AuthorSME
patreon
PokéSync: B4 — 47. An Ominous Future
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 22:00:09 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Lulu (Our Villainess Cosmog of Eternal Fluff!)
2. Rhea (Our Future Super Villainess!)
Pokemon Map I Loosely Use For Visual Aid: The distance between areas might be different; some cities are somewhat incorrect, a few routes have been mislabeled, and some cities aren't listed, but it's the best I've found.
Google Document (In-line Comments)
--------------------
3:47 p.m. November 3rd, Tuesday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 147.
Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (31 days away)
--------------------
Shadows overtook the sky, the darkness engulfing the battlefield filling Lulu with glee as she hovered over the haunting zone she’d created. Mist gathered, mixing with the lava and fire to create dampened flashes of orange and red.
The sounds of the music above and the crowd faded, taking her back to her time in Lavender City, when Mistress Luna had shown her the glory of the Ghost World. Tendrils of otherworldly force writhed beneath the surface as pillars of fire roared out of the rising fog, illuminating her opponent far below.
Kite’s flaming eyes appeared on a close up, the monitors around the stage showing the stunning view of her dominating the field in her lofty position. Fluff fan covering her smile, she floated gracefully with her villainous smirk plastered on her face as black clouds rose along the edges of the shielded zone, crawling up the distorting barrier.
I am the truth behind the door, lowly foreigners. Behold my glory!
Or at least, that’s how she imagined it. Rhea and V’s synced, stabilizing energy flowed into her in a controlled feed compared to her last two battles. They were improving.
The weight of all the eyes on her, the glowing lava-like floor, and the churning steam around the arena only added to the grandeur of her momentous entrance, the announcer freaking out above as Blaine peered down at them with an intrigued smirk.
She spoke, voice dripping with faux menace to her skittish ghostly knight opponent, fan flicking open dramatically, casting an ominous shadow over her overcast face.
“You’ve witnessed a legend. It’s understandable to tremble and look upon me in awe, hero. But show The Queen what powers have been granted you by the souls you carry within that rusted metal.”
Kite stood motionless on the cracked stone floor, his burning eyes never leaving her. Despite the chaos she summoned around her, his form was calm, focused, and deadly—feeding upon it. His focus radiated from the very core of his being, an icy contrast to her chaotic energy.
Yet, the announcer’s question, distant from the far above speakers, made Lulu’s thoughts freeze. “Truly, an intimidating introduction…but is this arrogance from Rhea and Lulu? Wait, I’m getting a report from Gym Leader Blaine… I was just corrected that this is not Ghost Terrain but Haunted Terrain! A field only capable of being created by Legendary and Mythical Pokemon. But…Kite is the main one boosted by this field, Cosmog, as a Psychic Type, can’t benefit from it until her final form as a Lunala.”
Wait, really? Bah!
“Hehehe. Of course, I know this field benefits you, hero,” she proclaimed, twisting in the air and fanning her pink cheeks with feigned confidence. “It’s just because…I’m on a whole different level.”
The crowd hushed as the eerie Haunted Terrain fully took over the arena, amplifying every flicker of shadow, every faint whisper of ghostly energy. Even passive spirits from the thinning veil between the Ghost World and the human world flitted about, causing faint outlines of the snickering, curious spirits that faded in and out of reality.
Rhea’s forced laughter rolled through their connection. “This is…certainly new, Lulu! I think this might actually be a problem we need to address because if you can actually create a rift between the Ghost World and ours…there could be problems. He’s analyzing your—huh?”
Indeed! I am just that fantabulatias! I got that one from the heroes, shhh! Oh, oh, he’s still waiting for me to rile up the crowd! What a considerate hero. Yes, The Queen must speak!
“This…is my domain now,” Lulu intoned, her voice carrying that over-the-top villainous flair she loved from Mistress Bellelba. She flicked her fan again, signaling her move. “Watch as I rewrite your fate!”
Without waiting, she spun in the air, creating sparkling jewels of water that glittered in the sky like stars. The dazzling array of reflective orbs made the Ceruledge hold up his blades in defense, yet the diamond shower merely mixed with the shadows to freeze in the air, defying physics.
Laughter from the circling spirits increased, the dark droplets now being gathered from the figures of curious ghostly people and Pokemon, who stood around the stage on rocks or floated around, observing.
“You are certainly something special, Queen of the Magical Land,” Kite whispered, his serious gaze shifting for half a second to observe their new audience beyond the thin veil. “It is an honor to face such an opponent. The ruler of Paldea who beseeched me to explore outside the Great Crater was correct.”
His focus fixated on her again, fire growing with the potent ghostly force resonating with him. “I accept your challenge and will give you everything I have, legend of the present.”
Kite launched into the air, shadows swallowing him as if the environment welcomed the Blade Pokemon into its embrace. Black clouds and dark, swirling energy circled around Lulu, a smile on her face as the eerie area closed in around her.
“Polite…but a fool,” Lulu mused, her fluff fan snapping shut as she relished her dramatic role, following Luna’s advice on how to spot spirits with the umbra and chill they cast in an area. “To charge at me so brazenly… Arrogance. No matter, I’ll give him a grand show of my power!”
Her casual, illuminated pink irises met Kite’s intense, flaming orbs as he appeared in front of her, darkness flaring off his blades. With a confident smirk, Lulu breathed in, drew in Rhea’s explosive fortitude, and spoke in a whisper that distorted space and hit the shocked Ceruledge like a wall.
“Weak.”
The shockwave ripped through the knight’s body, launching him toward the flaming, mist-filled ground. The shadowy water droplets and fog scattered, Kite keeping his quaking blades raised as he hit the stone floor, cracking under the reverberation she’d generated before his blades sliced through the air, cutting through the dispersing seismic wave. Yet, a stumble made Lulu’s mouth twitch upward, his vision blurred and senses scrambled.
“How unfortunate. The weak get weaker, and the strong stay strong.”
He blinked, trying to recalibrate, but his movements faltered. The dizzying effects of Supersonic leaving him seeing double as he used his blade to stop himself from falling to one knee.
“Is this the best you can do with my support, hero?” Lulu laughed, twirling in the air as her jewels of water formed again to sparkle stars above, darkening to spread out into a misty cloud that blotted out the stadium’s open sky in haunting shadows. “Surely you didn’t expect to defeat the Queen of the Magical Land with such a feeble display! Witness greatness.”
Kite’s voice was burning with excitement, if pressured with stress, instead of fear while shaking off the vibes and staring up at her. “Fair assessment, my lady. I remember nothing from my former life but tormenting anger… However, I recognize your power and grace.”
He’s so good at this! Lulu internally squealed, chest swelling with pride. He called me a lady, too! Yes! This is perfect. Okay. Okay. Chill and cool. You are a mystery!
Shae piped up through Rhea’s bond, counter to the typical coaching her teammates did for her. “You’re killing it, Queenie! You look so powerful!”
“Mmm. Though foolish for challenging a legend, such as I,” she said, holding her closed fluff fan to her chin, “you have heart and strive for greatness. I can respect that in a man of principle. Very well, show me the skills you have honed.”
She unfurled her fan and waved it in dramatic fashion. “Meet my challenge,” she declared with flair.
A massive, swirling orb of unpredictable darkness flashed into being, strobing in a dance of erratic pulses in zig-zagging patterns across the battlefield.
Kite set a stance and launched forward, gliding across the air before melding into an umbra, the shadow becoming a blur. He narrowly avoided the chaotic ray as he predicted its vanish and resurgence, zipping past it. The Ceruledge’s wispy blades reappeared behind her, his form flickering under the effects of the ghostly zone, the eerie spirits still whispering in the corners of the field.
“Oh?” Lulu whispered with a melodramatic chuckle, irises drifting to the side, knowing how many Ghostly Moves worked from her time with Big Sis Luna. “You’re improving.”
His blades sliced through air to cleave through the twinkling rainbow light that carried her yet further into the sky to gaze down at her opponent. Kite was already a shadow again, streaking through the air to follow her through the sky as the drones circled, trying to keep up with her as much as the ghost.
“You’re getting faster,” she lightly clapped, fluffy fan against her fluffy hand while relocating to the tallest smoky pillar on the stadium. “I’m going to need you to catch up with… Hmm?”
Lulu’s mind blanked as the smiling and focused Ceruledge dove straight into the molten ground, vanishing.
What’s this? Lulu thought, her fan fluttering to her lips as she lost sight of the shadow. Luna didn’t tell me how to find them if they hid in the ground. What do I do…
“Watch out below, Lulu!” Rhea shouted. “We want to put on a show, but we also want to win. We need to attack, not just show off.”
Sorry! I’m just getting in… Woah!
The fog below swirled in a sudden circle, fire igniting from the zoned-in Ceruledge as he appeared, his blades blazing with ghostly flames. He slashed them outward, summoning a vortex of fire that crawled up the pillar to trap her in an inferno.
“You’re learning,” she praised, getting back in character as rainbow lights carried her behind the Ceruledge. “Too slow, my dear hero!” she taunted, her voice dripping with feigned menace.
Yet, Kite was already spinning to meet her as she generated an unpredictable orb of darkness; he was prepared this time, blue fire burning in his eyes. Melding into the ground once more, the swirling darkness barely grazed his afterimage as he repositioned, feeding off the haunting terrain.
He shot out from under her, her slashing blade leaving three dark-infused claws streaking out from the tip to cleave her into pieces. The attack was too fast! A blue honeycomb shell surrounded her just in the nick of time, creating sparks that forced Kite back.
“I almost cut you, Queen,” Kite seethed, eyes narrowed, clearly feeling the weight of the terrain on his side. With a sudden burst of heat, he paused, dark blue fireballs forming out of his joined blades before cycling them with chilling laughter from the ghosts around them. “Am I living up to your expectations?”
I think he’s taking this too seriously, Rhea! Is he acting? It’s like he really thinks I’m a dark queen he has to conquer!
He waited for her barrier to fade before unleashing the ghostly blue flames toward her. Distracted by his focused gaze, this time, they struck true.
The flames clung to her, wrapping around her body and burning her, draining heat. Lulu winced, her normally cheery expression faltering as the Burn took its toll. It dug into her body, the strain of holding back her immense power making it even harder to concentrate.
No… This isn’t going according to plan! she panicked, frustration bubbling up inside her.
Mya and Shae’s voices rang through.
“You can’t let him see you falter! Stay focused!”
“You’re the Queenie, Big Sis. You can’t lose! You’re the villainess of supreme darkness!”
Gaining strength from her teammates, Lulu teleported into the dark, swirling sky, the shadows becoming more wispy due to her faltered focus. Kite was already sinking into the steaming stone ground to aim his next attack. Rhea’s advice shone through, though.
“Sunny Day is gone, so he can’t use Solar Blade against you. Your Quirky++ Ability will take effect to heal the Burn soon enough, probably. It is a chance—but we’re not out of this. He hasn’t actually done any real damage yet.”
To be fair, I haven’t either, Lulu mumbled. But I’m the villainess! I’m supposed to show off and look awesome. No, I can do this! Focus!
Lulu panted, struggling to maintain her focus as the Burn gnawed at her energy matrix. A tornado of flames erupted from the field, spinning toward her. She repositioned with another Teleport, only for a geyser of white smog to erupt from a vent, enveloping her with noxious fumes.
He just keeps throwing stuff at me! Focus! Focus! I’m losing… Is he actually trying to kill me?!
Coughing, she instinctively went to her entrance spot, unable to see a place to Teleport to. Kite’s Night Slash materialized right in front of her as she exited the flashing rainbow lights.
“Pride is one’s downfall,” he whispered. “Death takes you.”
Ahhh!
The dual-like blade cut through the air, filling up her eyes. Rhea’s energy cut away from her as if the sword had come down already, but it was just the instability in their bond. She wasn’t done, though.
Reaching deep within her soul, Lulu forced a smile and jabbed her fluff fan up to meet the blade’s edge, using every ounce of her limited personal power. A tiny ball of pink energy formed at its tip, stopping the sword as the two met, Kite’s flaming eyes widening.
“What is this…”
“It’s best not to run your mouth prematurely…hero.”
A pink barrier formed around her, pulsating with raw power that absorbed the ghostly attack. The pink barrier began to condense, shrinking into a massive sphere of psychic energy that floated in front of her closed fan.
“That’s… Confusion? How?”
Kite flickered into the shadows, rushing to the ground to escape her growing power.
“How? It’s no secret.” Lulu snickered, the Burn making her words forced—yet she maintained her focus.
With a dramatic flourish of her unfurled fan, she projected the rapidly expanding sphere at Ceruledge as he faded into the safety of the volcanic earth.
“I am the Queen of the Magical Land. Witness my power.”
The Haunting Terrain parted under the force of the giant Psychic sphere, overwhelming the zone and generating its own sharp air currents. It struck the earth, its mental force phasing through the ground, homing in on Ceruledge even as he moved through the shadows beneath the stage. With a flourishing maneuver with her fluff fan, she felt it strike true and snapped it shut, the entrapping force locking the ghost inside—he was hers.
Energy bleeding out of her, Lulu pointed the tip of her fan at the swirling battlefield of mist, smog, fire, and lava, raising it up to lift Kite into the air as the crowd and announcer gasped in unison, the Ceruledge’s body suspended in the pink sphere of Psychic energy, helpless.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Legendary Pokemon are built different, is all I’m saying! Oh my, Arceus! I have never seen a Confusion used as a Protect, Trap, and Attack!”
Blane’s low chuckles rang through the stadium, dampened slightly by the disrupted mists of the Haunted Terrain and its grinning, ghostly guests. “I have…”
“Ho-ho-ho-ho!” Lulu called out, trying not to let her fan-hand shake while maintaining the warping energy around her opponent; if she didn’t end this now, she’d have no power to continue—this was all she had on her own, much of which was lingering from Rhea and V.
“You fought bravely, hero. Truly, a testament to your many past battles. Do you have any last words?”
Ceruledge struggled against the psychic hold, but Lulu tightened her grip, pulling him toward her with sheer willpower. Her vision blurred from exhaustion, but she refused to let go. And Kite’s struggles eased, a content look in his cold eyes.
“Tell me this, Queen of the Magical Land… Will you remember me?”
Lulu felt fire throbbing from her core to the tips of her fluff fan but maintained her decorum while giving the crazy guy an Imperious gaze. “…Yes.”
“Then I rest in peace…”
With one final push, Lulu amplified the power of her Confusion, shattering Kite’s energy matrix with his own internal power before crashing him to the ground with a resounding thud. The Haunted Terrain flickered and faded, and the eerie apparitions vanished with resounding claps as the battle reached its conclusion.
Lulu, despite the overwhelming power coursing out of her, floated down gently, panting heavily. The burn of exhaustion in her chest gnawed at her, and she was clearly on the verge of collapse, but the crowd erupted into cheers.
“Hehe… Foolish hero,” she muttered, barely able to keep her villainous act together as she wobbled in the air. “You never stood a chance against the Queen of the Magical Land… Mistress Bellelba.”
With that, Lulu smiled, feeling victorious, even though she had barely held on. The announcer roared over the speakers, “Kite is unable to battle, Rhea and Lulu are the vict—”
The world faded into oblivion, her thoughts swirling into the darkness that surrounded her.
Into the shadows, I return… That guy was crazy!
The battle was over. She had won.
* — * — *
Rhea’s heart thudded in her chest as Lulu’s faint smile drifted into unconsciousness. They’d actually lost connection, which was the most frightening part.
Lulu started to panic, but she pulled it back at the last second… She really is a quirky little girl. We did it.
The crackling of the molten battlefield was drowned out by the roaring crowd, but all Rhea could focus on was the limp form of her partner, resting on the hard stone.
Lulu... you really gave it your all. She could feel V’s energy starting to stabilize through the bond now that she was unconscious and not frantic, but Lulu wouldn’t wake up soon, and she couldn’t exactly go down to get her.
Blaine’s Arcanine, regal and towering, leaped down from its platform with a powerful bound, landing gracefully near Lulu. The Fire Dog Pokémon leaned down, gently lifting Lulu’s limp form in his mouth before carefully jumping up to her platform to deliver her.
Rhea gave him a thankful smile while accepting the Legendary Pokemon as the wave of cheers and applause washed over them.
Blaine’s voice boomed over the speakers, his words laced with admiration and something heavier that quieted the throng.
“What a spectacular performance! Lulu, the eternal cloud of chaos? It has a good ring to it,” he boasted. “She’s brought us one of the most exciting battles we’ve ever seen in some time!” The crowd roared in agreement again, but Rhea knew there was more to come—there always was in her battles against Gym Leaders.
The showman’s grin faded slightly as he stepped forward, removing his dark sunglasses and staring down at them from his elevated position. His voice grew serious, more personal, as if speaking directly to her alone.
“Rhea, as impressive as Lulu’s strength is, there are growing concerns about your team’s rapid development, particularly with your Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. I’m sure you’re aware of some of that discussion on the Silver-tier forums.”
She expected this. The way Lulu had unleashed her full strength, overwhelming her opponent, left little room for restraint and someone as sharp as Blaine wouldn’t have missed their momentarily broken bond. Even now, Rhea could feel the anxiety of that moment pumping in her veins. It was a bit different with Lulu than with her other Pokemon. But hearing Blaine’s solemn tone made it all too real.
The Gym Leader continued, “There’s a decision the League has reached, and as much as it pains me to say it, you will not be able to use Lulu during the Silver Cup.”
The words hit like a punch, considering how hard Lulu had been trying recently, but she’d suspected this might happen. Hearing it aloud solidified the harsh reality, though. Blaine’s Arcanine nudged her side with an understanding grunt before jumping all the way across the field to return to his Trainer’s side.
Rhea rubbed Lulu’s head affectionately before setting her on the transport zone to teleport her to the Center. You did everything you could and nothing wrong.
The crowd’s noise was distant now, her focus entirely on her Pokémon, but Blaine’s voice cut through the haze again. “I understand.”
“I don’t think you fully understand what you’re dealing with yet, Rhea. I voted in favor of you using Lulu, but I was the split vote,” Blaine admitted, slipping his glasses into his pocket.
His fiery eyes held hers. “Wait, really? I…guess I don’t understand.” Her voice was firmer than she expected, but there was a raw edge to it. She was feeling a bit more defensive about her fluff ball; she’d shown herself to be really good at controlling herself.
Blaine didn’t blink. “The issue some have is that you’re growing fast, faster than anyone anticipated, especially Lulu. Your team…they’re more than just strong. They’re evolving in ways we’ve rarely seen.”
Rhea’s jaw tightened, her thoughts suddenly taking a whole new turn. What’s that supposed to mean? Is this about Mom giving me genetically engineered Pokemon, Legendaries…or is this about me and how I was created? Are people scared I’m advancing Lori, Amira, and others too fast because of my innate Aura abilities? What’s going on?
Straightening with her Pokemon chiming in with protest, she asked, “Growing stronger is what we’re supposed to do, isn’t it? To grow, to push ourselves in order to support the region?”
Blaine chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. “True, Rhea, very true…but restraint is part of that growth. Some would like to see you learn how to better control the powers you’ve been granted. Lulu’s growth is too quick, as Legendaries tend to be. And while she’s powerful, there’s more at stake when you can’t control that kind of power in an arena like this.”
That’s not really aimed at Lulu, is it? There’s something else happening with me that… Wait. Is it me exercising my Fortitude with Lulu and V in sync? Does this mean… No, this can’t just be from Kanto and Johto. This is a United League thing… Blaine disagrees and is telling me to confront it head-on. Wow. I guess the League is split on my powers, and Aunt Cynthia has to walk a line. She has to be on Blaine’s side, though.
The man paused, his smile returning as her gaze lifted to meet his. Taking out his sunglasses, he slid them on. “You get it. By the way, you can still use them against Gym Leaders. You’ve earned that right, so I’d use them. Cause an upset,” he chuckled, “the Silver Cup… Well, that’s a different beast.”
The United League is a different beast…
Her gaze lifted to the VIP box before a gale exploded above, scattering the lingering darkness left by Lulu’s battle. Rhea swallowed, feeling her heart race as her bound blonde hair whipped back, and the dots started to connect as the striking visage of Geeta’s giant Pokemon appeared above.
Geeta and Paldea now have a voice in this…and she wanted to have a first-hand experience. Am I really causing division…by just trying to be a Trainer?
Stunned and trying to reign in her thoughts, Rhea straightened as the metallic-like Pokemon lowered into the expansive stadium, shimmering like some distant star from another world. Geeta’s striking figure came into view, her flowing, gold-flaked black-and-violet-streaked hair billowing in the wind. Hands held behind her back, she lowered to Rhea’s eye level, standing on one of the giant petals.
Blaine’s grin widened from his lofty position, a flicker of fiery pride in it from the hologram on the platform. “I think you do now. You’ve got the potential to show, Superstar, and more restraint than you’re given credit for. Champion Geeta, ladies and gentlemen!”
A faint smirk pulled at the corners of the Champion’s lips as she approached to look down on her from the edge of one of the petals. It was as if Geeta herself commanded the stadium’s atmosphere, her very presence lowering the temperature and making the hairs on the back of Rhea’s neck rise.
“Impressive,” Geeta remarked. She turned to nod toward Lulu’s replaying moments on the stadium’s displays. “You’ve harnessed a rare power, Rhea. Not everyone can channel such strength from a Legendary partner and maintain the balance… I know that well. Though I can see the strain it places on you, despite how composed you look now.”
Rhea clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced a smile. “Lulu’s special. All my Pokemon are. We’ve been working hard together, but I know we still have a long way to go.”
Geeta’s sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment longer—a woman who commanded an entire region of the world—her expression unreadable.
“Indeed. Power, especially of this nature, comes with consequences. And responsibility.” She glanced toward the private VIP box above them, where Geeta’s own associates likely watched with measured interest. Her voice remained even, but the undertone held something deeper. “The League is keeping a close eye on how you manage this…growth.”
Rhea’s heart pounded. She knew what Geeta was implying but couldn’t afford to show hesitation now. She lifted her chin slightly, meeting the Champion’s gaze head-on.
“I’ve been aware of that for a while. It doesn’t change my goal to find myself and get as strong as I can to protect everything I love. We’ll keep pushing forward—support or not.”
Geeta’s lips twitched upward ever so slightly, almost as if amused by Rhea’s defiance, or maybe approving. “That is the way of real Trainers—pushing forward, no matter the burden or fire they must walk through. However, there are some within the League who wonder whether your journey might take a different path…one less traveled.”
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and Rhea felt the weight of the conversation shift. There was a subtle tension in Geeta’s voice, a suggestion that the League wasn’t entirely united in their views on her power. Was Geeta herself undecided? Or was this a calculated move to test her resolve?
Before she could respond, Geeta’s Pokemon floated forward, releasing a faint pulse of shimmering dust into the air, distracting the excitable crowd. The lights overhead dimmed momentarily, casting the arena in a surreal glow. The Champion’s voice softened, but there was a deliberate edge to her words.
“You walk a fine line, Rhea. Walls are crumbling. I’d be careful. People have high hopes…some wish to make use of your talents, and many fear new power. You hold the potential to influence not just your own fate but the fate of many.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Some will see that as a threat. Others, an opportunity.”
Rhea’s throat tightened. It wasn’t just about her anymore. It was about everyone connected to her—her team, her family, even her rivals. The weight of it pressed down on her like a tidal wave, but she refused to buckle under it. “I’m not afraid of that responsibility.”
Geeta nodded. “Excellent. Now, take a rest. Your team has earned it.” Rhea breathed out a sigh of relief before the Champion paused and half-turned back, locking the air in her lungs. “Oh…and Lulu is very cute. I loved her comments and performance. Cherish that precious light in her.”
With that, the woman moved to finish promoting her region’s Pokemon being spread throughout Kanto, leaving Rhea to collect her Pokemon from their slots and return to the locker room. Vision on the floor, her heart set.
Essentially, there are going to be stumbling blocks put in our way. We need to be prepared for it. Yes, I am a threat. I get that… Rainbow Rocket’s Giovanni thinks I’m his daughter. My mom is giving me as many advantages as she can…and that’s for a reason. It’s why she’s tried to get me to like Training… I’m not safe, and I can’t rely on everyone else to save me. I need to be able to defend myself, and Geeta is on my side. I’m sure of it.
----------------
Comments
Opala
💪😡
