Mission: Battle of the Drawbridge

[Requiem of Whyspers]

Wren was fairly quick in finding a way into the depths of the Aqua's ship, all things considered. The man knew nothing of navel travel nor of the construction of ships so it did take a bit longer that he would have liked to find the place. Letting Altissima back out of her ball, the man had kept the tiny Bulb Pokemon close at had. Coming across one or two more grunts in fairly short order, he was glad that he had. "Sleep Powder!" He exclaimed once again as he burst into the wheelhouse. Altissima had learned by now that her dance was neither necessary nor conducive to their time sensitive mission and simply expelled a burst of coma-inducing spores from her head leaves.

The ship's captain fell out at the wheel, the Sleep Powder knocking him out cold before he realized he was even breathing it in. "This almost seems too easy..." Wren said to himself as he approached the unconscious form of the captain.

"Friiiiillll."

"And that would be why." Wren announced to himself with an expression reading "Of course that would happen.". Waving Altissima back, he tossed out the Pokeball containing Hemlock. "Find it and use Needle Arm." He instructed his partner as the Frillish's voice echoed through room, deep, hollow and foreboding.

"Friiiiiilllllliiiiiissshhh." The ghostly jellyfish materialized out of thin air, tentacles already winding their way around Hemlock.

"Now!" Wren shouted. Hemlock nodded and spun in place, needly green arms glowing with Grass energy. Luckily, Frillish wasn't strong and was knocked out with just the one hit. Or maybe Hemlock had just gotten that strong? Either way, Wren watched as the room around him faded away, revealing that he had been tricked by the watery wraith into the ship's galley. More fortunately than anything else thus far, the room was currently empty. Perhaps the Ghost-type hadn't been with Aqua after all? Regardless of his assailant's affiliation, Wren began to explore the ship once again. This time he was acutely aware of the dangers on this ship.  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Lt. Surge and Clay||

Back on the ground floor. The two gym leaders stood their ground as a good group of their troops were over on the other side of the bridge fighting a mixture of Flare and Aqua grunts. A few of the enemie's grunts would jump over on the gym leaders side, but the enemy was easily swept to the side. "You know, this kid's plan is going pretty well. She could probably beat your old tricks pops." "Me? Hah! This old cowboy still has his kick in him." Their Pokemon were on a roll taking down every grunt that tried to get past them. They soon noticed that things started to quiet down on the other side of the bridge. Both of them were a bit confused as they looked over. Both gym leaders were shocked. Their men were being detained. Handcuffed as a Salemence and a Venesaur stood proud ready for any other of the Alliance's tricks. "How dare they detain our men! I'm putting a stop to them!" "No Surge wait!" The Lt. jumped over the bridge with his Pokemon as he stood in front of the Dragon and Grass type. "Alright team, time to beat some Flare scum!"

(For every post one makes, an Alliance member is being detained. Tied up from their wrist and ankles. And any of the Alliance's Pokemon that are out of their Pokeball, Team Flare will try and capture them and put them in cages. Create the distraction ASAP to help the ground troops be released along with their Pokemon. Failure to do so, Alliance's Pokemon will be Team Flare's)  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Ulla Hanabi||

Ulla smiled at Keiko "Thank you again for coming with me." She said as she looked out the door to see if there was anyone walking around. Nobody. She stepped out of the room as her and her Pokemon walking softly. "The original plan stays. Take over the radio to start confusion, take control of the ship. Attack the other airships along with taking down any other ships in the sea that we can." She said to Keiko as she turned a corner but quickly stepped back and pulled her Pokemon with her. She peeped down the hall as it was guarded by two grunts. Along one side of the wall of the long hall, there were three doors. There could be a chance that there is even more Team Flare in those areas. She sighed.

"What do we do now? We can't just walk up to them if we are trying to do this quietly. Even if Togetic used Yawn, it's gonna take time to travel to them. Then there's the chance if someone walks out of one of those doors and takes the hit." She said as she looked at Kieko. "Should we go on assault from here on out?"  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Ulla Hanabi||

Keiko was right, they needed to come up with a plan in order to get into the control room. She ruffled her hair. Come on. Think. Think. Think. She was thinking as then she looked at Rowlet. The owl looked at the little girl confused as he tilted his head. Rowlet. You wanna play bandits with those grunts over there?" She asked with a smile as Rowlet was shocked and was nodding no repetitively. "Rowlet please! Riolu and I will cover you." Rowlett sighed as he couldn't believe that they were doing this again.

The grunts were both watching down the hall when they noticed a little Rowlet flying towards them. Both of them were confused as they had no idea who's Rowlet was this. Rowlett then landed on one of their heads and snatched their hat and started flying back towards Ulla down the hall. Riolu broke out of his Pokeball as he had a ready posistion to attack. Ulla had the same posistion as Riolu, while Rowlett was being chased down by the grunts frantically. As they hit the corner, Riolu and Ulla grabbed their arms and with the grunts weights, flung them over their shoulders. Togetic was about to use Yawn but noticed the two grunts were both unconscious from the slam. Ulla was breathing heavily as Riolu patted her on the back. "I-I'm fine...It was a lot more weight than I'm use to." Riolu nodded as he looked towards the room they were trying to get into. There was only one person in there. But they seemed pretty strong.

When the little girl finally caught her breath she started walking down the hall as she stood at the door. Riolu looked at the her as he signaled that there was only one person in there as he went back into his Pokeball.

(This will be Keiko fight. It can be a 2nd stage as this is like the commander of the airship anyways.)  

[Requiem of Whyspers]

Wren kept Altissima close by as he explored the Aqua's ship and, eventually, he did actually find his way to the wheelhouse. This time, howver, he realized there were guards outside.

"Think you can manage another Sleep Powder?" He asked the little narcotic factory.

"Petiiii." The Bulb Pokemon whined, only a tiny cloud less than the size of Wren's palm being produced this time around. "I get it. You're exhausted. Take a break." He told the Petilil as he recalled her to her ball.

"Looks like it's on you, Aconite." The man decided as he released the Maractus from her ball. "Those two. Hit them both with Leech Seed. Try to keep the plants small so they don't notice them right away." He instructed.

"Mara?" Aconite asked, though she did as instructed, firing off a Leech Seed at both with a slight spin on it and aimed at the ground. The seeds hit the floor, ricocheted off towards the Aqua grunts and hit their ankles softly enough that they didn't seem to notice. The seeds immediately sprouted and while they didn't grow very large, they glowed as they soaked up the life force of their hosts.

"Good job. Now stick close!" Wren congratulated his Pokemon as he stood up from his hiding place and carefully crept toward the wheelhouse door. Just before he got there, the two grunt guarding it collapsed to the floor with a soft thump. "Convenient." Wren said to himself as he walked up and opened the door.

"Heh?" The woman at the wheel turned her focus to the door as it opened. "Didn't I tell you both to leave me be for now? I'll send a message across the intercom system when I have more information."

""I'm afraid the radio belongs to us now." Wren announced as he turned to Aconite. "Bullet Seed!"

The Maractus nodded and took aim, firing a gatling burst of seeds at the woman at the wheel, startling her and sending her stumbling backward, away from the ship's controls. "Ah!" Wren secured his feet against the deck and, thankful that he had dried out by now, charged forward with a fist drawn back. "Poliwrath!"

"Son of a-!" Wren yelped, skidding to a stop as the captain let loose a fully evolved Water-type. "I am not ready for this." He said to himself as Aconite rushed forward to defend him.

"Submission!" The captain called out as she attempted to regain her footing.

"Spiky Shield!" Wren called out. Aconite summoned the green wall of energy just a moment before Poliwrath attacked, skewering the muscular Tadpole Pokemon with a cluster of energy needles. "Now hit back with Bullet Seed!" The railgun-like barrage of seeds pelting against the Poliwrath's body were like white-hot sparks to a plant but the Water-type brushed it off for the most part.

"Circle Throw!" Poliwrath charged through the Bullet Seed pelting it even as the attack continued, grabbing hold of Aconite, spinning in a circle rapidly and hurling her toward the door. Before she ever made it there, however, she had been transformed into energy and returned to her Pokeball. From another Ball, however, came another of his Pokemon. Hemlock was dragged out by the attack's residual force, somehow.

"Now that's new." Wren commented more to himself than anything else. He'd never experienced a move capable of forcing a random switch in a trainer's team. "Hemlock, use Sandstorm!" The little cactus spun in place at the call from his trainer and sand began to pour out from beneath him, seemingly dragged through time and space from the desert itself, until a raging sandstorm blew within the confines of the bridge as a whole.

"Gah! I can't see!" The captain exclaimed. Between the sand in her eyes and her long hair being blown out by the winds and into her face, she seemed to be suffering from blindness due to multiple sources.

"That's the point!" Wren called over the howling wind and sand.

"Use Mind Reader, Poliwrath!" The Tadpole Pokemon focused on it's opponent hard, sensing it's movements and predicting it's next move based on what was going through it's mind and as well as what was displayed in it's current movement.

"Hemlock, use Needle Arm!" For a brief instant, Poliwrath lost track of Hemlock as he vanished into a thick bank of sand, the Pokemon's Sand Veil ability allowing him to slip, unseen, through the clouds of tiny rock and sand.

"Vacuum Wave!" Poliwrath's fist began to circle in place faster and faster until, after a moment, the sand in the air began to draw toward it. Before it's opponent could make a move, Poliwrath swung. The fist-sized vacuum it had created ripped through the air, sucking in the sand billowing through the air and carving a visible path through the Sandstorm until it hit Hemlock, imploding upon itself and rocking the Cacnea down to it's roots.

Hemlock wasn't to be stopped that easily, however and continued his attack as he darted through the blowing sands and disappeared from sight once again. A moment later, he'd re-emerge only a foot from Poliwrath's face and throwing a Grass energy infused punch covered in needles right between the Tadpole's eyes. That seemed to do the trick and Poliwrath went down, barely. As the sandstorm continued to rage, Wren approached the captain, grabbed her arm and spun her around so that her arm was twisted in such a way that every time she tried to move, it caused her more pain.

"Radio. Where is it?" He demanded of the woman.

"Why do you care?!" The woman demanded to know.

"You're in no position to question me." Wren warned. "I don't like fighting. At all. But I'm not afraid to take every Pokemon you have on you and throw you overboard to sink or swim." The look in his eyes was only compounded by the icy coldness of their color, making him look that much more threatening.

"I'm not helping you!" The woman insisted.

"Last chance." Wren warned her as he nodded at Hemlock. The cactus walked up to her and his arms began to glow purple and produce an array of needles formed from energy. "That's a Poison Jab. If you don't tell me what I want, I'll have him inject you with those toxins, then dump you in the ocean. If the Frillish don't get you first, the Basculin will." He told her, giving her arm a twist once more and causing her to let out a small gasp as pain rocked through her joints. "But, should you survive the Predators in the water? You'll still not live long enough to reach land. Between the blood loss and the poison, you'd be dead within a few hours at best."

Hemlock gave a wicked grin to the woman as she looked down at him. It was in the cactus' nature to be cruel and predatory. It's evolved form did tend to feed on humans dying in the desert, after all. "It's over there!" She finally exclaimed, her survival instinct at last kicking in. "Just... Don't hurt me. Please?! I have a family back in Hoenn."

"You joined a war, woman. Now act like a soldier and give up your life for your cause!" Wren exclaimed, winking at Hemlock from behind the woman. Hemlock reared back to swing and the woman shut her eyes, preparing for the pain to come. A moment later, she'd feel it as a fist collided with her gut, knocking the wind out of her and causing her to collapse, gasping for air. There was no blood of any kind but until she could open her eyes through the pain, she wouldn't know. Wren withdrew his fist from the woman's stomach as she collapsed, eyes slammed shut, and walked over to the radio.

"GRAY, isn't it? Can you connect to this radio and find the right channel to reach the Indigo Alliance ships?"

"This old thing? It's barely even technology but I suppose I can if I must." GRAY retorted, his usual snark shining through. "Just connect the auxiliary cable in the back of your SNAG to the console and give me a moment."

Wren nodded and did as he was instructed. Upon connecting the two devices together, he'd hear static over the radio channel for a moment before it went silent. "If you can hear me, my name is Wren Briony! I've come from Team Snagem to assist with the war effort. I've taken control of an Aqua ship's wheel. I have allies in the air trying to claim a Flare ship. Please respond!" He called over the radio link, hopefully connecting to the Indigo Alliance as he'd intended.  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Lt. Surge and Clay||

As Lt. Surge was battling the Venesaur with his Raichu, more and more of his men were being detained as their Pokemon was being taken away. Clay and his Pokemon were holding down their side of the bridge while more of their soldiers went over to break the others loose and get their Pokemon back. But, the enemy had the upper hand so far as we were already out numbered. "Those brats better hurry up Clay! I don't know how much longer this can go on!" "I know what you mean! Our men are running thin-" As they were shouting, Clay heard Wren over the radio he had in his pocket. He quickly grabbed the radio.

"Wren!! Boy if it isn't good to here your voice! My men are being detained and their Pokemon are being taken from them and being placed in cages! What ever you guys are planning on doing, DO IT NOW!" He shouted into the radio as he the western trainer grabbed his Palpitoad quickly dodging a dragon breath from the Salamence. Soon enough, Clay was surrounded by different Pokemon of Team Flare's. He just snickered. "Already ma boy! Muddy Water lets go!" He shouted as he threw Palpitoad in the air as it produced a large wave of of water around them, knocking all the Pokemon around them and Flare grunts out into the ocean.  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Ulla Hanabi||

When Ulla heard the captain of the ship speak, she was startled a little as she didn't realize they heard her. She was about to step forward to say something as the guy irritated her when he said ‘little girl’. But then Keiko stood in front of her, she looked up at her as she wanted to go ahead and fight this guy. She nodded as she watched Keiko and the captain started a Pokemon battle. She spotted the control deck that steered the ship and the radio to reach the other airships. She signaled her Pokemon to follow her but then one of the doors down the hall opened as it was a Team Flare grunt that heard Kieko and the captain fighting.

”What’s going on here?! Growlithe and Absol attack with Bite!” The grunt threw two Pokeballs out as the two dog Pokemon popped out and started charging at Ulla. ”Rowlet quick use Razer Leaf! Togetic Magical Leaf lets go!” She shouted as both Pokemon stood infront of her as leaves started coming out of their wings to stop the canines in their tracks.

The grunt was impressed that Ulla was able to act so quickly. ”Too bad for you kid, I have the advantage. Absol Double Team while Growlithe use Flame Wheel!” Soon enough, Ulla and her Pokemon were surrounded by Absols. Not knowing which one was the real one, they lost track where the Growlithe went. The Growlithe then jumped over the Absols already spinning in a circle as he was enveloped in fire heading for an attack on Ulla. Ulla turned to face it ”Togetic quick Fairy Wind!” She shouted as she ducked down as Togetic flapped its wings some more as gust of strong winds with a hint of glitter in it was going right at Growlithe’s Flame Wheel. But it broke past it as it left Ulla in danger. Rowlet quickly tried to fly over. ”Absol now is your chance! Zen Headbutt on that bird!” Rowelt then felt a rush of pain on his side as Absol was right next to him and did a direct hit pushing him further away from Ulla. Ulla saw the Flame Wheel even closer as she closed her eyes waiting for the burning pain to happen as she felt the heat of the fire getting closer. ”Riolu!” She shouted as she heard a Pokeball open and felt a presence right in front of her.

She looked up as she saw Riolu with his arm crossed infront of his face as he took the Flame Wheel. The Growlithe was pushing forward as Riolu had to take a step back to keep his stand. Riolu then quickly pushed him off as he got his composure back. The little girl stood up, not sure what state he was in. ”Riolu….are you okay?” She asked as she noticed his eyes were flashing from red to purple. Back and forth. He was fighting it. He was angry that a low life grunt tried to take a cheap shot. A dark aura started to take over him a little but he was still himself. Ulla looked over at Rowlett as he was hurt pretty badly from that Zen Headbutt. ”Rowlet, can you still fight?” She asked as Rowlett tried to fly over to her but his wing was pretty hurt as he couldn’t really lift it without it hurting. ”It’s okay, this guy isn’t playing fair.” She ran over to Rowlett as she cradled him in his arms and held him like a plush. ”Looks like I struck a nerve in your Riolu! Prepare to be booted off this airship! Growlithe use Flamethrower! Absol Quick Attack!”

Both of them barked as Growlithe took in a big breath of air, then let it out as a big puff of fire came out of his mouth. Ulla’s team got out of the way quickly of it as Absol chased after them and connected his Quick Attack into Togetic. Riolu became even more angry as his eyes became fully purple as he went into Hyper Mode. Riolu used concentrated the shadow aura he had to his fist to make is shape like a saber as he used Shadow Wave at Absol. Absol took the full blow as Riolu chased after him as Absol was flinged back. ”Riolu use Iron Tail! Togetic Yawn at Growlithe!” Both of them nodded. Before Absol could gain his stance again, Riolu’s tail turned into a silver color as he swung his tail down straight onto Absol’s skull into the ground. Absol was then fainted from the shock. While Togetic was flying side to side to dodge the Growlithe’s Flamethrower until he got close enough to take a deep breath and let out a big yawn straight into Growlithe’s face. Growlithe started to feel drowsy as he fell over asleep. The grunt panicked as he recalled both of his Pokemon and was about to run off but then Riolu grabbed him by the arm and flung him down to the ground and was holding his arm straight out behind him as he was intending to break his arm.
”No no no no no!!!! Please! Mercy! Mercy!” The grunt begged for his life not wanting any of this. Riolu started to bend his arm back even more. ”Riolu that is enough!” The girl shouted at Riolu as he paused for a second to stare at her but still held the grunt in the same grip. Riolu was glaring at Ulla as the girl showed nothing but worry. ”Riolu. I know your mad. But he doesn’t deserve what your about to do. He’s just one guy. Breaking his arm. Isn’t going to stop Team Flare from their evil plans. So…please. Listen to me when I say. That’s enough.” She said softly as Riolu started to loosen his grip on him. His eyes turned back to their ruby red as he snapped out of it and completely let go of the grunt. The grunt quickly got up and ran off as Ulla hugged Riolu with Rowlet still in her arms. Togetic joined in on the hug as well.
”You heard my voice this time buddy….” She whispered as she let go of him as she looked over to Keiko as she was finished with her battle as well.

She smiled as well, satisfied how her battle went. Ulla then proceeded to the control panel as she was looking at all the buttons and gadgets. Unsure how to control this thing. Her Snag Machine started beeping ”I’m pretty sure you’re not even tall enough to even reach from the chair to the steering wheel kid. This is out of your league. Plug me in to their computer and I can drive ya to where you need to go. GRAY said as Ulla did what she was instructed. As she connected the two, she was able to hear Wren’s voice and Gray’s. ”This is Ulla Hanabi. Keiko and I have taken over the airship. It’s time to move on to the next step to our plan. Deceive the enemies. Use some sort of ruse to get them to turn on eachother.” She said as she looked at Keiko.

”You should probably do all the talking over the radio for me Keiko. If I were to do it, they will question why the person on the radio sounds like a little girl. We need to convince them that the other is plotting against them. You and Wren could act like Team Flare and Team Aqua’s captains of the ship. Maybe argue why you guys aren’t on the bridge to finish off the Alliance already, push the argument enough for us to attack Aqua’s ships. Obviously, not to shoot down the one Wren’s in till he can get out. Wren, when you see us fire at one of the ships. I want you to fire at one of the airships. Our airships and ships in the sea will follow our lead. From there, it will be costly for both Team Aqua and Flare. We abandon our ships when we see it’s gotten to that point where we don’t need to push their buttons anymore. We will then regroup at the bridge to help Lt. Surge and Clay grab their men and Pokemon back. Then. Checkmate.” ”…..Uh. Kid, are you lying to all of us saying that you’re a kid? That was a lot from any 10 year old I know.”  

[Requiem of Whyspers]

Wren nodded more to himself than anything when he heard Clay and then Ulla speak back to him. "I'm on it, Clay. And I agree with you, actually. Ulla's got a mind for military tactics, for sure. Maybe Snagem can help her develop that as she gets older." With that, he'd cut the connection with the Indigo Alliance. "Alright, GRAY, see if you can connect me to the other Aqua ships."

"Certainly. I'll just do all the work and you can get the credit." GRAY snapped back, scanning through the radio channels in search of the right one. "There. You should be connected now."

"Thank you." Wren thanked the snarky AI before he started his attempt at spreading dissent among the Aqua. "This is Captain Briony speaking. Does anyone else get the feeling the Flares up there aren't planing on keeping us out of the crossfire?" He asked over the radio, hoping he'd get a response. Luckily, one came back fairly quickly.

"What are on about and who exactly are you? I've never heard of a Captain Briony." Came the first response.

"I'm fairly new to Team Aqua. They brought me on to help with this operation." Wren replied. "But that's far beside the point. "What do we get out of this? Does anyone really think that these guys are gonna just let us wander through if they take over?" He asked, genuinely curious if these Aquas thought they'd be allowed to just come and go as they pleased.

"If Flare actually manages to take over this region, with or without us, we're not going to be free to roam the seas as we should be." He told them, certain that their freedom to roam was more important than their alliance with Flare. There were a few moments of silence before someone else spoke up.

"He's right! I've been to Kalos! Flare keeps their entire region under lock and key. No one in or out they don't know about. There's no way we'd be free to travel the waters here." Someone agreed. "And the Pokemon won't be any freer. The Kalosian government thinks any Pokemon within it's borders is the property of their high society elite and no one else's. I'm not helping that spread to other regions!"

Before long, the redio channel was completely cluttered with the captains of each ship bickering amongst themselves, easily swayed against Flare and their attitudes thanks to one person who happened to know how Kalos worked. Flipping the radio off, he grabbed his SNAG and spoke through it. "The Aquas are primed for a fight!" He told the two in the air. "See if you can attack one of the ships. I'm turning mine away from the bridge so you know which one I'm on." He told them, spinning the wheel hard to start the ship's turn immediately. "As soon as you attack, give me a sign which airship's the one you took over and I'll see if I can't attack one of the others as well. That should be all the spark we need."  

[Cecile Silverstone]

||Ulla Hanabi||

"Not really much of a mind for tactis. More of a mind for books. Clay and Lt. Surge we will be down there as soon as we are done. Wren, get back on land in one piece." She said as she cut the communication from her Snag Machine and put it back on. Riolu and Togetic walked over to the main door they entered from as they shut it closed and blocked it from anybody from getting in with anything they can get their hands on. Ulla listened to GRAY's and Keiko's conversation about some blonde hair guy. "I could be wrong. But are you guys talking about Tera?"

Ulla patted Rowlet who was still hurt from the Zen Headbutt. She sprayed his wing with a Potion "It's okay buddy, we will have Nurse Joy check out your wing when this is all over. For now, let's take it easy." She said as she recalled him back in his Pokeball. She overheard Keiko's conversation with as she was recalling Riolu and Togetic about a ten year old taking over the ship. She looked at her with a blank face. "The Team Flare captain makes it sound like this sort of thing happens a ton." She said as Keiko disconnected the line from the main communication.

They were soon teleported back down on the ground. Ulla looked up at the sky as she saw the missle hit one of the Aqua ships. She looked toward the bridge as she looked back at Kieko. "I'm gonna head to the bridge first. They are gonna need help from us." She said as she started running towards the bridge. She took out her Riolu's and Togetic's Pokeball as she threw them infront of her as they popped open. "We stick together. Main focus is to get the Alliance's soldiers and Pokemon back. And to push Team Flare out of here so we can take back the bridge." Her Pokemon nodded as they made it to the bridge. Clay saw Ulla as he pointed towards the bridge. "Get Lt. Surge! He hasn't come back yet!" Ulla jumped across to the other side of the bridge as her and her Pokemon landed on her feet as she saw Lt. Surge on the side sitting down a bit in pain. She walked over to him. "Hey kid. Get our Pokemon back. They took my electric Pokemon."

(The War begins! Defeat a Team Flare Grunts/Captains! It maybe a sing our double battle if you like. Show them how strong the Alliance and Snagem are! You may catch one Pokemon if you like. After your battle, the surrounding Flare Grunts/Captains will fear you at how strong you are as they will make the others retreat in fear. The Alliance Pokemon and Trainers will see them retreating as they will break free from their restraints and cages.)  

[Requiem of Whyspers]

When Wren saw the shots fired from a Flare airship, he rushed out onto the deck with Hemlock at his side. Switching out the one cactus for the other, he looked to Aconite as she materialized from her ball. "This ship doesn't have the firepower we need to take down an airship but we need to start the fighting from here, too." He told the Grass-type. "So we're gonna have to make due. Use Solar Beam!"

Despite the clouds overhead, Wren was surprised to see Aconite charging up a massive ball of solar energy and firing it in a slicing beam toward a distant airship in record time. He missed the petals of the massive rose on his bracelet wilting and falling away as the Artifact was stripped of it's own solar energy. The beam would rock the ship in the air, destroying one of it's engines and causing it to begin a rapid descent toward the ground below.

At the same time, a powerful pink beam would rip through the air toward a second ship. This one was coming from the area on the other side of Driftveil city, however. The Hyper Beam's source would appear a moment after it pierced a second airship and dissipated. "Need a ride to shore?!" Mykel asked as he appeared, the black-garbed Mega Gardevoir asked a moment before Teleporting away with Wren and Pokemon in tow.

When the trio reappeared in Driftveil city, Wren stopped for a moment. "Who are you and how did you know I was there?"

"He's mine and we could sense your energy on that ship when you attacked." Lykas explained from nearby. "We're in a hurry, though. Keep them distracted so we can get these guys into the mountain!" With that, Lykas and Mykel ran off toward Clay Tunnel, heading toward a large crowd moving in tandem.

"Ok... They must be on another mission." Wren said to himself, thankful to have gotten the ride when he did. At least he didn't have to get wet again. "Let's go!" He told Aconite as the pair rushed toward the drawbridge to meet back up with Ulla and Keiko as explosion began to rock the air around them, shots firing from sea and sky alike towards the once-allies.

When the Grass Channeler reached the bridge, he looked around and found a small troupe of Flare grunts overpowering a smaller group of Indigo Alliance soldiers but it was mostly the good people of Driftveil on one side fighting to defend their hometown and the citizens of Nimbasa City on the other, trying to keep Flare from moving in on their home.

"Come back, Aconite, I need help from others this time." He told his Maractus, recalling her to her Ball. Bringing himself to bear upon a Flare Captain, he pulled two Pokeballs free from his belt and threw them both into the air, releasing Hemlock and, surprisingly enough, Thistle. The Mock Kelp Pokemon wouldn't be as agile out of water as he was in it but the little Pokemon with the flower the woman had at her disposal was definitely a Grass-type so he'd have an advantage. The other one, though? Not so much. None of his Pokemon would be very powerful against a Mienshao.

"Hemlock, use Sandstorm!" Spinning in place at the call, Hemlock summoned a massive sandstorm around the segment of bridge they were on. The howling wind and tearing sand easily masked the cactus' movement as he pushed himself back and into the flow. "Thistle, Camouflage." While the move would normally change him into a Normal-type in the area they were fighting in, Hemlock's active Sandstorm provided enough of a different environment that he became a Ground-type instead.

"Huh?" The Flare woman exclaimed as she spun on her heel. "What the heck's going on here?!" The Sandstorm kicking up the way it did blew her off balance just a bit but she was able to find herself new footing quickly enough. "Alright, fine. Flabébé, use Fairy Wind on that Skrelp! Mienshao, Swift! Hit the Cacnea!" Flabébé flipped it's flower outward like a parasol and with a spin, it blew a pink dust-filled gust at Thistle. The sand from the Sandstorm caught up in it added just a bit of oomph to it but otherwise the attack did little to the Poison-type. Mieshao, however, managed to do a bit with it's attack as a few quick snaps of it's whip-like wrist fur sent star shaped beams flying through the storm without a chance to miss. Spinning through the whirlwind of sand and stone, the stars collided with both of Wren's Pokemon.

Or it would have, had it not been for Wren's quick thinking. "Thistle, Protect!" The blue-green barrier of light that manifested around Thistle blocked the beams entirely. "Hemlock, use Poison Jab!" The Cacnea moved through the sandstorm completely unseen before he sneaked up on Mienshao and drove a toxin laced fist into the Fighting-type's back.

"Mienshao!" The Flare woman exclaimed, her Pokemon's body sparking with purple lightning-like energy, obviously poisoned. "Use Facade! Make that poison useful!" The woman ordered. "Flabébé, use Razor Leaf!" Mienshao's body took on an orange-ish glow tinged with purple lightning as it charged at Thistle, the aura growing larger and brighter as it closed the distance. Flabébé swung it's flower like a baseball bat, sending a series of razor-sharp leaves flying from it toward Thistle as well.

"Iron Tail, Thistle!" Wren ordered, watching as his little Skrelp swung his kelp-like tail around, coated in Steel energy and bounced from one razor bladed leaf to the next without taking hardly any damage. After a few bounces, he slapped Mienshao in the face as it charged, sending it flailing toward the edge of the bridge at full speed. Mienshao couldn't see the edge, however, and just kept going. Right off the edge. The Fightning type's scream of fear echoed through the area as it crashed downward towards a surely fatal landing. Maybe. Wren didn't bother waiting to see. "Hemlock, use Needle Arm!"

"My Mienshao!" The Martial Arts Pokemon's trainer exclaimed. "You monster! How could you do that?!"

Hemlock came out of the sandstorm with his arms aglow, slamming the needle coated appendages into Flabébé from behind and sending it careening toward Wren. "That wasn't intentional, firstly. Secondly You're free to give up now." Wren responded as the tiny Pokemon between himself as it's trainer came to a stop, floating helplessly between the predatory cactus and the toxic false kelp of a Pokemon owned by their enemy.

"Never! Flabébé, use Petal Blizzard!" The woman cried out, watching as her tiny Pokemon held it's flower up and cried out, conjuring a massive whorl of flower petals to twist and spin around it in the opposite direction of the Sandstorm's spin. Both Thistle and Hemlock were caught up in it but neither Pokemon took much damage.

"Fine. Hemlock, Poison Jab. Thistle, Sludge Bomb!" The pair of Pokemon nodded to their trainer and, as Thistle prepared to launch it's own attack, Hemlock closed the distance and threw a quick one-two punch at Flabébé. The first punch missed but the second jab caught it in the face and stunned it for a moment. Thistle's Sludge Bomb came next as the Poison-type spit a glob of poisonous goop at the little Pokemon.

Behind that, though, came the most devastating blow to the Flare woman. A Nest Ball, glowing with a faint energy, came soaring through the air. Just as Flabébé was doused in the explosion of toxic rain, the Nest Ball hit and the poor Pokemon was dragged inside. "Call it 'spoils of war' but your Pokemon is mine." Wren announced to the woman as the ball came to a stop a pinged.

"Ah! You're part of Snagem?!" The woman asked, finally paying attention to the device on the man's right hand. "We're leaving!" She yelled to her group of grunts. The group, roughly twenty in total, scrambled to grab what they could and fled alongside the woman Wren had just defeated.

Picking up the Nest Ball with a grimace, Wren moved on to the cages he could see nearby and started popping them open with his Pokemon's assistance. After recalling Thistle before he dried out too much, at least. It wouldn't take long before he was done and the Pokemon and the various trainers and non-trainer citizens alike that had been captured nearby were set free again.