manic gleam in his eyes. "Shadow Hold!"

Black light drifted like smoke from inside Crawdaunt's claw. Snaking its way around Munchlax's body, it floated down to the floor and covered its feet. It looked as though Munchlax was standing on a storm cloud.

"You won't be able to get away from this one, girlie. Crabhammer!"

Crawdaunt raised its right claw above its head, its beady eyes flushed with aggression. A focused stream of water spiraled around the claw, and it swung straight down towards Munchlax's head—

"Brick Break!" cried May.

The arm Munchlax had thrown back suddenly glowed with power, and with a swift, horizontal chop, smashed into Crawdaunt's side with such force that its grip slackened and it flew into the wall, throwing up dust and drywall.

"You alright, Munchlax?" asked May, as her Pokémon waved its left arm up and down in pain. The Big Eater Pokémon turned its head and smiled, which May returned: she knew it would be able to withstand some punishment.

A harsh, wet gurgle caught her attention, and May whipped around to see the Shadow Crawdaunt emerging from the wall. The aura around it was becoming fiercer, more violent. The goggles beeped again, and two small words appeared on the lenses: "Reverse Mode".

But there was no time to wonder what Reverse Mode was: both of Crawdaunt's claws were open, and yellow-orange balls of energy were forming inside, growing larger with every second. May's heart skipped a beat: she recognized what attack Crawdaunt was now charging up.

Hyper Beam.

She turned back to Munchlax, her mouth dry. "Munchlax — Metronome! Quickly!" It was a desperate gamble, but Munchlax had no other moves in its repertoire that could defend against a Hyper Beam. May usually had good luck with Metronome in Contests… it was time to see what it could do in a battle.

Munchlax began to wave its forefingers back and forth. Its large, round eyes now took the shape of plus signs. May glanced at the Crawdaunt: the orbs within its claws were almost to the proper size… Munchlax's fingers weren't glowing yet… the orbs were getting larger every second, yet her Pokémon's finger-wagging appeared to be slowing down…

With a triumphant "Ha!" from Galli, two bursts of pure energy launched from Crawdaunt's pincers. The men sitting on the couches made their first physical movements, leaping away as the Hyper Beam blasted through the furniture, streaking across the room towards Munchlax. Manya, standing behind Munchlax, screamed and dashed out of the room. May's mouth fell open… she wanted to yell… Munchlax hadn't finished—

And then it happened. Munchlax's eyes snapped wide open, its forefingers glowing brightly. With a proud cry, it spread its arms wide and a shining, translucent barrier appeared around it. The Hyper Beam collided with the Protect, causing a loud, sharp scraping noise to overtake the music. The attack splintered away, smaller beams firing off at angles, some even going straight up and breaking open a hole in the ceiling.

Crawdaunt's Hyper Beam faded, and the Shadow Pokémon stumbled. The attack had cost it so much stamina that it now had to rest. Munchlax's Protect disappeared, and seeing her Pokémon bathed in sunlight from the hole above granted May a flash of inspiration. Not bothering to stop the smile spreading across her face, she said, "Start charging up a Solar Beam!"

Munchlax opened its mouth wide and began taking in sunlight. A miniature sun started to form in the space between its jaws. Sunbeams traveled from the hole in the ceiling towards the expanding sphere in Munchlax's mouth. Then, it stopped expanding, and Munchlax leaned forward and fired.

The blinding, white-hot discharge of sunlight collided with Crawdaunt dead-on, and the Rouge Pokémon let out another gurgle. The Solar Beam lifted it off the ground, slamming it into the wall again, just above the mark it had left earlier. The attack finished (Munchlax falling forward, having leaned in too much), and Crawdaunt collapsed onto the floor, defeated.

As Galli let out a strangled noise of disbelief, May prepared a Poké Ball with the Snag Machine. The Poké Ball flashed gold, having finished converting into a Snag Ball, and May heaved it at the Crawdaunt. It enveloped the giant lobster and snapped shut, landing on the floor.

"What the hell?!" screeched Galli, as the Poké Ball waggled thrice and became still with a click. He rounded on May, his reddened face displaying nothing but mingled fury and rage. "What the hell did you just do?!"

"Snagged your Crawdaunt," May replied, rushing forward to snatch up the Poké Ball. Unlike the Grunt earlier, May had a feeling Galli wasn't going to run away scared: on the contrary, he looked like he was about to strangle her.

Indeed, Galli took a step forward, his hands stretched out in front of him. May started to turn away (recalling Munchlax as she moved) when the double steel doors slammed open and Manya came running in, a sun-shaped mass of rock floating beside her. A duffel bag was clutched in a gloved hand and she was wearing her top hat again.

"Solrock," she said to her Pokémon. "Hold back Galli!"

Solrock's eyes gleamed blue, and Galli's entire body was outlined with light. He was lifted off the floor, suspended in midair by the Solrock's psychic abilities. He turned his gaze towards his sister, his eyes popping out of his head.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" He screamed again, his limbs flailing wildly in an attempt to break free. "You traitor! Betraying me like this! Me! An Admin of Abyss —"

"Betraying you implies I was on your side in the first place," snapped Manya, glaring at her brother with extreme dislike. "You treated me like crap for my entire life, and I'm done with it. I'm leaving, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Galli started mixing in swears with his screaming, which Manya ignored as she turned towards May. "Let me come with you," she said. "I have a ride out back we can use. We'll have to be quick, once I release him —" She nodded towards Galli, still struggling in vain to regain movement against Solrock's Psychic. "— He'll have security after us."

While May didn't know Manya that well, she didn't have much of a choice (she was starting to notice this was becoming a recurring theme), so she nodded. "After you," She said, slipping Crawdaunt's Poké Ball into her bag.

Manya's Solrock released its Psychic, dropping Galli to the ground, and the two girls broke into a run. As they dashed out of the room, they heard Galli shouting orders to his compatriots. Manya took the lead down a flight of stairs opposite the hallway they had come up earlier. Solrock floated over May's head to hover near its Trainer.

"This way!" Manya said over her shoulder, pointing at another set of double steel doors. Judging from the amount of noise from their left, May guessed they were in an area behind the stage. She followed her new friend through the doors, which led to outside behind the casino. A dumpster sat against the building, flattened cardboard boxes lying in front of it.

Manya was climbing on what looked to be a wheel-less motorbike with a cargo bed attached behind the seat. She dropped her bag and hat onto the bed, gesturing for May to hop on.

"What is this?" May asked as she clambered on.

"My pride and joy," Manya replied, fussing with the ignition. "I build things in my spare time… C'mon, baby…" She urged, glancing over her shoulder back at the double doors. The engine roared to life, exhaust spewing out from the back just as the doors slammed open again and large, muscled bouncers stepped out onto the dirt.

"Hold on tight!" Manya yelled over the engine's rumbling, and gunned the throttle. The bike sped off, sending May toppling backwards. The bouncers started running after them, but couldn't keep up with the bike's speed and began to shrink, gradually disappearing over the horizon.

May heaved herself up, feeling weary and drained as the adrenaline began to wear off. It seemed hard to believe that she had left Hoenn only a few hours ago, yet here she was, escaping from a casino with a gearhead magician girl on a custom machine through the desert.

"We'll have to get acquainted some more once we stop," Manya quipped, speaking loudly to be heard over the churning engine and rushing wind.

"That we do," May admitted, turning to lay flat on her back. Bending her knees to fit comfortably in the cargo bed, she stared up at the clear blue sky. She lifted the goggles off her eyes, wondering how many more surprises she was going to have to endure until this whole adventure was over.

To be continued...

[lightningenergy]

@lightningenergy and codyscommandpost proudly present:

Operation Cloudburst, a Pokémon Fan-Fiction

Rating: T for Teen

Disclaimer: Pokemon is copyright its original owners. The authors only own the plot and original characters. Any representation of real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental unless it makes a damn good reference.

Huge acknowledgement to PervyAngel of deviantArt for allowing us to use their artwork for the outfit used in the story, which makes its appearance below.

Chapter 2 - “Adventure in the Land of Desert! VS Abyss Grunt!”

These Bird Pokémon only served to mock me. May thought. She was standing on the bow of the S.S. Tidal, watching a flock of Pelipper fly overhead. They were squawking without a care to what troubles may be occurring around them. Mother Nature as a whole seemed oblivious to her stress. The sky was clear blue with a light amount of clouds. A gentle breeze caressed her face, bringing the taste of salt water up from the sea.

“You alright there, lass?” asked a voice from behind her. Turning around, May saw it was Mr. Briney, the captain. A veteran sailor, he had recognized May from their first meeting a couple of years ago. He was happy to take the Tidal away from its usual Slateport-Lilycove course. Peeko, his companion Wingull, perched on his shoulder.

“Peachy.” May replied. While she trusted Mr. Briney, she didn’t want to divulge more information than necessary. But she could at least ask what Orre was like. No doubt the experienced seafarer knew about the different regions of the world.

“I assume you’re familiar with Route 111.” Mr. Briney said. May nodded, trying to avoid the glare from the captain’s bald head. “Orre’s a lot like that: dry and sandy. Oh sure, there are cities and towns, but you’ll need a way to go between them. Walking will just get you dehydrated. There are a handful of areas with vegetation, though.”

He scratched his bearded chin before continuing. Peeko stretched his wings out behind his owner’s head. “I have heard some unsavory things, though. It’s a hive of trouble there. Lots of thugs and criminals. Not too safe.”

“Good thing I know how to protect myself.” May said with a small laugh. And good thing there’ll be plenty of sources to gather information. “You won’t need to worry about leaving me there, Mr. Briney.”

“Aye, lass.” Mr. Briney smiled from behind his bushy white moustache. “I’ve heard a handful of things from your father. Quite proud of you, he is.”

May blinked. This was one of the last things she expected to hear. It was quite a surprise to hear that Norman took pride in her. And from an outside source, at that. “You talk to my dad?”

“Aye, he and I go way back. He’s a good man, Norman. Helped me out once or twice.” Mr. Briney looked down at her. “You didn’t know?”

“No.” May turned back to face the horizon. A rather strong breeze came by, blowing her hair past her face. “He doesn't tell me that much.” She wouldn't think that Norman had any semblance of a life outside of his Gym.  He almost never made time for his family. Why would friends be any different?            

Mr. Briney didn’t press the issue, and departed back to his cabin. There were only a few sailors working on the deck, but they had no reason to talk to passengers. May continued staring out at the water for a while until she decided to head to her cabin. She wanted to have everything ready once they made land later that afternoon.

May hadn’t looked at Brendan’s gift yet. The bag just sat on the bed in her cabin for the time being. She was more interested in figuring out the Snag Machine. She sat on the edge of the bed and touched the screen. The device came to life, but did not play a holographic message this time. Instead, four icons displayed in a square pattern. A Poké Ball labeled “Snag” sat in the top-left corner. A globe labeled “Map” nestled beside it. The other two icons below included an envelope labeled “Comm.” and a gear labeled “Settings”.            

Er… where would I find the directions for this? I guess in Settings? May tapped the gear icon with her finger, and new options replaced the initial ones. “Display”, “Sound”, and “Info” were the choices this time. She tapped “Info”, and a handful of paragraphs appeared.

Use the Snag Machine when a Shadow Pokémon is ready to capture. May read. Place a Poké Ball against the Capture Core. The text now disappeared, replaced by an image of the device itself. An arrow pointed to the concave surface with the words “Capture Core” next to it. After placing a Poké Ball, tap “Snag”. The Poké Ball will convert into a Snag Ball, which is then thrown at a Shadow Pokémon.

“Seems easy enough, I guess.”

Only Snag Balls can capture Shadow Pokémon. Any type of Poké Ball can convert to a Snag Ball. The Snag Machine requires time to recharge after preparing a Snag Ball. Please limit use of the Snag Machine to once every three minutes.

“I agree to the terms and conditions.” Quipped May, as the main menu appeared back on the screen. “That solves that problem, then. I think I’ll get a better feel for it once I have to use it.” Just then the ship’s PA system blared to life. It took May by surprise and almost made her drop the Snag Machine.

“Thank you for sailing with us today. We will arrive at Gateon Port in 15 minutes. Please gather your belongings in preparation for landing.”

There was no avoiding it now. May had to open the shopping bag and see whatever Brendan had prepared for her. Otherwise she’d get distracted and miss her chance. She took a moment to brace herself before removing the contents. “… I am going to kill him!”

The S.S. Tidal eased to a stop next to one of the docks. A sailor lowered the anchor into the water, where it landed with a splash. Sailors on the ground brought over a boarding ladder for the passengers to disembark. Among those passengers was, of course, May. She felt rather warm, and not just because of the sun beating down. She had changed into the clothes that Brendan packed for her, and she was not pleased at all.

The top resembled a corset with three black-and-gold straps across the stomach. It covered May’s chest (which she was thankful for), but left her shoulders exposed. She had exchanged her shorts for a ruffled skirt. One layer each of white and dark red laid sandwiched between two layers of black. White fingerless gloves ran up to the middle of her upper arms. Navy blue stockings protected her legs from the harsh sunlight.

Instead of sneakers, she had yellow-toed boots. They were dark red as well, with navy scree collars and a stripe running along the front. She even had a new bag. While the same style as her old one, it had different colors. Dark red, navy, and yellow matched it with the rest of her outfit. She kept her bandana on to maintain at least some aspect of her normal wear. As for the Snag Machine, it was now strapped to May’s right wrist. The Capture Core sat in the middle of her palm due to the positioning of the straps.

May descended from the ship, grumbling to herself. “When I get home, I'm gonna find Brendan Birch and make him regret this.” She was reluctant to admit it, but she did think the outfit was stylish. Yet she felt that it made her easier to pick out from a crowd when she needed to stay under the radar. Plus, it fit her exactly, meaning Brendan somehow knew her measurements. The idea made her skin crawl in displeasure.

Having reached solid ground, she moved away from the boarding ladder and looked around. Gateon Port was the only harbor in Orre, but she hadn't expected it to be as small as it was. There were only a handful of buildings, some of which appeared to be houses. A couple were even out in the water, sitting on concrete pillars. A long, narrow platform stretched across the water. It did not seem to connect to those houses, leading May to wonder how people got in or out. At the edge of the bay stood a tall lighthouse. Its sea green paint had faded from so many years in the harsh sun.

May could see the Pokémon Center on her left, a holographic Poké Ball floating over its entrance. Next to it was the Poké Mart, complete with a theatre-esque sign. The last building, shaped like a Ludicolo, had lights all around it. Green and blue bulbs flashed in the bright daylight. Just to her right was a path leading further inland.

May was just wondering where to go first when the Snag Machine started to vibrate. She raised her arm to look at the screen. The envelope icon now had a small circled “1” at the bottom-right corner. “Mm? A new message…” She glanced around for onlookers, but there wasn’t anyone around.

She pressed the icon and the hologram of the scientist woman appeared. Nothing was different about her appearance, including her solemn expression. “Welcome to Orre.” Said the hologram. “I must direct you to the Poké Mart. I’ve left an important item for you there. Ask the owner for ‘the latest fashion’. Good luck, and once again, good-bye.”

May stared at the Snag Machine as the message finished. Two mystery gifts were bad enough, but a third? Then again, the message did say it was important. Shaking her head at herself, May began walking towards the Poké Mart. She had only taken a few steps when thoughts began flooding her brain.

First, how did the woman know she had arrived? Well, that's kind of obvious. May told herself. There's the map function on this thing. It was probable to assume that the scientist woman was tracking May's journey and sending her messages based on her current location. I just hope no one else will be able to do that. May still didn't know who the scientist woman was, exactly, but she was the only person to trust for the time being.

Next, how was she supposed to tell when a Pokémon is a Shadow Pokémon? Were there any differences between the two in the first place? May didn't want to capture a normal Pokémon by accident. The Snag Machine didn't say that it was capable of distinguishing one from the other. Maybe this third Mystery Gift is the answer. She thought, as she approached the Poké Mart.

The glass doors slid open to allow her inside. It pleased May to see that Poké Marts in Orre weren't much different than the ones back in Hoenn. Fluorescent lighting illuminated shelves of merchandise. Posters on the walls and windows advertised sales and special deals. The only other customer was a man in dark clothing and sunglasses near the back wall.

May went up to front counter. The clerk, a middle-aged man with an apron, smiled at her. "Afternoon." He said. "What can I do for you?"

"Do you have anything on the latest fashion?" May asked, reminded of the old spy movies her dad liked to watch. If she had to be honest, it kind of excited her. Using code words and secret activities reminded her of games she used to play as a kid. Of course, back then, it was just that: a game. Now it was actual espionage where losing was more than just a slap on the wrist.

The clerk nodded at May’s question and reached under the counter. He handed her a cardboard box, much like the package she had received that morning. "Anything else you need?" He asked as the dark-clothed man got in line behind May.

"No, I think that's it. Thank you." She exchanged smiles with the clerk and left the store. There was a small bench right by the doors, so May sat down and placed the box on her lap. It was smaller than either box she had opened this morning. It was not sealed with tape. Instead the flaps sat folded under each other. Pulling open the flaps, she said, "And inside package number three is..."

A sheet of crumpled tissue paper. Frowning at the anti-climax, May moved it aside. Underneath was the actual prize.  Sitting on more crumpled tissue paper was a pair of red aviator goggles.

"That's it?" May brought the goggles up to her face to examine them better. They were leather, with the lenses protruding out a bit. This would prevent sand and other debris from getting into the wearer's eyes. The strap was thin but wide enough to prevent it from breaking. But other than their color, nothing appeared extraordinary about them.

May leaned back against the bench, still holding the goggles up. She didn't know if she should feel disappointed or not. She wasn't expecting anything in particular, so she didn't have any standards. Yet these goggles just seemed lackluster, particularly compared to the Snag Machine. (And, she supposed, the outfit.)

The Poké Mart doors slid open again, and the dark-clothed man came running out. He had a bag gripped tight in one hand, and a black bandana covering his nose, mouth, and chin. The clerk came out as well, looking stricken and worried.

"Stop! Thief!" the clerk cried. "I got robbed! He took all the money!"

May shot to her feet, the empty box falling from her lap. Crumpled paper scattered on the ground. Still holding the goggles, she reached into her bag for a Poké Ball. She looked over at the running man, who had turned around at the clerk's voice. He must have seen her Poké Ball, because he was now holding one as well.

The running man skidded to a stop and heaved his Poké Ball. May tossed hers, and they both landed on the ground and split open. From May's came a massive, teal-colored creature resembling a toad with a wide head. Short, powerful legs supported its body. The most eye-catching thing about this Pokémon was the vegetation on its back. A thick trunk surrounded by fronds supported a large, pink flower. A yellow seed poked out from the center of the flower, showing the Venusaur was female.

The Pokémon that emerged from the thief's Poké Ball was completely different. Fluffy, white feathers made its body and wings resemble a cloud. Two small feet and five tail feathers poked out from the bottom. A long, elegant neck ended with a round, beaked head. Two ribbons flowed from the top its head. May recognized this Pokémon from when she explored Hoenn: it was an Altaria.

Without warning, a beeping sound started. May looked around for the source, and found it: the goggles. But why would the goggles be making noise? Looking at them, she could see an image of some sort displayed on the lenses. Guess there's only one thing to do. May slipped the goggles on her head and secured them over her eyes.

This answered her previous question about distinguishing Shadow Pokémon. Now that she was wearing the goggles, May could see an aura flowing around the Altaria. It drifted around the Humming Pokémon like smoke, albeit dyed a deep purple. "So this is a Shadow Pokémon." She murmured.

"If you're spacing out with your new accessory, you're going to lose!" The thief was shouting at her, and it shook May out her reprieve. "Let me show you the power of my Pokémon! Altaria! Shadow Rush!" The Pokémon spread its wings, the smoky aura around it intensifying. Then it charged at Venusaur, ramming full-force into the Grass-type.

Venusaur winced, emitting a low growl. May could see a mark appearing on her Pokémon's forehead. She didn't think the Altaria's attack had hurt that much. Yet Venusaur was reacting as though it got attacked with a Fire-type move. Something's not right. She thought. That Altaria's doing more damage than it should. "Alright Venusaur," May said. "Let's not give that Altaria another chance. Try a Sludge Bomb!"

Crouching a bit, Venusaur launched a glob of solidified poison from her flower. The toxic projectile arced through the air, small drops splattering onto the ground. It landed on the Altaria before it had a chance to evade, coating it in poison. The Flying-type cried out in pain, even as the attack dissipated. May could see a purple "blush" appearing on the Altaria's face. Venusaur's attack had poisoned it.

"What the hell are you doing?!" The thief snarled as his Altaria shuddered, the poison coursing through its body. "We're part of Abyss! We're not supposed to lose!"

Abyss? May's mind began to race. He said it as a name, likely that of a group. If they were using Shadow Pokémon, could they be the people trying to take over Orre? Either way, this thief was her first piece of information. She had to get more out of him once the battle was over. But for now, snagging the Altaria took priority.

The thief, meanwhile, was not in a good mood. His superiors had entrusted him with a precious Shadow Pokémon. He should be defeating anyone who tried to stop him. Yet here he was, getting shown up by some brat. That would please neither himself nor his supervisors. He had to end this battle now, and he knew just how to do it.

"Use Shadow Rush." He snapped at Altaria. "And don't even think about stopping." He smiled underneath his bandana as Altaria lunged towards Venusaur. There was nothing like having a completely obedient and ruthless Pokémon on your side.

May's Venusaur fired off a Razor Leaf as the Altaria approached, but it dodged out of the way. As Altaria soared back around for another assault, May got an idea. She whispered it to Venusaur, who nodded her understanding. The Seed Pokémon braced itself as Altaria rammed her with continuous Shadow Rushes.

"You're not gonna win like that!" Taunted the thief. May kept quiet. She had to pay attention, waiting for the right moment. Even a large Pokémon Venusaur could only take so much damage. If May missed her chance, this battle wasn't going to end well for her.

As the Altaria hurled towards Venusaur for a sixth time, it happened. The poison unleashed a fresh surge through its bloodstream, and it froze in midair. This is what May was waiting for. "Now, Venusaur! Grab it with Vine Whip!"

Thick, dark green vines lashed out from the base of Venusaur's trunk. They wrapped around Altaria, restricting its movements. It tried to struggle, but the vines were too tight. Then Venusaur yanked her vines straight down, slamming Altaria into the ground. This kicked up a huge cloud of dust, obscuring the battlefield for a moment.

Venusaur retracted her vines as the dust settled, revealing the Altaria. It was lying unconscious in a small crater, worn out from poison and the impact. Its aura was still visible through the goggles. It was time at last for May to try out the Snag Machine.

She grabbed an empty Poké Ball from her bag and grasped it in her right hand. The Poké Ball was flush up against the concave surface of the Capture Core. May tapped the "Snag" icon on the screen. Both the Capture Core and the Poké Ball glowed gold for a brief moment. Now the screen only displayed one word: "Capture".

"Here goes nothing!" May tossed the Poké Ball at the unconscious Altaria. The Poké Ball opened on contact. It enveloped the Altaria in light before drawing it inside. It clattered onto the ground, the center button flashing. May held her breath, watching the Poké Ball wiggle back and forth. Once... twice... three times... click.

May exhaled, relief flooding her body. The Snag Machine worked as promised. She walked forward and picked up the Poké Ball. As May already had a full party of six Pokémon, the center light remained red. Unless she swapped out a Pokémon, she wouldn't be able to use the Shadow Altaria for now.

She lifted the goggles off her eyes and looked up. The thief just staring at her. If he wasn't wearing the bandana, May would be able to see his mouth hanging open.

"Did... did you just capture my Pokémon?" He asked in disbelief.

"... Yeah."

They stared at each other for a moment. Then the thief turned and start to run. But May wasn't about to let him get away, especially since he was still holding the money bag. "Oh no you don't!" She yelled. "Venusaur!"

Venusaur lashed out with her vines again, pinning the thief's arms to his sides. He continued swinging his legs even as Venusaur lifted him up into the air. The thief was still swinging his legs, but realizing the futility, desisted. The Pokémon held him in front of her Trainer.  He did his best to glare at her until he remembered he was wearing sunglasses.

"So," said May, hands on her hips, brow furrowed. "You have some explaining to do."

"I'm not gonna tell you anything." snapped the thief. He gripped the bag of stolen cash tighter in his hand. He may have lost his Shadow Pokémon, but he wasn't about to give up on the money. At least until May yanked the bag out of his hand.

"I'm taking this back, at least." May tapped her foot, thinking of what she could do to get this guy to talk. She thought it improbable that he was a first-time offender given his attitude. This rendered threats of jail or similar punishments useless.

"Okay, I'll make this simple." She told the thief. "I'm only gonna ask one question. Give me an answer, and I let you go. Stay quiet, and Venusaur keeps you as a new stuffed toy. Sound good?" The thief nodded, so May posed her question. "Where's the closest Abyss base?"

The thief pointed left to the path leading out of port. It was difficult to do with his arms trapped against his torso, but he managed. "Out east that way. In Pyrite Town."

Satisfied, May nodded at Venusaur, who released her grip on the thief. He fell to the ground. He was only about two feet in the air, so he landed with a small "oof!”

"See?" said May, a light smile across her lips. "That wasn't so bad." She turned away from him, switching the Altaria's Poké Ball for her Venusaur's. As she recalled her Pokémon, she saw the thief running away out of the corner of her eye. May had already retrieved both the stolen money and the Shadow Pokémon. She had no reason to chase him.

But he wasn't running the way he had pointed. Instead, the thief ran straight towards the Ludicolo-shaped building, off to the right. He had lied to her face and went off in the opposite direction to escape. But by coincidence, Max was keen with pulling that same trick. May knew better than to fall for it by this point. That’s why she had asked for an answer instead of the right answer. She figured the thief would lie, and letting him do so revealed the true location.

"Of course." She mused, staring at the flashing lights draped across the building. "What could be more inconspicuous than an illuminated pineapple duck?"