DPA: Rivals

Chapter 15: Hurricane Zubat Part 2

"Just vandalizing a shop isn't enough of a distraction," Arianna said, April standing beside her, gazing at the ruckus the other grunts had been causing.

"So what should we do, ma'am," April asked, adjusting the black cap that came with her uniform.

"We need focus to be completely centered on the south-west quadrant of the city, to avoid any of our work in the north quadrant. The grunts aren't causing enough damage to keep the local Gym leader's attention for the length of time we need. I want you to release a horde."

"Oh!" April, stunned, replied. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but doesn't that seem a bit overkill?"

"Don't question me!" Arianna snapped back. "The Pokémon League selects their Gym leaders for a reason, and it is unwise not to recognize how significant of a threat this particular one is." She knelt down, picking up a duffle bag and shoving it into April. "I placed you in charge of this particular mission because I believe you have the potential to be a valuable asset, and because your rebellious attitude amuses me. But understand that right now, you are a grunt, and grunts need to know their place. Do you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am!" April answered, standing straight.

"Good. I trust that you are capable of handling this on your own, so I will be meeting up with Admin Petrel at the north quadrant. Don't disappoint me."

"Of course!" April replied. As Arianna marched off, April opened up the duffle bag she had been given. Hundreds of Pokéballs laid inside, possibly a few thousands. She took one out, releasing a Zubat. Then another, releasing another Zubat. After half an hour, the bag was empty, and enough Zubat flew around to partially block out the sun.

Mudkip jumped to Cameron's rescue, Tackling Eevee to the ground before smacking a chunk of dirt into the Evolution Pokémon's face via an adrenaline-fueled Mud-Slap.

"What is this?!" Daryon demanded to know.

"What is this? This is Team Rocket!" April exclaimed, pointing towards Daryon.

Dozens of Zubat took this action as an order, zipping towards Daryon like arrows. Pikachu released a Thunder Shock, knocking the Zubat in the front out of the sky, while Spearow flew down from above, taking out a few more. King and Queen fought side by side, taking out the Zubat close to the ground, while Cameron's Weedle used String Shot to tie the weakened ones up, immobilizing them.

"I knew there was something wrong with you!" Daryon yelled, moving out of the way of Torchic's Fire Spin, a miniature tornado of blazing fire that sucked in several Zubats as it spun across the street. Mudkip followed shortly behind Torchic, extinguishing any stray flames before they could burn down the city. "Why are you doing this?" Daryon continued.

"Hmm, let me think about that...because it's fun." April replied. She looked over at Brock. "Watch as this Gym leader, the sworn protector of Pewter City, an official of the Pokémon League, is brought down by some Zubat! And this isn't even the first time Team Rocket has taken over Pewter City! We've been around for a long time, and the Pokémon League hasn't been able to do anything to stop us. Do you have any idea how amazing it feels to be able to do whatever you want without any consequences? I'm just a 16 year old Pokémon trainer, not a criminal mastermind!"

"No, you're not a criminal mastermind," Brock said, spraying a Potion on his Geodude's injuries. "You're just a lowly grunt being used as a pawn in a larger game. You don't even know why you were sent here to Pewter City, do you?"

Taken aback by Brock's bluntness, April turned towards the other Team Rocket grunts. "Let's 'Tat 'em."

Each of the six grunts reached towards their belts before tossing nine, ten Pokéballs a person towards Brock and the young trainers, releasing a pack of a little under sixty aggressive Rattata, teeth sharp and bared.

"Get 'em!" April yelled, pointing to Daryon and his crew, as well as Brock and Evan.

"Cameron, Evan and I will worry about the Rattata," Brock said as Onix smacked its horn into one of the charging Mouse Pokemon. "Daryon, with both a Pikachu and a Spearow, you'll need to be the one to figure out how to take out this swarm of Zubat!"

"I'll get Max out of here," Skye said. "It's too dangerous here for him."

"Go to the Gym for safety," Brock said. One of the attacking Rattata took a Bite at his arm, causing him to wince before shaking the attacker away.

Daryon noticed Skye running off with Max out of the corner of his eye, before narrowly dodging an incoming Astonish from one of the many, many Zubat.

The group had taken out a few dozen of them, but there were still many hundreds that roamed the skies, causing chaos, and it was just too much. Add to that the Rocket-controlled Rattata causing problems on the ground, and everything seemed hopeless.

"What is even the point of all this!" Daryon screamed, beads of sweat pouring down his face.

"When we're done with this rock-brain over here and you little brats, we're going to mess up Pewter City so bad that no one is ever going to mess with us!" April shouted over the cacophony of screeching Zubat. "We will do whatever we want, and no one can touch us!"

"Not if we stop you!" Daryon retorted.

"Not likely," April chuckled, shaking her head. "It's an army of Zubat and Rattata led by the most powerful crime syndicate in Kanto against a couple of kids and a beaten down Gym leader. Just give up and run away."

Daryon looked around at the turmoil and disarray that completely surrounded him. Spearow, King, Bulbasaur, and Evan's Nidoran and Sandshrew had been completely knocked out. Pikachu, Queen, Cameron's Mudkip and Weedle, Evan's Torchic, and Brock's Geodude and Onix were barely holding on. Meanwhile, despite the many Zubat that were knocked out on the ground, many, many more continued to fly all around. Everything looked hopeless.