"You… what are you going to do? This is illegal, you know that, right?!"
Ariana backed away step by step, her eyes reflecting Breloom and Blaziken slowly closing in.
Both of them were flexing their fists; on one side, the rim of a mushroom cap writhed and twitched, on the other, wrists flared with roaring flames.
Anyone who didn't know better would think Grey was the villain here.
"Cut the crap. Do you want to get beaten up by Blaziken and Breloom, or just go down to Spore? Pick one yourself. I'm being very generous today, giving you a multiple-choice question."
Grey narrowed his eyes, holding up three fingers in front of Ariana's face. "You've got three seconds of invincibility. Try not to waste your little grace period. Three, two—"
"I choose—"
Ariana's words cut off mid-sentence as she dropped like a rock and started snoring.
"Breloom." (Oh, you're actually trying to choose? Like you had a say in this!)
The top of Breloom's cap gave a shake, and a cloud of Spore drifted down.
It curled its lip, snorted coldly, then bounced over to Grey's side in a series of light hops.
"Nice work."
Grey rubbed Breloom's head, then let his gaze wander around the room, fingers rubbing his chin as he sank into thought.
There was still time. Better to get these Pokémon out of here first.
That decided, he turned to Blaziken and pointed at the unconscious Ariana. "Blaziken, I'm counting on you to drag her later."
Then he shifted his gaze to the other Pokémon and issued orders. "Breloom, Poliwhirl, Machamp, Kirlia, Riolu—go with Annihilape and get those cages open. Free everyone inside."
"Ki-haaa!" (Alright, squad, let's move! But be gentle—don't hurt the Pokémon inside!)
Annihilape charged the nearest cage. Its hands closed around the bars, muscles tightening as terrifying strength exploded through its arms. Dark furred forearms bulged with veins like swollen worms.
Creeeak…
Under its grip, the metal bars twisted like soft clay. With a shrill tear of metal, thick iron rods bent into wild arcs.
Sparks flew from the welds, briefly lighting the dull eyes of the Pokémon trapped within.
"Hera…" (So… someone's come? Am I… just going to get beaten again…?)
Inside the cage, a Heracross flinched at the sound. The dim light in its eyes flickered as it slowly lifted its head, trying to see who had arrived.
What it saw was Annihilape ripping the cage open.
"Hera…" (What kind of Pokémon is that…? I've never seen it before…)
Heracross didn't understand, but a faint light began to kindle in its empty stare.
Even it didn't notice.
"Ki-haaa!" (It's just a cage. This kind of thing doesn't even count as effort!)
When the last bar came free, Annihilape shook the metal dust off its hands and stepped back a few paces, gesturing for the Pokémon inside to come out.
Piece of cake.
To Annihilape, this wasn't any harder than its usual weightlifting. It could rip a few more like that in one breath.
The other cages didn't come apart quite as effortlessly as Annihilape's, but the pace was still decent.
With Grey's Pokémon working together, the Pokémon that had been captured and locked up by Team Rocket were finally freed.
"Hera…?" (I… can really go out? Who's that human outside? And all those Pokémon with him…?)
Heracross was the first to step out. All it remembered was that it had been stuck in this lightless place for a very, very long time.
"You're safe now. Once this is over, if you want, I'll have someone take you all back."
Grey walked up and let a gentle Aura flow out of him, soothing the Pokémon's frayed nerves.
Being captured by Team Rocket left scars.
His plan was simple: calm them down, let them rest here for now, and once everything was settled, see them safely sent away.
"Hera…" (I… don't have a home anymore…)
Heracross stared blankly. Following the sound of Grey's voice, it raised its head and met his gaze, eyes fixed on his faint smile. Slowly, it shook its head.
"Hera." (I have nowhere to go. I… can't do anything…)
Heracross sank into an emo haze in an instant, all that negative emotion pouring straight into Grey's senses through his Aura.
He didn't rush to comfort it. Instead, he pulled out a berry and held it out. "You're hungry, right? Eat this Sitrus Berry first, fill your stomach a bit."
"Hera." (Why are you being so kind to me?)
Heracross didn't understand. The berry was right there in front of it, and it swallowed a few times despite itself.
It wanted to eat—but you don't take food you haven't earned, especially not from a stranger.
And this person had just saved its life. Taking more on top of that felt wrong.
"Go on, take it. I've got plenty."
Grey pressed the Sitrus Berry firmly into Heracross's hands, then tipped the rest of his berries out of his backpack and let his partners start handing them around.
"One for everyone—no pushing, no grabbing, there's enough to go around～"
He called out while Annihilape and the others passed food to the rescued Pokémon.
"Come on, eat. See? They're all eating. You can't be the one who doesn't."
Seeing Heracross still not making a move to eat, Grey dragged a few other Pokémon over, making it very clear that not eating would be kind of awkward now.
"Hera…" (Thank you… but I don't know how to repay you.)
Heracross nibbled the Sitrus Berry in tiny bites, its mind a tangle of thoughts.
"Take your time. Someone will come get you later."
Grey rubbed Heracross's head lightly. "Once you're out, just find a forest somewhere and start over. Growing strong and healthy—that's how you can repay me."
"Hera!" (But…)
Heracross's horn trembled wildly. Its forearms rose, fell, then rose again; in the end, it only managed a few low, buzzing cries as its wings fluttered.
"Alright, I've got to go. You all stay here and behave. Once everything's wrapped up, we'll send you home."
Grey flicked a fingertip against Heracross's horn, then turned to leave with his team.
Just as he was about to step over the threshold…
Bzzzz…
Heracross suddenly beat its wings, the strange frequency setting the entire glass wall humming.
There was too much emotion wrapped up in that sound—so much that even the tiny rubble on the floor trembled.
Grey stopped and tilted his head, listening.
"Hera…" (I… want to become a warrior. Please… will you take me with you? I want… to fight for you!)
Heracross slowly bent its powerful hind legs, plates of armor over its chest dipping low as it bowed. Its massive horn pressed deep into the floor, forearms extended forward and trembling.
Grey looked back, eyes locking onto Heracross.
In that moment, its gaze shone, bright and alive—like a battle spirit reigniting after a hundred hard-fought wars.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.