Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 59: Explosion at the Great Marsh!

"Just when we thought that Team Galactic had gone underground and decided to keep a low profile...they decided to test out their newest technology on innocent people and Pokémon. What they did in Pastoria City and the Great Marsh was only ever trumped by their final operation at Mount Coronet. They tested their newest weapons on innocent people and Pokémon in the Great Marsh...countless lives lost, untold damage to the natural ecosystem. It took six months to get the Great Marsh stabilized, and even longer for it to return to its previous health. And it was but a taste of what Team Galactic could and would do..."

The group mounted their Rapidash and had taken off down the street from the Pokémon Centre at a light canter.

Sam couldn't help but smile as he and Grey Flame walked through the streets. There was something about riding atop the back of a Rapidash that was freeing and wonderful.

It was a sense of freedom that no one could take from him.

If it weren't for his friends, Sam would've been galloping out of town at full speed, tearing up clouds of dust as he went.

Grey Flame loved it too.

There was nothing better than racing back to the farmhouse after a day of work or charging around the ranch at top speed to let off steam when they had down time.

But nothing was peaceful about the sound that follow.

A massive explosion.

Dirt and clouds of rocks, water and debris raining from the sky.

A shockwave that knocked people and Pokémon over.

People screaming and panicking.

The ground rattled, and everyone was thrown from their Rapidash as the Pokémon panicked.

Only Grey Flame maintained any sense of decorum, but that didn't stop the Pokémon from nickering in panic.

Sam eased the Pokémon, his ears ringing, his head pounding.

What the fuck was going on?

"Are you all okay?" screamed Sam, unable to hear his own voice over the sound of chaos around him.

Even with all their training, these Rapidash couldn't help but panic in the face of an explosion like that.

Grey Flame only maintained his composure because of the bond between him and Sam.

Sam wheeled his Pokémon around, looking down at his friends.

Niya had hit her head and was unconscious, Alyssandra was dazed but was making sure Niya was okay.

Jeremy and Pikachu were helping her.

"What the fuck was that?" cried Jeremy, his ears ringing too.

Sam shrugged, and looked in the direction of the explosion. A few blocks away...past a mass of trees and greenery.

The Great Marsh?

Why?

How?

Then, they came wheeling around the corner.

A big black van raced by.

Sam couldn't see who was driving, but...if he wasn't mistaken...big, red headed, and bearded.

It couldn't be...

Sam then heard the sounds of sirens and tires screeching.

Three cop cars, Officer Jenny on a motorcycle, and leading them all, a big black car driven by Looker.