Pokemon Slate Gray

Season 3 - Episode 03: Power On

A/N: It's the final chapter of PSG. Please support the series if you would like to see it continue. I hope you have enjoyed your time in the Nutera region!

When Beakon toppled off Slate's arm and hit the floor before he could even react, the Team Shade goons buckled over with unrestrained laughter, while his allies looked as horrified as he was.

"B-Beakon? What's wrong?" Slate asked, on his knees now, trying to rouse the strange creature, which was as still as a statue. April had warned him Beakon was an 'odd' Pokémon, but this was ridiculous! It couldn't be... Could it? Slate didn't want to consider the thought. Was he so bad of a Trainer that his newest Pokémon would rather choose the hereafter over being a member of his team? "I-I don't understand! What happened?"

Slate looked to a nonplussed April for an answer, but it was his Rotom Phone that provided one. *Ping* "Ability activation detected," the device spoke.

While Team Shade continued to shriek with laughter, Slate read the message that had appeared in his Pokédex app. His eyebrows moved humorously as his expression cycled rapidly between confusion, surprise, understanding, and astonishment. Beakon had indeed used an Ability, and it was the craziest Pokémon Ability Slate had ever heard of.

Penance – When it has a lot of HP, the Pokémon may sacrifice itself to revive a fallen ally.

Above the on-screen explanation, a party alert was flashing intermittently. Upon clicking it, Slate smirked widely. "Thanks, Beakon" he said, returning the creature to its Silph Ball, then exchanging it with one on his belt.

"Slate..." April started. "I think you were right before. We can't rely on Crimsant in this situation."

"This isn't Crimsant's ball," Slate told her with a grin, throwing the Silph Ball high in the air. "Come on out, boy!"

In a flash of white, Cryote appeared with a loud bark, its tongue sticking out as it wagged its tail energetically.

"But...how?" April stammered as the Team Shade grunts ceased their laughter.

"Oh man, that's the Shiny Cryote I told you about, the one that bit me at that farm!" one of them said fearfully.

"I thought Parker said Mayor Douglas defeated that one," said another.

"I'll explain later, let's get em'!" Slate told April. "Cryote, use Bellow!"

April nodded, their allies rallied, and the fight began anew.

"Larvibe, give them all the String Shot you've got!" April commanded, and her little bug Pokémon began spewing an endless reel of sticky thread.

The Team Shade grunts gave varying retaliatory orders to their slow Slugish, but those who weren't crippled by Cryote's super-effective sound waves were hampered by the net of String Shot that continued to rain down on them. Some managed to release poorly aimed globs of Acid and clouds of Poison Gas but their Trainers were distracted with fending off Joe and the gang.

"Cryote, target them one by one with your Echoed Voice!" Slate ordered, emboldened by their combined efforts, looking to April with a reassuring smile.

"You just keep firing String Shot, Larvibe," said April, "We'll make sure Cryote has easy targets!"

However, at that moment, a fresh batch of five more Team Shade grunts emerged from Nutera Power. Slate's stomach fell. As well as they were doing now thanks to Beakon's sacrifice, they couldn't take on this many opponents. They would surely be overwhelmed eventually.

Just as suddenly, a voice called out behind them, "Save some for us, Ape!"

Slate turned to see a boy around his age approaching at a run, wearing orange and green Trainer Gear. His closely cut brown hair had a longer blonde stripe down the middle. Two other figures were following closely behind him. On one side, his trench coat billowing as he ran, was Looker. On the other side was...Melissa, the bare-footed Bug-type Gym Leader!