Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 71

Hi all,  

Here’s the next chapter. Lucas deals with the emergency and revisits the auction house.

Chapter 71

Saphira swooped low, her scales glinting in the volcanic glow. Lucas pressed against her back as ash rained down, coating his barrier in grey powder. Moltres soared overhead, its wings painting the smoke-filled sky with streaks of fire.

"Down there," Lucas pointed. 

“Why are we going down?” Meowth protested. “Let’s get out of here!”

“There are people in danger.”

“Like I care! Nobody is more important than me, Meowth.”

Lucas refused to listen to Meowth's complaints and returned him to his pokeball. 

Saphira banked towards a clear patch of ground near the edge of town. Screams echoed across the waterfront. A mass of people surged towards the piers, shoving and stumbling in their panic. Small boats bobbed in the harbour, already crammed beyond capacity. The remaining townspeople huddled on the piers, eyes fixed on the volcano and the wall of lava flowing down it.

Lucas squinted through the ash. A few trainers had summoned Pokemon to create barriers over their heads, but the protection remained patchy at best. The crowd pressed against the shields, desperation clear in their faces as they tried to escape the thickening ash. 

He pulled out his phone but it showed no bars. "Bloody ash interference." 

Thinking for a moment, he reached for a pokeball.

"Dante, come out." The Gardevoir materialised beside him. 

Lucas pulled some paper out of his inventory and scribbled a quick note. "Get this to anyone who can organise a rescue. And have Sabrina get the response team together." 

He handed him the device strapped to his wrist, which allowed Pokemon to travel anywhere. “Give this to Sabrina as well. She can use her Pokemon to teleport here.”

Dante nodded and vanished.

A thunderous screech split the air. Lucas spun to see Moltres wheeling around, its attention fixed on something below. Fire erupted from its beak, demolishing a shop front in a blast of superheated air.

Through the settling debris, a familiar figure appeared, riding a Camerupt that was running between buildings. The man had red hair and wore his distinctive coat. 

“Maxie?”

The Team Magma leader clutched a blanket-wrapped bundle to his chest. His Pokemon formed a defensive ring around him. Given what was chasing them, it seemed like a pointless endeavour. 

Was Moltres chasing Maxie for the package? A terrible suspicion surfaced in his mind.

"Drop it, you idiot!" Lucas shouted as Moltres dive-bombed the group. Fire rained down, forcing Maxie to dodge behind a stone wall.

Maxie flung the bundle aside and it landed in the street. Moltres immediately broke off its attack, swooping down to investigate the discarded package.

Maxie seized his chance. His Crobat snatched him up, wings blurring as they shot away into the smoke-filled sky. He didn’t bother to recall his Pokemon, abandoning them without hesitation.

"Running away after causing all this?" Lucas clenched his fists. 

He was almost certain he played a part in this disaster. The conversation he'd overheard between Maxie and Blaine clicked into place. Whatever they were looking for in the mountain, they found it—and possibly caused the volcano to erupt. He had a feeling it was a legendary stone. Why else would Moltres be so angry?

The ground buckled. Another section of the volcano's face collapsed, releasing a fresh torrent of lava. Lucas watched as the molten rock carved new channels down the mountainside.

"We need to move." Lucas urged Saphira towards the piers. The crowd had swollen, spilling across multiple jetties. Their chances of survival would plummet if they remained spread out.

He landed at the nearest pier. "Everyone onto the central pier! Now!"

Confused faces turned towards him. A woman clutched her crying child closer. "We'll be trapped!"

"Trust me! It's your best chance!" 

A teenage boy with a Kadabra stepped forward. "He's right—we need to concentrate on our defences!"

The crowd hesitated, then began shuffling towards the central pier. Lucas directed traffic, trying to maintain order as panic threatened to overwhelm them. Parents passed children hand-to-hand while elderly residents received help crossing the narrow walkways.

"Faster!" Lucas glanced at the approaching lava. Its orange glow painted everything in a hellish light.

A man stumbled, almost falling into the water. Lucas grabbed his arm, hauling him upright. "Steady on. Almost there."

The last stragglers reached the main pier. Lucas counted at least a hundred and twenty people packed onto the stone structure. Not ideal, but it would have to suffice.

"Any flying Pokemon?" Lucas scanned the crowd. "We need to give ourselves some breathing room!"

Several hands shot up into the air. Lucas summoned Icarus and several flying Pokemon followed him into the air. They spread out in a rotating pattern, wings stirring up wind currents that pushed back the falling ash. The air cleared enough for people to breathe easier.

"Ground and Rock-type Pokémon—we need a barrier!" Lucas said. "Pack it deep!"

Several Pokemon surged forward. Within minutes, a wall of stone stretched across the pier. The obstacle should stop the lava's advance.

Lucas studied the barrier. "Saphira, you're up. Ice layer across the whole thing."

The Dragonair coiled in mid-air, frost gathering around her muzzle. Her Ice Beam carved through the heat, building layer upon layer of ice over the rock barrier. Steam hissed where the ice met superheated air, but the temperature around them dropped noticeably.

"Shield Pokemon up here!" Lucas waved the defenders forward. Psychic types emerged from the crowd—their faces set with determination. "Circle formation. When that lava hits, your barriers need to reinforce it, just as a precaution."

A piercing shriek drew their eyes skyward. Moltres wheeled overhead, a red stone clutched in its talons. The blanket wrapping had fallen away, revealing what Lucas had feared—a legendary stone. The Pokemon beat its wings against the smoke-filled sky, ascending towards the volcano's peak.

"Just great," Lucas muttered. 

Either Moltres planned to produce an egg, or it sought to unlock its Mega Evolution. He didn’t know what outcome was worse.

The ground shuddered. Buildings crumbled at the town's edge as lava flooded the streets. Saphira reinforced weakening sections with fresh Ice Beam blasts, but the heat grew more intense by the second.

The molten tide advanced with relentless patience. Buildings dissolved under its touch, brick and wood vanishing in gouts of flame. The heat grew more oppressive with each passing minute.

Lucas rechecked his watch—twenty minutes since Dante left. The lava had consumed half of the town, and its orange glow cast an apocalyptic light over everything. Each passing second brought it closer to their refuge.

"Keep those ice repairs coming," he called to Saphira. Sweat plastered his shirt to his back despite the cold radiating from the barrier. 

A passing Poliwag sprayed him with water, cooling him down. 

Lucas smiled. “Thanks.” 

Something on the beach caught his eye, and he turned to see Sabrina, with Dante standing beside her. They disappeared and reappeared on the pier. 

"Please, get us out of here!" A woman stumbled forward, tears cutting tracks through the soot on her cheeks. "You're Sabrina Kuroi—you can teleport us away!"

More voices joined in, hands reaching towards her. Sabrina pushed through the press of bodies and wrapped her arms around Lucas, her grip fierce. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene—the towering ice wall, the inexorable advance of lava consuming the town, the smoke-filled sky tinged orange with reflected fire.

"Give me a moment," she said. She summoned Kasumi and then vanished without another word.

Lucas frowned at the space where she'd stood, wondering what she was planning. The answer came a minute later as Sabrina reappeared with Kasumi. A massive ship floated above her head, supported by pulsing psychic energy.

Lucas' jaw dropped. He didn’t expect her psychic powers to be so strong. Around him, the crowd erupted in cheers of relief and amazement.

Sabrina guided the ship into the water beside the pier. The vessel settled with barely a splash, psychic energy cushioning its descent. She started levitating groups of people from the pier, carrying them safely to the deck. Within minutes, the entire crowd had been evacuated.

"How exactly are you planning to steer this thing?" Lucas asked as his feet touched the deck. 

"I could probably manage with my abilities—"

"What in blazes is going on here?" A man in a captain's uniform stormed across the deck, his face purple with rage. "This is my ship! How the hell did I get here?"

"Or he could do it," Sabrina said with a small smile.

"You brought the captain along?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Did you ask permission first?"

"No time."

"Pretty sure this counts as kidnapping."

"It's an emergency. I can compensate him later."

Sabrina turned to the spluttering captain. "Please steer us away from the island before the lava reaches the dock."

The passengers spread across the deck, clinging to the railings as they watched their homes vanish under rivers of molten rock. The ship's engines rumbled to life, pushing them away from the doomed island.

Lucas and Sabrina sought out a quiet location to talk privately.

"Why not just teleport everyone to the mainland?" Lucas asked. "Between your Pokemon, you have multiple teleporters."

"Moving over a hundred people is a big task, even for my team. Besides, I'm using the device to travel here directly. Better to limit its use to avoid awkward questions later."

"And if someone asks about it?"

"I'll claim it's part of my psychic powers."

"You're getting better at lying." Lucas grinned. "I'm such a bad influence."

"Your corruption knows no bounds." 

"Though a massive cargo ship appearing out of nowhere may draw more attention to you.”

Sabrina blinked. "I hadn't considered that part."

"I'm sure it'll work out," Lucas said, studying her face. "How did everything go? Any problems recovering your abilities?"

"No." Sabrina stared at the deck, her expression distant. "But the memories were...harder than I expected."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not here."

Lucas changed the subject, noticing that her mood had darkened. "Did you contact the response team?"

"They're on their way, but there's nothing left to save. The island won't recover from this. This was an act of nature."

"I’m not so sure about that. There's someone they need to investigate—"

A bone-chilling shriek cut through the air. Moltres burst from the volcano's caldera, exploding through a column of smoke and ash. Flames wreathed its body, burning so bright they made the rivers of lava below look dim. 

The legendary bird's form had warped and grown to monstrous proportions. Deep crimson had replaced its usual plumage, the colour of fresh blood in firelight. Jagged spikes erupted along its elongated crest like a crown of thorns, and wicked barbs dotted the edges of its vast wings. The air around it shimmered and distorted, superheated by waves of power rolling off its transformed body. Even at this distance, the raw heat pressed against their faces like an open furnace.

"This is bad," Lucas said, his mouth dry.

"Why? What's happened to it?"

"It's consumed its legendary stone. It can Mega Evolve now."

For a moment, Lucas tensed, waiting for Moltres to spot their ship. The legendary bird ignored them, wheeling towards the horizon where Maxie had disappeared. Unless the Team Magma leader had found faster transport, he faced a grim pursuit. Lucas wished he could have scanned Moltres with Insight, but approaching a raging legendary mid-transformation seemed unwise.

His brow creased as a thought struck him.

"What's wrong?" Sabrina touched his arm.

"Blaine. He's not here with the evacuees. Could he still be on the island?"

"He can handle himself. If Moltres didn’t catch him, he'd probably escaped already."

"And abandoned the islanders?" Lucas snorted. "Wouldn't put it past him."

"I dealt with him at gym leader meetings," Sabrina said. "Always struck me as arrogant and self-centred."

Lucas nodded. "Another name for our investigation list."

"Care to explain these hints you keep dropping?"

"When the team arrives. Easier to explain it once."

Two hours passed before several Pokemon appeared in the night sky, Lance's Dragonite leading the formation. The Elite Four landed on deck, their expressions grim.

Lucas and Sabrina led them to an empty cabin. Behind closed doors, Lucas outlined the night's events—the tremors, Maxie's pursuit by Moltres, the stolen legendary stone. 

Lance drummed his fingers on the table. "We'll track both Maxie and Blaine once we confirm Moltres has moved on."

His eyes fixed on Sabrina. "Something you want to share?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine."

"I meant your psychic powers."

"Oh, those. Yes, they've returned."

"It's not necessarily bad," Lorelei interjected. "With the church gone from Kanto, they can't target her anymore."

Agatha snorted. "Who says they'll stop?"

Lance crossed his arms. "You didn't need to reveal your powers so publicly. There were other options to rescue the islanders."

"I'm done hiding," Sabrina said. "It feels good being open about who I am."

"Can't fault you there." Lance pushed back from the table. "Get some rest, both of you. We'll handle things from here."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas and Sabrina were up early the next morning so they could watch the morning news. 

Aerial footage showed rivers of lava consuming Cinnabar Island. One scene showed that the resort town on the north side of the island had an easier time of it. They had more time to evacuate from the island and were better prepared. Lucas had completely forgotten about the resort town but it worked out in the end.

"Breaking news on the Cinnabar disaster," the anchor said. "Thanks to quick action by former gym leader Sabrina Kuroi and her partner Lucas Walker, over a hundred residents were evacuated by sea."

Amateur video showed the massive cargo ship floating above the pier, psychic energy rippling around its hull. The footage jumped to evacuees boarding the vessel as lava approached the harbour. Someone had filmed the entire thing.

"But this rescue raises questions," the anchor continued. "Miss Kuroi demonstrated extraordinary psychic abilities, powers previously unknown to the public."

The broadcast cut to Dr. Matthews, head of Pokemon research at Celadon University. "The energy required to lift something that massive is staggering. Not even Miss Kuroi’s psychic-type Pokemon could achieve the same feat. We need to understand the full scope of such abilities."

"These powers are a gift," argued Claire Wilson, a psychic rights advocate. "Instead of fear-mongering, we should celebrate someone using their abilities to save lives."

A former church member appeared next. "These unnatural abilities are a mockery of Arceus' design. The church's departure from Kanto has led to this abomination flaunting her powers."

"The majority of responses have been positive," the anchor noted. "Local officials praise the decisive action that prevented any loss of life."

The coverage shifted to shaky camera footage of Moltres. Its transformed shape filled the frame, crimson feathers blazing against smoke-filled skies. 

"This unprecedented transformation of Moltres demands investigation," Professor Oak said in a recorded statement. "The legendary bird appears to have undergone some form of evolution, similar to the Mega Evolution phenomenon recently documented in Kalos."

“He doesn’t know how right he is,” Lucas murmured.

“This is getting boring,” Sabrina complained. 

“Hold on a moment.”

Another news segment began, with a panel of experts debating the implications of effort values. Charts and data filled the screen as they transitioned to the next story.

Lucas leaned forward in interest.

"The Pokemon training community remains abuzz following revelations about effort values," the anchor announced. "The anonymous poster 'Enigma' published groundbreaking findings about Pokemon stat development."

An interview was conducted with a scientist.

"After rigorous testing, we can confirm effort values exist. This discovery revolutionises our understanding of Pokemon training."

The camera panned across a busy Pokemon school. Students studied new training charts while their Pokemon exercised in specialised zones.

"A collaborative database has emerged," the reporter continued. "Trainers worldwide share discoveries about which Pokemon yield specific effort values. The website has logged over five million hits in its first week."

"This could change competitive battling forever," the scientist continued. "Trainers can now target specific stats with scientific precision."

"Perfect," Lucas said, switching off the television.

"What are you planning?" Sabrina asked.

"Now that effort values are accepted as fact, it is time for Enigma to return and reveal the Effort Value Reset Potion."

“Did you plan this all along?”

“Err…yes.”

Sabrina shook her head, smiling. “Liar. Have you reproduced the potion with the normal alchemy method?”

“No, but I’m close. It shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

"So, back to the auction house?"

"Got it in one."

Sabrina's phone buzzed. She winced at the caller ID displaying her uncle's name.

Lucas stood, stretching. "I should get ready for Saffron City." He paused at the doorway. "When I'm back... we can talk about those memories if you want."

Sabrina nodded, lifting the phone to her ear as Lucas left the room. He caught a snippet of conversation as he headed upstairs:

"Yes, uncle, I know it's complicated..."

Lucas rummaged through his inventory, retrieving two face-changing potions and several Effort Value Reset potions. A metallic capsule caught his eye—one of the hidden items Meowth found on Cinnabar Island. He retrieved it as well, as he was giving it to Dante. 

He summoned Dante from his pokeball. "Remember how I promised to share some secrets with you? Well, this capsule allows Pokemon to learn an additional special ability.” 

Dante's eyes widened, his usual composed demeanour cracking. 

Lucas grinned. “The ability is called Stealth Summoning. It allows a Pokemon to be summoned invisibly and silently. The Pokemon stays invisible for ten seconds after being summoned. You are astute enough to recognise how useful this ability is."

Dante nodded. 

"I trust you," Lucas said, rolling the capsule between his fingers. "Swallow this, and the ability becomes permanent."

Dante took the capsule, turning it over in his hands. His red eyes studied the markings intently before he swallowed it in one smooth motion. 

"Let's test it." Lucas recalled him to his pokeball.

He pressed the button. No flash of red light appeared. No sound. The air rippled after ten seconds and Dante faded into view.

"It affects the pokeball as well." Lucas shook his head, tucking the ball into his belt. "I suppose it had to be the case; otherwise, it wouldn’t be as effective."

He fixed Dante with a pointed look. "Now, that I have shown you one of my secrets; how about you tell me about Lysandre? The way you froze up in that lab—care to explain?"

He had been asking Dante for weeks but the Pokemon refused to tell him anything.

Dante's shoulders rose in a noncommittal shrug, but tension lined his slender frame.

"Still waiting for me to get stronger?"

A single, sharp nod.

"Fair enough." Lucas uncorked the face-changing potion, grimacing at its bitter taste. He could feel tingles across his skin as his features shifted. "To Saffron City, then."

The world blurred and reformed around them. They appeared on a grassy knoll half a mile outside Saffron City's limits, sheltered by a cluster of oak trees. He headed for the main road into the city.

Green shoots pushed through last season's dead leaves, their tender stems reaching for the strengthening sunlight. Spring was just around the corner, and most of the snow had already melted.

He entered the city. Almost immediately, a familiar tingle in Lucas's chest pulled him towards the city centre, growing stronger with each step. 

He came here early to find the Zygarde Core hiding in the city. Three more Zygarde pieces waited in Eastern Kanto, excluding the Core hidden in Viridian Forest's depths. He didn’t want to take forever collecting them all, so he would actively seek them out from now on. The Core in Viridian Forest would be the hardest to find but he already had a plan for that.

The sensation continued to intensify until he arrived at the underground tunnel entrance, a yawning maw of concrete and steel descending into darkness.

"Perfect," Lucas muttered." A Cell hiding in the criminal territory." 

He'd need better preparation before tackling those tunnels—and preferably backup.

Lucas headed for the Payday Auction House next. Inside, he was greeted by the attendant, who led him up to Jasper’s office.

"Enigma!" Jasper clasped Lucas's hand, his grip firm and eager. "I can only think of one reason why you would be here. Another groundbreaking potion for us?"

"After you have it tested." Lucas handed over a potion. "But I have an unusual request. I want to present it myself—wearing a mask."

Jasper's bushy eyebrows shot up, nearly disappearing into his hairline. "Why risk exposure? Your anonymity is part of your mystique."

Lucas grinned, already picturing the chaos his appearance would cause. "I want to have some fun. Don’t worry, no one will catch me.”

Jasper rubbed his hands together. “Same deal as last time?”

“Sure.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas strode onto the stage, a plain white mask concealing his features. Dante's miniaturised pokeball pressed against his palm, hidden from view. 

The auction hall's spotlights blazed down, their heat prickling his skin through his dark suit. Hundreds of faces stared back from the dimness beyond the stage.

"Good evening. My name is Enigma. I will be presenting the final item in tonight’s auction."

The crowd erupted. Chairs scraped against hardwood floors as people leapt up. Questions pelted him like hail—about effort values, his identity, his research methods. Three men in expensive suits pushed past the security cordons, reaching for the stage until burly guards intercepted them.

"Get back!" Security formed a human barrier. "Return to your seats immediately!"

Lucas raised his hand. "Unless you'd prefer I leave without revealing my newest creation?" 

The chaos subsided. Feet shuffled on the carpet as the crowd reluctantly returned to their seats. The air crackled with anticipation.

"Better." Lucas retrieved a vial from his pocket, its contents catching the stage lights. The liquid inside shimmered with barely contained power. "This potion can reset a Pokemon's effort values completely. A clean slate, allowing precise control over their stat development."

The hall exploded again. Lucas smiled behind his mask, enjoying the commotion immensely.

"The potion has been independently verified by this establishment's testing facilities." Lucas waited for the noise to subside, enjoying the tension. "Opening bid starts at fifty thousand. Minimum increment of ten thousand."

The bidding war raged for several minutes. Each vial sparked fierce competition, prices climbing higher than he'd anticipated. The final potion was sold to a silver-haired man in the back row for two hundred and fifty thousand—his thin face flushed with triumph.

"More potions will be available in three days," Lucas said, bowing. Behind his back, he clicked Dante's pokeball. The invisible Pokemon's grip closed on his shoulder, and reality blurred away.

The crowd gasped. From their point of view, it looked like Lucas had completely disappeared on his own. 

They materialised in his garden. Lucas ripped off the mask and collapsed onto the damp grass, laughter bursting from his chest. 

Dante stood beside him, an unusual smile playing across his usually stoic features. Even he seemed entertained by their theatrical display.

"We should head inside." Lucas pushed himself up, his shoes squelching in the damp earth. "Got to count all that money, haven't we? Almost a million in total—not bad for an evening's work."

His grin widened as he pictured tomorrow's headlines. Enigma's dramatic appearance would only fuel the growing legend and drive prices even higher at the next auction. 

He would sell the potion for a month before offering Shichiro another deal. The growth potion was about to be released, so he didn’t want to affect its sales. In fact, announcing the new potion now may just increase the sales of the growth potion.

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas found Sabrina curled on the sofa with Bree perched on the armrest. He sat beside them, his suit jacket rumpled from his garden antics.

"You should have seen it—the whole place went mental when I announced who I was." His words tumbled out, hands gesturing animatedly. "This bloke in the front row nearly climbed over three people just to get closer."

Sabrina tried to frown but her lips twitched upward. "You're becoming quite the showman. Should I be worried?"

"He's learning." Bree nodded approvingly. "An agent of chaos like myself."

Lucas's excitement faded as he studied Sabrina's face. He squeezed her hand, feeling the slight tremor in her fingers. "Ready to talk about those memories?"

Her smile vanished. She gathered her thoughts before she proceeded to describe that night in halting sentences—the screams that woke her and witnessing her mother’s murder. When she learnt of Giovanni's plans to experiment on her, transforming her into some hybrid creature, her voice broke completely.

Lucas’ chest burned with helpless rage as he pictured eight-year-old Sabrina witnessing such horror. His fingers dug crescents into his palm until Sabrina touched his wrist, grounding him.

"I'm already plotting ways to deal with Giovanni," Bree said, her tone flat and cold. "But finding the rat may require Sabrina to regain one of her abilities."

"What does she mean?" Lucas asked.

"My powers are returning gradually. It will take more practise to regain them all. Levitation came back first—it feels natural, like breathing."

"Strong enough to lift a ship," Lucas said. "I had no idea you were that powerful."

Sabrina winced, pressing fingers to her temple. "Using that kind of power leaves me with splitting headaches. Like ice picks behind my eyes. Too much strain could incapacitate me for days."

"You had a headache last night? You hid it well." His thumb traced circles on her hand.

"Practice." She shifted closer, seeking his warmth. "I used to be able to track down people by using their personal belongings—things with emotional significance. Nobody could hide from me, even if they were on the other side of the world."

Lucas whistled. "That sounds both handy and terrifying. "We could ask Cassidy if she has anything of Giovanni's."

"On further thought, why should we wait?" Bree interrupted. "I could head to Western Kanto and persuade his grunts to talk. Make them sing like broken birds."

"No." Lucas shook his head firmly. "The Malva deception bought us time. Let's wait and set the perfect trap."

"Sound strategy," Sabrina agreed, exhaustion clear in her voice.

"What about mind reading?" Lucas asked, trying to lighten the mood. "Is that something you could do before?”

Sabrina's eyebrow arched, a spark of her old mischief returning. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Lucas pounced, fingers finding her ticklish spots. She squirmed, gasping between laughs that chased away the shadows in her eyes.

"Mercy! Please!"

The playful struggle shifted, the atmosphere charging with different energy. Their lips met, hands tangling in each other's hair as shared pain and comfort merged into something warmer.

Bree hopped down from her seat. "How impolite. At least let me leave the room before you start getting randy.”

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, a time skip, some progress, and another evolution. 

Thanks for reading.