Pokemon: Orbion and the Runes of Chaos [#Wattys2016]

Ten: The War Begins

Preparations began immediately. Jason quickly laid the groundwork of his plan, all the while changing and refining it as others suggested ideas. Never before had such a vast collection of battle expertise been assembled under one banner. Within minutes, a complex system of attack was laid out in a three-dimensional hologram Clemont had summoned from one of his inventions. Surprisingly, it didn't explode.

Once the groundwork of the battle plan was laid out, most of the trainers began drifting off in clusters to prepare for the coming battle, leaving behind the regional champions to go over the final details of the strategy.

"Alright, our main objective is this entrance right here," Jason said, indicating the opening on the fortress he had spotted earlier on the hologram. "If Orbion is here, he will be inside the crystal tower, either at its heart near the base or somewhere near the top.

I hate to admit it, but none of our Pokémon can stand against him alone. Our best bet is my ability to reason with him."

"If that doesn't work, we'll have no choice but to try to kill him," Diantha said.

"I hate to admit it, but yes. If I can't convince him to return to the light, I will do my bet to stop him in whatever way possible. However, either way, I'll need to be at the vanguard of the assault so that I can reach the gateway as quickly as possible.

"Obviously I can't command very well from there, so I'm leaving the overall control of our forces in your qualified hands, Cynthia."

The blonde woman nodded in acceptance.

"Once I reach the entrance, I'll need a portion of the main force to defend it as best they can. The infiltration team will have our hands full navigating the fortress, and enemy reinforcements from behind is the last thing we need."

Cynthia nodded again. "A large detail consisting mainly of rock types will accompany you and the rest of the vanguard for the initial push and break off when you reach the door. They will serve both as a blockade of the door and an anvil for the hammer blow of the main force."

"Excellent thinking. Now, on to my next point." Jason unslung the large leather bag from his back and gently lowered it to the ground.

Lance raised an eyebrow as she saw what it contained. "A Poké ball teleporter? Quite the valuable commodity."

"Indeed. But more than an expensive toy, it will help bolster our troops." Jason pulled out his Pokédex yet again. His Alakazam's face appeared almost immediately on the small screen.

"Xavier," he said. "It's time. Override the limit. Send every available Pokémon through."

The Psychic type muttered a piece of his own name questioningly.

"Yes, even yourself. I need you here on the front lines as well." The screen went blank. A few seconds later, the teleporter's lights began to glow.

"Normally a person is only allowed to have six Pokémon with them at any given time," Jason explained. "However, that rule doesn't apply in places like Pokémon Centers and Laboratories. It's because both have large nullification fields around them that allow the possession of multiple Poké balls. This teleporter has a code that can generate the same type of field."

A stream of Poké balls began to pour out of the machine. They formed a growing mound a few meters downslope of the machine. Soon over three hundred of the red and white spheres rested upon the ground.

The stream stopped suddenly. A few seconds later, one final Poké ball appeared as the machine began to darken. Jason snagged this straggler as it rolled passed and hurled it on the ground. The red light took on shape and texture, revealing the cross-legged form of Alakazam.