DPA: Rivals

Chapter 15: Hurricane Zubat Part 1

As Daryon stepped outside, he couldn't hold back his surprise as the sky was completely blanketed with Zubat, as far as the eye could see, blocking out the sunlight. There had to be at least a few thousand, more Pokémon in one place than Daryon had ever seen before.

A little off in the distance, Brock was poised to attack as his Geodude and Onix were fighting off a few dozen Zubat that seemed hellbent on attacking him. Every time a Zubat was knocked down from the sky, five more took its place, and it was clear Brock wouldn't be able to hold them off.

"W-W-What's g-g-g-going on-n-n-n-n?" Cameron shouted, batting away a few Zubat that were zipping around him. Daryon turned around to his friends, who were looking for answers. Skye had picked up Max, who had burrowed his head in her chest, while her Dratini, balancing on her shoulder, did its best to stop stray Zubat from pestering them. He looked back towards Brock, whose Pokémon were clearly getting tired.

"We have to help him," Daryon finally said. "We need to stop this!"

"But how?" Skye asked, kicking a Zubat that had been nipping at her feet.

"This horde of Zubat are not wild," Vince said, flinging small sparks of electricity to keep the Bat Pokémon at bay. "They are registered, but I can't trace their OT Numbers. Their owners must be scrambling the signal between their Pokédex and the PC system, preventing it from collecting any information as to the Original Trainer."

"Who would d-do that?" Cameron stuttered as he released Weedle from its Pokéball. Weedle fired off a few String Shots, entangling a few Zubat in webbing and immobilizing them.

"Considering that such actions have been banned by every regional Pokémon League ever since the creation of the first Pokédex, and the fact that the technology for such actions would be incredibly difficult to create or obtain, I would conclude that this horde is the direct result of an organized crime syndicate," Vince said, dodging an incoming Zubat.

"Who cares?" Daryon said, running towards the local Gym Leader, who was beginning to lose the fight. "We need to help!" He released Spearow, Bulbasaur, King and Queen out of their Pokéballs to help.

"Consider me in!" Evan said, approaching the four trainers, Torchic perched on his shoulder, Ember flames blasting out from its beak. Sandshrew was swiping away at several oncoming Zubat, while another male Nidoran, presumably Evan's, stabbed away with its horn.

"Thanks," Daryon said, as the group of now five finally arrived beside Brock.

"I'd get out of here, kids," Brock said as Onix smacked aside ten Zubat at once with a powerful Iron Tail. Geodude, meanwhile, popped up out of the ground, punching one or two in the teeth.

"Mr. B-B-Brock, you're a legend, sir," Cameron stuttered as Weedle used the spike on its tail to Poison Sting three Zubat in one swipe. "But you're c-c-clearly outn-n-umbered!"

"I'm not worried about the Zubat!" Brock yelled as he ducked, narrowly avoiding one Zubat's Wing Attack. "It's THEM!"

He pointed to a group of individuals, seven of them, dressed head to toe in some sort of black uniform, their chests adorned with the same letter, the letter R, a dark maroon to contrast with the black. Ranging from a man in his mid-forties at the oldest to a teen girl at the youngest, of varying ethnicity and builds, they all shared the same expression, a blend of delight at the chaos that flooded the skies, and stern determination in beating Pewter City's Gym leader to a pulp.

At the head of the group, the youngest of the bunch, violet locks flowing down to her shoulders, a silver-furred Eevee by her feet, poised to attack. She glanced at Daryon and his crew, a look of surprised recognition over her face for just a moment before quickly shifting to one of mild amusement.

"April!" Cameron shouted, confused, unsure what to say or feel.

"Sup, four-eyes," April replied. She glanced down at Eevee for just a second, before looking back to her former opponent. Eevee sprung towards Cameron, teeth bared.