Into the Dark - A Pokemon Isekai

Steven Stone drummed his fingers on the arm of his office chair, frowning at the black screen of his computer.

It wasn’t often that the Champion of another region called to inform him of what was going on in his own backyard.

Cynthia certainly had been cagey about exactly where she had learned the information about Teams Aqua and Magma, only stating that it had been “vouched for by a trusted source.”

“What do you think?”

The nearly two meter tall colossus of metal next to him hummed in thought.

“Answer: I cannot ascertain whether or not Champion Cynthia’s words are truthful, there are too many variables to be certain. However, there is a strong likelihood that she is, at least to some extent, correct. Moreover, I am certain that at the very least she believes her words to be true.”

“Oh? How can you be sure?”

“Answer: Champion Cynthia’s left eye twitches when she’s lying.”

Steven furrowed his brow. “Pray tell how you know that.”

“Answer: I have determined this by reviewing camera footage of your “game nights” while playing cards.”

His mouth opened and closed like a Magikarp’s as he stared at his partner.

“And you never told me?? I’ve lost hundreds to her!”

“Correction: You have lost 1021 Dollars to Champion Cynthia.”

“Hagane!”

His friend’s eyes narrowed slightly in satisfaction.

“Statement: You never asked.”

Steven stewed quietly in his chair. It wasn’t much money at all, the lowest paid worker made more than that every hour, but the highest bet the Champions were allowed to make during their monthly card nights was five Dollars.

He was good at a lot of things, but gambling wasn’t one of them.

Steven’s only consolation was that Leon owed Cynthia at least twice as much as he did. If Steven was a bad gambler, Leon was terrible.

He sighed. “So she’s telling the truth?

“Correction: She believes she is telling the truth. However, due to recent events I am inclined to believe her.”

“Shit.”

“Statement: Indeed.”

Hoenn had been having troubles for the past year or so. At first they were minor, a slight uptick in low-grade earthquakes, or the ocean currents being slightly rougher than usual. Nothing that was particularly worrying, and they had been waved away by most of the scientists as unremarkable and within the tolerances of what was normal or not.

What was more concerning at the time was the uptick in crime across the region, especially those targeting weather and geological survey stations. That was when reports about Teams Aqua and Magma had first crossed his desk, supposedly being gangs that had formed out of environmentalist groups.

“Mostly harmless.” Had been the words to describe them.

If only he knew then what he knew now.

Just yesterday they had been upgraded from street gangs to fully fledged terrorist organizations after their attempt to make Mt. Chimney erupt. If not for those kids, they might have succeeded.

And now Cynthia was telling him that they were planning on resurrecting two legends to destroy the world.

Steven had access to the most restricted information in Hoenn, and knew full well that Kyogre and Groudon were certainly not myths like most people believed. He also knew about the Dracanoid Tribe and their relationship to Rayquaza, and had tried to keep that information as quiet as possible as well.

It was almost ironic in a way that the people most concerned about Rayquaza were not actually the Draconids, but rather the scientists at the Mossdeep Space Center. After all, they were the ones who had to worry about legendary Dragons possibly attacking one of their rockets.

What Steven was not expecting was that Cynthia knew all of this information, and he was concerned as to how she had gotten it.

“Query: Does it matter at this moment how Champion Cynthia acquired this information?”

Hagane’s telepathic voice cut through Steven’s thoughts, and he jumped slightly at the question. He had been brooding again.

“I can’t believe you even have to ask that question. How did you know what I was thinking anyways? I told you not to read my mind.”

“Answer: I did not read your mind, and I am insulted that you would assume that.” At Steven’s glare, Hagane had the decency to look embarrassed. “Clarification: Despite historical examples of mind reading, I have not engaged in such activity in… some time.”

Steven resolved to ask his Metagross what “some time” meant later.

“Rather, this correct assumption was created after gathering data from decades of observation and simulations run on your behaviors and noted thoughts.”

Despite what popular belief held, Metagross as a whole were not supercomputers. They were smart, smarter than many people Steven had known, but they were living creatures as well, and had a personality.

“So you knew what I was thinking because you’ve been around me for so long you can tell what I’m thinking?”

“Answer: Correct.”

“You’re full of it today, aren’t you?”

“Answer: I cannot be “full of it” because I am a solid object with no interior receptacle for “it.” However, I am feeling comparatively well today.”

Steven sighed. Another misconception was that Metagross could not understand humor or sarcasm, as they were supposedly robots with no emotions. Sometimes he wished that were the case.

“So, pray tell why it shouldn’t matter how she got this information.”

“Explanation: There are much more important matters to attend to. This information was most likely obtained from a deserter from either Team Magma or Team Aqua, but the specifics are not as important as the data provided. During the course of this conversation I have been coordinating with my Porygon 2 peers in the Security Division, and according to our analysis, the events of the past year have lined up with Champion Cynthia’s information. Extrapolation of the data indicates that Team Magma and Team Aqua will attempt to resurrect Groudon and Kyogre in the near future. This must be stopped, and if at all possible Rayquaza should not be summoned. The predictions of events if any of these three Pokémon were to be unleashed on Hoenn without proper precautions is… catastrophic.”

A frown crossed Steven’s face as he considered the facts.

“With the information she provided, can you pin down the base of operations for the Teams?”

“Answer: I have compiled a list of the most likely locations.”

Steven fingered his lapel pin, and sighed. He hated this part, he’d much rather be looking for some interesting stones. But somehow Steven had ended up in this chair, and he’d have to make the most of it.

“Okay. Reach out to the Elite Four, the Ace Trainers not assigned to other critical operations, and our most skilled Rangers. I want to hit them hard and fast, and at the same time.”

“Statement: Understood. Shall I contact Leaders Tate and Liza to help organize the raids?”

He really didn’t want to get them involved, they were still just kids. At the same time… They were some of the most powerful psychics in the region. They’d be able to help coordinate everybody psychically and ensure that it would all go off better.

“Yes.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Statement: Done. They have agreed, and are waiting on the order.”

Steven sighed again.

“And the Elite Four?”

“Answer: They are currently preparing. In addition, I have reached out to the local constabulary to ensure they are not overly surprised and overwhelmed by our operation.”

“Excellent. Let me know when they’re ready, I want this to be over.”

/^\

Steven frowned from his position on top of Hagane, staring down at the entrance to the Team Aqua base on the outskirts of Lilycove City.

There were a lot of things that weren’t adding up to him, and he was becoming increasingly concerned at how deep the terrorists had entrenched themselves. To have been able to dig an entire complex on the outskirts of a major city without any flags having been raised… either the mayor and his staff were being lax to the point of incompetence, or they were being paid to turn a blind eye to what was going on.

Neither boded well for the Lilycove City civil government, and Steven had Hagane make a mental note to have them thoroughly investigated after this fiasco was over.

Sidney and Phoebe had already entered the base, along with a small host of Ace Trainers and Rangers as backup. The two Elite Four members could probably have dealt with the terrorists by themselves, but Steven was taking no chances with this operation.

Apparently, the team of kids who had countered Team Magma at Mt. Chimney hadn’t managed to root them all out of the mountain, and Glacia and Drake were currently trying to dig them out of the foothills there.

Steven and his personal team of Pokémon were currently waiting as backup, ready to Teleport in if needed.

Hopefully that wouldn’t be necessary, but Steven was done playing games with these people.

The radio attached to his earpiece crackled to life.

“Steven! We’ve reached… owest leve… resistance is… gher than expected. Aqua’s… submari… own here! I’... holding them off but Sidn… ent ahead to sto… Arch… trying to escap… eed your help!”

He frowned at Phoebe’s garbled report, but grabbed a Poké Ball from his waist, releasing his Claydol, Kaolin.

“Do you have a lock on Phoebe’s position?”

Kaolin hummed quietly, before a burst of positive psychic energy emanated off of its form.

“Good. Teleport us there, if you would.”

Some Pokémon required a couple seconds to charge their Teleport. Many weren’t able to take other Pokémon or their Trainers with them.

Many Pokémon weren’t on a Champion’s team.

Kaolin Teleported Steven and Hagane to Sidney’s side before Steven had finished his sentence. Between one heartbeat and the next, Steven’s surroundings changed from the salty air above Lilycove City to a chaotic battlefield the likes of which hadn't been seen since the Kanto-Johto War. He remembered seeing the videos of that war when he was a child and the brutality had been beyond disturbing.

Thankfully, there were no dead or dying Pokémon or Trainers like in that bloody conflict, but the sheer scope of the fight almost took his breath away. Elemental attacks of all kinds were being thrown across the room, punctuated by explosions and cries of defeat or victory. Scores of Pokémon were present, fighting in small clumps across the cavernous room. Most were commanded by Team Aqua grunts, but they were being driven back by the few skilled Trainers and Rangers of Steven’s task force.

The most eye catching battle was between the diminutive form of Phoebe in her flowing skirt and a massive, brick house of a man. Steven’s mind flipped through the different descriptions offered by his sources, until he settled on one.

Matt, one of the administrators of Team Aqua.

His Mightyena and Muk were up against one of Phoebe’s Banette and her Dusknoir, but Phoebe’s face was drawn with concentration. It wasn’t the best matchup for her, especially with that Mightyena against her Ghosts.

Kaolin hummed again, and a nearly invisible purple plane of force interposed itself between Steven and an Ice Beam.

The assailant, a startled Sealeo, let out a surprised arf at the Protect, then was abruptly silenced. Kaolin had lifted it up with a Telekinesis, then with a hammerblow the Psychic knocked it to the ground, unconscious. The entire exchange had only taken a second.

The Sealeo’s Trainer, a grunt who looked far too young to be involved in this, rushed over and held his Sealeo. He almost looked ready to fight, but gave up after a single look at Steven, surrendering himself to one of the nearby Ace Trainers.

Steven took in the entire battlefield, and felt a thrill of excitement run through his veins as he grabbed the Poké Balls at his waist.

In four flashes of light the rest of his team arrived on the field.

“Lilium, Caris, go help the Ace Trainers with the grunts.” Cradlily and Armaldo nodded in agreement, before moving to offer their support.

“Tsuru, Ferrum, I’m seconding you to Phoebe, understood? Help take care of those Pokémon, then neutralize any remaining Aqua members. Once you’re done, meet up with Lilum and Caris to support Phoebe in any way she needs.”

Ferrum, his Aggron, roared his acceptance and stomped towards the battle between Phoebe and Matt, making several weaker Pokémon flinch away in fright. Tsuru, Steven’s Skarmory, took off in silent flight with a wicked gleam in his eyes, and Steven almost felt sorry for the Aqua members.

“Kaolin, can you find Sidney?”

The Claydol pulsed a negative stream of frustration at him, and Steven frowned. It was annoying, but not unexpected. Sidney had a particular association with Dark-type Pokémon, and it made him hard to detect with psychic powers at the best of times.

“Steven!” Phoebe called, drawing his attention back to the fight.

Ferrum was currently grappling with the Mightyena, while Tsuru was dancing in the sky around the Muk, striking with vengeful talons. The Dusknoir and Banette looked relieved at the reinforcements, but Phoebe was pointing down a side corridor.

“Down there!” She called, and Steven nodded.

“Hagane, Kaolin, let’s go.”

/^\

Shelly was not having a good day.

It had started out with a hangover after their party celebrating their victory over the pompous fools of Team Magma the day before. Sure, Aqua’s forces had also been driven off by the snot-nosed brats who interfered at Mt. Chimney, but at least they had stopped Magma from messing with the volcano.

Then the government goons had busted in just when everybody was finally sober, and everything had gone sideways.

She still didn’t know how they had found the base so quickly after the battle on Mt. Chimney; the only thing Shelly could think of was that somebody had gotten cold feet and leaked the information to the League. In the grand scheme of things she supposed that didn’t really matter right now; they were here, and it was up to her to stop them from ruining everything.

That muscle-head Matt had led the main line of defense with the regular grunts while she and Archie had fled to the basement to get the submarine ready. Archie was currently onboard the sub, making sure everything was ship-shape so they would be able to leave as soon as possible. He had asked her to keep guard until the submarine was ready, and it was a good thing too, considering the nearly-bald freak she was up against.

Shelly, of course, recognized Sidney of the Elite Four, and if there was anybody around except her captain she would have laughed at the man’s sense of style, or lack thereof. It was important to show the grunts that their leaders weren’t scared of anything.

Because the only Team Aqua members around were her and Archie, Shelly didn’t feel bad about being as scared as she was.

Sidney was, despite his appearance, a monster in human form, and his Pokémon were worse. It was only through luck and a sneak attack that she had taken out his Cacturne and Shiftry.

His Mightyena and that damned Absol… they were making mincemeat out of her team.

“Walrein!” She called, and her massive Pokémon stiffened. “Blizzard! Crawdaunt, get in close!”

Sidney grimaced as a wall of ice and sleet came pouring off of her Walrein, covering the movements of the Crawdaunt as it responded to their secret code.

The massive lobster-like Pokémon practically danced through the sleet, swinging its claws at the opposing Dark-types with Close Combat. The Absol cocked its head and jumped back, its eyes glowing with Detect as it just barely dodged the blow.

Shelly cursed under her breath, that damned Absol had been abusing that move for most of the battle, staying one step ahead of her Pokémon’s attacks despite their best efforts.

The Mightyena, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so lucky, and her Crawdaunt’s claw caught its side, sending the Pokémon flying with a canine whimper.

Smiling, Shelly was about to tell Walrein to follow up when she stopped.

It wasn’t on purpose. Her entire body just… froze in place. Shelly couldn’t move her legs or arms, couldn’t open her mouth, she couldn’t even look to see what was going on with her own Pokémon.

She could only stare forwards in horror as a presence entered the submarine bay, floating into view.

If Sidney was a monster, then the figure that had just arrived was a nightmare. A floating bastion of steel and psychic power gently drifted down the passageway as a man stood on top of it, arms crossed as he glared at the situation.

His finely tailored suit didn’t so much as twitch as the icy wind from the Blizzard continued to rage, and not a single blue hair was out of place. He could have been on a magazine cover, if not for the anger radiating off him in waves.

The Keystone on his lapel glittered with malevolent light, promising the end if they didn’t surrender.

“Kaolin.” The Champion said, voice as cold and harsh as the Blizzard still raging. “Stop the weather.”

The Blizzard stopped. Sweat beaded on Shelly’s brow as a Claydol she hadn’t seen flashed its eyes with psychic power.

She didn’t see what had happened to her Walrein, she couldn’t pull her eyes away from the doom of Team Aqua.

Champion Stone’s eyes met hers, and electricity ran down her spine at their depths.

“Shelly, aliases include Izumi, Isabel, and Angie. Administrator to Team Aqua.”

Her mouth went dry. He knew her.

“Surrender.” It was not a request.

She tried to swallow, but her body was still locked up.

“Hagane, let her talk.”

Her limbs were still locked tight, but some of the pressure eased up around her chest.

“I surrender!” She called.

What else could she do? Hold back the Champion? Matt would have tried, but she was smarter than that.

“Where’s Archie?”

Before she could respond, Sidney’s eyes widened, and he pointed behind her.

“Steven! The submarine!”

Shelly couldn’t see what was happening, but she could hear the engines of the submarine spool up.

“Dammit, he’s leaving. Hagane, Kaolin, can either of you stop it?”

There was a rumble from the Champion’s Pokémon, and he swore again, but Shelly didn’t care. She felt like she was in a rip tide, and everything she knew was being thrown upside down.

Archie was leaving her. He had said he was going to start up the submarine so they could leave together, then come and help her.

So why was he leaving her? Why was he running away?

Didn’t she mean anything to him?

Steven Stone sighed, and stepped gently off his Metagross before leisurely crossing the distance and staring her in the eyes.

“Where is he going?”

Shelly choked back a sob, then told him everything.