"Mewtwo!"
Riding atop the Rayquaza formed by Mew's transformation, Ryuuske soared into the sky. While still at a distance from Mewtwo, he called out sharply.
Mewtwo, locked in a fierce battle with Giovanni's Beedrill, paused for a moment. It swiftly unleashed a massive surge of psychic energy from its body, temporarily pushing Beedrill away. Then, with a nod to Ryuuske, it retreated and vanished into the Master Ball it carried.
Earlier, Ryuuske had secretly left the Master Ball with Green. After Mewtwo emerged from the ball, it had kept the Master Ball with it.
Now, back inside the Poké Ball, Mewtwo guided the ball's flight path straight into Ryuuske's waiting hand.
"'Rayquaza,' use Air Slash!"
Seeing Beedrill attempting to close in, Ryuuske quickly issued the command to the 'Rayquaza' formed by Mew.
The 'Rayquaza,' its draconic tail whipping through the air, unleashed countless razor-sharp blades of wind capable of slicing through rock and steel, all hurtling toward the buzzing Beedrill.
Faced with these cutting gusts, Beedrill swiftly swung its twin stingers, slicing apart every one of the air blades.
Ignoring Beedrill for the moment, Ryuuske had 'Rayquaza' stall the giant hornet before immediately changing direction, speeding toward Ash and Green's location.
He had no intention of continuing a direct confrontation with Beedrill—instead, he would fight it indirectly, hoping to exploit the unique traits of Legendary Pokémon to gradually wear it down.
Giovanni watched the unfolding events in the sky with a grim expression. The appearance of Mew had caught him off guard, turning what should have been a guaranteed victory into an uncertain struggle.
"Hmm? Someone is attacking the Psychic barrier army in Saffron City?"
Just as Giovanni was about to order Beedrill to pursue, a signal device in his pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and glanced at it, his expression darkening further.
'The Gym Leaders should still be blocked outside the city. Only those kids made it inside... Could someone else have slipped in unnoticed?'
Whoever was assaulting the Psychic barrier squad couldn't be an ordinary Trainer—only a true expert could pull off such a feat. The fact that such a figure had infiltrated the city undetected filled Giovanni with fury.
Though he had never believed his hastily devised plan would go perfectly—after all, he had been forced to attack Saffron City prematurely—the sheer number of obstacles was beyond his expectations.
'If the barrier is broken and the Gym Leaders all arrive, things will get messy.'
Watching Ryuuske soar through the sky on 'Rayquaza,' with Mewtwo resting in his hand, Giovanni felt a rare sense of urgency.
Though he was confident in his strength, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could face four Gym Leaders, Ryuuske with two Legendary Pokémon, and a mysterious infiltrator all at once without risk. One misstep, and he could find himself defeated in an instant.
"Under these circumstances, Team Rocket will have to retreat for now. Fine—let's see what you're really after."
Giovanni's eyes glinted as he slowed Beedrill's pursuit, leaving it to circle the skies instead of giving chase at full speed.
Cough... Cough...
Pulling a white handkerchief from his tattered suit pocket, Giovanni covered his mouth as he coughed. When he lowered it, faint traces of blood stained the fabric.
"My body is failing... But I must hold on. At least until my goal is achieved."
Though he appeared unharmed after his battle with Ryuuske, the mental strain and sheer exertion had pushed his body to its limits.
---
"What the heck is that?!"
Ash, still locked in combat with Sabrina's Tri-Bird, gaped as a massive, emerald-green dragon came clawing through the sky toward them.
"Must be another Legendary Pokémon? Whatever—it's under Ryuuske's control, so don't worry about it! Focus, Red, that bird's coming again!"
Gary, teeth gritted as the seemingly tireless Tri-Bird continued its relentless assault, shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I know, I know! Quit nagging!"
Their bodies felt like rusted gears, creaking under the strain. Never had Ash and Gary imagined a battle could be this grueling—but they had no choice but to endure.
---
"Escaped from the Boss, huh?"
Sabrina, perched atop the Tri-Bird as it rained destruction below, noticed the disturbance in the clouds—the dragon weaving through the mist. Her sharp gaze swept over the scene, but her voice carried a hint of relief.
She knew Giovanni's strength well. Even with Mewtwo, Ryuuske should have stood no chance against him. Seeing him escape unscathed filled her with an odd sense of reassurance.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Sabrina froze, then scowled at her own reaction.
Why am I relieved? I should be furious!
Her original goal had been revenge—to settle the score in this final battle. Yet here she was, inexplicably glad that Ryuuske was unharmed.
Frustration burned through her.
"...Tri-Bird, Sky Attack!"
A piercing cry rang out as the Tri-Bird shot into the sky, piercing the clouds before twisting gracefully into a dive, talons aimed straight at 'Rayquaza.'
---
Ryuuske, baffled by Sabrina's sudden fury, glanced back to confirm that Giovanni's Beedrill wasn't pursuing. Relieved, he immediately issued a new command.
"...Mew, transform into Giratina!"
The 'Rayquaza' in the sky warped like a reflection in a funhouse mirror. When the distortion faded, the sky-soaring dragon had become a specter of the underworld!
Of course, Mew's 'Giratina' was merely an imitation—it lacked control over the Distortion World. But its ghostly form, enhanced by the Dragon's Power, was more than a match for the Tri-Bird.
Sabrina's attack missed. Undeterred, she wheeled the Tri-Bird around, weaving through the clouds as all three heads locked onto Ryuuske and his phantom steed.
"Tri-Bird, Heat Wave!"
"Become 'Palkia' and use Aqua Tail."
"Thunderbolt!"
"'Dialga,' Flash Cannon."
"Damn it!! Keep using Blizzard!"
"'Ho-Oh,' Fire Blast!"
"..."
No matter what attack Sabrina ordered, Ryuuske countered by having Mew assume a new form and retaliate with a different move. It was as if he commanded every Legendary Pokémon at once—albeit imitations, incapable of their signature moves. Yet even these false 'Legends' retained some of their unique traits and abilities, adapting seamlessly to each new assault.
A prismatic glow lit up the sky as 'Ho-Oh' unleashed a storm of flames, melting the blizzard midair. Seeing her attacks rendered useless, Sabrina's fury only grew, driving her to order the Tri-Bird to attack without pause.
---
"Miss Green? Miss Green?!"
Elsewhere, after Mewtwo had delivered Green to Daisy, the latter had found a safe spot to tend to her. Anxiously watching the distant battle, Daisy brightened when Green stirred.
"Ngh... I'm alive? He saved me... How's the fight going?"
Groggy but awake, Green took in the unfamiliar girl beside her but wasted no time on introductions, cutting straight to her concern.
"The battle... It's still unclear..."
Daisy's face was shadowed with worry, guilt weighing on her for being unable to help.
"That bird..."
Green forced herself up, fighting through her lingering fear to stare at the Tri-Bird dominating the sky. Spotting the shapeshifting Pokémon opposing it, she blinked in disbelief.
"...What is that thing that keeps changing?"
Not expecting an answer from the stranger, Green fumbled for her Pokédex.
"I need to tell Ryuuske what I know! Sabrina used some kind of machine and three badges to fuse Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres! If we destroy that machine or take the badges, the Tri-Bird should separate!"
Just then, Mew's 'Ho-Oh' form appeared in the sky. Green's pupils dilated as the world was bathed in a rainbow's glow, the radiant phoenix filling her vision.
For a moment, her heart stopped.
"It's... so beautiful..."
Daisy, equally mesmerized, watched as the aurora-like brilliance painted the war-torn city in dreamlike hues. To any girl, the sight was nothing short of magical.
"Eh?! M-Miss Green?! Why did you faint again?!"
Looking down, Daisy panicked as Green slumped over, unconscious once more.
To be continued…
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