As Gladion prepared to leave for the Team Rocket base, Erza appeared in the doorway. She crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow.
"Now where are you going in such a hurry, Glady?" she asked.
Gladion kept his face calm. "Team Rocket business."
Erza nodded slowly. "I will not stop you. As a Gym Leader it is your duty to protect the region and deal with the criminals. But first you will eat lunch. I am not letting you leave on an empty stomach. Not especially just a day later after fighting Moltres. Your aura is still recovering from that mega evolution and that battle."
Gladion opened his mouth to refuse. Erza gave him the look. The one that ended every argument when he was a child. He knew who always won.
He sat down and ate the warm meal she placed in front of him. Vegetables, rice, and grilled magicarp. Simple food that tasted like home.
When he finished and stood to leave, Erza spoke again. "Do you want me to come with you? Most of your team is still recovering. Charizard is itching for a battle anyways. Besides, he wants to go mega once again and now that you have revealed it, he took wants some spotlight."
Gladion shook his head. "I will use those two, Mom. I do not think I will need more help. Charizard would have to wait for his spotlight."
Erza's eyes softened as she understood. "I see. So it is finally time to show them to the world. Very well. Take care of yourself. Do not worry about your Pokémon. Your father is watching them closely, especially Tengen."
Gladion hugged her quickly. "Thank you."
He stepped outside and waved. In a flash of psychic light he teleported to the coordinates Koga had sent.
He appeared inside a small Aura Guardian safe house hidden in thick forest. The building was plain stone with no windows on the outside. The safe house was located near their target location so they decided to use this place as the meeting point.
Koga, Agatha, and eight other Aura Guardians waited inside. All wore dark clothes ready for battle.
Gladion looked around. "You brought only Aura Guardians?"
Koga nodded. "Yes."
Gladion was glad that Koga had accepted his request. He did not want Giovanni to be informed on the attack on his base even if it was a trap.
Agatha added. "As soon as we move in, we will alert Lance and the officials. They will arrive fast with a teleport from their Pokémon. We cannot be accused of acting alone then."
Gladion agreed.
Koga continued. "I will lead. We spread out first and remove the scouts quietly. Reports show at least two hundred Team Rocket members inside. We will be outnumbered until help comes, but we are Aura Guardians. Our strength is enough to hold for some time against some low life criminals."
Gladion interrupted. "I will take the lead. You spread out around the base. Make sure no one escapes."
Agatha raised an eyebrow. "Your Pokémon have not recovered fully, brat. Neither have you. Do not play hero or chase revenge. We old people still have tricks. Do not underestimate us."
Gladion met her stare. "I am not underestimating you. I am saying you would only slow me down. Trust me. I will handle the base. If I fail, you will be there to back me up."
Agatha stared hard for a long moment. Then she laughed. "Sometimes I wonder who is more stubborn, you, your sister, or that old coot Maren. My money was always on Maren, but you are catching up fast, brat. Fine. Go be the hero. We will clean up whatever you leave behind."
Gladion smiled at that. "Good. Let's make team rocket pay for their crimes today."
Everyone nodded. They were few in number, but every Aura Guardian was worth many normal trainers. They were in Aura Guardians because of their exceptional strength. Each was at least as strong as a major gym leader.
Gladion stepped outside and released Elder Green. The Tropius spread his wide wings. Gladion climbed on and took to the sky. He flew straight toward the base.
Koga, Agatha, and the others moved through the trees with their Pokemon.
On the way Agatha spoke quietly to Koga. "Do you think the boy is ready to attack a full base alone?"
Koga answered. "We did not think he could stand against Moltres so long. And he proved us wrong. He even used that Kalos trick. Mega Evolution, he called it."
Agatha snorted. "He will answer a lot of questions about that soon."
Koga looked ahead. "But you are right. The boy always has a suprise."
They all stopped suddenly. A massive pressure filled the air. It came from the direction Gladion flew. They could all tell that it was the aura of a dragon. Pure and ancient.
But it was strong enough to make the ground feel heavy and from a far distance.
They all realised that it was the aura of a Legendary Dragon. All the Aura Guardians had encountered a legendary once in their life and they all could recognise the strength of the Aura.
An Aura Guardian whispered. "You have got to be kidding me. I thought that we had our dose of legendaries for this decade."
Koga's eyes widened. "He really did have another surprise."
Before anyone could speak more, a second wave hit them. Another dragon aura, just as strong as the first.
Agatha felt her knees shake for a moment. Sweat appeared on her face.
"Surprises," she croaked with a cracked laugh. "Plural."
-----Author Notes------
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