20 Chapter 20 A Loss and Faust's Vengeance
"You...why are you here!? My child and your frien-", voiced the Articuno in panic before being interrupted by Faust.
"They're outside the rift! Safe. I've got my Pokemon with them."
"No they aren't safe yet. You need to leave with the core, the rift needs to be sealed!", said Articuno now able to stand without much difficulty.
"Look I did what you asked...well half of it. I've got the rift stone. Push comes to shove, I'll pull out. You can count on that. For now...lets get ready for round two", said Faust looking at the Galarian Articuno in distance who had shaken off the effects of being shocked.
Looking at the purple and black Pokemon, Faust was scared but the mecha gave him some confidence in facing the beast. He looked at the information of the mecha again just to boost his confidence.
[ Iron Masked Marauder's Spider Mecha
Mecha used by the Team Rocket Elite Officer, Iron Masked Marauder to capture Celebi. Equipped with four extendable metal arms, energy shield and an array of weapons including light machine guns, flamethrower and guided missiles. Claws serve multiple functions including but not limited to electrical discharge and liquid vapor dispenser. Can be programmed to bind to opponent and self destruct. Please maintain appropriate distance so as not be caught in the deadly explosion.]
The mecha was a monster that could withstand attacks and dish out heavy damage using electrical discharges. But the only downside was Faust was exposed, the cockpit wasn't shielded in anyway and it's damage would be greatly reduced against Pokemon with high manoeuvrability and capable of tanking hits. Faust did not just how many hits could the Galarian Articuno tank but he knew that it's Flying type and Psychic capabilities granted it immense manoeuvrability. Faust actually intended to use it's self destruct sequence as the trump card but that would require Faust to get within the successful binding range of the Pokemon.
The Galarian Articuno let out a loud, terrifying screech and launched towards Faust. But Articuno appeared in it's path summoning a Blizzard. The Galarian Articuno pushed forward relentlessly bulldozing through the ice attack and clashed with Articuno in a flurry of feathers and talons.
Faust began kiting the two Pokemon and looking for opportunities to chip away at the Galarian version's strength using the machine gun. The bullets didn't do much damage but it did make the Pokemon flinch occasionally allowing Articuno to land in a few hits.
The two Pokemon separated and Faust immediately activated the guided missiles locking them onto the Cruel Pokemon. Just before launching the missiles, he called out to Articuno in his mind.
"Use something to block it's sight, tell me you've learnt Sandstorm!"
The Articuno snorted and flapped its wings rapidly kicking up a huge storm of snow, dust and rocks. Just as Faust's view of Galarian Articuno was obscured, he pressed the launch button. The mechanical flaps on the legs of the mecha flew open revealing an area of red-tipped missiles that suddenly shot upwards before changing their direction and disappearing into the sandstorm. Soon explosions followed and a black figure shot out of the sandstorm in the opposite direction crashing into the wall.
Faust launched all the remaining missiles into the wall and they struck, exploding and kicking up another cloud of snow and dust. Faust whistled in amazement.
'Damn, with this much firepower how can Team Rocket fail to catch a single Pikachu.'
But he didn't let his guard down as he intently observed the settling dust, his thumb hovering just above the trigger for the machine guns. Articuno wasn't idle either, seeing the opportunity she began charging a hyper beam.
But as the dust settled down, there was no Pokemon in the crater. Faust's eyes widened as he noticed a large shadow fall upon him and he quickly turned his mecha away narrowly avoiding being picked off by the Galarian Articuno's talons.
'Fuck! How the fuck does it know teleport!?'
Faust used the flamethrower creating an arc around him as he tried to ward off the huge black bird and put some distance between them. Just as the mecha crouched underneath the flames, Faust's eyes met those of the Galarian Articuno and a voice sounded in his head.
"Human child! Why do you fight with the blue one!? Come and fight with me! There is much you can gain!"
Faust felt a heavy pressure weigh him down and found himself unable to look away from the Galarian Articuno's eyes as his will to fight the Pokemon began crumbling. Suddenly, a high powered beam hit the side of the Pokemon and it was blasted away snapping Faust out of the trance. Faust fell to the floor of the cockpit panting heavily as Articuno appeared before him, her soothing voice calming his nerves.
"His psychic capabilities are beyond your own. If he truly invades your mind, you will not be able to resist. You must leave, seal the rift now."
The Articuno fired an Ice Beam as she met Faust's eyes with her own, he noticed that they were filled with pleading. Faust finally understood the severity of situation. Finally making up his mind, he looked at Articuno and said.
"Fine, I'll leave. But I have one last thing left to try. I need you to pin it down unable to dodge, within ten metres of me!"
The Articuno took one look at Faust before nodding and took off in the direction of the Galarian Articuno. The two legendary birds clashed again, clawing at each other. Faust didn't do much this time, slowly moving towards the fight and keeping an eye out for the opportunity.
Articuno didn't know what Faust had planned but it trusted him enough to bear through a full-force flurry of Air Slashes to crash into the Galarian Articuno bringing it down to the ground very close to mecha. The Galarian Articuno thrashed wildly, using Psycho Cut wildly on the blue Articuno. Articuno let out a loud pained cry but didn't let go.
Faust saw the opportunity and used the maximum output to rush towards the two Pokemon. Just as he was in range, he called out to Articuno.
"Okay all set! Get away, the binding mechanism doesn't have targeting capabilities!"
The Articuno lifted its head to meet Faust's eyes with her own and Faust saw helplessness in her eyes as she replied.
"I can't."
Faust looked at the wing she had lifted up, it was torn up badly with a slash running through it's entirety.
"But the self destruct sequen-"
"Just do it! I can't hold him down much longer!"
Faust was hesitant but given the Articuno's condition, she wouldn't be able to create another opportunity in this battle. He gritted his teeth and activated the self-destruct sequence. A timer appeared on the screen in the panel and the automatic ejection activated shooting his seat upward rapidly.
Faust watched as the arms of the mecha wrapped around the two Pokemon and the ends of the arm dug into the flesh of the two Pokemon deeply. The Galarian Articuno let out a shrill scream of pain while the blue Articuno's voice sounded for the last time in Faust's head.
"My child, please look after her. That is my last request of you. Don't blame yourself, I knew what I was doing when..."
Suddenly the voice disappeared and Faust felt his eyes fill up. As the countdown hit zero, a deafening explosion rang out, leveling the entire cave and the flash blinded Faust temporarily. Almost immediately after the explosion, the entire mountain went quiet.
Faust unbuckled the metal belts strapping him onto his seat. He had landed back on the destroyed mountain peak after almost an hour of floating about due to the chute that had automatically activated to soften the landing. Faust could see the Articuno's blue plumage and the Galarian Articuno's purple half covered under the debris.
He should have ideally sealed the rift as Articuno had instructed him but looking at what his identifier showed him, he felt a deep loss and a burning fury.
[Pokemon: Articuno(♀)(deceased)
Ability: Pressure, Snow Cloak
Type: Ice, Flying
Aptitude:??????
Strength:??????
Moves:??????]
[Pokemon: Articuno(Galarian)(♂)(critically injured)
Ability: Competitive
Type: Psychic, Flying
Aptitude:??????
Strength:??????
Moves:??????]
Walking first to the Articuno, he began clearing out the debris that had fallen to cover her. Luckily for him, almost all the pieces of rock were were small and movable. The explosion had obliterated the cave blowing most of it outwards and the cave hadn't caved in. Faust stopped halfway through and fell down on his knees crying looking at the scattered remains of the Articuno. He didn't even notice that Sylveon had let herself out of her Pokeball until he felt her feelers wrap around him gently. Sylveon let out gentle cries rubbing her face into her trainer's, using her fur to wipe away his tears. Faust hugged Sylveon and cried letting out all his emotions.
Faust stared at the freshly covered grave of Articuno, his tears threatening to fall out again. Although he hadn't known Articuno very long, he had unconsciously grown attached to the motherly feeling that she had emanated. Taking one long look at the grave, Faust turned away. He still had one more Articuno to go. Walking towards this one, Faust didn't feel even an ounce of pity, on the contrary, his eyes burned with unbridled fury.
Faust looked at the sorry figure of the once majestic legendary bird. Unlike Articuno, the Galarian Articuno had miraculously managed to remain in one piece. Faust attributed this miracle to some defensive psychic ability that the Pokemon must have employed against the explosion. He could see the undulating chest of the Pokemon, a part of him wanted to kill the beast right then. But he thought that that would be too good a death for the Pokemon. He walked towards the head of the Galarian Articuno and saw its half-dead eyes.
"Will you be able to recover?", Faust asked coldly looking down at the Pokemon with frosty eyes knowing full well that he could hear him.
Hearing no answer, Faust turned to Sylveon and said, "Use swift to hit the gash on his right wing."
Hearing the command, Sylveon turned to the ugly gash on the wing and fired a burst of stars on the wound. The Galarian Articuno let out a cry of pain and spoke in Faust's mind.
"Human child! You're making a huge mistake! I'll tear you apart limb by limb!"
Faust ignored the empty threat and asked again, "Will you be able to recover?"
Hearing no answer Faust motioned for Sylveon to carry on. The cycle went on for a while until the Galarian Articuno responded cooperatively.
"Yes! Yes! I'll be able to recover and when I do you will kno-"
Faust interrupted him, "Okay that's good. You were fighting the Articuno for this correct?"
Faust held up the blue colored rift core and saw desire flash in the eyes of the Pokemon.
"Yes! The proof of a ruler! Human, give me the rift core and I'll forget all your previous transgressions!", it said telepathically.
Faust pretended to think for a while before making the rift core disappear and said, "Nah...I don't think so. Okay then I've figured out what to do with you."
Faust withdrew a white Pokeball with what looked like a red mohawk on the top it and thought for a while before turning to Sylveon and saying, "Sylveon lets practice kiting with Swift bursts. Your targets are..."
Faust moved around the body of the Galarian Articuno tapping places that looked really badly injured saying, "this....this....this one here....oh can't miss this one...ooff this one stands out...and this."
The Sylveon receiving the instructions began circling the miserable Pokemon and attacking the spots her trainer had pointed out. Soon the serene silence of the mountain was broken by the pained cries of the Galarian Articuno.
Faust looked at the fainted legendary Pokemon lying at his feet and dropped the Timer Ball on it's head. The Galarian Articuno disappeared in a flash of light and the Pokeball quivered once before the stopping.
Picking up the Pokeball, Faust spoke as if talking to the creature inside, "Now you will spend the rest of your life in servitude. You wanted to rule huh? Was it your dream? Maybe the purpose of your life? Well as long as I am alive, you can forget about ruling anything. I'm not strong enough now...but I'll get there soon enough. Till then remain in this rift like a good little birdie. Oh and my Pokemon are my family, you're not and never will be. You're just a tool for my ends. This is my vengeance."
Placing the Pokeball in front of Articuno's grave Faust whispered softly, "Now you can rest in peace."
