Glug glug...
A string of bubbles rose to the surface of the lake. Shaymin poked its head out, spitting out a mouthful of lake water and gasping for breath. "That was close! Shaymin almost died."
Next, Mew also surfaced. It appeared unscathed, its eyes wide with curiosity as it began to circle Mewtwo.
"Mew?"
"Of course. I am your duplicate." Mewtwo's gaze remained locked onto the pink Pokémon.
"Mew?"
"It doesn't matter if you understand. Fight me, Mew!" Mewtwo pointed at the mythical creature and declared loudly, "I want to know who is stronger, the original or me!"
"Mew!" Mew shook its head. It didn't like fighting; it only liked to play.
"That's not for you to decide!" Mewtwo charged an energy sphere and hurled it at Mew, scoring a direct hit.
Mew used the momentum to roll backward and quickly flew away.
"Don't even think about escaping!" Mewtwo gave chase.
Mew began another grand escape, though this time, its opponent was its own clone.
"I guess no one cares about Shaymin anymore. Does that mean Shaymin is free?" Watching all the strange machines chase after Mew, Shaymin breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's not that Shaymin is ungrateful, it's just that Shaymin can't help. Anyway, since Mew is so powerful, it should be easier to escape without Shaymin dragging it down." After a quick analysis, Shaymin successfully convinced itself.
It paddled its limbs frantically, swimming toward the shore.
"Almost there... Shaymin is going to be free!" Seeing the forest getting closer, Shaymin was overjoyed.
However, a figure descended from the sky and landed right in front of it. Shaymin suddenly lost control of its body; it floated out of the lake into the air and was grabbed by a large hand.
"Well, well, if it isn't Shaymin. What a coincidence."
The familiar voice coming from the armored figure made Shaymin's skin crawl. Its body began to tremble. "It's you! The big meanie?! No matter how much Shaymin struggles, I can't escape your clutches? Is Shaymin really that important to you? Shaymin cannot bear such a heavy love!"
"What are you blathering about?" Aomori shook the hedgehog back and forth. "I just happened to spot you. This is simply a matter of your own bad luck."
"Shaymin's luck is too bad?"
"Mhm."
"Shaymin doesn't want to live anymore," Shaymin said despondently.
"That's perfect. I haven't tasted Shaymin yet. Let's try making a whole-hedgehog soup." Aomori pulled Shaymin closer and licked his lips.
"No! Shaymin doesn't taste good!" Immense fear became its motivation. Its body suddenly emitted a vibrant green light.
When the light faded, it had transformed into its dashing Sky Forme. With a sudden burst of energy, it broke free from Aomori's grasp and soared into the sky.
"I can finally change forms! Shaymin can fly! I'll fly all the way to the flower field in one go. Shaymin will not be eaten!" Sky Forme Shaymin displayed incredible speed, disappearing in an instant.
As the strong wind brushed against its face, Shaymin felt incredibly content. "Is this the taste of freedom? It's wonderful..."
…
"Fainted from fright? Is it really that delicate?" Aomori looked at the unconscious Shaymin in his hand, which still had a mysterious smile on its face, shook his head, and tossed it into a patch of grass on the shore.
Aomori only intended to tease Shaymin; he had no intention of taking it back, let alone stewing it.
"Now then, what should I do next?"
The power levels of Mew and Mewtwo were very close. A victor wouldn't be decided in a short time, and Aomori didn't want to interfere in their duel yet.
"So, I should probably deal with the Team Rocket bunch first." Aomori looked up at the largest airship in the sky, took flight, and vanished.
…
"Why are you running? Fighting me is your destiny! Counterattack! Defeating you like this won't make me happy at all!"
The "edgy teen" Mewtwo continuously threw Aura Spheres at Mew, showing no mercy.
"Mew!" Mew retaliated with its own Aura Spheres, the two attacks colliding and annihilating each other.
"That's it! Come on, attack me! I crave more!" Mewtwo seemed almost obsessed, muttering feverishly.
Swish swish swish!
A large group of flying drones suddenly appeared, launching indiscriminate strikes at both Mewtwo and Mew.
"Get lost! I wasn't talking to you trash!" Mewtwo's psychic power erupted, deflecting all the incoming drones and clearing those pestering Mew in the process.
"The only one allowed to defeat Mew is me!"
Aboard the airship, Ariana said with a grim face, "The 361 interceptor drones have been destroyed. Boss, it seems these things alone won't be enough to take down Mew and Mewtwo."
"I know. No one understands Mewtwo's power better than I do." Giovanni, who had recently joined Ariana, stared intensely at the two powerful Pokémon on the screen. "This is just to lure them into a false sense of security. Once we are prepared, the real operation begins!"
"Mew and Mewtwo will both be in Team Rocket's grasp!"
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you have your way."
An unfamiliar voice rang out, startling everyone in the room. Team Rocket grunts raised their weapons, aiming them at the armored figure who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Ariana asked, frowning.
The security level of this airship was top-tier. Not even a fly should have been able to enter.
"I am Hunter K. I specialize in hunting guys like you," Aomori said, ignoring the guns and looking straight at Giovanni.
"Hunter K? It's you!" Giovanni immediately recalled the Master Ball incident where this man had interfered. "You're the one who helped Mewtwo escape, aren't you?"
"Guilty as charged."
"You are a capable man. I admit I underestimated you before," Giovanni said. "If you are willing to join Team Rocket, you will be a high-ranking officer second only to me. You will be able to command anyone except myself."
"Wait, Boss Giovanni, is that really..." Ariana started to protest, but her words were cut short by Giovanni's cold gaze.
"Silence. Do not interrupt me."
"Yes, Boss." Ariana quickly realized this was a critical moment. Giovanni was likely offering this "heavy bait" to prevent any accidents. Once they captured Mew and Mewtwo, all old and new scores could be settled.
Thinking of this, Ariana sneered inwardly: 'You offended Team Rocket. Did you really think you could get away with it so easily?'
"Sorry, I decline," Aomori said flatly.
"What?!" Ariana cried out again. "You declined? You actually dared to decline? Do you even know what kind of organization Team Rocket is?"
"Once you become an executive, it means limitless wealth and fame. You would become one of the top people in the world!"
This time, Giovanni did not interrupt her.
"I know Team Rocket is powerful, but it's meaningless to me," Aomori replied.
"Then what do you want? Being a hunter, there must be something you desire," Giovanni asked.
"What I want... it's quite simple. I want to knock people like you, who think you're at the top of the world, down into the mud one by one. Seeing you in a miserable state makes me incredibly happy." Aomori pointed at Giovanni and made his declaration.
"Madman. You're a total madman," Ariana turned to Giovanni. "Boss, you can't talk sense into a cynical lunatic like him. Let me seize him!"
Giovanni looked at Aomori and nodded. "A pity. Do it."
Having received the order she had been waiting for, Ariana shouted, "Everyone, get him!"
"Think you're a hero just because you're wearing armor? Hahaha, what an idiot!"
"You're surrounded! Give up now!"
The Team Rocket grunts moved toward Aomori, but before they could lay a finger on him, they were all sent flying. One grunt even grazed Giovanni's hair as he slammed into the main screen, obscuring the image of Mewtwo.
"Idiots. I'm not the one who's surrounded, you are. Surrender now, or don't blame me for being rough." Aomori punched the metal wall beside him, instantly blowing a massive hole through it and revealing the hallway outside.
"Impossible! That wall is made of a super-alloy that even cannons can't penetrate!" Ariana was dumbstruck. "Are you... are you even human?"
"This kind of thing is easy for humans. As long as you keep up your training for three years, you're guaranteed to take down anyone with one punch," Aomori said with a shrug.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Ariana couldn't believe such a ridiculous claim.
Clap, clap, clap!
Giovanni remained composed and even applauded Aomori's performance. "You are indeed strong. Are you sure you won't join Team Rocket? I promise our past grievances will be wiped clean."
"No thanks." Aomori shook his head. "Why join an organization that's destined for ruin?"
"Very well. Such a waste." Giovanni stood up and tossed a Poké Ball. "Come out, my old friend, Beedrill!"
A massive Beedrill emerged. It wore a gemstone around its neck. Its crimson compound eyes reflected many images of Aomori, and a violent bloodlust radiated from its body.
"Beedrill?!" Ariana recoiled a few steps, putting away her own Poké Balls. "That guy is dead. Boss Giovanni's Beedrill is the strongest Pokémon! A human body can't possibly defeat a Pokémon."
"Beedrill was my first Pokémon. It has fought by my side for decades; it is my strongest," Giovanni said with a cold smile. "Since you won't join us, you'll just have to die. Go, Beedrill!"
With a red flash in its eyes, Beedrill moved like a ghost behind Aomori, its massive stingers glowing with a purple light as it lunged.
At the critical moment, a dark figure emerged from Aomori's shadow, forcing Beedrill back.
"What is that?" Ariana was shocked by the sudden appearance of the unknown Pokémon.
"The Pitch-Black Pokémon, Darkrai," Giovanni identified it immediately, drawing on his vast knowledge.
"Darkrai?" Ariana held her breath. "He actually possesses a Legendary Pokémon?"
"That's right. This is my Pokémon, Darkrai," Aomori nodded. "Let's let the Pokémon settle things between themselves."
"Fine by me. Today, we'll let Beedrill slay a god." Giovanni rolled up his sleeve, revealing a rainbow-colored gemstone on his wrist. He shouted, "Beedrill, Mega Evolve!"
The gemstone around Beedrill's neck simultaneously emitted a dazzling light. Within that brilliance, Beedrill's body lengthened, its two stingers grew even larger, and its legs transformed into additional stingers.
"Mega Evolution?" Aomori had a feeling when he saw the stone on Beedrill's neck, but seeing it in person was still surprising.
"As expected of the Boss of Team Rocket. You've bypassed the version limits and mastered cutting-edge technology like Mega Evolution."
"You seem to know what this is? What a remarkable young man. This is the first time I've used Mega Evolution in front of others. Where did you learn about it?" Giovanni said appreciatively.
"Even I didn't know Beedrill had the capacity to evolve further," Ariana added, stunned.
"I've traveled all over the world; I know no less than you. This is Kalos technology, isn't it?" Aomori answered.
"Correct. I paid a great price to obtain it. Now, witness the true power of a further-evolved Beedrill!" Giovanni said with a fanatical tone. "Mega Beedrill, use Giga Impact!"
Mega Beedrill glowed with a blinding white light, charging toward Darkrai like a meteor. Where it passed, even space seemed to distort slightly.
"Starting with an ultimate move?" Aomori also gave a command: "Darkrai, use Dark Pulse!"
Malicious black energy poured from Darkrai's hands, and the lights inside the airship dimmed instantly.
The two massive energies collided, resulting in a violent explosion. In the blink of an eye, the sturdy airship became a firework in the sky.
Giovanni and Ariana, falling from the craft, were rescued by another airship.
"My apologies for the delay in rescue, Boss! Please forgive me!" Aomori's old acquaintance, Archer, appeared once more.
"No, you arrived just in time. Did you bring it?"
"I did." Archer solemnly took a purple Poké Ball from his coat and handed it to Giovanni.
Ariana looked at the ball with an enchanted expression. "Is this the ball that can catch any Pokémon? It's beautiful."
"Indeed. This is currently the only finished product. I rushed here immediately upon receiving the Boss's order."
"Excellent." Giovanni smiled broadly. "Hunter K, I was waiting for my Master Ball. What were you waiting for?"
Back on the airship, Giovanni had seen that Aomori was intentionally stalling for time; as it happened, he wanted to stall too. Now that the Master Ball was in hand, all obstacles were removed. Once he recaptured Mewtwo, neither Mew nor Darkrai would be a match for him.
Thud!
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as a hole was smashed through the top of the airship. Aomori made a flashy entrance, holding the head of the defeated Beedrill in his hand.
"Bringing my Master Ball right to me... thank you for your hard work."
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