Chapter 13: Better Sonoo than Later

Hiro scowled at the Team Galaxy member standing before him. He wore a slightly different uniform that Hiro grew familiar to seeing Zaire more often than he preferred. This one consisted of a gray vest and a blue jumpsuit underneath. His light blue hair spiked upward.

“Face it, kid,” he said and tightened his grip on the small device in his hand. “I’m an executive from Team Galaxy and we have control of this universe now. I just have to press a simple button to delete you from this world!”

“Arcanine, use Extremespeed!” a voice cried from nowhere.

An orange blur slammed into the executive’s back. He fell over onto his face. The device fell out of his hand and landed on the grassy terrain. His attacker, a tall orange canine with black stripes stomped its foot on it, shattering it.

“Flamethrower!” the voice called again. Hiro looked up the nearby hill and saw a kid about his age with short, green hair. He wore an orange buttoned up vest over a black long-sleeved shirt and matching pants.

Arcanine obediently opened its mouth and unleashed a stream of fire toward the Team Galaxy member. He leapt back and scowled before turning his back and running off.

“Good job, Arcanine,” the boy said, walking up to the dog Pokemon and rubbing it on the back. He then turned to Hiro and Crystal. “Are you two…?” His thoughts seemed to stray as his eyes traveled up to the volcano Pokemon at Hiro’s side with a look of surprise on his face. “So, they’ve already hacked legendaries into this world.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Hiro replied. “Who are you, anyway?”

The boy shook his head. “We’ve got to keep moving now that they know we’re here,” he said. “I’ll explain everything on the way.” He pulled himself over Arcanine’s back as his cybernetic Pokemon started at a dash.

“Come on, Crystal,” Hiro said. He did the same on Entei and grabbed Crystal’s arm, pulling her up behind him. “Let’s go, Entei!” At this, Entei started running after the boy and Arcanine.

“Okay, I’ll start with my name,” he said. “I’m Kyle, a character programmed into the game. These hackers are trying to program legendary Pokemon into the game and then uploading them in the same way your minds were downloaded into this world. If that were to happen, your world would be in danger.”

“I figured that much,” Hiro replied. He kept a tight grip on Entei’s mane, but found it hard to stay comfortable on the legendary dog’s back. “My name’s Hiro Matsuo, by the way.”

“Stop right there!” a voice shouted from above. The two steeds halted as their riders looked up. A massive winged dragon-type Pokemon, Salamence, descended next to them.

Hiro immediately recognized the man as a Team Galaxy member. The white of his shirt was replaced with sparkling silver and the shoulders stuck out farther than the regular ones. A crown was plotted atop the G on his chest. His squat face was covered in a beard and a mustache of brown hair. He had piercing green eyes that struck fear into those who looked into them and more brown hair around his head that spiked outward, leaving a bald top.

“I guess news of us spread quickly,” Kyle smirked. “That’s apparently the leader of these hackers. Hiro, let’s team up and do battle against him.”

Hiro smiled confidently and nodded. “Okay, are you ready, Entei?” he said, climbing down with Crystal as Kyle got off Arcanine. “Fire Blast!” the two boys called in unison.

Their fire-type Pokemon opened their jaws and released two star-shape blasts of dancing orange flames toward Salamance and its rider. The majestic dragon-type spread its wide wings and took flight, soaring above the pair of attacks as they hit the ground and exploded in a cloud of smoke.

“Such petit attacks,” the man said and held his arm up high. “Let me show you how it’s done.” A red-and-white Pokeball appeared in the palm of his hand and he threw it. “Go, Deoxys!” The ball burst open and a thin Pokemon with long, tentacle-like arms appeared. It glared at Hiro and Kyle and their Pokemon with a blank expression.

“Another legendary Pokemon,” Kyle scowled.

“Hold on,” Hiro said. “You aren’t supposed to get a new Pokeball unless your current Pokemon faints. And the Pokemon that comes out in completely random. How did he know what was going to come out?”

“Kid, we have complete control of this universe,” the man laughed. “Anything here will do my will. Deoxys, use Shadow Ball!” The psychic-type Pokemon held its arms together and a dark ball of energy appeared. It unleashed the attack and it hit Arcanine, sending the dog-like Pokemon flying backward. It slowly disappeared in a beam of light.

“No, Arcanine!” Kyle cried.

“Charge, Entei!” Hiro commanded and the volcano Pokemon dashed toward Deoxys.

Deoxys immediately started charging another Shadow Ball attack. Hiro wouldn’t let his gaze stray from the two clashing Pokemon.

“Hiro, there’s no way you can dodge Deoxy’s attack now,” Kyle said.

“I’m not trying to dodge,” Hiro replied. ‘I’m sorry, Entei, but this you is only data.’ “Entei, use Hyper Beam!” The legendary dog opened its mouth and unleashed an immense beam of energy that collided with Deoxy’s Shadow Ball attack, resulting in an explosion that sent Entei flying back. A protective orb formed around Deoxys and deflected the blow.

Entei fell to the ground and struggled to stand up. Deoxys simply drifted downward toward Entei, unharmed.

“Well, now,” the Team Galaxy member said as he walked forward. “I think Entei is weak enough to upload. Commence!” At this command, Entei’s body slowly began to transform into tiny beams of light that began to soar upward.

“No! Don’t!” Hiro roared and made to run to the smirking man before him, but Kyle grabbed his shoulder and held him back.

“We’re no match for him,” he said. “Come with me.” ‘If they can control the events of cyberspace, maybe we can.’ He held his arm out and a Pokeball appeared. He tossed it up and, as he wished, a graceful brown bird appeared in a burst of white light. After the trio got on Pidgeot’s back, the bird Pokemon took flight.

The Team Galaxy member laughed behind them. “That’s it! Run!” he yelled.

---

After a few minutes of flying, the group landed at the mouth of a cave. Kyle motioned for them to follow and Hiro and Crystal did so with Pidgeot right behind them.

“Why did we run?” Hiro demanded angrily. “We can’t let them keep this up. Not only is this world but our world is in danger, too!”

“Hiro, you can’t do anything as long as we don’t have any power,” Kyle simply replied without turning to face him and continued walking onward. “And you’re right. But at this point, you’ll be safer in your world, outside this cybernetic universe.”

“What are you saying?” Hiro asked.

“I’m saying I can get you out of here,” he said. “The programmers created an emergency exit here. I think it’s about time we put it to use.”

“No way,” Hiro roared and came to an immediate stop. “I’m not leaving until Team Galaxy is gone!”

“For once, Hiro, would you listen to someone else?” Crystal shouted. She was trying to keep herself out of this, but now she knew she had to step in or Hiro could be putting himself in danger. “This is out of your hands.”

Hiro let a low growl escape his lips, but reluctantly decided to follow them. They eventually came to a dead end. What looked to be a keyboard was on the stone wall. Kyle silently walked up to it and punched some keys. The wall perpendicular to him vanished and was replaced by a swirling, multi-color light.

Kyle sighed before saying, “There you are. Just step into the vortex and your mind will be re-uploaded to your body in your world.”

Crystal took a few steps forward before turning around to see Hiro hadn’t moved. “Come on, Hiro,” she said. “We’ve got to get out of here.” Hiro didn’t make any motion of response. “Hiro,” she moaned.

“Go,” Hiro finally said. “You’ve got a contest to win.”

“Come on, Hiro!” Crystal cried and a few tears began to flow from her eyes.

“Crystal,” Kyle said. “There’s no other way about it. I don’t know how you’ll talk Hiro out of staying and fighting Team Galaxy.” He placed a hand on Crystal’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’ll come back safe and sound.”

Crystal sighed and finally nodded. With one last glance at Hiro, she started her walk toward the vortex again.

“Crystal!” Hiro said, holding a thumbs-up. “Good luck!”

Crystal smiled back at him and disappeared into the light. Kyle walked back to the keyboard and typed another message that made the vortex disappear.

The night was gone almost as soon as it had arrived. Both parties spent the time training for their pursuits. The sun rose over the realistic land Hiro’s mind was now in and he gazed over the plains outside the cave. Kyle came out and they nodded to each other, walking forward.

---

Crystal stood on the stage of the Sonoo Town Contest Hall, bathed in the bright spotlight with the rest of the contestants. She wore a long, yellow gown that glittered in the light and her hair was tied into the same looped ponytail she had worn in the previous contest. Cherimu wore a white scarf that wrapped around its body, save its head and arms.

“Crystal, is that you?” a voice chimed behind her. Crystal turned to see her blue-haired rival, Ruby. “I’m glad you made it. But I’m expecting a better appeal this time.”

“You won’t be disappointed,” Crystal smirked and turned back to the crowd, busy with their voting.

---

Hiro found himself ascending toward the snow-covered peak of a mountain on the back of a Tropius behind Kyle and his Pidgeot. As the ground of the peak became level with Hiro’s eyesight, he saw countless Team Galaxy members scattered about. A large, purplish Pokemon stood behind the man Hiro had just faced the day before instead of the DNA Pokemon.

“Ah! Welcome, Hiro and Kyle,” he said. “Might I introduce the legendary Pokemon of space? Say hello to the mighty Parukia!” The Pokemon at his side roared to the sky. “Once our little friend here is in the real world, we will soon conquer it.”

“Hiro, there’s only one Pokemon that could face it,” Kyle said. “And I’ve already told what it is.”

”Right,” Hiro replied and leapt off of Tropius as Kyle got off of Pidgeot. A Pokeball appeared in his hand and he threw it. “Go, Diaruga!” In a flash of white light, a tall, four-legged blue Pokemon appeared.

The Team Galaxy leader smirked. “So, you’re going to face us with that?” he said, laughing maliciously.

---

Crystal’s face appeared in the fifth slot of the finalists. Ruby was placed second behind a tall boy in a black suit with short, brown hair and his Machoke, who wore an identical suit and a pair of black glasses.

“And now that the finalists have been decided, let’s start the appeal rounds!” Kikian declared into the microphone in her hands.

After the first three contestants had appealed, Crystal stepped forward. Cherimu leapt from her shoulder and landed in front of her. Both of them felt much bolder than in the Shoubu contest.

“Okay, Cherimu, just like we’ve been practicing!” Crystal said. “Use Magical Leaf!”

Cherimu began to spin in circles. Numerous multi-colored leaves appeared and slowly drifted toward the floor. Continuing its spin, the flower Pokemon released several beams of light. The good majority of the Leech Seed attack collided with the leaves and exploded in bursts of light.

“Beautiful!” Kikian exclaimed and turned to the three judges on the sidelines. “Let’s see what our judges think.”

A combined total of 27.8 points appeared on the screen under Crystal’s picture. As the crowd applauded, Crystal turned confidently toward Ruby, who was waiting in the line of finalists.

‘Just you wait, Ruby,’ she thought. ‘With a score like that, I’m almost guaranteed a place in the battle rounds.’

---

“Fine, let the clash of the legendary Pokemon of space and time begin!” the Team Galaxy leader cried. Hiro pierced a fierce glare across the icy ground at the villain as Parukia and Diaruga dashed toward each other.

To Be Continued…