Kazuma Kiryu

Floaroma had gained a few minor celebrities since some time ago. Most of them were people who came to visit a ranch owned by a new pillar of the community – as a few Floaroma residents had started to call her in private, mainly because her presence in the area made an already welcoming place feel even more welcoming. The sporadic visitors that came to see her always got the Floaroma residents’ attention, partly due to their colorful personalities and partly because of their rumored association to the champion.

Emmeryn wasn’t the only local ‘minor celebrity’ in the area, though. Another one had started to draw eyes, a man who lived in a quaint house not too far from Floaroma. Casually-dressed with a shirt that wouldn’t be out of place in the faraway Alola region and always with an expression that made him seem faintly displeased with his surroundings, there lived Kazuma Kiryu.

He was renowned due to a couple things. One was that he tended to spar with his own Pokemon. That wasn’t really unheard of – there were some trainers who could fight with their Pokemon, usually Fighting-type trainers who knew what they were doing and how to do so without getting hurt. Anyone who watched Kiryu fight could see he lacked the technique and finesse those fighting masters had, instead relying on brute force. Anyone foolish like that would get a severe thrashing by any Pokemon fighting back, making it really impressive Kiryu actually could come away from such sparring with minor injuries at most.

Even then, Fighting-type masters would think it twice before fighting hand-to-pincers against a Drapion like Kiryu does, and not any person could tank a strike from a Nidoking’s tail just with his forearms and still be able to fight a beast with sharp venomous needles. Only Kazuma Kiryu could do such things.

The other noteworthy thing about Kiryu was his living room. Those few Floaroma residents who had ventured inside had found the walls of the living room were full of little trinkets and photographs of places all over Sinnoh, many of them featuring a girl. Sometimes a Pangoro was beside the girl, standing behind her like some sort of bodyguard. The girl always had such a bright smile and the bear such a deep scowl some people wondered if they got along at all.

Still, it was clear from all that that Kiryu cared about that girl. He probably was a single father, the Floaroma residents told each other, a single father sending his daughter to the usual adventuring trip so many young’uns took after a certain age. People were curious about the girl and nobody dared ask Kiryu about her face to face.

“That Kiryu doesn’t seem to smile at all. He always looks like he’s upset about something”

“But he’s such a nice man. I saw him helping plant some flowers in that field over there”

“Well, he’s in great shape. Anyone would want to help him with that”

“My husband said Kiryu gave him some advice when they talked with some booze. He said it was enlightening”

“Oh, so he’s wise?”

“Not really? He said he’s down-to-earth, whatever that means”

“The other day Robbie was having trouble with his Munchlax and Kiryu was passing by. Robbie didn’t even call for his help, Kiryu approached and found out what was wrong. He talked about Munchlax’s feelings”

“So he’s sensitive!”

“I guess he is? You wouldn’t think that from the way he looks like, but he seems to be a nice person”

“If only he was in the town more often”

“If only he didn’t spend almost all his time in his house”

-ooooo-

It had been three years since he had settled in that house in Floaroma, and one year since Haruka left in a journey. Getting adjusted to a new world had been tough, but it sure helped the world was so peaceful. This wasn’t like Kamurocho at all. There was nothing seedy or threatening about Floaroma. This really was a good world to raise Haruka in. He had absolutely no regrets about bringing her to live here.

Pokégears were a convenient invention, Haruka and him were always in touch thanks to it. Haruka liked to call him every few days to tell him about the places she had been at, who she challenged, her victories, her defeats. So far her journey had been fruitful enough – she wasn’t in any hurry to get badges, instead she had decided to explore the wide world. She often sent him photos and souvenirs she had acquired. The living room was like a museum dedicated to her journey, and it was always getting new additions every once in a while.

Kiryu was really proud of Haruka.

“There’s going to be a festival in Ecruteak City!” she had said last time she had contacted him. Kiryu sheepishly looked at the map of Sinnoh he had obtained once, trying to find this Ecruteak City.

“I can’t find the city”

“It’s...it’s in Johto” she said with some reluctance. Johto? Kiryu narrowed his eyes when he found the word to the side of the map, indicating this ‘Johto’ was a place outside Sinnoh. Haruka was planning to go to an entirely different region. Well, she had showed great judgment so far this year, going to Johto probably would be fine.

“Take care, Haruka” he had said “Listen to Daigo if he senses danger”

“I know. Here, I’ll send you a map of Johto! I’ll take the train to Goldenrod and go to Ecruteak from there”

Haruka said she’d call Kiryu once she got to Ecruteak the next day, but that call didn’t come. Haruka wouldn’t break a promise. Something must have happened. Kiryu would have let things follow its course if it wasn’t for something he heard in the Pokégear’s radio once:

‘...several passengers coming out of the station in Goldenrod were led away by Team Rocket’ the announcer said “According to police reports, Team Rocket has taken the hostages to the Radio Tower. Nobody has been harmed so far, but it’s matter of time—“

Trouble in another region. Not really his concern given the distance and what not. Still...Goldenrod. Haruka hadn’t contacted him yet, could it be one of the hostages this Team Rocket had is...

...

There was really no downside to going to Goldenrod in the first place. It’d take a while to get there. If during the trip the hostages were freed and Haruka were among them, good. If they were freed and Haruka was among them then he could make sure she was unharmed. If Haruka wasn’t a hostage in the first place, then they could go to that festival in Ecruteak together – he knew she’d love that.

And if it turned out Haruka was one of the hostages, well, things would get quite heated up.

-ooooo-

The situation was worse than he expected.

Going by train turned out to not be an option. Instead he had to fly, asking for a favor from someone in Floaroma to lend him a flying Pokemon he could use once he reached Johto one way or another. By the time he got to Goldenrod it had been an entire day since he heard the news of the hostages in the Radio Tower, a day where there had been no progress at all in the situation. The reports from the Pokegear kept saying the police force were dedicating all their resources to deal with the situation, but judging by how the Johto stations were broadcasting calls for one ‘Giovanni’ to come back, they weren’t really doing too well.

That there were Team Rocket grunts walking around in plain sight was another bad sign. At first Kiryu had avoided all confrontations, going down alleyways and tunnels to avoid any grunts that could get in his way. From what he saw, the grunts were telling anyone who set foot on the street to go away, and weren’t afraid of using force to get it done. When a grunt dared to take out a Zubat to make an innocent civilian move Kiryu grabbed one of his Pokeballs, ready to fight and give that guy a lesson, but the civilian went away without further delay.

No doubt, if anyone dared to try to hurt any civilians while he was around then Kiryu was going to intervene. Just in case he picked a worn metal pipe, just in case he needed it.

With this many grunts this clearly was a large-scale operation. There were more grunts around the Radio Tower, guarding it. Five of them in a row kept guard in front of the doors. Without hesitating, Kiryu strolled out of the alleyways, immediately getting seen by the grunts at the entrance of the tower.

One of them gestured with his head, indicating one of the guards to go face Kiryu. The grunt approached, looking at Kiryu like he was a piece of trash he had stepped on. “Lost, pops? This isn’t time to be doing tourism”

Tourism? Must be the shirt, Kiryu thought. It wasn’t the first time someone thought he was sightseeing. “I’m here to visit the Radio Tower” he said, giving the grunt a wide berth, passing by to get to the tower.

“No you’re not! Get back here!”

“I don’t have time for this” Kiryu sincerely couldn’t care less about what some random goon was saying. The grunt, upset some tourist who just happened to stroll by was messing around with Team Rocket, grabbed a Pokeball and gripped Kiryu’s shoulder, trying to get him to turn around. Quite the mistake, that was! In one fluid, swift move, Kiryu twisted his body, getting out of the grunt’s grip, and slammed his fist right under the sternum.

It wasn’t everyday someone went and physically attacked another trainer! And with such strength, to boot. The grunt crumpled over, letting go of the Pokeball and falling on his knees. That punch sure was going to leave a bruise! Kiryu kicked the Pokeball away from the grunt’s hand, away from the trainer.

This guy was serious, the guards realized. He wasn’t just going to go away quietly. The guards got their Pokeballs, one of them – presumably the one in charge – calling to the others: “Get him out of here!” If he was going to be rough then so were they! Four against one single person was a bit like overkill, but they sure didn’t care about that after seeing him punching one of them like that!

A confrontation was unavoidable. Three Raticates and a Grimer had been released, at the ready to start attacking. Kiryu, already deciding his choice.

“Stand back!” he shouted, his last warning. Of course, none of the guards listened. If they wanted to do this the hard way, then fine, he was going to make it happen!

The best thing about a Gyarados was that it had so much raw power, and Kiryu was pretty sure none of the Pokemon in front of him would have an electric attack. Still, better be careful! “Ni, behind me!” Kiryu ordered, his Gyarados swirling through the air to settle behind Kiryu and execute the move, both of them retreating a little down the street.

“Putting yourself in the middle of the battle? Are you crazy?!” One of the grunts shouted. Who in their right mind would risk injury like that?! Still, they weren’t going to hold back. Another grunt shook her head.

“If he wants to get hurt then that’s alright. Hyper Fang!”

Kiryu looked behind him at Ni, who was awaiting orders. “Dragon Dance, three times!” That was going to take a while, but it was going to give them the victory as long as he didn’t let any Pokemon attack reach Ni. All the opposing Pokemon seemed to lean towards physical attacks, he could handle it! Three Raticates ran towards Kiryu, those huge fangs already ready to bite.

Grabbing a trashcan Kiryu put it between a Raticate and him, the rat’s frontal teeth sinking deep into the plastic and metal. The Raticate fell to the ground, chewing through the trashcan, trying to get it out – too big to spit, too large to just break apart right away. That should buy him a minute! Another Raticate lunged at him, jaws wide open and trying to latch onto his arms, threatening to break his bones! Kiryu held the metal pipe in front of him, the rats latching onto the pipe and pulling down, Kiryu taking the chance to push them away, doing his best to not harm them.

Sparring with his own Pokemon? Sure, fine. They were careful and he knew very well what everyone’s limits were. No big deal. Fighting a Pokemon with his own hands? He really would rather not! Something about throwing punches against a Pokemon seemed kind of cruel, even if it was in self-defense! He was going to hold back the Raticates without hitting them at all, that was for sure!

The pipe broke in half under the strain of the rats’ powerful jaws, leaving him with two halves to keep the Raticates at bay, blocking every time they tried to bite him. A leg, an arm, one even got daring and jumped to try to bite his shoulder, every time he put the pipe in middle and swung it like a golf club, making the Raticate tumble back or fly, rolling down the street like furry tumbleweeds, gaining some space before they inevitably dashed back at him. In the meantime the Grimer slimed towards him, spreading and creating a wave of sludge. Sludge Wave! Not something he could hold back with his hands, certainly! Ni, seeing the danger, slid her tail under Kiryu, getting him onto her head. It was time! Three Dragon Dances, with strength and speed that’d allow them to go on the offensive!

Kiryu held onto Ni’s facial crest with a hand, feeling the vibrations of Ni eager to unleash her gained power on their opponents. “Aqua Tail!”

There was little that could be done when a thick tail coated with water came at you – the Raticate got bowled over, launched through the air, soaking wet and rolling all the way to the end of the street, where they stayed. Three out of four defeated in one swoop! The Grimer, undeterred by the defeat of all its three teammates, threw sludge at Ni, the purple gunk splattering over iher scales, making her recoil. Kiryu patted the crest he was holding onto. “Earthquake!”

Ground attacks on Poison types hit hard, a Ground-type move with its attack increased several times would be even better. The ground shook, some of the pavement cracking and pieces scattering, while the Grimer, unable to withstand the attack, bubbled and splashed in its same spot, defeated. The grunts all got bowled over by the earthquake, chance Kiryu decided to use to get into the tower. Now! Kiryu jumped down from Ni’s head, squatting as soon as he touched the floor, and sprinted towards the doors of the Radio Tower.

“Stop!” one of the grunts shouted, but Kiryu didn’t even look at him, instead raising a foot and planting it right in the middle of the doors, kicking them open! All the grunts inside turned their heads at the man who had so brazenly made way into the tower. “Ni, made sure nobody comes in!” Kiryu ordered.

Ah, she was going to guard the entrance! If her trainer trusted her enough to do such thing then she was going to do her best! Happy to be relied on, Ni nested in front of the open doors, gingerly pushing away the grunts trying to stop Kiryu. A couple of them got out some Rattatas, ready to face Ni.

When Kiryu closed the doors he heard sounds of rushing water and a fearsome roar right on the other side. Leaving Ni really was a good choice! Well, he had things to deal with right now, anyway. Three grunts glaring at him, with a fourth one running up the stairs to presumably alert others of what was going on. “This is no place for you! Get out!”

“Where are the hostages?” Kiryu demanded answers.

“Why would we tell you? You have one chance to get out!”

Kiryu raised his fists. No Pokemon yet – not until the opponent got theirs out. Crossing the lobby as quickly as he could, he grabbed the grunt by the collar, raising him from the floor and holding him so he could speak to him face to face, the tip of the grunt’s shoes brushing the floor. “Where are they?” One of the other grunts punched the side of Kiryu’s head. He didn’t even react at all to that.

“What are you waiting for!?” the grunt pleaded to his partners, who apparently forgot about their Pokemon and fought Kiryu’s iron grip with their own hands.

“Someone tell Archer!”

The grunt clearly wasn’t going to talk. Still holding the grunt, Kiryu muscled through the few grunts in the area and ascended to the second floor. What did the goons up there think when some man that looked like he should be relaxing in the beach came up holding a grunt by the clothes like that?

Credit where is due to those that didn’t run away: at least they were willing to face even a beast like Kiryu.

Credit where is due to the two grunts that still didn’t run away after being bowled over with a couch held by Kiryu charging at them like a raging bull.

“Get Admin Proton here!” one of the retreating goons said, going downstairs.

“Commander Proton?” Kiryu frowned. Admin...like a lieutenant, perhaps? Or a captain? Well, regardless, this Proton had a position of some prestige in Team Rocket. “Hey, answer! Is Proton guarding the hostages?”

“I-I...”

“If it isn’t him then tell me who is in charge here!”

The grunt writhed, looking around for a way out. Nope! Nothing. Kiryu was right there near the staircase going downwards and behind him was a locked door. From the staircase, though, they heard voices, someone faintly saying they were on their way. Emboldened, the goon scoffed at Kiryu.

“Commander Archer! He has the keycards locking the hostages, but you’re never getting any of them. Admin Archer is light years above you in terms of skill, grandpa!”

Grandpa? He wasn’t that old. Regardless, that was useful information. This Archer was in charge of this operation and the hostages were in the basement. “I’m going to talk with him. Where’s he hiding?”

“Hiding? Commander Archer doesn’t hide! He’s right here in the observation room at the top, directing everything, and the door right there is locked tight! You won’t stop our broadcast!”

That broadcast calling for Giovanni, right. So that was the whole purpose of taking over the tower. Why did they have to take hostages from the train? Still, he had run out of time for an interrogation. From the staircase a Team Rocket grunt looked inside, finding Kiryu intimidating one of their peers. “The intruder is here! Commander Proton will be here in a minute!”

Oh, there was no time for that! Kiryu had to get to the top of the radio tower. Kiryu took out a Pokeball, the foot soldier he had been dealing with doing the same. “Aka, I’m leaving this to you!”

“You idiot, I have to stall you just for a minute!” the grunt boasted, his Koffing floating in front of Aka. “Koffing, use Smokescreen!”

“Aka, Night Slash, aim at the symbol!” Kiryu ordered, looking outside the window for any sort of fire esca. Ah, perhaps...!

Aka’s powerful Night Slash sliced through the air, hitting the Koffing right on the skull and crossbones on its surface. The Koffing, struck on such a sensitive spot, making him dizzy. Excited from that successful hit, Aka raised his pincers, ready for the next order, but instead of an attack Kiryu approached him, putting a hand on the scorpion’s neck. “I’m going to have to leave you to stall anyone who comes here”

Aka’s species are known for being an intimidating Pokemon. Drapion, so large and with fearsome pincers, are the kind of Pokemon nobody would want to cross – and Aka was no exception. Towering over the grunt and his Koffing, Drapion was the picture perfect of a strong Pokemon ready to deliver a victory to his trainer.

That image came crumbling down when Aka turned his head at Kiryu, his eyes watering a little. What? Leaving him here to handle this? Aka had always been kind of an introverted Pokemon, lacking in confidence to do things without Kiryu. Even though Kiryu had been building his confidence by fighting him and making Aka realize he was far more capable than the Pokemon thought, this was like throwing him to the deep end of the pool and expect him to swim! Drapion were never known for their swimming ability!

“I believe you can – but don’t worry. You won’t have to do it alone” Kiryu said, taking the third of his five Pokeballs. Even though Aka had improved, he clearly wasn’t ready to do anything just by himself. Kiryu called Bito the Heracross, who immediately took a fighting stance as soon as he came out. “Bito, help Aka. Support him”

Didn’t have to say it twice! Nodding with determination and ran to the door, slamming it closed right when a Team Rocket member with a different uniform than the grunts appeared in the staircase. Aka still didn’t seem too sure about anything, but at least now he wasn’t alone, so he once again struck the Koffing when it tried to come back to the fight and held the grunt at bay, in case he had another Pokemon to fight with.

Good! This was going well. True, he had only two Pokemon left, but he should be fine. Kiryu returned to the window and got on the windowsill, peering outside.

Below him Ni was fighting another three grunts at once. The Gyarados thrashed around, slamming her tail against the small horde of Grimers that attacked her and tried to make way for their trainers to enter the radio tower, while the Team Rocket grunts watched a single Pokemon hold at bay all of them. She could last for a while longer. Kiryu looked upwards at the third floor. There was no fire escape, but there was an open window right above the one he was at. Jumping, he grabbed onto the windowsill to the third floor and pulled himself up, crawling through and landing on a hallway in the third floor.

Only two floors more to go.

-ooooo-

Kiryu had been right to worry: Haruka was among the hostages.

There weren’t that many – Team Rocket had attacked the station to capture the director of the radio tower. Haruka had been...collateral damage, in a way. Another of the hostages, a salaryman, trying to be brave, had challenged the grunts to a battle and got defeated. When Haruka tried to help him run away the grunts cornered them and the director, taking the three of them to the radio tower, and locked them in the basement.

It didn’t seem like Team Rocket had any ill intentions towards any of them, but she didn’t want to stay in there, anyway. It had been a day already. The problem was that she didn’t have her Pokemon right now – neither Daigo, neither the Pokemon team she had collected and trained during her journey so far. The grunts that captured them made a mistake, though: they didn’t realize Haruka thought this was a possibility.

While she and the salaryman were running, she got out one of her Pokemon: a Misdreavus, and passed her four Pokeballs, including her own. “Hide. If something happens follow me and give me the team back when they’re not looking!” she had asked. Misdreavus had been about to object, but grunts started appearing, forcing her to hide. Haruka and the salaryman got captured mere seconds later.

“Take their Pokemon!” one of the grunts had said. Just as Haruka expected, they searched their pockets and bags in case they had any Pokemon to defend themselves with. “The girl doesn’t have anything!”

“Let me go!” Haruka shouted.

“What do we do with her?”

Another grunt looked at her with disinterest. “She was helping this smart guy. Take her too”

The first grunt chuckled, menacing. “Thought so. You two will see Team Rocket is not to be messed with”

This Team Rocket truly were kind of like yakuzas, she realized! Their pride was strong, they wouldn’t just let go anyone who dared cross them. Thankfully, they weren’t interested in causing harm to any of the hostages. After bringing them to the radio tower they had said they’d be forced to stay in there until their broadcast was successful. It could be hours, it could be days...it could be weeks.

Regardless, it was time they’d spend locked inside a room, away from the world outside, like prisoners. Haruka was pretty sure if necessary they’d use them as bargaining chips. Even though they were unharmed so far, things could change for the worse in any moment!

Where was her Misdreavus...? After a whole day locked in the radio tower basement, she was starting to wonder if maybe she had underestimate Team Rocket’s skills. What if they caught her Pokemon? What if they did see her giving her ghost the rest of her team? She really hoped Misdreavus was fine...

The other two hostages were sitting to the other side of the room, exhausted. They had their own escape attempts, but they were unable to even breach the room. Besides, a guard awaited outside, and neither of the hostages had found a way to distract him. What a problem...

“Hm? What’s that sound?” the radio tower director whispered to them.

Haruka, snapping out of her thoughts, tried to listen: it sounded like pebbles were rolling against metal, the sound intermittently getting closer. What was that? It seemed like it was coming from...from the ventilation duct. Looking towards the door as if at any moment the guard outside would open the door and catch them, Haruka walked to the ventilation duct on the ceiling, looking up towards it. She couldn’t see anything.

Suddenly, something fell down, right onto her hands: a Pokeball. A second, a third, a fourth came from the duct. Haruka’s eyes lit up when she realized what could be happening. “Misdreavus?”

Indeed, from the ventilation duct she saw a familiar pair of eyes. It had worked! Misdreavus got her Pokemon to her safely! The ghost Pokemon couldn’t pass through the grate on the duct, but at least the Pokeballs could. Haruka looked at the Pokemon inside, smiling.

Her Cherrim, her Staraptor...and Daigo. All three were there, safe and sound.

“We’ll be okay!” Haruka said to the other hostages.

“Wait, you have Pokemon now...!” the salaryman crawled towards her. “Can we get out?”

“I...” should they try to get out?

...

Maybe if she was alone she’d wait...but there were two other people here. What would Uncle Kaz do? He would help. He would try to protect them and face anything that could come. Trying to escape was dangerous, but...would them staying here really keep the safe?

She wasn’t sure. If only Uncle Kaz was here...

Still, even if he wasn’t here, she had Daigo. Daigo, Uncle Kaz’s trustworthy partner. As long as he was by her side, she was much stronger. Her journey had turned Haruka’s team into quite the force to reckon, but Daigo was tiers above them all anyway.

They could do it. They could escape. They had to try!

“Please stay quiet” Haruka requested to the salaryman and the director, pressing the button and releasing Daigo. The Pangoro materialized in the center of the room, imposing and large as usual. With a snort, Daigo looked around, as if evaluating the situation, before he laid his eyes on Haruka.”Daigo, I’m so glad to see you!”

Daigo huffed, but seemed relieved that Haruka was okay. Haruka got close to the bear, who lowered his head to listen to her. “That door, we need to open it. You can break through it, right?” she whispered, trying not to alert the guard outside.

That door? It’d be off its hinges in no time! It was no match for a strong Pangoro like him.

“There’s a bad guy outside, be careful”

The one who should be careful was the bad guy, thought Daigo, but alright. Daigo lumbered to the door, examining it, before raising a hand and punching the door with a roar. The door didn’t merely bend; it was propelled until it hit the wall in front of the door. The Team Rocket grunt guarding the room screamed, and got ready for a fight. Haruka, running outside, faced the grunt.

“Mr. Director! Mr. Gene! Stay back!” she said to her fellow hostages. A fight in such a cramped space? Better for them to not get close or else they’d risk injury!

Now that Haruka had her team, some Team Rocket grunts would be no match. She had refrained from fighting at the station because there were too many, but she certainly could handle them when they were coming alone or in like two or three! Releasing her Staraptor, she pointed forward, at the couple Ekans and an Arbok in the way. “Brave Bird!”

Her Staraptor cawed loudly, making the grunts cover their eyes, and swooped through the air, crossing the hallway from end to end with such strength all the snakes were launched off the ground, scattering and slithering towards their trainers. “Good! Now...Steel Wing!” That was a good follow-up for that attack, right? Even though she had been in a journey for a year, chaining the right moves still was something she struggled with.

It turned out to be an alright decision. The enemy Pokemon tried to bite Staraptor, who used her wings to defend herself, tensing them to make them as hard as steel before swooping by and hitting the snakes with her wings. It didn’t take long for the Poison-type Pokemon to fall unconscious! Haruka beckioned the salaryman and the director.

“Come on! Let’s get out while we can. Daigo, please make sure nobody gets behind us” she asked Daigo, who seemed a little disappointed to not be the one leading the way. Haruka’s Staraptor returned to her, ready to be at the front.

“So...where’s the way out?” the office worker wondered, looking around. They were somewhere under Goldenrod. The Director didn’t seem to know other than having a general idea of the way out. Haruka, having confirmed the direction to take, took the lead alongside her Staraptor while Daigo made sure to watch from the rear end in case any Team Rocket grunts tried to attack them on the back.

Even though they were still deep under Goldenrod, under the radio tower, Haruka felt optimistic. They could escape!

-ooooo-

“To think a brute like you could bruise Team Rocket’s pride...simply unthinkable”

Passing through the third floor was so easy. The Pokemon they encountered were no match for Shogu. The Nidoking had come a long way ever since he hatched three years ago! Now he was defeating Muks with such ease Kiryu was glad he was on his side.

The trainers who stubbornly tried to get in his way were dealt with pretty easily, too. Most crumpled after a well-placed punch, but a couple tried to keep coming into a physical fight, making Kiryu prove he hadn’t gotten rusty after three years. His fighting skills, kept intact thanks to sparring with his Pokemon, were far above what these Team Rocket grunts had!

It still was so satisfying when someone’s body opened the doors in his path, knocked onto them with just a punch to the jaw!

Still, by the end of the fourth floor he stumbled upon someone who very clearly was a Team Rocket Executive: a red-haired woman with a white uniform in a hallway full of doors to recording and broadcasting booths. She had introduced herself as Ariana, looking at him with caution.

“I don’t have time to talk. I’m going up there to talk with Archer” Kiryu said in a tone that said he wasn’t budging. Ariana sighed, as if regularly people came to try to force their way through their plans.

“Do you really think you can defeat me? I have heard about what you have done to everyone else on the way here. Your fighting style is so unrefined, so reliant on brute force. Not only that, you also have been roughhousing with the trainers. You dare call yourself a trainer?”

“I don’t care what Team Rocket is trying to do with this radio tower, but you will have to stop. Not you have taken hostages, you’re clearly disrupting Johto!”

“If your wish is to talk with Archer then I assure you I won’t allow you. I’ll stop you here right now!” Ariana had her Pokemon out in no time flat, all three. Even though she was looking down on Kiryu she wasn’t going to take any chances! Her Arbok, Vileplume and Murkrow were revealed, lining up in front of Ariana. “I’ll show you the pride and power of Team Rocket!”

“There’s no point in talking to you guys” Kiryu said, annoyed. That wasn’t really the reaction Ariana was looking for! This Kiryu guy really had nerves of steel. Kiryu’s Nidoking ran forward and raised on his hind legs, his bulky frame in front of Kiryu. Still, he realized the Murkrow and the Vileplume would be tough for Shogu. It was time for his last Pokemon to come forth. Kiryu took out the last Pokeball, throwing it onto the floor. “Haruka!” he called, the Pokeball opening with the usual flash of light.

Compared to the rest of the team, a Snorunt seemed out of place. Still, what she didn’t have in size, she compensated with a lot of fighting spirit! As soon as she was on the field Haruka the Snorunt was already itching to fight. Only her loyalty to Kiryu stopped her from running forward to attack! “Haruka, onto Shogu!”

“What...?” Ariana wasn’t sure what to think when she saw the Snorunt run up the Nidoking’s body, watching the larger purple Pokemon bend forward to make it easier for his teammate to climb him. Once Haruka reached his head, the two of them faced the opponents, glaring with such intensity she really saw their resemblance to their trainer. “It doesn’t matter. Sweet Scent, Leer, Wing Attack!”

“Shogu, focus on attacking from the ground! Haruka, keep that bird away!”

Good thing Shogu specialized at hitting hard! An Earthquake attack shook the floor, making even Kiryu stumble. The foe Murkrow was completely unaffected, but the Vileplume and the Arbok felt the brunt of the attack. The Murkrow, already swooping by to attack the Snorunt, had to dodge to void the Icy Wind attack Haruka used, snow and particles of ice falling onto the floor. Shogu’s tail swooped the ice, spreading it in front of the Vileplume, while the Arbok slithered forward to bite onto Shogu.

“Defend yourself!”

Shogu raised an arm, the Arbok latching onto him, its fangs sinking onto Shogu’s thick hide. Shogu roared, the strength of the Arbok’s jaws striking a critical hit on Shogu. “Haruka, it’s your chance! Headbutt!” Haruka already had her little hands full with that Murkrow! Still, she took the time to run down Shogu until she stepped on the Arbok’s hood, jumping upwards and hitting with her head with all her strength, right between the Arbok’s eyes.

“Impossible...!” Ariana exclaimed when she saw her Arbok let go from Shogu, only to receive a punch from him, knocking it out. “Vileplume, put them to sleep!”

“Haruka, Icy Wind!” Haruka opened her mouth, unleashing a blast that pushed the sleep powder back, towards the Murkrow swooping by to hit her. The Murkrow, feeling sleepy due to the powder, descended to the floor, leaving it vulnerable to a Mega Kick attack from Shogu.

“Vileplume, Mega Drain!”

The large flower waddled to the side of the hallway, focusing on Haruka, too quick for the ice-type to fight back. Haruka rolled, falling from Shogu’s back, weakened gravely by the Mega Drain. “Haruka!”

“I’m not going down so easily. Acid, Vileplume”

A burst of strange, steamy black tar-like liquid came from the center of Vileplume’s flower, flying in an arch towards Haruka, only to be blocked by Shogu’s hand, the acid doing almost nothing to an already poisonous creature. “Haruka, are you okay?”

Haruka managed to get to her feet, glaring at the Vileplume, and tried to reassure her trainer she was fine. She...really wasn’t. Worried, Kiryu called: “Forget that one, fight the Murkrow!” The Murkrow that was sleeping right now. Shogu didn’t really have an advantage against the Vileplume, but at least he wasn’t too hurt. “Haruka, Ice Fang! Shogu,, Megahorn!”

“Dodge it, Vileplume!”

The Megahorn pierced through the wall of the recording booth, leaving quite the sizable hole! Shogu’s horn had gone right through the material, leaving him stuck into the wall. “Shogu!”

“You fell on that little trap so easily” Ariana boasted, chuckling. “Vileplume, finish him. Mega Drain!”

The Vileplume got ready to attack the defenseless Shogu, ready to sap strength from him, but before he could, something hit the Vileplume on the back: a frozen, feathery form. “What?!” Ariana exclaimed, taking a better look at what it was: her Murkrow, partially encased in ice. It seemed its asleep status was gone, and now it was frozen! Haruka panted, the small Snorunt panting from the exertion of throwing the Murkrow across the hallway.

“Your tail, Shogu!”

Shogu swung his tail, hitting the Vileplume right onto its face, making the large flower tumble towards Ariana. It wasn’t defeated yet, but it was so dizzy it was having a hard time staying on its feet. Ariana, upset, clenched her fists, raising her voice:

“This isn’t over yet! We can go on for much longer than this!”

“Yeah, I can see that. You and your Pokemon aren’t the kind that’d give up as long as you can fight” Kiryu could see that much. He stepped forward, stepping beside the frozen Murkrow – unable to move, merely watching Kiryu pass by – and taking Shogu’s Pokeball to recall him back. Shogu disappeared into his Pokeball, and Kiryu picked up the Murkrow.

This man really was outrageous! Touching the opponent’s Pokemon in the middle of a battle! “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“However I really don’t have time for this. Not only the hostages need to be freed, now your broadcast must stop. I’m going to shut this down!” Kiryu said that with such determination that, just for a fleeting second, Ariana wondered if he’d be capable of that.

“If you think I’ll allow you—“

Kiryu stepped forward and let go of the Murkrow, sliding it across the floor and into an open recording booth. “What?!”

“Haruka, make the biggest Blizzard attack you can! To the roof above her!”

Above her? Not even to her Vileplume? Well alright. Haruka gathered breath and unleashed it all with a powerful Blizzard attack, hitting the ceiling. Snow, mist, ice, it all started filling the hallway. Frost formed on the surface of the ceiling and on the walls of the recording booths, and a white, thick, chilly fog filled the place, thick enough to hide Kiryu and his Snorunt. Ariana stepped back, fanning her hands in front of her face.

This shouldn’t be too difficult, this was a narrow hallway! As long as they attacked to the front—

She couldn’t finish her thought before she felt herself being lifted. Someone had grabbed her from legs and behind her shoulder blades and was now carrying her into one of the recording booths. Inside the booth it was warm, untouched by the frost and ice. Kiryu...that man was carrying her! “Let me go!”

Kiryu obliged, carefully lying Ariana down. The woman was so stunned by the bold maneuver she could only watch while Kiryu grabbed the handle of the door of the recording booth. “Where are the hostages? Are they with Archer?”

“Archer isn’t in the basement!”

So the hostages were in the basement...alright. While they were talking, Haruka the Snorunt pushed Vileplume into the recording booth, coaxing the plant with bursts of ice. Frost covered the Vileplume’s petals, it seemed the blizzard, although indirect, had caused damage to the Grass-type Pokemon.

“As I said I don’t have time to waste” Kiryu said, giving her a glance that was almost apologetic. Team Rocket admin or not, he really didn’t like having treated a woman so roughly. Still, getting her out of the way had been necessary. Kiryu closed the door and turned to Haruka. “Haruka, freeze that door thoroughly. Make sure it won’t open for a while”

It didn’t take long for the door to be coated with a thick layer of ice, especially the lock. Even with strong attacks from Ariana’s Pokemon it’d take quite some effort to break the ice. This should buy him some time to deal with Archer and not only rescue the hostages, but also stop Team Rocket’s broadcast.

He still wasn’t very sure what was going on, but given how much Team Rocket cared about their plan with the broadcast it was important for them. They had their top brass on the job. Whatever it was it couldn’t be good! It probably wasn’t as harmful in a large scale as Team Galactic’s plot was, but if left unchecked it could grow into something very troublesome not only for Johto, but for the entire world.

Possibly. It wasn’t impossible!

This was starting to go past merely rescuing hostages that may or may not include his adoptive daughter. He was going to deal with this broadcast problem no matter what.

Kiryu grabbed his Snorunt, looking at her carefully. She seemed very tired, but not injured. Still...she wouldn’t last for another battle. Asking her to retreat would wound Haruka’s pride, so he had a special task for her. “Haruka, get to the basement. See if my daughter is down there, and if she is, help her escape. If you don’t find her go meet with Ni, got it?”

Of course she got it! Haruka was really happy Kiryu was entrusting her with such an important task as finding his daughter. Such trust! Carefully, Kiryu helped Haruka get into the ventilation duct, which she then would use to get all the way to the basement. “Take care!” he said into the duct, listening to Haruka’s steps vanish into the metallic passageway.

It was time to get into the observation deck. After that staircase he’d find Archer, and he only had Shogu left in his team – a tired, battered Shogu.

Still, he wasn’t going to stop now. Kazuma Kiryu had faced much worse things than this.

This was like being in Kamurocho all over again, dealing with one of the many troublesome clans and families. And just like back then, he wasn’t going to back down.

-ooooo-

“Mr. Director, I think we may be getting lost”

Haruka frowned, looking down the intersection they had just arrived into. The three hostages had been walking for a while, and it seemed they had been going in circles. Why did the radio tower need such a labyrinthine basement? The Director had explained it extended not only in the building’s perimeter, but also further away into the subway system. That didn’t really make much sense!

Maybe that was normal in this world, she thought. It sure was full of surprises! Still, it’d be easier to marvel at that when she wasn’t walking around in that maze of gray hallways with fluorescent lights.

Suddenly, from above them, Haruka heard the pitter-patter if little feet crawling through the ventilation ducts. It couldn’t be her Misdreavus, so then...a bug-type Pokemon, perhaps? From Team Rocket? She had recalled her Staraptor – the bird was already tired from several battles in a row. Her Cherrim had taken the lead now, with Daigo grumpily accepting his time hadn’t arrived yet.

“Cherrim, be careful...” Haruka whispered, feeling a chill of fear go down her spine. Not seeing what was up there in the ducts was making her so nervous! Whatever was In there was getting closer to a grate on the ceiling. If it wanted to come out, it’d be its chance.

One, two, three blows to the grate without it buckling. For a moment there was silence, but then the grate was fired away by a blast of cold wind. From the inside of the ventilation duct fell an orange triangular shape, rolling on the floor. Haruka gasped.

“Is that a Snorunt?” the Director wondered.

The office worker stared at the Pokemon in disbelief. “Why would there be a Snorunt down here in Goldenrod?”

“But that is a Snorunt! That shape is unmistakable!”

“Then it must be Team Rocket’s”

Haruka stepped forward, eyeing the Snorunt with hope. “Haruka...?” It was a bit strange to say her own name, but if it was her, then...

The Snorunt looked up as soon as she said that. She recognized that voice! Her trainer’s daughter! Haruka the Snorunt got on her feet and rushed to the girl, eyes shining with joy. Haruka took the Snorunt from the floor, nuzzling her face against the cold cone that formed the Snorunt’s body. “I’m so happy to see yoU! But..wait, if you’re here...then Uncle Kaz is here?”

Haruka the Snorunt couldn’t nod – hard to when more than half your body is a head – but managed to convey that yes, her trainer was in the building up there! Happy, Haruka turned to her fellow hostages. “Everything will be okay!”

“Who is this Uncle Kaz?” the office worker asked.

“He’s the most reliable person you could ever meet. With him around everything will go fine! But...” Haruka hugged the Snorunt. “He’s going to be so angry with me...I told him I’d stay away from trouble, and instead Team Rocket caught me. How could I have been so foolish...”

What could one say to all that? Neither the Director nor the salaryman knew what to tell her, and the Snorunt and the Cherrim seemed at a loss of what to do. Daigo was the only one who reacted, approaching Haruka and lying a paw on top of her head. Haruka unconsciously held onto that paw, pressing it against her head.

So warm and fuzzy...and large, too. That paw was big enough to cover her entire face. Haruka’s fingers got entangled into the coarse fur of that paw while she smiled. Daigo had been with her the entire journey, a steadfast ally she could always count on. Even now when she was feeling downcast he didn’t hesitate to come to her. What’d she do without him? Daigo truly was like Uncle Kaz.

Even though she didn’t understand Pokemon when they spoke, she had absolutely no doubt Daigo greatly cared for her. Even now, even though he wasn’t saying anything, she felt like he was trying to convey her that everything would be okay, that Uncle Kaz would understand. That it wasn’t her fault.

And that she should fight on.

Truly, he was Uncle Kaz’s Pokemon.

“Let’s go!” Haruka pulled Daigo’s paw off her head, clutching it with both hands when the Snorunt jumped to the floor, standing in front of them and turning around. She...right. “She wants us to follow her. Come on, let’s go!”

Haruka the Snorunt seemed to have a better time than anyone else finding a way through the labyrinthine corridors. Before long she led them up some stairs, to a locked door, and headbutted the door a few times. It was there! The exit. It even was helpfully marked with an ‘EXIT’ sign above it. Good! Too bad it was locked.

“Now what?” the office worker grabbed onto the handle and tried to turn it “Should we break it?”

“I’m not sure...what if it brings a lot of Team Rocket people here?” Haruka pointed out. The Director examined the device to the side of the door, passing a finger over a slit in it.

“This door needs a keycard! But it’s unlikely any random grunt has it...”

“Isn’t it a little strange there were so many grunts locked in here? One of them must have the card” the salaryman said.

“I guess, but a grunt wouldn’t have it”

“Then...someone higher-ranked than them?”

“Probably yes. They must be somewhere down here”

Haruka turned around. “I’ll go get it”

“What? You?” the salaryman seemed hesitant. “You have done so much already, shouldn’t we wait until someone rescues us?”

“But I can do something about it! What if we can’t afford to sit around?” Haruka clutched her hands. This was a little too much for an eleven-year old girl to be handling, really, but she had to put on a brave face. She wasn’t going to change her mind. Turning to her Cherrim, she kneeled to talk to it. “Cherrim, could you stay with them and guard them?”

Of course! Her Cherrim nodded. Haruka smiled, grabbing Daigo’s paw.

“Let’s go, Daigo. Someone must have that keycard so...let’s find it!”

“Wait! Wait wait wait wait!” the salaryman said, but when Haruka turned around, he found the office worker staring blankly at her.

“I-I didn’t say anything!” he defended himself. Then the source of the voice revealed himself:

The office worker turned the corner, panting. “Sorry, I got lost! This place is like a maze...” he trailed off when he saw himself standing there. “W-Wait, what’s going on?”

“You? But you’re here...!” the Director turned to the office worker, who looked away. “Two of you?”

Daigo looked back and forth, a little confused, but then grabbed the office worker closer to him and with a claw tried to touch the salaryman’s forehead. Alarmed, the man backed away, Daigo’s claw shredding through his forehead. Still, no blood was drawn. Instead, pieces of some strange material fell to the floor, shredded from a mask.

“What’s going on?” the Director pressed himself against the table while the masked ‘salaryman’ felt his forehead. The real one joined him, trying to stay away from his copy.

The fake one sighed. “Things were going so well. I thought I could keep you all down here without any of you noticing anything, but I guess I overestimated the guy in the suit there” he said before running away.

Haruka, nervous, swallowed and left Cherrim behind with the Director and the real salaryman, turning the corner and finding a different person in the middle of the corridor, a man with purple hair and a goatee, cockily staring at her. “My, you’re such a spirited child. You’re on your journey through Johto, aren’t you?”

“I’m not telling!” Haruka fired back, trying to keep her voice steady.

“When an adult is talking to you you should listen, you know? Team Rocket Executive Petrel, right here” he pointed at himself with his thumb. “Since I’m so nice I don’t intend to harm any of you, but I’ll ask that you turn and go back with the others. Just sit tight while Team Rocket is finished with our little project, alright?”

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, like I’d tell you! I already did my part by impersonating that director and arranging the broadcast to call our boss to come here”

Petrel didn’t seem to realize he had just blurted out most of the plan. So Team Rocket was trying to call the boss...? And that’s why they kidnapped the director, to impersonate him...? Haruka breathed deeply, steeling herself for the impending confrontation.

“We want to get out of here...please give us the k-k-keycard?”

Petrel laughed. “Nervous?”

“You have it, right?”

With a flourish of his hand, Petrel showed a plastic keycard. “Right here. What are you going to do about it?”

Haruka stepped forward. Her legs were trembling a little, but she was going to face Petrel. That much had been decided when she turned the corner. “Daigo...we’re fighting”

“Fight? You’re going to battle me?” Petrel asked in disbelief, and sighed as if he was humoring her. “Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll accept. I’ll show you you can’t go around doing what you want, you little brat”

Haruka stepped back, letting Daigo take the front. The bear, eager to get started, faced Petrel, ready to exert all his might in the fight. Petrel took out five Pokeballs, showing them to Haruka.

“Do you really think your single Pokemon can defeat all these? That’s funny”

It was time to battle. This would be one of the most important battles in Haruka’s fledging journey as a trainer, and she knew it.

She couldn’t afford to lose – she wouldn’t forgive herself if she did.

-ooooo-

The observation deck at the top of the radio tower was so wide and the views so beautiful Kiryu actually had to stop to take it all in. So big, and he could see so much of Goldenrod from here even though he was in just a fifth floor...if he didn’t know better he’d think there was something spatially wrong here, but unless Palkia was hanging out somewhere around there that was impossible.

Spoiling all that was Archer, already with a Houndoom in front of him. Clearly Archer had heard someone had been wreaking havoc through the radio tower. “So this is the intruder” he said, observing Kiryu. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t you”

“You...you must be Archer” Kiryu faced him. Finally, the ascent was done. He was face to face with the executive he had been looking for!

“That’s right. What’s your name?”

“There’s no need for introductions. Kiryu said coldly, earning a raised eyebrow from Archer.

“I’m guessing you’re not a resident of Goldenrod. Do you even live in Johto?”

“I certainly don’t”

“Right. Then why do you care about any of this?”

Kiryu clenched his fists. “There are few things that piss me off. Opportunistic people like you are one of them”

“Opportunistic? Don’t you dare belittle Team Rocket’s designs!” Archer spread his arms, his voice increasing in volume “This is a plan we have been working on for weeks already! Through our actions in this tower, Team Rocket will rise stronger than ever! Do you believe you deserve to stand in the middle of Team Rocket’s meteoric ascent?!”

“I don’t care at all about your ascent or about Team Rocket, but when you start taking hostages and causing havoc I can’t just stand aside” This had started from just the possibility Team Rocket had Haruka hostage. Now, after seeing how much this clearly villainous group was working in this, he just felt the need to step in! “People like you seriously piss me off!”

“Then stay angry about it. We’re not going to stop because you ask us to” Archer said, annoyed. “I’m giving you only one chance to leave. What will it be?”

Kiryu didn’t budge at all. He merely stared at Archer with such suppressed, unforgiving anger Archer felt the atmosphere had heated up a few degrees.

“I see. You’ll rue the day you dared to stand against Team Rocket”

“I’m going to make you turn off that broadcast and release your hostages” Kiryu stepped forward “Even if I have to drag you by the neck all the way to the basement!”

“Houndoom, go!”

Archer’s Houndoom stood in front of the executive, flames already leaking through its bared fangs. Kiryu took out his remaining Pokeball, looking into it. Shogu...he was injured, but perhaps he’d resist?

No backing down now, though. He had to fight.

Archer took out his other two Pokeballs. “I won’t go easy on you” he declared, revealing a Houndour and a Koffing. Kiryu in turn showed Shogu, the Nidoking standing tall and proud despite the signs of exhaustion he had. One versus three, it seemed.

Apparently Archer had been fighting alongside his Pokemon for a while already, because Koffing didn’t even need an order before it went up and unleashed a cloud of smoke all over the observation deck, obscuring the view. The sunlight streaming through the windows was dampened, the deck darkened, Archer’s dogs blending into the darkness somewhat. Flickers of fire were the only sign of where they were.

“Shogu, Earthquake!” Kiryu commanded, Shogu didn’t hesitate to act. The observation deck trembled strongly, chairs, tables, furniture all falling and tumbling, while the dogs tried to hold their footing. “Protect!”

“Protect? Going on the defensive already?” Archer laughed, a jet of fire hitting Shogu. He didn’t even need to say a word, his skill with his own Pokemon was pretty high. “This is going to end sooner than I thought”

“Keep them away from you, Shogu!” Kiryu couldn’t see very well, Koffing’s smog obscuring everyone’s view quite well. Shogu, disoriented, thrashed around, his tail and arms swinging wildly. At least it did do its job of keeping the Houndour and Houndoom away from him. The smaller dog’s mouth filled with fire, tried to latch onto Shogu, but the Nidoking managed to swat him away, making the dog roll.

“You’re not going to last long. That Nidoking of yours seemed pretty tired. Do you really think he’s going to last longer than my own Pokemon?”

He was right about that. It was only matter of time before Shogu fell, and once he did, their odds went way down. Not impossible, just way down. Perhaps attacking Archer directly may be a good idea, and since asking Shogu to attack Archer was unthinkable, Kiryu decided to take it into his own hands. “Keep them busy, Shogu!” Kiryu ordered, stepping forward.

“What are you doing?” Archer sounded displeased. He probably was so used to the smog he could see decently well through it. Kiryu didn’t bother to answer, instead approaching slowly through the smog. “You idiot”

Kiryu made sure to stay away from Shogu to avoid being hit by his flailing limbs, instead going in an arch around the entire observation deck. All he could see were faint shapes, silhouettes in middle of a strange yellowish cloud. There in the distance was something – Archer, probably. He had to go all the way there.

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he saw something approaching at high speed. Whatever it was jumped, trying to reach him. Kiryu’s reflexes acted before his brain caught onto his body was doing. He kicked, intending to reject whatever was coming.

Frankly, the sound of pain that Houndour emitted wrenched his heart. Kiryu actually had to stop, aghast. For just a moment Archer stared until, with obvious, almost deadly rage in his voice, he declared:

“How dare you? How dare you?!”

Fair reaction, really. Kiryu had to admit that. He even was going to apologize, but before he could, Archer pointed at him, maddened. “Focus on him! Tear him apart! All of you, make sure he won’t be leaving!”

Still a fair reaction, Kiryu admitted. He crossed his arms in front of his head, the Koffing crashing into them. That Koffing had just tried to hit his head, spinning at full speed. That would have left him with a concussion, at the very least.

This battle had gone way off rails.

-ooooo-

How many Koffings did this man have, Haruka wondered. There had been so many so far! Daigo had fought valiantly against all them, but there was only so many Poison-types one Pokemon could fight before getting poisoned.

Petrel sighed. “I admit I didn’t expect you to come this far, but this is the end for you. You’re not defeating this one”

“We’ll win!” Haruka challenged, although inwardly she was really worried about Daigo’s state. She so badly wanted to tell him to back down, but if they retreated now then they’d have failed...Petrel would have defeated her. No, she couldn’t allow that! But Daigo, he was hurt! And poisoned!

“You got guts, I’ll concede that much. Have you considered joining Team Rocket? You’re not going straight to the top, but with your bravery you may be on fast track”

“I’d never join Team Rocket!”

“Your loss. Here, take a look at my best Pokemon” Petrel flicked his last Pokeball, unleashing the Weezing inside. The gaseous Pokemon floated. Haruka thought its expression was the ugliest she had seen in a Pokemon...

“Daigo, you can do it!” she cheered, already trying to think of a strategy. What could they do, what could they do...? Fighting Petrel’s Koffings so far had been relatively easy, mostly because they turned out not to have much strength. This Weezing probably would be different. “Don’t attack yet!”

“Giving me the first move? Alright. Weezing, Sludge”

A ball of malodorous sludge was launched from Weezing’s mouth, crashing into Daigo’s fur, sticky globs of toxins clinging to him. Haruka gasped when Daigo stumbled back. More toxins being added upon toxins...not good, not good! “Endure it, Daigo! Focus Energy!”

“Keep throwing that sludge at him, Weezing!”

Over and over, more globs of sludge pelted Daigo. The bear tried to ignore them, focusing on storing energy. If they could get one good hit, just one single good hit, they could win. That was Haruka’s plan.

“Daigo, get closer!” Haruka ordered. Daigo huffed, moving forward. There was some distance between him and the Weezing, time it used to keep throwing sludge at the bear. Petrel didn’t seem interested in trying a different strategy, apparently judging overloading Daigo with poison would give him the victory sooner or later.

He wasn’t wrong.

With every step Haruka feared it’d be the last one before she was forced to recall Daigo. Daigo kept going, stepping forward with effort. Even though he was holding strong, Haruka was experienced enough to notice when her Pokemon were starting to reach their limit.

“You’re pushing that Pangoro so hard, little girl. How heartless of you” Petrel mocked with fake concern. That smirk he had showed it was something that pleased him.

“We cannot lose...!” Haruka shouted, her nerves starting to betray her a little – her voice cracked when she shouted that. Petrel’s smirk seemed to enlarge.

“Really? Then look how I end this. Weezing, aim to the eyes”

Weezing opened its mouth, unleashing a ball of slime that hit Daigo right on the eyes. The thick, black sludge clung to Daigo’s eyes. He tried to wipe it off, but his paws were a little too clumsy to do so. Haruka covered her mouth with her hands when Daigo stopped advancing. “There you go, he’s done for” Petrel claimed “Weezing, tackle him”

The purple Pokemon floated through the air at a surprising speed and tackled Daigo, hitting him right on the chest, the bear stumbling back. “Again” Petrel repeated two, three times. Weezing battered Daigo around while Haruka watched, horrified at the turn things were taking.

Daigo couldn’t see right now. Sooner or later Petrel would stop playing around and tell Weezing to finish it, she knew that. Was there nothing she could do...? “Daigo, don’t give up! We can do this, we just need a plan?”

Haruka’s voice seemed to calm Daigo somewhat. He stood still, exhaling, tensing to tank the Weezing’s tackles. He was listening to Haruka intently. Daigo trusted her, she could see that. She couldn’t fail him, she couldn’t let him be defeated. Then what she can do...

...well, if Daigo can’t see, then she’d have to be his eyes. “Daigo, listen to me carefully. To your right and up! Swat there!”

Right and up. Daigo swatted the air, missing the Weezing by a couple inches. So close yet so far, not good enough to be meaningful. The Weezing circled around Daigo, seemingly searching for a good spot to hit. “Keep swatting. Behind you!”

“Really? You’re going to make him flail like that?”

“Daigo, a little to the left”

“You’re not even close to hitting him” Petrel seemed bemused. The Pangoro was swishing his arms in the air where Haruka indicated him, not really a meaningful move, he thought. “If you’re done fooling around we can get done with this”

“The right, the right and down!”

“You’re not even listening to me, are you?” Petrel sighed. “Alright, I’m getting tired, so...Weezing, strike him as hard as you can”

Haruka focused while the Weezing circled around. While it’s true her indications didn’t come close to letting Daigo hit the Weezing, she did realize a few important things, like how quickly Weezing turned around, how fast it sailed through the air, the way it pivoted around...little cues that piled together and said a lot about the way Weezing moved.

Only one hit, only one, that’s all she needed. One good hit before the Weezing hit Daigo.

“Now!” Petrel commanded.

“Right below your right ear, Daigo! Bullet Punch!”

Few times Haruka had seen Daigo move so fast. Moves that had priority such as Bullet Punch made that happen, really. Weezing had already started crossing the air to strike at Daigo. Collide with the bear it did – it collided right into Daigo’s paw. A strange noise like a balloon that was smacked echoed through the corridor. The Weezing spun out of control, spiraling until it fell to the floor, knocked out.

For a moment all Petrel did was stare at his defeated Pokemon. He really had lost, that girl had defeated him with one single Pokemon, one that didn’t even have super effective attacks against his Pokemon. He...he lost.

Haruka ignored Petrel, rushing to Daigo, cleaning the gunk off his eyes the best she could with his sleeve. “Are you okay?” she whispered, worried. If he wasn’t, if she pushed him too hard...

A hearty growl from him was all the answer she needed. He was fine. Tired, still poisoned, but he’d endure it. Getting her toughest face on, Haruka faced Petrel and extended a hand. What she wanted was obvious.

Petrel sighed through clenched teeth and took out the keycard. “Fine. There you go” he said, stretching his limbs once Haruka took the keycard. “You really should consider joining Team Rocket”

“I’m not joining!”

“Too bad. We’d do great with one like you with us” Petrel turned around, waving lazily with a hand. “Do whatever you want, I don’t think we have further use for you. See ya” he said, vanishing into the depths of the maze-like depths of Goldenrod.

Haruka waited for a few seconds before returning to Daigo – or more like running at him, throwing her arms around the bear’s neck. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for pushing you so hard! Daigo, when we’re out of here I’ll nurse you back to health myself, and I’ll give you lots of food and water, and I’ll read you something, and—“

Daigo stopped her, pushing her away very gently. None of that was necessary. She was fine, they had won. That was all that mattered. Haruka hiccupped just once, holding back the worries and anxiety she got at fearing she had done wrong to Daigo.

This bear...he really would have her back no matter what, she could see that plain as day. He truly was her best friend, she knew that. Daigo made her feel as safe as Uncle Kaz did. Feeling warm and happy, Haruka took out Daigo’s Pokeball, but he refused to be called inside. Accepting that, Haruka took him from a paw, as if she could help him stand up.

“Come on, let’s go! We should leave” she said.

Even though she had been trapped as collateral damage in Team Rocket’s plans, she had managed to overcome a big challenge. She really had come a long way, she knew that.

She had never felt so accomplished before.

-ooooo-

Archer’s Koffing and Houndour had been defeated and, thankfully, it had all been Shogu’s doing, with no intervention from Kiryu at all. After what happened to the Houndour Archer had been merciless, ordering his Pokemon to attack Kiryu over and over. Civility was long gone. Kiryu had made sure to never lie not even a finger on his opponent’s Pokemon, blocking the attacks with furniture and staying near the windows of the observation deck.

Shogu had defeated them thanks to some well-placed attacks. Now the Houndoom was the only one left, but Shogu was at his limit. In contrast, the Houndoom seemed to still have plenty of juice left.

“You’re not coming out of this deck alive!” Archer had shouted at least thrice. He still was enraged Kiryu dared to attack his Pokemon himself. That perhaps was why he had been so ruthless with the way he ordered Houndoom around, changing his plans at the drop of a hat, forcing his dog to make some reckless moves that would put it in peril if it wasn’t for Shogu’s exhaustion.

Archer extended a hand. “Crunch!”

Houndoom leaped through the air, latching onto Shogu’s arm and pulling. Shogu couldn’t even get him away, the Houndoom pulled and gripped with its sharp fangs.

“Shogu!” Kiryu was still trying to go around towards Archer, but he was hesitating. He couldn’t just let Shogu be attacked over and over! He had raised that Nidoking since he was just an egg. It wouldn’t be exaggeration to say Shogu was the one he was closest to, now that Daigo was with Haruka.

The Houndoom let go off the Nidoking’s arm, retreating. Archer studied the situation. “Just one or two bites more and it’s over. What kind of stupid trainer faces someone else while having just one single Pokemon?”

Kiryu merely breathed hard, seething.

“How you managed to overcome the rest of the executives is something I’ll never understand, but I won’t fall to you. Houndoom, Crunch. Make sure that Nidoking will stay down” The Houndoom growled and leaped, jaws open, ready to clamp on Shogu and inflict all the strength of its bite.

Instead of a thick hide he found something much softer: Kiryu’s arm. Kiryu had dashed to Shogu’s side, extending an arm and receiving all the brunt of Houndoom’s attack. He felt his bone almost breaking under the strain when the Houndoom closed its jaws. Shogu, horrified, looked at his trainer, eyes wide open.

How could he put himself in harm’s way like that...! Sparring was one thing! That was playfighting! This was far from that! Kiryu had Shogu’s complete trust, but still...why did he do that?!

Kiryu clutched his injured arm. Puncture marks lined his arm, and they hurt quite a bit. Archer shook his head. “Stupid and reckless too. Have you heard how a Houndoom’s fire will make a burn hurt without reprieve? Perhaps you can tell me if their bite has the same effect”

Kiryu let go of his arm. It was a true miracle his arm bones hadn’t broken. Instead he turned his head at Shogu, apologetic. “Sorry about that. I’m not used to standing aside when someone’s in danger like that”

His trainer had stood in the way of harm for him. Shogu felt a deep sense of failure for being so weak his trainer had gotten in the way to spare him a shameful defeat. How could he consider worthy of his trainer’s love if he couldn’t do this much...? He couldn’t let himself be defeated, there was something he could do, right?

...right. His trainer had tried to reach that guy a few times. Then if he could give him help with that...

Archer shook his head. “Houndoom, Flamethrower” he said, pointing at the floor with a finger and tracing a line in the air. Houndoom aimed its fire to the ground, setting a wall of fire between Archer and the battle. As Archer saw it, the intruder was getting kind of desperate, and he did notice he had tried to reach him before. Better stop that right there, he thought. Still, that desperation...nothing else explained he got in the way of Houndoom’s powerful maw.

Once the floor was set on fire, Archer stepped back, sweat already flowing from his forehead. “Now finish them. Go!”

What’s the sound a Pokemon makes when they’re bit? It wasn’t something Archer had really thought about before, but now he was listening carefully to catch onto that. It probably would be all muffled if Houndoom bit the Nidoking, and kind of squishier if it bit the intruder. Instead, he heard something he didn’t expect:

“Mega Punch!”

Mega Punch? That Nidoking wouldn’t have the strength to perform that move, would he?

The answer was revealed when Archer saw his Houndoom cross the air, passing through the wall of flames and crashing against the tough glass of the observation deck. The Houndoom fell in a heap on the floor, defeated. “What?!” That was all he had time to shout before, a mere second later, something else passed through the wall of fire – near the top, fast enough to not be burned:

A man with his fist reared back.

Kiryu roared while he crossed the air, and he fell right in front of Archer, feet planted on the floor, and punched before the executive had time to react. Kiryu’s hook hit him right on the side of the jaw, turning Archer’s head and launching him back, towards the window. Just like the Houndoom had done, Archer crashed against the glass. A bruise was already forming on his face.

This was it. Kiryu approached, blood still trailing down his arm. Shogu’s Mega Arm attack had both hit the leaping Houndoom and given Kiryu the thrust he needed to overcome the wall of flames. Now he could finish this with Archer. With methodical anger, Kiryu grabbed Archer’s foot and raised the man in the air, holding and slamming him against the floor after a 180° angle trip through the air. Archer’s front hit the floor. Dazed, he was unable to do a thing before Kiryu planted his foot right on top of Archer’s chest, holding him down.

“You dare...to get in the way of Team Rocket...” Archer gasped, aching.

“Are you going to stop that broadcast yet?”

“No way! Team Rocket cannot be stopped by the likes of you! I’m never—“

“Give me the keycard to the basement”

“Absolutely not!”

Kiryu glared at Archer. For a moment both men stared at each other, neither of them wanting to change their mind.

Suddenly, a communication device to the side crackled to life, delivering a message:”

“Commander Archer! The director, that man and the girl have escaped! They stole the keycard and opened the door, they’re out! I repeat, they’re out!”

The hostages were out. But the broadcast still was on, wasn’t it?

Kiryu grabbed Archer by the collar, raising him up. He wasn’t playing around at all. From the extinguishing wall of fire Shogu came through, worse for wear but still able to move.

True, the broadcast still was working, but these two sure would make sure it wouldn’t anymore, one way or another. If he wanted not to add a few more bruises more to the ones he already had, he better comply.

-ooooo-

Haruka had been very surprised when she found Ni outside. If the Gyarados was here, then where was Uncle Kaz? While the Team Rocket grunts dispersed after the broadcast stopped, Haruka found out Kiryu was inside the tower. Nothing to do but wait for him to come out, with Haruka sitting in front of her and Daigo to her side getting copious amounts of antidotes.

It took just ten minutes. While people started gathering around the radio tower, while the salaryman and the Director gave their testimonies to the police, while the police started securing the perimeter, the doors of the radio tower opened and a man came through, followed by his Pokemon.

All of them looked quite battered. Ni was the one that seemed kind of intact. Bito had a lot of sludge stains on his carapace, and Aka beside him was standing so close to Kiryu she thought he wasn’t going to ever let go. Shogu looked quite bad, the poor thing had been through the wringer. “Uncle Kaz” she shouted when she saw the state of his arm. That had to hurt...!

“Haruka...” Kiryu wasted no time in getting to her. “Are you alright?” that was the very first thing he asked. Haruka, unable to peel her eyes from Kiryu’s injured arm, nodded, feeling guilty.

“I’m sorry, things happened and I didn’t mean to get involved...”

“That’s enough” Kiryu stopped her “I’m just glad you’re okay. I heard you and the rest escaped”

“We did. Daigo was so much help”

No wonder Daigo looked like he had been in some impressive fights, Kiryu thought. It seemed Haruka and him had a lot to talk about what had happened that day. But not right now. First they both needed to rest. Instead, Kiryu sat down with Haruka, examining his arm. It would heal, it’d just leave a few scars.

“Are you still planning to go to the festival?”

“Huh?” That wasn’t a question Haruka expected.

“We should go. After today we need a vacation”

He was saying that mostly for her, really. Even though Haruka had handled things admirably, she still was an eleven-year old girl. She shouldn’t have to do this. She should be having fun, enjoying her journey, not fighting Team Rocket.

That festival seemed like a good idea.

Haruka stared at her hands. “I mean...it’ll be more fun if you go with me”

There was only one acceptable answer to that, really. While Kiryu started recalling his team back into Pokeballs so they could all take a trip to the nearest Pokemon Center, Kiryu couldn’t help but smile with relief. Things would go just fine.

“We’ll all go”