Thanks for joining me! Another big thanks to Suma! Check out her story, Legend under Aaliyah! It’s so totally cool! For those who aren’t into the blood and gore thing, this ain’t for you. There is a bit against Pokemon but all for the good of the story line. Please drop a line and tell me how to improve at janescokamat@bigpond.com 
 
The Wrong Side of Dawn 
 
We were around the campfire that night.
Cal sat on the trunk of a fallen tree, staring at Echotrance, mouth hanging open, trying to absorb the information we were hearing. He held his head in his hands, trying to ease the throbbing of his head. 
Suma sat enthralled as she listened to the plot thicken and reasoning unravel, her chin on her knuckles and elbow on her knee. She looked exactly like that statue of Atlas as the flickering flames danced across her face, enhancing her red highlights.
Maverick leapt around the blaze trying to snap up the insect drawn to the light. He eyed a moth fluttering in front of his snout. His jaws clamped over it and swallowed with a satisfied hiccup.
Fury smiled weakly at his antics. Though she hadn't been as roughed up as 
Shirasharmi, the Rebirth Flame technique hand left her no stronger then a newborn 
Vulpix. She lounged as close to the fire as she dared, fidgeting nervously. Like me, she was sceptical of what we were hearing.
The Shirasharmi had identified himself as Cooee. He rested in a bed of dead leaves, drooping eyes watching the three humans warily. He was a most interesting character. 
As I'd guessed his father was Celestrial, but not just any Celestrial, the great Celestrial that attended Mt Silver once a decade. The reason he was able to use the Solar attack, 
Solar Flare, was because the Ho-oh that served the Wings of Council was his mother. A case of Romeo and Juliet, Dark and Solar types detested each other. Thus he was a 
Sunset bird. His sister was much like him, but a daughter of the dawn and he hadn't heard from her since 3 Councils ago, how the birds measured time, about 30 years. 
Why was such a lovely bird out in the middle of Ilex forest? Well as soon as Celestrial heard he was father to Ho-oh's new eggs, he thought 'Whoa! Now I'm in trouble!' and nicked of back to Mt Sable cos interbreeding between the Council wasn't allowed, not to mention the in-laws. So Ho-oh and Celestrial's little affair went sour and now they're worse enemies then when they'd started.
Ho-oh, seeing her shame, kicked her precious son that resembled his father so much out of the nest and concentrated on her darling daughter, Sharmashira. Echotrance, a kind soul, took Cooee under her wing as well as 2 Radianz, a huge gold dragon that guards the Mt Silver from those not welcome, named Sunsear and his little brother 
Sunsoar. It wasn't as if Echotrance didn't have her own, on the contrary, she and her mate had 40 or 50 young Echotrance's of their own.
Echotrance herself shrank away from the flames. She would let us take no live wood though we certainly weren't in short supply. The battle had made a worse mess then a 
Solecian who were famed poltergeists. She told us of the Celebi dilemma in a grim tone.
"Two weeks ago strangers came to the forest. Of course we were used to the odd trainer wandering of the path in search of rare Pokemon, but we always guided them back.” 
“These were different. The dressed in black and skulked about the forest. They cut down trees needlessly and burnt them in great bonfires every night. Tall choking black columns of smoke would rise into the air and could make it hard for the Pokemon of the forest to breath for days on end. But they left us alone."
"Of course it was too much to hope for and they began to lay traps, cruel metal jaws that would crush the Pokemons foot should it step on the platform. They wouldn't be freed for days so many of the wounds festered and many died before the humans would put them in cramped confines. Pokemon were captured by the hundreds each day and the population of the forest is now dwindling away to nothing."
"For a short time there was a group of rebel Pokemon. Among these were my few children that lived here with my mate and me. They would drug the water supply, raid their food stores and release as many of the prisoners as possible so that they might join the revolt. But the humans caught on and they were…" Her voice cracked and she swallowed hard. Cooee dropped his penetrating gaze. "They were swiftly annihilated. 
The attack on the base gave the prisoners a new hope, but it was a curse rather then a blessing. Those that refused to cooperate were slaughtered mercilessly. "
"Cooee, Sunsear and Sunsoar, so distraught at their father figures death learnt from their previous mistake, too many cooks spoil the broth, and ventured their own raids. They didn't have their fathers experience or their brothers and sisters cunning but created immense destruction with each assault."
"I'm sure your wondering what this has to do with Celebi, the Guardian of Time, this forest is home and birthplace. There is an ancient legend that predicts that should his home, this sacred forest, cease to exist so to does time and without time there is no space, without space, one can't live. That is why he watches across the Desert of Eternity to protect this forest. What few know is that Celebi is a perpetual child and sees everything as a game. He saw this as a new challenge and gladly helped the three."
"For a time they were successful, freeing many and slowed down the desolation of our home, but it was not to last. I tried to persuade them to reconsider, but Cooee is stubborn and wished only to avenge his father’s death. The three left two days ago and only Cooee has returned."
"If those humans learn to manipulate Celebi's simple mind, they will cause havoc across time, creating paradox's, inconsistencies and tears in the space time fabric. You now see how we need your help."
"No, I'm sorry I don't," Cal said, overcoming his initial uncertainty. "From what I can gather you legendary birds are all powerful. How come you don't zip in there, trash the place and womp Team Rocket, the humans, into submission? And how can you hold a 
Pokemon that can escape into the space, time continuum or whatever?"
Cooee answered, his voice more like an Australian accent but still with commanding power. "It is true that we're powerful, but not so strong that we don't feel the bite of ya bullets and arrows. We do bleed just as you do. If we did 'zip in and trash the place,' how many Pokemon do ya think would be injured, or worse? As for keeping Celebi prisoner it is extremely hard, but not impossible. Ya Team Rocket have a Mewthree."
We gasped. A Mewthree is a smaller stubbier version of Mewtwo, much like the pictures on the net. Its Psychic powers are as strong as its predecessor, though less then half its intelligence. Team Rocket also learnt from mistakes. Due to Mewthree's tiny intellect, any halfwit can train one. But despite their versatility their genetic composition is complex and therefore hard to duplicate. Their genetic makeup is a highly guarded secret among Rockets so only the highest ranks receive one. They must have someone big on the scene.
"Because Celebi is a Pokemon of time and space, there is only one place to contain him and even then heavily sedated. A bubble of vacuum. Mewthree is either keeping Celebi in frozen animation or is still supplying him with air."
"What about Sunsear and Sunsoar," Sumalee asked, wringing her hands. "How do they hold Radianz captive, no matter how young? They have the teleport attack."
"Mewthree is controlling Sunsear body with its Psychic power, and Sunsoar is to young to know the attack," Cooee answered flatly.
"What does this have to do with us?" I demanded. I stopped pacing for the first time since the story started.
"We need to know how a humans mind works. If we have some kind of empathy with these intruders we might be able to understand their motives or maybe reason with them," replied Echotrance, a hopeful tone.
"I sorry to burst your bubble," I laughed cynically, "but their motive is plain and simple, greed. Rockets are selfish egoistic parasites bent on world domination. As for compromise of reasoning, you've already seen first hand they will do neither." 
It would hurt the two Legendary Birds, but I had to drive my point home. I began to pace again, continuing louder and more forceful, spitting out each word short and sharp.
"They have murdered hundreds upon hundreds of Pokemon! Some are probably extinct, more than a few teetering on the edge, and others to be sold on the black market to the cruel and heartless! They butchered your family without a moment hesitation and it they find you, one of the most powerful Pokemon in creation, they will use you to feed off other places of refuge like the parasites they are! Who would stop them? They are endangering the existence of the entire world and THEY DON'T CARE! WE'VE GOT TO NIP THIS IN THE BUD!" I finished breathing hard, adrenaline pumping though my veins.
"And what do you propose to do about it, oh mighty leader?" Cooee sneered.
"Not a bloody clue," I shrugged with a dry grin. "But we can work it out tomorrow, once we see what we're up against." I sat as close the fire as I could. When we took off after Fury, we'd left our food supplies and sleeping bags behind.
Suma released Fireline and they curled up against a tree, each seeking the body warmth of the others. Cal smothered the fire and used the log he'd been sitting on as a pillow. He shivered in the cool night air. Feeling sorry for him, I released Talorn and had her spread her wings over him as a blanket. He shot me a grateful glance and closed his eyes.
"Where are you gonna be?" I asked Cooee and Echotrance.
"We have an aerie not far from here. Should you need anything call, we'll hear you." 
Cooee scowled and flew off into the trees. Echotrance smiled at me and spoke again. 
"Thank you for helping us. You do know that whatever we attempt will be very dangerous?"
I nodded yes and she followed Cooee.
I sighed and lay down with Fury in the crook of my arm. All was quiet except for the rumble of my stomach, nothing to eat since last night dinner. I sighed again gazing up at the stars. They seemed to glow an angry red and a sense of foreboding overcame me for an instant. I shrugged it away, dismissing it as the dregs of tonight's conversation.
 
Cal, Cooee and I peered through the thick foliage down the side of a hill looking down on 
Team Rockets base. 
A rectangle space of cleared land walled by mounds of dirt, boulders and trees, it looked like a quarry used for mining stone. Closest to us were over a hundred men, machines and Pokemon were pushing sand up against the mounds of dirt making them larger and larger so they were at least 4 or 5 meters deep. Various Voltorbs and Electrodes rolled across the surface making the slab of land smooth and flat. Behind this cleared land was a collection of crudely made huts that looked as if they had been made and repair many times. Rocket's disappeared in and out of them returning with tools or pieces of paper, maps or something. The huts were centred on a large bustling courtyard. People clustered around the roaring bonfire, feeding the furnace with felled trees or anything else they could find. Thick black smoke spiralled into the air to blanket the camp. To the top left of the base I spotted the captured Pokemon. The majority were grass and bug type but in one of them was a small gold dragon, most likely Sunsoar. They huddled in the cramped cages, shrinking away from the pair of Houndoom that guarded them. 
There!
On a tall tree stump, a Mewthree stood motionless. Its squat frame was no taller then my waist though its bluish tail was twice its length. Its squashed stubby face stared straight ahead, looking but not seeing, a complete blank expression.
Hovering between its outstretched hands in a pale green bubble was Celebi, gossamer wings fluttering and antennae twitching. It dozed peacefully, rolling over in midair and sucked his thumb.
Coiled around the base of the tree was Sunsear. Though not as large as I'd imagined he was still nine meters long not including his well-muscled tail. His golden wings folded against his sides like an immeasurable bat. The membrane between his seemingly frail wings shimmered with a transcendent quality. His arms and legs ending in wicked ivory claws were well developed flexing beneath his golden scales. His facial structure was similar to a Charizard, with haughty aggressive features, besetting ivory horns. Like Mewthree's his gaze never wavered though his spiked tail would thrash like an animal trying to escape and bash against the stump.
Mewthree's gaze still didn't falter.
"Hmm," I wondered to myself and searched the ground. Cal watched me curiously as I picked up a nice smooth stone that fitted my hand cosily. When I was younger I used to practice throwing rocks instead of Pokeballs at unsuspecting Rattata. They all learnt to get of my way as quick as lightning as soon as I stooped lest they feel the sting of my aim.
I brought my arm back and let it fly. Cal tried to stop me but it sailed over the heads of the Rocket's, its path straight and sure. Thunk! The stone hit its mark, right between Mewtwo's eyes. There was a tense moment as we waited for it to scream to life, but it didn't. It didn't even flinch. 
A Grunt glanced up from the plans she'd been studying. The stone bounced off Mewthree's head to roll at her feet. She cast a fearful glance at Mewthree standing rigid then inspected the rock. She spotted a group of slacking youths leaning against a hut. 
She stalked towards them and began yelling.
"Ya seen enough," Cooee stated, giving me a dirty look. Without waiting, he took off into the trees. I watched the youths scolding for a few more moments then left them to endure their lecture.
 
"All right guys, that was awesome work. If we survive this, I promise I'll treat you to an all you can eat buffet."
I left my Pokemon and inhaled the last sandwich. We'd decided on the plan, our 
Pokemon rush in and distract the Rocket's while Cooee stole the bubble with Celebi inside. Mewthree wouldn't resist, it had remained impassive all day, not stopping to eat, scratch or take a leak. We concluded that it took all of its energy to keep Sunsear and Celebi captive.
Someone always kept watch over the base and we switched sentries regularly. Those who weren't on watch trained their Pokemon, trying to get in every last experience point before early tomorrow morning. Luckily, it was paying off and we had each chosen our strongest team. Talorn worked on her speed and agility twisting through the trees. I strained with Chilun trying to get used to bouncing on his back as we sped through the undergrowth chasing Talorn. After a lot of research, I had discovered the only way to evolve him into Articorn, by the touch of an object called Silver Wing. It didn't matter, I wasn't getting one anytime soon. Aria trained alongside the water types of Cal's new belt. She and the others blasted their Bubblebeam sharpening her accuracy at Fury who danced around the clearing ducking, dodging and dancing them in turn, finetuning her own skills. Apollo had evolved into Houndoom. His Flamethrower technique had become almost unstoppable and not even Aria's Waterfall could quench its inferno. Mystic had also evolved. The Xatu's nerve numbing Psychic attack often flooded the clearing bringing the unprepared to their knees.
Suma and Cal were having their own success. Sumalee's team now contained Maverick, 
Butterfree, Firelion evolved from Fireline, Druean from Fruean, Shahman and a Gehib. 
The Gehib was about the size of a Ponyta and had a distinctly feline appearance with curling rams horns that contained deadly poison. Its fur was a bluish purple and cast a fluorescent glow, an energy produced by the continuous beating wings of his flaxen wings. According to the Pokedex the wings acted as a heart pumping the Pokemon's blood through his body. As a result it was constantly in the air.
Cal's belt had undergone a change as well. Blastoise, Vaporeon, Golduck, Quagsire, Typhoon and Azumarril. He'd picked up a Psyduck from one of the rivers flowing through the forest and the Quagsire from his PC since Lapras was almost useless on land. He had spent the entire time focusing on those two.
"Later," I nodded to Cal and Fury as I left to relieve Suma of guard duty, from 11:30 to 
2:30 and then we would all sleep so we'd be rested to attack at 4 am, when the human body was at its weakest.
The walk to the watch tree was uneventful. I saw what was left of the Pokemon swarming towards the clearing also preparing for the attack.
"Hey! Anything interesting," I greeted, but then saw Suma's haunted expression. 
"What?"
"Do you know what the bonfire is," she said, her voice quaking. "A pyre, a great big funeral pyre." Without another word, she and Maverick shuffled into the trees leaving me to glance at the now roaring furnace. I shuddered and climbed the tree to my comfortable branch overlooking the base. One leg to my chest the other swinging lazily downward. I stared into the flames of the Rocket's bonfire, thinking of the sacrifices the Pokemon had made. 
"It'll all be fixed," a voice broke through me thoughts. "As long as we free Celebi." I looked up to see Cooee perched on a branch above me, the flames reflected in his eyes flickered wildly.
Cooee still didn't trust us totally, but had accepted we wanted to help, still thinking we had some ulterior motive.
Cooee was curious of the world outside. He asked me questions of my Journey and was extremely interested in my Pokedex.
"Human researchers don't know squat about us birds. Don't even got the ranks right. Hpph," he had snorted. "Lugia above Celestrial, that's a good one. As for you trying to catch us, biggest load of bull I ever heard."
"Yeah, well, just before I came her I met a girl with a baby Articuno."
He sniffed again. "There'd be Buckley's Chance of her catching it herself and even less of her hatching it herself. Each of us thrives on the extremes. A Moltres Egg's gotta be warmed by the steam of molten lava while Articuno's will only hatch in the frozen tundra. A Lugia chick must swim more then three kilometres to the surface through raging torrents before tasting its first breath. Me and me sister had could only break through our 4cm thick shell by our mother melting it with her Solar flare. Weak chicks don't survive the heat. Other then that you'd have absolutely none of gettin past the mother."
"Maybe not now, but I will. Tell me about the Wings of Council, what happens?"
"I don't know all that much about it. In maybe two or three years, Echotrance feels she has to be somewhere. She takes Sunsear and me with her. She's more powerful then our stepfather. We all fly to Mt Silver with her and arrive at the doors of Garial Hall-"
"Garial Hall?"
"Yep, the meeting place, but first ya gotta get past the Radianz Guards. The baby 
Radianz are trained from birth in hope of becoming one. That's what happened to 
Sunsear, he was chucked out for failing so he came to live with us. Anyhow, you get through the big door and enter Garial Hall, but its not really a hall. Its a big flat ledge jutting out of the mountain. The oldest of each of each species, except Archimedes, Halo and Elementrice, they.."
"Who are Halo and Elementrice and why wouldn't Archimedes send their oldest? Do the send the wisest?" I interrupted, my mind absorbing all the information like a sponge.
"Don't ya know anything?" Cooee breathed exasperated. "I've seen you flash that 
Pokedex hither and thither, put a use to it."
I blushed and pulled it from my shorts pockets. "Halo."

"Halo, the Heavenly Pokemon. It is a member of the Wings of Council that is rarely seen. The gold dust it scatters as it flaps its wings causes euphoria. This may explain why few remember the encounter."

On the screen a small white and gold humming bird appeared. Its white elongated beak was slightly open giving the impression of a broad grin. Its powder blue eyes were bright with whimsy, though a touch of scorn clouded their depths. Its wings outstretched behind it were nothing but a blur of pearly white and sparkling gold. Its tail feathers were like tiny quivers protruding from its plumage.
Cooee snorted. "Researches my ass, they don't know nothin. Halo a cocky little smartarse that's always stoned and never knows when to shut up. The only reason he hasn't been drowned, poisoned, frozen, electrocuted, fried, roasted and diced 9 ways from Sunday is because he's got higher contacts." He raised his eyes skywards. When I rolled my eyes he just shrugged.
"So theirs only one of each?" I supposed.
"Or at least one at a time." He inclined his head. "Something ya scatterbrained 
Professors don't know is that Archimedes is the evolved Noctowl. When the Archimedes dies, which happens every 500 hundred years or so, another Noctowl evolves and takes his place. The only problem is that there's no improvement. Each Archimedes is as empty-headed as the next."
"And Elementrice?" I pressed.
"Oh her, she's..." Cooee was interrupted again, this time by an off key warbling. I glanced down to see a middle-aged man patrolling the perimeter. His movements were stiff and jerky as her stumbled left and right over his own feet. The spotlight he held did little to illuminate his was as it constantly fell from his fingers.
"Damn," the drunkard mumbled as it slipped from his hand again to roll beneath a bush as the base of my tree.
"No one can deny, hic, it, we can start a riot in Sunday school! We'll have you believing, truth can, hic, be deceiving! Do unto uvers is our golden rule! Team Rocken Rockets! " 
His words slurred as he tried to recall the rest of the song but failed miserably. As he continued with a second pub ballad he fell forward with a loud crack against the tree.
"Sorry ma, hic dam," he apologized to the gumtree. His eyes brightened as he said, "Say, what’s a pretty, hic, lady like you doing to in a place like, hic, this. He held his hand out to a lower branch of the tree and tried to help his imaginary courtesan off the ground. He squawked loudly when the young limb snapped back to its original position.
"If, hic, that's the way you want to be about it!" the grunt sniffed.
I finally couldn't hold it any longer, I giggled.
The besotted Rocket glanced up surprised. "How, how's you get up the there so fast?! If your, hic, stuck I can get Barry to help you down. Hey Barry!"
As second figure lumbered from the other side of the compound, teetering as he climbed the mound. Barry fell across the first grunts shoulder waving a bottle into the air. He then tipped it to his lips and gulped noisily. 
"Wasssssuuuuupppp!" he screeched. 
"Wasssssuuuuupppp!" a third voice yelled to my left. He, a teenager this time, slung his arm around his other shoulder.
"Wasssssuuuuupppp!" they all screamed into the night.
"SHUUTTUUPPP!" A flame flared from within a hut and a silhouette shook his fist. 
I snorted callously. 
The three drunken Rockets looked up. "Wasssssuuuuupppp!!"
As more lights flickered on within the compound, I ducked beneath a branch and then leapt to another above me. I hauled myself up with a lot of cursing and groaning and then weaved over and under two more.
"Ahh!" A rock cut across my cheek and like the idiot I am, I let go of the branch to clutch my bloody cheek.
"Ahhhhh! Shit! Bugger! OWW! Shit!! Ahhhhhhh!" I tumbled through the limbs of the trees, each ripping and tearing at me, reaching for me with their sharp thorns and digging into my sides, thighs and back. 
RIIIPPP!! The collar of my uniform snagged on a branch. I looked down hesitantly.
"See Ed," said the teenager to the first grunt. "I can get your Growlithe out of the tree." 
He pointed an accusing finger at me and reached for another stone.
I whimpered and clawed at the branch, barely managing to pull myself up.
"Oww!" Another rock stung my shoulder. 
I hunched along the branch hoping the others would get here soon. Suddenly my hands pressed against something soft and velvety. "Piee!"
A Caterpie! "Oh shit!" A putrid acid sprayed from its feeler and into my face. I frantically tried to rub off the disgusting smell. Again I lost my balance and smashed through the foliage.
The cries of "We'll catch ya, no wucking forries!" did little to reassure me, which proved me correct. I pitched into the ground, one of my arms twisted beneath me. A wave of pain coursed through my body as I rolled down the mound of dirt, I bit back a scream and rolled over to see Ed Barry and the teen squinting at me from above.
"Hey," the teen drawled, turning cold. "Your the girl from the Slowpokes Well, GET 
HER!"
"Eep," I rolled aside, my arm a shrilling pain, narrowly missing them as they leaped, well, fell, down. Barry reached for me with uncoordinated arms and I replied by planting a swift kick, jarring his knee. He released a high-pitched yell and I swore as I pushed myself to my feet. The first of the Rocket's were already waking to the alarm!
I edged backward as Ed moved in from the left and the teen closing escape from the right. Even in the dim light, I could see the acne blanketing his face. Eww!
Barry stopped bouncing up and down and limped towards me arms rigid as a zombie from those old movies and his finger's mimicking Meowth claws.
I backed away again, holding my aching arm to my chest. My ankle touched something hard and found myself face to face with an excavated boulder.
Great, I swore, stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I flinched and wretched away as the teen placed his hand on my shoulder, but no sooner done, Ed snatched my injured hand. I gasped and sucked in a pained breath. 
Suddenly a shadow sailed through the air to land at my feet. His horns gleamed silvery in the moonlight and the skull on his jet-black chest seem to float in midair.
"Apollo, you legend." I whispered, relief eminent on my face as I knelt down and wrapped my good arm around his neck. The Houndoom returned it with an ecstatic grin similar to Maverick's and the delirious wagging of his tail. He stopped licking my face to growl a warning and belch a mushroom shaped flame.
Ed and the teen quickly retreated a few steps but Barry lunged. It was obvious he had found his courage at the bottom of a wine cask, or a dozen by his lack of precision.
I hastily let go of Apollo's neck and a ball of flame blossomed from his throat the flood over Barry. His screams echoed through the dead of the night, a bloodcurdling wail that chilled me to the core of my very being. His frantic, but futile, efforts to smother the flames as he rolled on the ground slowed and eventually came stop. A long wheezing breath escaped his lips for the last time.
I looked down on the blackened corpse and spat on what was left of Barry's face. "How do you like it?" I turned away and shivered. He deserved it I tried to convince myself. He slaughtered hundreds of Pokemon and maybe more, I thought bitterly but still couldn't bring myself to believe it.
"Leave," I hissed, so ashamed I couldn't look the other two in the eye. "Leave while you still can." 
There was a moment’s pause before I could hear the scrambling of the two scaling the hill. I slowly looked and the sounds of battle finally reached my ears.
The Pokemon of our team wore bands of Caterpie woven silk around their wrists or waists, all diving into the fray of hysteric humans, lost in the madness of the battle.
Talorn plunged from the air, gouging the eyes of an unlucky Hitmonlee. As she yanked herself free of the body, an Arcanine sailed through the air, tackling her to the ground. 
His jaws clamped around her frail neck and shook her violently. I stared helplessly as the Arcanine dropped the motionless Pidgeot and turned on a Quarrel of the forest. Now that its back was turned, Talorn sprang into the air, sweeping overhead and pumped her wings in a mighty Aeroblast. The Arcanine slammed into a tree and fell unconscious to the ground. She shrieked victory and flew on to fight another foe.
Cal's usually docile Quagsire smashed an enemy Hypno following it with a slap of his ridged tail, knocking aside its ever-present pendulum. The Hypno got up shakily and jabbed with its pound, striking Quagsire in his tender underbelly. 
"Quag!" he wailed as he dropped writhing to the earth, but the note turned to a note of triumph as the ground shook and then cracked into a wide abyss. The Hypno shrieked as it plunged into the fissure, trailing off as it fell further into the darkness.
A Persian clawed at the edge of the chasm, trying to pull herself up. Suma’s Firelion, looming above like the Grim Reaper, only answered her feeble mewing. Firelion yowled and her claws flashed pearly white in the moonlight, slashing across the two paws that were keeping Persian from the same fate as Hypno. 
One claw drooped, a gash down the foreleg, glistening blood.
But the Persian was stubborn and had decided that if it was going down, so was Firelion. 
She let go of the wall for a split second and hooked her claws into Firelion’s bushy, bloody, neck. She pulled back also dragging the Persian with her. She roared to 
Quagsire, who was finishing off a charging Pineco with his Watergun, for aid as she slipped again under the weight. 
Quagsire 'Quag'd' a reply and pounded the ground. With a sonorous moan, the crevice shut, Persian with it.
The air hummed. Druean's usually maddening drone was now a comfort as he buzzed past, electrocuting one enemy after another with a burst of thunder. The lightning crackled in the air around him prevented a Gligar from coming to close.
"Renrenrenren!" A white light emanated its body, flaring into the heavens as his grating voice grew louder and louder and undulated its pitch. "REN!" In an explosion of light, the radiance rolled over several Pokemon as unrelentless as the tide, so concluding his Ancient Power.
Then, from behind, a Pikachu fired its own bolt. It rent the air with a thunderous clap, illuminating the inky black of the night. After the stars had faded from my eyes I saw Druean tumble to the ground. A young boy, no more then twelve, egged on his Rattata into tackling the already unconscious Pokemon.
A large paw batted the rodent aside with the ease of a big cat. Gehib turned his attention to the trainer. The boy backed up a step as he realized the powerful Pokemon had him in his sights. Gehib smiled maliciously and took a step forward. The boy stepped backwards again, watching Gehib all the while with a look of pure terror. With a graceful leap, stood over the boy, looking down. Gehib's constant wing beats blew a stream of air knocking the boys cap from his head. He instinctively reached to grab it but halted as 
Gehib made a show of yawning. He screamed and turned to run the Gehib put a paw in front of hit. His mouth moved, as if talking, and the boy nodded, still wary. He recalled his Rattata and ran blubbering into the trees. Gehib made a toothy grin and scooped up 
Druean and placed him between his fluttering wings.
A column of raw psychic energy erupted like a nuclear weapon taking out numerous flying types and sending a queer rippling sensation through my body. At the centre of the whirling spiral were Mystic, Butterfree and Golduck. 
The eyes on Mystic's breast shone with a green incandescence. They would flash each time a Pokemon fainted on the battlefield and as a result she flicked like a Christmas tree. He flapped his wings expelling more power into the air. 
Butterfree was in a trance. She was resting on a black nimbus, eyes shut but still controlling the purple haze that swirled above her. From black cloud misty tentacles snaked along the ground, everything it touched fainted dead away, purple, almost black bruises covered the body. 
Golduck manipulated the whorling spiral galaxy overhead, but simultaneously held his fingers and thumbs in a diamond framing the gem in his forehead and firing crimson beams scorching the Pokemon it struck. An enemy Houndoom raced from behind and smashed him with its Crunch technique. As Golduck was downed, the scarlet streaks in the air vanished. Golduck struggled beneath the weight of the Dark type as its jaws locked onto his neck. He lashed out with a striate of Psychic energy but had no effect. Houndoom's claws dug in deeper, tearing the flesh and drawing blood. Golduck screamed, whipping its limbs in frenzy.
From above, another ear piecing shriek reverberated in the air. Houndoom released its grip on Golduck, cringing at the high-pitched sound. Golduck threw it off and launched a devastating Hyperbeam engulfing all with in a 5m radius.
Breathing hard, he stepped over the scarcely alive form of Houndoom to lift the sooty gray feather duster that was once Shahman. Shahman squawked in protest and escaped Golducks arms, flying on to strike another foe with a gust of Icy Wind.
Politoed stood atop a boulder, a dozen Pokemon staring at him spellbound.
"Poooliiiiiiitooooed," he croaked. His voice oddly harmonious as it blended in with the voices of the other Pokemon watching him. It was then I noticed the spiral on his stomach as a blur. It gyrated wildly, spinning clockwise one moment, anti clockwise the next.
"Poli!" cried Politoed and clapped his hands together. The Pokemon broke from their trances, blinking like they had spent their entire lives in darkness and suddenly exposed to the light of midday.
"Poli!" he barked. Each of the Pokemon snapped to attention. "Litoed!" They rubbed their stomach and patted their head. "Toed, Poli!" Each began to slap themselves across the face. "Polipolipoli!" The Pokemon lined up and threw their arms across each other’s shoulders and kicked their legs in time to the Can Can. "Toed li li, Poli, li li, Politoed!" 
Eyes still blank, they whirled around and attacked their own Team members not under 
Politoed control.
More recruits.
"Vap!" Vaporeon bounded up beside Politoed and slapped him across the back with her tail, complimenting him before he could begin his next attackers.
Vaporeon howled.
She reeled and snapped her finned tail like a whip, losing a Slugma that had squirmed its way onto her tail. She rewarded him with an unhealthy dose of water. Great clouds of billowing steam billowed through the air; hiss and spitting like a Meowth. When it cleared a small anguished statue of the Slugma was in its place, eyes bulging, frozen in terror.
She had only a moment to savor the victory before a Sunflora sapped her ebbing strength with a Megadrain and in turn regaining her own. Her grin broadened, giving a faint glow.
A barrage of blue flame enveloped it, shrouding the sunny mien. Unfazed, it stepped out, swaying its head to and fro and crying in a singsong voice, "Sun, flora flora! Sun, flora flora!"
As I looked into the sky, I saw it had changed from the solid black of night into the greyness of the approaching dawn. Tiny sparkles of sunlight drifted down from the sky to gather in a glimmering pool of the place of its face. Typhoon, the one who had fired the 
Dragon Rage, curled into a tight ball so that the only the black ridges stuck out along the centre.
"Flooooooora!" The sunlight that had pooled itself hurled into the air in a dazzling display of power. It streaked through the air like a meteor, raining down on Typhoon. 
Still curled into a ball it bounce into the air like a spin bowl from Brett Lee and because he whirled around so fast, he cut through the Solar Beam, tackling the Sunflora on the other side. It dropped to the ground, still grinning stupidly. I couldn't help but be reminded of Sumalee.
Typhoon undid itself from the knot and crowed loudly.
Quickly disposing of a Rocket, Cal knelt down and recalled Vaporeon into her Pokeball. 
Just as she evaporated, he was shoved into the dirt by a middle aged Rocket. The 
Rocket pressed his hard-heeled boot into Cal's back. Cal raised his head and took in hacking breath before the Rocket held it down with his other foot.
"Come on Apollo!" I yelled as I ran through the mayhem, cradling my injured arm tightly to my chest so not to jerk it. Apollo dashed past, leaping easily over the fallen, his tongue lolling lazily. I chased after him trying to be as nimble as he.
"Sorry I yelped time and time again as I tripped over a collection of limbs. My foot caught on the tail of a fainted Nidoqueen. She lay on her side, her breaths coming in short gasps. Then I saw it, wedged underneath the scales, thick bubbling black venom, was a spine of Alavar, a poison dragon of the forest reputed of its foul temper. She moaned again and lashed her tail and I quickly scrambled to safety.
Ahead I saw Apollo had the reached the Rocket holding Cal. He took a running jump, taking the Grunt in the chest. The Grunt through up his arms in a feeble attempt to protect himself from the Houndoom baring down on him. Apollo forced himself closer and closer to his jugular. Already, tired, his strength gave way. I jerked my head away and hid my eyes as his agonized scream trailed off.
I moved forward slowly, making sure my gaze was averted from the Rocket member. I knelt down beside Cal's still body face down in the mud. I tapped his shoulder, he didn't move. I shook him and rolled him onto his back. I shook him harder and pulled him into a sitting up position, thumping him on the back as hard as I could.
To my immense relief Cal convulsed and vomited a mouthful of mud in front of him. "Ewwww!" I gagged. "You all right now, man?" I took him over my shoulder and struggled to lift him to his feet. He was damned heavy!
Cal let go of my shoulder and barked a laugh, looking around. He quickly turned to face me again, a little paler. He held up a good sturdy stick.
"What's that for?" I stared curiously.
"More chaos," he said simply, holding it out to Apollo. "Use you Flamethrower."
Apollo obliged, a tongue of flame igniting it. "Later... if everything works alright." Cal nodded and ran towards the huts, holding the torch aloft like the flame of Moltres at the 
Indigo League. He touched it to the straw roof of one of the huts and it was immediately set ablaze, bathing the quarry in an orange haze. The flames leapt from one hut to the next, Cal helping each along its merry way.
Apollo grinned up at me but I screwed my eyes shut as I caught sight of flecks of red spattering his muzzle.
"His Pokeballs, recall his Pokemon," he suggested.
I nodded swallowing hard. I knelt beside the body, keeping my eyes askew his mauled upper half. I fumbled along to his belt until I found his two Pokeballs and undid them from his belt. I retched as when I touched a damp patch and my hand came away bloody. I quickly wiped it on the breast of my thankfully red T-shirt.
Holding the Pokeballs in the air and pressing the buttons I croaked as loudly as I could: 
"Return!"
Two crimson bolts gathered in the Pokeballs. I clipped them into my own empty clips, thinking of how I would explain their trainer was dead.
I shook my head clear of such foreboding thoughts. "Go on," I encouraged Apollo, still cringing at the bloodstains.
He howled and charged a Dualgi some thing evolved from a Wingus a flying type, and a Slashus a ground type that if the two Pokemon formed a bond, they would merge as one. The end result was Wingus with spiked wings, razor sharp tail feathers, and Slashus's face sticking out of Wingus's beak. The talons were edged with sharp blades instead of claws.
Scanning the area, I gave a long clear wolf whistle. Barely a second later, Chilun barrelled through, trampling those not quick enough to escape his pounding hooves. He tossed his head, his icy mane wavering and fell to his knees for me to climb on.
I through myself on and before he could stand again took a long sturdy brunch as good as a broomstick handle.
I grinned despite the brutality I had just witnessed moments earlier. Taking Chilun’s reins in my left hand and getting a good grip on the staff with the other. I screamed and yanked Chiluns reins. He reared and squealed and stormed into the smoking battleground.
Chilun leapt between Cal's Golduck and another Golduck. They had each other by the shoulders and grappled, savagely digging in their webbed claws. The enemy Golduck forced Cal's backwards groaning and sweating. Cal's relented a step but fell over a fainted Tyrouge, releasing his grip. The other Golduck whirled around and caught him in a bearhug. Golduck strained against one another, struggling harder.
I twisted Chilun reins and brought him back around in a tight circle. "Kiah!" I yelled smashing the other Golduck across the head. Without a word he slumped to the ground senseless. Cal's Golduck grinned and gave me the thumbs up before uppercutting a Sneazle in the gut. 
Again Chilun and I stampeded through the people and Pokemon. Chilun lashed out with his harder than diamond hooves taking out more then a few opponents with me clinging tightly to his neck. I held out my staff and clothes lined the taller adversaries while playing a friendly game of golf with the smaller ones.
"FORE!" I screamed, whacking a Voltorb into a Pupitar and exploding on impact.
Above me, Aria piped a twittering if notes before blasting a Graveller with her Bubblebeam, following it in quick succession with water gun. Graveller bellowed and hurled rocks through the air for Aria. I cringed as each whizzed nearer and nearer to Aria's head.
Aria shrieked, tired of playing brandy with Graveller, dropped into a nosedive spinning in and blue whirlwind.
Drill Peck, I thought to myself. Wondering how she knew the attack. Out of the blue feathers of Aria's shoulders came a tornado of flame wrapping around the Graveller and boiling the water that had seeped under his skin.
It was then I noticed the blur of purple, cream and red sitting confidently between her wings. Fury's eyes were wide, feverish on the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
I laughed, as Chilun trampled a Swinub under foot, I knew how she felt.
Chilun suddenly skidded to a halt, snorting, pawing and screaming. Unprepared and still laughing at Fury frying a Fearow, I was thrown, arse over ankles, staff flying from my hand, head first into the mud.
Chilun reared up, leaping onto a mound of boulders, screaming challenge. His cry was echoed and a broad shouldered Articolt hurtled past my face, springing into the rocks, onto Chilun.
I gave a tiny cry, warning him. Chilun leapt forward so that the other stallion crashed down his whither. Chiluns quick leap had saved him, but also put him in a difficult position for dealing with the other Articorn. He reared up and swung around in one fluid movement. The other stallion was already coming into an attack. He brought up his forelegs smashing them down on Chiluns advancing head and shoulders.
The stallion roared with anger and tried to force him backwards over the edge. Chilun, back against the tip of a boulder had nowhere left to run so braced himself against the massive impact.
The stallion recoiled, and Chilun still stood steady. I sucked in a huge breath after realizing I had been holding it in. There they were dodging leaping and rearing, a whirl of blue manes and silvery pelts balancing precariously among the rocks where any wrong move could break an ankle.
I was amazed to see Chilun enjoying himself. I watch as he did several light springs down from the rocks onto the soft churned up mud.
The Articorn leapt down to too, dancing in to strike him. Chilun stood his ground, then dodged at the last moment getting in a good kick in the Articorns shoulder and was out of reach again in a flash. He darted left and right, to and fro, here there and everywhere, circling fast around the other horse Pokemon.
"YOWWW!" I screeched. A slash of pain bit into my wrist. I held it close o my face and saw a cluster of small red lines. The tiny droplets ran together and slithered down my arm. I sat, wondering what happened when another pang flared in my other wrist. I jumped to my feet, brandishing my staff. "Come on!" I snarled "Who ever did that's going down!"
"Digadigadigadig!" I glanced down and a Diglett bobbed up and down in its hole.
I grinned and the stick whistled through the air. CRACK! I raised the stick an inspected in for the squashed Diglett. Next to the first whole, the dirt pushed up and a Diglett looked at me with mocking eyes.
"Little smart arse!" 
THUMP!
Missed.
It popped out of another hole.
THUMP!
Missed.
THUMP!
Missed.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
Missed, missed, missed!
"Stay still you little turd!"
THUMP! Missed!
"I'm gonna womp you good!" I screamed in frustration. It was like one of those arcade games.
"DON'T MOVE!" I yelled and stomped up and down on the cluster of holes. "Ha!" I grinned with satisfaction at the dirt-compressed holes. The ground began to shudder and augment. I through out my arms with a terrified cry and kicked out one leg while balancing on the other. The dirt erupted around me and through each tiny mound was a Diglett each laughing expression.
"Digadig! Digadig! Digadig!" they howled gleefully.
"THAT'S IT!" I held my two fingers to my lips and blew a different note to Chiluns but just as piercing. From the air swept Aria with Fury on her back.
"Yeah?"
"Yes Topaz?"
"Aria, Watergun that hole, Fury boil the water!" Now that I remember, it was particularly cruel, the events of the past two hours had warped my mind, I was beyond reason.
Neither hesitated and blasted scalding water into each. Tiny geysers erupted from each, bubbling steam.
"She who laughs last, laughs best!" I shrieked again and again, pointing at them, eyes gleaming. Fury and Aria looked at me anxiously and whispered to each other.
A hand clamped on my shoulder, startling me from my crazed chanting. Just as Sumalee and taught me, I grabbed it and rolled it under, snapping the arm into place and twisting the wrist so that if the person moved, they'd break their own arm.
"I see you've been practicing," breathed the person o their knees.
"Suma? Sorry man." I grinned mareepishly and helped her up. "How many casualties on your team?"
"None, yet. What's your problem? You seem to be having way to much fun for a war."
I shifted uneasily under her stern gaze and glanced at the fainted Digletts and still bubbling water. 
"Come on Topaz! Calm down get your mind focused. We've a job to do. Cooee's trying to get close but there's still too many flying types hassling him. Get your Pokemon and help him. He's the whole plan!"
"Yes ma'am!" I grinned. "Privates Aria and Fury! Ten hut! "
"I give up!" Sumalee muttered and threw her arms in the air. She whirled around and smashed a woman across the jaw. While she was incapacitated, Suma snapped off her 
Pokeballs and recalled her Pokemon, stuffing the full Pokeballs in her Pockets. They were bulging.
"Let's move, move, move!" I cried doing my best Lt Surge impression. Fury leapt onto 
Aria and they began pelting the flying types with everything they had. Meanwhile I snatched up as many good-sized rocks as I could fit in my pockets. I ran after the 
Aquatro and Quilava. Pausing to knock a Spearow or Crobat from the sky.
I reached the other end of the quarry using Suma's tactic, knocking people out and taking their Pokeballs, but with little success.
I couldn't reach their face.
Luckily Apollo ran at my heels taking down those I couldn't, but I wouldn't let him kill again.
"Free the other Pokemon." I told Apollo pointing to the cages. The two Houndoom that had guarded them before were distracted. He melted the locks and the Pokemon stampeded past him. Some ran into the forest, to hide until the chaos had past but the rest hurled themselves into the battle with a vengeance. Sunsoar fluttered into the air, unsure of where to go.
"Get into the forest and hide!" I yelled to him. Sunsoar hesitated and then with a pump of his wings darted into the trees. 
I cocked my head and listened. Faintly came the same mournful melody I had heard as the sun set over Azalea's PokeCentre drift through dawns silvery light. Cooee gracefully dipped and swayed, manipulating the air as easily as his voice. His tail fluttered through the air behind him like an Emperors robe, leaving a trail of sparkling violet dust. His voice rose higher and higher swelling inside my chest like a balloon. With extreme difficulty I tore my gaze away from him to look around. Everyone had stopped fighting. They also stared at the Shirasharmi mesmerized by his beautiful song.
Hang on! I looked closer at Mewthree. Was it me or was its eyes drooping. Yes, they were! Sunsear's tail thrashed harder and now he had control of his wings which were flapping harder, furiously sanding wave after wave of powerful winds pulsing through the crowed, but still Cooee deftly wielded the air to his advantage.
Suddenly the screeching of a microphone interrupted Cooee's performance and assaulted our eardrums.
"If you wanted a show..."
"You could have just asked."
Oh man! Standing back to back on a large hut untouched by Cal's flames was the tall arrogant Ricky, head tilted so his spiky orange hair glistened in the flames shadow, his braggart smirk curling venomously, and Renee, her short stature leaning against him but the fire engine red beehive hairdo making up the rest. Her shameless Rocket uniform straining harder them last time to hide her bulging stomach.
"Than prepare for trouble," Ricky started, jumping down from the hut.
"And make it double" Renee added with a girlish giggle. 
"To create chaos and devastation" He whirled around with a dramatic air.
"To deceive, mislead and intimidation." She tried to mimic him with a graceful twist but tripped over her own feet. Ricky snatched her hand and strained to hold her weight but it would have taken a Machamp to do that, they both plummeted off the roof, landing on top of each other.
"To destroy all that you cherish and love," Ricky groaned as Renee pushed herself off him.
"To extend our wrath to the stars above" Renee muttered embarrassed and helped 
Ricky up.
"Ricky!" Thinking he had regained his dignity, crossed Ricky arms across his chest and leered.
"Renee!" The corners of her mouth managed and lopsided simper. 
"Team Rocket always fights for wrong-" 
"Now give us all your Pokemon," Renee finished.
From different parts of the quarry, Cal, Sumalee and I burst our laughing. I clutched my sides, my blue-black hair tumbling around my shoulders to hide my grin. Sumalee covered her hand with her mouth, but her eyes still betrayed her mirth. Cal howled openly whipping a tear from his eye, glancing at them and howled some more. "What are you Jessie and James wannabe's" Cal called between fits of giggles. All the Rocket's just shifted nervously.
"No not quite," a voice tight with barely contained outrage soughed from the shadow's lengthening across the hovel the voice stood upon.
"To infect the world with devastation..." She ran a hand over her slim body, striking a inviting pose for her audience. Her blond hair flashing as she stepped into the light.
"To ignite all peoples within our nation." He stepped from the darkness behind her his lips twisting into a haughty sneer. His green hair waving wildly as the Radianz's wings blasted them again with a gust of wind.
"To denounce the beauty of truth and love,"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above,"
"Cassedy." She spun in place, throwing her arms wide.
"Butch." The other knelt on one knee flourishing a rose from inside his jacket and tossing to the ground.
"Team Rocket circling the globe day and night,"
"Surrender now, or you will surely lose the fight!"
I remembered them now! Since Ash had become champion, they had risen rapidly through the ranks of Team Rocket, as had Jessie and James. They had both vied spitefully for Giovanni's affections, but since he had left, I didn't know what was happening.
"Cassedy!" gasped Sumalee immediately ceasing her giggling. In one arm she cradled her fainted Shahman and the other kept a good grip on Maverick as he watched Cassedy's hair hungrily.
"And Botch!" Cal mocked.
Butch leapt down from the hut, crushing the rose beneath his boot. "Its Butch, you little twerp!"
"And what'll you do about it?" Cal smirked, leaning against a boulder with his arms crossed in an insolent manner.
"Why, I'll show you, you little.... Mewthree!" Mewthree moved for the first time since I'd seen it to watch his master curiously. "I want that dragon under my complete control!"
<Yessss masteresssesss.>" It hissed and its eyes began to flicker with a purple gleam. I glanced at Sunsear. His eyes flashed with the same eerie light as Mewthree.
"Nova Arc!" Butch ordered, pointing his finger into the air. Mewthree clenched his three balled fingers tightly, emanating a violet light. The Radianz tail twitched only once before his head was thrown back and spewed forth a rain of spitfire. The awe of silence was broken by screams of pain and terror as the remainder of the night was swallowed up by a blinding cascade of golden chaplets raining from the sky that seared the skin and burst into flames
A woman ran past me, her hair nothing but a ball of flame, scattering embers so that others were set a light. I screamed as the spitfire pattered against my skin, blisters bubbling up within moments. I tucked as much of my blue-black hair beneath my cap as 
I could but still it caught fire. I frantically beat it out but by sleeves was caught ablaze. I dropped to the ground rolling over and over, my minds eye remembering Barry and his last wheezing breath. His blackened, waxy skin and glazed eyes.
No! I wasn't going to go like that! Aria extinguished the flames and looked around as calmly as I could in a situation such as this.
"Gottafindsheltergottafindsheltergottafindshelter!" Rockets were hysteric, running screaming, being more of a danger to themselves then each other. Others just lay on the ground waiting to die, or maybe they already were dead. I screamed in frustration.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the pile of boulders. "Come on!" I gasped to Aria and 
Fury. Aria's feathers were slightly charred but none the worse. Fury ran beside me, panting heavily. 
"Topaz! What about the others!" she hove.
"Damn it!" I cursed but kept running. I reached the boulders and quickly scoured it for a big enough hole. As liquid fire still pelted my back, I found I fairly large gap between the rocks. Rolling back a boulder I pushed Fury and Aria inside. "Stay in there until its safe." 
I managed a commanding tone but I hoped it sounded braver then I felt.
"No Topaz!" Fury threw herself at the opening but I rolled the rock back, trapping inside where she'd be safe. I heard her paws slashing and scratching at the boulder. "No Topaz, don't leave me. Please!" Fury screamed helplessly I turned to go but remembered Fury was claustrophobic.
"Aria, sing Fury to sleep." I left still hearing Fury's mournful howls, thinking it could be the last I'd ever hear of her ever again. Shaking away the morbid thoughts, I ran on.
I soon found Chilun screaming in a puddle of melted crystals as the liquid fire rained down splattering against his sides. Mystic hid under Light Screen shielding her and the wild Pokemon whose blue Caterpie woven bands that long been ripped off. I recalled both and put them on their clips. I also retrieved the Pokemon of the dead shoving them into my pockets.
"Cal!" I called. An Electrode had had enough and self-destructed throwing Cal's body into the air. I bent over him and slapped him across the face. "Wake up you idiot, don't you know you shouldn't laugh at the criminally insane?"
I picked him up, trying not to touch the watery welts along his arms and legs as well as not aggravating mine. Pushing the stands of Cerulean blue hair out of his face. "Have you got all your Pokemon?" 
In the back of his throat he made a gurgling noise. "Can't find Golduck, and Quagsire and Politoed are, are, are," Cal choked. A tiny tear rolled down his tired, dirty face leaving a trail.
I nodded and made comforting sounds. With him over my shoulder again, I dragged more than carried him towards the boulders, trying to avoid the molten raindrops that fell from the sky, that were growing larger with each passing minute.
Attempting to regain my breath as well as putting out the fire on my shirt, I pushed the boulder aside and peered in, judging the size quickly and with a plaintive groan recalled Aria. Not caring if he was comfortable, I shoved a tearful Cal into the crawl space and placed Fury on his lap.
Fury whimpered in her sleep. "Quiiill!" she cried dolefully. I frowned and bit my bottom lip. My resolve to find Suma and the others was dissolving. I retched myself away from her turbulent dreams and snatched Golducks Pokeball from the inside of Cal's jacket.
With my depleting strength, I put the boulder back into place. I leaned against it and held my head in my hands murmuring to myself. "Where did we go wrong? We had it planned perfectly."
"But you didn't. You didn't watched the patrols," I argued. Suddenly a low pitched whine alerted me to Apollo tugging on my pant leg. He barked again and ran across the smoking battleground, pausing to see if I followed. I gave a weary sigh and ignoring the screams of pain and panic around me, I chased after him.
Another larger droplet splashed across my back, bringing me to my knees as I screamed. Apollo appeared at my side, his growls more urgent. But man, I was way to exhausted. I was tired hurt and fed up with these damned Rockets. All I wanted was to lie in the mud and wait for the fire droplets to consume me. Apollo yelped impatiently, then with surprising strength turned me onto my back, took my shirt by the collar and dragged my along.
I muttered for him to stop and slowly started after him again. The flames stopped falling from the now pale pink sky. Apollo's sharp bark roused me from my thoughts and made me look up from the ground I had been studying. A crumpled brown heap of feathers made me cry out. I rushed forward and knelt by her unconscious body and stroked her just behind her black band.
"Pidgoo," Talorn cooed, her eyes fluttering open. Her translation device had been lost during the battle so I couldn't understand her. I made shushing noises, running my hand through her charred feathers. I sucked in a sharp breath as she spread her left wing. A gapping hole about 30 cm in diameter right through the centre of the wing stared back at me.
"Hey you!" I looked around for the source of Suma's voice. I spotted her on the ridge of a mound a little way off. "Yeah you! Do you have any idea what your doing? Not only are you killing innocent Pokemon but your own Team! Look around you more than half of you lie injured or dead. Their Pokemon teams have been reduced to nothing, so why don't you go back to the rock you crawled from?!" Sumalee was madder then I'd ever seen her. Flushed red, sweating and eyes bulging, she had set down Maverick who had toddled off to gnaw on a Rockets boot and was ready to rev Cassedy and Butch again.
Cassedy flashed a cold smile. "You dare presume Team Rocket's resources? These incompetents are expendable and easily replace."
A low murmur ran through the remaining Rockets.
"THEN YOUR JUST A CRUEL HEARTLESS HAG!!!!"
A heavy silence settled over us. Suffocating, smothering each that could stand.
Cassedy's eyebrows twitched and her whole body quivered with barely contained rage. 
Even Butch looked nervous and had taken a step backwards. He watched Cassedy with apprehension. Cassedy continued to glare at Sumalee and snapped to him, "Her!"
Butch swallowed hard. He nodded. "Solar Flare," he commanded half-heartedly.
Sunsear and Mewthree pulsed a vivid violet in sync. The Radianz opened his jaws wide, his pearly, razor sharp teeth reflecting the sun as it rose, slowly, yet gracefully higher. 
Then I saw in slow motion a glowing ball of sunlight swell in the back of his throat. 
Swiftly from the ball flickered to life a blinding tongue of light. It skyrocketed closer and closer as she stared at it, frozen in place.
Suddenly the solar attack smashed against an unseen barricade. It threw itself at the shield iterated.
"Forget the girl, get the Golduck!" Cassedy snarled throwing her arm outward. I followed the direction and saw Cal's Golduck. He was on his knees, sweating and straining to hold the Barrier up to protect Sumalee.
His eyes blinked open in time to see the Solar Flare blaze towards him. Golduck opened his mouth in a silent scream, but it never escaped before the flames engulfed him.
"Now the girl!" Cassedy shrieked maniacally.
Again the Solar Flare lashed out, this time meeting no obstruction. It screamed through the air, its highpitched whine mingling with Sumalee’s and mine. 
Her eyes were wide. Her mouth was wide. Her black and red streaked hair streamed behind her. Never in my life had a Seen or felt such fear or terror. Then it flooded over her, uncaring, unmerciful.
"Nooooooooooooooooo!" I screamed.
She had to survive.
NO!
I stared in horror and disbelief.
NO!
Maybe jumped out of the way.
NO!
Maybe...
NO! 
No, she was gone. The flames receded and there was no trace of her left, only the blackened dirt to remind me of where she had once stood.
'NOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed again. "Nonononononono!" I clapped my hands over my ears and rocked back and forth. "Nononononono!"
"Now the other one." I didn't, couldn't react. I just stared at the flashing flames without hope of surviving. Apollo barked and ducked under my chest, pulling me onto his back and leaping out of the way of the attack. it blew by me. bringing with it a wave of sweltering heat, bursting the welts and blisters that covered my body.
"Talorn!" I yelled and fumbled for her Pokeball. "Return!" The crimson lightning sizzled through the flames, unmindful of the heat and returned to the Pokeball......empty.
"TALLLORRN!"
Another one, another death, I couldn't take it any more. I broke and ran.
"Not so fast." I whirled around and Tobias stood before me, with a gun levelled at my heart.
What was a sixteen year old doing with a gun? I pondered, my mind unattached to the body.
"DOOM!" Apollo rumbled and sprang at Tobias's throat. He was barely off the ground before the shot rang out and Apollo flopped to the ground, his life fluid flowing from his chest. I dropped to the ground beside him. Apollo's warm wet tongue licked my face before his eyes closed forever.
A thin wail escaped my lip and I fainted dead away.
 
I was revived, none too gently, near dusk. They threw me in a cage shared by Cal who dozed, often starting awake crying out, Sumalee, Golduck, Politoed or Quagsire, before drifting back, a smile on his face.
I envied him, he could escape into his dreams, I couldn't. They were plagued with Suma's dying cry, Talorns ashes, and a gunshot ringing out again and again.
Fury and my other Pokemon were captured and Maverick was shattered at Sumalee's disappearance. I don't think he understood she was dead. From what I could tell only Sunsear's little brother and Cooee escaped. The other's I couldn't know.
I stared at the sun as it set deeper into the western sky, a blood red disk, dripping its crimson droplets colouring the twilight, thinking of a rhyme my father recited to me when I was a girl.
For the want of the nail the horseshoe was lost
For the want of the horseshoe the horse was lost
For the want of the horse the rider was lost 
For the want of the rider the message was lost
For the want of the message the battle was lost
For the want of the battle the war was lost
For the want of the war the nation was lost
What would have happened if I hadn't giggled. Would Sumalee and the other still be here?
"And lost all for the want of a horseshoe nail," I whispered the last line, staring in the dripping sun.