Reflections of the Past
Chapter 4: The Invasion Begins
by: KentaMarina

Feb. 2008

How odd, I didn't write anything? Oh wait, now I just did!

* * *

Chapter 4: The Invasion Begins

        I was already getting worried about Kenta, even though it wasn't already two hours. This feeling kinda reminds me of what happened after I heard the recording on radio by Team Rocket.

* * *

        "I just hope Kenta's home, so he could at least tell me what's going on..." I thought as I rode my bicycle to Kenta's house the next day. When I got there, I found out that the door was unlocked. I then went inside.
        "Kenta? Are you home?" I asked out loud.
        No reply. I walked inside and saw a familiar PokéBall resting on top of a piece of paper. I took the piece of paper and read it. I immediately recognized Kenta's handwriting.

        Marina,

        Sorry, but I can't explain everything here, but someone will when the time comes. I have to go off somewhere. Stay with Jun'ichi and Matt for now and expect some Rocket Grunts to attack the town. If you see some, battle them or find Matt or Jun'ichi. I'll keep in touch with you.

                                                                                                        -Kenta

        P.S. Please keep Typhlosion for now, so in case something goes wrong and I turn to their side, Typhlosion will knock some sense back into me...

        "I don't believe this!" I thought as I rode back to my house with the letter and Typhlosion. I was angry that Kenta was somewhere out of my reach, worried about what would happen to Kenta, and confused about what to do with Typhlosion. When I got to my room, I placed Typhlosion's PokéBall in a safe place, and reread the letter three times in succession. Following Kenta's warning about the Grunts, I readied Typhlosion, Croconaw, and Misdreavus when I heard a knock on the door. I looked through the peephole to see Matt outside. I let out a sigh of relief and let him in.
        "Matt, read this, it's from Kenta to me," I said as I handed over the letter. Matt read it quietly and handed it back with a grim face.
        "Everything here is supposed to happen. You should follow Kenta's warning, I got a call from him, and..."
        I interrupted Matt. "You got a call? When?!" I asked urgently.
        "I got a call last night from his PokéGear to tell you what exactly is going on. Lance also said that it was okay now to tell you everything," said Matt.
        Suddenly, we heard an explosion from Prof. Elm's lab. We got up, readied one PokéBall each and rushed over to Prof. Elm's lab, where we found Jun'ichi on the ground.
        "Jun'ichi, are you okay?" asked Matt and he helped him get up.
        "Yeah...I'm fine," he replied. "The Grunts are in the back, and they're all over the place," he said as he got out a PokéBall.
        "Take it easy, Jun'ichi," said Matt. "Just tell us where they are," he said.
        "No, it's best for me to fight, I know who exactly is leading this attack," said Jun'ichi as he went outside the back door. Matt and I quickly followed him.

        There were three Grunts at the Water Pokémon habitat, and that was all of them. I led the Water Pokémon to safety, just in time to see Matt's Gardevoir and Jun'ichi's Shiny Magneton against a Mightyena, a Crobat, and an Exploud.
        "Who do you think you guys are?" asked the Rocket Grunt who had the Exploud.
        "We're just here to take you down, boy!" shouted Matt back. His Gardevoir was ready to attack.
        "Oh yeah? Well we'll show you, punk!" said the Magma Grunt who had the Mightyena.
        "Bring it on!" said Jun'ichi, and his Magneton sparkled.
        After I got the Pokémon to safety, I came back to their aid and released Kenta's Typhlosion. Matt and Jun'ichi said nothing as they recognized Kenta's Typhlosion. The Aqua Grunt who had the Crobat attacked first.
        "Crobat, Wing Attack!" commanded the Aqua Grunt. Crobat flew straight for Typhlosion, trying to strike it with its wings. Typhlosion easily dodged the attack and used a Quick Attack in return, knocking Crobat down. Crobat easily got back up.
        "Gardevoir, Calm Mind!" said Matt.
        Gardevoir closed its eyes. As it did, an aura surrounded it and its eyes open again.
        "Mightyena, Crunch that Gardevoir!" commanded the Magma Grunt. Mightyena lunged for Gardevoir with its jaw wide open. Jun'ichi tried to intercept it, knowing that the attack would score an effective hit.
        "Magneton, Light Screen!" shouted Jun'ichi quickly. Magneton quickly got in between Gardevoir and Mightyena, frowned all three eyes, and created a shining barrier, which Mightyena slammed into, and was knocked back.
        "Thanks, Jun'ichi!" I heard Matt say. "Now, could you please tell me who's leading this attack?" he asked him.
        "That one over there," said Jun'ichi, pointing over to the Exploud and the Rocket Grunt who owned it.
        "Perfect, it doesn't have any resistance to my Special Moves..." said Matt quietly. "Gardevoir, Psychic!"
        Gardevoir concentrated on Exploud, trying to lift it up.
        "Exploud, counter with Shadow Ball!" commanded the Grunt quickly.
        "What?!? Gardevoir, quick, use YOUR Shadow Ball!" said Matt quickly.
        Exploud and Gardevoir began to materialize and charge a dark energy ball. Exploud released first, and Gardevoir a split second after. The two attacks exploded on contact, leaving them both open. Typhlosion saw an opportunity and attacked Exploud with a Flamethrower attack, fainting it.
        "What?! Exploud, return!" said the Rocket Grunt in disgust. Typhlosion then attacked both Crobat and Mightyena with a Thunderpunch each, fainting both of them and leaving Crobat paralyzed. The Magma and Aqua Grunt stared in disbelief as they recalled their Pokémon. Typhlosion looked like it had used Swagger on the Trainers themselves with a smug look on its face.
        "You may have defeated us this time, but we'll beat you the next time we meet!" said the Rocket Grunt as he ran off, with the Magma and Aqua Grunt following suit.
        "Come on, we have to see if the Pokémon are all right," I said as the three left.
        Matt was still watching the Grunts run away.
        "Yeah, that's it, keep on running, and don't come back!" he called out to them.

 * * *

        "Marina," said Jun'ichi with a grim look on his face, "I think it's time that we should tell you what is going on, since their activities are speeding up."
        "I already know part of what is going on," I said as I switched my PokéGear to the radio.
        "Oh, I forgot about that," said Matt, trying to look innocent as he looked at Jun'ichi.
        "We already know what they said Marina," interrupted Jun'ichi. "What do you think is going on?" he asked me.
        "It means that Team Rocket is planning an invasion?" I answered.
        "Well, that's just a small part of it," said Jun'ichi. He looked at Matt and whispered something. Matt nodded in reply.
        "Let me just cut to the chase," said Matt. He bowed his head down and began to tell everything.

        "One week ago, when we split up to find Kenta in Mahogany Town, I ran into a secret stairway leading down to what looked like an underground base. I got past the security cameras easily, thinking that big brother might've already disabled the cameras. I then found a vent that was big enough for me to crawl into. I listened closely and heard a Double Battle between Lance and Kenta, and two Rocket Executives. After the battle was done, both Kenta and Lance won. When the two Executives escaped, I tried to follow them through the vents. When I finally heard them, I quietly got out of the vent and hid within earshot of the two. They were talking about doing the next part of their plan: to try and take over the Radio Tower and use its signals to control all Pokémon, even ones that have been caught by Trainers, and have Giovanni return."

        Jun'ichi then continued. "Giovanni DID return, bringing the leaders of Team Aqua and Team Magma with him, Archie and Maxie respectively. They formed a base of operations on the outskirts of Goldenrod, far from the reach of both humans and Pokémon. The G-Men fortunately found the base and kept its location secret. I was not sure what had happened to Kenta, but I came across him at the Lake of Rage, standing there, and that's when I learned that he might have to go on another mission like that. He promised me not to tell you anything about it."

        I interrupted. "Why would he want to do that?!" I asked furiously.
        "Don't you get it?!" asked Matt, getting angry at me. "He cares about you! He just doesn't want you to get hurt..."
        Everything changed when Matt said that. My anger subsided and I felt a mix of both confusion and other feelings I can't describe. I wondered if Kenta really meant to do that.
        "As I was saying," continued Jun'ichi, clearing his throat, "Kenta asked me not to tell you anything, so I agreed, because it was like he knew what was going to happen next and he didn't want you to get hurt."
        Matt continued. "Which goes on to when Kenta finally called me last night. He was sent to the base itself on a mission to destroy that plan the two Executives were talking about. Lance, for some reason, was able to get my PokéGear number and called to tell you that it's time to tell you what is going on," he finished.

        "So, what now?" I asked after a long silence passed.        Jun'ichi checked the time. "Hmm... 12:25..." he said, looking at Matt. "Let's go," he said as he went outside. Matt and I followed Jun'ichi outside, making sure I locked the door. Jun'ichi called out his Pidgeotto again.
        "Pidgeotto, to Headquarters," I heard him say.
        Pidgeotto took off and I looked back at the town, not knowing what will happen next...

* * *

        We finally got there at nighttime. Jun'ichi thanked a very tired Pidgeotto and recalled it. We went inside a huge building and through a long hallway. We finally stopped at a door and Matt took out a card and slid it through the lock on the side of the door. He input a password, and the lock disengaged, opening by itself. The huge room was almost empty, except for Lance, and Prof. Elm. The three of us took a seat down. Prof. Elm noticed that I looked very sad...
        "I take it that you already told her what happened to Kenta, right?" asked Lance. Jun'ichi and Matt nodded in reply.
        "The two of you can go back to New Bark Town. Try to protect the town from the incoming Rockets," ordered Prof. Elm.
        The two nodded and headed out the door.
        "Marina, there's a reason why you are here," said Lance. "To make a long story short, you'll be also sent to the base to assist Kenta. I already notified him of what is going to happen and when you'll arrive."
        I tried to be serious now. "What am I supposed to do there?" I asked.
        "Like I said, you'll help Kenta out on his mission. You have to send HQ a report on what they are planning to do. Kenta has already removed every kind of surveillance available in his room and on his computer," said Lance.
        "When will I leave?" I asked.
        "Be here with only 3 Pokémon on Thursday morning of next week, and we'll tell you your final instructions there," he replied. "That's all."
        "Marina, will you accept this mission?" asked Prof. Elm.
        "There's no turning back on your decision, Marina," added Lance.
        My mind was racing at this, and I thought of what could happen to the two of us while we're there. This was a mission like no other, and a very dangerous one too. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew, I said the two words that I too, might regret for the rest of my life...

        "I accept..."