Sunset's First Light

[Ash_Junior]

With a giant bang, it was all over. All of her hopes and dreams—all of the work and tears—the years of training—it was all over. In almost slow motion, she saw the world go by as she spun around before slamming hard into the ground. It was a hard landing. The kind of landing that drags across your skin, driving dirt deep down into your wounds. She slid several feet, and lay there, stunned by the sheer power she had just witnessed.

For several long seconds, there was silence. No sounds of battle, no laughing taunts. Not even the breath of Pokemon nor trainer could be heard.

This was not the end, her mind shouted. She had to get up. But days of running and hours of fighting had drained her strength and her reserves. But somehow she had to get up. Everyone was counting on her.

She forced her eyes open, even this small exertion taking all of her willpower. Dimly she saw a pool of red below her. In her delirium, she couldn't figure out exactly what it was from. She closed her eyes again, and concentrated. One of her fingers twitched, then another. Slowly, her hands moved, and she pushed herself up. The dirt of the road dug into her bare and bloody knees as she dragged herself up to a kneeling position.

Slowly, she placed one foot underneath her, and shakily rose to her feet on wobbly legs. She turned around, losing balance part way around and having to stumble several steps backwards before barely managing to regain her balance.

With hate-filled eyes, she forced her gaze upwards, to the spot where all eight of her Pokemon lay, unconscious and badly injured. It was an impressive group. It had taken six years to gather all eight Eeveelutions, and all kinds of ingenuity to slip past League officials with two more Pokemon than was regulation. But somehow she had done it. And now, not even their considerable power was enough.

There was no sign of her human travelling partner. He hadn't been a slouch either, but he had volunteered to keep the main force at bay so that she could have a chance to escape.

Her vision blurred and a bout of dizziness threatened to overtake her. But still she wouldn't give up.She forced herself to focus. She had volunteered to keep these people at bay while the local Officer Jenny rallied more trainers to defend the town. It might not be enough.

Her eyes focused on the team that had beaten her. A Piplup, a Quilava, and an Ivysaur. But something had been different about these Pokemon. Their eyes had been dull the entire battle—none of the passion that Pokemon almost always displayed. Their fighting styles, too, had been strictly tactical, with no individual flair. Ordinarily she could have shaken it off, but the Pokemon themselves seemed emotionless, even robotic.

A movement caught her eyes, and she tried to focus on the trio of Pokemon's trainer as he strode confidently forward, and caught her chin with a strong right hook. The sheer force literally lifted her off the ground, before sending her crumpling down to the ground, once more face down. She coughed, and she saw blood speckle the ground before her face. The trainer's foot slammed down onto her spine, and she screamed in pain, feeling bones snap beneath his boot. “Tell your master that we're not going anywhere. Team Rocket's day has set, and their time is over.”

The Rocket Agent felt consciousness slipping away, and fought to hold on. She couldn't do anything if she passed out. The man standing over her continued to gloat, and it was the last thing she heard before she passed out were his words. “We don't need Madame Director or her precious Team Rocket anymore. Team Snagem's rise to power has begun.”

 

[homsar1994]

Wow! Team snagem's is back!? AWESOME.

9/10 keep going

 

[Ash_Junior]

Kind of.

Team Snagem is the new kid on the block at this time. This is pre-RBY/Colloseum/XD, actually.

Team Rocket is different than normal, too. There are a couple hints here and there in this prologue about that....

 

[Ash_Junior]

Chapter 1: The Rocket's Red Glare

“This hasn't been a good week,” Madame Director growled. “Blue AND Green squadrons were decimated?” The woman known as Madame Director stood in front of a long conference table, around which her best strategists were sitting. The older woman turned and looked at the map on the wall behind her, studying the current tactical situation.

Madame Director was an older woman, close to retirement age, And there were rumors floating around, as there had been for years, that soon she would step down and pick someone else to lead Team Rocket. Madame Director, as she was respectfully called, had built up the Team from nothing, and with nothing but determination and her own two hands, had made Team Rocket what it was today.

But all those years of holding the Team together had taken its toll. Although she was still fast, spry, and had a sharp mind, her reflexes were slowing, and she was beginning to slow down. But the strength of her Pokemon was the stuff of legend. It had been years since she herself had last been in a Pokemon battle, but that had been when she had become the Indigo League Champion. Years before she became champion, however, during her qualifying rounds for a bout with the Champion Pokemon Master with the Six Elite Pokemon Masters of the Indigo League, she had taken down every Pokemon sent before her with a single attack.

After she had become Champion, she had done a good job leading the League. It hadn't been until recently that she had stepped down from her Champion duties, handing over the reins to her oldest friend, Agatha Fraley, the number one Elite Pokemon Master, a Ghost-type specialist.

Some had seen that as a sign of weakness, and suddenly old enemies reared their heads and struck at Madame Director's brainchild--Team Rocket. But every time the Rockets had banded together and fended off all attacks. But this—this was different. There had been reports of augmented Pokemon. Of Pokemon that had been stolen and had had their strength doubled literally overnight.

Madame Director shook her dark thoughts off and concentrated back onto the matter at hand. A relatively new team, Team Snagem had come out of nowhere and had landed on Kanto's eastern shore, sweeping through Lavender Town and Saffron City and were now marching towards Celadon City. They seemed unstoppable. The Blue and Green battalions, the best of Team Rocket's Kanto division, had been swept aside, buying only a little time for the defense of Celadon. A few isolated stragglers had made it back to Celadon City, or had fled north into the Ferrous mountain range, reporting that same strange power. One other thing that they all the reports had had in common was that every single Pokemon had been stolen from them.

Madame Director studied the map, not happy with what she saw. Now only the Red battalion was left to defend Celadon, along with a smattering of Global Police and a motley collection of local trainers. The local Ice-type Gym Leader was unlikely to be much help. She cared more about making her Gym's Pokemon look beautiful than actually fighting.

Word had gone out to the Elite Pokemon Masters, but it was unlikely that they would make it in time. Indeed, although help would come from both Cerulean City and Vermillion City, they would only be able to strike at the Snagem Force's flanks. What was left of the Cerulean and Vermillion forces, anyway. Almost all of the trainers from both cities had been committed in the defense of Saffron City alongside that city's Gym Leader, the Karate King, as well as most of Kanto's Global Police cadre.

“Silver Battalion should be here soon,” a voice offered from behind Madame Director.

“It will take them five more hours to hit their flanks,” Madame Director growled. “And Gold and Crystal Battalions are traveling overland. They won't be here until tomorrow.” Madame Director ground her teeth. If only the Johto divisions would be able to make it here sooner.” She looked skyward for several seconds then brought her attention back to her advisors. “I hate to even call in Johto divisions to help out Kanto, but this is a threat unlike anything we've ever seen. And this is too big for the Pokemon Rangers to deal with.”

“Madame Director,” a cool, caluclating voice offererd calmly. “If I may interject...this is not a fight we can win.” Madame Director sighed and took a deep breath, steeling herself.

It was Giovanni, again, of course. The Director slowly turned around, and met the man's impassive gaze. “We're a security firm, after all. And if Team Snagem is successful, we won't be paid.” His hand idly stroked the Meowth sitting quietly in his lap, keeping his steely gaze locked on the Director's.

Madame pursed her lips, considering how to continue. The room grew very quiet, and most of her other advisors shrank into their chairs, trying to make themselves invisible. Giovanni had been challenging her authority more and more lately. Well, this time he had gone too far. “Giovanni,” she said quietly. “We have a contract with the Indigo League. A contract that everyone in this room has signed.” Her eyes narrowed. “We don't simply cut and run. We stay and fight, because we gave our word.”

“A lot of good that has done us recently,” Giovanni muttered just loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear, averting his gaze to the conference room's table.

Madame Director paused at that despite herself. It was true that Team Rocket had been in the red over the last year. Team Snagem had been hitting Team Rocket had and fast, right where it hurt the most. Destroying or stealing valuable equipment and Pokemon. She had been forced to cut salaries and even lay off some employees. Company morale was at an all-time low, and everyone knew it. The tension in the room was palpable. Madame Director glared at Giovanni, who pointedly ignored her. She couldn't think of anything to come back against Giovanni's remark. That was becoming a pattern. He was up to something. Whatever he was up to, he was winning. And both he and Madame Director knew it.

Madame Director turned back to the map of Kanto, and pulled down another map, this one of the Celadon City itself. “They'll be coming in from the East,” she said. “From Saffron, so our Headquarters here will be one of the first hot spots. We hold this ground at all costs. Alpha, Beta, Sigma and Theta Squadrons will hold the Pokemon Center. Zeta, Iota, Delta, Kappa, and Nu will hold the Pokemon Mall. Everyone else will be here.”

She looked around the table. “We can't lose any of these locations, ladies and gentlemen. Nurse Jane has informed me that the evacuation is proceeding, but we need to buy them at least another hour and a half before all the Pokemon will be away. And keep in mind that not all the civilians have been evacuated.” She looked around the table, looking each person in the eye in turn. “And remember, try to keep collateral damage to a minimum. We do have to live here tomorrow.” Nods came from all aorund the table. “Dismissed!” Madame Director said. “We all have jobs to do, so let's get to it.”

She turned and looked out the window at the crowd of trainers gathered below. “Let's hope that American knows what he's doing,” she muttered to herself.

+++++

Steven Surge looked around, grinning. It had been a long time ssince he'd had this much fun. “Listen up!” he barked, his military training having taken over hours ago. He had whipped the ragtag group he'd been given into a semi-decent fighting force. “In less than twenty minutes, Team Snagem will get here. We are Celadon's First and main line of defense. We'll have Rockets backing us up, but they'll be concentrated on strategic locations in town.” He looked around, seeing fear, excitement, and eagerness in their faces. “Remember this isn't a single battle. Every opponent Pokemon is fair game. There are no dibs, there are no duels here. Our main job is to stop them as hard and fast as we can. Once they hit Ginger Road, they won't gain another yard!” The force of nearly three hundred trainers stretched in a defensive line near Celadon City's main entrance, waiting for the inevitable violence.

He paused, running off his mental checklist of things to chew them out over. “Remember, you're not alone out there, and the battlefield will be crowded with friendly Pokemon. That means NO group attacks, Jeffrey! And no freaking Earthquakes!" Surge glared at a trainer that had been particularly problematic when they had been drilling. "You'll be fainting half our force if you do! They won't use it either, because they've got a farily good mix of Pokemon with them!” he growled. Jeffrey had also kept using Surf and Discharge over and over again in training, even after repeated yelling matches. “The Beams—Ice, Psy, Bubble, and others are best for long-range. When they close to physical range, let your Fighting and Rock-types to the front, but not before then. Otherwise their Psychics will have an easy time to pick them off. Also, for any fire-users out there—Flamethrower is NOT a sniper move! I don't care how accurate your goddamn Charizard is. Nothing beats the 'Beams when it comes to long-range accuracy.”

He paused, and took a deep breath. “Remember, if your Pokemon faints, recall them right away, because these Snagem suckers are experts at mid-battle retrieval of fainted Pokemon. And nobody has ever gotten their Pokemon back from them once they're in Snagem's hands!” he looked around. “So be sure that you're quick to call your Pokemon back. If all of your Pokemon are fainted, fall back to the Pokemon Center, and help out where you can.”

Surge looked around, and saw a lot of frightened faces. He tried to smile encouragingly, but it was hard when he knew that they would be overrun. It was only a matter of time, measured in minutes. But the Pokemon Center needed every second to get their Pokemon to safety. Then it would be up to the Rockets and the reserve trainers to hold off the invaders. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I've done all I can. They'll be here soon. So let's get out there and kick their asses!”

A roar of approval went up across the crowd. Surge looked over their faces and swallowed hard. He had been picked to lead the defense because of his military training, and everyone was looking to him, the big, gruff veteran for strength. And that meant that he had to hide the fact that he was scared spitless. “Now get your asses out there! Barriers, Light Screens, and Reflects up! Psychics, be ready to snipe any Fighters coming to Brick Break our Barriers.” Surge climbed on top of a bench overlooking the wide avenue that would be the battleground. “We shall hold them here, and they shall come no farther!” His Raichu chittered its agreement. “This is for our home! This is for Celadon!” another roar rose from the assembled company, and then everything was quiet as trainers and Pokemon hurried to their assigned locations, and protective Psychic fortifications sprang into place.

Then, there was nothing to do but wait. Surge knelt down to his Raichu and grinned. “Just like the War, eh buddy?” he grinned. He turned to his Electabuzz. “Don't let me down now, buddy.” He looked across the way where the first Snagem trainers were beginning to appear around corners.

He grinned, and pointed at one trainer with a trio of Starter Pokemon. “It's time to get this party started!” he roared, and his small army agreed with him, yelling at the top of their lungs. From all around him, Ice Beams, Psybeams, Aurora Beams, Signal Beams, and Bubble Beams shot out, striking out at their opponents, breaking glass, knocking over plants, and digging gouges into pavement, sidewalk, and buildings alike. “Thunder, go!” he roared, and suddenly a volley of Thunderbolts shot across the street, following the Beams.

And suddenly all chaos broke loose, as the Snagem side returned fire, ablating some of the damage with their own Psychic fortifications. Then, a wave of Fighting-type Pokemon roarerd out of several alleys and streets at once, rushing towards the defenders. Instantly, many of the attacks switched their focus onto the Fighters, but still some of them made it through, and took down some of the Psychic fortifications.

Surge grimaced. He had expected things to take longer. They now probably only had about ten minutes max before their entire battle line had to withdraw. Those Rockets had better be worth all the money he knew they were being paid. “This is where the fun begins,” he mused to himself quietly. The Snagem members rushed towards the defenders, crowding towards the hole, and suddenly the fighting was a lot closer. Surge led the counter-attack, his loyal Raichu and Electabuzz at his side. “Give no quarter!” he yelled, his fists pumping, striking at any Snagem trainer or Pokemon he could reach. Surge tried to ignore the sheer terror that threatened to overtake him. He had to be strong for his men. “Once more into the breach, my friends!”

Even his bravado was suddenly wavering when he saw even more Snagem forces rushing to join their initial shock troops. "This is gonna be a long day," he growled, and kept on fighting.