Chapter 1: On the Brink of the Rain
Chapter 1: On the Brink of the Rain
Beth sat with all five of her Pokemon on the very top of the Lilycove Department Store. She sat at a table with her head resting on her hands exhausted. Her pokemon were enjoying a round of lemonade, very happy with their drinks; but they were also sad to see their trainer so tired.
Is she okay? they thought.
Beth’s vicious looking Ariados offered her a drink; Beth smiled, but declined. In the north, Beth noticed that the entire sky was black. A slight unnatural green seemed to shine through the clouds.
“Seviper,” she beckoned quietly. The large poisonous mountain viper slithered to it’s master obediently. “Ariados. Skarmory. Beedrill. Charmeleon.”
All her Pokemon abandoned their drinks and circled their trainer around the table and watched her for their command.
“I’ve got to stay strong, you guys. We’ve got to stay strong.” In her sapphire eyes, the dark storm clouds reflected to show a deep sadness that could stop the hearts of any man in the night. “I know you know there’s a bad virus going around. What Dr. Juniper said scares me. He said some bad things about the virus.”
Beth’s Pokemon stayed silent as they watched their overwhelmed trainer sigh deeply. Beth brought up her head and seemed to get her beautiful eyes lost in the storm oversea.
“He said that it can mutate into anything now. Some things, I don’t want to believe.” She looked at all her Pokemon for a brief second and her placid expression fixated on them all sadly. “We have to stick together, no matter what happens. Things might get dangerous and I don’t want to scare you with details. But we have to stick together. As a team… It’d be wrong of me to keep you here in extreme danger you wouldn’t dream, even in your nightmares. So I ask you,” Beth paused. “Do any of you want to go to safety? I’ve made a deal with Bill, back in Kanto, that if any of you don’t want to stay for whatever we may have to face. I can ship you, and your poke ball to him, ASAP.”
Beth’s Pokemon all looked at each other, then to Beth.
“Well?”
“Seviper!” Her poisonous snake Pokemon said boldly.
“Ariados!” her long loved spider followed in agreement.
“Beedrill!”
“Skarmory!”
“Charmeleon!”
They all huddled around Beth, and Beth smiled weakly. “Thanks, you guys.”
Her Pokemon didn’t really know what Beth meant when she said, “extreme danger,” but they didn’t care. Honestly, nobody really knew. The only people that knew were the few doctors and scientists that feared the worst.
* * * * *
Going through decontamination, two men in thick biohazard suits that looked like old science fiction aliens came out into the hallways of the Fortree Poke Center.
“It’s worse than I thought, Birch,” one of the men said.
Taking off his safety helmet, Birch replied, “So you agree?”
“I hope not,” the other man said taking off his helmet. The man was a famous man of science; with grey hair and a look of high seniority; This was Professor Oak. “But I think I might agree with Dr. Juniper.”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that,” Birch replied.
“If this virus mutates fast enough, it might just find a new way of spreading. Taking control of whatever sources there are.”
In the background and behind the walls, muffled cursing could’ve of been heard all the way to Dewport.
“I also think,” Professor Oak continued. “Dr. Juniper needs to stop and be hospitalized.”
“Agreed,” Birch said.
The two professors drank some coffee in the break room, then were soon greeted by Norman, the Normal-type gym leader of Petalburg. “Sorry I’m late,” Norman said. “How are things, Professors?”
“Worse than you think, Norm,” Birch said solemnly. “Put on the safety suit and follow us to quarantine.”
Norman put on the spare suit as the two professors put back on their safety helmets. Entering the quarantined section of the Poke Center once more. Norman followed Birch, learning the true gravity of the situation; as Oak went back to work, trying fruitlessly to figure out a cure for the violent outbreak that was now sweeping Hoenn in it’s thunderstorm.
Dr. Juniper was a mess… It had been a week and a half since he started coughing blood, and outliving eight other human cases in Fortree, and many other in Rustburo, Lilycove, and Mauville. Juniper was obviously living beyond the five day average that humans seemed to survive. The only thing one could think was that Juniper was still alive because of his stubborn endurance to find a cure.
This isn’t to say that Dr. Juniper wasn’t in bad shape. Juniper was probably the worst case of them all. He was having red bruise patches all over his body and face; he wore a blood stained mask to keep in his lung-ripping coughs; he was now having violent muscle spasms and limped with a cane; and over the pathetic site, he constantly cursed about the pain he was in. His blood shot eyes throwing razor blades through his thick bifocals, he was definitely a man on a mission.
Juniper worked tirelessly over test tubes as Professor Oak moved up behind him. Professor Birch, followed by Norman, went into the back surgical room, going through his rounds to check on the now twenty-two human and some dozen Pokemon patients. The Poke Center was packed with Pokemon, trainers, and ordinary citizens and Birch wept a small tear thinking of the families that were being torn apart that very moment.
The situation was too much for Norman to handle. He was a father. He had a family. He knew the love, the responsibility, the importance he had. How the many victims of the virus was shaking the bonds between all family and friends of Hoenn. But holding onto hope, his heart went on knowing that his children May and Max; and her friends were in all Jhoto well before the initial outbreak. Things had to be okay in the end.
Excusing himself, Birch knew Norman had to leave quarantine. It was obvious in the gym leader’s eyes. Frustration was welling up, and it was obvious Norman had never seen, or was even ready to see such carnage. Sending his wife on a cruise ship to Kanto, he was now alone in a plague stricken region.
Going through decontamination, Norman sat himself back down in the break room. All the coffee in the world wouldn’t of been able to bring to spirit. He rested his head on the doughnut table and fell into a deep sleep. The journey from Petalburg and the gravity of trying to realize what was happening had been wearing him down since the phone call from Birch.
The day was getting darker along with the moods of all the Fortree residents, then the first thunder clapped. The large typhoon had inched itself to the northern Hoenn shore and the rain began to fall.
A nurse in a biohazard suit, similar to Birch and Oak entered the lab and told Oak that he had a call on the computer phone from Rustburo.
Going through the twenty minute decontamination process, Oak took off his biohazard helmet with a sigh and walked to the computer phone with a furrowed brow. Clicking the hold button, the screen to the computer snapped on. The quirky and cute redheaded trainer came to the screen and seemed relieved to see the senior wisdom of Professor Oak.
“Misty!,” Oak said. “How are you? Why are you in Rustburo? It’s dangerous there, Rustburo’s a hotspot for the virus. Not to mention the national morgue for all the fatalities. Why didn’t you go on the cruise ship when you had the chance.”
“I know,” Misty said calmly with a weak smile. “That’s why I’m here. I’m praying for the dead. It’s the least I could do… Is there any progress with finding a cure?”
“I don’t know, Misty. How are the people in Rustburo?”
“Hold on,” Misty interrupted. “Nevermind,” she said uneasily, “I thought I saw something move. It’s lightning, I think.”
“Has the storm reached Rustburo, already?”
“Yeah, it came in today real quick. They sky’s real dark,” Misty said. She suddenly turned her head to the left. Starring off, she seemed mesmerized and on the brink of fear.
A bloody scream rang in the background, and Misty turned her head to the right.
“Professor…?,” Misty whispered.
The computer screen flickered with the lights, and suddenly the connection went fuzzy. A final scream was heard, and on Professor Oak’s computer, it read: “Line has been disconnected.”
Nurses, Norman, and several Chansey ran into the room once they heard Professor Oak screaming Misty’s name.
In a hurried panic, Professor Oak tried to call the Rustburo Poke Center, but there was no reply.
* * * * *
The typhoon had finally turned Lilycove’s peaceful shores to violent breakers. The rain fell heavy, but luckily the wind wasn’t as bad it could be. They were obviously on the outer arm of the storm.
Beth sat in a Diner across the street from the Poke Center. Eating the Pot Roast Special with an Ice Tea; all her Pokemon, except her Ariados, were in their balls. Her Ariados sat parallel from Beth eating some Pokemeal.
There was an old man sat eating clam chowder at the bar. His Meowth sat sleeping under his chair. Dropping his spoon in his now empty bowl, he gazed into the TV.
The line cook ran to the TV and turned up the volume.
“…with blackouts all across the west coast. Top winds range at 110 miles per hour near Fallabor Town. Rain only seems to be getting harder… Oh, this just in: some sort of crisis has swept the central metro of Rustburo. Mixed reports, ranging from nothing to the absurd. Rustburo residents are told to stay indoors and… as…,” the newscaster paused confused. “The dead are…,” the newscaster gave an uneasy laugh.
Then the electricity went out.
“Always at the good part,” the cook grunted. The burly man began looking around his kitchen for the emergency battery lamps.
Walking up to the old man, the young waitress with curly gold locks asked him if he was alright getting home once the arm of the storm passed, giving a short moment of clear sky.
The old man’s Meowth perked up, looked around the diner nervously, then began to hiss.
“Easy there,” the old man whispered. “I’m okay, little miss. Thank you for your concern. But there seems to be something more worrisome happening.”
“What?,” the waitress asked.
The old man stayed silent, as he began spacing off.
Beth’s Ariados froze in it’s spot, glanced at Beth, then glanced out the window. He gave a low insect hiss to Beth. He didn’t know what was going on, but something was about to happen.
Beth had been observing the conversation, and stoop up from her seat. Drinking a little bit of her tea, she could feel a small chill crawl up her leg, through her spine. “I feel it too,” she said.
Then as quickly as the storm came, the winds calmed down to an eerie silence. The skies cleared, but it was obvious another arm of the storm was soon to hit Lilycove any minute.
“Ah,” the cook said happily. “The winds calmed down just in time. I found the lamps.”
“Don’t turn those on,” the old man said.
“It’s alright old man,” the cook said cockily.
Flicking the switch, the brilliant light finally brought the diner back to life with it’s glow.
“I don’t think you should of done that,” Beth said quietly.
The cook raised an eyebrow confused.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment and the four occupants of the diner seemed to freeze with the silence.
The banshee like screeching of tires, the smell of burnt rubber, followed by the loud crash of metal and glass broke the pause.
Screams from the Poke Center was deathly. It was sudden, and now Beth could see people running for dear life from whatever was happening.
Then a large boulder crashed through the front window of the diner. Glass flew everywhere and Beth shielded herself from the razor sharp debris.
With quick reflexes, Beth’s Ariados shot streams upon streams of webbing to stop the glass from hurting anyone. The waitress screamed and the cook hid behind the counter. The old man stood there calmly then stood up.
The old man had a look of determination on his face, he gave his Meowth a quick glance. “Run,” he simply said. Taking his hat, he began walking to the door to escape.
The dying roar of a something huge was coming towards the diner and Beth took one quick bite from her Pot Roast and called her Ariados to her side.
“My new window!,” the cook cried, crawling out from behind the counter.
The old man reached the front door and looked back to the others behind him. “Run, you fools!”
The door in front of the old man broke open, ripped away by two large rock-like arms. The dying roars and gurgles of a deathly ill looking rock-pokemon came to ear. The Pokemon grabbed the old man and threw him behind himself.
The Meowth hissed and screeched violently, ready to attack the large beast.
The waitress had the best idea out of all of the diner occupants, “Harry! The back door!,” she cried. Running behind the counter to the back room of the diner, the cook followed her but stopped himself in front of the door.
Looking back at Beth, who stood in shock from the carnage of the insane rock pokemon, the cook screamed to Beth to hurry.
The Meowth had it coming, but it didn’t care. Whatever the monster that attacked his master was going to get it good.
Shooting a Bubblebeam attack at the thing, the large rock pokemon flinched. The massive pokemon roared, coughed pebbles from it’s mouth and ripped off the side of the diner.
The Meowth stood it’s ground boldly and screeched once more.
Beth knew the Meowth didn’t have a chance against the beast and threw out her Pokedex. “Golem,” she said under her breath. With a cry of desperation, Beth ordered her Ariados to webshot the Golem to hold it back.
But as the webbing reached the Golem. The beast grabbed the little cat with it’s bulky fist and threw it out the window with a crash of broken glass.
Calling her Ariados to run, the large spider and his trainer ran out the backdoor.
* * * * *
Similar to Lilycove, the rain seemed to be the worst thing in Rustburo.
Cold sweat pearled mixed with rain trickled down the veteran trainer’s face. He knew what he had to do, and he had to do it quick. He whistled sharply and his Murkrow flew to his shoulder.
A fellow grunt ran to him panting, “Boss! They’re freaking everywhere!! We can’t hold them off!” The young trainer with frizzy red hair’s voice cracked, “They knocked out Watt’s Electrabuzz!!” Frustrated tears streamed down his face. “Let’s just get out of here!!”
Gritting his teeth, the veteran trainer flashed a glace to the young trainer. Grabbing him by the collar, he growled, “We fight the good fight, Alan! If anything, fate brought us here to Rustburo! We didn’t plan to die, but if we do, we do. You can do what you want, Alan. Run, if you feel the need to. But my mission is to stay here. If I die, then this is where my dream shall end.”
The young trainer bit his lower lip. The last time he saw his leader so noble was when they confronted Giovanni of Team Rocket five months earlier.
“Yessir!,” the young trainer barked. “We fight the good fight!”
Throwing the young trainer off, the old veteran surveyed the area uneasily. Him and his gang had been cornered to the central park. He was standing near the large water fountain drenched from the storm.
A large bolt of electricity exploded behind the trees, and a large flash of fire followed.
On the opposite side, the trees shook from earth shaking rumbles.
Then the horde slowly crept toward them.
Masses of slow moving people and Pokemon moaned and grumbled, clogging each step towards the old veteran. Alan, and now two other trainers came running up behind them.
“There’s too many! We have to retreat!,” a girl with a black ponytail yelled.
“Jean’s right,” said the other trainer.
“Damn it!,” the veteran trainer cursed. “Alan, get Watt and Rachael over here! Mike, you go get Tammy and Chris! Jean and I will hold the horde off.”
The fellow gang members complied with their orders and ran their separate directions. Jean called out all her Pokemon: a Blastoise, Hypno, Pigeot, Espeon, and Flareon. All behind her leader’s four Pokemon: the old Murkrow that was now high in the air, a Marowak, Houndoom, and a Golduck.
The slow moving undead horde crept closer, suddenly hit by a large wall of wind, water, fire, and mental energy. But the dead pokemon and people just came closer. Suddenly a semi-rotting Slaking with scabby sores all across it’s bloody body came to a charge in front of the horde, soon followed by a Doduo missing one of it’s heads.
Jean’s jaw dropped at the gruesome site, but soon ordered her Hypno to hold them back. With a rush of telepathic energy, the Slaking and Doduo flew backwards into the slow moving crowd.
The leader whistled out a high screech, the Murkrow came to site and thrust a dark cloud of energy towards several of the undead. The Marowak charged in front and jumped high into the air. Diving himself into the ground, the ground shook and cracked. The Pigeot tried furiously to blow away as many of the foes as possible, flapping with all it’s might. And the Houndoom attempted to scorch a quick moving Zigzagoon as it leapt in mid air.
The Zigzagoon became a fireball as it rolled to the ground and with an order from her trainer, the Espeon threw the burning dead corpse towards the other oncoming undead.
The fierce battle seemed like a nightmare that wouldn’t end as the other gang members rejoined their leader and Jean.
The leader called back his four Pokemon and Jean called back her five Pokemon.
Looking at each other in a calm panic. The eight gang members ran as quick as they can to a nearby building.
* * * * *
Reaching Goldenrod that morning, the four famous travelers and Pikachu that night rested themselves at a Denny’s having drinks and grub. Tired and worried what was happening in Hoenn, May comforted Max who kept asking his big sister if their father, Norman, was going to be fine.
Brock sipped some coffee as Ash fiddled his steak with a fork.
“In all this confusion,” Brock said. “I know almost everybody we know is either on a ship to Kanto, but I wonder if Misty is back on the mainland.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!,” Ash blurted out dramatically. “I hope she’s okay!”
“Settle down, Ash. I’m sure she’s fine,” Brock replied. “Just give her a call on your Pokenav.”
Pulling out his Pokenav like a nervous Slugma on a raft, Ash dialed Misty’s number. Looking at Brock worriedly, he said, “It says her line is disconnected.”
“Misty’s resourceful, Ash. She probably just forgot to charge her Pokenav.”
“I dunno, Brock. Hold on,” Ash said. He dialed Professor Oak’s Pokenav.
“Ash,” May said quietly. “Don’t do anything rash. That virus is dangerous.”
“Yeah!” Max added.
“Oak!” Ash said loudly into his Pokenav. “How are you? Is everything alright with you? WHAT!!,” Ash panicked into the phone once Oak explained the unnatural situation with the undead reanimation. “Are you okay?? Is Professor Birch with you, too? Is Misty there?!”
A long silence followed as Brock, May, and Max sat starring at Ash tremble is bottom lip.
A strong look of brave determination came to Ash’s face, and he said chivalrously, “Then I’ll go to Hoenn to find her!!”
A loud ‘No!’ came from Ash’s Pokenav, ‘It’s too dangerous!’
“I don’t care! She’s my friend! I could never live with myself if something bad happened to her! I might see you there, I’ll call you later.”
‘No Ash!,’ the Pokenav snapped off and Ash looked at his three friends in the Denny’s.
In a bold (cliché anime) stance, Ash said, “Misty is missing, and the virus has turned into something very dangerous. I’m off to Hoenn alone! Pikachu? You don’t have to, but will you come with me?”
“Pikachu!,” the little yellow fur ball said with loyal dignity.
“Ash,” Brock said. “I can’t let you go alone, I’m your friend. Misty’s my friend, too. I’m coming with you.”
“Me too,” May said.
“Me three!,” Max said.
“No!,” May replied quickly. “I want you to stay with Mom.”
“Aww, what?,” Max whined.
“I agree,” Brock said. “I’m not even sure if May or I are prepared for what were up against back in Hoenn.”
Taken back from Brock’s comment, May finally asked Ash what Professor Oak said that made him startle so badly.
Max thought for a second and shook his head quickly. “I don’t want to fight zombies!,” he blurted.
Brock sighed heavily. “The situation is serious,” he said. “But if you’re going, Ash. I can’t let you go alone. And like I said; Misty’s my friend, too. But I have an idea. I’ll bring back my rock hard Pokemon team; and with you Ash; we should be pretty safe.”
“That’s a good idea, Brock. I’ll bring back some of my older Pokemon.”
“I’m still going,” May said. “I have to help somehow.”
“Then it’s settled then,” Brock concluded.
* * * * *
Professor Oak rubbed his head with the Pokenav on the ground. An hour had passed and Professor Birch and Norman walked in to see if Oak was alright. Oak explained the situation with Ash and knew he wasn’t able to talk the determined young trainer out of coming to Hoenn. He called Delia, Ash’s mom, but Delia said Ash wasn’t picking up his Pokenav.
Norman realized that May and Max was with Ash and immediately called Max. The phone rang and was quickly answered. Norman asked Max how they were doing and where Ash was. Max explained that he was on a bus to meet up with his mom.
Norman gave a heavy sigh when Max explained that May was now with Ash and Brock waiting for the next ferry to Hoenn.
Suddenly two trainers and Winona the Gym Leader ran into the break room where Birch and Oak were.
“Something really freaky is happening outside! The graveyard! The swamp! Everything!!,” Winona’s face was bleach white and her signature helmet with purple plumes was missing. Here brunette hair was frizzed and her eyes seemed glaze. “My whole gym’s trying to hold them off, but there’s so many of them!! Professor Oak! What’s going on!!??”
A crash down the hall followed by screams halted Winona’s ranting.
Oak glanced at Birch with a look of panic.
“They’re here,” she said.
