After Officer Jenny arrived with her team and took away the members of Team Galactic lying on the ground, Lucas took a look around but didn't find Mars or the others.
Did they manage to escape after all?
Lucas thought to himself while scanning the surroundings, but he didn't see the Team Rocket trio either.
They probably retreated just a moment before Officer Jenny and her team arrived.
Lucas looked at the Legendary Birds resting on the rocks nearby. "Team Galactic has been rounded up, and I've fulfilled my promise to you. Next, you must fulfill your promise to me. Otherwise, you'll be beaten quite badly, right, Garchomp?"
Lucas deliberately threatened them.
Garchomp glanced at him and simply walked away, going to Cynthia's side and ignoring Lucas completely.
Cynthia couldn't help but laugh at the sight, then walked over to Lucas's side.
The Legendary Birds watched Garchomp walk away; her strength was formidable enough to make them feel a bit wary. However, regarding Lucas's words, Moltres and Articuno nodded.
Since I promised you, I will do it, provided they don't come to provoke me.
Zapdos was defiant and ignored Lucas, instead preening its feathers and flapping its wings, just about to leave.
The next second, it was sent flying by a direct collision.
Zapdos stood up from the rocks and flew into the air, furious, glaring at the Garchomp before it.
A murderous intent flickered in Garchomp's eyes.
Not convinced? If you're not convinced, fight me. If I don't beat you until you're crying for your life, then my name isn't Garchomp.
The aura of a Champion's ace was revealed without reservation.
Cynthia stood beside Lucas, her gaze cold as she looked at Zapdos.
Garchomp can ignore Lucas, but you, Zapdos, are just a slightly more powerful Pokémon. Not convinced? Then we'll beat you until you are.
Cynthia had a feeling that after teaching Zapdos a lesson today, the Sinnoh region would be much more peaceful in the future.
So, when Garchomp sensed Cynthia's thoughts, she unhesitatingly knocked Zapdos flying.
Electric arcs flickered on Zapdos's body, and the tense atmosphere startled everyone present.
"B—Boss, what's going on?"
A police officer looked at the situation and whispered to Officer Jenny beside him.
Officer Jenny shook her head, indicating she didn't know either.
"They're probably handling something else,"
Officer Jenny said.
Cynthia was just about to have Garchomp launch an attack when, in the next second, her wrist was held by a hand.
Looking back and meeting Lucas's dark eyes, Lucas shook his head. "Leave it to me."
Hearing Lucas's words, Cynthia hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Lucas walked up to Zapdos with Gengar. "Thinking of going back on your word?"
Zapdos looked at Garchomp warily, then took a moment to glance at Lucas standing on the ground, letting out a disdainful laugh.
Aside from Lugia threatening me, who do you think you are?
Lucas sensed its meaning and spoke slowly, "I see."
"Gothitelle."
Lucas called out softly.
Gothitelle's pupils were terrifyingly vibrant, and her powerful psychic energy caused the surrounding space to distort slightly. Zapdos struggled to keep flying, but ultimately, under the pressure of gravity, it was forced to land on the ground.
Looking at Zapdos as it desperately tried to stay standing, Lucas spoke again: "I hate people who break their promises the most, and Pokémon are the same. You might think you're powerful and don't need to listen to me, but that's fine. After today, you will listen."
Just as everyone was wondering why, an extremely confident sentence reached their ears.
"I will beat you until you submit."
"Gengar."
"Phantom Force, wake it up."
Gengar appeared behind Zapdos and delivered a heavy blow, knocking Zapdos flat on the ground.
Lightning erupted from Zapdos's body, shooting into the sky, and then countless bolts of lightning began to strike toward Lucas's side.
However, all the lightning was blocked by Gothitelle.
Looking at Zapdos, who had become a grounded chicken because of the gravity...
"Ninetales, knock it flying!"
Lucas pointed his finger, and Ninetales began to run, her speed increasing until flames covered her entire body.
Zapdos also began to run, its body covered in lightning.
The two figures collided, and Zapdos was sent flying again. Ninetales shook her head, feeling a bit dizzy, but otherwise fine.
Moltres watched Zapdos fly backward and saw Ninetales shaking her head where she stood.
It used its wings to cover its eyes.
What a terrifying Ninetales, what a terrifying physique.
Zapdos struggled to stand up, but the next second, a massive Leaf Storm swept over it.
As the storm dissipated, Zapdos was covered in wounds. Lucas was about to have Gengar deliver the final blow when he saw Gothitelle floating toward Zapdos at a speed that left him speechless.
While Lucas was still wondering what Gothitelle wanted to do, even the Shadow Ball in Gengar's hands stopped growing.
Then, everyone, including Cynthia, Ash, and the others, saw Gothitelle generate two barriers, one in each hand, and slam them hard onto Zapdos's head.
The barriers shattered, and Zapdos fell flat on the ground once more.
Just as the gravity effect wore off and it tried to flap its wings to fly, pain struck its head again.
"Goth!"
You dare make Lucas angry?!
I'll smack you to death!!
Barriers were slammed onto Zapdos's head one after another.
Lucas looked at the now somewhat balding Zapdos and sucked in a breath of cold air.
"Um—Gengar, I haven't done anything to make her angry before, have I?"
Lucas tugged at Gengar and asked weakly.
Gengar also tossed the Shadow Ball in its hand into the sky, reminisced for a moment, and then looked at Lucas's expression.
(つA) Good luck to you.
Lucas: ?!
"You think you can escape?!"
Gengar: ?! ∑(OAO1I)
Meanwhile, Moltres and Articuno had already looked up at the sky.
The weather today is really nice.
Indeed.
"Gothitelle is so scary—"
Dawn shivered and whispered to Ash and Brock.
Ash nodded weakly; he remembered the scene where he was thrown out of the Breeding House by Gothitelle.
Brock, on the other hand, looked at Lucas with a face full of admiration.
"Lucas is truly terrifying."
Only after shattering an unknown number of barriers and Zapdos had completely lost consciousness did Gothitelle clap her hands and float back to Lucas's side.
She looked at Lucas inquisitively.
"Goth."
What's with that expression?!
Lucas quickly shook his head. "Nothing, you're not fierce at all."
Gothitelle's hair flared up in anger.
"No, I mean, Gothitelle is number one in the world!"
Lucas said hurriedly, "Right, Gengar?"
Lucas tugged at Gengar, pulling it into the fray.
Gengar: ?!
Yes, yes, Gothitelle is number one in the world~
Gothitelle clapped her hands, gave a 'tch', and then went to Lilligant's side, taking her hand and whispering bad things about Lucas and Gengar.
Lucas and Gengar could only silently endure what they heard.
Ninetales was about to walk to Lucas's side when she was called over by Gothitelle.
Lucas gave Ninetales a few looks, asking her to say something good for him and Gengar, but Ninetales tilted her head and pretended not to see.
Lucas: ————
"It's all your fault, Gengar. Even Ninetales has been corrupted by you."
"Gengar gar"
Gengar: ?! Me again?!
Am I really becoming the Ninja Ghost of Scapegoats?!
Lucas brought Gengar over to Articuno and the others. Zapdos had regained consciousness and was lying sickly on the ground.
"Isn't it better to live a good life? Why do you have to cause destruction to be satisfied? Now look what happened, you got beaten up."
Lucas crouched down to treat its wounds.
Who wanted to cause destruction?!
Zapdos couldn't take it and spoke up.
Lucas and Gengar looked at each other. "Then why did you refuse my request?"
Zapdos said defiantly.
The Team Galactic matter is over, and you still want us to listen to you? How could I possibly accept that?
Lucas thought for a moment, then spoke weakly: "Actually, what I meant was for you to stop causing destruction everywhere."
Zapdos: ————
Say that again?!
Lucas and Gengar looked at each other, then looked at Moltres and Articuno, who were snickering on the side, asking them with their eyes what was going on.
They shook their heads, indicating they didn't know either.
"You didn't think I was asking you to help me fight and be at my beck and call, did you?!"
Zapdos was silent for a moment, then turned its head away.
Seeing this, Lucas couldn't help but let out a cry of realization.
Dammit, we beat up the wrong Pokémon.
Thinking back carefully, it seemed the instigator of the sudden fight was—
Lucas looked back at Garchomp beside Cynthia.
"kao!?!"
What are you looking at me for?!
Garchomp rubbed her scythes and asked unfriendly.
Lucas quickly shook his head. That's right, the reason this went wrong was because of Zapdos.
If you had just said so earlier, you wouldn't have been beaten for nothing.
At this thought, Lucas looked at the wound-covered Zapdos and suddenly felt a bit sorry for it. He quickly had Gengar take out high-quality Potions and put away the low-quality or near-expired ones in his hand.
After treating Zapdos's injuries, Zapdos flapped its wings, felt that its flight wasn't affected, and flew away right in front of Lucas and the others.
Halfway through, its body faltered and it almost fell, but it managed to stabilize itself and flew away even faster.
Watching the somewhat fleeing Zapdos, Lucas looked at Moltres and Articuno.
"Alright, the misunderstanding is cleared up. As long as you can keep our agreement and not cause destruction for no reason, I'll put in a word with Lugia. I'm sure it will be happy too, not having to watch over you everywhere. Without Lugia's supervision, I'm sure you can go do what you want."
Hearing Lucas's words, Moltres and Articuno nodded.
Then they flapped their wings and left respectively.
Seeing this, Lucas thought of the Zapdos that had just fled in haste.
It really was...
A huge mix-up.
"It's all your fault, Gengar, for beating the wrong Pokémon."
Gengar: ————
Ah, right, right, blame me again.
Hmph.
I'm not being friends with you anymore.
"I'll make you something delicious when we get back."
"Gengar gar—I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"
Heehee (*)
Give me two more pots, I can still carry them!
Lucas glanced at it and gave a disdainful smile.
"Arrogant at first and humble later, thinking of it makes one laugh."
Gengar didn't care at all.
"Gengar gar—"
It gave Lucas a lick, so what.